Essie "Mojito Madness" Swatch + Review

two coats, natural light

 

Another NOTD! But summer is the time when I love taking the time to paint my nails all sorts of bright, fun colors. It really is the most relaxing thing to do. Normally I'm not a big fan of green nail polish and other than OPI "Jade is the New Black" and Julep "Courteney", this is my only green shade. But as soon as I saw this color sitting on the stand at Target with all the other colors from the new Essie summer collection I was imediately drawn to it.
    

It is a bright, not-quite-lime color. The only way I know how to describe it is like...a summer version of "Jade is the New Black". It is much lighter and it has a slightly blue undertone to it. Don't get me wrong--this color is very green color and I can't imagine wearing it in the winter months--but there is something so carefree and young about this color that I absolutely love it. I was pleasantly surprised by how opaque the color actually was. I probably could have gotten away with just one coat but I felt better adding a second--just to be sure. The second my sister saw this on my nails she painted hers to match. Twins!

    

Random sidenote: I just went to the Essie website to double check that I spelt "mojito" correctly. Good thing too because for some reason I thought that it was spelled "moquito". But in my defense I'm still two years away from being legally able to drink. So maybe it's not a bad thing that I would come in last place in a spelling bee featuring alcoholic beverages? Probably. What are some other summer polishes that you are LOVING this time of the year?

Revlon "Romantic" Just Bitten Balm Stain Swatch + Review

I am so happy with this product. It is like the Revlon Just Bitten lip stain and the Revlon LipButters combined into one super cool, super neat product. I love it! It is moisturizing and easy to apply. It has really good lasting power throughout the day and while it doesn't stay as on as bold and as bright as the product appears when you first apply it, it does fade into a pretty softer shade. It does smell quite minty--similar to the Tarte lip tints. But it isn't really that overwhelming and I didn't even notice it the first couple times I used it.
  

Here is a closer look at the tip of the product. I've heard people say that it is very similar [especially packaging-wise] to Clinique's Chubby Stick. Now I've never owned one of those so I can't make any comparisons. But I can say with certainty that is also very similar to the Tarte Lipsurgence lip stains--except those are much, much more moisturizing. These are moisturizing but not nearly as close to those--but then again, they're a quarter of the price so I'm not complaining.

 

Having said that, I think this is an excellent product. I've only tried two so far and this is by far my favorite. The product looks darker in the tube and quite frankly it can look a little intimidating, but it goes on the skin in a very beautiful candy apple red color. At first, it gives a nice subtle sheen to the lips but that will disappear within an hour or so. This is not the product if you want a bold, bright stain that won't budge for hours. But it is the product for anyone looking for a subtle long lasting lip color that is super moisturizing.

 

If you are trying to decide between buying a LipButter, a balm stain, or a lip stain, I would chose the lip balms. They are the best of both words. There are about twelve shades available currently in the line and I can't wait to get my hands on more. They are a bit pricey for the drugstre [somewhere around eight  plus dollars] but I think they are well worth the price.

Khloe Kardashian's Street Style

 Khloe Kardashian outside Jimmy Kimmel Live! wearing multi-colored graphic print Christian Louboutin pumps, sheer baby-doll black mini-dress, a graphic gold necklace, multiple rings in mixed metals [left].

  

Khloe Kardashian out and about NYC with her moth, Kris Jenner, wearing a long-sleeved black top, Haute Hippie sheer tan and black cardigan, Christian Louboutin lace-up boots, a delicate gold-chain bracelet, and a nude Givenchy messenger bag [right].

    

Khloe Kardashian at LAX wearing a Kardashian for Bebe animal print shawl/cardigan, dark AJ Morgan shades, Maison Martin Margiela black draped wedge boots, bright orange Chanel handbag, Wildfox Couture oversized sweater, and black leggings [left].
  

Khloe Kardashian leaving her hotel in New York City wearing a Whetherly Rosewood striped navy and white top, Current/Elliott light-wash denim capris, dark Ray Ban sunglasses, nude Alejandro Ingelmo cut-out wedges, and nude Givenchy messenger bag [right].

  

What do you think of Khloe Kardashian's style? Which look is your favorite? Please tell me in the comment below! Also, don't forget to check out my second blog!

 

www.starstyleinc.com

OPI "Suzy Says Feng Shui" Swatch + Review

natural light, three coats 

I'm not quite sure about the name--I understand that being a part of the Hong Kong collection it needed a Chinese-ish name but I still don't think that it fits. Lately I've been really into blue polishes. If you couldn't tell by all the NOTD. But this one is probably my favorite. Eh...on second thought it is probably tied with Fly. But this is a true blue. I can't even think of something to compare it to. I had no problems with formulation or chipping or the brush. OPI did not disappoint. Some would argue that this color would be better suited for winter/fall but I think that it is bright enough to been worn in early spring/late summer. It really is a beautiful color--as you can no doubt see from the picture above.

OPI "Jade is the New Black" Swatch + Review

three coats, natural light

This is a true, true green. Like St. Patrick's Day green. Or, since the Avengers was just released, a much darker Hulk green. Or for nature-lovers out there, a really beautiful forest green. I've been wearing this on my nails for the past week or so and it's odd. I first blogged about this color just after the Hong Kong collection was released. And I was OBSESSED with it. You read that post here. It's weird looking back and seeing how much my writing and taste has changed in two years.

Even after all this time I still like this color...but I'm not sure why I was so obsessed with it. Yes, it is pretty. And I do think it is an incredibly unique shade--I can't think of any other colors that are quite like it. Green isn't a very popular color in the nail polish world. Go figure. But I do think this color would be more appropriate for fall/winter. It isn't that dark in comparison to a lot of other polishes I own--Lincoln Park After Dark, My Private Jet, just to name a couple--but it is a little dark for spring, almost summer. Lately the weather has been in the seventies or higher sixties which is fantastic for Seattle this time of year. Right now I want to wear polishes that reflect that.

The formulation was great. No problem there. But the polish didn't have the best staying power. It was chipped pretty badly only after a couple of days. I didn't wear a top coat but normally OPI polishes last a little longer even without a top coat. Another odd thing: this color is not blue at all but when I would catch glimpses of it out of the corner of my eye I could've sworn it looked like I was wearing OPI Fly on my nails. I don't know what that was about but it kept happening. In conclusion, it is a great polish to have in anyone's collection. I just think it would compliment the darker, warmer colors I wear in the fall/winter as opposed to the neons and pastels I have been drawn to lately.

Sidenote: the next three weeks of school are going to be pretty hectic. Like, panic attack hectic. Since I still want to keep up with my blog AND pass all of my classes, I won't be posting any outfit of the days until after my last final. Those are personally my favorite posts to publish but they do take a bit more effort than NOTD or celebrity style posts or updates. So for the foreseeable future, that will be the main content on this blog. I hope you understand.



Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Review

This is easily one of the best products I've ever recieved in any of my Birchboxes. Strike that. It was one of the best products I have tried--period. This product leaves my face so incredibly smooth that after I've used it, I can't stop touching my face. That's probably horrible for preventing acne but I can't resist. It is that smooth. I am not exaggerating when I say that this is a holy grail product. I. Love. This. Stuff.

  

It isn't abrasive. Actually when I first used it, I was worried that it wasn't rough enough. I could barely feel it on my skin. It comes as a fine white powder. I put about a nickel size amount of powder in my palm and I use water as needed. I had a rough patch of skin on my right cheek and the last time I used it, I paid special attention to that area. I could literally feel the skin softening under my fingers. It was amazing. It is supposed to be a daily exfoliant but the results can last up to three days. The biggest downside to this product--and it is extremely big--is the price. It is fifty dollars for twenty ounces. I'm going to be so sad when I run out of the sample size Birchbox provided. It will be difficult trying to justify paying that much money for a skincare product but I will probably eventually cave. This stuff is that good!

Although the powder formulation is a little annoying because it can get messy. But I must point out that Dermalogica was smart enough to make the top just a solid surface with a few holes to allow the product to slide through. Now, to the best of my knowledge there is no way to take this part off. But I don't really think there would be any reason to. This makes it easier to work with than other powder products I've worked with like the 100% Pineapple Enzyme Mask I recently reviewed. I don't need a spoon and I'm not as worried about pouring out too much. Downside? If you pour it is nearly impossible to get product back in the bottle. So, you still have to be careful.

  

If there is an odor, I haven't noticed one. It hasn't irritated my skin but I don't consider myself to have sensative skin. Out of all the reviews I've read online, I have heard nothing but great things from fellow bloggers and consumers. The only complaint I've seen is the price. I ADORE this product. It is so amazing. Have you tried any Dermalogica products? Please leave your suggestions in the comments below!