Cumulative HAUL :)

While I haven't been blogging lately, I have still been buying! Here's some pics and swatches of what I've picked up recently...

Read on for more pics and swatches!!!

Blog SALE Preview...

So, I've been doing a little... summer?... cleaning and finally went through my makeup. There are so many great products that I just don't use, and it's a shame! I'll be having a blog sale in a few days and just wanted to give you all a little preview!

Blog sale

Blog sale, CHANEL Poudre Universelle Libre

It will be U.S. and Paypal only. (sorry!) You can also expect some extra goodies along with any purchase =)

Xx-

Bethany

'NOTD: OPI Combo'...

It feels like spring has officially arrived, and some days it feels more like summer! So I needed a bright nail look to go with the weather =) I decided to go with a nail combo instead of my typical "glitter nail".. and as always, the photos don't nearly do it justice!

NOTD: OPI "Charged Up Cherry" & "Strawberry Margarita"

Shown above is Strawberry Margarita, and I've applied it on my middle and ring finger....

NOTD: OPI "Charged Up Cherry" & "Strawberry Margarita" 

And Charged Up Cherry on my thumb, pointer, and pinky fingers! Of course you can't see how bright it really is in person, but I just love the subtle difference in shade.


So, what are you wearing on your nails???

Xx-

Bethany

'HAUL China Glaze: Hunger Games'...

Okay, so I know the web is full of swatches of these polishes... but on the off-chance that you haven't checked them out yet, here are the shades I purchased!!!!

China Glaze Hunger Games Collection: "Smoke and Ashes", "Riveting", "Electrify", "Fast Track", "Luxe and Lush"

Read more for close up pictures!!

China Glaze "Hunger Games" - Sally's has it!!!!

Just a quick little blurb here.. I went to Sally's Beauty Supply earlier this week, and they had the Hunger Games nail polishes out!!! The girl working said they had gotten them last week! I thought they weren't coming out until March 26th so I was pretty pumped =)

Long story short, check your Sally's for the collection! They also have them on their website. So if you were like me and didn't realize the polishes would be out so soon, now you know!

I'll talk pictures of the colors I picked up tomorrow :)

Xx-

Bethany

NOTD: Poke =)

This polish has been sitting on my nail polish rack for ages, I have no clue why I haven't used it yet! It's amazing and bold and makes me smile =)

Illamasqua nail varnish in "Poke"

Illamasqua nail varnish in "Poke"... I love this purple! Almost opaque in 1 coat, I added a second just to be safe. In pictures it is looking a bit more cool-toned, but this is definitely a red based purple and has a beautiful sheen. Illamasqua's polishes continue to impress me!

And for my glitter nail...

OPI nail lacquer Designer Series in "DS Temptation"

OPI nail lacquer in "DS Temptation"... I'm not sure why this kept photographing so blue. This polish looks much much more purple in person, both in the bottle and on the nail. It's a gorgeous glitter polish with base of purple glitter and holographic pieces that go from blue to green to almost yellow.

Illamasqua nail varnish in "Poke", OPI nail lacquer in "DS Temptation", OPI RapiDry Top Coat

OPI RapiDry Top Coat... My favorite top coat =)



Have you tried Illamasqua polishes?? I think I'm definitely picking up the hot pink color they have (the name escapes me) for this summer!

Xx-

Bethany

'NOTD: It's My Year '...

I've had this polish for a little while now, and just tried it out for the first time over the holidays while I was home in Michigan. Um, I freaking love it! It's such a gorgeous purple/maroon/I don't know how to explain it color that shines a sparkly gold shade. I've added a few pictures to try and show you how different it looks in different lighting and angles...

OPI nail lacquer in "It's My Year"

Read on for more swatches!!!

'NOTD: OPI Vodka & Caviar'... and exciting news!

Time for a NOTD!! This is my all-time favorite red nail polish. It's OPI Vodka & Caviar, and it is an amazing sophisticated shade.

OPI Vodka & Caviar

I couldn't get the color to photograph quite right! This polish is a deeper red than it looks on my nails, but in the bottle you can sort of tell... sort of.


Now, can you tell what's different and exciting in this next picture?!?!

OPI Vodka & Caviar

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I got engaged!! Yay!

It happened about 2 months ago, and of course I'm already deep into wedding planning. The date is set, the dress is ordered, and I have been obsessed with looking on Pinterest for cool wedding ideas!

I don't think I will be doing any wedding blogs, but I will share pictures with you afterwards =)


Ok back to the nail polish! haha Have any of you tried this shade? What's your favorite red polish??

Xx-

Bethany

I just can't get enough! Sephora goodies =)

Though I may not have been blogging the last couple weeks, I have STILL been shopping (of course!).

Sephora Goodies

Believe it or not, this order was inspired by Christina Aguilera's amazing cheek highlight in the movie Burlesque... (This isn't a great picture of it, but if you have seen the movie you know what I mean!)

Christina Aguilera in "Burlesque"

Keep reading to find out more!!

'A little Sephora Haulage'...

Moving day is finally here! As I mentioned before, the boyfriend and I are moving states, AGAIN. As a result I will be without internet for a while :( So I leave you now with some Sephora goodies!

I decided it was about time to make a little dent in my Sephora Wish List =) Not to mention I have been out of my HG cuticle cream for quite a while now, so it was needed!

Sephora Haul

Read on for the breakdown!

'NOTD: Cajun Shrimp'...

This is a very popular OPI nail varnish shade, and for good reason! It's a gorgeous coral/red that would go with pretty much every skin-tone imaginable. =)

OPI Cajun Shrimp

 It is also a very shiny polish. I don't even wear a top coat!

OPI Cajun Shrimp

I feel like it is taking foreeever for my pinky nail to grow out! haha It's just my nub for now =)


What polish are you wearing?!

Xx-

Bethany

'OPI Haul!!'

When I visited home a few weeks ago I sort of went crazy with OPI. It isn't available where I live now (or where I'm moving to) so I felt like I needed to stock up! Makes total sense, right? ;) The boyfriend would be completely horrified if he saw this.. good thing he's not into beauty blogs!!

OPI Haul

Read on for close-ups and swatches!

'NOTD: Inspired!!'...

All right, so I found a picture online a few months ago and fell in love! I believe this look was done with a Chanel polish, but I used a mix of some polishes I have in my stash =)

Here's the inspiration for my current NOTD...

Read on for my interpretation and the polishes I used!

'NOTD: OPI'

On vacation I stocked up on some OPI polishes. Here's a sneek peak of one I purchased! =)

OPI Nail Lacquer in "OPI Ink"

I have owned this color before, and I just adore it!! Such a pretty dark, sparkly blackened purple. LOVE!

OPI Nail Lacquer in "OPI Ink"

Have you gone back to any dark polishes this summer??

Xx-

Bethany

'Drugstore NAIL POLISH Haul'

Lately I have been lusting over nail polishes WAY more than makeup... So of course the last time I went into a drugstore I had to pick some up that I have had my eye on!!


Sinful Colors...

left to right: Sinful Colors in 830 "Pinky Glitter", 319 "What's Your Name", 949 "Nirvana"

Sinful Colors always has trendy shades out, and are only $1.99 at most drugstores so they are perfect!! I have found that the glitters tend to be rather thick... I'm not sure if it is the formula or if I have gotten old polishes, but I always have to add thinner to them! :(

Sally Hansen...

Sally Hansen in "First Kiss"

I can't wait to wear this color!! It's a beautiful alternative to my neon summer colors :)


YAY for nail polish!!

Xx-

Bethany

'NOTD: Commander in Chic'

I have a thing for taupe-ish nail polishes. Ya know those dirty, muddy, ugly looking colors? Yeah. I love 'em =)

Sally Hansen Complete SALON Manicure in "Commander in Chic" 370

Sally Hansen Complete SALON Manicure

That is all =)

Xx-

Bethany

'Chicago Sephora Goodies!'

While I was in Chicago the past week, I couldn't help but make a quick stop in Sephora and pick up a few things... =)

Sephora Haul

I legitimately needed another bottle of my St. Tropez self tan! Ahhh to be tan again ;)

Ok, on to Dior...

Dior Shine Lipstick #465 "Singuliere"

Dior Shine Lipstick #465 "Singuliere"

I love this lippie!! It's just a nice sheer (buildable) pink. That's it!

Sephora by OPI "Safari luxe" mini nail poish set

I have yet to try out any of these shades, but you will be the first to know when I do!! They are all a bit deeper in color than the picture is showing, the first is more khaki looking etc.


Have you found anything good in Sephora lately?!

Xx-

Bethany

'China Glaze: Pastel (ish) Haul'

If you saw my NOTD with MAC Mischievous Mint, you know I'm not keen on pastel nail polish, on myself that is. But I love it on other people so much I decided to give a few more a try! =)

left to right: China Glaze "Re-fresh Mint", "For Audrey", "Lemon Fizz"

China Glaze Re-fresh Mint... I actually quite like this color. It is the same basic color as MAC Mischievous Mint, but a few shades lighter and a touch more green.

China Glaze For Audrey... No doubt you own, or at least have heard of, this color. I was feeling left out so I popped it in my basket along with the other polishes. I was expecting something a bit lighter, but maybe being along-side the pastels is just making it appear darker...?

China Glaze Lemon Fizz... This is my favorite of the bunch =) Just a beautiful light yellow shade!

left to right: China Glaze "Re-fresh Mint", "For Audrey", "Lemon Fizz"

(Excuse my dry cuticles and the messy paint job!) 

I was quite pleased with the consistency and pigmentation of the polishes. For Audrey is opaque in 1 thick coat, but I chose to do 2 moderate coats. You could probably get away with 2 coats of Re-fresh Mint and Lemon Fizz, but I added another for good measure!


What are your favorite pastel nail polishes?!

Xx-

Bethany

'NOTD & China Glaze PiNK HAUL'

I have gone off the deep-end since failing my 2 month nail polish ban :/ I made a pretty massive order from China Glaze and OPI... =)  My China Glaze package came just the other day, half of it was tooootally screwed up (I purchased from SallyBeautySupply.com just fyi) but here are the PiNKs that I ordered!!

left to right: China Glaze "Purple Panic (neon)", "Shocking Pink (neon)", "Rich & Famous"



left to right: China Glaze "Purple Panic (neon)", "Shocking Pink (neon)", "Rich & Famous"


Both Purple Panic and Rich & Famous go on almost opaque in 1 coat, 2 coats and your golden! Shocking Pink definitely needed 3 to be totally opaque but that's not a big deal in my opinion as it dries pretty quickly. Also as always, my camera is not accurately showing the bright neon color! Shocking Pink is really the definition of neon pink!!

As you can see from the swatch below, Purple Panic has an almost matte finish (maybe satin is a better word?) so a clear top coat is a must if you want any shine with this one!



left to right: China Glaze "Purple Panic (neon)", "Shocking Pink (neon)", "Rich & Famous"


Aaaaaaand a NOTD with Purple Panic!



China Glaze "Purple Panic (neon)"

It's such an amazing BRIGHT LOUD PiNK!! yay :)


Have you tried any of these? What do you think of China Glaze??

Xx-

Bethany

'NOTD: Illamasqua (Fail)'

It is my day off work today, and I'm feeling rather lazy. But I thought I'd throw up an easy post and show you one of my new favorite nail varnishes! =)
 I have been searching for a sort of mint green/blue and a lighter purple color since last summer. However, I need a polish that has enough vibrancy to it that it doesn't wash me out. Pastel color polishes look amazing on other people, just not me! I found this mid-tone intense purple aaaand I freakin' love it!!

Illamasqua "Jo'mina"

For some unfortunate reason this color is looking totally different in pictures than in real life. :(  FAIL! The shade is a much warmer, red-toned bright purple. How annoying, right?!



A little bit better...



The picture from Sephora.com

 I'd say the last picture, from Sephora.com, is pretty darn accurate.. and against my NOTD photo, totally different!! This is definitely a FAIL NOTD, but I just love it in person!



What do you have on your nails today??

Xx-

Bethany