Cleansing, Firming, Exfoliating, Toning, Mattifying #InstaNatural

Press Samples.  All opinions are my own.

Hello, Fireflies!

It's been a while since I've had the chance to review anything from Instanatural, and now they're all grown up!  Sleek new packaging and graphics, and new formulas that my oily skin is just loving.  I've been starting my cleansing skincare routine with just two of their new products, but they do so much, it's like I'm using more!

Studly Punk

Hello, Fireflies!

I've gotten a little sidetracked this month, and fell behind on my Punk/Rock & Roll challenge.  I went for the ultimate classic punk nail art first, and now I'm moving on to the next most stereotypic punk accessory - the pointy metal stud.

Latest Lippie Haul - Lots of pinks and nudes!

Hello, Fireflies!

I haul way, way too many lippies.  I have a real addiction! I want to show you some of the latest things I've picked up - I've got some new technologies, new collections, and some new-to-me brands, too!

14 Days of Valentines - Holo Hearts #‎14DaysofValentines‬

Hello, Fireflies!

I've joined a few other bloggers for a challenge that is bringing out the romantic girl in me.  I'm wearing my heart on my sleeve (and on my nails!) for the next two weeks to bring you (up to) 14 days of Valentines!

Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend

Hello, Fireflies!

Ready for some Sunday Stamping?  Today, I incorporate some bling into my nailart, because today's theme is, "Bling it up!"

Lots o' Lipsticks #BHCosmetics #HoneyBeeGardens #Catrice #Clinique

Hello, Fireflies!

Nail polish may have been my gateway drug to the cosmetics world, but lippies have given me some of my best buzzes.  I love lipsticks the most, and today I want to show you some swatches of lipsticks I've bought that I haven't really blogged about yet.

Matte Is The New Black With Tarte Tartlette Palette

Hello, Fireflies!

I don't always follow the beauty 'rules' but I'm not mad about mattes being in vogue again, especially since us older ladies aren't supposed to wear too much of the shiny and glittery on our sagging eyelids.  Well, tomorrow's another day, but for today, I'm going matte with the amazing Tarte Tartlette palette!

Cheating

Hello, Fireflies!

Still working on the book prompt for this month's challenge, this time I took a book from my husband's desk. 

He's doing research in this area, and he really likes this book, so I see it hanging around a lot.  I thought the matte black cover with the blocks of color would make for a fun mani.

After painting all my nails with Cult Nails Fetish, a lovely matte/rubberized black creme, I made blobs roughly in the shape and direction of the ones on the book with different holo polishes.  I kinda dig how the holos look over the rubber black.

I tried to clean up with a little more Fetish on a teeny-tiny brush, but I really needed topcoat to cover my mistakes! Of course, then the texture of Fetish would change to a glossy black.

I did the lettering with OPI Over and Over A-Gwen, and that same tiny brush.  My kingdom for longer nail beds! lol.

Bottle shot:  Cult Nails Fetish, OPI Over and Over A-Gwen, Color Club Cosmic Fate, Angel Kiss, and Kismet, and Ludurana Aurora Boreal Magnifica.

Do you cheat when you play videogames?  I remember playing The Sims and putting in the code for more money... all I wanted to do was build houses!  I wish I could cheat my way through level 500 on Candy Crush.  I've been stuck for weeks.

Ageless Derma Oil Free Purifying Facial Cleanser Gel #agelessderma

Product provided for review.  All opinions are my own.

Hello, Fireflies!

How do you clean your face?  I never knew there were so many choices, but I'm having fun picking textures, scents, and systems that work for me - and may work for you. 

Feelin' Groovy Green

Hello, Fireflies!

This week's challenge was either a 60's theme, or using a matte/texture.  Mine has a little of both, but doesn't do either particularly well.

This is my fave part:  I picked up this sweet green polish at Ulta the other day on clearance - One In A Chameleon.  I don't know if it's a green/gold duochrome, or green with a gold shimmer.  It's a little thin, and needed 3 coats to cover VNL, but I love this effect.

I used this stamp from Dashica Big-B plate, and Cult Nails Nevermore for the pattern.

I thought this stamp looked all groovy and psychedelic.  But it actually read more 'wood-grain' on my nails.  Fail #1.

This bottle of SpaRitual Citrine Luminary Matte Top Effect looks like fireflies in a jar to me.  It just glows!

On this mani, though, it was neither terribly matte nor luminous, though.  Fail #2.

It actually reminded me a lot of the Orly matte flakie polishes.  I think this one would look better over a dark polish, though.

Bottle shot:  Ulta One In A Chameleon, SpaRitual Citrine Luminary Matte Top Effect, and Cult Nails Nevermore.

I was trying for 60's groovy and matte, and ended up with something that reminded me of my mom's 70's avocado green kitchen.  Hey, when's the 70's kitchen mani challenge?

Bleeding Boogie Nights

Hello, Fireflies!

I love rich, vampy shades of polish, and Deborah Lippmann Let It Bleed is perfect for this time of year!  It's such a deep, dark oxblood.

I like how the rose gold glitter of Ulta Boogie Nights looks sprinkled on just the top of the nail.  It's as if Edward shed some glitter on the blood pools he left behind.

If it redeems me at all, I read the Twilight Books, and only saw one..or two of the movies.  For free, on TV.  Just to see what the hype was all about, you know.

I think this combo takes on an ethereal quality when paired with a matte topcoat.  I like how it makes all the pieces of glitter stand out individually.

Pic Monkey, the picture editing tool I use, has some cool overlays for the season.  I do seem to like the idea of a messy vampire.

Bottle shot:  Deborah Lippmann Let It Bleed (True Blood) and Ulta Boogie Nights.

It wasn't Edward after all! My little firefly logo has gone vamp!

Are you into the vampire hype?

Chalkboard Hearts

Hello, Fireflies!

Tired of all the hearts and flowers and stuff? I hope you'll read 'till the end, anyway!

I have a simple chalkboard mani today.  This double-ended Revlon Chalkboard is called Study Date.  One end is a wax-finish black that looks like this:

The other end is a nail art tip with this creamsicle colored polish.  So, I did what I probably would have written on a chalkboard this time of year as a kid.  I know I wrote crap like this on plenty of notebook margins! TrueLove4Evah, BestFriendsForever, TrueLoveAlways!

For me, it's true! I married my best friend 18+years ago, and we're still best friends and he's my true love. Here's my best, unsolicited, relationship advice:  Don't take each other for granted - be thankful for the little things. I thank my husband every time he takes out the trash, feeds the dogs, or does the laundry - and he's pretty much the only one who does these things, so it's all the time.

What can I say - I'm a thankful, but very lazy, person.  Works for us!

And, if it's just you right now, this advice also applies - don't take yourself for granted, either.  Be proud of your accomplishments, no matter how small or insignificant you may think they are.  Be happy for a good hair day!

Thanks for coming by!

Frosted Spice Cake #FallingForNailArt

Hi, Fireflies!

There's a chill in the air - even here in Florida today!  There's a nice cool breeze, dropping the temps into ... the 70s... still, you'll see people walking around in parkas and boots like it's 40-below!  Ah, wacky Floridians.

It's nice to take the chill off with a hot tea or cider and a warm piece of spice cake.  And that's what Liquid Sky Lacquer Spice Cake reminds me of.  It's not so brown to be chocolatey, not so light to be like tea.  It's just like spice cake.

What's cake without a little frosting?  These MatteFX flakies from Orly are different!  Matte, soft pink iridescent flakies are like a sweet glaze.

Such a subtle detail, but so cool.  I love flakies!

Matte flakies for you, or only the glossy ones?

Matte Grey Dotticure

Hello, Fireflies!

I'm loving today's mani - matte, grey, and dots!

I started with a grey matte from Sinful Colors - My Turn.  I love grey polish.

First set of dots in a matte dark blue - Sinful Colors Cold Leather.

Then I added some dots in that gorgeous teal, Strapped.

I liked this cerulean blue so much.. so what if it's not matte?  This is Sinful Colors Burning Bright.

It all comes together with some topcoat.  I love the colors, the curve of the dots, and the different sizes of dots.

When all inspiration fails, you can't lose with a dotticure.  So many variations - no combination is a fail.  Having a dotting tool helps me, but there are lots of DIY options, from bobby pins to toothpicks.  I invite you to share your dotticures on my Facebook wall - they are the ultimate easy mani-mood pick-me-up!

Matte Burnished Leather Loose

Hi, Fireflies!

I have a simple look to show you today.  This is the only glitter from the Sinful Colors matte 'leather' collection, Leather Loose.

I love the way the glitter just smolders in the background.

It's like a completely different polish with topcoat!  The change works with any topcoat, but I bought a bottle of Sinful Colors' to see what the difference is.  Their topcoat is very thin, so you can 'paint' a design in the matte with it - something that would be difficult to do with a thick topcoat like Seche Vite.

I added a little bling with Zoya Maria Luisa.  It's a gold flakie - not a glitter.  Very interesting!

Do you like playing with mattes and topcoats?  Would you 'paint' a design in a matte?

Falling for Nail Art - Stripey Sweater Weather

Hello, Fireflies!

Yes, another matte-obsessed post.  Tell me you don't think this berry matte is gorgeous.  It's Sinful Colors Get It On.  Oh, yeah, baby.

Orange and berry?  I think I am channeling a little '80's Cosby sweater action.  The stripes are made with Sinful Colors Laced Up, another matte.

The glitter is a striper, but the grey is yet ANOTHER Sinful Colors matte, My Turn.

Everything just pops with a little topcoat.

Bottle shot:  Sinful Colors mattes Get It On, Laced Up, and My Turn, and a glitter striper.

I'm back in my high school, wearing my Shaker knit sweater with the rolled cuffs.  Sweater weather, baby!

Matte Preppy Stripes

Hello, Fireflies!

I didn't think I had a thing for matte polishes, really.  Then, the Leather collex from Sinful Colors came out, and I'm in love with them all.

This one is probably my fave:  Strapped.  Awesome sea-green jelly matte.  Like, whoa.

It can be a little tricky doing nail art with mattes, because they dry really fast.  I've used Sinful Colors Cold Leather in a wide stripe over Strapped, and you can see where some of the stripes get a little thick.

The magic of a nice, thick, glossy topcoat like Seche Vite is that it blends out some of the texture, and all you see now is a glossy blue stripe.

The white stripes around the blue just make me think of my 'preppy' days back in high school, with the popped collars on my polo shirts.

Bottle shot:  Sinful Colors Strapped and Cold Leather, and a white striper.

Matte, or glossy?  Punk or Preppy?