Gnarly Gnails

Birthday Haul! Sephora, Ulta, Sephora again and ILNP

Friday, December 08, 2017
By Missy
1 Comments

Disclosure - Personal Purchases

Today I've got an accumulation of a few hauls I made over my birthday weekend (which also just happened to fall on Black Friday weekend).

First let's check out Sephora:

So my guy got me a nice sized gift card for my birthday and I tried to really drag out every penny of it. I bought some stuff and then a week later when Sephora did the $25 off $50 coupon, I got a few more things. I was really low on my Burts Bees Cleansing Oil which is my holy grail. I hate trying new oils since a lot of them leave a residue and I can get pretty picky about that. So trying this I was really just telling myself hey you can always return it. But, it turns out I didn't need to. The Sephora Supreme Cleansing Oil is pretty much spot on to my BB cleanser. Very happy, and this is the same price and easier to get ahold of, so that's a win in my book!

One of these was a Sephora pick up. I love love love the Saint and Sinner perfume bottles but this was a conundrum. See...I love the Saint perfume way way more than the Sinner. But the Saint bottle is white and it would clash with my vanity. So I got the Sinner bottle purely because it's black. HOWEVER...a few days after my purchase, our store (I work at TJ Maxx) got in ONE bottle of the old style of Kats perfumes and it was in SAINT! To make matters even more awesome I got it at a 20% discount and I had a gift card from my manager, so freeeeeee.

This will now be the third time I've spoken about the Fresh Soy Face Cleanser. Obsessed much? I had to. It was overtaking my thoughts, so this was a 2nd haul purchase I made during the 25 off 50 sale.

The Colourpop Take Me Home palette was an impulse buy because it was exclusive to Thanksgiving day. I was surprised how small it was when it arrived, but the shades seem nice, haven't tried this one yet.

Man...Kat Von D really gets me with packaging. I totally did not need this Metal Crush palette, I've been on the biggest highlighter no buy for over a year now because I'm just inundated with them...but she brings a new palette out and I just turn to mush.

These are all colors I completely gravitate toward for highlighters, so it sucked me in, even though I have heard it is ridiculously glittery, I have yet to swatch it cuz I'm a little scared of it.

Also picked the Feelin Fine lip gloss trio from Coloupop. The formula is really nice on these and I am in LOVE with the middle shade called Fairy Me, its like a pink and copper duochrome and super shimmery.

Another Thanksgiving exclusive was this mini CoverFX highlighter in Moonlight. I've worn this a couple times and its gorgeous and very metallic.

And the last thing I snatched up for my birthday haulage was Nails Inc Shake That Tail from their Dirty Unicorns collection. CANNOT WAIT to try this!

Next up are a couple of things I got from work besides the Kat Von D Saint perfume. I also just realized I bought a rad Sanctuary bag too but I forgot to take a pic of it.

Got this trio of OPI top coats for 8 bucks.

Also this CND RidgeFX ridge filler for about 3 bucks. I'm enjoying all of them so far though I don't notice much difference between this ridge filler and the Sally Hansen one I have.

Ok...so I also got a couple of things from Ulta:

Catrice Cushion Eyeliner. This is the best thing ever created, now if only they would come out with a color for my brows my life would be the best ever.

A few polishes from OPI. From left to right:

Turn on the Northern Lights!, Feel the Chemis-tree, Top the Package With a Beau

Then I also hauled some ILNP from their Winter/Holiday collection (FYI, I'll have swatches of these up next week so I'm only showing them quickly here):

From left to right:

Salem, Countdown, On the Rocks, Sparks May Fly

And lastly a little something I grabbed on Amazon for Christmas:

Doctor Who Christmas Stocking!

It was a bit cheaper feeling that I was expecting for nearly 25 dollars, but the cuff is nice and fluffy with an embroidered patch and the little explosions around the Tardis are also stitched.

*this post contains affiliate links*

Favorite Winter Polishes

Wednesday, December 06, 2017
By Missy
0 Comments

Disclosure - Personal Purchases/Some PR Samples

Hi folks!
Today I am bringing you a few polishes in my collection that I love to pull out this time of year...some may no longer be available for purchase but I will do my best to hunt down some links for what I can!
That's the bad part about getting back into blogging after a long break, most of what I have is alot older, though trust me, I am slowly amassing new stuff all the time!

Bankroll by Triple 7 Polish. Stunning deep blue with scattered holo. Sadly, these are amazing polishes that no longer seem to be being made :(

Zoya Carter, from the Pixie Dust line, textured brilliant purple.

Marc Jacobs Cora - kind of like a burnt reddish brown with silver shimmer...I love when warm and cool collide, this one is super unique.

OPI DS Extravagance. Man, this polish has been a favorite for YEARS. There is just something about the holo particles in this mixed with the perfect shade of raspberry that just make it divine.

Ah...speaking of warm and cool colliding...my favorite thing in the polish world has got to be silver and gold combined. A England Excalibur is the epitome of this phenomenon. I *think* this is discontinued?

China Glaze Goldie But Goodie...agains with the silver and gold. Though this is primarily gold there is still hints of silver.

Jack the Lad by Butter London. Look at this beauty without drooling, I dare you!

Oh baby...this is a weird one and I love it. Honestly when I was going through my stash to see what I wanted to pull for this post, I had never even used this. How? I keep finding the most random untrieds. Anyway! This is Kismet from Color Club and I don't know if the oddball greenish silver is my favorite part or if its the insane holo-ness from a non indie.

OPI Lost on Lombard. This was from the San Francisco Collection which I loved practically everything in that launch SO hard. A deep warm red creme.

Marbs...Butter London. A very brassy gold with silver glitters, surprise. Limited Edition. Don't hate me, I *DID* warn you.

Sigh. I hate saying these words but...this is an Oops from Llarowe a few years back and so impossible to get, but look. Just...look.

OPI Over and Over A-Gwen. Ok I'm sorry this is very much unavailable but look at her! Such a cherry red beauty and perfect for the holidays!

At this point I'm ashamed because these are all so hard to get ahold of. I should have named this post...Hey, wanna see some shit you can never have? Click now! Enkelini Shampayne. A light cool toned gold holo.

Catrice Steel My Heart, I have no idea if this is still around since I had it muled from Germany several years ago...gorgeous matte slightly textured brown with purple and gold shimmer.

Sorry so many of these are so old but you can't deny their beauty!

*this post contains affiliate links*

Best of Boxycharm 2017

Monday, December 04, 2017
By Missy
1 Comments

Disclosure - Personal Purchases

Who doesn't love Boxycharm?
I'm gonna assume by now you've heard of AND signed up for this awesome subscription box service.
I've been with Boxycharm for about a year and half now and I am constantly impressed every month.
Since I've had a full year of boxes at this point, I figured it would be fun to go through the year and what I got and show you what my favorites have been, the things that even up to a year later, I'm still using and loving.

Since it's only December I am going to consider the year December 2016 through November 2017.

Let's go in order...

Last December we received the Beauty For Real Lip Revival. It is basically a sugar lip scrub, it works great, has a good size grit and a subtle taste/smell of anise/licorice/cinnamon. I dunno, something spicy. I use this about 1-2 times a week depending on my lip sitch, and since using the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask I have to exfoliate a LOT less, but seriously I have barely put a dent in this and I use it ALOT.

In February the Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion was a huge win in the box. I was super stoked to get this since it's nearly 80 bucks. It doesn't disappoint in the least and as you can see, I STILL have some left. I use it in a rotation between my different masks, usually once a week-ish and it just helps shed those dead skin cells perfectly.

Also in February was this awesome duo of brushes, the Omnia set from Royal & Langnickel.

I want to try more from this line, natural hair brushes and they're both very versatile.

Sometimes there is a strong force across the Boxycharm universe when an item comes that we ALL want. Ofra highlighters were something I was quite curious about but tbh the packaging of their items never matched what they charge and so I never bought from them. So to get the Rodeo Drive Highlighter in our April 2017 box, let's just say alot of people were stoked. I have used this a ton and it's gorgeous...gold highlighters are not even close to something I usually wear or own many of (and I have ALOT of highlighters, probably more than any other item I own, besides eyeshadows), and when I want gold I always grab for this.

May brought us this fantastic little Contour & Highlight Palette from IBY.

The contours are very neutral and even work well as bronzers. I always go to this palette when I travel.

August 2017.

These Moda Pro brushes by Royal & Langnickel, tho!

Again! This brand kills it with affordable and amazing brushes. I love the handles on these but that eyeshadow brush?! My favorite brush right now for eye makeup. It tucks so perfectly into the crease. This was actually a three piece set, but the third piece was one of those curved contour tightly packed brushes and I just put it up, the eye brush and the face brush are where it's at though.

You probably just saw this palette in my November favorites and with good reason. I adore this palette. The Pur Cosmetics Soireee Diaries Palette that came in the September box is one I would absolutely buy on my own, it has everything and it's gorgeous inside and out.

I was ENAMORED with the Bare Minerals Perfecting Face Brush we got in the September box. It has a well in the center to hold your foundation and a tightly packed, short brush head. I don't know how to describe the magic of this brush, or maybe magic is the perfect description. I have since stepped back from using this brush, not because it's bad, its amazing...I just go through phases and use different brushes but I know I will be back to this one again very soon.

Another one you just saw in my monthly faves, CoverFX Illuminating Setting Spray. Super pricey but I can see why. You will not find a finer mist spray anywhere.

As you can see, the last few months have provided me with a lot of favorites. Another November score was the Winkylux Kitten Palette. Neutrals and pops of color, it packs a punch for such a small palette.

Can't wait to see what December brings!

If you'd like to give Boxycharm a try, you can use my link to sign up!

It's $21 a month and I believe its available in the US and in Canada.

*this post contains affiliate links*

Beloved Beauty - November 2017 Favorites

Friday, December 01, 2017
By Missy
1 Comments

Disclosure - Personal Purchases

Welcome to December...where does the time go?
The start of December means 2 things...its almost time for the newest Star Wars and it's time to see some favorites!

Let's see what I was obsessed with THIS month!

I feel like I've been raving about this but I think it's only really been in my head.

The CoverFX Illuminating Setting Spray is pretty awesome. I can usually tell right away if I'm going to love something or not and this won me over on first spray. I've been using it before AND after makeup and it holds my face together amazingly. The spray is SO fine and soft, too. HIGHLY recommend!!

Essie Matte About You Top Coat.

I love my matte top coats super super flat and matte. I already have a lovely satin matte top coat and a glossy top coat that are my go to finishers but I was really lacking a good matte one. I had a few and they all had gone bad or stopped being as matte as I wanted so I did a little research and the Essie had the best reviews across the board and I see why.

If you saw my first Try It Tuesday post then you saw my general feelings on the Fresh Soy Face Cleanser. I thoroughly enjoyed the small packet of this I tried out and was on the fence a bit about spending the money on a full size of this. So when I got a bunch of money to spend at Sephora from my guy for my birthday I managed to snag a bigger deluxe sample of this in a goodie bag and decided then and there that the next time I made a purchase at Sephora I'd get the full size...and since they're doing the $25 off of $50 deal right now, I just did! IN LOVE WITH THIS.

Powder Perfect makes fantastic and rich polishes. I love the depth, so it was no surprise that when I purchased this polish not too long ago that it would quickly become an all time favorite - this is the shade Why Is The Rum Always Gone?

Another score from Boxycharm, the Pur Cosmetics Soiree Diaries has become my go to nude palette. It has great setting, transition, crease and shimmery colors, it really has everything you need in one palette and I find myself reaching for it every single day I wear makeup.

And this is my second most used palette this month. The Winkylux Kitten Palette has what I find to be the perfect shades, all in the top row. A gorgeous pink shimmer I LOVE using as an inner corner highlight, and a fantastic bone and peanut butter matte shade. Everything in this palette is usable and blendable and just a really well made product.