NOTD: Essie 'Starry Starry Night'

This nail polish by Essie is absolutely gorgeous in the bottle. Starry Starry Night is a deep navy blue with flecks of silver and bright blue glitters suspended through out. Its stunning in the bottle and looks pretty good on the nail. The polish is somewhat thick though easy to apply and work with and is fully opaque and chalk-full of glitter in 2 coats.

Though I like the way this polish looks on the nails, it has one of the worst wear times of any polish I own. This polish immediately starts chipping and lifting on the edges within hours of application leaving your manicure disheveled by the next day. I wouldn't recommend this nail polish, though it is very pretty in the bottle and upon first application.

This nail polish has a different top because it is part of Essie's 'Retro Revival' collection where they sought to bring back favorite limited edition polishes from past collections. This polish apparently has a different formula than the original Starry Starry Night and simply isn't as good.

Save you $8 with this one, folks!

xxSJ

NOTD: Essie Coconut Cove

Essie's 'Coconute Cove' is a member of the Summer 2016 collection, inspired by the brilliant bold colors found in Antigua, Guatemala. I am always drawn to neutrals and how can you get more neutral than white? Coconut Cove is a white cream color that was surprisingly easy to work with given its pure coconut coloring. I have to say that this color was the easiest white I've ever applied and was opaque in 2 coats. This polish wore for 4 days without chips.

Essie polishes are $8.50 a bottle and can be found at drugstores, Ulta, and even on Amazon!

xxSJ

NOTD: Essie 'Viva Antigua!'

Today's NOTD is from Essie's new Summer 2016 collection. The collection is full of bright colors inspired by Rebecca Minkoff's travels to Antigua. Viva Antigua I find to be a pretty unique standout in the collection which is why I selected this one from the bunch. It is a turquoise with A LOT of green in it with gold and turquoise flecks running through out. This stuff is gorgeous in all lighting and is the most perfect formula-2 easy coats to full opacity!

Check this color out if you're looking for a fun addition to your Summer nail wardrobe!
Check out the collection here!

xxSJ

NOTD: Essie Stones n' Roses

Today's nail of the day is from a new polish from Essie in the color 'Stones n' Roses.' As the name suggests, this polish is a rosey peach color with a  bit of a gray undertone. I think its a rather flattering pink as we transition from Winter to Spring! This color was quite thick and pigmented and was easily opaque in 2 thin coats. The polish wore well for 3 days with no chipping before my pointer fingers started to chip at the edges.

I recommend this polish if you're looking for a neutral peach!

xxSJ

NOTD: Essie 'Chinchilly'

Today's nail of the day is Essie's 'Chinchilly,' a very sophisticated gray color with a cult following.  This polish is awesome as far as understated neutrals. It is easy to apply with full opacity in 2 thin coats and lasts chip free for up to 3 days on my nails. I love wearing this color in the Fall and Winter as it matches the mood of the sometimes dreary or snowy days. This polish goes with any outfit and will give your mani an urban chic vibe!

Essie nail polishes are $8.50 each and can be found on Amazon and at most drugstores!

xxSJ

NOTD: Essie Warm and Toasty Turtleneck

Today's nail of the day was a pretty purple polish gifted to me by my good friend Safo! The color is Essie's 'Warm and Toasty Turtleneck.' It is a muted purple with some gray undertones to it. Pictured above is two coats of Warm and Toasty Turtleneck with Essie's Go Ginza dotted on top for some extra pizazz. The color applied easily with no streaking and lasted 3 days chip-free on my nails.

Pick this polish up if you're looking for a neutral purple this winter!
Essie nail polishes are sold at drugstores and beauty stores for about $8.50 a bottle. You can also find trusted sellers on Amazon as well!

xxSJ

NOTD: Essie Petal Pushers

Today's nail of the day is Essie's Petal Pushers, a cool toned purple gray that I whipped out in preparation for the cooler Fall weather. The formula of this polish is top notch for Essie--the color was completely opaque in one coat (I did two thin coats for good measure!) and was easy to work with and apply.  The wear time of this polish is also superb lasting about 4 days with no chips. This pretty purple is from the Spring 2015 collection but you can still find it at all drugstores for about $8.

xxSJ

NOTD: Essie 'After School Boy Blazer'

I haven't spoiled myself with buying a new nail polish since I moved to NY for school because an $8 or $9 polish simply doesn't fit into my budget. However, when I saw this polish at Target, I HAD to have it. It is Essie's 'After School Boy Blazer,' a creamy, super deep, navy blue.  This polish is nothing like I own and is so attractive to me for the fall and winter. I've worn it a couple times since I've purchased it and I am so pleased with how it looks! It has a great formula (opaque in only one coat!) and lasts for days with out a single chip. This type of fuss free polish is exactly what I look for during the holidays where I'm so busy and the last thing I need to worry about is touching up my nails.

xxSJ

NOTD: Essie 'Urban Jungle'

I'm undecided about this polish to be completely honest!! Essie's 'Urban Jungle' is a beige, off-white cream color.  In some lighting it can like like a light gray or a light purple.  I'm undecided about whether or not I love this because this can look really unattractive and just 'blah' in certain lighting..like I just dipped my fingers in cement or clay. Other lighting it can look really pretty and sophisticated, though!

I think I'm definitely going to wear this polish again because I did like it enough with certain outfits. It's a very grown up color and I like the touch of class it can give an outfit that a metallic purple or bright fuschia can't quite achieve.

The formula of this polish was okay--patchy and uneven on the first coat but evened out by the second. A couple nails required 3 coats for full opacity.  The wear time of this polish was amazing though as it lasted 4 days with zero chips before I finally took it off!

Essie polishes retail for about $8 each! Get your hands on Urban Jungle if you're looking for an off-white.

xxSJ

NOTD: Essie 'Go Ginza'

Move over, Lilacism! I have a new favorite nail polish and it is Essie's Go Ginza. Oh my goodness this color is perfect and is what I want my wedding color to be! Go Ginza is a muted, milky lavender color that is so pure in the sense that it has very little blue tones in it. 

This polish is pretty watery so it takes some finesse to get it right.  I used three coats on some nails to make sure they were totally opaque but some nails only needed two coats to get the job done.  This polish looks really nice on my pale skin, but I think it would look really eye-catching and poppy on a tan as well!

Let me know what you think of this cool lavender color! I'm so excited about this discovery!

xxSJ

NOTD: Essie 'Strut Your Stuff'

Today's nail of the day is of the newest addition to not mine, but my mom's nail polish collection. I just HAD to steal it though and try it out as this blue is so bright and pretty! It is Essie's 'Strut Your Stuff' from their latest Summer collection.
I don't know what it is about Essie but some of their polishes just have an AMAZING formulation. This colors is one of those elite colors! This polish was so creamy and easy to apply and was completely opaque in two thin coats. It also didn't chip for days!

I had to add a little party glitter nail to this mani because this color was almost too bright and I grew tired of it rather quickly. Again, this DOES NOT chip so it will remain on your nails for quite some time. I also noticed that the blue did stain my nails so a base coat would be a good option with this polish.

xxSJ

My Top Picks: Springtime Nail Polish!

The second installment of my Springtime beauty picks has arrived and it should be no surprise that I had to do a post about my favorite nail polishes for the season! Nail polish is like a mood ring for me... I change it often and it usually reflects how I'm feelin. I pull out the pastels and bright colors in the Spring since the mild weather makes me so happy! The following are my top picks for Spring with links to more detailed blog posts I've done on them:

-OPI's 'Kiss on the Chic' is a really soft pink that is opaque and easy to work with. Picture!
-Essie 'Fiji' is a cult favorite soft pink with purply undertones. Picture!
-OPI's 'Strawberry Margarita' is a bright pink that demands attention! It reminds me of springtime flowers :) Picture!
-Essie 'Off the Shoulder' is a perfect bright Barbie pink that is just so creamy and gorgeous. Picture!
-Butter London 'Trout Pout' is a more-orange-than-pink coral color that gets me so many compliments every time I wear it. Picture!
-Essie 'Fashion Playground' is a pistachio color that is more unique than your standard mint. This will be my most worn Spring nail color for sure. Picture!
-Essie 'Lilacism' is a long time favorite pure lilac. It is and will always be one of my favorite nail colors as it is easy to apply and always makes me smile when it catches my eye. Picture!
-OPI's 'You're Such a Budapest' is a periwinkle, purple-blue hybrid. It is bright and eye-catching!Picture!
-Essie 'Splash of Grenadine' is a magenta color that has the coolest gelly like finish. It is super soft appearing on the nails and an easy way to wear color. Picture!
-Essie 'Mint Candy Apple' is a perfect sky blue. This color is so gorgeous with a bit of a tan and is my favorite blue that I own. Picture!

So there you have it! My picks for a Spring mani are surely going to make you smile and feel Spring-y if you put any one of them on your nails!

xxSJ

NOTD: Essie 'Fiji'

'Fiji' is a favorite Essie color of many that I decided to add my own personal flair to by using gold and coral accents. On its own, Fiji is a gorgeous baby pink creme that creates the most flawless looking manicure. It takes 3 thin coats to reach full opacity and I find the wear time of this color to be a couple days longer than other Essie colors.
This polish is definitely a staple in my collection as its a perfect neutral hue to turn to when I want a basic manicure as well as being a great base coat for more fun designs.

I'm trying to involve Jake more with my blogging ;)

xxSJ

NOTD: Essie 'Watermelon'

This poor, poor nail polish. This nail polish is one of my oldest and most abused bottles! It is Essie's 'Watermelon,' a reddish raspberry color:

Look at all that paint on the bottle! This polish didn't travel well with me last time I moved as I must not have closed the cap all the way...whoops! Another reason why I feel bad for this polish? I NEVER grab for it because when I wear it I'm ALWAYS disappointed. I want this color to be a pinky bright raspberry color and it looks like it would be like that from the color in the bottle. Unfortunately, this color always shows up as a basic red to me unless I'm in very specific lighting and am looking very carefully.

I've had this polish for so long that its gotten quite thick and is hard to work with. There is a redeeming quality to this poor color though! It doesn't chip. Period. I wore this polish for 4 days and it didn't budge so there's that!  Overall, there isn't anything really wrong with this color and in fact its really nice due to its chip resistant quality. It's just that its not quite what I'm expecting when I put it on.

xxSJ

Shades of Orange

I am so excited for the warmer months coming up and its time to bust out the brighter makeup products! Inspired by the warmer times ahead I thought I'd share my favorite Orange-toned makeup products with you!

1. MAC blush in 'Peaches' $21: As you can see I've loved this blush to death. I've hit pan on it! This is the first MAC blush I ever owned and I love it now just as much as I did when I first bought it. This blush is the silkiest, smoothest blush ever which makes it so easy to wear and blend in. The orange tone looks so good for girls with the same complexion as me (fair with pink undertones and freckles!) and I think it would look gorgeous on olive-toned and darker skinned girls.

2. The Balm blush in 'Frat Boy' $20: This blush may not be as scary looking as Peaches since it has a little more pink in it but this blush is still pigmented! I did a full review on this blush here: http://sjspins.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-balm-blush-in-frat-boy.html

3. Urban Decay Eyeshadow in 'Freelove' $19: Brave enough to rock orange on your lid? Try this red-orange peach shade out! This shadow has a satiny and shimmery finish and can be really pretty on its own in the lid and crease with a highlight in the inner corner and brow bone. It's a favorite of mine in Summer as a way to rock some color in a bit of an unexpected way.

L to R: Peaches blush, Frat Boy blush, Freelove eyeshadow

4. MAC lipstick in 'Ravishing' $15: Looking for a bright coral to wear this Spring and Summer? THIS IS IT!! This is the prettiest coral color I have found that I am brave enough to wear! It has great vibrancy and still is super soft and comfortable to wear on the lips since it is a cremesheen formula. Try this color on the next time you go to a MAC counter or store. You may be surprised how universally flattering coral can be on so many skin tones!

5. MAC Cremesheen Glass in 'Richer, Lusher' $15: If you're hesitant to wear a bright coral lipstick, pop some orange-tinted lipgloss on over some nude or light pink lipstick to bump yourself in the coral direction. Cremesheens are so great because they feel soft on the lips and are less sticky than a standard lipgloss. Like all MAC lip products, the light vanilla scent is to die for making this gloss a Summer staple.

6. Revlon Lip Butter in 'Juicy Papaya' $6: A cheaper and even more comfortable way to wear an orange hue is by going for Revlon Lip Butters. These have plenty of pigment yet are so comfy to wear because of their hydrating, balm-like formula. Do yourself and your lips a favor and pick up some of these next time you're at the drugstore!  http://sjspins.blogspot.com/2014/04/revlon-lip-butters-wild-watermelon-and.html

L to R: Ravishing lipstick, Richer Lusher lipgloss, Juicy Papaya lip butter

6. Essie 'Tart Deco' nail polish $8: My favorite orange nail polish. This polish has a creamy formula that  makes this color so soft on the nails and pleasant to look at. Wear this for a beachy mani or if you're going to a Giants baseball game! Go Giants! Full review here: http://sjspins.blogspot.com/2014/04/notd-essie-tart-deco.html

What are your favorite orange shades to wear???
xxSJ

NOTD: Essie 'Eternal Optimist'

Today's nail of the day is of one of the prettiest neutral nail colors I own. It is Essie's 'Eternal Optimist:'

There isn't an occasion I can think of where this mauve nail color wouldn't be appropriate. It is such a great 'when in doubt' color. The formula is super nice and an opaque finish took just two coats. I imagine that on some skin tones this color may look a little too flesh-toned and not add much as a manicure, but on my skin it looks really pretty. 

Essie nail polishes are about $8 a bottle and can be purchased at most drugstores.

Jacob loves when I take pictures outside and he can get in on the fun!

xxSJ

NOTD: Essie 'Aruba Blue'

Today's nail of the day is of an all time favorite of mine, Essie's 'Aruba Blue:'

Every time I wear this color I'm reminded of why I love it so much! This blue is a dark yet bright blue that is nearly navy but not quite as deep. It's the perfect amount of satin and sheen and has one of the best formulas of any nail polish I own.

2-3 coats is needed for full opacity for this unique and beautiful blue. This color can carry through the Spring and Summer but also looks pretty in the Winter as it can have a bit of a winter wonderland feel to it.

All in all I love this color and would recommend it to anyone and everyone.

xxSJ

NOTD: Essie 'Tart Deco'

Guess who's excited for Spring?? This girl right here. Today's nail of the day is a perfectly Springy color that I got SOOO many compliments on when I wore it! It is Essie's Tart Deco:

I haven't worn this color in easily over a year and it's because it looks suspiciously orange in the bottle. This color also shows up kind of dark pumpkin orange under un-natural lighting and it isn't all that pretty to be honest, BUT in natural lighting this color is the prettiest light pastel orange color. 

This color was a bit difficult to apply for me and took 3 coats to achieve opacity...I'm thinking that might be because it has been sitting for so long but maybe that's just the formula of this guy. I'm not entirely sure. I think the pretty orange you get as a result from the slightly difficult application is worth the minor struggle.

Essie polishes cost about $8 a bottle and can be found at Ulta, some drugstores, and Target. 

Tart Deco. Go get you some of dat because its the perfect pastel orange and I don't know why I haven't busted this out more often! 

Actually, I think I do know why. Orange is my sister's husband's favorite color so its kind of become their color to wear. I tend to gravitate toward other colors just because Orange is more my sister's 'thing.' It's kind of a Gretchen Weiners from Mean Girls and hoops situation...

Mean Girls reference achieved. This day is now complete.

xxSJ

NOTD: Essie 'Really Red'

Today's nail of the day is a color I haven't picked up in a while mostly because I have many of the same color. It is Essie's 'Really Red' and it is...well, really red:

This red shade has more warm and orange undertones than the reds I tend to pick out but I always love this type of color once its on! I call this red shade candy apple or wonder woman red.

This color applied nicely but it didn't wear all that great. It chipped rather easily and was a bit spotty in some areas. I like the color but for wear purposes I think I prefer Pillar Box Red by Butter London.

One thing I will say is that this polish is super shiny which is always nice :)

Essie nail polishes cost about $8 for 0.5oz of product and can be purchased at Ulta, some drugstores, and Target.

What's your favorite red?

xxSJ

NOTD: Essie 'Splash of Grenadine'

Cocktails, anyone? Today's nail of the day is Essie's 'Splash of Grenadine,' a  pretty pink meets purple shade:

This color is so sweet and I got many compliments while wearing it! The formula is really nice and easy to apply (full opacity in 2 coats, as usual for Essie polishes!) and the finish had a nice jelly appearance to it. Really soft around the edges rather than a harsh line from the opaque creamy color.

I will definitely be sporting this polish many times in the coming months. :)

Essie polishes can be found at various drug stores and Ulta for around $8.50 for a half ounce of product.

xxSJ