Lips -L'Oreal - Colour Riche Balm
Peskypixie 5/7/2013 1:33:00 PM
I picked up the LE shade 'Sundays by the Seine' a nearly colorless light blue. I do find that it mutes my natural color just a bit.
The scent is divine, a perfect cotton candy. It's not the most moisturizing, only ok. I will probably pick up a backup because I like the look with a darker eye and being a child of the 90's a wearable blue lip color is something that makes me so happy!
Packaging is also very chic- I love the sleek look in my handbag. You hear a nice *click* when the cap is attached, and the product does not get stuck in the tube.
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Polishes -Orly - First Kiss
Peskypixie 4/28/2013 9:22:00 PM
This is a perfect nude for me with two coats with some VNL. Three coats is a bit stark and white, so I think I will just sponge a gradient onto the tips of my nails to even out the color to eliminate the VNL.
I was trying to decide between this and Prelude to a Kiss and the SA at Sally's let me swatch them over tape. First Kiss is peachier, Prelude to a Kiss is more pinky / mauve.
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Top/Base Coats -Color Club - Milky White Base Coat
Peskypixie 4/27/2013 12:36:00 AM
I did not notice that it made a difference in either the color of my nails or the longevity of my polish. Tried both solo and with CND Stickey and my strengthener. Color Club polishes seem to not work well with my nails in general, so this does not surprise me (I ordered it with 9 polishes and 2 topcoats). I found that the polish flaked off in large pieces and not in any general zone, so I don't think it was my prep.
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Treatments -Creative Nail Design - Scrub Fresh
Peskypixie 4/23/2013 2:23:00 AM
I use this to prep my nails before I apply polish. I remove the cuticle (this is the part that covers the nail, not the fold at the base of the nail which is the eponychium) with a cuticle remover and orangewood stick, and apply a cuticle oil to the surrounding skin.
When I'm ready to polish I take one cotton pad, fold it over, and put a bit of Scrub Fresh on it. I then wipe each nail until I hear a *squeak* paying special attention to the sidewalls.
You really need so little instead of removing the seal, I just put a pinhole in and plenty of product comes out. I'm currently on my second bottle, and I will definitely get a backup when mine gets low... next year?
Since I've started clearing the cuticle from my sidewalls and using Scrubfresh (just one alone does not do it) I have noticed very little lifting of my polish until removed-- mostly just tipwear. I'm able to get 7+ days with my current mani regimen, this product is a big part of it. and works much better than acetone or nail polish remover to prep the nail plate for polish.
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Polishes -Essence - Better than gel nails high gloss top sealer
Peskypixie 4/23/2013 2:12:00 AM
This is my HG topcoat. It's really expensive to get from Europe, but they don't sell this line or a comparable product here. If I cap my tips and refresh (usually with Color Club Vivid) my manicure looks good for 7+ days with just tipwear.
I have noticed that if it is applied before my polish is dry it can be a little streaky. I usually spend and episode or two of a BBC miniseries doing my nails, so I can't really comment on drying time. I have noticed that I don't get any marks with this. I will usually use quick dry drops to speed the process up.
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Shave Products -Dr. Bronner's - Shaving Soap Gel
Peskypixie 4/23/2013 12:39:00 AM
My husband has been looking for a new shave cream since Kiss My Face changed their formula a few years ago. He picked this out in Peppermint & Spearmint and used it once to shave his face as normal. Gave him an allergic reaction - quite a bad red, itchy face. No nicks / cuts so must have worked? Good thing he shaved in the evening, would have sucked to go to work like that!
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Polishes -Orly - Nail Polish
Peskypixie 4/21/2013 9:17:00 PM
By far my favorite polish brand. I love the rubberized grippy top - it really helps me do my right hand. I never have application issues, the formula lasts and lasts on me. I also love that it's a thicker formula and with a good topcoat gives some stability to my nails. Pretty cheap at Sally Beauty with a decent selection of colors.
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Polishes -Orly - Star Spangled
Peskypixie 4/21/2013 9:08:00 PM
Love this! The first coat is a PITA, but that's the norm for all red jellies. 2nd and 3rd coats evened out beautifully, and all of my nails have a nice even line - no problems with flooding. My nails look like Judy Garland's ruby slippers. I marked 'yes' to repurchase because if I were to lose or break I think I would miss it... dark colored polishes I tend not to wear more than once unless I'm using them in art. I just might wear this a second time! Probably a great pedi color too!
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Top/Base Coats -Color Club - Vivid color intensifying top coat
Peskypixie 4/21/2013 9:03:00 PM
I use this as a refresher topcoat. Daily I recap my tips and put a thin layer over my existing manicure. If I'm wearing really light colors I'll do a quick swipe with remover first, but it's not really needed with most darker colors. Dries very fast, can be streaky if you apply too thin. I love that it keeps my mani looking shiny for 7+ days. I had tried using my normal topcoat to refresh in the past, but it was just too thick- this is the perfect thickness when applied. I have not noticed a 'brightening' effect to polish, but I don't know if that is just because I only use it as a refresher topcoat.
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Top/Base Coats -Butter London - Nail Foundation Flawless Basecoat
Peskypixie 4/19/2013 9:16:00 AM
This is really a PITA to work with. Just a warning- I don't have healthy nails, I have a gluten intolerance and my nails are the first sign that there is a problem with my nutrient intake (then my hair starts to thin). However, I have found some products that will reduce / prevent these problems.
The concept is great - I've been looking for something just like this for years. I did not find that it evened out the color of my nails. The white tips of my nails are really low and uneven from years of... stuff (I kept them trimmed to the point that there was no free edge because they would bend backwards otherwise). Goes on very very sheer, as a base I find I have a big problem with chipping-- just does not work with my chemistry. I usually only wear it alone and that requires several coats to give a nice natural nail look for a day or two, which is fine but that's not why I bought it.
I have really thin nails, so even with several coats this is not really substantial enough to support my rather delicate nails. I also found that using this as a base for a few weeks resulted in my nails reverting to their original problem state. I had to trim them back to teensy tiny nubs. It took about 8 months of trimming and treatments for me to finally have nails again. :*(
This is probably a great product for someone without problem nails who has never had issues, and has more normal tips than I.
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Treatments -Sally Hansen - Cuticle Massage Cream with Apricot Extract
Peskypixie 4/14/2013 8:38:00 PM
This did not absorb into my cuticles at all. I picked it up because it appeared to be gluten free. It just went on as a sticky mess, never really accomplishing anything.
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Treatments -Sally Hansen - Instant Cuticle Remover
Peskypixie 4/14/2013 8:09:00 PM
I've been using this for a few years and am fairly happy. Works also to thin calluses on feet. Occasionally I feel that I need to do a second application, but that's rare (hence the 4). I do feel that my nailpolish lasts longer after I've used this to prep the nail plate.
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Treatments -Burt's Bees - Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream
Peskypixie 4/14/2013 6:17:00 PM
I love the smell of this. The little tin is cute and tidy, I've never had any issues with it, despite the fact that it does not always return to my makeup bag in my handbag. It could be a but more moisturizing- it seems to be a bit beeswax heavy. It's also more of a balm / ointment perpetration than a cream. I had picked this up as a gluten free replacement for Lush's Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter (my MIL who gardens LOVES it) but it is a bit lacking. Will repurchase until I find something that works like Lush's but won't poison me.
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Lotions/ Creams -Badger - Cuticle Care
Peskypixie 4/14/2013 6:12:00 PM
Picked this up as I wasn't getting quite enough moisture from Burt's Bees Cuticle Butter, and had read that it was a substitute (and less smelly than) Bag Balm (which it is not). I hated the smell, and it never really did anything for my cuticles despite the quantity applied.
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Lotions/ Creams -Unlisted Brand - Bag Balm
Peskypixie 4/14/2013 6:08:00 PM
Uugh. I cannot believe I am writing this. All the older nurses I worked with would reply to what felt like every statement 'I just put Bag Balm on it'. After trying to resist for years, I started putting Bag Balm on cuticles, some mild eczema and even on a wart that would not go away. The wart is what really surprised me. It had been on the tip of my finger for a year and within a week of trimming and treating with the bag balm it started to heal. I didn't see any new growth. My only complaint is the smell! I hate the stench emitting from my hands or feet when I put this on. I try to limit to night, and if I can use something else, like Burts Bees Cuticle Balm, I will.
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