Review | OPI Matte Nail Envy

During my storm hiatus at my boyfriend's house, I've had a bit of time to test a few beauty products that I've been meaning to try, OPI's Matte Nail Envy being at the top of the list. I previously mentioned that my nails have been jacked lately, so I really needed to try this. The matte formula is great on its own, but can also be used as a base and topcoat. I've been using this product for about a week and a half now, and fortunately I'm already starting to see a difference. My nails are still a bit chipped, but they don't bend and break as easily as before.  The directions suggest you apply two coats initially, then one coat every other day as needed. The $15 retail price is a bit steep, but is worth it for healthier nails. So far, I'm impressed!

Have you tried any of the Nail Envy formulas? 

Julep Maven Review (And Surprise for You!)

When I was recently contacted by Julep again to review their fabulous nail polish, I jumped at the chance to receive another box. If you're unfamiliar with the Julep Maven subscription program, where have you been? If you're a nail polish-a-holic, Julep is definitely a must-try. For $19.99 per month you receive 2-3 nail colors per month. Each of the Julep nail colors retail for $14.99 each at retail (including Sephora), so the monthly subscription price is well worth it. The best part is you can choose which polishes you receive based on your beauty profile. You can also switch it up and choose a box from a different profile if you'd like. For this box, I chose the American Beauty box, which included these pretty pale colors, one in lavender (Renee), and one in a cool glittery metallic (Emma), and a pedicure creme.

As a lavender polish lover, I absolutely love Renee, and I knew it would look perfect topped with a couple of coats of Emma. In the second photo I applied Emma to each nail except for my index finger, so that you could see the difference. I love Renee by itself, but how pretty are the two colors paired together? Renee is pretty opaque, and I was able to get full nail coverage with one coat. Emma is rather sheer, so I'll be using it for a topcoat.

The pedicure creme certainly lives up to its name, and did an amazing job of smoothing and moisturizing my feet. This was a plus, though the cucumber mint scent alone had me hooked! The creme contains shea butter, coconut oil and vitamin E, and promises to make a visible difference in just 1 to 2 uses.

Review: Priti NYC Soy Lavender Nail Polish Remover

My nails have been looking horrid lately, complete with peeling and chipping :(. I suspect it's because of my frequent polish changes, and the abrasive nail polish remover pads I've been using. I've heard great things about the Priti NYC Soy Nail Polish Remover from other bloggers, so I had to try it. The polish is naturally derived from farm crops and is non-carcinogenic, 100% biodegradable and non-toxic. The bottle it comes is also completely recyclable. DO NOT use if you are allergic to soy, but the formula is non-drying and leaves nails moisturized and nourished. Aside from that, the first thing I noticed was the scent! The gorgeous lavender scent that is such a wonderful alternative to the gross acetone smell. There's also white blossom and lemongrass scents available on the Priti NYC site.

* Priti Soy Nail Remover in Lavender, $22 

But hands down (pun intended), the best thing about this remover is how moisturizing the formula is. It was so easy to remove the polish (and I had glitter polish on), and I was left with cuticles and nails that were much different from anything I've ever tried. My fingers weren't greasy, but as you can see in the photo below my fingers were so moisturized.

Overall, I highly recommend this product to anyone who is looking for a better alternative to traditional nail polish removers. I can't wait to try the other scents!

Review: GOSH Cosmetics BB Cream

I've tried a few BB Creams so far, with the Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream being my favorite. I'm sure it isn't the true BB Cream, but it works as a tinted moisturizer, and I'm a big fan. When I was given this BB Cream from GOSH Cosmetics to try, I was really excited to see if this would work well on my skin. And I was hoping it would be a true BB cream.

 GOSH Cosmetics BB Cream in Espresso*

GOSH claims that this BB Cream is an all-in-one moisturizer, primer and foundation with SPF 15. It  promises to adapt to your skin tone which I was a little skeptical about, but the Espresso shade does match with my skin. 

I've been using this BB Cream for almost two weeks, and while I do like this product, I can't say it actually fulfills its promises. It does provide light coverage, but it does leave my combination skin feeling a bit more oily than usual, and I do have to set it with powder. My skin has not had an adverse reaction (which is always a fear), but overall I'm not in love. 

Verdict: I'm still on the hunt for a perfect BB Cream!

Have you tried any BB Creams yet? What's your favorite one?