DIY Nail Art with OPI Pure Lacquer Nail Apps | Review + Swatches

I may seem a little late to the nail app craze but trust me it's been on my radar for a minute now and I'm finally getting around to trying them for myself. There are so many nail company's that offer nail apps and OPI has recently jumped on board. Their selection is probably the best I've seen so far. They currently carry 14 different styles and each set comes with 16 nail strips. Each strip is made of 100% real nail polish and  best of all they're easy to apply and they remove just like normal nail polish with nail remover.

OPI Pure Lacquer Nail Apps

Sequins

OPI Pure Lacquer Nail Apps 

 Reptile

OPI Pure Lacquer Nail Apps

 Girly Glam

Glow: What I love most about OPI's nail apps are the beautifully intricate designs. They are super easy to apply, all you have to do is peel, stick, and file them into place and you're set. Once you've done 1 or 2 you pretty much get the hang of it. I really like the nail app trend in general because it makes nail art simple and far less costly. There's zero drying time and the wear is pretty good, I got about 5 days of wear out of them. The application also isn't messy which makes the clean up process pretty smooth.

Glare: There's a strong nail polish-like smell that hits you once you open the foil packaging but I'm assuming it's just from the nail apps being tightly sealed. The good part is that the smell goes away as soon as they hit the air. I was a bit disappointed with the initial peeling that I experienced within only a few hours after applying them. They peeled a bit around the top edges but fortunately since the design is so busy it's not really noticeable. Once they seemed to settle the peeling did stop.      

Would I Recommend It? Yes! I mean they're super cute and make do-it-yourself nail art a breeze. If you're into nail art I'd definitely suggest at least trying these out once. 

Where To Buy: Pure Lacquer Nail Apps are available at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and ULTA, for the suggested retail price of $11.95. To purchase or to learn more please visit opi.com.

Product(s) in this post were provided for post consideration. Read our disclosure policy here. 

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Girls With Curls | White Sands Curl Up In Silk Firm Hold Mousse | Review + Photos

I've learned that the best way to manage my curls is to stick with products that I know work for my hair type. While there are tons of natural hair products on the market right now, I've run into the same problem which is that the majority of them don't really give me great results. While all the hair butters, smoothies, jellies, and creams sound good, I just haven't had much success. I've used various brands of mousse over the years and it has easily become one of my most trustworthy hair products because it always seem to deliver.

White Sands has a new silk infused curl and blowout product called Curl Up In Silk Firm Hold Mousse. Curl Up in Silk Firm Hold Mousse softly holds curls, creating texture, dimension, waves, and volume: the perfect styling product for curl definition and hold. Yet, despite its firm hold, Curl Up in Silk provides a light, flexible feel free of unwanted flaking and product build up, leaving hair silky, shiny and soft. What's unique about Curl Up in Silk is that it isn't strictly for curls but also for round-brush styling which gives your hair body and fullness for the perfect blowout, every time. 

White Sands Curl Up in Silk Firm Hold Mousse

Check out my lovely results!

Glow: I've been testing this product out all week and I'm definitely pleased with the results. I do wash & go styles pretty much everyday during the summer so I ideally like to use products that aren't harsh on my hair. The formula of the Curl In Silk Mousse is super foamy and lightweight. I allow my hair to dry naturally throughout the day and the mousse leaves my curls super soft and with lots of bounce! It's pretty humid and hot here in Atlanta and I was pleasantly surprised at how my hair remained in tact and didn't get frizzy or turn into a huge puff by the end of the day ^_^

Glare: This may sound weird but the bottle is pretty tall and you have to release the product at an angle to get a good consistency into the palm of your hand, while that's nothing different from most mousses I kinda prefer pump dispensers because it just makes it easier for me. It's definitely not a huge con for me though just more of a preference. I also really love that the mousse doesn't feel sticky. 

Would I Recommend It? I would! I haven't tried it with an alternate style yet such as a blowout but I can't wait to see how that works out for me. 

Where To Buy: White Sands Curl Up In Silk Firm Hold Mousse retails for $19.50 and is avialable for purchase at fine salons and online at http://www.whitesandsproducts.com.

Product(s) in this post were provided for post consideration. Read our disclosure policy here. 

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Nail Junkie | NYX Matte Nail Polish in Mint MNP04

I am weak...soooo weak! I think we all have guilty pleasures and can admit to buying things from time to time that we absolutely don't need. I mean who hasn't walked into Target on a mission to buy shower curtains and ended up leaving with an outfit, shoes and accessories to match? Just me? I don't believe you! Sadly, for me it's not just Target. I feel like I do this with every store, I have such an impulse to buy things no matter where I go. This past weekend I visited my local beauty supply store supposedly on a mission for a friend, but of course as usual the cosmetics section was calling me!

My BSS has a pretty nice size selection of NYX products and I've been meaning to try out their matte nail polish for longest. And at just $1.99 there was no need for convincing. I'm still kinda on the fence about mattes so I decided to just go with 1 polish to get a feel of it. I chose "Mint MNP04" which is a soft matte mint green. Check out my swatches and thoughts below.

NYX Matte Nail Polish

Mint MNP04

Glow: For starters NYX formula is always consistent and this was no different. It's easy to apply and I was able to get it completely opaque after just 2 coats. Also, I love that despite it being matte it still produces a nice little shine. The wear is also pretty good, I went about 3-4 days before noticing any chips or peeling.

Glare: None! For a matte, this polish was a bit glossier than I expected but I like it. It takes a bit longer to cure and dry completely than the regular glossy polish so just be sure to take that into consideration if you're in a rush. 

Would I Recommend It? I would! I'v'e seen the prices of these polishes vary by location and $1.99 has been the cheapest. NYX's regular polish retails for $4 on their website so I'm not sure why the prices fluctuate so much in stores but either way it's a great buy! 

Where To Buy: I've seen these polishes pretty much everywhere, beauty supply stores, Walgreens, etc. You can find locations that cary the brand near you from their website. To purchase or to learn more please visit nyxcosmetics.com.

Product(s) in this post were purchased by me. 

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American Apparel Nail Lacquer | Review + Swatches

I've been wanting to try American Apparel's nail lacquer for quite some time now because I've read nothing but good things about them. They also have a decent selection of colors ranging from pastels, neon's, and glitters. I've been into super girly colors lately so I decided to try out a few of their pastels. Check out swatches below and please excuse my cuticles they've been looking pretty  horrible lately....I'll take care of that soon lol  :-/

L Esprit 

This is a lavender pastel and it's hard to explain but it has sort of gray undertones to it. 

While it's a pretty shade I'm not sure if I'm completely wowed by it.

Office 

This is a mint green pastel which I truly love! For some reason I've really been into mint's lately and it seems as though I'm on a personal mission to have a mint polish from every brand ^_^

Summer Peach 

This is a peach pastel with lots of personality. 

Words can't really express how much I love this color and it's even more vibrant in person!

 Coney Island

A pastel pink that's super girly! 

It really pops and I can see this being a staple this summer. 

Glow: The formula is pretty good, you can almost get it completely opaque with just one coat though I used two coats for my swatches. They also have a nice shine to them, I didn't use a top coat at all. My favorite out of the four is definitely Summer Peach, it's so pretty!

Glare: The biggest con for me is that although the formula seems rich it can be a little bit difficult to apply if you use too much polish on the brush. You only need a really thin layer to get an even coverage.  

Would I Recommend It? I'd recommend giving it a try if you haven't already. I don't necessarily see myself running to buy any more of these anytime soon but I do like them for the most part and I am glad that I finally tried them! They also have quite a large selection of shades, I may try some of their glitters in the future. 

Where To Buy: American Apparel Nail Lacquer's retail for $6 each and are available at American Apparel stores and online. To purchase or to learn more please visit http://store.americanapparel.net/.

Product(s) in this post were purchased by me. 

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Own The Look | Site Spotlight + eShakti Dress Review

Happy Monday ^_^ Ok so I wanted to start a new series here on the site where I could incorporate style and fashion,  featuring some of my favorite websites as well as those that I discover along the way. I guess this is my first official "site spotlight" and it will be a little different because it includes a review, I hope you enjoy! If you're not familiar with eShakti, they are an amazing online retailer that sells customized clothes. The site is most known for their huge selection of dresses but they also sell tops, skirts, and accessories. What's unique about eShakti is that every single item on the site is offered in sizes 0-26. And if that isn't enough to get your attention they also give you the option of customization where you can have a dress made to your exact measurements and specifications! Cool, right?

When I was approached with the opportunity to review one of their dresses I was so excited because I've been eyeing the website for quite some time now. I did feel a little overwhelmed when it came to selecting the perfect dress because they have so many to choose from!

Below are a few dresses that caught my eye.

While they all were tempting I decided to brighten things up a little and go with something that had a little more of a spring/summer feel.  I chose the Blossoming Strapless Dress which is a beige floral dress with a sweetheart neckline, empire waist, and pleated skirt.  Check out my photos, details and review below. 

I'm really impressed by the customization options. You can choose what length you want the dress. I normally like my dresses below my knees so I decided to go with the mid-calf length. It does hit me mid-calf but it's a little longer than I expected. I'm about 5'5" and now that I look at it I think I could've gone with with knee length lol! 

Detailing on the back of the dress.

The original model of the dress is strapless but I wanted something with a little support so I chose to get straps that tie up. 

Just a few extras ^_^

Outfit Details

Dress: eShakti

Cardigan: Old Navy

Shoes: LuLu's

Earrings: Target

Ring: Target (I think lol)

Glow: I chose to get the dress customized to my measurements because I've never had anything custom made before and I wanted to see how it would work out. Best decision ever! I was a little nervous about taking my own measurements and being accurate but the fit came out so perfect! What I really love about the dress is that it's made really well. The material is of excellent quality and at the same time it gives a bit of leeway for movement. My overall experience was just wonderful and the staff was really easy to work with, they answered every question I had promptly and thoroughly.

Glare: Based on my experience I would, I have absolutely no complaints! ^_^ 

Would I Recommend It? Yes! and more Yes! I have to say that it's so refreshing to see a company like this because it's a rarity to find stores and sites that truly cater to a wide range of sizes. Being a plus sized girl it's not always easy to find stores that carry larger sizes and are also trendy. To be honest I've never been the most confident when it comes to my body and learning to accept it is a constant journey. I'm just happy that I've found a site that can help me stay stylish along the way ;o)  

Where To Buy: The Blossoming Strapless Dress that I'm wearing retails for $64.95 but is currently on sale for $55.21. They carry a wide selection of dresses and customization is only $7.50 extra. To purchase, browse more dresses, or to learn more please visit http://www.eshakti.com.

Product(s) in this post were provided for post consideration. Read our disclosure policy here. 

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