At Home Gel Manicure

For a long time I was spending money on getting my nails done. Not just the cheap $10 manicures with regular polish (though thats not so cheap once it starts adding up). I was going for gel manicures.

If you don't know what a gel manicure is, its a type of nail polish that is applied in layers and cured under a ultraviolet light. Most people rave about them, but for some people, it is not there cup of tea.

Gel Manicures are definitely my cup of tea. They strengthen my nail allowing them to grow, they dry instantly and they last for up to two weeks with no chipping. It all sounds great right? - except they were costing me close to $30 a pop!

If you actually went every two weeks thats $60 a month on your nails. Remember the post I did where I talked about how to save money? (Read it here) Yea, well this is not a way to save money.

INSTEAD, I invested in the at home kit! Best decision I could have made. I am able to get the exact same manicure at home all by myself. The kit was about $50 from the drug store, plus whatever polishes you get. Now there are a ton of different Ultraviolet Light Kits out there, and they all vary in price. This is just the one I chose (here). Over time I collected different color polishes from holidays, birthdays and other events.

Step 1 : Prep and Prime

File and trim your nails into your desired shape. Clean with an alcohol wipe and gently buff the surface. Apply one layer of gel primer (provided in my kit) to the nail and let air dry. 

Step 2: All About That Base

Apply a thin layer of the gel base/top coat. Be sure to stay within the nail bed to avoid the skin and cuticle. Cap the nail by running the brush along the tip. Cure in the LED Lamp for 30 seconds. 

Step 3: Lacquer Up

Apply a thin layer of your color of choice (I purchase all different brands, they all work the same). Be sure to stay within the nail bed to avoid the skin and cuticle. Cap the nail again, and cure for 60 seconds.  - REPEAT THIS STEP 

Now typically at this point you would move on to the top coat, but I wants to add a little something something to my nails by creating an accent nail on my ring fingers. 

Step 4: Add Some Jazz

Apply a thin layer of color (or design) to the nail of your choice. Cure for 60 seconds. 

Step 5: Lock It In Place

Apply a thin layer of the gel base/top coat. Be sure to stay within the nail bed to avoid the skin and cuticle. Cap the nail by running the brush along the tip. Cure in the LED Lamp for 30 seconds. 

Step 6: Finish It Off

At this point your nails are completely dry, but they may feel slightly sticky. Finish the look by removing the moisture layer using an alcoholic lint-free wipe. 

Love It or Leave It

Welcome to the very first Love It or Leave It! If you didm't see the memo post previously, you can check it out here! Basically, on the first of every month I am going to review a product, and let you know if I loved it or if I would leave it. For the month of November I am talking about the City Proof Twistable Intense Lip Color by NYC. Now if you don't know yet, I prefer a more natural pinky lip, like the lip combo I wore here! However, for the sake of a review and to get outside of my own comfort zone, I chose a darker color.

Application: (4/5)

The chubby stick applicator makes it super quick and easy to apply. However, it also makes it very easy to over line your lips!

Price: (5/5)

The price on any of NYC's products is unbeatable. Some may even say its down right cheap!

Color: (4/5)

I must say the color pay off was very good. It was a gorgeous color swatched on the hand, and it was a very build-able color on the lips. I didn't give this lipstick 5 stars because I do wish it lasted a little longer on the lips. It does leave behind a nice stain, but you absolutely have to reapply frequently to get the full effect.

Overall: I love this product!

Raisin The Bar | Sally Hansen

Photo from The Gallery for Sally 

I am known by my friends and family for constantly changing out my nail color. I just can't help it, it is in my DNA. Until now I have not been able to find a polish that gives me the color, no streaks and most importantly, no chips! well no more excuses for long, unkept, crazy looking nails for this gal. I have found the holy grail of nail polish. 

I am in love with this polish by the one and only Sally Hansen Salon Complete Manicure. I swear by this polish! I probably have it in about 10 colors (anyone interested in a collection post?!)

My go to colors for the fall season are darks, nudes and pinks. This is the perfect blend of the all! It is almost rosy but natural and still deeper than a pale pink. The best part is I am able to wear it for over a week WITHOUT a base OR top coat! How awesome is that?! 

Because of the "salon complete" formula, the base and top coat are already included within the polish, making this a one stop shop! 

What is your favorite nail polish brand or color? I would love to give them a shot. 

My Lips But Better | Nude Lip Combo

So if you couldn't tell by the title of my blog, I am kinda simple. I lead a simple life, like simple things, and that holds true for my make up. With the Fall season in full swing, it's the perfect time for beauty gurus to break out all of their vampy (dark) lip colors. Well good thing I am not a beauty guru, because let me just be honest in saying.. DARK COLORED LIPS SCARE ME! Lately, I have been really trying to break out of my comfort zone by reaching for a light plum lip here and there. But my go to lip color is the "my lip but better" combination!

They're super soft, creamy, luxurious (incase you didn't get all that from their name) and long lasting! The best part is that they're DRUGSTORE!

Now everybody's "my lip but better" color is going to be different based on your skin tone and complexion, but for me.. this is the golden ticket!

Love It or Leave It

So, after reading about some great blogging techniques, one thing that continually came up was to incorporate a recurring theme in your blog's page. I have so many ideas floating around that I could easily post regularly about but for starters, I came up with "Love It or Leave It". I know I know, there are so many variations of posts like this in regards to beauty products. BUT, I am going to do it anyway! So on the FIRST day of each month (November 1st will be the first post), I will post about a product that I have been using, and whether I love it or I would leave it! It will not always be beauty, it could be ANYTHING! The sky is the limit, food, haircare, fashion, makeup, school related, you name it!

This month's Love it or Leave it is going to be on the NYC City Proof Twistable Intense Lip Color ! See you on November 1st !

Perks of a Pixie | Inside Scoop

Today we are going to talk about PIXIE CUTS! The edgy, fun and trendy look a lot of girls seem to want but are too afraid to get. Having made the drastic transformation from long hair to pixie, I quickly learned the perks of a pixie.

Are you the girl who has no time in the morning to do her hair, so you throw it up in a messy bun or a quick braid?

Are you the girl who HATES having to wash her hair so frequently because.. well.. because we're lazy human beings?

PERKS OF A PIXIE!!

1. Losing the hair literally takes some weight off your shoulders! (No pun intended) But really! Your head will just feel so much lighter and brighter without all the added weight handing from your scalp!

2. Makeup! I discovered makeup before my pixie, but I didn't have as much fun with it as a do now! You quickly realize after cutting your hair that you no longer have a fuzzy blanket on your head to hide behind. My pixie cut forces me to CARE about what I look like. I actually take the time to put on the little extra eyeshadow to make my face pop! Especially since now that's what everyone is going to be looking at!

3. Second day hair is so much easier! With a pixie cut, it is so much easier to throw on a scarf, hat, headband or dry shampoo and call it a day!

4. Going from long to short, I did more than just cut my hair. I cut my "getting ready time" in HALF! Thats right ladies... I said HALF! Now when I wake up, I spritz my hair, throw in a little product and I am out the door! (well clothes may be necessary but you get the idea!)

5. Last but definitely not least in the list of Perks of a Pixie is that SHORT HAIR IS FIERCE! Just look at Katie Holmes, Anne Hathaway, Jennifer Lawrence and SO many other celebrities! They're all going pixie, and YOU SHOULD TOO!

Everyday Makeup | Get Ready With Me

Hey LoveBugs -

Happy Wednesday!! I decided to get ready with you for a nice lunch out with the boyfriend. Now let me start by saying.. I am makeuply challenged. So this look is for all my SIMPLI AMAZING readers who need a quick, easy, no fuss look. 

I start by priming my face with the Smashbox Photo Finish Blemish Control Primer (wooh thats a mouthful). This is like the base coat you use when you polish your nails! It literally creates a smooth, even, last all day finish. Since I am very acne prone I use the blemish control formula, but there are a few other options.

Currently,  my favorite foundation is the Bobbi Brown Natural Finish Long Lasting Foundation! (why do all of these products have such long names?!) This foundation is AMAZE-BEANS! I am in the shade Beige 3. AKA- PASTY! It looks so natural and glides onto the skin. It even has SPF 15 which is better than nothing - skin protection is super important. I use a damp (& extremely dirty) beauty blender for application.

A little blush and bronzer goes a long way! It adds some color to this zombie-esq face, and nobody ever complains about some bronzed, flushed and highlighted skin. Laura Geller makes some great products! Compacts are perfect for travel, or just for easy convenience.

Now as I warned you.. I am not a beauty guru (yet) so my brow routine may be completely wrong. They say eyebrows frame the face, so I gave it the good old college try!

Maybelline Color Tattoos are literally the perfect invention for quick and easy looks. They don't even require that you use brushes! FINGERS ARE FASTER! I used two shades for some dimension, but I just slather it on with my fingers.

Makeup mathematical equation: Black liner on the top + Nude liner on the bottom + A boat load of mascara = EYES INSTANTLY AWAKE !

Now any kind of gloss, lipstick or balm will do but I particularly like this plumping gloss that makes my lips tingle (in a good way!)

Well that's a wrap! And if your slightly confused, DON'T YOU WORRY YOUR PRETTY LITTLE HEAD! I've got you covered.

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And for your view pleasure - I stumbled across this hilarious photo when uploading the footage from the video!