imPRESS Press-On Nails Review - Final Recap

**I received this product complimentary for testing and review purposes from Influenster**

Did you all think I forgot about these?  lol Of course I didn't.  I have been itching to get them off for a week so I can do another mani.  As a blogger, I feel like these aren't practical because I'm used to changing my mani everyday or every other day.  I'm finally relieved to remove them.

Just to recap, this is day 1 for the press-ons.  I had just put them on and I was already regretting it because the design is definitely not me.  I even had co-workers comment on why I had zebra print on my nails.  They know I don't do zebra.  lol.  To get caught up, HERE is the link to my day 1 review.

Here we have day 3 and already there was so much tip wear (my thumb was horrible) that I felt like removing them.  To read day 3's review, click HERE.  I explained how I would apply a top coat on a couple of my nails to see if that helped with wear and tear.

Day 4, I ended up loosing a nail on my right hand so I just took them off.  I left all press-ons on my left hand so that I could continue with the review.  I also applied a top coat to my middle and ring fingers on this hand.  Did it help?  Yes actually.  I had more tip wear on my pinky and pointer than the others.  I would definitely suggest using this method if you use these.

Day 5 and 6, they looked the same (so no need for photos) however they were starting to lift at the sides.  This was an indication that I should remove them or they would pop off soon.

Well, whataya know?  My pinky popped off just yesterday.  This makes it 6 days for the wear time.  I think that is great considering I'm very rough on my hands at work and with all the handwashing and showers I took, I honestly thought they would all come off sooner.  They are advertised as lasting up to a week so there is a plus.

I decided to go ahead and remove them all.  The instructions say to apply acetone or alcohol around the press-on and then lift them off.  That's not exactly what happened.  Since they were lifting on the edges, I flooded my cuticles with polish remover and let it soak for about 30 seconds.  Then I got a cuticle pusher, wedged under a lifted edge, and started removing the nails.  Some came off with ease and others I had literally rip off.  It's not painful but it did damage my natural nails.  I'm assuming that's because they weren't quite ready to come off.  Maybe I could have worn them for another day or 2.  

As you can see, my pointer and pinky are fine, but my ring and middle nails have a feathering effect to them.  This is shreds of my nail that were torn up with the adhesive.  I'm not happy about it at all, but I did give myself a nice mani and applied lots of cuticle oil and a restorative top coat.  Hopefully they will grow out quickly so I can have healthy nails again.

Review Wrap-Up - Final
Price: $ - $5.99-$7.99 depending on where you purchase them but now I'm not so sure that's worth it.
Variety: As far as I've seen, there are a lot of different designs and even solid colors.  For those that may be hesitant about trying DIY nail art, these are great.  You can view a gallery of other designs HERE.
Application:  super easy; only a few minor issues with the protective plastic backing.
Quality: Feedback from readers and nail lovers suggest they look cheap.  I had a lot of tip wear on all nails, especially my frequently used fingers - pointer and thumb.
Wear:  They did stay on for nearly the entire week as advertised with a couple of casualties.  Those could have easily been glued back on or replaced with any of the extra nails in the set.
Removal: easy if the nails are ready.  the ones that were really stuck on there didn't want to come off.  There was some "damage" to my natural nails since I had to rip those off.
Would I Purchase Again: definitely not.  If I had purchased these this time, I would be pretty upset.  I think they are more trouble than they are worth.

Thank you so much for sticking with me through this ordeal.  lol I mean it wasn't that bad, but it was.  /:  I have so many fun manis and some swatches coming up so I hope you stick with me.  

Textured Neutral Ombre

Since I'm getting my mani motivation back but I'm still creatively blocked, I thought I should "cleanse my palate" so to speak with a nice neutral mani.  However, I couldn't just go creme, I had to go sand.  I mean it is beach weather outside.

From pinky to pointer is OPI Solitaire, Zoya Godiva, OPI Honey Rider, and OPI What Wizardry is This?.

On my thumb is Zoya Dahlia...still one of my favorite textured polishes to date.  I don't have much to say on their formulas or anything.  You can read my post on the Zoya PixieDusts HERE and my post for OPI What Wizardry is This? HERE.  I promise I'm not being lazy by linking you to old posts.  I just feel as though you can get all the info from there.

With OPI Solitaire, I am keeping that to myself as well.  lol Only because I am reswatching the Bond Girls collection (I hated my first swatches) and then when I am satisfied I will post the whole collection here.  I know you all may be tired of seeing them on other blogs right now anyway.

Oh and speaking of textured polish, who else is SUPER DUPER excited about the Fall 2013 Zoya PixieDusts?  I am freaking out.  If you haven't seen a press release on the other blogs, just keep looking.  I'll give you a little peek though.

Eeeeeeee!!

imPRESS Press-On Nails Update - Day 3

**I received this product complimentary for testing and review purposes from Influenster**

Here we are back for and update on the imPRESS Press-On nails.  If you need to get up to speed about my initial thoughts, you can view my review from day 1 HERE.  A wrap-up will be featured at the end of each post with some repeated info but also some new info so don't forget to read that. (:

So here they are on just day 3 and already there is so much tip wear.  I figured that wearing these to work would definitely ravage them, but they were already pretty f'ed just from one shower and lots of typing.  After work they looked even worse since I work in retail.  I'm always hitting and scratching my nails on zippers, hardware, mannequins, etc.

This is my thumb nail after just the 2 days of wear.  The design isn't just rubbing off either.  It is straight up peeling off in tiny chunks and strips.  This is also bad for me because I have a bad habit of picking at things so all I want to do is peel it off.  I'm really trying to resist the urge.  AAAHHHH!

I'm not sure how I missed this, but another thing to note is how they don't exactly fit my nails.  As you can see they taper in a bit at the end, but my natural nails get wider as they get longer.  This isn't something that is going to bug me for a day or two but if you plan on wearing these for the entire week, it may be a slight issue.  Mainly because I've had so many people commenting on these in the past 2 days and saying that the nail salon didn't do them correctly.  Yes.  Many people thought they were acrylics.  lol

So remember when I said my natural nail was shorter than the adhesive so they were getting dirty?  Well here they are and this is after a shower.  My black towel fuzz stuck to every bit of it and I'm sure there is still dirt from work under there.  It's pretty gross.  I tried to clean them with a cotton swap and alcohol and that only worked to a certain extent.  They still aren't clean looking.

I wasn't really impressed with these to begin with, but now I really just can't wait for them to come off.  If real polish on my natural nails had this much tip wear, I would have already changed my mani.  I feel like if I had paid for these (which I didn't), I would feel like I wasted my money.  For sake of the rest of the review, I'm going to experiment.  I'm going to apply a top coat to my left hand and leave my right hand exposed to the elements.  If I could figure out a way to extend the design wear time, they might actually be worth trying again for times you might be in a hurry or for those who aren't comfortable with DIY nail art yet.

Review Wrap-Up - Day 3
Price: $ - $5.99-$7.99 depending on where you purchase them but now I'm not so sure that's worth it.
Variety: As far as I've seen, there are a lot of different designs and even solid colors.  For those that may be hesitant about trying DIY nail art, these are great.  You can view a gallery of other designs HERE.
Application:  super easy; only a few minor issues with the protective plastic backing.
Quality: Feedback from readers and nail lovers suggest they look cheap.  The design isn't lasting near as long as I would have thought.
Wear:  As far as the actual press-on goes (no the design), I think they will be stuck to my nails for the week as advertised.  I have felt them shifting a bit though.  Like the adhesive isn't dry or something.  There will be more updates to come.

imPRESS Press-On Nails Review - Day 1

**I received this product complimentary for testing and review purposes from Influenster**

I am officially back!  I really wanted to do something with real polish on my nails, but I was already drawing a blank (I know right?!) so when I saw that I had received these imPRESS press-on nails in my Spring Vox Box from Influenster, I knew I had to do a review.  I don't do them very often and I quite enjoy them.

If you don't know what Influenster, check it out at the link above.  Basically you get fun free stuff just for participating in small surveys about yourself/your interests.  This time I got these press-on nails.  Unfortunately you don't get to choose the designs you get so I'm stuck with these.  This design is cute for someone else (they remind me of Kayla Shevonne), but it's not something I would ever create on my own mainly because I HATE zebra print.  No offense to those that do, but I just don't.  Sorry.  I just don't like it on me at all. (:

Obviously the first step was to pick out the ones that fit your natural nails the best.  The pack comes with 24 nails (so 12 different sizes) for you to work with.  I was really surprised at how well the shape of the press-on blended with my natural nail shape.  If you've ever used fake nails, you know that's usually not the case.  They are also really flexible so if you have super curved nails, they should still be fine.  When I pressed down, all of the air bubbles came right out.

So here they are on my nails.  They are okay I guess.  I'm really not crazy about them at all.  I think the color of the nude part isn't working right with my skin tone.  The package says 'Fast and Easy, Apply in Minutes", but there was a little more to it than that.  The plastic backing over the adhesive was so difficult to remove.  No bueno!  Once I had about 3 of them already on, I couldn't maneuver to get the other plastic backings off so I had to use my teeth.  All the tweezers did was stretch and tear it.  /:

Aside from the design, I think the length looks kind of nice on my hands eventhough they are longer than I'm used to.  It is kind of creating a problem for me to do my everyday tasks like laundry and going to the bathroom.  lol This photo was taken immediately after application so it looks clean, but actually there was one small issue.  My natural nails don't cover the adhesive completely so now I have fuzz and dirt all stuck to it and it's making under my nails look dirty.  Ew!

I don't feel like with press on nails, you should have to do too much work because they are supposed to be convenient and easy right?  Well as you can see some of them have this little piece that sticks out (from where they were cut off their mold thingy) and so I ended up having to file that part off of 6 out of the 10 nails I'm wearing.  Filing plastic is not fun.

Review Wrap-Up - Day 1
Price: $ - $5.99-$7.99 depending on where you purchase them.
Variety: As far as I've seen, there are a lot of different designs and even solid colors.  For those that may be hesitant about trying DIY nail art, these are great.  You can view a gallery of other designs HERE.
Application:  super easy; only a few minor issues with the protective plastic backing.
Quality: At first they seem flimsy, but really they are just flexible so they can form to your nails.  The design doesn't look like it's something that will rub or peel off but only time will tell.
Wear:  This is just day 1 and so far so good.  They feel like they are really on there.  There will be more updates to come.

Stay tuned for more updates on the imPRESS press on nails. (:

Guest Post for Nail Polish Creations/Life In Color

Hey Everyone!

I think my small blogging hiatus is over.  I still don't feel completely motivated, but I really want to get back into it and polish my poor naked nubbins.  They have been bare since my last post.  I'm not sure what's keeping me from wanting to paint my nails, but I haven't bought any new polish in quite a while.  I don't want to keep adding to a collection that I'm not even using at the moment.  I have a few new manis planned out in my head that I definitely want to try.  I'm also waiting on a small shipment of goodies to come in so that I can create some new looks from there as well.  Stick with me.

For my first mani back, I actually created an ombre/holo gradient for someone else.  hahaha!  So head on over to Nail Polish Creations and see my guest post.  I'll give you a peek.

I also did a fun corset mani on May 13th (that I completely forgot to post about) for Gosia of Life In Color!

See ya! (:

Rainbow Gradient?! Yes, Please!

Yes you read it right!  I have a full on rainbow on my nails tonight.  I have been wanting to do a vertical gradient for awhile but I didn't just want to do the same colors on each nail so I decided to use them all.  I mean, why not?!  Rainbows are fun!

Here it is!  It's super bright and I love it.  I think it's so fun and quirky...like me!  I don't really think I need to explain how I did it seeing as how almost everyone knows how to create a gradient by now.  I didn't do the sponge method though.  I just did it using the polish brushes.

As you can see some of the colors didn't blend as well as I had hoped like neon green and teal blue on my middle finger, but whatever!  You can't tell me that it looks bad.  lol  I did this entire mani over a white base if you were wondering how they all got so bright.  I had too since three of them are jellies.

Are you ready for the list of polishes I used?  It's long.  There are ten of them.  The reason for there being ten is that I used all these same polishes on my toes (which you will see below so if you don't like feet then don't read any further than the polish list) for an ombrè pedicure. 

WHAT I USED:
Orly Oh Cabana Boy - pink
popBeauty Ablaze - neon orange
OPI Y'all Come Back Ya Hear? - orange
Spoiled Did I Dye It Too Blonde? - yellow
China Glaze I'm With the Lifeguard - lighter neon green
China Glaze Kiwi Cool-ada - darker neon green
butterLONDON Slapper - teal
China Glaze Blue Sparrow - blue
China Glaze Creative Fantasy - darker purple
China Glaze Señorita Bonita  - lighter purple

Next is my pedi pic...look away if you aren't a foot person (who really is a foot person though).  I promise they aren't bad.  (:

Thanks for checking in tonight.  I had so much fun doing this mani and you better believe I'm going to stamp over this.  lol

Leopard Print and Gradient Mani

Hey Guys!  I'm back from the dead.  lol No actually I'm finally moved in and unpacked in my new place.  We had issues with our internet when we moved in as well so we were bored out or our minds for 5 days.  I also broke most of my nails when we were moving the furniture and all so now that my nubs are a little more grown out, I knew I could finally make some manis happen.

I was going through my stash trying to find a fun color to wear that I haven't worn in a long time so I chose essence Choose Me.  Perfect name, right?!  Since my Melmer drawers are in such disarray from the car ride over (all the bottles tipped over and are all mixed up now), this little guy made his way up to the front of the drawer and so he was "The Chosen One".

So here it is...the finished product!  I thought I would mix it up and do some leopard print and a gradient.  On my ring and middle fingers I used China Glaze Four Leaf Clover and OPI Designer...de Better! to create the leopard print.

On my pinky, pointer, and thumb I used Designer...de Better! to create the gradient.  I didn't use a sponge like I normally would because I really didn't feel like making a mess tonight and also being covered in silver shimmer.  I just did it using the brush which I haven't done in a super long time.  I forgot how much I liked that effect.

I love how the whole mani sparkles and is super shiny.  My favorites are the ones that blind you in a good way.  lol

Well I am so happy to be back blogging and to be all settled in my place.  There shall be lots of fun manis coming soon.  Night!!

Crumpet's Nail Tarts Present The Tri-Polish Challenge

It feels like forever since last Thursday when I posted my last challenge mani.  I had such a terrible morning that ruined my whole day that I wasn't sure I even wanted to do my nails, but I worked up the energy to make it happen and man did it happen.

See what I mean?!  I went all out I think.  I started with a base of Zoya Kimber and then added dots of popBeauty Ablaze and Zoya Zuza.  Over Zuza, I added tiny gold studs from my new essence Nail Decoration Kit.

For my water marble nail, I started with a base of popBeauty Ablaze and then tried to create a flower petal design.  Aaaaannndd that's about it.  (:

Since pink is my least favorite color, I have to say this isn't my favorite mani on me.  I think it's really cute, but maybe on someone else.  lol  Oh and I did use my new essence Gel-Look topcoat and I love it.  You should all go pick up a bottle if you can.  It was only $3.49.

China Glaze Bump & Grind

Good Evening!!

I am so exhausted today for some reason so this will be a fairly short post.  Besides as I'm trying to type it up, I'm zoning out and making all kinds of typos.  I went to Ulta the other day for shop for some super cheap nail supplies (if you missed that post, HERE you go!) and I saw that they already had the displays for OPI Bond Girls sands and China Glaze Textures.  I really thought they weren't supposed to be out until next month.  So since my OPIs are on their way, I thought I'd pick over the China Glazes and saw one that I really liked:  Bump & Grind.

This one, along with two others, were on my wishlist, but I actually didn't really like the other colors as much as I thought I would so I took them off and bought only this one.

Bump & Grind is a bright magenta creme base polish with the textured and matte finish.  Unlike the other textured polish that most bloggers have shown (Zoya, OPI, Kiko) these are all creme base with no shimmer. It's nice to have something a little different, but at the same time I'm in love with shimmers so I don't really know how much this will get worn.

I am happy that I bought this polish, but I don't think I'd buy anymore of them.  I just really love the glitter and the sparkle of the sands and pixies.  What's your thought on the cremes vs. sparkle textured polish?  Are you into the textured trend at all?

This didn't really turn out to be so short after all.  Go me!  lol Have a great night!

Nail Art for Less

This is a post I've been wanting to do for a long time, but I just never buckled down to make it happen.  Well today I wanted to get out of the house and what better thing to do when you're bored but shop.  I also don't have a ton of money right now so this post was perfect.

Tonight's post is all about being frugal when it comes to nail art.  I know there are a lot of companies out there pushing nail art supplies for gobs of money so with the popularity rising, I wanted to let you all know that you can create super fun manis for a fraction of the price.

These are all my goodies!  I got so much stuff.  Everything you see here is the essence nail art decoration kit in gold, Minx nail wraps in Summer Splash, All Season Naturals cuticle stick in French Vanilla, A.S.P crystal nail file, Claire's nail jewels, Claire's nail wheel with pearls, studs, and beads, and Claire's striping tape.

Here is the close up (the best I could get anyway) of the Minx nail wraps.  I got these at Ulta in the clearance section.  They had other designs as well, but this was the last one and the best one.  I didn't even read the package either so when I opened it and saw that is was and mani AND a pedi, I was pretty excited.  The price on the package says $4.99 (from $18) but my receipt says $2.99 so another great surprise.  Oh and it was 20% off.  Woot!

Here are some embellishments that I picked up from Ulta and Claire's.  The essence nail decoration kit contains 3 types of gold glitter, some tiny studs, and small sheet of gold flake.  This also comes in silver but they were out.  The Claire's gems and jewels are Buy 1, Get 1 50% off right now, so you should all check it out.  I picked up these beautiful jewel stickers that remind me of an Indian or Bollywood themed nails and the nail wheel is full of rhinestones and studs in silver and gold, but my favorite part is the white and black pearls.

Also at Claire's I saw they had striping tape and although I still have a roll unused, why not pick up more, right?!  I wanted to know how well it worked and it comes with 3 colors, gold, black, and silver.  For $6.50, I thought it was a great deal given the promotion that is running.

Now how could I buy all these goodies and NOT get a top coat?  I couldn't.  So I got the essence gel-look top coat which from what I understand is supposed to leave a super glossy gel finish...so like my Gelous, maybe.  We'll see.  Sally's had a coupon for the All Season Naturals cuticle stick so I thought I'd give it a try.  Oh the coupon was buy the cuticle stick, get the A.S.P nail file FREE!!!  I've never tried a crystal nail file so I'm nervous.  The sound is weird and makes me cringe a little.  lol

And the grand total...

$23.17!!

I really hope this post was helpful for all you ladies on a budget.  I can't wait to try all of my goodies and show you all what I come up with.  If you've found any great deals, let me know.  I'm always on the lookout.  Have a great night!