OPI Can't Find My Czechbook

From the Euro Centrale Spring 2013 Collection - one of five that I grabbed when the collection first debuted earlier this year.  I love these types of blues and I'm always getting compliments when I wear them.  So pretty and so wearable on any skintone.  This polish performed beautifully.  The formula on this was flawless and provided complete opacity in just two easy coats.  I'm wearing one coat of Seche Vite on top.  Love.  Maybe my Czechbook should get lost more often ;) Bad joke.



 

I thought that this color might be similar to a couple others that I have, so for comparison purposes here it is with two other blues...including my favorite of 2012 - Deborah Lippmann's On The Beach.

 

China Glaze Bahamian Escape / OPI Can't Find My Czechbook /
Deborah Lippmann On The Beach

Can't Find My Czechbook is pretty much right in between these two...literally.  If Bahamian Escape and On The Beach had a baby I think it'd look like Can't Find My Czechbook.  Bahamian Escape is lighter and On The Beach is brighter.  I found the Euro Centrale Collection @ JCPenney for $8/bottle.  

Rimmel ScandalEyes Waterproof Kohl Eyeliner

These are BY FAR the best kohl pencils I have used from a drugstore brand in a very long time.  Seriously.  For the past few years, every pencil I bought from a drugstore brand left me pretty disappointed, but Rimmel just changed the game with their recently released addition to their ScandalEyes collection.

After using each of the colors I have to the point of having to sharpen, I can honestly say that I don't have any complaints about these pencils.  The formula is fantastic - they glide on easily, set quickly, and provide great pigment in just one swipe.  This stuff doesn't budge once ít sets and will last until you take it off, removing easily with your face cleaner/makeup remover.  You can grab 5 or 6 of these for the price of just ONE Urban Decay liner.  Granted, the colors offered are pretty basic so if you're looking for something a little more daring or vibrant these might not be for you, but for basic liners you really can't go wrong.  I purchased these in Sparkling Black, Brown, Taupe, Nude, and Purple - see photos/swatches below.

 

So far, I've actually gotten the most use out of Nude.  This color is perfect for waterline use when you need an extra boost of eye brightness.  It lasts for hours and it non-irritating.  I love that these came individually packaged also, which guarantees against in-store "testing" by others.

Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Eyeliner is available wherever Rimmel is sold.  I purchased each of these for $3.97 at Walmart.  You can find these colors and others available at Ulta.com for $4.49.

Salon Sciences Instant Artificials - Nail Care Must-Have

I am constantly searching for holy grail (HG) products and I buy more nail products than any other kind.  I have spent the better half of the last decade trying to find the best base coat that can double as a nail strengthener also.  I realize that not every one's nail needs are the same, so I can only suggest what's worked for me based on mine.  Regardless, I think that Salon Sciences Instant Artificials can find a purpose in any one's nail care routine and this is MOST DEFINITELY a HG for me.

One of my biggest nail issues is weakness or breakage.  This only tends to be a problem for me when I'm sans polish, so in-between color changes I need to be sure that I'm able to function without breaking my nails.  Enter Salon Sciences Instant Artificials.  Among the product claims are:

• Instantly mimics the hardness of acrylic nails with one application (with 2 coats);
• Ideal for weak nails compromised by salon systems;
• Use as a basecoat to extend the wear of polish (with 1 coat);
• Easily removed with regular nail polish remover; and
• Free of harsh chemicals & odors associated with acrylics.

I can't exactly speak to the first claim because I've never actually worn acrylic nails, but I'm familiar with their "hardness"and also the havoc they wreak on natural nails.  With just one coat, I can tell that my nails are harder, so with 2 I can only imagine you can achieve acrylic-like hardness.  I'd say that this product is ideal for weak nails, period.  I don't use salon systems (gels, acrylics, etc.), but I'm sure if you do and are looking for a product to aid in recovery, this will do the trick.  It does remove effortlessly with acetone or regular polish remover and is free of toluene, formaldehyde, and dibutyl phthalate.

Here's the science behind it: "The multi-polymer, liquid acrylic formula dries to a durable hard film that adds a second layer to the nail." Ok, so that's how it works.

One fact that Salon Sciences fails to include - this is also fast-drying which is why it works so well as a base coat.  One coat dries completely within 2 minutes. 

I use this as a strengthener on it's own or as a base coat when applying color.  You can find Instant Artificials at Sally Beauty Supply for $8.49/$7.69 (beauty club price).

Sephora X

As if Sephora didn't offer an overwhelming amount of product already....recently they introduced a new brand to the family: Sephora X.  I spotted this new display of polish back in December, but believe it or not, I glanced at it and never looked back.  It wasn't until a more recent trip that it further intrigued me.  A black and white graffiti/confetti polish caught my attention which I've been seeing a lot of versions of online and was wanting one.  This was the first of it's kind I had the opportunity to buy in person, so I snatched it.  After speaking with a sales associate (who happened to be wearing the same polish) I grabbed a creme color, base and top coat.  I tried all of them when applying my most recent paint job.  To say that I am impressed with the brand would be an understatement.  I'll discuss why, but first let's take a look.

Sephora X Rugged (2 coats), Sephora X Chaotic (1 coat).
NOTE: this photo was taken before I applied top coat.

w/ 1 coat of Sephora X Shine Top Coat.
NOTE: this photo was taken the following day in different lighting.

Sephora X Prime Base Coat was also nice. The formula was great and it dried to a matte finish within a minute or two, perfectly prepping my nails for the rest of my Sephora X. Sephora X Prime Base Coat retails for $9.50/bottle.

Rugged is described as a "neutral subdued sage."  Alright, I'll go with that.  It has just enough green to pull it out of the gray-zone.  Green and gray are favorites of mine - so I absolutely LOVED the color.  There were no surprises from the bottle to the nail, the color translated perfectly.  The brush was easy to control and the formula was absolutely outstanding.  No streaks, just even, shiny color with full opacity in 2 coats.  Rugged retails for $9.50/bottle.

Chaotic is a clear based polish with black and white confetti scattered throughout.  I was nervous about this one.  My experiences with confetti polishes haven't always been great.  The brush may not pick up enough and then when you start painting, it moves around and can bunch up on the nail.  With Chaotic I had the opposite experience.  I was able to cover evenly and never had to redip the brush to apply more confetti for each nail.  It also didn't move around on the nail if I re-stroked in the same area.  Chaotic retails for $11.50/bottle.

Sephora X Shine Top Coat is the SHINIEST top coat I've used to date.  This stuff is awesome.  It's not too thick and not too thin, flows onto the nail effortlessly and dries within minutes of applying.  It's so shiny when it dries that it still appears wet (I apologize that this didn't translate well in the photos).  I also want to point out that this smoothed out any rough patches associated with Chaotic.  Sephora X Shine Top Coat retails for $9.50/bottle.

Overall, I am SO pleased with my Sephora X purchases.  This polish line lives up to its claims - to "deliver unprecedented color, spectacular shine and incredible long-wear."  I'm on my third day with this manicure and there are no chips or scratches.  The top coat alone is worth getting if you don't want to spring for any of the colors.  I have only one complaint about this brand: the bottle size.  MOST polish bottles are .50 oz. but Sephora X bottles are .33 oz.  So you're paying a little more than average for less product.  I wish the bottles were bigger - but I can't hate on anything else.  I would get this brand over the OPI for Sephora any time.  Seriously.  That goes for the Sephora+Pantone Universe polish as well. 

You can purchase Sephora X polish at Sephora.com or in select stores (use the "find in store" feature for specific product).   

Rescue Beauty Lounge Bruised

Rescue Beauty Lounge is a brand that few have heard of - unless you're a polish fanatic like myself.   Ji Baek, the brainchild behind the RBL brand, was relentless in formulating her perfect nail polish which was finally achieved with the help of several lab technicians over the course of 2 long years. The brand does offer one of the best forumlas I've ever worked with and also has a unique color selection.  BUT RBL polishes come with a a hefty price tag at $20/bottle.  Yeah.

Bruised may look like a color you can pretty much get wherever and whenever....but trust me - it's not.  I have yet to come across a polish that could be used as a duplicate, which is the case with all of my RBL polishes.  The colors are unique and the formula is outstanding.  This is 2 coats of Bruised with a coat of Seche Vite:

Rescue Beauty Lounge Bruised

Bruised is currently listed in the "RIP" section of RBL's site.  There are just as many sold out or discontinued polishes as their are available ones.  If $20/bottle doesn't bother you - it's always advisable to jump on these polishes while they're available, because they usually don't last long.  However, on occassion, Ji will bring back a handful of popular colors based on fan requests.  For the most part I wait for an awesome deal from Ji, which she'll send an email about if you've created an account on the website.  If you're considering something, take a look at my polish list and request a swatch.  You can check Rescue Beauty Lounge polish out at RescueBeauty.com.

Let's Hear It For The Boys!

Why not dedicate a post to them....and guess what?  We have another "holiday"quickly approaching. Blah. Good ol' Valentine's Day is right around the 7-day corner and chances are more than one of you will fall prey to the consumerism monster that lurks behind every store-front and kiosk in sight.  For some of you with a significant other, gift giving (or FINDING) may be a frustrating process, especially considering that we just went through that a couple of months ago.  So, for the folks out there with a man in your life that are looking for a thoughtful, tasteful, and useful gift...I am here with an answer.  Get thee to a Jack Black retailer pronto (that's 'foreign' for fast).

First off, I'll thank my significant other for being my Jack Black guinea pig (without really knowing it).  I want the people in my life to take good care of their skin...especially if I'll be forced to look at it for the rest of mine.  And let's be honest, some men leave just a little bit to be desired when it comes to their skincare regimen.  Consider those men that are forced to shave daily, their skin goes through an awful lot right?  So why not make the experience as pleasant as possible for them while adding some skincare benefits at the same time.  ENTER Jack Black Beard Lube:

This stuff is awesome.  If you don't trust me - then trust the 300+ reviews at Sephora.com that gives this an overall rating of 4.8/5.  Whoa.  Plus, my guinea pig definitely approves.  This is a shave staple worthy of gifting at a decent price point.

And for the men with a much more devoted or intense skincare regimen Jack Black offers a variety of products.  In addition to the Beard Lube, I also purchased the Face Buff Energizing Scrub.  It's a great compliment to the Lube and preps skin for a seriously close and smooth shave. 

Jack Black is available at Sephora.  Beard Lube is available in 3oz. ($11), 6 oz. ($17), and 16 oz. ($33).  Face Buff is available in 3 oz. ($18) and 6 oz. ($30).  My man ended up with the 16 oz. Lube and the 3 oz. Buff. 

Oh - and ladies, while you're there pick up some Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm for yourself.  The flavors are great!!

Maybelline Color Whisper Lipstick

WHAT?  Does that say lipstick up there?  Why, yes - yes it does.  This new Maybelline Color Whisper is a cross between a balm and a lipstick.  These are similar to those tinted balms I love so much.  I tried my best to love the previously released Revlon Lip Butters, but they just didn't do it for me.  So I saw this new display from Maybelline and wanted to try one.  I'm going to make this short and sweet.  Of all the colored balms I've tried with the drugstore range of products, I like this one the best - by far (so far).  It provides a great deal of moisture, just enough color (which is buildable), and the packaging and product stay completely intact.  Among the 20 shades available, I chose "Rose of Attraction," see the swatch below.

 

I've only managed to find these in store at Walmart for now, where I picked mine up for about $6.00.
They were a January release, so you can expect to see them popping up at your local drugstores also.  I do plan on getting a few more colors.  Oh...and this one replaced the Hard Candy tinted lip balm I had on my desk at work.  Thanks Maybelline ;).

PS > I'll be back much sooner this time...I couldn't upload photos for a while, but now it seems to work fine.  See you soon!