Romper Inspired Dry Brush Mani

This past weekend, I celebrated my husband's 29th birthday with a big pool party. I wanted to find something cute to wear to the party, so I took to the mall to hunt.

I've been on the look out for a romper. It's all I wanted in my summer wardrobe. All the ones I had found were unflattering, ugly, or ill-fitting (something that happens a lot when your top is a size small and your ass is a size large). 

Finally, I found one at Charlotte Russe, of all places, for $15. 

When I took a look at the pattern on the dress, I was hit with inspiration for nail art. 

For this design, I started with a white base coat. Then, I sponged Maybelline Bleached Neon polishes in "Day Glow Teal", "Lime Accent", and "Pink Punch" over top. When that dried, I dry brushed Zoya's "Ryan" on top. 

Dry brushing is a technique where you brush almost all the polish off your brush before dragging it across your nails in different directions. With this technique, I was able to replicate the look of neons peeking through the navy palm branches that was on my romper. 

I had so much fun with this manicure. It was quick, easy, and was a great example of pure inspiration. Usually I have a hard time thinking of original designs, but I really loved this. 

Sun Safety: My Favorite SPF Beauty Products

Summer has unofficially begun, which means you'll likely be spending a lot more time outside and getting a lot more sun exposure. 

A couple months ago, my favorite blogger Vampy Varnish asked her followers what their biggest beauty regret was. She admitted that while she took great care of her face over the years, she neglected her chest, neck, and hands and that those areas were now showing signs of aging. 

Her blog really resonated with me. I'm only 25 years old; old enough to know better about taking care of my skin, but young enough to start making changes now that will keep me looking younger as I age. 

I went out and purchased a bunch of beauty products that contain SPF, and have been using them for a month or two to get a feel for them. I figured, what better time than now to do a blog post about them? 

Lubriderm Daily Motisture Lotion with Broad Spectrum SPF 15

One of the first things I bought was a daily lotion that has an SPF 15 in it. You are supposed to wear SPF every day. Even during winter months, the sun emits UV rays that can harm your skin over time. Wearing a plain body lotion with SPF is the easiest way to take good care of your skin. 

I picked up this one by Lubriderm. It absorbs relatively quickly, has no scent, and leaves my skin moisturized. I apply it as soon as I get out of the shower. I got this 13.5 oz bottle at Walmart for about $7, which is a spectacular value. 

Hawaiian Tropic Island Sport with Broad Spectrum SPF 30

For days when you plan on having direct/prolonged sun exposure, you're going to want sunscreen. Hawaiian Tropic is my absolute favorite. I consider it my summertime "luxury" item. I could easily spend less money on a drugstore brand, but you just can't beat the smell of HT. 

This year, I found a sport version of it, so I decided to try that out. I LOVE it. It is SO lightweight and absorbs super fast, so you won't be trying to rub in stubborn white streaks of sunscreen all over your body. It is water and sweat resistant for 80 minutes, and comes in SPF 15 and 30. I personally prefer SPF 30, since I am on the fair side and I like more protection. This retails for about $7-9 at most drug stores. 

Olay Fresh Effects Soak Up the Sun Protection! Lightweight Moisturizing Sunscreen (SPF 15) and Aveeno Positively Ageless Youth Perfecting Moisturizer (SPF 30)

I have very touchy skin that breaks out easily, so I don't like using the same sunscreen on my face as I do on my body. I have two different SPF moisturizers that I rotate between. 

The first is Aveeno's Positively Ageless Youth Perfecting Moisturizer which, in addition to having an SPF of 30, has anti-aging benefits that brighten and firm your skin. It also reduces the appearance of wrinkles and slows future aging. My only complaint with this one is that it is a little heavy and leaves my face looking a little greasy after I apply it, but this is easily fixed by putting on some face primer after. This is on the pricy side, retailing for around $14 for 2.5oz, but worth it if you are looking for an anti-aging moisturizer that is gentle on your skin. 

The second moisturizer I've been using is Olay's Fresh Effects Soak Up the Sun Protection. I found this at Walmart on clearance for a little under $4 for 2.5oz. It usually retails for about $13, but you can get it on Amazon as an add-on item for $4.88! You can't beat that! I LOVE this moisturizer. It is lightweight, doesn't leave my skin looking too greasy, and has SPF 15. It also has a lovely, light honeysuckle and white tea scent. It doesn't make me break out which is an awesome bonus. It would be perfect if it had anti-aging benefits like the Aveeno!

Hawaiian Tropic Lip Balm (SPF 45), ChapStick 8 Hour Moisture in Green Apple (SPF 12), Aquaphor Lip Repair + Protect (SPF 30)

Did you know that there were lip balms that have SPF? The skin on your lips is very delicate and susceptible to burning. I originally picked up the Hawaiian Tropic lip balm ($2, Walmart) because it smells great and has SPF 45, which is a HUGE amount of protection! However, I noticed that when I wore it, it leaves a weird aftertaste in my mouth. I assume this is from the sunscreen in it, but there's no point in having a high SPF if you aren't going to wear it. 

On my next trip to Walmart, I discovered this Chapstick in green apple ($1.50) and Aquaphor lip protectant ($3.80).

I am actually super impressed with the Chapstick. The green apple smell is amazing, it boasts 8 hours of moisture for your lips, and has SPF 12 with NO funky aftertaste. I use it every day now.

The Aquaphor Lip Protectant heals very dry lips, which is extremely beneficial to me right now, as I am on a medication that makes my lips dry and peel. It is fragrance free and has SPF 30. I use this whenever my lips are really dry and peeling, and it works better than the steroid cream my dermatologist prescribed me for my lips. 

Sun Bum Beach Formula 3 in 1 Leave In

Yes, the sun can do a lot of damage to your hair, especially if it has been color treated. Prolonged sun exposure can cause your hair color to fade and your hair to become dry and brittle. To combat that, I picked up Sun Bum's Beach Formula 3 in 1 Treatment. Spray this into your hair to condition, de-tangle, and protect your color against UV damage. It also protects your hair against heat appliances, chemical damage, color fading, split ends, sun and wind damage, and tames frizz. That's a lot of power in one bottle! It also smells incredible, which will make you want to apply and reapply it (have you figured out yet that I like to smell like a giant coconut all summer long?). This goes for $15 for 4oz at Ulta. 

Jergens BBHand Perfecting Hand Cream with SPF 20

Despite our best efforts to keep our faces looking young, we often forget about our hands, which are the first things to give away our age when we get older. Think about it: your hands get a lot of indirect sun exposure just when you drive. 

Jergens has a wonderful BB hand cream, which has a broad spectrum SPF 20. Since it's a BB cream, it also hydrates your hands and smooths uneven texture; after two weeks, it is supposed to even skin tone and diminish the appearance of dark spots. I usually suck at applying lotion to my hands, but this smells so nice I've been pretty good at applying it daily (the bottle recommends you apply ever two hours. Small steps.). Basically, this lotion will whip your hands into shape and keep them looking youthful with regular use. $7 for 3oz at Ulta. 

Zoya Armor Top Coat & UV Blocker

By now, you probably think I'm a crazy person. While there is no sunscreen for your nails, per se, Zoya's Armor Top Coat & UV Blocker does prevent your nail polish color from fading and getting dull from sun exposure. Keep your mani fresh during your entire beach vacation! This retails for $10 at zoya.com. 

Hawaiian Tropic After Sun Moisturizer in Lime Coolada 

Finally, we've talked a lot about products to help protect your skin from the sun, but what about taking care of your skin after being in the rays all day? For all of my SPF touting, I still forgot to reapply my sunscreen last week and got a little burned (d'oh!). It happens to the best of us from time to time. I picked up a bottle of Hawaiian Tropic After Sun Moisturizing Lotion in Lime Coolada. This works exactly like an aloe gel, without the cruel application of icy-cold gel to your burning hot skin. You apply it just like you would a regular lotion. I was skeptical at first, since I've only ever used aloe gels, but WOW. This gave me some relief from my burned back, smelled amazing, and left my skin incredibly silky, thanks to the Shea and cocoa butters in the formula. I read some other reviews of this lotion, and there are people that swear by this as a daily lotion. It's definitely a more sophisticated after sun option; another little luxury that your skin will thank you for. You can get a 16oz bottle at Walmart for $7. 

That is everything, my friends! I hope that this post has given you a few new ideas on how to protect yourself during the summer and beyond. These are the products I like best, but search around for whatever works for your body and your budget. As I said before, there's no point in buying something you won't use! So find stuff you love, and keep yourself protected from head to toe so that one day, nobody will be able to tell your real age ;) 

Simple Mani Monday

Hello, readers! 

So I've been slacking a bit. I haven't swatched my Zoya Earth Day Exchange yet, and I've been pretty busy so I haven't had the chance to do any crazy nail art. Luckily, Nail Vinyls make simple manicures look like I put in a lot of effort ;) 

This week I did a lightning bolt manicure using two colors from Orly's Summer 2015 "Adrenaline Rush" collection. 

Orly in "On the Edge" and "Thrill Seeker"

Full disclosure, I actually only kept this mani for blog post photos. After that, I removed the design off my index and pinky fingers and just wore that lime green "Thrill Seeker" color all week. That tennis ball color got me several compliments throughout the week! 

Sometimes I get so wrapped in trying to do interesting designs for the blog that I don't ever get to wear my polishes as-is; just one color on all ten fingers. It's something I may try to work on in the future. 

Next week, be sure to check back because I will be doing an entire post on my favorite SPF beauty products! 

May Ipsy Review: Jetsetter

May's Glam Bag theme was "Jetsetter", complete with travel essentials and an adorable bag to keep them in. 

Overall Rating: 4 stars 

Best Product: I really, really want to say Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-on Lip Pencil in "Ozone". But I'd be lying. This month's winner is BelláPierre Cosmetic's Waterproof Miner Gel Eyeliner Pencil in "Ebony". 

Worst Product: Bare Republic Naturals SPF 30 Mineral Face Sunscreen Lotion. 

Most Expensive Product: Pixi by Petra's Beauty Bronzer in "Summertime" (although this may not be totally accurate, as the pricing on their website included a kabuki brush and my sample did not). 

Glam Bag Total Value: ~$52.00

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Lip Pencil in "Ozone"; Revolution High-Color Lip Gloss in "Bittersweet" and "Failbait"

First up is this amazing pack of lip products from Urban Decay. I actually cheered out loud when I saw I would be getting this in my glam bag this month. Included in the sample was their 24/7 Glide-on Lip Pencil in "Ozone" and two samples of their Revolution High-Color Lipglosses in the colors "Failbait" and "Bittersweet". 

This translucent lip pencil is meant to be used as a lip primer. You can use it to line your lips to prevent bleeding of lip colors, you can use it all over your lips to make your lip color last longer, you can even use it to correct mistakes and fill in fine lines! It's a really cool product that goes on smooth and it doesn't feel like you have anything on your lips while wearing it. 

Revolution High-Color Lipgloss in "Bittersweet" 

The glosses were equally amazing, and I'd definitely be interested in picking up some full-sizes in the future. It is super pigmented, and really glossy. It didn't feel at all sticky. The color "Failbait" was especially beautiful and feminine, and definitely more wearable than it's edgy "Bittersweet" counterpart. 

The glosses are available in 14 shades and retail for $22. The lip pencil comes in both a thin and thick barrel option in prices ranging from $16-$20. I'd give both 5 stars. 

BelláPierre Cosmetics Gel Eye Liner in "Ebony"

As much as I wanted the UD products to be my favorite this month, this eyeliner just really hit all the right notes. Super black, it glides on buttery smooth, can be blended out for a sexy smokey eye, and does NOT budge until you decide to take it off. I was really impressed with the product, especially since it is from a brand I've never used or heard of before. I got a full-sized version, which retails for $14.99. 5 stars!

NUXE Rêve de miel Face Cleansing and Make-Up Removing Gel

I definitely had some mixed feelings about this Facial Cleansing and Make-Up Removing Gel by NUXE. On one hand, I felt like my face wasn't being cleaned while I used it. There were no suds to speak of. But when I stepped out of the shower, my eye-makeup was TOTALLY removed, which definitely impressed me. However, the smell of it made me feel like a hippie all day. I will finish the sample, but I wouldn't likely buy it again. This retails for $19, but my sample was worth $1.41. 3 stars. 

Pixi by Petra Beauty Bronzer in "Summertime"

This bronzer is just wonderful. When I first saw it, I wasn't to keen on the fact it had shimmer in it. Usually, I use bronzer just for contouring. But I decided to give bronzing my whole face a try with this product, and it was perfection! The shimmer is very subtle and adds a beautiful glow. The color of the bronzer itself isn't too dramatic or dark against my fair skin. It gave my whole face a gorgeous bronze glow, perfect for days when you don't want to fuss around with contouring or get tired of blush. This retails for $18 on pixi's website, but that price also includes a kabuki brush. 5 stars. 

This was another confusing product for me. The texture of it is... Strange. It says it doesn't leave your face oily, but the product itself feels really oily. Almost slimy, even. After putting it on, it is true that it did not make my face greasy, but I just wasn't digging the formula on this. Again, I'll probably use up the sample while poolside in the summer, but I don't anticipate using it again. A full size bottle retails for $15, but my sample was worth $4.41. 2 stars. 

I had a couple duds in my bag this month, but the winners truly made up for it. I already can hear my wallet crying from the inevitable purchase of those UD products! 

Want to try Ipsy for yourself? For just $10 a month you can get in on the fun of getting makeup products delivered to your door! Use this link to sign up: http://www.ipsy.com/r/c16l?sid=ipsypoints&cid=email

Mani in Manhattan: Neon Tribal

This past weekend I went with Mike to New York City to visit friends in both Manhattan and Brooklyn. We always love seeing our friends up there, and, to be honest, it's the only type of vacation we can afford right now, so we try to take advantage about twice a year or so.  

I cannot emphasize this enough: seeing the city with people who live there is a COMPLETELY different experience than seeing it by yourself. Many people who visit the city go to the typical tourist attractions: Times Square, Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, etc. 

There's nothing wrong with those places, and they are cool to see. But when you get shown around New York by a New Yorker, you get to see all the cool little hole-in-the-wall hot spots and restaurants that you wouldn't otherwise know about. 

Brooklyn Bowl is a great example of this. It is a bowling alley in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, that doubles as a bar and concert venue. Pretty cool, right? Well they also do events, like Emo Night, which we attended Friday night. I got to dress up as a douche-y, 2005 teenager (let's be real, a former version of myself) and scream along to classic songs by Taking Back Sunday, Story of the Year, My Chemical Romance, and more. 

"Am I doing this right?"

Mike and I *did* do one tourist-y thing, and visited the Central Park Zoo. It was worth every cent, especially for the time I spent watching the harbor seals twirl around in their pool. 

There was also brunch. Lots of brunch. SO MUCH BRUNCH. I'm pretty sure by Sunday afternoon, my kidneys were swimming in champagne and orange juice. 

"Do you guys have pitchers of mimosas? Yeah, we will have one of those. That's right, just for the two of us. Thanks."

#NoShame. 

And, of course, I had to browse around a city Sephora. I'm glad I did, because I got to see, and hold in my hand, a Christian Louboutin nail polish in all it's glory. They retail for $50 EACH, so I really felt like I was in the presence of greatness. 

Which brings me to my final point: what I did with my nails for the weekend. I arrived in the city wearing a light sundress and wore a lot of black and white or tribal throughout the weekend, so I wanted to do something that would work with whatever I wore. 

Zoya in "Ali", "Purity", and "Willa"

Despite using my smallest detailing brush, the tribal still turned out a little messy, but not too terrible for my first freehand tribal. But, holy moly, that pink?! EYE searing. It's a great pink neon for the summer, it really packs a punch. 

Gradients and Dots Mani

I'm obsessed with neons right now. I just got my Zoya Earth Day Exchange order in the mail, and half of the polishes I ordered are screaming fluorescent. 

I haven't had a chance to use them yet, so I used another set of my favorite neon shades from Orly. 

I saw this manicure done by @duhmynails on Instagram:

Credit: @duhmynails

It was so adorable and fun I knew I had to recreate it, but since I love gradients a bit more than dots, I switched the design up a bit. 

I used Orly's neons from their "Baked" collection in "Neon Heat", "Ablaze", and "Saturated" for the gradient and dots with Zoya's "Purity" for the base. On the ring finger I used OPI's "Coronation" topped with Zoya's "Electra". 

This upcoming Thursday I'm headed up to NYC with Mike to visit amazing friends, so I'll definitely be putting my new Zoya neons to good use and writing a big blog post on the weekend, so keep your eyes open for that next week! 

I'll also likely dedicate an entire post to swatches of my Earth Day Exchange haul. 

Have a fabulous week! 

Scarf Inspired Manicure

Hello, everyone!

This past week I was doing ✨SCIENCE✨ on a research vessel. It's exhausting work, but I still managed to find time to do a pretty kickass manicure, if I do say so myself. 

I recently got $20 in rewards (i.e. Free money) from Pier 1, and we got a new scarf in that I fell in love with, so I used my rewards to pick it up. I realized it made great inspiration for a manicure. 

I then built a whole look around this scarf, matching my makeup and nails to it. 

The scarf, $16.95, Pier 1 Imports

Bold lower liner using Urban Decay Electric palette in shades "Chaos", "Fringel, and "Freak"

Scarf inspired colors: Zoya "Ryan", Sally Hansen "Pacific Blue", and Zoya "Bevin"

Entire mani polishes, including Zoya "Cosmo" and OPI "My Vampire is Buff"

I was thrilled to find a bottle of the discontinued "Pacific Blue", it was the perfect color to match the scarf and an essential color in any serious collector's stash, I'm told! 

I had intended for this to be a chevron gradient, but the only chevron vinyls I had left were the fat ones, so it just looks like individual colors with nude in between. I took that opportunity to place an order for more skinny chevron Nail Vinyls ;)

Regardless of the lack of gradient, I really loved the way this turned out and will definitely be doing variations of this mani in the future.