Gel-Liscious

Product Whore Alert!

I know it's not technically hair- or makeup-related, but gel nail polish is so superfab that I deemed it blog-worthy. 

Now don't be alarmed; I'm not talking about old school "gel" nails that are more like acrylics.  Those suckers are terrible for your nails.  I'm talking about no-chip, soak-off gel polish.  This phenomenal invention comes in lots of colors (including clear) and lasts weeks, not days.  I have a standing appointment at my nail salon every other Tuesday, and the color literally does not chip for the entire two weeks (unless you are doing intense manual labor or something)!!  How does it work?  A special UV light is used to "set" the polish and seal it onto your nails.  To remove the polish, your nails are soaked in acetone, and the polish basically lifts off of your nail.

I've tried just about every brand of the stuff, so here's the rundown according to Yours Truly:

OPI Axxium was the first big name to this party.  I love me some OPI regular polish, and now I love me some OPI Axxium. 
Pro:  The largest selection of color.  Axxium comes in the best/most popular colors OPI makes, including a ton of glitter shades.  You peeps know how happy I am when you give me some glitter. 
Con:  Tends to be a bit thicker than Shellac

Shellac is another big gel polish manufacturer.  It seems a little easier to find salons that use Shellac than the other brands.
Pro:  Goes on very thin and looks exactly like normal polish.  This also makes soak-off easier/shorter.
Con:  Colors are boring.  Hopefully they will jump on the Fun Color train soon, but for now they are heavy on the pinks and neutrals.

Gelish seems to be the hardest to find in salons, though I'm not sure why.  I'm not totally in love with this brand, but I'm not mad at it either.
Pro:  Good color selection (also with great glitters!)
Con:  Goes on the thickest of all 3

Call your nail salon and ask if they offer gel polish, make an appointment, and get yourself a gel manicure.  It's worth it!!

Disclaimer:  Don't try this at home!  Leave it to the professionals.  The polishing process involves 'setting' each layer of gel using UV lights.  Also, definitely, DEFINITELY don't try to peel the polish off yourself --- most of your nail will peel off with it.  Trust me.  I've tried it.  Let the nail peeps soak it off in acetone and use their tools to do the job correctly.

DiorShow-stopper

This product-whore post is going to be dedicated to not just one product, but instead three products that act as one.  I'm talking about the triumverant known as the Diorshow mascara family. 

I'm not one of those women who are blessed with long, thick, naturally dark eyelashes.  When I take off my mascara at night, I can be mistaken for one of those OCD folks who pull out their lash and brow hairs.  So when I say I've tried every mascara on the market, I MEAN I've tried every mascara on the market --- crazy expensive brands, drugstore brands, even my precious Bare Minerals version.  After countless test runs of all the that Sephora had to offer, I found the answer to my limp-lashed prayers:  Christian Dior.

The first mascara by Dior was simply called "Diorshow," and it was pretty sweet.  It was smooth and dark, and it seemed to be better than any other mascara I tried.  Then, one seemingly ordinary day, I had one of my "A-Ha Makeup Moments" upon walking into Sephora to pick up some essentials.  (Ok, so my "A-Ha moments might not be tear jerkers or worthy of a couch session with Oprah, but I still consider them pretty important.)  I walked over to the Dior section to pick up my mascara, and low and behold, there was a new addition to the usual display:  Diorshow Blackout.  What was this unknown black tube that stood before me, whose description boasted stage-worthy lashes?  Clearly, I had to find out for myself.  2 words: a. mazing.  Blackout is darker, richer, and makes my lashes even more lucious than its predecessor. 

Fast-forward to now, when 2 more must-haves have been added to the Diorshow lineup:  Diorshow Maximizer and Diorshow Unlimited.  The Maximizer is a white basecoat that goes on first (after you curl your lashes, of course) to moisturize and lengthen your lashes.  Don't freak out --- you'll look like Casper when you first apply it.  Next up is the Blackout to volumize and vamp you up, followed by the Unlimited.  Unlimited comes in a skinny tube with a thin wand to define and lengthen your lashes even more, adding the perfect finishing touch and preventing clumps.

...the only time threesomes are acceptable

Yes, it might seem excessive to have a 3-step mascara regimen every day, but I'm not here to teach you people how to shortcut your makeup.  Looking amazeballs takes time and patience, Grasshopper.

Click here to buy Diorshow products at Sephora online

(PS: for some ridiculous reason, Sephora.com doesn't sell Diorshow Unlimited.  Click Here to buy it on Dior's website, or grab it next time you swing by your local Sephora)

KeratinWatch: Day 17

So it's been over two weeks, and my hair is still generally a badass.  There are days --- brace yourself --- when I wash it, slap some Moroccan Oil on the ends (let's not forget that little gem), and go to work with wet hair.  By the time I drop my horse-dog at daycare and roll into the store, I've got shiny, straight hair.  I literally thank my hair stylist a few times a week for this miracle that is Keratin.

I love to wavy-curl my hair with an iron every now and then (future blog topic), so I was a tad worried that the Keratin would mess with that process.  Thankfully, it hasn't changed a thing except to make the waves shinier and healthier. 

As a side note, a friend of mine who gets regular Keratin told me that some salons offer a "mini" treatment that doesn't cost as much but doesn't last as long.  She tried it once and wasn't happy with the result.  I haven't tried this myself, but I thought I'd let you guys know.

To summarize:  Save up some money.  Get a Keratin treatment.  Become a general badass.