Exciting Fall 2017 Lip and Nail Color Inspiration from Rimmel and Sally Hansen

*Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

Going from left to right is Society Ruler, Ruby Do and ending with Slicks and Stones.

For both Rimmel London and Sally Hansen, plum is the word to show off lips and nails this season.  From a brighter raspberry-infused plum to a vampy eggplant purple, Rimmel has Stay Matte Liquid Lip Colours in Plum This Show (810) and Midnight (800) to create that ideal velvety matte smoothness that is so popular.  

On the left is Midnight with Plum This Show on the right.

Nails are treated to the same rich degree of bold color with Sally Hansen’s Salon Manicure Ruby Do (490) and Society Ruler (418).  Ruby Do is a sophisticated wine with underlying red that is gorgeous especially against paler skin once tans begin fading.  Society Ruler is a dark plum that almost reminds me of grape jelly.  In the Color Therapy line, you might want to try Slicks and Stones (390), which is an exciting dark purple with multi-colored shimmers.

Whatever your favorite plum preference happens to be, here are some great inexpensive choices to play up your lips and nails.  My advice is to check out these particular shades in their Stay Matte Liquid Lip Colours, Salon Manicure and Color Therapy nail polish lines at your local drugstores or wherever you shop for Rimmel and Sally Hansen products.  

Your Pedicure Colors Matter Just As Much As Your Shoes for Showing Off the Most Beautiful Summer Feet

Every step you take will look better once you take this advice to heart.

Summer is the time to dive into fresh nail colors and take the plunge into brighter shades of wild pinks, vibrant oranges, blazing reds to ocean colors from deep navy, cobalt and indigo blues to cool turquoises and classy, pale neutrals in creams to metallics.  Though you may be tempted to just pick out a tempting color to adorn your feet and start painting, you really would be better off considering what shoes that you’ll be wearing first before committing to that color.

Now that it is sandal season, this pedicure tip is especially important if you want to have effortless style. The right polish suited to the shoe compliments the feet like a glam upgrade instead of distracting, which can make all the difference for amazing onlookers dazzled by your gorgeous feet.

A heavily embellished sandal already has a lot going on so you don’t want to overdo with too strong or too vibrant a pedicure color. If the design has metalwork, avoid metallic polishes, otherwise, you may risk your toes from looking like offshoots of the shoe itself.  An easy rule to remember is the more embellished, the more reason for a neutral color on your toes.  

Keep this summer pedicure tip in mind for the best foot beauty to keep you sizzling hot this season.

Sally Hansen’s NEW Royal Splendor Miracle Gel Collection (Can’t Take Back Royalty, Plush Blush, Regal Rose) Review + Swatches--A Summer Beauty Must!

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

Starting on the left is Sally Hansen's Plush Blush, Can’t Take Back Royalty, Regal Rose, and Top Coat on the right.

Just as a great statement piece of jewelry can update your wardrobe to make it current, new cosmetics and nail polish can help do the same for a fresh new look for your face and nails.  Sally Hansen’s Royal Splendor Miracle Gel Collection, set to debut in July 2016, has the summer chic shades and durability that can demand attention.

Review + Swatches: Sally Hansen’s Spring/Summer 2015 Rodarte Nails to Keep Summer Going As Long As Possible!

Disclaimer: This post is based on a free product provided by a company as a press sample so that I may offer my own opinion, which may be the same or differ from yours.

Here is  Sally Hansen's #843 Pink Shell from the 2015 Rodarte Nails Collection.

The Spring/Summer 2015 Rodarte nail shades from Sally Hansen are like chic accessories for your hands. The three Salon Manicure colors that I tried are absolutely gorgeous additions for nails in the way they style your hands with refinement and flare.

Of this company’s nail polishes, I think the Salon Manicure line is one of the best for a variety of reasons.  I love how this formula is free of formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, formaldehyde resin and camphor to better preserve health.  Another fabulous plus for this line is the big brush for easier maneuvering and how many days you can get without chipping before needing to remove this polish.  I get about a week, which is impressive considering there is housework involved that always seems to help to shorten the length of my nail polishes.

How do you like #843 Pink Shell?

If you want some great, easy to wear neutral shades that are stunning, I suggest you hurry to your drugstore or wherever you shop for Sally Hansen products and pick up #841 Pink Sand (light pink-toned beige without any shimmer) and #843 Pink Shell (pink-beige with shimmering luster like a sea shell) before these limited shades vanish.

This is #841 Pink Sand,.

This #841 Pink Sand goes with every outfit.

#848 Kashmir Valley is also another lovely choice.  This is a peach-pink that will do the trick to light up your hands with a bright splash of color.

#848 Kashmir Valley

Another wonderful shade is #848 Kasmir Valley.

My advice is check these Sally Hansen Spring/Summer 2015 Rodarte shades in the Salon Manicure line out because they can keep that beauty of Summer alive!

Review + Swatches--Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Polishes Shades As Hot As the Summer Season!

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

Starting on the left is Big Shiny Top Coat, then  Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Polish #170 Espresso, #280 Rapid Red, #155 Making Mauves, #325 Peachy Breeze, #125 Pumped Up Pink and ending with #160 Mauve It on the right.

You can always make just the right statement with fashion forward nails and toes.  With these six great shades of Sally Hansen’s Insta-Dri Nail Polishes, you are covered with attention-grabbing colors from fun brights to neutrals that can work so well for day through the night to help you sizzle.

The colors that I chose were #325 Peachy Breeze (perky coral-pink), #160 Mauve It (marriage of peach with soft mauve-pink bound together with a graceful shimmer), #125 Pumped Up Pink (cheerful rosy pink with a radiant shimmer), #155 Making Mauves (subtle gray-mauve neutral) to two year-round colors with #280 Rapid Red (classy matte red) and #170 Espresso (red-mauve matte with a bit of pink).

This was also my first time trying this fast-drying nail polish and loved the consistency of the formula as well as its big brush, which simplified for more precise painting and speeding up the manicure process.  I also liked how well this polish covered in one coat except for Peachy Breeze, which needed two.  However, I do prefer two coats because it does seem to make the polish last longer without chipping.

I swatched the shades for you in the below photos.  

The first one that I will show you is #155 Making Mauves.

#325 Peachy Breeze cries out fun with its bright splash of color.

#170 Espresso is perfect for anytime of the year.

A#160 Mauve It is easy to wear and a nice neutral.

This #280 Rapid Red is a gorgeous true red that is timeless.

This is one of my favorites #125 Pumped Up Pink along with my recipe for delicious Mock Pecan Pie. 

The only flaw that I found with this polish was it does chip in about two days.  However, wearing a top coat like Sally Hansen's Big Shiny Top Coat does help to extend the life and pump up the shine.  When you take into account how inexpensive Insta-Dri is along with a beautiful selection, this polish is wonderful for keeping nails beautifully groomed without breaking the bank in doing so.  Check Sally Hansen's Insta-Dri Nail Polishes out for yourself! 

*Disclaimer:  Free products were provided to facilitate this review--not my opinion.*

Review + Swatches: Mineral Fusion Nail Polishes Treating Nails to Healthier, Caring Color for Summer 2015!

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

The Mineral Fusion Nail Polish colors from left to right are Blaze, Sapphire Dream, Bubble, Rose Quartz, Treasure, and ending with Lagoon on the right. 

Beautifully painted nails always give style and flair.  Yet, many nail polishes and lacquers have less than healthy ingredients when you read the labels.  If you find a healthier alternative like Mineral Fusion Nail Polishes that have a gorgeous range of 61 shades and incredible finishes from creams, glitter, metallic, sheer to iridescent that hold up through the rigors of your day at a reasonable price, then you got a keeper.

Though I had used other products from this brand, I had never tried any of their 100% vegan, free of formaldehyde, toluene, camphor and disbutyl phthalate nail polishes until six perfect colors for now arrived. The shades I got were Sapphire Dream (teal blue cream), Bubble (lavender cream), Lagoon (seafoam green cream), Treasure (mustard-yellow iridescent), Blaze (red-orange cream), and Rose Quartz (medium mauve-pink cream).

On my left hand is Sapphire Dream (thumb), then Treasure, Rose Quartz, Lagoon, and ending with Blaze on my little finger.  Bubble is on my right thumb.

All the shades with the exception of one that I swatched provided excellent coverage with just one coat. Only Treasure, the yellow one, took three coats and was tricky to apply since it colored the sides and kept missing the middle of the nail. 

As far as drying time goes, it did not dry instantly but was quite typical of other polishes that I've used.  

My favorite shades were the Rose Quartz and Blaze.   Then again, the Bubble was a lovely, muted gray with lavender shade that brightened once applied that also appealed to me.  

To my happy surprise, this nail polish wore much longer than I ever expected without chipping.  In fact, I had some on for close to a week before the need to remove it. 

When you think of all the good things that this polish offers at only $7.99 a bottle, then how can you not love it?  I know that I want more and am interested in picking up their base and top coats as well as their polish remover after this experience.  How about you?  Have you tried Mineral Fusion Nail Polishes?  If not, do check out their website!

.*Disclaimer: Free product was provided to facilitate this review--not my opinion.* 

What’s in for Summer 2015 Nail Colors

Summer 2105 nail colors will play up your tan in style.   

Time to put away those pale pastels and think bright colors that can make tanned fingers and toes magnificently standout whether you’re at the pool or office.  This season you should look for hot pinks, lively orange shades,  fresh lilacs, sea colors of ocean, navy, sky, and teal blues, sea foam greens, sunny corals, and mustard yellows if you’re planning on giving those nails extra impact. 

 If you prefer the more neutral look of nudes, then nothing looks as timelessly chic as a pearlized shade of pink or peachy nude polish against a rich tan to set it off.

With so many stylish choices, it can often be hard to decide between such a rainbow of colors, so have fun!

The Most Flattering Nail Look for Aging Hands

This is my attempt at the "squoval" shape.

No one likes to think about aging, but it does happen to all of us sooner or later.  Not only do we have different facial concerns, but also the condition of our nails can change.  They may tend toward weakness, peeling, gain ridges, and discolor to require a strengthening treatment.

If this describes you, then you might be better off trying to work around the issue to best suit your needs instead of trying to follow the pack.  The outcome may pleasantly surprise you with how much younger your hands may look.

Instead of the square-shaped nail, I suggest altering it into a “squoval” shape.  By this, I mean that shape is not entirely square or purely oval but in between.  The look is more classic and chic.

Another recommendation is rethinking the length of your nails.  You may have kept them long just a few years earlier, but you should consider adapting to a shorter length beyond your fingertips.  This will further help protect them from breaking but also give your nails a timeless, graceful look.

Just as important to aging hands is the color you paint your nails.  Though wild, shocking colors of nail polish can be fun, you might want to save those shades for your toes and switch to pale, sheerer shades such as light pink or beige.  The reason is light colors seem to lengthen the look of the nail compared to bright shades that can make the nails appear shorter.

Review: Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail Polish (Mad Women, Spice Age, Too Haute) & Top Coat + SWATCHES!

Disclaimer:  This post is based on a free product provided by a company as a press sample so that I may offer my own  opinion, which may be the same or differ from yours.

This is Sally Hansen Miracle Gel 560 Spice Age.

A great way to give your image a boost is with a gorgeous shade of new lipstick or nail polish.  With Sally Hansen’s Miracle Gel Nail Polishes that I received, you are sure to find the colors to do just that among the tempting 47 polishes.  I got 520 Too Haute (violet-pink), 560 Spice Age (ginger-brown), 500 Mad Women (pink-fuchsia), and 100 Top Coat.  

These new polishes do have a nice size brush that made application fairly easy.

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel 500 Mad Women

For this review, I started by using one coat to paint my nails.   However, I do recommend two coats because the color can show through.  Nonetheless, I like to see how heavy the coverage when I first try new polish.  

I did follow the first coat with the 100 Top Coat.  It did not last nearly a week so I started again.  This time I gave myself two coats before adding the Top Coat.  What a difference that made in extending the wear of this polish.  I got 12 days of beautiful looking nails!

I do think 500 Mad Women or 520 Too Haute were my favorites to compliment my skin tone.  

I really liked not worrying about chipping with that extra time that I got.  If you are tired of painting your nails every other day, then do check these polishes out because this will solve that for you.

Have you tried any of Sally Hansen's Miracle Gel Nail Polishes yet?  Any favorite colors you recommend please share here.  

  

On the left is Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Top Coat with 520 Too Haute on the right.

Here I'm modeling Sally Hansen Miracle Gel 520 Too Haute.  This looks so striking even with jeans.  The color appears quite violet in the jar but once on the hands transforms into this unbelievable deep pink-violet.

Here I have on Sally Hansen Miracle Gel 560 Spice Age, a dramatic brown.

I thought Sally Hansen Miracle Gel 500 Mad Women was a flattering shade as well.  What do you think?

Disclaimer:  Free products were provided to facilitate this review--not my opinion.*

Sally Hansen’s New Patent Gloss Nail Colors (Moto and Chic) Review + SWATCHES!

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

Sally Hansen's 730 Moto Patent Gloss is on the left with 720 Chic Patent Gloss on the right.

In case you haven’t heard, Sally Hansen has come up with another new nail polish with the Patent Gloss Nail Colors line that I think you are going to like.   I received two of the four creamy, limited edition shades to review.

730 Moto is a gorgeous deep, candy-apple red, which is glamorous.  720 Chic is the other color I received, peachy nude, a beautiful neutral that never goes out of style. There is 740 Slick (jet black) and 710 Vinyl (navy) also available.  By the way, navies are going to be very trendy this Spring, 2015 so keep that in mind.

Here I'm modeling Sally Hansen's Patent Gloss 730 Moto.  This is one coat only and without a top coat.

In addition to stunning, rich color, I got to say that I was impressed with how glossy these nail colors looked upon drying without the help of a top coat.  

I have on Sally Hansen's Patent Gloss 720 Chic.  Notice the thick coverage it supplied with one coat.  Look at  the amazing shine--and no top coat!

Another reason I really liked this new polish was how easy the brush was to paint the nail with for even application.  The consistency of the formula was wonderful as well that made it possible to have one coat coverage.

Do look into picking some of these Patent Gloss Nails Colors from Sally Hansen the next time you head to the drug store!   

*Disclaimer:  This is my own honest opinion.  A free product was provided solely to facilitate this review.*

Ideal Nail Shades to Transition From Winter to Spring 2015--Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Nail Polishes (Review) + SWATCHES!

*Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

Sally Hansen's Complete Salon Manicure Nail Polishes and Top Coat

If you’re looking for some wonderful winter nail colors that can easily transition into Spring, 2015, there are plenty of beautiful options from nudes influenced with caramel to that camel color of yellowish-brown, pale pinks that defy the boundaries of style with their feminine grace along with interesting takes on elegant grays from midrange cement colors, nearly white metallic versions to intriguing mixes using plums or blues.  

I gathered a few shades from Sally Hansen’s Complete Salon Manicure Nail Polish line that I want to show you.  These select colors are the ones I thought would be versatile as well as the best neutral choices to meet this challenge.  

Starting on the left in the above photo and working to the right is #836 Himalaya (an off-white shade of nude overcast with gray), #841 Somber Bliss (medium gray tinged with blue like a changing sky through a storm), #315 Camelfage (nude with orange tones without being too brown), and then #290 Commander in Chic (medium gray that levels the playing field with enough plum color to keep it simple, but neutral and stylish). The last bottle on the right is Sally Hansen’s Complete Salon Manicure Top Coat, which managed to keep these lovely polishes free of chipping for practically an entire week despite housework and dish detail.

In this photo, I am modeling Sally Hansen's Complete Salon Manicure #290 Commander in Chic.  Notice how neutral this shade is to save yourself from clashing with your wardrobe and the need to redo with a fresh color.

Here I'm wearing Sally Hansen's Complete Salon Manicure in #315 Camelflage.

In this one, I have on Sally Hansen's Complete Salon Manicure Nail Polish in #841 Somber Bliss.  The shade does have some blue, but the camera  failed to capture it.

This is Sally Hansen Salon Complete Manicure Nail Polish in #836 Himalaya.

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Collection happens to be one of my favorites for nails.  They feature a fantastic brush so the polish goes on more evenly and within the lines for the most precise application.  I also love their beautiful array of constantly expanding shades to dazzle us with.  Then there is how well these polishes wear, especially when you use the entire system of base and top coats. Finally, I love the reasonable price for such quality nail polish.

What is your opinion of Sally Hansen’s Complete Salon Manicure Collection and these particular shades? Feel free to share your favorite shades in this line and other colors I might have missed that would make the grade for Spring, 2015.

Do look for Sally Hansen's Complete Salon Manicure line and these particular shades because they are great and yet chic basics that can only beautify your fingernails!

*Disclaimer: Free product was provided to facilitate this review--not my opinion.* 

Beauty Box 5 January 2015 Review

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

Beauty Box 5 January 2015

To start the new year, this month’s Beauty Box 5 comes with an appropriate theme of hello!  The products in this assortment are meant to keep you looking and feeling ready to meet new challenges.

To those that might be unaware of this particular beauty subscription, let me tell you a little about how this one works.  Every month a new beauty box comes out with a fresh theme and four to five full and sample size products for a cost of $12 a month with free shipping. I know that price already sounds tempting, but you can save even more and have that $12 price drop to just $8.25 a month, if you sign up for an annual subscription.

Take a look at this month’s box and you can decide if you have been missing out on some great beauty!

Beauty Box 5 January 2015

1.  Coastal Scents Eye Shadow ( 0.07 oz. sample)–$.48

2.  Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips Kit (Full Size)–$9.99

3.   Ultraflesh The Gold Standard Mascara in Blackout ( 0.08 oz. sample tube)–$6.22

4.   Garnier Fructis Daily Care Fortifying Shampoo ( 1.7 fl. sample)–$.60

5.   Softsoap Nutri Serums Vitamin E Body Wash (1.7 oz. sample)–$.45

                                                    Total approximate value: $17.74


The Coastal Scent Eye Shadow sampler was Set 39 (Solar Flare, Vibrant Green, Vibrant Plum and Capri Blue).  For the most part, I didn’t care for the wild colors except for the plum despite what may be trending on some fashion runaways for Spring, 2015.  However, you may feel differently.

The Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips Kit I received was 540 Stripe-Tease.  I do love Sally Hansen nail polish and am looking forward to trying this out.  

I keep mascara for about three months before I replace it to keep my eyes safe.  Therefore, the Ultraflesh Mascara is a wonderful size when you need to toss it so you don’t feel like you are wasting it.  The only thing I didn’t care for was when I researched to learn more about this product.  I became aware that this is a discontinued mascara from 2011.   

The Garnier Fructis Daily Care Fortifying Shampoo is something my hair benefitted from since it was a strengthening formula.  It lathered up and gave my hair pretty sheen.

The Softsoap Nutri Serums Body Wash was one from the brand that I didn’t try until now.  It had a delectable sweet scent that smelled like an apple and yet had a touch of floral.  Bathing with it was a very pleasant way to clean with its moisturizing lather.

Overall, I thought it was a decent box and thrilling to explore.  Do think of subscribing to Beauty Box 5 yourself because it is a fun way to get beautiful.

What are your thoughts about Beauty Box 5 for January 2015?  Do share.

*Disclaimer: Free products were provided to facilitate this review--not my opinion.*

How to Make Your Nail Polish Last Longer–And It’s Not Just With Base and Top Coats!

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure (Mudslide)

You go through the trouble of painting your nails with a beautiful new shade of polish.  Naturally, you want your work to last as long as possible, which means brushing on a base coat and finishing your manicure with a top coat. But what if I told you there is one tiny step more than can further extend the life of those gorgeous looking nails?

The next time you are preparing to paint your nails, I hope that you will try this little tip because it will surprise you.   After you thoroughly clean your nails, you should wet a cotton ball with some vinegar (white or apple cider) and apply to your nails.  Allow the vinegar to dry first and then go ahead with your manicure.  

What happens is the vinegar dries out the nail surface exceptionally well so that the first coat adheres better, prolonging that manicure even further! 

Beauty Box 5 December 2014 Review

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

Here is  a photo of  Beauty Box 5 for December 2014.

This month’s Beauty Box 5 revolves around indulgences to make the holidays even brighter with the assortment of products geared to do the trick.

If you’re unfamiliar with this monthly beauty subscription, then let me fill you in.  Each box usually has four to five beauty items from full sizes to samples.  The cost is $12 a month with free shipping, but you can reduce that price significantly if you get an annual subscription that brings it to a mere $8.25 a month.

As to what arrived, I won’t keep you in suspense any longer.  Here is what I received in this new beauty box below.

Beauty Box 5 December 2014

1.  Jaqua Rose Bouquet Hydrating Facial Mist–FULL SIZE (1.69 fl. oz.)–$16.50

2.  Absolute! New York Nail Polish Remover Pads–FULL SIZE (32 pads)–$2.99

3.  Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Moisturizer–SAMPLE (.26 fl. oz.)–$9.94

4.  Nanacoco Nail Polish–FULL SIZE–$3.95

5.  Lucky Brand Lucky Number 6 Perfume–SAMPLE (unspecified size)

Total Estimated Value–$33.38!

The Jaqua Rose Facial Mist was a hit with me.  I regularly use a rose facial mist year round after cleansing before moisturizing.  Sometimes, I also like to spray some on after I do my makeup and press a tissue over it.  This really does wonders for giving you a fresher look and does keep your makeup lasting longer.  

The Absolute! New York Nail Polish Remover Pads I got were the Peach scented pads. This worked very well for removing polish, but you can still also smell the stronger chemicals along with the peach.  I still liked this product.

The Nanacoco Nail Polish was Summer Nigh Festival, a mix of purple and blue glitter.  I didn’t try this yet, but it does look pretty in the bottle.  I will paint my nails soon.

I do adore organic skin care.  I didn’t get a chance to test this new Juice Beauty Moisturizer because I am currently involved in another skin care project, but this one is already on my vanity waiting.

The Lucky Brand Lucky Number 6 perfume sample was a lovely woody-floral with just enough spice to add to the magic.  I only wish we could have gotten a larger sample.

To sum it up, I would label December 2014 a good month!  Don’t you agree?

Have you tried Beauty Box 5  yet?  Do check it out!

*Disclaimer: Free products were provided to facilitate this review--not my opinion.*