Curled my Lashes, Bent my No Buy with the Shiseido Eyelash Curler

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No Buy

I’ve been on a No Buy for the better part of a year. If you’re a regular, you’re probably tired of hearing about it. The truth is, it is an interesting balance – writing a beauty blog without buying product. If you’re sick of hearing it, sorry. If not, carry on.

My eyelash curler broke recently. I’ve had it for years and, frankly, didn’t treat it very well. I didn’t have a backup so I determined a replacement was warranted. Overall life-choices wise, I try to buy the best version of a tool I reasonably can. Ultimately, I decided that I would go for a cult classic – either Shiseido or Shu Uemera. Both are renown for their effectiveness and longevity.

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A Bit Shady: OPI Swatches

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Nail polish was my first (beauty) love. Even though my nail polish wardrobe is smaller these days I’m lame, I still feel a rush of completely ridiculous excitement when I spot a majestic shade. (Zoya Dream, can you stop haunting me? Thanks.) OPI makes my longest-loved (still manufactured) shade, I’m Not Really a Waitress. I don’t really wear it year-round anymore, but it is pretty much the only thing on my nails from Thanksgiving through Christmas. It makes guest appearances throughout the year as the mood strikes. It was on one such mission to plan repurchase and admire swatches of this polish that I noticed that OPI swatches are inaccurate, computer-generated garbage.

OPI Swatches aren’t Swatches

Not in that they’re low-quality, shoddy lighting, on ugly nails. No – OPI swatches are flat-out digitally whipped up lies. Not retouched, nay; a fabrication in their entirety.

My beloved, beautifully swatched by Elegantnails.com:

Then, the ridiculous embarrassment provided by OPI themselves:

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Amope Pedi Perfect Wet and Dry

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Amope Pedi Perfect Wet and DryAmope Pedi Perfect Wet and Dry

Do you feel like you have more disappointing nail salon memories than relaxing, majestic ones? I know I do! The natural solution, of course, is is to take matters into my own hands – literally. For me, the biggest parts of a pedicure are correcting my eponychium and cuticles and reducing my calluses. Over the years, I’ve used plenty of products: rasps, Ped-Egg-type solutions, those horribly scary Credo blades, pumice stones, Mr. Pumi bars (which are pretty nice for mild cases and daily upkeep). A few years ago, my husband got me a ridiculous powertool shockingly good, albeit occasionally awkward-to-use motorized callus buffer. It is FANTASTIC! (yeah, caps and exclamation points) at removing the bulk of thick, unwanted calluses, but it can leave things uneven in its wake. That’s where the Amope Pedi Perfect Wet and Dry comes in. 

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August 2017 Favorites

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August 2017 Favorites
August 2017 Favorites
1. Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush (part of a set), $9 / 2. Urban Decay Naked2 Basics, $29 / 3. Silkn ReVit, $80 / 4. Haier 1.0 Cu Ft Washer, $199

Details on my August 2017 Favorites after the jump. One is preeeetty mundane, but is a huge quality-of-life enhancement for me…so I’m excited!

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Getting My Invisalign Attachments

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Aiming to correct my teeth - Invisalign attachments

August 22 marked the beginning of my fifth week with Invisalign braces. I’m fairly surprised time is moving so quickly! Overall, I think I have adapted to the routine well. I’ve been devout about the hygiene protocol it requires.

That same day was also my appointment to get my Invisalign Attachments applied. Attachments are clear resin nubs they apply to your teeth to help the trays get the leverage they need to force your teeth around. From an application or installation standpoint, I understood the process – but I was not prepared for the reality.

Getting Prepped for Invisalign Attachments

The orthodontic technician who prepped me for my attachment installation reclined me in a standard dental chair. Once reclined, she placed a (highly attractive) set of orthodontic cheek retractors in place to keep my lips and cheeks out of her work area. Next, she polished the teeth that would receive the attachments with a standard dental cleaning/polishing wand and standard prophy paste. I then rinsed the gritty paste away. So far, so good.

Once I rinsed, I was to hold a suction wand between my teeth to minimize saliva while she used a small, forced air (expulsion, not suction) wand to dry the surfaces of the recipient teeth. This would typically be fine but I have one tooth that is jarringly sensitive when it comes to cold. The air from that wand was cold and I was just not ready for it to hit that tooth. I writhed in discomfort in the chair.

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Beauty Chatter

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I’m taking today to recharge as much as one can recharge while still going to their day job.

Here’s a quick round-up!

Nix it, NYX!

nyxcakethat

Why does this exist, NYX? I have plenty of black eyeshadows (too damn many) – any and all of them can be used for this same purpose.

A Sense of Community

Sephora launched their new Beauty Community recently. It has a ton of groups and sections, but I haven’t really explored it yet. I’m not sure how I feel about a retailer hosting a community. My knee-jerk reaction is the risk for censorship of critical discussion (of product which Sephora would be in their right to execute, don’t get me wrong); but if that’s a risk, why not go to a less-fettered platform?

Off-Topic

I got the portable washer that I mentioned in a recent post! It’s completely off topic but it is super neat. Like most sane humans, I loathe the laundromat – so its a welcome appliance even if it does take up a wee bit of my tiny apartment’s precious space.

Lighter Hair, Do Care

My balayage appointment was Saturday before last. Overall, I’m happy with my lighter hair but my old colorist left and the new one didn’t really approach balayage as it is intended to be approached; I have one spot on the left that is a bit abrupt (and high up) so it is fairly obvious and odd. It isn’t a crisis, but it does have me reconsidering my approach. Do I keep the same salon but just ask for a different (more experienced) colorist? I didn’t realize I’d have a different person until I was there.

Just… Damn, so Pretty!

Hourglass’ third Ambient Lighting Edit has been released. I’m not sure if this is worth it, but god is it pretty! I probably wouldn’t buy for myself, but I think it would make a great gift.

The Bottom Line

What beauty-related (or, you know, not – like my washer!) stuff have you seen or done lately?