Cuticle Remover

I have an obsession with my nails. I love for them to be uniform, painted, and just well manicured. I spend hours soaking, trimming, clipping, filing, and just going the extra mile to make them look good. However, my cuticles have always been a huge issue for me. It seemed like no matter how hard I worked to get off all the dry skin it would remain. This was causing my painting jobs to look messy and unrefined.

The other night on a expedition to Wal-Mart with my sister, I picked up a bottle of cuticle remover made by Sally Hansen. I had a lot of anxiety looming over me because it does dissolve the dead skin and could cause irritation, erosion, or some weakening. At any rate, I got home and tried it. It was the best decision I ever made. It made rubbing back all that bad cuticle and clearing it away a breeze. At around five dollars a bottle, it's a good investment as well. Especially for someone like me that does their own manicures at lease twice a week.

It will take time to see if it has an adverse effects, but at this point in time I'm happy with it. It works wonders for my feet as well. It was so easy to use. I just can't believe it. Just thought I would share that bit with everybody :)

Goody Modern Updo Pin Review

Well...I'm still not relaxed, but I was so curious about that updo style thing that I just had to try it. It basically looks like a giant hairpin. And that's really what it is.

Let me cut to the chase. It's not worth the almost six dollars I paid, however, I still like it. I tried to follow the directions that came with it, but I ended up just doing my own thing. It takes a bit of practice, but it's something that I would recommend for those that want to try something different. For those that have longer hair, it's a good investment. It's a sturdy, versatile item. I wouldn't recommend it for hair shorter than beginning APL because there could be a lot of tugging trying to get it to stay. I wouldn't discourage shoulder length ladies from buying this though, especially if you have thick hair

The only thing I don't like about it is the outward curvature of the ends. Rather than being straight or slightly bowed like a normal bobby pin, they curve outward. Because of this, it can get a little tricky when inserting and removing. Being patient and careful is the key. Otherwise it's easy to believe that it's going to be stuck in your hair. LOL. And that's not the case.

I will likely try the other styling tools from the Goody line. HHG :)

Quick Slim Tip

I have several reviews that I want to do this week. But right now, I'm still in the process of updating some things. But please be on the lookout. This is finals week and things are crazy. Did I mention I was in the middle of a move too? LOL

At any rate, I just had to give this tip because it was an idea I had at the very last second. I was going out on a date and I wanted to give myself a quick slim. I didn't reach for a girdle or order spanks. Wanna know what I did? I discovered a secret with a pair of control top pantyhose. That's right. Rather than waste 60 dollars on designer undergarments or be squeezed to death with a rigid girdle, I cut the legs off a pair of control top pantyhose that had seen their end (I thought). For less than five dollars I was able to get that support and shaping that I wanted. And it works great. Granted, they don't last forever, but they are cheap and will do well if you treat them gently. Did I mention no panty lines? It's just a tip. If you like, give it a try and see how it works for you. :)

Hair Divine

I have a strong desire to try some new things with my hair. There's nothing wrong with a little change up every once in awhile. Keeping that in mind, I picked up these items at Wal-Mart the other day on an excursion with my mother. (She's so much fun!) I've been wanting to try the Bump Its for some time, so I picked them up. I also got the Goody Modern Updo styling tool and FX Silk Drops

I haven't had a try to give any of these things a try. Today I'm going to wash my hair and try the Silk Drops first. Later in the week, I will try out the styling item after I've had my hair relaxed. That way my hair will be in condition to handle the tugging. I'm so many weeks post that I don't want to risk it. I'll get back to everybody and let you know how it goes. HHG :)

Palladio Rice Powder

I can't say enough good things about this powder. WOW. I love the smooth texture, the light scent, the weightlessness, and the way it makes the "shinies" disappear.

I've had this powder for a few months now amidst all the other products I'd purchased. This is my favorite powder for setting my makeup and finishing off my look. What it does for me is provide round the clock protection from occasional shine that occurs. I use this in conjunction with a primer. The outcome is a smooth matte finish that lasts for hours. Surely, I have to reapply later in the day, but it's so lightweight and pleasant it doesn't bother me at all. As I've said, this has been in my makeup collection for a few months and I still have plenty left.

This was about 5 dollars. It was one of my smartest makeup purchases yet. I even use it when I don't want to wear makeup just to give my skin a silky smooth feeling and a perfected, flawless appearance. By the way, I wear the translucent formula. I'm sure there are other colors, but the translucent works for all skin tones being that it goes on like a transparent veil. Try it. :)

Sephora Anti-Shine Primer

I decided that it was time to purchase a makeup base after my sample from Sephora began to run out. However, I wanted something that would give me that matte look that I crave. As a result, I opted for the anti-shine formula. I think I paid about 18 dollars for this 30ml. This may seem steep, but I only use a tiny bit.

I like this base a lot. It spreads easily, feels extremely light, and it helps make application smoother and more even. I don't see as many pores when I apply this, and my makeup lasts longer foundation wise. I love the matte look it gives my face before foundation application. Also, rather than having my makeup seep into my pores, this makes it sit on top of the skin. I would recommend this because a little goes a long way. I use a pea sized amount for the entire face and that is more than enough.

Grey Day

On one of my trips to Icing, I came across the most interesting nail color. It's made by the Incing brand. The color is "Ice Queen". I'm in love with it. It's a grey with undertones of blue. When pair with yellow, the blue tone appears and the grey is more true. When paired with black and white, it retains the blue undertones. This is my new black. I've gotten a ton of compliments on it too.

This didn't cost more than 5 dollars. The quality is comparable to China Glaze or OPI. The bottle is shaped just like the China Glaze bottle as a matter of fact. Let me know what you all think about this color.

BTW, that background is at my internship. LOL. See how the color matches that phone? That's a sure sign that it was meant for me. :D