Zoya Normani

Keep it classy

Do you have a favorite nail polish?  I have many polishes that I love for various reasons.. mostly hinging around the color and the formula.  I'm sure it's happened more than once where I will forgive a polish its lackluster formula because the color makes up for it.  When we come across the gems, though.. those really stick with us, don't they?

I don't remember if it was four or five years ago, but Pinterest came into my life.  I got lost in a sea of beautiful nail swatch pictures.  I saw brands I'd never even heard of!  butter London?  Zoya?  They sounded so classy and honestly... sounded like they were out of the price range I was willing to spend.  I continued to ponder the selections available in the beauty aisles at the grocery store, including many a Sally Hansen hue.  I felt satisfied with these for a time, but then one day I decided to see if I could find any at our Ulta shop, just to SEE if they really were as pretty in person as on the many photos I'd perused.  I don't remember the day, and I might have even been looking for a different color, but settled for this one: Zoya Normani.  I didn't expect to like it so much just from looking at it in the bottle, but I wanted to try it since I saw "great formula" so many times when reading blogger reviews.  As soon as I applied the first coat I knew this was something special.. and here we are many paint jobs later!

Zoya Normani is described by Zoya as a full-coverage sable mauve cream.  I'm not the best with colors, but to me this is a medium brown with a smoky/grey undertone to soften it up.  It. Is. INCREDIBLE.

OK, maybe incredible is a bit much.  But, will you agree that it is very sophisticated?  Will you agree that it more-than-likely looks fabulous on any skin tone?  Will you agree that this shade can probably be worn anywhere in any season?!  Gah.  I think Zoya absolutely nailed it (no pun intended) with this color.  It is very well-balanced... not too brown, and not too grey.  It sits happily right in the middle and needs no other embellishments to give you a classy feel.  Trust me.. if you don't already have a favorite neutral polish, try Normani.  It is probably the one polish I've used the most, even more than my cherished Sally Hansen Pacific Blue original formula.  In fact, I've used it so much (and a few friends have borrowed it as well) that I can validate getting myself a replacement bottle.  This one is a must-have for me... kind of like a shelf staple.  She's never let me down.  Oh, and my swatch shows two coats plus a top coat, though Normani is pretty shiny on its own.

What do you think?  Do you have Normani?  If not, do you think you'll give it a try?

XOXO,
Vanessa

General Update

Hi!  I'm not real sure that anyone is actually keeping up with my (lack of) writing!  If you are, please drop a comment down below.

Going forward: My intent when I started this was to share my thoughts on any polishes, and originally it was on new polishes that are still available for you to purchase if you so desired.  I've cut WAY BACK on my purchases so that will not be happening very much at all.  I do, however, still own quite a bit and may share a manicure or two here and there.

Destash sale:  There are lots of polishes in my collection that I've only managed to use once or twice, some not at all!  This could be for various reasons, but mostly it is because I found the color didn't work well (to my eye) on my skin tone.  I have listed several polishes on a destash page on Instagram and I may also post here.  It is painful to get rid of them, but I don't have much space and these are just not being used as often as they deserve to be!  I am confident some of you out there would love them!  Please leave a comment down below if you want the name of my IG destash page, or just find my main page on IG @ace_vanessa and my destash page is linked there.

Other life stuffs: If you've read any of my past posts you know that I'm also a runner.  I haven't actually been running all that long.  I mainly did it when I was younger (junior high/high school/college) as a means to try to maintain my weight.  That actually didn't work too well then!  ha ha!  I tried running again around 2011 when a group of fine folks brought a half-marathon and marathon event to this town.  I figured it's basically in my backyard, so why not give it a shot.  Since then I have run thousands of miles and this time it actually did help me maintain weight (but I had already lost a bunch before I started).  In the beginning I was also doing some strength training and so I actually enjoyed for a bit having some tone to my body, which was vastly different from my growing-up years.  I felt pretty strong and I felt so much better about myself then I had in the past.  Then I quit my gym because I found I wasn't going as often as the running became my priority and main mode.  Needless to say, the running didn't help me keep any kind of tone, save for my lower legs!  It's time to get back into a routine with strength training and I'm going to try to get back a bit of my former strength.  I'll still keep running, but I've let the cross-training lapse for far too long and as with anything else, balance is key.  I may share my running experiences here as well.

Another thing I am really trying to do these days is READ MORE.  Mostly I read fiction books, but now and then I will try a history book because I feel it is very important to understand or to see how things were before in order to make sense of today's events, or to try to make better decisions overall.  All of this is VAGUE, really, as each person has to come to their own happy place.  This is all as it pertains to me.  I expect both agreements and disagreements, and that is totally OK!  So, anyway, going forward I may write about a book a read now and then.

Sorry no fun pictures for you today, but if you want to see any of my manicures please visit my page on Instagram @ace_vanessa.  I post much more often there than here.

Hope to see you again soon!!

XOXO,
Vanessa

Oh, where does the time go?

Hey, hey.. Anyone out there?  If so, please leave a comment!

I have no reason for such a long absence from writing and sharing my love for all things nail.  I have been keeping my nails polished or wrapped, but have simply not made the time to check in here!  I apologize!  I will try to set up a schedule for myself to resume the blog as it can be a therapeutic activity and I'm going to be painting my nails anyway....

So what is up?

Since my last post just a few on the more "exciting" side.  One is a trip I made to Washington, D.C. with my son.  We did that last summer and it was so much fun.  I was worried he was too young, but he seemed to really enjoy it!  On our first full day we took a bus tour around the most popular sights in town.  We made a grave mistake getting off at the Capitol building.  The building itself was fun to visit and see, but getting back on the tour bus was a challenge!  We finally got back on, but by then we were so hungry (let's say hangry).  I was determined to make it out to Arlington National Cemetery that day since it was included in the tour pass I purchased.  We were both so dehydrated and hungry, but luckily when we got off at the Lincoln Memorial there was a burger kiosk.  A burger never tasted so good!  ha ha! 

So, luckily, a good friend of mine lived not too far, and he agreed to meet us the next day.  That day was a LOT more walking as we didn't take any bus tour, but it was so incredible.  We didn't even scratch the surface at D.C., so will definitely be making another trip.

Have you been to Washington, D.C.?  If so, what did you think?  Would you go again?  Are there any places you recommend?  Next time I go I will be sure to visit the Cemetery again, the Lincoln & Jefferson Memorials, and will set aside a whole day to visit the museums.

All for now.. if you're there, thanks for sticking around!  Hopefully I'll have some pictures soon for you.

XOXO,
Vanessa

Jamberry Butterfly Bliss

Happy Hump Day!

Today I have another wear test on the Jamberry nail wraps for you.  Lately I just haven't really felt like polishing my nails, so I've turned to the nail wraps.  If I'm patient during application they will stay put for several days, so then I don't have to worry about changing my manicure.  Once I get back into a polishing mood I'll be back with more pretty lacquers!  :)

So, this is a mixed mani wrap.  I love these because then IF I want to mix and match I don't have to dig through my stash.. everything is on the one sheet.  Big plus!  This one is a satin finish wrap, which I really love.  It has a nice sheen to it, but not so shiny like the metallic wraps.  This wrap is currently available so if you are interested let me know!  I will put you in touch with a Jamberry consultant to get you going.

I know what you're thinking.. Why not just do this design with polish?  Well.. I don't because I don't have the right brushes to attempt this!  I guess I should look into some of the finer detail brushes.  So, you artists out there could do this easily I'm sure.  :)  I like the different colors on the wraps, but I do wish the orange-red was more on the red side than orange.  I do really like the index finger color.

So what have you been up to?  Do you remember when I told you about my back muscle strain?  It was rough getting back to running.  The first 2 times out I did more of a run/walk thing, and I could feel the muscle that had been hurt getting tired faster.  I added back in some more core work and some strength and mobility exercises.. I like to call them Jane Fonda moves, which is a little funny, but they are SO effective!  Anyway, the third run back I was able to do 3 miles non-stop.  I kept on at a slow pace and only increasing mileage if things felt fine.  I'm happy to tell you that last week I finished my first double digit run since the injury and since my half marathon in December!  I did have wonderful running company and I'm so thankful.  I am not sure I would have made it through all the way without her. I hope I continue to feel good!  Injuries are never any fun, but runners are especially more moody when they are sidelined.. am I right?  Any runners out there?

Oh how fun.. I had already been wearing my Jamberry nail wraps on that run!

So, this is what they look like today (day 7).  Would you just LOOK at my middle finger who betrayed me?!  I felt a little snag a couple of days ago so I decided to remove the wrap and check things out.  My nail was totally split on one side!  Gasp!  No good.. not sure how I did it, either.  Probably just using them as tools again!  ugh.. If it hadn't been for that nail all of them would have been intact.  I do have the tip wear, total tell-tale sign that I don't know how to be gentle with my fingers.  ha ha!

Not bad.  I made it through all of my hair washings without getting any hair caught, so I think this application was really good!

Not sure what will be next, folks.. polish?  I do have a really lovely hunter green that's just perfect for St. Patrick's Day.  I also have a really cute nail wrap (another mixed mani).. decisions, decisions.. Hope you all have a lovely day!

XO,
Vanessa

prototype polishes are great!

OK.

HOW is it already the LAST DAY of February?!  I don't know.  Time just slips away from me and I still think I am 25 years old. 

Anyway.. since it's still February and it's the month of Valentine's manis.. I have a cute berry/red polish to show you today.  This comes from Polish 'M.  It's a prototype polish, so she had been toying with the idea of releasing it as part of a collection.  It didn't make the cut for any number or reasons.. maybe the texture didn't match the others in the line up.. or maybe the color was just not quite right.  Whatever the reason, I'm glad she still offered these prototypes up for sale!  I picked out 4 and today I'm going to show you prototype 28.

Isn't it super cute?!  I don't like red on me very much at all, especially the primary color red tone.. but add a little coolness to it and I love it.  I love how this looks against my skin and the tiny glitters in contrasting colors really make the polish special!

Application notes, since you must be wondering: easy peasy.. 2 coats here, but it was fairly opaque in one.  No issues with application!  I cleaned up around the edges because I was a bit heavy handed with the top coat (I really wanted that glassy look!). 

This polish is currently still available in the shop, but I don't know how many, so if you like this, go now!  If you miss it, no worries.. there are some other polishes on SALE from the Holiday collection, including a few red/berry shades.  Also, just check the shop again later!  If you want to be the first to know about any restock events then I encourage you to join the Polish 'M group on Facebook.

Gosh, folks.. so sorry about the LONG break!  Work got the best of me I suppose and now that I have time I was a little ashamed to notice how long it had been since I wrote!  Gasp!

You can find Polish 'M here:
shop: http://www.polishm.com
IG: @creativenailchick
Facebook group: Polish 'M Fans

Until next time (hopefully not too long!)..
XO,
Vanessa

Wednesday Water marble

Easy nail art?

So.. I'm cheating a little bit.. I did this water marble over the weekend, but.. it's ok, right? First of all.. let me just say that I am far far from being really good at this technique.  I've been practicing and it's gotten easier, but it's still very intimidating, no matter how many tutorial videos I watch!  I am determined, though, to perfect my technique and get more consistent.

The water marble I'm showing you took a few tries to get to where I liked it.  First, I had to experiment with the polishes themselves.  I was dead set on using a particular cream color, but it just wasn't cooperating as well as the others.  It never really spread out well and that made my bullseye really small.. this makes it difficult to do any kind of dragging.  I changed out that polish for a white and that was the trick!  So.. then I was ready to try again.  Here is the outcome...  what do you think?

I had intended to do 2 fingers, but I didn't like how my pointer turned out, and then to make it worse, I accidentally bumped it when removing the latex barrier.  I do like how this turned out, though.. a skittle mani.  The polishes I used are all from Polish My Life.  Shown are: 50's Mint Fridge (thumb), Breakfast on Fifth (pointer and pinkie), Reject Club Pink (ring).  The water marble was done using those polishes plus Stripped.  Which one is your favorite color?  I really like Breakfast on Fifth!

I wasn't done yet.  Since I wanted to try a slightly different pattern, I put Cinderella to work.  This was pretty challenging because of the latex barrier!  I prepped pointer and middle, which meant I had to use my left hand to do the dropping (so nervous!!).  The ring and pinkie weren't too bad.  My nail beds are so much shorter on my pointer and middle, so she doesn't like to show off very often.  But.. I like how these turned out (especially the pinkie!).. what do you think?

If you are new to water marbling I highly recommend watching some tutorial videos!!  I really like the ones by Tiffany (Mrswhite8907 on YouTube) and Colette (My Simple Little Pleasures on YouTube).  The tool I use for creating my designs is a regular pointy toothpick, but you can get specialized tools or maybe use a small dotting tool.  To make clean up easier I do recommend protecting the skin with something like tape or a latex barrier.  I use Bliss Kiss Simply Peel.

Thanks for stopping by!
XO,
Vanessa

Jamberry sparkle nail wraps

Sparkles, you hate me!

Hey, all!  So, I did a little experiment/test for myself, but maybe this can help you, too, if you are considering Jamberry nail wraps. 

So, as I've said before, nail polish is definitely my first love.  But, sometimes I feel overwhelmed with all the choices!  Maybe that means it's time to cull my collection to limit my choices.  Or, maybe it is like anything else.. now and then you need a little vacation. 

When my nails get any bit of length on them I feel like I'm an accident waiting to happen.  That's why I like to always have either polish, a base coat, or nail wraps on.  No, that doesn't mean that it's fool-proof insurance against breaks, but it helps for sure!  I will always be in awe of longer nails because I just don't ever get past 2 or 3 weeks of growth.  Seriously, mad props to all you who can wear longer nails.. I just get them caught on ANYTHING and everything! 

Whenever I want or need a break from polishing I turn to my nail wraps.  Lately, though, I made a conscious choice to use only nail wraps so I could try to grow out the staining on my nails.  I found recently that applying a base coat underneath the wraps helped with my wear time (and no snagging whenever I did things like fold laundry).  I hadn't tried it with a full set of sparkle finish wraps yet, so now was a good a time as any!  My goal was to get through the work week, applying the wraps Sunday night and making it to Friday morning without major issues.  In the past I've applied sparkles on my bare nail and within 2 or 3 days I'd have some serious lifting at the cuticle line and/or the edges.  ugh!  Of course.. that could be due to my application process, or maybe my use of nail oils.  In any case.. it was a little frustrating because they are so cute and I actually wanted them to stay on.

For this manicure I made sure my cuticles were in decent shape (no extras or hidden ones) and that my nail was free of any oils (I do this anytime I apply wraps anyway).  For my test, I applied one coat of Zoya naked base and let that dry before applying my wraps.  My thumb isn't showing on these photos (but check my IG @ace_vanessa to see it!), so the names of these wraps are: Seaside sparkle (the fishtail braid pattern) and Fountain of Youth.

Application day (Sunday)

Friday morning

Hey, I made it!  You can see some tip wear, which I normally get no matter which finish I use.  I avoided nail oils for about 24 hours, but after that I went back to my normal use (usually 3-5 times a day).  I didn't get any lifting at my cuticle!!  YAY!  This is the worst.. that's the BEST place for my hair to get caught when washing or combing.  Didn't happen this time so I am really pleased!  There is a little bit of lifting on the edge/tips of the ring finger wrap, which I trimmed.  That may be due to my application or the fact that it's an older wrap (over a year old).  I just received the Seaside sparkle, so it seems like Jamberry may have improved the finish a tiny bit (more flexible?  thinner?).

What do you think?

Thanks for stopping by!
XO,
Vanessa

Tips for Jamberry

Easy or not?

Hello, again!  So, if you are even a tiny bit interested in nail wraps, here are some of my thoughts.  They are cute.  Will they ever be my go-to for nail dressings?  Probably not, because I *really* like polish.  But, I do like them!  I'm not the best nail artist out there, nor do I want to devote the time to doing anything really intricate, so I appreciate all the designs that are available.  I have found that if I am careful when applying, they will last a long time, and don't chip the way polish does.  What do I mean "careful"?  I don't mean the process takes a long time.  I mean if you pay attention to the process, like making sure they are laid flat on your nail and not touching any skin/cuticle.  That actually isn't very difficult to do for most people.. the wraps are pretty flexible and just a little pressure from a rubber cuticle pusher works for me.  For those with super curvy nails, though, application may be more challenging.  You may have to use a few methods to get them to lay flat (baggie, baseball).  But, if you get it down they should last at least a week, which I think is great if you don't have a whole lot of time to change your manicure several times a week.  I will probably always prefer nail polish, but I do think the nail wraps are so cute, and can be so convenient.. did I mention they don't chip?!  It's a buzz kill for sure when I've just finished painting and then notice a smudge on a nail.  aaauuugh!  I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.  :)

So, the nail wraps  come in several different finishes.  The very first one I tried was glossy and my first experience applying them was a little stressful!  I didn't have the mini-heater, so I just used my hair dryer.  Let me tell you.. the mini-heater is SO worth getting.  It has definitely made my Jamberry experience more positive!

Other finishes are: glossy, metallic, satin, sparkle, luster, and matte (see some on my previous post!).  There are also wraps with a clear portion, so you could layer those over another wrap, over polish, or just on your bare nail.  The finishes that seem to work the best for me are metallic and matte, but I do really like sparkle and luster finishes.  No matter what I do, though, the sparkle wraps hardly ever stay on my nails longer than 2 or 3 days.  Not cool!  I have tried the baggie method, more heat, more pressure.. nothing.  Sparkle and me are not friends.

I guess it COULD be that I am pretty obsessive about applying nail oil.  I have a feeling that is the biggest issue.. that the oil seeps underneath the wraps near my cuticle line, causing the adhesive bond not to stay sticky.  This is a problem because then they'll get caught in things, including my hair.. and ouch!

But, recently I tried applying my wraps (any finish) over a layer of base coat.  Right now I'm using Zoya Naked Base.  This seems to be the thing that will help me conquer the sparkles!  I will try out a mani soon using mostly or all sparkle finish wraps and report back.  But for now, here is a mani I wore for a whole week!  These are both metallic finish wraps.  Isn't Minnie cute?!  I really like the turquoise and silver combination.. to me it looks like something you could create using striping tape (but I don't have the patience or the skill to get such clean lines!).

Day 1

I forgot to photograph my Cinderella hand on Day 1, but here are both hands on Day 7.  What do you think?

Day 7

From a distance you can't really see much of the growth at the cuticle line, but it sure does drive me nuts!  That's why even though my wraps may look fine, I'll still change them out no later than day 6 or day 7.. the growth gap!  I'm really happy with the results using the base coat and hope it works as well on the sparkle finish wraps.  Heck.. even if I can get 5 days out of sparkle wraps to get me through the work week I'll take it as a win!

Jamberry has videos on their website for application and removal, so please watch those, and maybe also some from YouTube.

OK, fine, Vanessa, I may try these, but how do you get them OFF?!
When you're ready to remove the wraps, that's easy, too!  For the love all that is good, do NOT just yank them off because that's a surefire way to damage your nail.  What I do is lift a tiny bit of the edge of the wrap.  Then I take either a clean up brush or Q-tip dipped in nail polish remover and gently slide underneath.  Get more remover as needed and soon your wrap will slide right off.  Works like a charm.. and no nail damage!  There are other removal methods using oil, so check those out, too.

New mani time?
I hardly EVER slap on new wraps or polish after removing anything from my nail.  Instead, I will take a half day or day to treat my nails to some oil.  My nails (thankfully) aren't damaged, and I'd like to keep them healthy.  So, I spend this in-between time oiling (I have a post about it!).  After about a day of this treatment then it's time for either new wraps or polish.

Well.. what do you think?  If you ever want to try any, I can put you in touch with a consultant since I don't sell these.. I just happen to have lots of them (come on.. they are really cute!).  Let me know in the comments what you think or if you have any questions!  Keep reading to the end for more tips.. otherwise, see you next time (probably with polish!).

XO,
Vanessa



Vanessa's super easy directions for nail wraps:
1. Select your wraps.  They come on a clear backing, so it's easy to find the one that will fit your nails.  You might have to trim them a little on the sides so they fit properly and that is OK.  That's where your nail scissors come in.  It's better to err on the side of too small than too big because the nail wraps will NOT work very well if they are touching your skin or cuticle.  I'm able to use one wrap for 2 nails since my nails are pretty short.  You probably can, too, unless your nails are very long.
2.  Set up your work station:  wraps, heat source (I like the Jamberry mini nail heater, but a hair dryer will work, too), scissors, clippers, orange stick or other cuticle pusher, nail files.  Cut the wraps you plan to use in half.
3.  Push back cuticles gently (remove excess if needed before you apply wraps!).  Make sure your nail is clean and dry.  Use a basecoat if your nailbed is a little oily or if you like to apply nail oil frequently or underneath the free edge.
4. Take half of your desired wrap by the edge that will eventually be filed off (do not touch the part that will be on your nail) and center it on your nail lightly (no heat yet!!).  Make sure it's where you want it to be.  Apply indirect heat (trust me.. the mini heater is so nice for this) to the center of your wrap, and then apply firm pressure using your finger or a rubber cuticle pusher.  Apply indirect heat to one side of the wrap, pressure, then the other side, pressure.  That's the 1-2-3 method and you can probably find a YouTube video that shows it better than I can explain!  ha ha!
5.  Continue working in that manner for all fingers (no filing yet!).  Once you've finished the last finger on that hand, then go back to the first finger.  It should be cool now and now it's OK to file off the excess.  I file down at a slight angle instead of 90 degrees because I use my hands for everything.  Filing at an angle helps since it won't be right at the edge of your nail, for all of my friends who use their hands like I do.. tools!
6.  Do your other hand.
7.  To remove, lift a little bit of the side edge of the wrap.  Then, slip a brush or q-trip soaked in remover underneath and gently work the wrap off.  Use more remover if needed (but you shouldn't need much).
8.  Remove any left over residue with polish remover and wash your hands.  Apply lotion and/or nail oil to undo some of the drying from the remover.

Jamberry nail wraps

.. another way to dress up your nails ..

Hi, all!

Today's post is about nail wraps.  Have you tried any?  I've only ever tried the ones by Jamberry.  They are available directly on the Jamberry website or through a Jamberry consultant.  All the ones I own I've purchased through "parties" or have earned through hostess rewards.  Ok, y'all.. you know how much I love my nail polish, right?  Well, that love hasn't dwindled at all since I've used Jamberry, but now and then, I do like to use the wraps because I think the designs are so cute!  Plus, if I do a good job applying them, they will last me for days!  The longest I wore any set of wraps was 10 days.  Now I only ever let them stay on 5 or 6 days because I have so many designs I'd like to try.

Why the Jamberry chapter right now?

If you've read other posts, you might know that another of my hobbies is running.  I really love it!  I'm not particularly fast, but I do enjoy it.  Well, I haven't been running since the first of the year because I had a very WEIRD muscle spasm in my low back and that really knocked me out.  It was SO painful.. I think I actually shed a few tears in the first 24 hours after it happened.  Thankfully, it responded really well to some massage oils and heat.  I'm on the mend, but not quite back up to my usual mileage.

So, the reason for the Jamberry right now is that I can apply these sitting up, which isn't too painful for my back.  For polishing I normally lay flat on my stomach on the floor and polish that way.  Is that weird?  How do you polish?  Do you have a desk?  I don't.. that's why I just flounce on the floor!  ha ha!  But, it works well for me.  While my back was still pretty sore I couldn't really flounce, so I abandoned the polish for a little while.

So, Jamberry.  What are these?  They are basically stickers that you trim to fit your nails and they stay on from the adhesive and the heat you use to apply them.  Super easy!  You just need a really good nail file, a heat source, and nail scissors or nail clippers.  I've seen some people get these on in less than 10 minutes, but I've never been that fast!  I take my sweet time when doing nails, whether wraps or polish!  Let's take a look at  few of the designs I've worn recently.

And check out Cinderella hand (be nice.. she's a little shy):

You can also layer wraps that have a clear portion over polish or another wrap.  Here is one that I really like called "Geo Diamond".  It's got holographic bits to it and looks really awesome in person!  Scroll back up to see how I used it over another wrap (it's on my index finger).

You can see from the photos that the wraps come in different finishes.  The standard/regular is glossy and most of their designs come in this finish.  There is also sparkle, luster (mixture of sparkle and matte), metallic, satin (mixture of metallic and matte), matte, and clear (at least a portion of the wrap is clear so nail or polish underneath can show through).  My favorite finishes are metallic, luster, and matte.

There are videos on YouTube that would do a much better job at explaining how to apply and remove the wraps, so please check those out if you ever decide to try Jamberry nail wraps.  I will, however, share tips that have helped me improve.

First:  I use a base coat (Zoya naked base) underneath my wraps.  This has really helped with the staying power on my sparkle finish wraps!
Second:  I use the 1-2-3 method to apply my wraps (should be easy to find on YouTube).
Third:  I file off the excess wrap using a slight angle instead of the 90 degree angle.  Since I think my fingers are tools, this helps me avoid any unintentional snags!
Fourth:  I avoid any lotion or oil for about an hour.  For the first day or so, I will only use lotion or cuticle cream, not oil, to moisturize my hands.

My next post will be about my most recent Jamberry mani using the above tips so you can see (and judge) for yourself!

Until then.. XO,
Vanessa

Empties

Hi!

Another post today to help make up for my silence at the end of December.  Boy... when I have some vacation time, I sure do make the most of it.  What I mean is, I do NOTHING.. I make it my mission to rest as much as possible. 

Today I have a post about some skin care (not face) and nail care items I really like/love!  All shop links will be listed after all my chattering.. so if you manage to read all this, congratulations!  Or, you can always just scroll to the bottom!  :)

Moisturizers/Lotions

Love & Lotus Naturals
I'm not sure how I stumbled upon this company, but I REALLY love it.  The owner (Melissa) is a fantastic lady all around and I love the attention she puts into each product.  My favorite item from Love and Lotus Naturals is hands down the Whipped Body Butter.  I find the texture so smooth, and the scents are usually not too strong.  I also really like her Whipped Sugar Butter.

Whipped Body Butter: moisturizer after my shower.  I also keep a jar at work to use after hand washings.  I just love it!  My favorite scent so far is Raw Sugar Mandarin & Avocado.  Honorable mentions include: Tahitian Vanilla, Sandalwood Vanilla, Gardenia  I usually have 2-4 scents I alternate between.. these are some at varying levels of extinction.

Whipped Sugar Butter:  I like to use this both in the shower (it lathers really well.. just 1-2 tsp in my pouf does the trick) and after having filed my nails down.  It's got some oils in it so when I rinse off my nails don't look dried out at all.  It's great for getting the last little bits of filings and any rough areas near my cuticles.  My favorite scent is one called Drabarni, which was part of a limited edition Boho box.  So nice!  The scents I like on this are similar to the whipped body butters, plus a few others like Toasted Almond Snowcakes and Lavender & Manuka Honey.

Love and Lotus also offers other skin care items (face.. I have to sit down and decide which ones I want to try since she has some new items) and body care items (bath salts).  I've only used the bath salts once, and that was so nice.  I wish I had a bigger bathtub to enjoy it more often!

Perfect Paired Hand & Cuticle Cream (PPHCC) by Polish My Life
This product is new to me, so not quite close to being empty, but I LOVE IT.  It comes in a 2oz jar and is scented perfectly (I picked Coconuts).  Just a little bit will do the trick.  On me, it absorbs fairly quickly, within 2-3 minutes.  I will definitely replace this item when I run out.  It's a good size container to keep tucked in your purse, or on your nightstand.  I use this at bedtime and for a few days when I've applied nail wraps.  I've noticed that cuticle oils tend to seep underneath the wraps more often, which causes them to lift sooner than I want them to.  But, the cream is thick enough to stay where I want it and I can apply it carefully around my cuticles and then just rub into the rest of my hands.  The maker (Shaneka) also makes gorgeous polishes. I own several and highly recommend them.  Her creme formula is fantastic and most, if not all, are great for water marbling.

Oils

SweetBaby by Donna (cuticle/nail/skin care)
My favorite cuticle oil is SweetBaby.  The particular mix of oils in that one seems to work best for me as an every day/maintenance oil.  I found SweetBaby through a friend who knows the maker (Donna) personally.  I am so thankful for her recommendation!  My favorite scents are Warm Honey and Orange Creamsicle.  I also keep a bottle of her Heal-Thy Self oil and apply that in my scalp/hair as well as using on my naked nails.  Donna also makes a nourishing balm and I really love that, too.  That has been something I've used much more in the colder months.  I typically keep a roller bottle, but Donna also offers the oils in a brush pen (which you can easily refill!).  The shop is on vacation mode right now, but Donna announces restock events on her Instagram page.

Simply Pure by Bliss Kiss
This is another company I found as I was starting my nail journey.  Simply Pure oil is available in brush pens and dropper bottles.  It works OK for me on skin, but not as well as SweetBaby or the other oils in my post.  Even though it's not my favorite, I keep a supply because it's the best for the actual nails and it seems to work great in hair, too!  I apply the oil directly on my nails in between manicures for a quick hydrating therapy.  I also use this oil on both my hair and my son's hair (1-2 drops for him, 4-6 for me) after hair washing to help replace some skin/hair friendly oils.

Blissfully Nourished cuticle oil by Bliss Polish
This oil is the best one I've found for softening my cuticles.  Anytime I notice they seem to be a bit "thick" I use this oil and find that within a day they are much softer and pliable and look better.  It is wonderful for softening the rougher cuticles in my toes!  My favorite scent here is Coconut.  The maker (Yvette) usually switches up the scents on a monthly basis. Another one I've tried and really like is her Black Raspberry Vanilla scent.  The oil comes in a tube with a doe foot applicator, which I really like!  Oh, and Yvette also makes some pretty amazing nail polish!  While you are in the shop, take a look.  I have quite a few of her polishes and really like all of them.  Her new creme line is really nice and most colors are opaque in 2 easy coats (some in 1 coat!).

Nourishing Cuticle Oil by Polish 'M
If you've read some of my other posts, you know that Polish 'M is my favorite indie polish maker.  Newer to her shop is this fantastic oil.  I got a sample in one of the Polish for Pit Bulls duos and really liked that (that tube is long gone!) so I picked up a few more scents.  This a heavier oil combination, like SweetBaby, but contains some different oils.  After SweetBaby, this oil is my favorite for cuticle maintenance.  I really like the doe foot applicator so I can easily control how much or how little I want to apply.  The maker (Michelle) offers different scents with the changing seasons.  The one I'm loving right now is Brown Sugar & Chestnut, which was part of her fall scents.

Whoa!  That was a long one, huh?  I know what you must be thinking.. geez, girl.. that's A LOT of products!  Yes, it is, but I do like every one of them!  They each have a purpose in my routine.  The only one I use daily is the Love & Lotus whipped body butter.  The oil I use depends on the scent for which I'm in the mood, or if I need to soften, or if I'm wanting to do a super hydration for my nails.  When you consider that.. it's not so bad, right?  :)

What do you think?  What are some of your favorite nail care/skin care items? 

Thanks for stopping by!
XO,
Vanessa

SHOP LINKS:
Love and Lotus Naturals  IG@loveandlotusnaturals 
Polish My Life (PPHCC)  IG @polishmylife
SweetBaby by Donna  IG @workinggirlnails
Bliss Kiss (Simply Pure oil)  IG @myblisskiss
Bliss Polish  IG @blisspolish
Polish 'M  IG @creativenailchick

Polish for Pit Bulls Christmas 2016 edition

Hi, everyone!

I'll have a few posts coming up since I've had a little more time to write.  Whee!!  The first one I have for you is the nail polish collaboration between Polish 'M and Cameo Colours Lacquers.  These ladies, Michelle and Cameo, have been known to get together to release a limited edition duo.  Let's see what we have...

Cameo Colours Lacquers: Paw Prints in the Snow
This is a beautiful and sparkly silver in a clear base.  Mostly it is straight up silver holo microflakes, but there is just a hint of green micro flakes that I find so interesting with this polish.  Application was so easy and built up to my liking in 3 thin coats.  It dried down fairly smooth, so I skipped the top coat.  I wish I'd gotten a sun shot of this so you could really see how this polish just shines and sparkles.  Gorgeous! 

Polish 'M: Happy Howlidays
I don't have many green polishes in my collection because they tend to clash (or so I believe) with my olive-based tone.  But there is something about Polish 'M greens that I love!  I love the tiny bits of contrasting micro flakes in this.  You might think it's difficult to remove this polish (and the other), but I didn't have any trouble using the Deborah Lipmann method.  Application was effortless, as I've come to expect from Polish 'M.  It dried just a teensy bit textured, but a layer of glossy top coat was all it took to get it smooth.  Shown is 2 coats plus top coat.

Aren't the names so cute?!  I love how they somehow get a dog reference in the names.  I don't know for sure, but there may be another duo coming up in late January in time for Valentine's Day.  If you think you might be interested, I strongly encourage you to follow Polish 'M and Cameo Colours on IG, or join their groups on Facebook.  :)  I love that they donate such a large amount of the cost directly to two separate pit bull rescue facilities.  For this holiday duo, the cost was $20, and $12 was donated.. so generous of the ladies!

XO,
Vanessa

Cameo Colours Lacquers (shop) IG @cameocolourslacquers
Polish 'M (shop) IG @creativenailchick

Zoya Naked Manicure

This year Zoya had a really amazing deal on Black Friday.. 70% off the entire site!  Zoya is my favorite mainstream polish brand, so I had to take a look at my collection and then compare to my wishlist.  One of the things I'd been interested in is the Naked Manicure system, but just never got around to getting a kit.  I couldn't pass up the Black Friday deal, though!

Zoya Black Friday Haul

I don't know that I would consider this a "haul" since it's not many polishes, but it was a pretty good deal anyway!  I picked up the following:  Women's Starter Kit, Lavender Perfecter for the Naked Manicure System, Get Even Ridge Filling Base Coat (can't wait to try this underneath my Zoya satin and matte polishes), and some polishes (Dahlia pixie dust, Tove Satin, Merida, Troy).

The Women's starter kit includes the naked base, pink perfector, tip perfector, and satin seal top coat.  I was very interested in this system since I don't ALWAYS have polish on my nails.  These times are actually pretty infrequent because I have some staining on my nails (the bane of the polish addict I suppose!) and I like to keep that covered!  I like the look of healthy natural nails, though, so I was hoping this would be what I was looking for at those times I can't really pick a polish to wear or I simply don't feel like wearing any color.  Of course, before trying this system myself I watched several videos (JessFace90x, Simply Jary, CDBnails) to help lessen my learning curve!

I took a few photos in natural light and in my regular office lighting.  You can definitely see the yellow tinge on my nails and ridges on most of my nails.  Despite that, my nails are fairly strong and flexible thanks to plenty of nourishing oils.  I keep meaning to write a post about some of my favorite skin and nail care items.. someone remind me, ok?!

After watching the videos and reading up on the system on the Zoya website I decided to add the Lavender Perfector to my order to help neutralize discoloration.  I'm so glad I did this because my nails are obviously discolored!  I forgot to mention earlier that the kit comes with a manual that explains how to use the system and the benefits of using the system (cosmetic and long-term therapeutic effects).

 
For this mani I applied the following:  naked base, lavender perfector, pink perfector, tip perfector, satin seal.  I waited about 2 or 3 minutes in between each layer.  The satin seal top coat took about 5 or 6 minutes to completely dry down to the satin/matte finish.  On the tip perfector, I used the tip suggested on the video by Simply Jary.  It worked just great for me!  There is also a glossy top coat you can purchase, but I skipped this since I prefer the more satin/matte finish for a natural nail look.

On the next photo you can see a little better the difference the Naked Manicure system made on the cosmetic appearance of my nails.  I gotta say.. I really love it!  My hands and nails look so polished and neat!  I will definitely be using this system often, especially if I have some trauma to the nail like a break (I cringe at the thought because nail breaks can hurt pretty badly!!) or if they just look like they're taking a beating (thank you, Texas weather!), and also to try to rehab them and give them a break from polish while still keeping them protected.

What do you think?  Would you try this system?  I will be updating this post in a few days to let you know about the wear time.  I hope to keep this on my nails 4 or 5 days, but we'll see if I get bored before then!

The Zoya Naked Manicure system and other Zoya products (polishes AND lip colors!) are available for purchase on the Zoya website or at certain retailers (ex. Ulta).

Thanks for stopping by!
XO,
Vanessa

UPDATE: 12/19/2016 (4 full days wear)

I bet you thought I couldn't stand to have the SAME THING on my nails for 4 days straight.  I didn't think I could do it, either, honestly.  But, I really wanted to see how this would fare for me.  I have a couple of pictures for you.. I'm sorry for the inconsistent lighting on the collage.  The point is just to show you how well it wore over the 4 days (do you see any chips?  I don't.. maybe my eyes are not so sharp anymore, but I don't notice anything big).

And here's a closer look from today.  If you look closely on my middle, ring and pinkie fingers you can see the natural nail starting to peek through from the growth.

Overall I really love this system!  It really was so easy to use and I think my nails looked so neat.  I will use this system often and may even use it if I ever try to do negative space nail art.  Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

I am a runner

Hello, hello!

So... are you ready for a long-ish post?

This past Sunday I ran a half-marathon.  Is that a long way?  I don't know.. I guess it depends on what you consider to be long.  Let's back track just a tiny bit.

I never considered myself any sort of athlete.  Sure, I played the seasonal sports in middle school (volleyball, basketball, track & field), but not because I really like them.. more because it seemed like I "should".  I am Hispanic, and my family LOVES all the carbs.  So, that's how I grew up!  I ate more than my fair share of tortillas, and we were always encouraged to clean our plate.  I cringe at the thought, but we would have soda or kool-aid (the sweetened kind) to drink, not just plain water.  Sugar!  Whee!  This is why I felt like I "should" participate in sports... because I always felt like I should lose weight and get in shape.  It wasn't really because I was any good at it, or that I really enjoyed it.

Well, now let's fast forward to when I finally decided to give running another try.  My son was born in the last weeks of 2008.  I can count on one hand the number of times I actively did something like go to the gym or go for a walk.  I was so consumed by him and when I wasn't with him, all I wanted to do was sleep!  Well, at about a year and half he decided he was done nursing, and I was still waking up for his early feeding.  Instead of breaking that habit, I decided it would be the perfect time to go to the gym.  About a year later I was flipping through a women's fitness magazine (Shape) and saw an ad for an all-girls 5K obstacle course.  I didn't really know what to expect with an obstacle course or a 5K, but I decided to sign up for it!  Why not?!  After that, a friend who had run the 5K obstacle course with me told me about a new race.. a MARATHON.. a marathon was really going to happen in our local community.

In what I can only imagine as a fit of insanity, I signed up to run the full marathon.  Crazy, right?  Even crazier.. I still considered myself pretty "soft" but now I did consider myself stronger and "normal" by the typical media standards.  Throughout my running, though, my image has shifted and now I'm much more concerned with the way my body feels and what I'm able to do.  That didn't happen quickly at all and sometimes I still do fret about my size.  Thankfully, these little bursts do not last very long.

Onward.. let's train for a marathon.  I joined a running group and trained with others who were also planning to run the marathon.  Throughout most of this training I still did not understand fully what it would FEEL like to run 26.2 miles.  I experienced a lot of pain.  Muscles were sore, one of my hips was hurting quite a bit, my feet would hurt from the pounding.  I don't really remember much pain in my knees, though I'm sure I had that, too!

On the course!  That's my son running to catch me.

Completing my first marathon in 2011 was an experience filled with many ups and downs.  With each mile completed, a feeling of strength, but also of weakness, happiness, but also worry.  Somehow I arrived at race day in a semi-healthy state and survived to collect my finisher medal and tech tee.  Oh the feelings.. from "I just propelled myself through 26.2 miles, hear me roar!" to "oh it hurts so much to walk".  What an amazing experience and one I will likely remember the rest of my life.


Obviously it wasn't too painful because I've completed 3 other marathons (all on the same local race) and several half marathons.  I haven't really thought about marathon #5 in a while, but after this last race, I actually didn't dismiss the idea right away.  In the back of my head I would like to run a full marathon again when I am 45, which will be year 10 for the local event.  For some reason I think that I should do one before that.  Of course, I don't know yet.  I may sign up for the half marathon again and be content with that.  And the next hour I think I will register for the full marathon, knowing that, if needed, I would be able to switch distances or defer about a month before race day.

First marathon medal

Marathon #4--best part of the race

 So, what's the big deal with our local race?  First of all.. it's unlikely that I would travel to run a marathon, but if it's in my own back yard.. why not?  Second, the founder of the race is also the founder of Mercy Project, an organization that works to end child slavery.  They are currently working in Ghana, Africa and over 80 children have been reunited with their families.  I think they work they do is selfless and generous, kind and compassionate.  I can definitely get behind that.  That's why I choose to support this race.  The past 3 years I've been fortunate to run as a member of Team Mercy Project.  This team's mission is to raise even more funds to help the mission of Mercy Project.

Every year this race has gotten better.  The participant tees, finisher medals and finisher gifts have always been great.  For Year 5, the organizers did something really special for those of us who had run every year: a custom rack for our medals.

So.. about this year.  Well, this was a rough training year for me.  I wasn't in any kind of shape to actually race and attempt a PR, but I knew I could get through it.  I typically go through a routine leading up to race day: resting, eating, hydrating, polish selection, gear selection, alarms!

Let's talk polish.  This year I chose to use a black glossy cream: OPI Who are you calling bossy?!!!  It is from a Peanuts Halloween collection.. I adore Snoopy/Peanuts, so of course I needed to get this polish.  These photos show 2 or 3 coats plus glossy top coat.  I think my bottle may be a little tampered with, actually.  Sad face!  When I opened it for the first time I had to use a rubber grip to pry it open.. when I did open it, I found a layer of polish crusted on.  That shouldn't happen on a brand new bottle of polish, especially on one from such a big polish brand. Anyway, it applied well enough, but it wasn't opaque in 1 coat as some of the reviews I read said.  Oh well.  I like it anyway because Snoopy!

And finally.. some photos including my best running pal, the gear I wore and goodies received as part of this year's race.

Team Mercy Project tee (blue): received for being on the team and committing to raise $350 for Mercy Project
Brooks shoes: Ghost 9  I love Brooks!  version 9 feels really good and I will probably buy a back up pair or two to have ready to go for my 2017 training
Finisher medal: beautiful stained glass appearance etched with date and distance, first thing received after crossing the line
Watch: My trusty Nike+ finally bit the dust this fall, so my husband got me a replacement by TomTom.  I haven't quite figured it out yet, but it gets the basics done (time, distance, speed)
Participant tee (yellow): received for registering for the race
White quarter-zip: received for purchasing the VIP package which included VIP (speedy) packet pick up, valet parking, access to fancy flush toilets at the start line and finish line, VIP bag drop, access to climate control room for post race refueling and garment changes
Navy jacket: received for crossing the finish line

If you have stuck with me this far on the post, THANK YOU!  :)  Please let me know in the comments your thoughts on running, or anything! 

Read more about Mercy Project!
Read more about the BCS Marathon & Half Marathon!

Until next post XOXO
Vanessa

Zoya August

One more for November..

I think I've always been into polishing my nails, but it didn't really became more of a hobby until I bought my first color from butter LONDON.  It was a deep red called "Saucy Jack".  Soon after that I tried my first color from Zoya, and that's when I really became obsessed!  Even though most of my polish purchases are now indie brands, I still really love the Zoya formulas and the range of colors.  I don't buy every new collection, but I definitely do keep updated on the newest releases.  This Fall Zoya released an amazing collection called Urban Grunge.  Of course I looked for reviews and watched my favorite live swatch lady on YouTube-- jessFACE90.  oooh.. I was so excited!  I decided to wait a little while, convincing myself that the shades would be around for some time. Not long after, though, I found someone on IG who was selling her extra bottle of "August" for a great price!  I had to get it.

Zoya August is described as a full coverage gray, like a fine expensive leather with mid-range, balanced tone.  It should flatter all skin colors.  This is promoted as a one-coat cream, but my photos show 2 coats.  I ALMOST got it in one coat, but it wasn't quite there for me.  Maybe it will the next time I use it.

 I *really* love this color!  It's so moody!  That is exactly my personality.. it may as well be called "Vanessa" instead of August.  Although.. fun fact.. my birthday is in August, so....  I guess it's perfectly named anyway.  Incidentally, Zoya does have a polish named Vanessa!  It's a bright berry red color.  I will feature it in a future post.

Even though I like the look of plain glossy grey, I wanted to add a little something.  This is August with one coat of Bliss Polish Holo Bliss, a subtle holographic topper in a clear base.  It doesn't really stand out much more in regular lighting, but in the sun you'll notice a little holo rainbow on your nails.

..and because why not?  Here is another photo of August with one coat of Bliss Polish Holo Bling, which is an amped up version of Holo Bliss.  Holo Bling also contains tiny holographic micro glitters and I prefer the look of this.  It works well over so many different colors, so of course I think it's a must-have in any polish collection. 

That's it for today!  Zoya had an AMAZING sale on Black Friday and I couldn't pass it up.  I picked up 4 shades and the naked manicure starter system.  I can hardly wait to try that out, as well as the new colors!  Two are from the Urban Grunge collection (Merida & Troy) and two are from older collections (Dahlia- a black pixie dust, and Tove--a slate gray satin finish).  So. Excited!

Thanks for stopping by! 
XO,
Vanessa