Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Lush Catastrophe Cosmetic Review

Hey everyone!

About a month ago I purchased the Catastrophe Cosmetic fresh face mask from Lush. I was looking for something that would help with hormonal breakouts around my nose and chin. This mask has worked wonders for my sensitive skin! It contains nutrient-rich blueberries and other natural ingredients to soothe and cleanse the skin.

I like to put this on right before I get into the shower every other day and it feels so lovely and cooling since I keep it in the fridge. I happen to love the fresh blueberry scent, but if you don't like blueberries this mask may not be for you. I do recommend that you dampen your face with water just a little to help spread the product on. I'll jump in the shower and go through my regular routine before washing the mask off. Make sure you rinse thoroughly because it can leave some blue residue. This mask leaves my face feeling so soft and refreshed, plus I haven't had any breakouts since I started using it. As usual I use my Clinique toner and Aveeno moisturizer with a couple drops of argan oil mixed in to keep my skin from drying out.


As soon as I put this mask on I was like, "Violet you're turning Violet!" Love me some Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

I absolutely recommend trying the Catastrophe Cosmetic fresh face mask. Do keep in mind that because all fresh face masks contain active ingredients they need to be refrigerated at all times and there is a shelf life. There will be an expiration date sticker on the pot. I can't wait to go back to Lush and try some of the other fresh face masks!

xoxo,
   Brooke

Monday, March 30, 2015

Marc Jacobs Gatsby

Happy Mani Monday! This weekend I stopped in Sephora and decided to treat myself to a Marc Jacobs polish since I liked Petra so much. I saw a swatch of MJ Gatsby and knew I had to have it, more for the name than the color (though I do love the color as well). The Great Gatsby is my all time favorite book and I have a weird obsession with the 1920s.

I absolutely adore the shape of these bottles! Please ignore the reflection of my phone in the cap haha whoops.

Gatsby is a metallic champagne pink. As much as I love the color of this polish, the formula was tough to work with. Not sure if it was the brush or what. It wasn't really streaky as you sometimes find with metallics, but the first coat was patchy and I had to work quickly with the second coat because of how fast it dries. Once I applied the two coats and top coat any brush strokes blended out nicely. So although it's a bit tricky to work with, the finished result is pretty.





I may need to get my hands on more Marc Jacobs polishes. The colors and the bottle shape are so lovely! My wallet is crying for me. I hope you all have a great start to the week. Be on the lookout for my March favorites post!

xoxo,
   Brooke

Friday, March 27, 2015

Essie Plumberry

Hey everyone! If you follow me on social media you know that last night I purchased a domain! So instead of manicurediary.blogspot.com I am now manicurediary.com. I am so incredibly excited, it really feels like I'm taking my blog to the next level. I feel so official!

As for my nails, I went for something simple because I got home late from work last night and wanted a quick and easy mani. I've been going through my untrieds and chose Essie Plumberry, which is a creamy berry red with just a hint of pink and orchid. This is such a rich, luscious color and it's an absolute dream to apply in two coats. The formula is perfection. I think I've got a new fave! I did a little glitter accent with Rainbow Honey Stellar Treat. Unfortunately this color was extremely difficult to photograph. No matter what light I was in it came off as being way more pink than it actually is. In real life Plumberry is much deeper and leans more red than pink.





Hope you all have a lovely weekend and I will see you on Monday!

xoxo,
   Brooke

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Forever Polished Haul & First Impressions

Hey everyone! We've made it halfway through the week, but it is just draaaagging. Spring break is still another week away. Sigh.

Recently I placed an order during the Forever Polished restock so I wanted to share my goodies with you! Forever Polished sells mani bombs, which are basically like bath bombs but for your hands. You can also treat your feet with them! Since this was my first time ordering I guess I got kind of excited and forgot one thing I reaaaaaaalllly wanted, so I placed a second order and emailed Ashley, the owner, asking if she could combine my order and refund the extra shipping costs. She replied promptly and said it wouldn't be a problem. After I received my oder I still didn't see a refund on my PayPal account so I sent another email and once again I got a quick response plus the extra shipping was refunded. I give Ashley lots of credit for putting up with my craziness! She was super nice and helpful, plus I was extremely impressed with how everything in my order was packaged. Now let's get into these treats!

 

All scent descriptions are from the Forever Polished website.
Watermelon - The sweet scent of fresh, juicy watermelon
Berries Treasure - A treasure of blended raspberry, cranberry, and pomegranate with citrus including yuzu, citron, and neroli
Moscato - Fragrant red grapefruit and pomegranate are laid atop a bed of green apple and fruit blossoms with a delicate finish of smoky musk and the barest hints of rose and geranium
Coconut Lime Verbana - A tantalizing fusion of fresh coconut, lime, and invigorating verbena soothed by luscious vanilla
Sweet Pea - Sweet pea petals and watery pear entwine with sheer freesia, fresh berry, and soft, delicate musk
Avo Lemongrass - Fresh lemongrass
Jollly Popper - A bursting fruit blend of watermelon, strawberry, cherry, and peach with hints of vanilla
Cucumber Mint - Fresh garden cucumber blended with the scent of freshly cut mint leaves for and extremely fresh and clean scent. I used cucumber mint on Sunday and it made my hands so soft, plus it smelled amazing! I was worried about the mint being overpowering, but I definitely smelled the fresh cucumber scent more than anything else. 

I was also able to get my hands on the Forever a Mermaid box! How adorable is the packaging?


This box came with 4 adorable mani bombs and a cuticle butter.

Ocean Breeze - A fresh floral with hints of ocean mist
Sea Salt & Drinks - Creamy rice flower, citrus peel, cotton blossoms, night-blooming jasmine, azure sky ozone, grey sea salt, bamboo leaves, vanilla bean, and sheer musk
For the Love of Ariel - A fresh ocean scent with notes of daylily, sea spray, water floral and musk
Sea Kelp and Mermaid Tears - A fresh and intriguing blend of agave, sea kelp, ocean breeze, citrus zests, sparkling bergamot, dewy cyclamen, and soothing sandalwood. Organic kelp leaves added

I also found a little extra surprise in my order! Mystery Dum-Dums are the best.


Dark Kisses - Sensual Mirabella plum, black raspberry amber, lush peony, vanilla bean, musk, and fresh spun cotton candy. So funny that this was the sample I got because I was seriously considering adding this mani bomb to my order and decided not to!

My overall experience with Forever Polished was phenomenal and I am looking forward to placing another order in the future. Awesome owner and awesome products!

xoxo,
   Brooke

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

GoPure Naturals Youth Glow Eye Gel

Hey everyone! How is it only Tuesday? I swear this morning I thought for a good 5 minutes it was Friday and then came to the sad realization that Friday is very far away.

I've got another product from goPure Naturals to review for you today. I was kindly sent their Youth Glow Eye Gel and I've been using it twice a day for about a week. So far I'm enjoying the refreshing, cool feeling on my skin and the light cucumber scent. It definitely helps with tired eyes in the morning. As far as reducing wrinkles go, they say you should see results after one month of use.

A little background on goPure Naturals. Their products are made in the USA and are never tested on animals. The goPure Youth Glow Eye Gel contains natural ingredients to help reduce eye puffiness, dark circles, and wrinkles. It does not contain parabens, sulfates, or alcohol and is safe for all skin types. I have very sensitive skin and it did not irritate me at all.

The bottle is small, but a little goes a long way. Just one pump is needed for both eyes.



Here are some benefits:
-Dramatically reduces puffiness under and around the eyes to help you look more refreshed
-Reduces appearance of dark circles under and around your eyes
-Reduces appearance of wrinkles and fine lines so your face looks more radiant

You can purchase the goNaturals Youth Glow Eye Gel from Amazon. I have a 25% off code for you (LHADD4OY) that is good on any goPure Naturals purchase for the next three months. So if eye gel isn't really your thing, you could try their argan oil, which I recently reviewed. If you want more information on goPure Naturals you can head on over to their website http://www.gopurenaturals.com.

xoxo,
   Brooke

Disclaimer: This post was powered by BrandBacker. I received this product for free from goPure Naturals in exchange for my honest review. 

Monday, March 23, 2015

Julep Shelly, Something Blue, & Laken

Happy Manicure Monday! Did you all have a good weekend? The BF and I went for all you can eat sushi on Saturday and it was sooooo good. Is it bad that I would totally go again right now? At least sushi is sorta healthy.

I spent all of Sunday pampering myself and stuffing my face with Skinny Pop. If you follow me on Instagram you may have seen a short video I posted of one of my Forever Polished mani bombs (detailed review coming soon!) It left my hands feeling so soft and moisturized. After that I gave myself a pedi and a fancy manicure.

I actually let the BF choose my mani colors and I love what he picked! The first color I used on my thumb, index finger, and middle finger is Julep Shelly. It is described as a wintermint creme, which I would say is pretty spot on. The base color on my ring finger and pinky finger is Julep Something Blue, a gorgeous Tiffany blue creme. I used the small ric rac vinyls from Vinyl It Up to make the wave pattern. The glittery polish is Julep Laken, which they describe as an azure iridescent shimmer. I love how this mani came out!





Hope you all have a great start to the week!

xoxo,
   Brooke

Friday, March 20, 2015

Zoya Brittany

Happy Friday! It's the first day of spring and the snow has been coming down pretty steadily here for a few hours. I need to move somewhere warm.

I've been wanting to try Zoya Brittany for a while and finally used it today. Brittany is from Zoya's new satin finish collection and is described as a rose mauve cream. I've heard a few complaints about the formula of the satin finish polishes, but I had no issue with mine. It applied nicely in two coats. I did some black and white dot flowers, since apparently it's spring.




The satin formula is a hybrid between a matte and glossy polish. It is not intended to be worn with a top coat, although since I have Zoya's satin top coat I decided to use it. I actually happen to really enjoy this finish and I kind of want the whole collection...Self control, Brooke. Self control.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend! I'll just be here picturing myself on a beach, drink in hand.

xoxo,
   Brooke

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

GoPure Naturals 100% Pure Argan Oil

Hey everyone! I recently received goPure Naturals 100% Pure and Organic Argan Oil for review purposes. I've been testing it out in comparison with Julep's Elixir Organic Argan Oil and feel like I've used it enough to give an honest opinion.

Packaged well. I like that the dropper was included separately in bubble wrap.


First, here's a little more information about goPure Naturals 100% Pure and USDA Organic Argan Oil. Their argan oil has been processed using a cold press method to best ensure the retention of the oil's rich minerals and nutrients. This Grade A argan oil has been triple purified, and is guaranteed to be the safest, purest oil on the market.

Ingredients and detailed directions on the label.

To use, simply massage the organ oil directly into the skin wherever you wish to take advantage of its healing, nourishing and rejuvenating properties. Alternately, argan oil can be added to your favorite lotion to boost its ability to provide all day hydration. Whether you use it alone or add a few drops to a store-bought lotion, argan oil will provide deep, lasting moisture. I like to add it to my Aveeno daily moisturizer and it keeps my face oil free!

Argan oil can be used as a hair conditioner to make hair softer, silkier, shinier, and more manageable. It can also repair damage and tame frizz, or use it as a styling agent to add shine. I personally don't use argan oil for my hair because I find it makes it greasy.

Argan oil is also a great treatment for dry, brittle nails. When massaged into the nails and cuticles, it moisturizes and softens the skin and promotes the growth of strong, healthy nails. I like to do this twice a day, once in the morning and once before bed. I even add a couple drops to my hand cream!

With so many benefits, how could you go wrong? Argan oil is gentle enough for sensitive skin, like mine, yet powerful enough to provide healing relief to dry, cracked skin. A single bottle will last you a long time since a few drops go a long way. What I love most about this argan oil is it has no scent! I don't have to worry about pairing it with other beauty products.

As for my comparison to Julep's Elixir Organic Argan Oil? Both are 100% argan oil. Julep's sells for $24 for 1oz while goPure's sells for $16.89 for 4oz. Plus goPure is always running coupons so you can get a steep discount. I think we know who the winner is. For more information you can check out the GoPure Naturals website, or you can purchase their argan oil on Amazon.

xoxo,
   Brooke

Disclaimer: I received this product for free from Tomoson in exchange for my honest review. 

Monday, March 16, 2015

Marc Jacobs Petra

Happy Mani Monday! Did you all have a good weekend? The struggle was so real this morning when I tried to get up for work, but then I made myself an egg sandwich and all was right with the world.

My best friend gave me a Marc Jacobs polish (my first!) in the shade Petra for my birthday and I decided to wear it today. Before I get into the actual color, I am obsessed with the packaging. There is something about the curved and smooth bottle shape that is super appealing to me. MJ describes Petra as a dirty bronze metallic, but there is so much more going on. It sparkles with several different colors from a silvery plum to a gold burgundy depending on the light. Stunning! The formula was awesome, I definitely recommend using two coats. This is one of those shades that is difficult to capture in photos, they just don't do it justice.




How pretty is that hamsa sticker?! That is from my big set of gold 3D stickers from the Born Pretty Store (use my discount code ASYW10 for 10% off!) 

I should have an argan oil review up for you guys on Wednesday so be on the look out for that! Hope you all have a good start to the week.

xoxo,
   Brooke

Friday, March 13, 2015

Pink & Gold French Manicure

Happy Friday! This week was looooong, although the weather was lovely. I wasn't quite ready yet to wear my first after winter dress, but I have a feeling it will happen soon.

I just have a quick mani to share today. I've randomly been wanting to do a french manicure lately, but not the traditional white tips. I decided to use Essie Muchi Muchi, a pretty soft pink, with Julep Zelda for the tips. I would describe Zelda as a light champagne gold. It is a gorgeous color that I think would look flattering on any skin tone. I can't wait to try it as a full mani.




I just had to share this snap I sent to a few friends. I felt like you guys would totally appreciate it. And yes, I kinda do want to wear my nails like this "4ever."

I could totally see myself wearing this look to a special occasion like a wedding or something. It's such a gorgeous twist to a classic french mani. Okay, I'll stop rambling about how much I love my manicure. I hope you all have a great weekend! See you on Monday.

xoxo,
   Brooke

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

SquareHue Decades Collection March - 1920s

Hey everyone! Hope you're having a good week so far. It's warming up here and that is making me feel oh so cheerful. Maybe I can finally get my car washed without worrying about the snow making it look disgusting.

The other day my SquareHue box for March arrived and I am super excited about it because the colors are based on the 1920s, my all time favorite era. I have to say that these colors were not exactly what I expected, but I certainly am not disappointed. On to the swatches!

I really love the packaging of SquareHue polishes. The bottle shape and labeling is extremely appealing to me. I had so much fun photographing these!

Coctails & Cigarettes 1920 - A sheer pearl with teal shimmer. This is so pretty in the bottle! The teal is a totally unexpected twist, which I love. This applies very sheer on the nail, so you really won't be able to build it up with multiple coats. I think this would look beautiful over other colors, but I could also see myself wearing it instead of a sheer pink when I want a "naked" nail day.


I took a photo with flash as well to try to show you the teal. Hard to see in photos but it's there!


Style & Speed 1921 - Silver micro glitter. This is a perfect color that fits the glitzy 1920s vibe. That micro glitter is super fine, which makes this an easy silver to wear. I didn't find it to be streaky at all and it applied nicely in two coats.


Art & Deco 1925 - Copper shimmer. This color is stunning and I can without a doubt say that I don't own anything like it. I also noticed a bit of duochrome going on. In some lights it comes off as more of a golden copper and in other lights it leans towards a rose gold. I used three coats, though even then it wasn't fully opaque. I still love how it looks!


SquareHue is a nail polish subscription box that costs $19.99 a month. You get three new shades in each box. You can pause your membership at any time, which I will probably be doing until the 1960s box (another favorite era of mine). If you're interested in giving SquareHue a try or you just want to get some more information you can check them out at https://www.squarehue.com.

xoxo,
   Brooke

Disclaimer: The products in this post were purchased with my own money. All opinions are my own.

Monday, March 9, 2015

Zoya Yuna

Hey everyone! Anyone else feeling some serious Monday blues? Setting the clocks ahead is not my most favorite thing, although the warmer temps make up for it a little bit.

On Saturday the BF and I went to Max Brenner. I wonder how many hits "Max Brenner" would get if I searched it in my blog's search bar...probably an unhealthy amount. It's just THAT good. I always see the dessert pizza so this time I decided to give it a try.

This is the Chocolate Chunks Pizza with "the works." It's got melted dark and milk chocolate, bananas, peanut butter, and roasted marshmallows. This was super messy, but absolutely delicious! I'm so glad I finally tried it and I would definitely order it again.

My mouth is watering just looking at all this deliciousness.

Because of how tired I'm feeling I was little lazy with today's mani. My glitter accent nail from last week has held up perfectly and I love it so much that I wanted to reuse it. I removed the polish on the rest of my nails and then painted them with Zoya Yuna. I would describe Yuna as a blue/green toned grey with golden shimmer. This color is absolutely stunning and I love it paired with my gold glitter accent nail!





Friday, March 6, 2015

Zoya Neely

Happy Friday! What a crazy week. We got lots of snow yesterday, which meant a snow day for me so I was thrilled. With all that time on my hands I decided to change my manicure.

I'm really getting over dark colors so I chose Zoya Neely, a beautiful pastel soft minty green. Ughhhhh you guys. This color. It is SO pretty! When I think of spring, this is the color I think of.  I packed a gold glitter polish on my ring finger nail. The glitter nail paired with my flower nail is such a great combination to me. I'm just so excited about how adorable this mani turned out!





The BF and I are going to Max Brenner tonight, AKA our most frequented dessert spot. Yum. I hope you all have a great weekend!

xoxo,
   Brooke