A New Favorite: Essie Full Steam Ahead

A few weeks back, I was desperate to buy a few shades from Essie's "Naughty Nautical" summer collection. The pretty lavender shade Full Steam Ahead immediately caught my eye, as Essie Lilacism has been a long standing favorite and this was just a richer, more sparkly version of it in my eyes!  

I have to say that this is probably the best manicure I've given myself, perhaps ever, though it is still not very good and no where near the quality work of a seasoned nail blogger. So my apologies, if you object to my manicure but I just had to show you guys this lovely color. (ALSO, this photo is after TWO DAYS which is epic for me. More on the stellar primer/base/topcoat combination coming soon) 

Pale at first, this color is quite pretty at two coats. Compared to other Essie polishes I have, this was a lot easier to work with - nearly streak free with my pathetic skills and just applied so smoothly.  

I love the color, and while I couldn't capture the very fine shimmer, this shade is a definite winner in my book. Did you grab any shades from Essie Naughty Nautical? What do you think of this shade?? Isn't it just perfect for spring and summer? :) 

Essie Full Steam Ahead was purchased by me. Affiliate links included. 

On My Nails: Deborah Lippmann Sweet Dreams

FYI: I have posted a blog sale which can be accessed here or by clicking the "Blog Sale" link in the header. I hope you guys will take a look at it!  :)

I've had this little mini sized polish since the Barney's beauty event in February, and I've FINALLY gotten around to using it. (Yes, I know, that was 6 months ago and I am horrible for leaving my pretties alone for so long!)  

I can't tell you why it has taken me so long to use it, and I sure regret not trying it sooner! This hot pink shade with glitter flakies is right up my alley, and I have always meant to try Deborah Lippmann too!  

Opaque in two coats, even with my poor nail polishing skills, I am quite a fan of this formula so far. Generally, my nails chip really fast, not to mention that so many nail polish formulas just go on streaky to start with. This one looks good, and is holding up well. Wohoo!  

I definitely want to try more Deborah Lippmann polishes, and I'm totally kicking myself for not trying this sooner. For those of you who are Sephora shoppers, there is a Deborah Lippmann 100 point perk at my local stores. I imagine it is one of the new perks for August, and I bet it will go fast! 

EDIT: I spotted a WWD headline today that says Sephora will be carrying an exclusive collection of Deborah Lippmann polishes starting in September!!  Some of the brand is already available on Sephora.com, which notes that the full collection will be available online August 12th and in stores September 5th.

What do you think of Deborah Lippmann Sweet Dreams? Do you have a favorite shade from the brand that I must try? I'd love to know! :) 

Deborah Lippmann Sweet Dreams appears to be a LE shade, however it is still available for purchase on HSN and Zappos. (Affiliate Link)

Baby Blue Nails

​Ever since I spotted the Nails Inc summer collection, I've been hankering for a summery pale blue. I somehow missed the boat on Nails Inc's Chelsea Psychic Garden (Sephora, why are you out of stock??) so I have been keeping my eyes peeled for even more affordable options at the drugstore. 

During one trip, I spotted Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in #425 Blue-Away, and a few days ago, I spotted the Complete Salon Manicure in #360 Barracuda. I didn't know exactly what shade of baby blue I wanted, so I thought to try them both. (Yes, because finding that exact shade in your mind does require a bit of effort!) ​

​I couldn't decide which to try first, so I decided to try both! Please pardon my manicure skills - I definitely have none. What is great about both of these polishes is their nice, wide brush. Exactly what a girl like me needs for easy application! (I believe the brush is similar to the wide brushes of the Guerlain and Dior polishes, but I can't compare as I don't deserve expensive polish!) 

So far, both of these are wearing well too. I skipped base coat and top coat (because I am lazy) and both of these have made it squarely into day two without any issue. Most of the popular polish brands like OPI, Essie, Chanel chip on me within a day without at least a base coat, so this is a huge ​achievement for the Sally Hansen formulas. I am wearing 2 coats of each shade, thought the Insta-Dri was nearly opaque in one coat, and the lighter Complete Salon Manicure shade probably could have used three.

I'll be sporting this alternating blue manicure this week, and hoping that it isn't too much like my tacky blue phase in middle school where I covered myself in many shades of blue at once... In any event, I am loving both shades and very happy to have them!​

What's on your nails this week? Are there any shades of polish that are on your mind this season? Do share! :) ​

On My Nails: Essie Bachelorette Bash

A few weeks ago, while watching Antiques Roadshow, I spotted a bright magenta nail polish on one of the appraisers. I searched online for a shade that was comparable, and dug around in my nail polish drawer and realized I had this pretty polish in my stash already! While it has a bit more red in the base than the fuchsia I was looking for, I've been sporting this gorgeous shade for over a week. Essie hasn't been my favorite brand for polish, as my poor manicure skills don't mix with the formula with some shades, but this is just a great color.

Now that it is chipping, I'll need to pick my next shade, and I think that's bound to be Essie Lilacism or that perfect shade of light blue I'm hunting for...

What's on your nails right now? I'd love to know!