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Tuesday Talk | Spring Nails

Posted by Unknown Tuesday, April 15, 2014 2 comments

tori
Revlon Color Enamel in 211 Charming
I think my love of lilac polish goes back to a video I saw where Lisa Eldridge was wearing one (lame, I know). It just looked like the epitome of spring. Even though it's actually snowing right now, I have some pastel love going on. I've had this polish for quite some time and I just keep going back to it because it is just the perfect shade for my skin tone. Like other Revlon polishes, the formula on this is A+.

tessa
Ruby Wing Color Changing Polish in Peony
I'm not so sure that I'm in love with the color changing aspect here, but I do love the color it applies as, which is a beautiful pastel-neon coral (which changes to a dusty rose with sun exposure, btw). It's a bit more summery than spring, but I'm skipping seasons at this point and don't even care. I'm in love with the whole neon-pastel trend. Honorable mention to Birchbox & Color Club for their collaboration collection last year because that was on point in that regard. My only complaint about this polish is how it applies. It took me about 4-5 coats to get the opacity I wanted and even then it was still streaky near the base of the nail. Setting that aside, I love everything else about this polish, and I think it will definitely be one to live on my nails this season.

jenny
Essie Nail Polish in Sunday Funday
As most nail polish purchases are in my life, this shade was an impulse buy while in the beauty department of Target. That is a dangerous store, I tell you. I'm not a huge fan of pink as far as wearing it in my clothing (except for scarves) but when it comes to beauty, pink and I are best friends. During the summer and spring I tend to get tan due to my wonderful Italian genes and this nail polish really pops against the darker skintone. As of right now, it's popping against my translucent skin but that's alright. This shade is a bright pink with a bit of shimmer in it and it applies pretty opaque. I would still recommend two coats, however.

rachel

Kate Moss for Rimmel in Reggae Splash

I actually posted about this on Instagram yesterday (ps if you don't follow us yet we're @ the_brokegirls). I'm quite impressed by the formula of these, especially for a $2.99 price tag. The Lycra helps the polish to not chip which is always something I struggle with. We seem to only have a limited range at CVS at the moment but I am definitely looking to pick up a few more shades. For now, this lovely almost pastel orange will do.

Barely There | Favorite Nudes

Posted by Unknown Thursday, February 27, 2014 0 comments

We all know what big fans we are of neutral colors here at FBG, so I figured I'd share some of my favorite nudes with you - from eyeshadows to nail polish. Plus, I'm pretty sure there's not a better palette to transition from winter to spring (which we're still desperately waiting for here).

From top to bottom: WOS, Naked 2, Nudist, Nude, Subtly Sunkissed

EYES
So it's no secret that my go-to eyeshadow favs are all brown, neutral tones. My favorite nudes are some of my holy grail all time favorites. I mentioned Urban Decay's Naked 2 in a post a couple weeks back, so I won't linger any longer there. My other favorite from the same palette is Walk of Shame (W.O.S.). It's a pale, skin tone matte shade. It's great for brightening up the eye area and especially good on no make up make up days. Lastly, my Rimmel London Scandal Eyes in Nude is a product that I probably couldn't go a day without using. It's the best eyeliner I've ever found. I love to use it in my waterline and it tends to do the trick to looking like I got that full 8 hours of sleep the night before.

LIPS
Now I've only got one tried and true to talk about here - Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker in Nudist. I heard about this from the lovely Fleur de Force, and after raving about it for quite sometime, Rachel got it for me for Christmas. This has a permanent home in my make up bag that I take with me every day. No matter what make up you're wearing this is the perfect lip product to tie it all together. The lasting power isn't as long as I'd like, but I have no complaints other than that.

FACE
I'll keep it short and sweet here considering how much I've talked about this product. I got inspired after watching a Chelsea Wears video in which she talked about how much she loved wearing brown blush. Strange concept, but literally the next day I tried it and my make up routine has never been the same. If I'm wearing a blush at all, 9 times out of 10 it's probably Pixi's Bronzer in Subtly Sunkissed. You can see in the swatch how it's barely there, but when on the face it adds a nice glow.

NAILS
The newest addition to my nail collection is this beauty. I was on the hunt for a perfect nude and I found it. Being pale, most "nudes" are about 20 shades darker than me. This is the exact right shade though. I love how easy it is considering you can pair it with anything and never have to worry about your nail polish clashing with whatever you're wearing. It doesn't hurt that it's the only option for a good transition from winter to spring, if you ask me at least. And it's budget friendly at around $4 for a bottle.

What are your favorite nudes?

xx
Tessa

Manicure, Managed

Posted by Unknown Sunday, February 2, 2014 0 comments

I know when I first started painting my nails on the reg, I was less than adept. My strategy read something like “just get the polish on the nail and deal with the mess afterwards”. Not exactly efficient, and it made manicures out to be a chore. However, I’ve come to polish (hehehehe) my technique and I thought I’d share my few tips and tricks with you dudes. I’ll go through the key issues I struggled with (nail polish is so dramatic) and how I remedied them.

COLORING OUTSIDE THE LINES

Not to stifle your creativity, but nail polish outside the confines of your nail isn’t a great look. If you actually possess hand-eye coordination this may not be much of an issue, but for those of us who are not naturally graceful and ambidextrous - it is. Mostly this takes practice. Still, a few tools can help the process along. I like to keep something to clean up along the way handy (can’t stop won’t stop with the puns). A wooden cuticle stick, or something tapered and easily maneuvered around the nail bed will help to clear off polish before it dries. This saved me loads of hassle and kept things neater. Recently, I’ve started using a dedicated pen (by Sally Hansen), saturated with remover, to clean up mistakes. This is much more effective, and dealing with rogue polish is a no-brainer now.

BUBBLING

This used to drive me up a wall. Nothing is more frustrating than finishing a manicure only to see those sadistic little bubbles rise to the surface and mock you. Rude. I’ve found that not shaking the bottle too vigorously helps with prevention – if the polish is separated roll the bottle back and forth between your hands. Heat can also be problematic so try popping the bottle in the fridge for a few minutes before you paint, and it should apply smoother. Running a fan can also make the polish sticky, so turn it off and keep the bottle closed in between coats. The thinner the layers, the better.

CHIPPING

I still “struggle” with this, but I think that’s mostly down to my activity. Work means I’m always typing and filing which is less than kind on your nails. Regardless I do think a few things aid in extending the life of your manicure. I’m always sure to wash my hands directly beforehand to remove any oil or residue. Polish remover will also do the trick, and I’ve heard the same of vinegar. A rubberized base coat (I use Orly Bonder) helps the polish to bind well and also prevents staining the actual nail. Lastly, a topcoat will add shine and seal everything in place. I find running some along the tip of my nail cuts down on fading and chipping in that area too. Using a buffer to smooth out ridges and flaking has also been a lifesaver.

I’LL DIE BEFORE THIS DRIES

This was the most irksome issue in my eyes, but one I’ve fully solved. Seche Vite topcoat is dry to the touch in less than two minutes and fully dry at around 10. No longer must I wait around helplessly or wake up with sheet-smudged nails. If you don’t want to splurge on a topcoat, dipping your hands in cold water or spraying on some non-stick cooking spray will help. They aren’t as foolproof, but they should avoid any major issues.

Finish off with a nourishing hand cream (this Palmers option smells delicious and is affordable) and you're all set!

That’s all, folks. Do you have any manicure woes?

Rachel

Tuesday Talk | Winter Nails

Posted by Unknown Tuesday, January 28, 2014 0 comments

Hey, y'all. Who would have ever thought that I would be the first to post for a collaboration post? Just some proof that miracles do happen. School has finally started for everyone here at FBG much to our dismay and irritation, but alas school is necessary. Today we are bringing to you our final installment of the Winter theme we've used for our new collaboration posts. This week is nail edition (so prepare to head to the drugstore to buy these gorgeous shades).

JEN
Sephora by OPI in If You've Got It, Haunt It
Please pardon the slight chipping on a couple fingers - keeping my nails from chipping is a daily effort that usually fails. I painted my nails yesterday and life is too hard for me to keep them perfect for more than five minutes (I'm not exaggerating). This polish came in a set from Sephora which I purchased a while ago, which is obvious since this line is no longer sold.... so sorry. I just can't get over this black polish with the most subtle glitter in it. I usually hate glitter nail polish because it's so flashy but this is classy and understated. Unfortunately you'd have to search on Ebay to find this shade but I'm sure there are dupes out there. Look for black bases with teensy-tiny cool-toned glitter.

TESSA
Essie's Stylenomics
I purchased this shade about a year ago and didn't get around to using it much but I fell in love with it this holiday season. It's a dark, forest green that can look black in some lights (in fact, it's gotten mistaken for black on multiple occasions). Lots of colors like this picked up a lot of popularity during the start of autumn, specifically After School Boy Blazer, and of course I had to jump on the bandwagon. I own enough blue polish to sink a boat though, so green was my go-to alternative. I'm pretty sure this color is part of the permanent line so you should still be able to find it in store.

TORI
Essie's After School Boy Blazer

Like Tessa already mentioned, darker colors are pretty key to a winter look. Sure some people can pull off the light, pastel colors for winter. However, I am never one of those people. I was originally going to use a Sonia Kashuk nail polish that is a beautiful emerald green. Alas, Tessa nabbed the color and I went for navy. I first caught sight of this color through Vivianna Does Makeup and have been obsessed with finding it ever since. I actually got this color a couple weeks ago and I've just kept applying it. Also, navy is a nice alternative to black when you're looking for some color (yes, that's as far as I dare go).

RACHEL

Revlon Vixen

Fairly stereotypical for this season, but whateva. I can’t resist dark clothing so naturally dark nails have the same allure. I actually picked this up in early summer and it’s remained a staple in my collection year round. I was lusting after Essie’s Wicked, but this is a spot-on dupe at less than half the price. I’ve yet to be disappointed my Revlon’s standard range of polish. Especially with dark hues, a quality formula is crucial. A blackened red looks vampy but still maintains an element of class - ha. Regardless, perfectly suited for winter.

Rumble Cosmetics

Posted by Tessa Tuesday, January 7, 2014 0 comments

Another apology for my scrub-like appearance. And also a huge apology to Rumble for not having this up way earlier!

xx
Tessa

Festive Fingers

Posted by Unknown Sunday, December 22, 2013 0 comments

Though I'm likely to reach for a more muted offering, come holiday season it's nice to be a little more glitzy. Below are three tried and true options I'll be turning to this year.

No. 1 | Revlon Stunning
The most versatile of the bunch, this varnish is great for either Christmas or New Years. It isn't too obviously holiday - which I prefer. As a bonus it coordinates with nearly any base color.
Suggested pairings: Essie Marshmallow / Revlon Minted

No. 2 | Ulta Piñata-Yada-Yada
Here's where I step out of my comfort zone. As you could guess, this lil' dude looks like a burst of confetti. Surprisingly, I love this on the nails. It's festive, but not too in your face.
Suggested pairings: Essie Secret Story / Revlon Bewitching

No. 3 | Forever 21 Black & Sliver Glitter
Forever is a bit of a toss up with their polishes. You never know if you'll be able to find something in store, but if you can find this I'd highly recommend you pick it up. For those of us who are keen on a darker nail, this will suit your taste. The mixture of black and gunmetal particles is simple, but adds interest and sheen.
Suggested pairings: Essie No More Film / Zoya Kristen

Wishing you all a very happy holiday, whichever you celebrate! Speak to you l8r.

xx
Rachel

Review | Adorn Nail Polish

Posted by Tessa Tuesday, October 22, 2013 0 comments

Hello loves!

So a couple weeks ago I said in a video I had something really cool planned for next week. And by next week I obviously meant a few weeks later. Whoops. Anyway, it was to introduce you to this brand: Adorn Nail Polish. Now, if you've never heard of Adorn, don't worry I didn't either until they followed our blog account on Twitter and I was very intrigued to learn more and test out some products.

Adorn is based out of Orange County, CA and is a cruelty-free, vegan brand. Their products are free of formaldehyde, toulene, DBP, and formaldehyde resin. Which kind of makes me think of them as the Origins of nail polish (and you know how much I love my Origins). You can definitely tell that they are environmentally friendly and do it in the cutest way possible. I mean seriously, shredded texts as padding in the boxes? Too cute. They came in a small package, each in their own little box similar to what Birchbox does with their smaller samples.

I painted my nails with Violet Moon and it lasted about four days without a top coat, which was beyond impressive to me, especially considering my nail polish usually chips within about 24 hours. Violet Moon had a very nice creme finish and was completely opaque in two coats. It's a wonderful grey-toned purple color that I think will definitely be living on my nails throughout the fall and winter. I even painted my nails with it again after the first time, just because I couldn't get over how much I loved it.

L'Age d'Or is a gorgeous metallic, shimmery gold color. What I loved most about this one was the fact that it wasn't a glitter polish that had a glitter finish, so it wasn't impossible to get off. It took me about 3 coats to get it as opaque as I wanted it to be, but I think it would be a beautiful top coat over a neutral nail and would also make a great accent nail color, on it's own or layered. This didn't have as good of staying power as Violet Moon, and I think that's just because it's a metallic shade and those tend to chip a bit easier and show more wear.

Overall, I really loved these polishes. They had a good staying power, the formulation was on point and the brush was the perfect size if you ask me. I also never quite got over the shipping packaging. These may be my first two Adorn polishes, but I don't think they'll be my last.

These polishes retail for $11 on adornnails.com.

Follow them on twitter (@AdornNails) and us of course (@FiveBrokeGirls) or me (@tessamiller_) if you guys want more!

Tessa

ps - Sorry for the lack of a swatch for L'Age d'Or, I completely forgot to take photos when I had it on ):

The Fall Edit | Beauty & Fashion Bits

Posted by Tessa Tuesday, September 10, 2013 0 comments

So the Pumpkin Spice Latte has returned at Starbucks, which if you ask any white girl, is obviously the tell-all sign that fall is here. Well, I don't know about you, but here in Kansas temperatures are still in the 80s and 90s and I'm just dreaming about the day I can finally throw on a sweater and leggings and boots and not be sweating to death. So with that in mind, here's my fall edit on what I'm looking forward to styling and wearing, both make up and fashion-wise.

The Fall Edit | Nail Polish

Posted by Unknown Sunday, September 8, 2013 0 comments

Alrighty, I know Tessa has an autumn edit queued to go up soon (get excited, woopwoop) but I'm jumping the gun and sharing a few of my favorite nail polishes that are getting me ready for weather less similar to the deepest rings of hell. These shades will help transition me from brightly polished summer nails, which is about the only color I wear as of late.

COMMANDER IN CHIC (370) | SALLY HANSEN COMPLETE SALON MANICURE
Firstly is a Sally Hansen shade that's been around for a while. This is great when you want something dark, but less dramatic than a black or navy nail. I think the grey-ish color with a purple undertone would be universally flattering, no matter your skin tone. Though the price is a little steep for a lower-end brand, the formula doesn't leave anything to be desired. I find it lasts just as long as its more expensive counterparts, is opaque, and has a flat, sturdy brush. Plus, even after over a year of ownership it hasn't thickened or gone gloopy.

PACIFIC BLUE (420) | SALLY HANSEN XTREME WEAR NAIL COLOR
Now, for a cheaper offering from Sally Hansen. I'm quite the fan of blue nail polish, but out of my ever expanding collection this is by far my favorite. This garners a lot of attention any time I wear it but never looks juvenile or over the top. As a bonus, these are dirt cheap and the formula is nearly opaque in one coat. I'm not terribly into bright colors (if you hadn't deduced this already) but this is an exception. I've never spotted one of these at Target or Walmart, but picked it up on sale at Ulta so check this bby out.

MAXIMILLIAN STRASSE-HER (1010) | ESSIE NAIL LACQUER
I have a sickness. I'll admit it. I can't stop with the damn Essie nail polish. I grabbed this in a time of no self control (so a normal day) this past spring and haven't looked back since. Much opposed to my previous listing, this is a nice understated hue. The grey-toned green won't overpower a look yet still manages to not be a bore. Though it will be A+ for autumn, I've been wearing it all year and enjoy it every time I do.

CARAMEL CUPCAKE (311) | RIMMEL LONDON 60 SECONDS NAIL POLISH
Another muted favorite of mine. I think this is nearly an exact dupe for Essie's Ladylike. At only $1.50, how could you resist? This mauve polish helps me look put together even after I've hit sleep 6 times that morning. I luuurv the little bottle, and the brush is also square and sturdy so application is a breeze. I'm not even upset that I own two nearly identical nail polishes. That's how much I love it. Or how ridiculous I am. Whichever.

See errybody next week!

xx
Rachel

Favorites | Summer Nail Polish

Posted by Unknown Wednesday, July 17, 2013 0 comments

Short post, sorry guys. I'm in the midst of getting a new (haha, more like a 2002 model with lowish miles) car from my family in Colorado; so planning that trip for next week is eating away a lot of my time. Missouri has really shitty laws in place for the title, bill of sale, inspection, blah blah blah, and it's just taking forever to sort out.

Annyywaayyy. As much as I dislike the summer heat, it is probably the only time I wear brighter colors. Words can't even express how much I can't wait for fall; the ability to layer, darker lipsticks and nail polish, and cooler weather. So, I have digressed long enough, here are my five favorite nail polishes for the summer!

1. Revlon Nail Enamel in "211 Charming" ($3.99)

2. Revlon Top Speed Enamel in "320 Jaded" ($4.99)

3. Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in "380 Peach of Cake" ($6.59)

4. Essie Nail Lacquer in "Bikini So Teeny" ($7.79)

5. Essie Nail Lacquer in "Eternal Optimist" ($7.79)

In order as listed above.

Nailed It | Rachel

Posted by Unknown Sunday, June 23, 2013 0 comments

Why hello there, I hope you're all having a wonderful/lazy Sunday like I am. Considering this weekend has been much busier than I originally anticipated (I'm in a state of shock after all this social interaction), my post will be just a wee bit short this week. Anyhow, I thought I'd share what I'm currently donning on my nails.

All self control seems to go out the window when I browse the nail polish stands, and on a recent trip to Walmart I picked up three new polishes. Frugal. Still, I found this Sally Hansen shade which reminds me a great deal of Watermelon by Essie yet cost considerably less - only $1.97. Even better, it was completely opaque after one coat and caused no bubbling at all. I've found the same of the Xtreme Wear line as well. Needless to say this was a solid purchase on my behalf and I look forward to adding more from this range to my collection.

Just for reference, I preceded the Sally Hansen color with Essie's Millionails strengthening base coat/treatment. I do think it helps ever so slightly to prevent my nails from peeling or breaking, though it does leave them a little yellow after removal. I followed up Tough Love (which, beeteedubs, is 3 free - meaning no DBP, Toluene or Formaldehyde) with my standard Revlon top coat. This always leaves a semi-gel finish to my manicure and does, in fact, dry quickly. Woop.

So there you have it folks. Enjoy the last of your weekend!

xx
Rachel

*oh p.s. my knuckle rings are from Forever 21. 3 for $1.80. Aww yeah.

NPOTW

Posted by Unknown Monday, June 10, 2013 0 comments

(Nail Polish Of The Week)

So, i'm a pretty big nail polish enthusiast, as well as very indecisive about my colors. Yet I have found two colors I am ABSOLUTELY obsessed with for spring! I feel like the pink and lilac really accent eachother very well. Perfect Spring/Summer combo.

Fingernails- sinful colors color: 300/Easy Going (found at walmart)
Easy going is a very pretty pale pink color.

Toenails- rimmel london 60 second color: 410/I Lilac You (found at walmart)
I lilac you is a gorgeous faint lilac purple.

Just wanted to do a quick update about my two latest nail color obsessions!

-Kayson xo

Haul | Mini Target Haul

Posted by Unknown Friday, May 10, 2013 0 comments

So, seeing as it is finals week, I clearly needed a stress-induced Target run. I think it’s been firmly established that Target is a magical realm where all your troubles fade away (along with your bank balance). That glowing red sign and all those fluorescent lights are strangely comforting. Now before I get too emotional, I should probably talk about these “necessities” I picked up the other day.

Boots Expert Anti-Blemish Night Moisturizer ($5.19)

Who knew that when you turned 20 all of your blemishes didn’t just suddenly disappear? I was completely unaware. Unfortunately, even though I’ve graduated from being a teenager (or nearly have anyway...) I still get blemishes. Shocker. Lately, I’ve been trying to go a bit more natural with my skincare. I use tea tree oil as a spot treatment, and in the past few years have weaned myself off the harsh, stripping cleansers targeted at blemish-prone skin. However as of late, this just hasn't been cutting it for me. My breakouts are sporadic, and not too terrible, but I’ve had it up to here with their shit. So, cue some new products entering my routine. This product boasts clarifying and soothing properties, all thanks to aloe and willow bark. Being prone to redness, I was all for anything that would calm my skin dafuq down and still fight spots. I’ve used this once after cleansing and gently exfoliating, and it’s quite nice. For a night moisturizer, it isn’t incredibly thick – it’s more of a gel texture. Coming up on summer though, that's fine by me. The aloe also makes it fairly tacky on the skin, but I found as time went on it sunk in and became less sticky. I can’t attest to its ability to control breakouts just yet, but I shall keep you updated.

Up & Up Maximum Strength Acne Medication ($3.74)

This stuff is pretty self-explanatory. If you’ve ever had a breakout, it’s likely one of the first products you went to was benzoyl peroxide. This is a 10% concentration formula, which will transform your skin into the god damn Sahara if you aren’t careful. It can also make you more sensitive to the sun, so keep that shit in check. Applied sparingly, it’s mostly just a life saver. I bought the knockoff brand of the Clearasil version, which was a few dollars cheaper. Props to Target for ripping off other brands and calling them out on their overpriced shit. Exactly the same product, mo money in my pocket.

Revlon Colorstay Concealer; 01 Fair ($8.49)

I’ve been using the same janky mineral concealer trio for waaaay too long now, so I thought it was time for an upgrade. I’ve heard a lot about the Colorstay foundation, and I’ve always been impressed with Revlon as a brand. My makeup usually has to last a fair amount of time, so longevity is priority. I opted for this over my various other options because it looks like a grayish neutral shade that could double up for blemishes and under eyes, though I'll probably use it primarily for spots.Upon using it, it’s a bit warmer than I anticipated. I haven’t nailed down the best way to apply it yet or its staying power but again, I will let you know in the future how it has measured up.

Essie Nail Color; Ladylike ($7.79)

For a long while I had a complete aversion to Essie. Yeah, I marveled at their packaging and pretty hues, but I thought nearly $8 for a nail polish was preposterous. Especially when there is a good deal of dupes out there. One day (probably when I was tired, angry, stressed out, or all three) I cracked and bought one. It’s been downhill ever since. Each trip to the drugstore, I justify purchasing another one. I’ve had my eye on Ladylike for a while now, and I can’t wait to have my nails look super classy (to contrast my personality) in the dusky mauve shade.

Maybelline Expert Eyes; Smoked Neutrals ($6.49)

As I was perusing the eyeshadows, as you do, I came across the Sonia Kashuk duo “Down to Earth”. I fell in love with the warm, smoky green shade and just had to have it (the other shadow reminds me of Toasted from my Naked palette). Instead of mindlessly buying the duo, I looked around to make sure I couldn’t find a cheaper alternative. Lo and behold, I found this Maybelline palette which has six more shadows and still cost less than the Sonia Kashuk duo - bottom right was the almost dupe for the green shade. The shadows are velvety soft, and I can see myself using all eight. This product will be a great space saver this summer when I inevitably start to over pack for my various excursions.

Rachel

Review | Revlon Extra Life No Chip Top Coat

Posted by Tessa Friday, May 3, 2013 0 comments

When I was on the hunt for a new, cheap top coat, I checked out Revlon's line (per the suggestion of fellow Broke Girl, Rachel). I usually love Revlon's nail polish line, as it's reasonably priced and typically pretty good quality, but I could not have been more disappointed in this top coat.

Revlon Extra Life No Chip Top Coat, $4.97 at Walmart Stores

It does deliver a stunning finish that I'm quite the fan of, but the staying power isn't anything I would have expected. My work is pretty rough on my hands since I have to wash them all the time, so some chipping is acceptable in that case. I was fairly upset when I started noticing that if I painted my nails and later took a shower, I would come out with chips on them, which is not acceptable, especially when most of the time it was less than 24 hours after I painted them (as I'm typing this I'm waiting for touch up polish on three nails to dry).

Overall, I'm very disappointed in this product, and in Revlon for putting it out as I expected more. This is not a product that I will be repurchasing, so it looks like I'm back on the market for a new top coat!

Let me know in the comments below if you have any suggestions for a good top coat, or your opinions on this product if you've used it before!

xx
Tessa