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Amber

I'm 21. I'm a part-time cosmetology student, I also work full-time. I'm pretty lazy, and don't lift my fingers to do many things in my free time, except to decorate their tips =]

This blog is to document my progress, as I continue to try new things with my nails as much as possible.

I am in no way affiliated with the brands of products that I review on here, I just really love shopping.

Questions? nevernakednails3@gmail.com I'm also on facebook

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Dupe alert! Deborah Lippman & Revlon

Today I have a comparison for you guys!  These are the polishes being used:
Deborah Lippman Footloose
Revlon Fearless
OPI Moonsooner or Later
Pure Ice Siren

(Siren's only in there cause I didn't wanna leave out another potential bright red, but I knew he wouldn't match up)






   With a focus on these three
But really the main reason for this comparison are these two lovelies!

L-R: OPI Moonsooner or Later, Revlon Fearless, Deborah Lippman Footloose, Pure Ice Siren

 Footloose is also on my thumb, so you can see all four of those finers it is REALLY hard to tell any difference.  I should point out that these are bright tomato reds, so yes, there is orange in them.  Of course, orange is super hard to photograph, especially the differences in these being so slight as to a hint more or less of orange.
 OPI and Revlon.  Both are definitely crelly, but I would say Fearless is more of a jelly than MoL is.  Very close to one another, but Fearless is a little smidgen itty bitty bit more orange than MOL is.

And here, we have Fearless and Footloose, and I'm here to tell you that I would consider these dupes of one another.  Both are crellies, the flash in this photo really ruins the comparison, but just from the other photos of my middle and ring fingers, wouldn't you say these are just about the same polish?  Revlon of course is sort of infamous for duping DL, and to me they've done it again.  If you can go out and get Revlon Fearless, you most definitely don't need DL's Footloose, though you might still be able to find it on sale somewhere.  I bought all four polishes in DL's Footloose collection for less then $26 on hsn.com

What do you think?  Do you have any dupes in your stash?

Friday, July 13, 2012

July Birchbox

Hey guys!  I'm going to show you my Birchbox that came in the mail today, I totally wasn't expecting it to come this soon!  I haven't tried any products, so I'll just be putting the descriptions up, but reviews will come!  This month, Birchbox teamed up with Glamour magazine.  I love Glamour=] The whole bit is the senses, but since my box is one of the few that only got four items plus one lifestyle extra
*Pausing to rant* what the fuck, Birchbox?  Have I not been loyal to you for over a year now?  Why must you vary the amount of samples per box? Needless to say almost every other box got 5-6 samples and one lifestyle extra. I however did not get anything to "taste" so...for future reference, Birchbox, you should probably not hang me out to dry during PMS.  I am quite happy with the rest of my box but I still feel like they're being bitches up at the BB HQ.  Whatever..

So every box got the same lifestyle extra this month, have a looksee:


The sweet little note they send everybody, which can be viewed fully along with everything here @ Birchbox.com


AHAVA Purifying Mud Mask
Thick with Dead sea mud and Kaolin white clay, this fast-acting mask detoxifies skin in the amount of time it takes to catch a commercial break. (full size, $30)

Laura Geller Doubled Dipped Lipstick in Caribbean Kiss
This double-sided lipstick makes it
easy to switch between (or layer) two 
golden pink pigments (full size, $17.50)

                                                                                                      Manna Kadar sheer glo shimmer lotion
This illuminating liquid gives your complexion a supermodel-like sheen.  Mix it with your foundation, or apply as a highlighter (full size, $29)

Oscar de la Renta live in love
This elegant floral layers notes of hyacinth and orchid over a rich base of sandalwood and cedar (full size, $25-78)

Lifestyle Extra Birchbox Exclusive earbuds
We designed these neon headphones just for you.  Pair them with your best playlist.


Here's everything, in all it's glory.



I have not tried these yet, but I do sincerely hope they fit into my ears.  My small ears are notorious for not wanting any sort of headphone to stay in them.  I know I'm not the only small eared girl out there, so a review will definitely be coming soon!









I've never heard of this brand before, but I will be trying it.  This would probably be perfect for my brow bone as a highlighter, but who's to say really... I doubt I'll use it all over with foundation since I'd rather go for a matte look than a dewy glow one. 




I'm really glad this was included, and look at the size of it!  this is .9 oz, with the full size being 4.3.
This is honestly the biggest sample of something that I have ever gotten from Birchbox, but I will still be extremely pissed if there is only a small amount of product in this bottle. I hope this is what my skin's been looking for, with all the makeup I wear I really need something to just make me feel clean.




Perfume sample.  really Birchbox?  I'll throw this in the pile with my other tons of perfume samples that I've acquired from around, but mostly from you.   I'm sure this smells fantastic, too.  This is the smallest perfume sample I've gotten, and I don't even give a shit.  I really wanna know why it's such a staple to have perfume in my box every month.  Why couldn't I get another product, or for fuck's sake, the yummy Lara Bars a lot of boxes got?  I'm just sayin, I get perfume samples for free from Ulta.com.  Why the fuck do I get them each month in my BB, when it's obviously the cheapest thing you could find to throw in there.









I've not tried this yet, but I love getting Laura Geller makeup in my BB, because it's normally full sized=]  From what I can tell, this is as close to a full sized lipstick as I've ever seen.  I will review this before I get my hopes up, buuuut I do love lipstick=]










So to sum it all up, I am pleased with this box, but I do feel a little bit gipped by Birchbox.  I pay the same $10 a month just like everyone else, but it's a roll of the dice each month as to whether I'll be getting 4, 5, 6, 7 products?  And to do a whole *Multi-sensory* theme, but not send EVERYONE something to snack on for the taste?  I love it when I get snacks in my BB, yeah it's a sample that goes almost immediately, but if they could send me something more useful than another goddamn perfume sample, I'd be super happy.

Summer Challenge: Sea shells!

Hey guys=] Today's challenge is my favorite so far, because for one: this mani can be used on more than one day (score!) and for two: I think it turned out super cool, and really I made it up as I went along.



I really took a lot of pictures, but these were the best ones I could find out of the bunch.  I was trying to figure out what I could do to recycle Zuza, I had been wearing it for a day or so.  I decided a beach theme would definitely work since Zuza looks like how I would imagine some really breathtaking ocean water would look.  Everything I used is above: Color Club Coral Cascade, China Glaze Fast Track, China Glaze Kinetic Candy, Noname Maurices teal color, Sally Hansen French White Tip, Sally Hansen black, and Zoya Zuza.  Below are my brushes I used, and the underside of a nail wheel, which I find are handy for doing nail art as little palettes.

I painted on the sand (fast track) and then some waves (noname teal) and then the splash of the wave (kinetic candy) and then some little shore things, in random shapes mean to be the actual shells (coral and white and black) and then a little crab on my index, ain't he cute?  Yes, he has legs, they are just small and my camera doesn't like beach scenes..or me..
I added top coat because I wanted this to last a couple days. I was so proud of this one.  I almost didn't though, because I like how textured it looked with the waves.  I sort of did a sweeping of the polish alongside the teal line and then smudged it kind of with the brush.  I know what you're thinking, wow that beach is cluttered.

This reminds me of two of my aunts, they both used to live in Texas.  My aunt Donna died when I was younger which really bites, but my other aunt still loves the beach just as much even though she hardly gets to see it anymore.  She's one of those types that themes their house in beach-like art and such, which is cool=]  I do miss visiting Texas every summer though, I haven't been in about 10 years.

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Summer Challenge, Pink and Purple!

Today I decided I would finally try a cocktail mani!  For those that don't know, this is where you paint your one hand all one color, and then the other that same color on two fingers, but the first three fingers have a different color.  You know, the fingers you hold your glass with!  The accent nails can be a bit spicier while the other nails a simple creme, or really whatever you want.  China Glaze held a contest not very long ago (time escapes me) and you can still find their idea page on google.

 I really needa start doing my nails during the light of day again..

I did this right after I got my Zoya trio in the mail, and I chose to keep it simple.  This week was a bad one for my nails, a couple started breaking on my right hand, and the next day I couldn't stand it any longer and now all my nails are short, with the nubbiest being on my right hand.  Zoya Kimber and Tru.  Both are opaque in two coats, with awesome shimmers that apparently cannot be captured in my tired haste..

Do you all like this "trend"?  I don't see a lot of people doing it so I don't really know if it's considered a trend or..what.. I feel really weird about my accent nails being on my right hand, since my left hand is the star of most of the photos on my blog (and with good reason..) so I think I'm gonna break the rules next time and do the cocktail part on my left.  What do y'all think?

Monday, July 9, 2012

I got a Liebster=]



The Liebster Blog Award is given to upcoming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. The Meaning; Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing and welcome.

I'm really glad this has nothing to do with the Biebster.
Hey everyone!  I just found out I've been nominated for the Liebster Blog Award by Hayley from Makeup Movies and More! I'm so excited!  A great big thank you to Hayley=]  If anyone isn't checking out her blog, you need to be! She's a fellow product junkie like me, and writes reviews on all the stuff she buys (sound familiar?) Anyway, she's great, and she just had her 100 followers giveaway! It's over, but I swear it was the neatest giveaway I've seen, all three prizes had assortments of false eyelashes that Katy Perry just came out with=]

1. Each person must post 11 random facts about themselves.
2. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you plus create 11 questions for the people you've tagged to answer.
3. Choose 11 people and link them in your post.
4. Go to their page and tell them.
5. Remember, no tag backs.

Hayley's questions:

What are you top make up tips?
Are you ready for this? 1. Always wash your face before bed, I don't care if you were lazy and didn't wear makeup! 2. If I hear another complaint about foundation, concealer, etc. from someone who IS NOT wearing primer, I'm gonna yell! 3. Q-tips were just made for you, remember that. 4. Eventually, you're probably going to have to learn how to use liquid eyeliner. 5. Pluck, wax, comb, trim, fill in, do what you have to, but those eyebrows aren't going to groom themselves, ladies. 6. Before you put on any sort of lipstick/gloss/pencil/stain please please exfoliate and moisturize. 7. If you're having a bad day, go get your hair cut.  Seriously. 8. At least once every couple weeks...do them toes.  They want it, and you know it! 9.Probably the MOST important: Blending. oh my god. It's so simple. Blend everything. foundation, concealer, eyeshadow, blush, bronzer, all of it.

What is your favourite colour?
Green has always been at the top of the list, but I'm not opposed to most colors.

What are your top 3 must have beauty products?
Wow.. Well if I had to narrow it down, I would definitely want Clinique's gel moisturizer for oily/combo skin because it soaks up fast, and it's gentle enough that I can use near my eyes without burning.
then eyeliner.  Right now I love my Loreal felt precision tip liquid in carbon black. Gotta have my cat eyes.
And then I suppose my concealer, from Minerologie.  When it's blended it doesn't crease, and it doubles as an eye primer! It keeps my eyeshadow/liner all day long.  It is a tad too light to wear just on its own, so I normally do have to blend it into my tinted moisturizer/foundation whatever I'm wearing that day.

What is your favourite movie?
The Rocky Horror Picture Show.  The other day I saw Bridesmaids and that is definitely tied with Ted. I'd have to really think about the rest in my top five..

Who is your fashion icon?
Not just one..Bettie Page, Marilyn Monroe, and depending on the day I'm inspired by different retro pin-ups. And Katy Perry.

If you had 3 wishes, what would they be?
To just have good health, for me and my family.
To be able to destroy spiders with my mind. Flies too.
and really great cars according to ratings of safety/awesomeness for my boyfriend and I.

What is the colour scheme in your bedroom?
oh well..our walls throughout the house are mostly neutral colors, and our curtain is dark brown (it's one of those that keeps the sunlight out) and then our bedding changes, from purple/lime to yellow/assorted...eh.

What beauty chore do you least enjoy?
Shaving.  But that's because I really really have tons of phobias about germs, and especially shower germs.  I never store my razors in the shower, and I'm always really careful about drying them and storing them in dry places, but then that leads me to wonder about my shower scrubbie thing and if I should store it out of the shower as well and god that'd just be a hassle...So then I think of something else.

Who do you think is the biggest Fashion Offender in the public eye today?
OOooh...I think as long as she's around, it'll always be Snooki.  You can try to say Helena Bonham Carter but...I beg to differ.  She's gothy-tim burtony.  You just have to love her in a different way than a Kardashian.

What would be your dream holiday/vacation?
I would love to go anywhere, but I really love Australia.  Mostly, I love how people sound when they talk in Australia.

What made you decide to start blogging?
I'd been on blogger just trolling a buncha awesome blogs and doing my nails allll the time and taking pictures like they did, and I realized what did it even matter if I didn't start storing the pictures somewhere, listing what I had used, and more importantly, my thoughts on what I'd done?  It just went from there.  I normally only get a couple of comments on a post, but that's perfectly fine by me.  While I do like having followers, it does add to the fun, it's just not what it's all about.  In the end this is my virtual scrapbook of nails and cosmetics.

Questions:
1.What is your blog about, and why?
2.How old are you?  This mostly applies to how old you feel.
3.Would you please tell me a short story of the last time you really really had some absolute fun in your life?
4.Where are your favorite places to shop, and what are your favorite brands of things to buy?
5.Do you have any crafty hobbies, or something you're just good at?
6.What did you expect to be doing at this time, five years ago?
7.If you use youtube, what types of videos do you watch the most?
8.What is the song(s) that you must play full blast, windows down, belting it out, don't nobody better get in your way, driving down the road?
9.Kids?
10.Best day ever?
11.Who taught you to do something you really like doing?

So I'm doing it a little different, I have a little more than 11 bloggers listed, but that's because you can't tell me to just pick one! or 11...These bloggers are really great, you should check em out! Most of these I've not only followed and like their posts but have commented back and forth with.  Not on a regular basis or anything, but still.  There were other people I would've liked to have listed here lol but it's actually hard to find people with less than 200 followers...Anyway, I hope you guys answer these and share the love=]

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Summer Challenge, FEET

I've been so busy scheduling posts for later dates, I completely forgot about today's challenge.  And probably because my mind just wanted to forget...okay it's pedicure.  Now, before you judge, my family has Flinstone feet.  Don't know what that is?  That's trying to find a 6.5 WIDE anywhere I go.  Doesn't always happen.  Sometimes I have to settle for a 7.  7 is too big for me, but I digress...

For some reason my feet do look extra swollen in this photo, but I'm pretty sure they were fine...they were flat on the floor which is adding to it, they look a lot more slender otherwise!  I probably had just gotten off work and came home and did them.  The redness around my nails definitely adds to the look of swollen-ness, but I can assure you it is only the China Glaze Strawberry Fields I had just taken off before applying Revlon Fearless.

So there you go, my wide ass feet, my ugly carpet...I really did try for this one, and this was actually taken over a month ago.  I've had better pedis since then.  Why, why wouldn't I take photos?

Pretty in fuchsia

Today I'll be swatching/reviewing a pair of Revlons that were a part of my June haul.  They are Facets of Fuchsia and Plum Night.  In my opinion, both are really pretty.  Facets is different sized fuchsia glitter in a black jelly base.  The base does take up to three coats to be pretty opaque.  Plum Night is what I would define a crelly.  It can be built up to opacity in about three layers, but I think it's because it's so vampy.  There was a recent post about Facets on Rebecca Likes Nails  and I was like weird, I just bought that..now I want to wear that.  But in her post, she expressed how frustrating it is that this polish does not dry.  I agree for the most part, and actually BOTH of these polishes gave me shit, and Plum Night actually moved a good hour after I'd put her on..Apparently I'd banged my nail on something and bam! manicure ruined.  I would say that after a full night of work Facets finally was actually dry, but there were so many marks and dents I really had no choice but to take it off as soon as I got home from work.


These pictures aren't the greatest, this one shows plum night lighter than it really is, but it is a really great bottle shot of Facets, very accurate.  Facets is supposed to be a dead dupe for Deborah Lippman's Bad Romance, with the exception of DL's having a more opaque black base.  I think that is very cool, I love DL, but damn $18 a pop...Revlon definitely has some sweeter price tags, so I love that they really make awesome polish affordable.









I don't hate either of these polishes, I think they may just need some more patience than I was willing to give them at the time.  I think Facets would be a wonderful polish to try doing syrup nails with.  Gotta stay positive lol

I bought both of these in a set from Big Lots for $2.  No regrets there=]