Rant: Julep Maven

As some people may have noticed, I haven't posted about the August Maven Box, and I'm disappointed to tell you that this is the only time that I will: I skipped it. And again, I skipped the September box just minutes ago. The concept of the Julep Maven Boxes, for those who don't know, is that you sign up on the Julep website, answer some questions to get matched with a style profile and then every month, for only $19.99, you get a box with 2 or 3 nail polishes and some other beauty products in it. The nail polishes are of decent quality and retail for $14 a bottle and, if you read my June and July reviews, you can get a more in depth review of them.

 My problem right now is.... colour selection. I just, hate the colours they pick. Nothing is original and they have repeats some months. Example, in my last box, I got stuck with "Kate", a plain white polish. Now, what kind of a nailie would I be if I didn't have at least one white polish already in my collection? But I definitely wouldn't spend money on another. And white cremes showed up again this month in a few of the boxes... even a black creme. Super basic. Everyone has at least one white and one black polish already in their collection. Don't get me wrong, a couple of the Julep colours really stood out, but they never come in the same box! Gah, if only I could pick and choose, I'd be a much happier camper. I haven't cancelled my subscription yet because I keep holding out hope that one month will blow me away.. we'll see.

Anyway, I'll be a little on hiatus for a week or so because I happen to be travelling to Ireland tomorrow! Very exciting. And yes, my toes are painted emerald green, thought it would be fitting.

Mondrian- Inspired Nail Art

Some more easy-peasy geometric nail art inspired by Mondrian's famous painting. After applying my Revlong Calcium Gel Nail Hardener, I painted my thumbs and ring fingers in China Glaze "White on White" and I painted every other finger with 2 coats of O.P.I "Vodka & Caviar". I blocked out some simple lines using a black striper and filled in select boxes with "Vodka & Caviar" (red), Essie "Mesmerized" (blue), and Sally Hansen "Lightening" (yellow). I put a small dab of each colour in their respective places and used a dotting tool to pull it to the corners. One coat of Seche Vite and voila!

Geometric Nail Art

Hey everyone! I've been dying to swatch "Every Month is Oktoberfest" for all of y'all - it's one of the most anticipated colours of the entire collection. but alas, I haven't had the desire to wear dark vampy colours on my last week of my summer job. It just didn't quite fit. Today, I'm sporting A few coats of "If You Moust, You Moust" (which I swatched before) and a cool geometric pattern on my ring finger, done simply with a black striper and a dotting tool.I'm hoping to use the technique to develop some funky nail art inspired by Mondrian (appropriate for Art History, non?). Enjoy!

Nail of the Day: Deutsch You Want Me Baby?

My favourite from the entire OPI Germany collection! A spicy, pumpkin orange with red and gold microglitter. This polish literally glows. It looks like theres a fire burning behind it or something, the effect is spectacular. I\ve never been a huge fan of orange polish but this one, at least I think, is special. It's not a stark orange, it's not "bright" or tacky halloween orange. It's a rich, fall orange. Like fire and leaves and pumpkin pie. Fall is my favourite season and this captures all of it in one bottle (appropriately, I am drinking Pumpkin Chai tea as I type this). ULTRA BONUS: it's a one coater. Only one coat to nail perfection!! The only reason I would put on two is because it looks so amazing when you're painting it on. I sat there gaping at it with every stroke. It's just so... pretty. Perfect fall polish. Like actually, perfect.

None of my pictures can even get close to capturing the beautfiul effect of the shimmer... It's something you have to see in person, but trust me, it glows!

Nail of the Day: Suzi & the 7 Dusseldorfs

You have no idea how excited I am to start sharing all of OPI's new Germany polishes. First up is the glowing royal purple "Suzi & the 7 Dusseldorfs". It's brighter and more beautiful on the nail than in the bottle - and it's stunning in the bottle! I had this on all day and I caught myself staring at my fingers constantly. They're so rich yet colourful and vibrant but subtle in a way. It is a red-toned purple with red microshimmer throughout and, though I tend to be drawn to cooler toned colours, I love this colour on my ultra pale skin! It does seem regal.

At first, the formula scared me. It was so streaky, I was left with bald patches and it seemed watery. What happened to the beautful polish I had swatched last night!? But the second coat fixed everything. Perfect, flawless finish. Thank goodness, I thought my heart was about to be broken. I love this colour, and I'm not a huge purple-polish-person. OPI really outdid themselves on this collection.

OPI Germany Haul (Love in a Bottle)

The day has finally arrived! OPI's Fall Collection "Germany" was released today and WOW. They're really hitting home runs with their country collections this year. "Holland" was a stunner, and now this. Sure, I may be a little biased (fall is my favourite season for everything) but OPI did throw in some surprising choices this year. A mix of dark, shimmering vampy colours paired with softer, unusual cremes. For a full list, read my post about the release a month back or so. I was surprised to note that I would personally sport every single colour in this collection - yes, even the strange green one. If some generous being were to gift them all to me, not a single one would be left behind. Unfortunately, the bank is not a generous being and so I only (at this point) grabbed three. "Suzi and the 7 Dusseldorfs" - a bright, shimmery purple, "Deutsch You Want Me Baby?" - the most magnificent, pumpkin spice orange (my favourite!), and "Every Month is Oktoberfest" - a rich, dark, vampy purple with red glitter, are all now part of my collection and even after only swatching them on my nail wheels, I am head over heels in love. The formulas - perfect ("Every Month is Oktoberfest" is even a one-coater!), the colours - fabulous and uber-pigmented. My heart - soaring. I must must must have more from this collection. Swatches to come!

Disclaimer: "Danke Shiny Red" - a stunning ruby red was also on my top "must-have" list, once you see it, you won't be able to resist. I, however, have way too many reds that are similar to it for it to make itself a priority on my "to-buy" list. Maybe one day... Sigh.

Nail of the Day: Lilacism

An Essie classic! "Lilacism" is one of Essie's most famous polishes and it's part of their permanent line (so it's very easy to get your hands on it - which you should!). I bought this as a replacement for my mini-bottle of "To Buy or Not to Buy" (swatched earlier) even though they are not dupes. "Lilacism" is a creamy lilac colour that leans more grey/blue than "To Buy or Not to Buy" which leans more pink. I actually think I prefer "Lilacism" which is saying a lot because I adore "To Buy or Not to Buy"! The formula was defintely one of the best from Essie that I've tried. It only took two coats and doesn't look streaky or chalky - an excellent feat for a white-based polish! I am definitely impressed with this one. Very lovely.