Today's NOTD is Essie's Mink Muffs, described on Essie website as "a smoky plush taupe".
I have been digging taupey colours lately so when I found this in my stash of nail polish I was like... I need this on my nails right now! The application is easy and smooth, with no bubbling at all. The picture above is 2 coats of the polish, with no top coats (yea... I got lazy). It still has a nice shine without top coat. Durability is good as the usual Essie polishes, this is my third day wearing this polish and you can see that there's no chips, just super minor wear at the tips of the nail (I play bass... so that's even more impressive for it to stay on so well!)
I have been trying to find China Glaze nail polish in stores here in Canada for a while, and I finally found it at Sally Beauty Supply when I am visiting home in Winnipeg. Unfortunately there isn't a Sally Beauty Supply in London... anyone know where else can I get CG nail polish in store?
Back to my NOTD, I have been wearing For Audrey from China Glaze for a couple weeks actually (seeing how I forgot to pack any nail polishes). You have no idea how ecstatic I was when I found this color. I have been trying to get my hands on this for the longest time. I know I can get it from eBay but I don't know why I don't like getting nail polishes from eBay. Weird huh?
For Audrey is a minty bluish green in my opinion. My first thought was: oh my god this looks so much like the Tiffany blue! I guess that was mainly why I wanted to get my hands on it. The formula itself is great, better than the other two CG polishes I have (Ingrid and Lemon Fizz, I got both from a swap). It's completely opaque with two coats. If you're in a hurry, I've done one thick coat and that's fine. I have two coats of polish on in the picture, with no top coat.
So this is from last year's Essie Resort Collection, so what? I am just a tad bit late... Anyways, I love this color! This is actually the first blue nail polish I own. I am currently obsessed with nail polishes and just bought quite a few of the Essie ones (more about this in the future).
The application was smooth, which is something I love about most Essie polishes. Personally I am not a big fan of OPI because I find they chip way too easily and they gets so goopy that I just give up because it frustrates me so much! (But they have such a wide range of color and they are soooooo pretty! Another great thing about Essie polishes is that they last so long.
The above picture was taking on the third day of wear. There is a bit of wear from the tip of the index finger but that is about it. I have been doing dishes multiple times, typing a lot, so this is pretty impressive.
I applied three coats. The first coat was so sheer I was a little worried, but once and second and third coats are on, man was it gorgeous! I would say the third coat is necessary to even out all the streaks but that is pretty standard for Essie polishes (at least the ones I've tried). This is probably the only downside because I am sooo impatient, but I have learnt my lesson and paint my nails earlier on in the night so I don't wake up with like... prints from my blanket or pillow fabric on my nails. Does this happen to anyone else? I swear the polish was dry when I went to bed but it still happens sometimes...
Oh and this was with no top coat! The OPI top coat I have is all goopy and impossible! It also leaves a bunch of bubbles when I apply it. So I am out looking for a new top coat, any recommendations?
I also find myself comparing my nail color with like... everything blue around me, but I haven't had any luck in finding anything with the same color. I know I'm weird, but who cares?
At my recent Essie polish haul I also got Sew Psyched (a greyish green with subtle gold shimmer), Mink Muff (a brown taupe), and Turquoise & Caicos (a pastel green). I will post reviews of these when I try them out!
What nail polishes are you wearing? And what's your favourite brand of polish?
Pretty! When I was at the MAC store at a mall near by, the display for Turquatic demanded my attention when I was paying for something else, so I sprayed some on my wrist and dang can I say love at first... sniff? (I am going to shamefully admit that I couldn't stop smelling my wrist that day...)
Let me start by saying I have been looking for a new scent for years, the last perfume I bought (excluding mini samplers) was Lancome's Miracle and that was... years ago. I don't wear perfume on daily basis but I am always on the look for a new one. I have been to Sephora and probably tested like... 90% if not all of the perfumes they have and nah-da. Nothing. It's either too sweet, or too musky, or too... well they just didn't appeal to me.
The official description on MAC's website:
"Everyone who has become addicted to MAC's classic Turquatic, our sensual sea-spray of a fragrance, bracing with Anemone, Lotus, Orris, & a curious waft of Corsican Blue Cedar will love the sleek new rollerball option & new, larger 50ml size."
The one I purchased was the 20ml bottle ($33CAD; $27.5USD). The 50ml bottle is $55CAD ($49.5USD), and the rollerball (6ml) costs $24CAD ($20USD).
The scent is very refreshing and summer-perfect (why did I discover this when summer is almost over?). The flowery scent definitely stands out but it is not overpowering at all! This fragrance kind of reminds me of Salvatore Ferragamo's Incanto.
I haven't worn this all day yet, but from the times I did wear it they lasted at least 6 hours. Not bad. I am excited to try it out for a full day and see how long it actually lasts, too bad I can't wear perfumes to work, so I have to wait till the weekend!
The sales associate at MAC said this Turquatic is here to stay (w00t! I can see myself going through bottles of this stuff). It will be a permanent product in MAC stores, but not at MAC counters. Heck as long as I can get it somewhere, I'm a happy camper!
Overall, I love this fragrance as a whole, the scent, the packaging, even the price (it's cheaper than most higher end perfume out there). I am so glad I tried it when I saw it! If you are looking for a summer scent, I highly recommend MAC's Turquatic! What's your current favourite fragrance? Let me know in the comment! :)
On a side note...
I have been SO addicted to 2NE1's Ugly. The song is so catchy and the performance is so powerful! Check it out if you have time. I love how they are so different from all the other Korean girl groups!
Hey we got over hump day! The week can only get better from here!
Oops I have been bad and not posted for a while... school's pretty hectic this term. Anyhow, I went to Sephora last weekend and got the Oscar Blandi Pronto Invisible Volumizing Dry Shampoo Spray (whewww what a mouthful!) And this is how it looks like...
I got the smaller version ($12 CAD) because the only big one left is Sephora has been opened and missing a cap...
This is my first dry shampoo ever and I actually wanted to get one for the longest time. I have heard that washing your hair everyday is bad but I just can't stand the oiliness of my hair if I wash it every other day!
The Oscar Blandi Dry Shampoo Spray is my saviour. It does not leave white residue (thank goodness). It's actually volumizing and it's easy to use. My hair looks significantly less oily after i used it! The only thing that bugs me is the smell. It smells really lemon-y... like those lemon furniture cleaner? Eeekkk. It doesn't stick around all day so if I do it when I get up and by the time I leave I don't really smell the weird scent. Not a deal breaker for me.
Overall, I really like this product as a dry shampoo and it works well. But if you are really picky about scent, I suggest you try it out before you blow $23CAD on the big one.
Product: Oscar Blandi Pronto Invisible Volumizing Dry Shampoo Spray
Where to buy? Sephora stores or sephora.com
Price: $12CAD for small (1.4oz) or $23CAD for big (5oz)
Rating: B+ (blame the scent!)
Recommend? Yes! Unless you absolute cannot deal with smelling like lemon scent cleaner for 15 minutes.
So here comes the day a lot of people has been waiting for... Boxing day!
Normally I would be super excited and get up really early to get ready to get tons of deal (no I was never one of those people that lined up outside a store since wee hour in the morning since I never needed any big ticket electronic items, but I do see myself doing it at some point). For some reason this year I don't really feel like trying to push my way through all the people. Heck I woke up at 10AM, when most hardcore shoppers are done their shopping already.
I am going to brave the crowd at Eaton's center later today though since my fam wants to go there... Sephora's email says they have a 50% off sale (on selected items) but there are no more info on that. I guess I will check it out when I get there and see if I can find any good deals (I doubt it but no harm trying right?)
Are any of you going boxing day shopping (or you're done already)? What deals did you get?
Oops I haven't blogged for a while! School has been pretty crazy with two jobs... well here I am! In the midst of exams and procrastinating!
Well I got two new lip glosses recently from Shoppers Drug Mart for $2.99! Of course they were on sale haha. They were both Rimmel Vinyl Gloss, in clear and the other one is delirious. Clear is well... clear. And delirious (I always think it's delicious... well it is. But that's not it's name!) Delirious is a gorgeous pink-ish red with sparkles. I think I am in love... *swoonnn*
Left: Clear, Right: Delirious
I have heard some complaints about the brush, but I personally don't find a problem with it. I tried the other Rimmel gloss with the paddle application, not a big fan of that. I prefer the sponge tip applicator, probably because I am used to it, but also because I was able to have pretty precise application with it.
Can you see the sparkles in Delirious? SO PRETTY!
Wearing Rimmel Vinyl Gloss in Clear.
Rimmel Vinyl Gloss in Delirious. It is not as red as it looks in the tube. Nevertheless it's a gorgeous colour. LOOK! SPARKLES! :D
Overall this is a FANTASTIC lipgloss. Not only because of it's price (Okay. It's originally $8.99 I believe, but it goes on sale like... every month.) But also because of the quality. It is not super sticky like other lipgloss I have tried. Staying power is pretty decent, 3 to 4 hours with some eating and drinking. It's also hydrating! I actually sometimes use the clear one when I have dry lips and can't be bothered to go find my lip balm. They also smell really good!
Rimmel vinyl gloss is definitely my HG lip gloss. I have tried it in Snog before and I love that one too! I will definitely stock up and try more colour next time it goes on sale!
Product: Rimmel Vinyl Lipgloss Where can you find it? Any drug stores, major grocery stores. Price: $8.99 at SDM ($2.99 or $3.99 when on sale) Rating: A Recommend? Heck yes! :)
What is your favourite lip gloss? Although I think this one is fabulous, I am always opened to try new ones! Let me know in the comment!
I have heard some complaints about the brush, but I personally don't find a problem with it. I tried the other Rimmel gloss with the paddle application, not a big fan of that. I prefer the sponge tip applicator, probably because I am used to it, but also because I was able to have pretty precise application with it. 
Wearing Rimmel Vinyl Gloss in Clear. 
Rimmel Vinyl Gloss in Delirious. It is not as red as it looks in the tube. Nevertheless it's a gorgeous colour. LOOK! SPARKLES! :D