Thursday, April 21, 2011

Haul: Sally Beauty Supply (Acrylic Nails at home)

I've decided to redo an old post on acrylic nails that I did when I first started blogging.

I researched countless videos on YT, product websites and other blogs to try to find a clear cut explanation of what you need to do acrylic nails at home.  Alas, I never came across something so simple. 

So here's my explanation!  :)  I'm not a professional by any means, so this is just what my research has taught me.  Also, the brands I've purchased from are ones that I've discovered are good quality brands.  I don't want to waste my money buying crap - I'm sure you don't either!

All prices are from the time I bought them (probably the middle of February 2011). I have a Beauty Club Card which gives me a discount.  The prices listed (USD) are the discounted ones.

1) IBD dehydrate - $5.49
This will strip the natural oils and moisture off your nails to help the artificial nails apply and stick on better.


2) IBD Natural Nails Primer - $6.99
Also helps prepare the nail for the adhesion of artificial nails.


These two products are similar,  but I'll explain how I used them later.


3) ASP Bonding Acrylic Liquid (a monomer) - $12.49
You need to wet your brush with this liquid (the smelly stuff that stinks like a nail salon) and put it in the powder in order to turn the powder to the hard set acrylic.  Make sense?  I hope so!


4) ASP Bonding Acrylic Powder - $13.99
This is the actual acrylic powder.  I got "clear" colored powder for a cost effective way of showing y'all how to do french tips, but this can come in MANY colors. 


5) ASP French White Nail Tips - $7.99
Again, you can get clear colored tips, or different smile lines, etc.  But I got these to do cost effective french tips.  :)  These tips come with ASP nail glue.  Sweet!


6) Beauty Secrets Pro Sculpt #8 Acrylic Brush - $7.49
Acrylic liquid and powder requires a brush. My old one was getting crusty so I opted for a new one!  :)


7) Beauty Secrets Medium 100/180 Grit Nail File - $0.89
The 100 side is kind of useless for acrylics, so I would recommend getting a courser file.  You definitely need at least a 180 grit. 


8) ASP Glitz & Glamour Kit - $14.95
This kit isn't necessary, but I got a great deal on it!  I think it's closer to $30 regularly!  So I snatched it up.  I figured I'd show yall anyway as I will be posting different nail looks done with this!  :)


From Wal-Mart, I bought:

A cheapie buffing block, to help smooth my nails.

A new clear top coat in case I couldn't buff my nails to a shine (which I couldn't - but the buffing block is nice to have anyway!). 


Anyway, that's my haul!  Expect a post about the nails soon!

SIDE NOTE: I have a professional nail drill to help me do my acrylics at home. I got it for Christmas one year, so that made this less costly for me.  The drill is also sold at Sally's.  More on that when I actually show you the french tip nails!  :)

Friday, April 15, 2011

Inspiration: Arabic - Purple and Pink






Main Products Used:
  • MAC e/s in Dark Devotion (applied wet to fill brows)
  • MAC pigments in:
    - Pinked Mauve
    - Dark Soul
    - Frozen White
  • BFTE minerals in Grape
  • MAC kohl e/l in Smoulder
  • L'Oreal HIP cream e/l in Black
  • Ardell Lashes in Gisele
On the cheeks, I used MAC powder blush in Gingerly.

On the lips, I used MAC l/s in Myth, topped with MAC l/s in Angel and CoverGirl l/g in Shimmershell



Friday, April 8, 2011

Collection: Favorite Nude Lipsticks






 (Left to Right: MAC Hue, MAC Beachbound, NYX Iced Honey, MAC Myth, NYX Frosted Beige)



I thought it would be fun to show you all my favorite nude lipsticks!  :)

While I see that Frosted Beige is kind of a stretch for a "nude" lip, especially with my definition of "nude" as "blanked out lips," I'm going to include it anyway!  It's pretty!  It's super frosty and has a great silver/gold/nude reflect.

 Swatched on a tissue, same order.  You can see the reflect in Frosted Beige really well here!



Without flash.

With flash.


What are your favorite nudes?

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Collection: Favorite Pink Lipsticks


(Left to Right: YSL #7, MAC Angel, NYX Harmonica, MAC Saint Germain, MAC Colour Crafted)


Here's a look at some of my favorite pink lipsticks!  I absolutely looooove pink lips!  Pink toned lipsticks/glosses make up the majority of my lip product collection but I quite easily chose these shades out!  :)

 Swatched on a tissue - they look different on tissue than skin.


 Without flash.


With flash.


What are your favorite pink lipsticks? 

Sunday, April 3, 2011

FOTD: March 3, 2011



Main Products Used:
  • MAC paint pot in Rubenesque
  • MAC e/s in Amberlights, Dark Devotion and Scant
  • Sephora e/s in Peach
  • MUFE e/l in 0L
  • Smashbox Waterproof Shadow liner in Starstruck
On the cheeks, I have Smashbox Fusion/Soft Lights in Revolution.

On the lips I have Sephora l/g in Rosy Glow.

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