June Ipsy Review: Swim Into Beauty

Hey there, everyone!

Firstly, I want to (sort of) apologize for my absence on here. Two weeks ago I was on the water for work and last week I was on vacation and just didn't feel like doing a damn thing, so I didn't. I'm going to try to get back into the swing of things, but right now I'm really focused on just enjoying my summer. 

I am belated on my June Ipsy review, so here we go. The theme was Swim Into Beauty and the bag itself was made out of a really cute, black, neoprene material (basically, what wetsuits are made out of. I see you, Ipsy). 

Overall Rating: 3.8 stars. There were a couple of powerhouse products, and a couple that pulled the rating down.

Best Product: It Cosmetics Brow Power Universal Eyebrow Pencil

Worst Product: tre'StiQue Mini Shadow Crayon (not really fair of me, but I'll get to that later)

Most Expensive Product: Also the Brow Power Universal Eyebrow Pencil

Glam Bag Total Value: $50.07, 5 times the paid amount. 

It Cosmetics Brow Power Universal Eyebrow Pencil in "Universal Taupe"

The all-star product this month was by far this brow pencil. One end has a spoolie for brushing out your brows, and the other end has a universally flattering shade of brow pencil that glides on smoothly and looks super natural. The harder you press, the darker the shade will turn out. Previously, I had been using a sample of Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade and an angle brush to do my brows, but this is so much faster and easier to use. My sister visited from Buffalo and used it, and put it on her list of things to pick up at Ulta. You should, too. Full size product is worth $24, but my sample was worth $12. 5 stars. 

This was not my first rodeo with this primer. I adore Smashbox's Photo Finish Foundation Primer, so I was really excited to get a sample in my bag this month. Recently I have been using NYX's face primer, which is still really nice at a fraction of the cost, but nothing beats this stuff. A small amount goes a long way toward cutting shine and giving your face a flawless base for your foundation. Products go on so much smoother when applied over this face primer. A full sized bottle retails for $36, but I promise it is worth every penny, and it definitely lasts a while. 5 stars. 

BioRepublic Revitalizing Fiber Masks in "Aloe Resuce", "Green Tea Detox", and "Cucumber Breeze"

Next up was this trio of face masks from BioRepublic. These were definitely fun to use, although my husband was freaked out by the fact it looked like I had loose skin hanging from my face. While I noticed no drastic improvements to my face after using any of these masks, they did leave my skin feeling refreshed, and, at only $5 a pop, why not #treatyoself? 3 stars for me. 

Formula X Nail Color in "Power Surge"

I'm no stranger to nail polish, but this was my first bottle of Formula X and I was pleased with it. The formula went on very smoothly, and the color was right up my alley. I kept complimenting my own nails the entire time I was wearing it. A full-sized bottle retails for $10.50. 4 stars. 

trèStiQue Mini Shadow Crayon in "Marimoto Pink Pearl"

Followers, I have a confession. 

I haven't even used this product yet. 

I know, I know, "how can I give a review of something I haven't used?" And I guess I can't, but here's the thing: this is easily the 3rd or 4th shadow I've gotten from Ipsy in a color like this. What is there to say? "Color is nice, also works as a highlighter". I was just so completely underwhelmed by this product that I didn't even try it. It is worth $10.66, and I'll give it 2 stars, which isn't really fair of me, but there you have it. 

I've waited so long to write this post that I did get early access to my July glam bag, which looks a little underwhelming as well, but I'm hoping some of these new unknown brands will prove me wrong! Check back in a couple weeks to find out! 

All I Wanna Get is a Little Bit Closer...

Hey everybody! So today my final two Amazon orders from Christmas came in the mail, so I obviously had to try them both out right away. The first was a macro lens for my iPhone. The second was a pack of four nail stud wheels from Wistonia. 

First, let me go into some depth about this macro lens. I did a lot of research on lenses before I decided on this one, called the Easy-Macro. 

The premise is pretty simple, and actually kind of brilliant. Take a mini magnifying glass, slap it on a rubber band, and vóila! Instant macro lens. There are a few benefits to this rubber band style lens... 

One is that it can stretch to fit any model and size of cell phone or camera, with or without a case, so you don't have to pop your case on and off every time you want to snap a super detailed photo.

Another benefit is that the card it comes on also doubles as storage for the lens. Just stretch it back around the card and pop it in your pocket, wallet, wherever. Convenient, right? 

Lastly, this little gem only cost me $15. 

There are a ton of macro lenses for iPhones/Androids on the market ranging anywhere from $3 to $70 or more, but this had fantastic reviews, and the price was right. So far, it works great for what I'm using it for. 

Right about now you may be wondering why anyone would want/need a macro lens to begin with. The simple answer is this: incredible detail. Exhibit A:

I know, right? 

Here's a few other photos I snapped today while testing it out:

My new betta fish, Luna

My engagement ring

A close up of Zoya's "Dream" from last week's manicure

The downside is also the incredible detail.  It means that any jagged cuticle, any missed spot of clean up, any little ding in the lacquer, is now in the spotlight 👀 I guess that just means I have to get better at what I do! 

Now for the part you likely came here for: this week's manicure.

 As I previously stated, I got a ton of nail studs in the mail today so I figured I would play around with them. I also realized that crazy hand painted nail designs are not everybody's bag, so this simplistic mani is for you traditionalists out there who enjoy cleaner desins (and, let's be honest, I didn't want my hand-painting scrutinized under that macro lens yet!).

 For this manicure, I used China Glaze's "For Audrey" topped with "Fairy Dust" by the same brand. I then took those pretty little silver almond studs and placed them at the base of the nail. A little top coat, a little clean up, and BOOM! Super chic design that still has tons of sparkle and flair to it. 

 

What do you folks prefer? Simple, clean manicures, or crazy detailed works of art?

Don't forget to follow me on Instagram (astoldbyadri) and Twitter (@astoldbyadri)!

My Nails Can Predict the Weather...

...It's like I have a 5th sense.

So last night I decided to attempt my first ever snowflake nails, which is funny because tonight there's supposed to be this huge "snow storm". I use that term loosely, since, living in Buffalo for the first half of my life, I wouldn't call 3-6 inches a cause for a state of emergency, but I have a long weekend now, so I'm not complaining!

 Anyway, the snowflake design is something I've been wanting to try for about a year, but last year I got so caught up in Christmas nail art I never got the chance. I recently went to Ulta and purchased Zoya's "Dream", and I knew that it would be the perfect base color for the snowflakes. The shade just screams winter evening.

Side note: Zoya is quickly becoming my favorite commercial nail polish brand. Let me drop some knowledge bombs on you and explain why. First, their products are vegan friendly and 5-free (meaning they are free of the 5 harshest chemicals normally used to make nail polish). Secondly, their polishes are amazing quality. Out of the brands I own, Zoya always goes on smooth and lasts the longest, even when my hands take a beating. Finally, their customer service and loyalty to their customers is AWESOME.

For instance, if you follow @zoyanailpolish on twitter, every Tuesday they host a game they call "Tune Tuesday". They ask a question about a song, usually using the lyrics as a clue, and the answer is the name of a Zoya polish (ex. "This Zoya Polish is a show girl with yellow feathers in her hair" answer: Lola). If you guess correctly, you have the chance to be one of 3 winners per round (there are usually 4 rounds a day). For your prize you get the polish from that round as well as one of your choice, FREE! Plus, they have incredible promotions, especially during their flash promos around the holidays. I honestly cannot speak highly enough of this company. BUT I DIGRESS.

Here is "Dream" on it's own:

Still waiting on my macro lens to ship, so hang in there for more detailed photos. 

After using 2 coats of Dream, I used Kiss silver striper and OPI in "Alpine Snow" and my Wistonia nail art brushes to paint on some snowflakes. 

L to R: Zoya "Dream", Kiss Silver Striper, OPI "Alpine Snow"

Finally, I placed some clear rhinestones at the center of each snowflake for a little extra sparkle. You'll soon learn that I have a very hard time doing a manicure with no glitter or sparkle. 

Here is the end result!

It was a tedious process but I like the result! I only did my left hand (or as I like to call it, my "photo hand") last night, so tomorrow I'm going to use my day off to jazz up my right hand and wear this manicure for a while. 

I hope everybody who has snow coming their way stays safe out there and enjoys their day off of school/work!