Manicure Monday – 1/21/19 – Gelaze Exceptionally Gifted

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China Glaze Glaze Exceptionally GiftedChina Glaze Glaze Exceptionally Gifted

After two weeks of blue, I’m back in the realm of neutral-ish on my fingers. This soft pink with metallic pearl is feminine and flattering on me. While it isn’t remotely a dupe for my loved-and-lost Maybelline Wet Shine Diamonds polish of yore, it is probably the closest I’ve come in a gel formula.

Gel versions of colors that already exist in lines tend to differ slightly, but this time, the difference is nice. Swatches of the classic formula, though, would deter me from purchase. Gelaze Exceptionally Gifted, however, is quite nice! Reviews indicate that the classic formula is very chip-prone, but I’ve never had an issue with the wear of the Gelaze polishes.

Frankly, my application was shoddy – I did it late in the evening while watching TV (usually I’m fully absorbed in manicure-land), so I wouldn’t be surprised if I don’t get two weeks out of it. Knowing I did a lousy job, I’ll be happy with one.

Bonus Pedicure

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Invisaign Update: Refinement Round Three

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Invisalign Update - More Refinement - Refinement Round Three

In September, I shared that I was ending my first round of refinement of my Invisalign Treatment. When I went back, I was given fourteen more trays to tweak and tune. Halfway through, right around Thanksgiving, I stopped in for a mid-refinement check, some more IPR, and was sent on my way.

Ending Refinement Round Two

Last week, I finished up the fourteenth tray – for a total of 67 trays so far – and returned to the doctor.

I already knew that they were going to rescan me. My maxillary lateral incisors (the teeth between my upper front teeth and canines) could stand to turn just a little bit more.

It is nitpicky, especially coming from my baseline. My smile looks good! But why not get it right since it doesn’t introduce risk or cost me more?

Mamelons

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Manicure Monday – 1/14/19 – Nina Ultra Pro Caribbean Blue

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Manicure Monday - Nina Ultra Pro Caribbean Blue

I wrote the previous Manicure Monday post the Saturday prior to publish. Then, on Sunday, I got rid of the Nude Mood manicure and started anew. So this, really, should’ve gone live Monday. We’re catching up from a lag!

I’ve been doing a lot of neutrals on my fingers and reds on my toes. And I love both – they’re classic, professional, effortless.

A Polish to Gel Manicure

But I wanted some color in my life, so I reached for Nina Ultra Pro in Caribbean Blue and my Sensationail Polish to Gel kit.

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Discuss: Beauty Budgets

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Beauty Budgets - Vladimir Tarasov / Via Getty ImagesBeauty Budgets
Vladimir Tarasov / Via Getty Images

This legacy post has been given a facelift and an update, but content/opinions are the same. Enjoy!

I came across this Wall Street Journal article on the the high price of beauty. In the article (here), the annual beauty budgets of four successful women are discussed.

Expectations

I’m not quite sure what I expected, but what I read was definitely not it.

The four women are, in order:

  • A, “style expert,” and founder of what is essentially an organization that gives makeovers to needy women
  • An actress
  • A jewelry designer and
  • An entertainment executive

Clearly, all women of means, but I was still not prepared for what I read.

Three of the four women indicated an annual beauty expenditure was around twenty thousand dollars. Let’s put that into numbers instead of words, and let it sink in. Their beauty budgets were around $20,000 per year. The fourth came in just under $10,000.

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TPDTY: You Need a Glass Nail File

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Glass Nail File
Things People Don’t Tell You: You Need a Glass Nail File

Of all my beauty pursuits, I am most skilled with nails – and have bothered with them the longest (read: forever). Over the years, I’ve owned hundreds of different nail files. I kept a glass nail file primarily for smoothing but never for shaping because it simply isn’t the right tool for it. As a result, I didn’t use them as often because I had other tools that could accomplish the same purpose.

For years now, I’ve given myself gel polish manicures. I did a DIY gel manicure before I ever got a professional one, and have in fact only had a handful of professional gel manicures since. It wasn’t until late 2017, though, that the same manicurist who made me pine for Icelanded a Bottle of OPI let me in on a tip.

Gel Manicures

If the capped free edge is compromised, it smooths it beautifully without further harming the structural integrity or seal of the gel polish. You can then either reseal with a gel top coat or go about your life.

Gentle

For polish-free nails, a glass nail file has a very fine grit that won’t significantly reduce length. You have to try to screw up with a glass nail file.

Carry-On

There isn’t much to say on this – a glass nail file tends to be less questionable in a carry-on when flying than a metal file. We can argue the TSA’s logic all we like, but it is what it is. I have one that is rounded on either end that I travel with to treat snags on-the-go.

Cleanliness

A glass file is more hygienic and easily sterilized than a conventional emery board.

The Bottom Line

A glass nail file has a place in anyone’s kit who executes or receives gel manicures with any kind of frequency. If you If you’re looking for a recommendation, I own this set that was inexpensive and is sturdy and effective.

Manicure Monday – 1/7/19 – Sensationail Nude Mood

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It took me writing this post to realize that I didn’t publish any manicure details in December. After my 11/26 post with Icelanded a Bottle of OPI in the Infinite Shine formula (haaate), the following week I did a nice China Glaze Gelaze manicure in Swing Baby. It’s a nice, champagne-y gold that I’ve featured on Favorites posts before. Unfortunately, I took no pictures because I am an ass…and because I was gearing up for a business trip that week.

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