Nails

Paint Job: Pixi Nail Colour in Classy Cocoa

October 25th, 2012 by Karen 39 Comments

A few snapshots of my morning. 🙂

I’m trying to get out of a funk, so I started off the day by cooking a good old-fashioned Filipino-style breakfast, OM NOM NOM! An egg over easy, garlic fried rice and fried shrimp — it’s comfort food my mom makes on Sunday mornings.

A typical Filipino breakfast involves 1) eggs (or meat or seafood), 2) tons of garlic and 2) frying anything (AND EVERYTHING) in copious amounts of oil, LOL! I tried to make it a little healthier by using a non-stick pan and an olive oil mist spray from Trader Joe’s to cut calories and lighten things up, but it was still very hearty. I haven’t been eating a lot (just not hungry), and it certainly filled me up.

After breakfast I took some pics of leaves in the rain…

…and then spent way too much time trying to learn the dance from Jordan Knight’s magnum opus, 1999’s Give It To You.

Note to self: Not a good idea to attempt body rolls before 9 in the morning without stretching first. You’re way too old for that sh*z.

But what really cheered me up was the mani I did with Pixi’s new Nail Colour, Classy Cocoa ($8; available now at Target stores and target.com).

It flashes from a deep chocolate to a purply taupe, and from certain angles, a golden shimmer peeks through. Really super cool, and I think it looks like something you’d find over at Chanel or Dior. I can’t believe it’s only $8!

I used three coats, but you could probably get away with two. I just like how the polish looks that much richer with the third coat.

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What Are You Wearing on Your Nails?

October 18th, 2012 by Karen 24 Comments

I’ve got Nicole by OPI Mer-Maid For Each Other ($7) on my paws.

It’s a new shade for fall; I painted it on late last night when I otherwise should have been sleeping…

(That’s one of the things insomnia is good for — late-night at-home manicures.)

So I’m really diggin’ this duo-chrome effect. One minute it’s teal, and the next it looks green!

Pretty cool. 🙂

I really wanted to show you what it looks like underwater, like when I’m washing my hands or doing the dishes, because I think it looks neat! — like a mermaid’s tail — but it was logistically challenging (holding the camera with one hand while the other was underwater)…

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The Effects of This Venomous Vixen Wear Off Fast: The Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips in Venom Vixen

October 8th, 2012 by Karen 43 Comments

True, I could give myself a manicure the old-fashioned way, brushing on a base coat, carefully coating each nail with two (or sometimes three) layers of polish and finishing with a clear top coat to seal the deal, all the while hoping that a stray strand of tabby fur doesn’t fall on my handiwork before it dries, but these are modern times.

The future is now! — and in it, I’m wearing nail polish stickers. 🙂

sally hansen venom vixen — Sally Hansen Salon Effects in Venom Vixen

Yup, that’s right. Nail polish stickers, like these Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips. Each $9 (or thereabouts) kit comes with 16 pre-printed strips in various sizes, a cuticle stick and a miniature nail file/buffer — all the fixin’s for a futuristic, laquer-less manicure.

Talk about handy (haha! — sorry, bad pun), and lately, they’ve been saving my butt.

Stylish nails on the go

Before my quick trip down to Southern California last week, I had every intention of painting my nails, but time got away from me, and I had to head to the airport with bare claws.

But I couldn’t bear the thought of interviewing Too Faced Cosmetics Co-Founder and Creative Director Jerrod Blandino with naked nails, so at the last second, right before darting out the door, I dropped a set of Sally’s dark red and black snakeskin nail polish strips (codename: Venom Vixen) into my overnight bag.

It’s one of four snakeskin-inspired sets for fall. There’s also a tan and brown one called Queen Cobra, a black and gray one called Snake Charmer and a green and black one called Hiss-Terical (I love those names!).

sally hansen salon effects fall 2012 — From the left: Queen Cobra, Snake Charmer and Hiss-Terical

Ye olde airport bathroom test

I had some time to spare before my flight and still really, really wanted to paint my nails, but I wasn’t about to attempt that at the airport. I did, however, think I might be able to apply Sally’s nail polish strips.

And I did! Standing at the sink in the ladies’ room! 🙂

At one point, a woman using the sink next to me asked, “What are those? They look pretty cool.”

“They’re nail stickers,” I answered. “You stick ’em on bare nails, and then press them down, and file or just tear off the edge.”

They’re basically like nail polishes in sticker form, and when you’re ready to remove them, you can use regular old nail polish remover.

They took about 10 minutes to apply under less-than-ideal circumstances. Not bad. And the best part? — not having to wait for them to dry.

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What Are You Wearing On Your Nails?

September 27th, 2012 by Karen 27 Comments

Tabs went au naturale today. 🙂 While he’s usually on point when it comes to the latest fashion trends, he generally prefers nude, non-fussy claws. “Meow,” he says. [“It’s a street thing.”]

As for my claws, I’ve got two coats of Chanel Le Vernis in Malice on my left and nothing on my right…

But I’m just about to slap on these Trend Tips Real Lacquer Strips nail stickers from Sephora by OPI ($12). This one below is called Pink & Black Lace (Sephora also carries 17 other designs).

Tabs apparently approves. 🙂

How about you? What are you wearing on your nails?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. How’s it going tonight?

Oh! Get this — I was at Safeway earlier and saw that DiGiorno makes half-and-half frozen pizzas now. Half cheese, half pepperoni (the cheese for me and the pepperoni for El Hub).

It’s like someone read my mind, LOL! Got one in the oven right now…

Other than that, I’m gonna watch another episode of Friday Night Lights and go to bed. I’m almost halfway done with the fourth season (of five) and already starting to feel sad because I know it’ll be over soon.

[SNIFFS!] Texas forever, y’all. Texas forever.

What Are You Wearing On Your Nails?

September 18th, 2012 by Karen 38 Comments

I’m wearing the limited edition Sally Hanson Rock of Ages Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips in Fingerlace Gloves ($9.99; check drugstores for availability), which strutted on to counters earlier in the summer with seven other patterns inspired by the movie Rock of Ages.

Salon Effects are pre-cut, printed nail stickers that you apply to clean nails for an instant manicure with a glossy finish. To remove ’em, just use regular old nail polish remover and a cotton ball or pad.

It was pretty easy and only took about a half hour to do both hands. The stickers do seem to run big, so if you have small hands like I do, you may need to trim down a couple of the strips to fit your nails.

The box says the mani can last up to 10 days. Hmm! It’s only been two, and I already have a few chips. I’m pretty hard on my hands, though. It might be different if you aren’t typing or opening cans of gravy all day. 🙂

What about you? What are you wearing on your nails?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Bucking Holiday Trends, NARS Introduces Nails to Andy: The New NARS Andy Warhol Nail Polishes Pop On Fingers and Toes

September 4th, 2012 by Karen 18 Comments

nars andy warhol nail polish
NARS Andy Warhol Pop Collection Holiday 2012 Nail Polishes from the left: 15 Minutes, TV Party, Superstar, New York Dolls and Back Room

When people ask you what you did over the holidays, you say, “I don’t do reindeer sweaters, Santa hats or candy canes.”

And one year, when you won a 10-pound Costco fruitcake at the company Christmas party, instead of having it for dessert, you hurled it through a window (who no one was watching, of course).

If traditional holiday fare doesn’t light your fire, cheer up, my little emo buttercup! NARS may have a cure for your inner grinch.

nars andy warhol nail polish
From the left: Back Room, New York Dolls, Superstar, TV Pary and 15 Minutes

The new nail polishes in the NARS Andy Warhol Pop Holiday 2012 collection ($18 each) might not restore your faith in Rudolph and Frosty, but they may make you say “hrmpf!” a little less often than you do when you see super traditional holiday nail polishes in shades of red, green, silver and gold.

The five creamy, limited edition shades arrive on Sephora shelves and sephora.com next month, along with the rest of the new 22-piece (!) holiday collection for eyes, cheeks, lips and nails.

Black Back Room, purple New York Dolls, teal Superstar, lemon yellow 15 Minutes and vivid orange TV Party take a detour from the usual holiday nail polish route and look more like something you might see a cocky rocker chick wearing in a smoke-filled club.

nars andy warhol tv party
TV Party

nars andy warhol 15 minutes
15 Minutes
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What Are You Wearing On Your Nails?

August 28th, 2012 by Karen 40 Comments

china glaze deviantly daring

Right now I’m wearing China Glaze Deviantly Daring, and yes, that is a feather toy. 🙂

The lacquer, which is new for fall, retails for $6.99, and it’s available now at Sally Beauty stores.

The feather toy, coincidentally, which belongs to Tabs, sells at Petco for about the same price. This one here happens to be new and will probably last about a month.

(That’s how long it usually takes Tabs to pull all the feathers out.)

Hmm… I wonder what he’ll think about my matching manicure.

china glaze deviantly daring

Normally, I doubt he’d even look, but if the feather doesn’t get his attention…this bag of Greenies should!

china glaze deviantly daring

How about you? What are you wearing on your nails?

TV wins again

I came this close to going to bed tonight at 7. I was tired enough to do it, wanted to do it, but then I started watching Cinderalla Man on TV — the one with Russell Crowe and RenÃ©e Zellweger (whatever happened to her?) — and before I knew it, bam! It’s 9 o’clock.

Off to bed for me. I hope you had a good day, and I’ll see you again at the top of the hump. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

A Fall Trend to Try: Matching Tips and Lips

August 14th, 2012 by Karen 51 Comments

Butter London Toff
Butter London Lippy and Nail Polish in Toff on my lips and nails

Looks like matchy-matchy is in this fall. Quite a few lines have been releasing matching lip and nail products lately, like MAC, Sonia Kashuk and Butter London for fall 2012 (shown below), and can I just say? — I love this trend! 🙂

It reminds me of the sirens of the silver screen — so classic, elegant and pulled together — and with so many colors out there to choose from, it’s one of those rare trends in which everyone can find something to wear.

As some food for thought, here are three combinations featuring Butter London’s new Lippy Butter ($17 each) and 3-Free Lacquer ($14 each) shades, available online now at butterlondon.com.

butter london toff la moss queen vic
From the left: Lacquer and Lippy Butters in Toff, La Moss and Queen Vic

If you prefer more neutral/natural-looking colors, you could try a creamy rose like Toff.

Butter London Toff…I use hands a lot when I talk, so I think it’s kinda cool to have nails that play off the the color on my lips!

But if you want more drama-for-your-mama, then how about something vampy, like dark wine La Moss?

butter london la moss
Butter London Lippy and Nail Polish La Moss
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