Essie Polish F.T.W.

Earlier this year, my beloved Seattle Seahawks took down the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl.  Sure, our team is incredible.  However, the truth of the matter is, my nail polish is what led us to victory.  The glossy, inky blue hue I carefully brushed across my nails weekly was worn symbolically to support my boys in college navy, action green, and grey.  It was the only color I'd wear during the latter half of the N.F.L. season.

I'm kidding!  That said, I'd be lying if I didn't get a tad bit superstitious during the football season.  (Hey, according to Coors: "It's only weird if it doesn't work."  Ha!)

Essie's "After School Boy Blazer" is a beautiful deep shade that appears almost black once applied.  Enjoy the eye candy:

[Hand Models]

[Love!]

This polish applies very easily; two coats was more than enough to achieve the color you see above.  When combined with O.P.I.'s base coat and the infamous Seche Vite top coat, it had excellent staying power.

Do you have a favorite football team?  Are you superstitious?

xoxo

P. S.  Don't forget to read my previous post, the T.M.I. Tag!  Feel free to link yours in the comment section!

P. P. S.  Go, Hawks!

My Zoya Order is He-yuh!

Pauly D. speaks the truth.  My Zoya order is he-yuh!

Oh, Jersey Shore...  I will never get sick of you.

[L - R: Ibiza, Julieanne, and Stacy]

How pretty are these polishes?  I can't wait to try them out.  ("Stacy" is actually a gift for a friend, so I won't be able to swatch it.)

Unfortunately, the sapphire blue polish, "Ibiza", arrived chipped.  Initially, I didn't notice the damage, and nearly sliced my hand open trying to get the bottle open.  I am not one to complain (especially when something is free), but the edges of the crack are incredibly sharp.  I wrote to customer service last weekend, and am waiting for a response.  (To be honest, it's not really that big of a deal.  I'm tempted to just wrap some duct tape around the bottom.  Ghetto?  Perhaps.  That's how I roll!  XD) 

[You said it, Whitney!]

What freebie polishes did you guys pick up during Zoya's amazing promotion?

My Jewelry Store: EightSeventeen Jewelry

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*Pauly D. Photo Credit:B-Side Blog

Review: Essie Good to Go! Top Coat

No matter the occasion, a girl can't go wrong with a fresh, glossy manicure and pedicure.  For years, I got my nails done on a weekly basis at a salon that  refused to accept plurals.

More Than One Nail = NailS

[Source]

Ha ha ha!

Although my nail technician was amazing, my obsession with maintaining immaculate french tipped digits wreaked havoc on our budget.  When I decided to ditch my corporate desk jockey job to pursue my medical field dreams, my weekly habit came to a screeching halt.  My new career came with a pay cut, as well as rules against talon painting.

I now buff, file, and polish my own nails at the Kate Gene Salon a.k.a. our home.  When I am in the clinic, I usually opt for natural nails, but occasionally go wild with a neutral pink polish.  On my own time, I tend to stick with vampy hues.

Essie's Good to Go! Top Coat delivers a shine that I consider to be comparable to the highly sought after Seche Vite.

[Even the dreary December weather can't diminish this glass-like shine!]

PROS:  Dries pretty quickly.  Extremely glossy.  When paired with O.P.I. polish, my manicure lasted nearly a week before chipping.

CONS:  Retails for $9.90.  However, if you do a little research, you can find coupon codes for Apothica.com, which is where I got my bottle from.

I am very pleased with my new top coat thus far.

What are you using to protect your handiwork?

My Jewelry Store: EightSeventeen Jewelry

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Disclaimer:  This post is sponsored by Apothica.com.   My views are not influenced by anything other than my personal experience.  Please use these products at your own discretion.

Seeing Red!

My Current Loves:

 O.P.I.'s Royal Rajah Ruby

[Gaw-juss!]

NYX's Snow White Lipstick

[Also gaw-juss!]

[Swatch of the gaw-juss Snow White]

(Dear The Beauty Blog Trolls: Yes, I am aware that my heart and arrow do not match.)

I would love to write more, but I need to save my energy.  Tomorrow is my adorable hubby's 29th, and I am ill.

Fortunately, I am not as ill as T-Bone.

[Source]

Ha!

I hope you're all doing well.  What are your current must-haves?

My Jewelry Store: EightSeventeen Jewelry

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P. S.  Don't forget to enter my Apothica.com giveaway!  Apothica is similar to stores such as Sephora, Ulta, etc.  It's definitely worth checking out!

Boi-ing Concealer & Buxom Healthy Lip Polish Review

Tired of resembling an NFL linebacker, I decided it was time to invest in a high end, quality concealer.  Last week, my raccoon eyes and I stopped by Sephora, determined to find the answer to my dark circle prayers.  After countless moments of indecisiveness, I reluctantly departed, Benefit's Boi-ing Concealer in hand.  (My wishy washy behind suffers from buyer's remorse like nobody's business.  LOL!)  Fortunately, the trip turned out to be a success!

[My under eye circles before Boi-ing came into my life.]

 [How cute is the message on the inside of the box?]

[Benefit's Boi-ing 02 Medium.  Is it just me, or does "Boi-ing" sound like a phrase straight out of Wayne's World?  Ha!]

My thoughts on this concealer?

PROS:  The consistency is creamy, rich, and a breeze to work with.  Simply pick up a little bit of the product with your index or ring finger, and gently pat your imperfections away.  Because the concealer is extremely thick and opaque, one or two swipes is all you'll need per eye.  It works beautifully on my under eye circles; it works even better on blemishes and areas of discoloration.  The $18.00 investment was worth it.

CONS:  The price.  Yes, I said the concealer was worth it, but $18.00 is still $18.00.  Also, the product occasionally settles into my fine lines, exaggerating them a bit.

I am pleased to announce that I have finally found the peach gloss of my dreams.

[Buxom Lip Polish in Amber]

Buxom Lip Polishes are hands down my favorite glosses.  They're shiny, moisturizing, and have awesome staying power.  (Check out my previous post for a more thorough review of this line.)  Amber is a sheer - but buildable - shimmery peach shade.  It looks especially pretty when paired with Myth or Nude Attitude.  I love it!

[Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get a decent photograph of the gloss on my pout.  This other blogger's picture is a great representation of what Amber looks like IRL.  Photo Credit: http://www.orange2la.com.]

[Nude Attitude photo from an early Kate Gene post.  Yep, this is my kisser!]

Can you picture the two products together?  It's the hotness.

In my Gift Card Haulin' post, I raved about Essie's Van D'Go Polish.  Here is what it looks like once applied: 

Gaw-juss!

I have some other posts in the works, which I am excited to share with everyone.  (Get ready for some DSK Jewelry eye candy!)

Don't forget to enter my SkinCareRx.com Giveaway!  It's easy to enter and open internationally! 

I hope you all have a lovely day!

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Gift Card Haulin'

Sephora and Ulta employees have seen more of my mug lately than my adorable husband.  I refuse to rest until every last cent of my gift cards are spent!

Here are some of the items I purchased during my last trip to the mall:

[Essie Van D'Go Nail Polish]

My mission to find the perfect Summer polish has officially come to an end.  Essie Van D'Go is peachy, creamy, and neutral enough to wear with most of my wardrobe.  I love it!  It takes three coats to achieve the opacity and streak free finish I desire, but who cares?  This pretty polish is worth the extra elbow grease.

[Healthy Hoof Lacquer]

My former top coat, who shall remain nameless, used to make my brown eyes see red.  Every time I polished my nails, it always managed to make a streaky mess of my handiwork.  We Asians are born natural nail technicians, so I knew the repeated issue was of no fault of my own.  LOL!

My best friend purchased me a bottle of Healthy Hoof Lacquer because I am a centaur with dull hooves after I vented my top coat frustrations.  Once dried, this horse-friendly varnish produces a smooth and glossy looking finish.  I was hooked after one use.  The best part?  It's a mere $2.50.

[NARS Deep Throat]

It's a NARS blush.  Need I say more?

Nope.

[NARS Striptease Gloss & Revlon Peach Gloss]

Both of these glosses feel lightweight, are incredibly pigmented, and appear pretty and peachy in their tubes.  Sadly, each are going to be returned as they made my kisser look alabaster.  (Momma didn't raise no Ganguro Girl!)  There is absolutely nothing wrong with the products themselves; the shades just weren't suitable for my skin tone.

The hunt for the perfect peachy lip gloss continues...

[Urban Decay 24/7 Eye Pencil in Zero]

I have never been one to line my waterline.  As a contact lenses wearer, I find products that close to my eyes irritating.  Hopefully this pencil will be the answer to my beauty-related prayers!

[Zebra Loofah]

How cute is this little guy?!  I have yet to use him because I thought it'd be gross to showcase a loofah post-use.  XD

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!  The hubby and I plan to BBQ, relax, and maybe squeeze in a little shopping.  I can't wait!

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It's been a long time/I shouldn't have left you/Without a dope beat to step to.

I have been slackin' on my Beauty Blogger pimpin', and I apologize.  Yours truly had a negative reaction to a new medication, and spent about a week spooning our porcelain jacuzzi.  (I was the big spoon.)  I also broke out in sex-ay hives...  on my face.  Shame on me for not doing a HFOTD!  Ha!

As some of you already know, I recently turned twenty-eight years old.  My darling little sisters surprised me with two Sephora gift cards to celebrate my senior citizenship.  I immediately placed an order online, but unfortunately, ended up returning everything to the store.

I drug my adorable husband with me to return my "great-but-not-for-moi" products.  He sweetly agreed to allow me to peruse for as long as I desired -- without dragging his feet or staring longingly at the exit signs.  I am proud to announce he did just that!  (In his eyes, Sephora and Ulta are the devil.  LOL!)

RETURNED ITEM #1:

[NARS Mekong Eye Shadow]

[NARS Mekong Swatch]

Oh, how I wanted to love this shadow.  I love NARS' products and had been dying to get my hands on this particular product for months.  In the pan and swatched, Mekong appears to be a rich dark chocolate shade, speckled with delicate gold flecks.  It's gorgeous.  However, once it has been blended onto the lid, the Godiva goodness and metallic sparkles morph into a flat black hue.  That's not necessarily a bad thing, however, I already own two matte black shadows.

RETURNED ITEM #2:

[Buxom Gloss in "Celeste"]

I am a HUGE Buxom Gloss fan.  Moisturizing, minty fresh, and emollient, they truly are my favorite glosses.  Sadly, "Celeste" was a miss for me as it wasn't as peachy as I had hoped it'd be.

What peach or pinky-coral gloss are you reaching for this Spring?

RETURNED ITEM #3:

[Sephora by OPI Polish in "How Cute Is That?".  The photograph does not capture the polish's true color.]

This pretty polish would have been a keeper had it been a tad less orange and shimmery.  The good news?  The varnish itself was easy to apply and didn't chip for days!

Anyway, I hope you're all doing well!  I look forward to catching up on all of my favorite blogs.  New posts are in the works, but in the meantime, check out this awesome giveaway:

SmootchKiss is generously giving away quite a bit of MAC goodies, among other things.  Check out her blog here!

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Ho-ney, why you no have?

You get a gold star if you know the meaning behind my title.  I'll give you a hint:  It has to do with nails.

Speaking of nails, I finally got my hands on the Sinful Colors Polish in "Beautiful Girl".  Miss Natty wrote about this pretty pink varnish months ago, and I have been on the hunt for it ever since.  It is gorgeous!  It's not so neon in real life.  My only complaint?  It takes three coats to achieve the shade you see below, making it appear a little thick on the nails.  However, for a mere $1.99, I'll deal!

[The perfect color for Spring and Summer!  It's not as bright as it appears in this photograph.]

I recently tried out the Kiss Everlasting Nails and loved them!  Even after a week's worth of wear and tear, they looked fantastic.  They were difficult to remove, although I suppose that's a good thing when it comes to press-on nails.  They're not likely to pop off randomly!

[Whoever came up with the Kiss jingle is going to get a knuckle sandwich, courtesy of moi.  Worst.  Song.  Ever.  Ha ha ha!]

JUST A COUPLE FRIENDLY REMINDERS:

My giveaway ends tomorrow.  Click on the picture to enter!



Also, if you'd like to try the mask I blogged about earlier this week, or you're interested in possibly reviewing some of Cellnique Paramedical's products, click here.

I hope y'all have a great weekend!  I turn the big 2 - 8 tomorrow.
  Time to bust out the dentures and adult diapers!  ;)

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FOTD Fail & Nail Polish I've Been Hearting

 We beauty bloggers are masters of the at home photo shoot.  On the occasions our husbands, boyfriends, or tri-pods are not accessible, we snap our own pictures.  Sure, we sometimes need to crop out what appears to be a Stretch Armstrong arm every once in awhile, but that comes with the self portrait territory.  Ha!

Yesterday, I spent hours painting my face and creating a 'do that would have made my perfectly coiffed pal, Tiffany (Big Hair Bigger Lashes), do the slow clap and rise.  I was especially proud of my locks; they were curled, teased, and a force to be reckoned with.  Yet, somehow my HOTD found a way to ruin my FOTD.

I took NINETY-TWO pictures of my mug and mane, confident that at least a few would be worthy of posting.  Upon uploading the photos, I noticed my hair appeared horrifically frizzy.  Nick Nolte's mugshot looked sexier than what I had going on.  So, instead of a FOTD, you get EOTD (plus one cheek)!  XD

[Click to enlarge.  I had to significantly lighten this picture up because it was too dark.  I also airbrushed everything except my eyes and lashes as my skin looked strange after I messed with the photograph's exposure.  Blech...]

EOTD Products:

♥ NYX Black Eye Shadow
♥ NYX Cherry Eye Shadow
♥ Christian Dior Beige Eye Shadow
♥ GOSH Extreme Art Eye Liner in 07 (Liner courtesy of my wonderful follower, Dominique!)  :)
♥ L'oreal Voluminous Mascara in Blackest Black
♥ Ardell Wispies

On my cheeks, I am rocking NARS Crazed.  The stunning Miss Natty recently reviewed this blush.  Check out her post here.  I agree 100% with what she had to say!

On to my latest nail polish obsession: OPI's "Do You Lilac It".  I have been wearing this for quite some time now, and love it!  Two coats are all you need to achieve this pretty shade.  Wearing it definitely puts me in a Spring type of mood!

What are y'all sporting on your nails?