Best Top Coat!

Not too long ago, I did a comparison between the Seche Vite and the Sally Hansen top coats. In the end, I said I preferred the Sally Hansen, but it still wasn't perfect for me. Well, I'm happy to say that I have finally found the perfect top coat...

OPI's RapiDry Top Coat!

Now this may not be big news to anybody else but this is the first time I've tried it. It's definitely the best top coat I have tried and it basically has the best aspects of the Sally Hansen and the Seche Vite. It makes your nails dry quickly, adds shine, and protects them. It's also very easy to work with and apply. It doesn't have the thick goopiness like Seche Vite nor did it create bubbles on my nails like Sally Hansen often did.

So, this is hopefully my final verdict on the matter. Which top coat is your favorite?

The Royal Wedding

The royal wedding was one of the most anticipated events of the year, as people all across the world tuned in to watch the extraordinary event. I, of course, was keeping an eye out for the fashion. Kate Middleton looked absolutely gorgeous and Prince William also looked amazing. Even before the wedding, many people were anticipating what Kate would choose as her dress. Well, I think her wedding dress was perfect for the occasion - it was sleek, elegant, and showed off her figure beautifully. That waist is so tiny!

Not only was her wedding dress beautiful, so was her reception dress. This also showed off her tiny waist and was definitely a princess dress. No doubt indeed, Kate already has the style of a princess.

And of course, I love to keep an eye out for all of those fun hats! Princess Beatrice's hat has created the most buzz as many are dubbing it the worst hat of the royal wedding.

What do you think? Let me know your thoughts!

Hair Products!

So recently I received this free product with a purchase and finally decided to give it a try. I'm talking about the Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Nourishing Styling Treatment, which was titled Best Hair Treatment by the Self Magazine Healthy Beauty Awards in May 2010. Now I have to admit, when I first tried it I was worried because the texture was very oily, which is no surprise since it contains Argan Oil from Morocco. The problem is my hair already gets greasy quickly, so I didn't want to make that any worse.

This is what it looks like:

Looks like pure oil, right?

I gave it a try anyways, and it turns out that I really love this product. The trick is that I only put it in when my hair was half-dry starting halfway through my hair and to the ends, and not on my roots. The ends of your hair is where you need the most moisture and protection anyways. I noticed that once it was dry, it was so much softer and a lot easier to manage. On the container, it also says it helps hair dry faster, but I didn't notice a significant change. Despite my initial hesitation, I really do think this product makes a significant impact on my hair and keeps it healthy. And it's so much softer now!

You can get this product in the 4.2 oz from Beauty Brands (where I got it for free) for $19.98 or on Amazon for $10.99, not including shipping.

Now that I have super soft hair, my goal for summer is to create perfect waves. One product I have heard about and am interested in purchasing is the Frederic Fekkai Tousled Wave Spray, which is $24 for 5 oz at Nordstrom's or Dillard's. My hair is naturally straight, so sometimes I have trouble with making it look wavy and natural. If anyone has tried this product, please let me know! Also, what are your favorite hair products?

LOTD: MAC Peachstock

Today's lip is MAC's Peachstock. This is a Satin Limited Edition from their past Liberty of London Collection. It's a lovely creamy nude, and obviously peachy. I would say this is quite similar to Lady Gaga Viva Glam 2, but has a little more color and is more matte. I love nudes, so it's no surprise that I'm a fan of this one.

Recent Anne Hathaway Looks

Anne Hathaway has recently been promoting her new animated film, Rio and has stepped out with several amazing looks. The first was at the Rio premiere on March 22 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I love this feminine look and that lace dress is to die for!

The second was on April 10 for the Rio Los Angeles premiere. I love the glasses, it's totally geek chic! The dress is definitely unique, but I think she pulls it off.

What do you think? Which look do you like the best?

Shoe Steal!

As I mentioned before, I was at Target and came across these adorable sandals! And guess what? They were only $15! I was so excited that I got them for so cheap! For those of you that are interested, they are the Merona Emeline. As of now, they are on sale on the Target website for $12, and they also come in black, gold, and pewter. I've only worn them a few times, but from what I can tell they are comfortable and I haven't had any problems. I would say for me they run true to size, but I read reviews that they ran half a size large.

What do you think? Let me know of any shoe steals you've found!

Smashbox O-Gloss Review

When I was a kid, I used to love mood rings. Smashbox's O-Gloss is basically the same thing, but for lips. Once you apply it, it transforms into your own custom shade of pink. It's kind of a cool concept, so I wanted to give it a go. The lip gloss is very moisturizing and gives a nice shine. However, the color was not as exciting as I wanted it to be. I was expecting it to turn my lips more pink, but instead it looks the same color, just a little shinier. My friends have had better luck though, so it just depends on you.

For this product, I would recommend trying it at your local Sephora to make sure you like the effect it has on you.

Here are some pictures:

What do you think? What effect does the O-Gloss have on you?

NOTD: Sephora by OPI I'm With Brad

Today's nail is Sephora by OPI's I'm With Brad, which is one of my favorites. This color is a little hard to describe, but I'll do my best. It's a dark shimmery red-purple brown that definitely adds va-va-voom to your nails. It looks less red and more purple-brown in real life than in the picture. It's extremely beautiful and I always get compliments whenever I wear this one. If you love dark, vampy nails, you should check this one out.

Thoughts?

Shoes, Shoes, Shoes!

I have seriously been having an obsession with shoes lately. I thought I would share with you some that I have been wanting for awhile.

The first is the Steve Madden Trouser. I think this would look so cute with skirts and cardigans. By the way, I'm a total fan of Steve Madden shoes!

The second is another pair of Steve Madden (surprise!) wedges called Riddgge. They just look so comfortable and are perfect for casual occasions.

Finally, I want a pair of lace up boots called Lash from Aldo.

But speaking of shoes, I just got an awesome deal on a pair of sandals from Target. I'll post pics soon, don't worry! Let me know what new shoes you've been rocking lately!

Can You Tell Me the Time?

So I've been needing a nice everyday watch and finally just got one that I'm super excited about! I just bought this Skagen watch on sale at Nordstrom's, so I got a pretty good deal. It's rose gold and I think it's really beautiful and elegant. It is model 882SRR for those of you that are interested.

Here's a pic:

Thoughts?

Feathers - In or Out?

I have really been noticing the new feather trend so I whipped my feathers out and wore them today. I purchased these feather earrings from Forever 21 for really cheap. I think they are cute and boho, and they definitely make a statement.

I've also been wanting these earrings from Urban Outfitters. I do have brown hair so I'd have to wear my hair up, but I still think they're lovely.

Thoughts? Do you dig the feather trend?

Another JewelMint Review!

I received my other JewelMint piece today, which I am really excited about! I purchased the flower power necklace because I just thought it was so beautiful. It's everything I pictured it to be and it's very good quality. It will be perfect for the summer and at the beach. Also, the chain is adjustable so you can make it a little longer or shorter for your liking.

Here are some pictures:

Picture from JewelMint website

Me wearing the necklace!

How it came in the box:

I think this is a great lightweight piece for summer. It's great for people with feminine or boho styles. What do you think? Let me know your thoughts!

LOTD: MAC Hang Up

Today's lip of the day is MAC's Hang Up. It's a dark red-berry lip- it's a bit more berry than it showed up in the picture. It's a cremesheen, so it's very shiny and creamy. Love it for a dramatic look!

Here's a swatch:

NOTD: Essie Midnight Cami

The nail I am wearing today is Essie's Midnight Cami, which is a dark navy shimmer. I do think it's a nice color, but for some reason I find it a little disappointing. It's my only navy nail polish though, so I'm on the hunt for a more impressive one. Any recommendations?

I Heart London!

Jessie J's Price Tag is my favorite song of the moment. I noticed that I've been loving London's music because I have also been listening to Adele and Tinie Tempah! I guess it just reminds me of when I was in London, and I'm dying to go back! 

The girls in London just have such great style and always look so cute! Plus, I love her make-up in this video- her skin is glowing and looks flawless.

Thoughts?

My Top 3 Spring Fragrance Picks

Nothing's better than some new fresh spring scents! Today I stopped by my local Sephora and picked up a rollerball of the Marc Jacobs Daisy. I know this fragrance has been out for awhile but it's taken me awhile to finally get it. Anyways, this is a great light floral scent that is young and fresh at the same time. I think women of all ages can pull this one off.

Another perfume I have been lusting for and think is perfect for spring is Viktor & Rolf's Flowerbomb. That's next on my list!

One of my favorites that I already own is Nina by Nina Ricci. It's very sweet and feminine, and it mixes really well with my skin. This is a classic and one I will always use.

What are your favorite spring scents? Let me know your thoughts!

LOTD: MAC Jazzed

Today's lip is MAC Jazzed which is a Cremesheen Limited Edition. It's a really beautiful light coral color and I think it would be flattering on a variety of skin tones. This is one of  my favorites and it's the perfect bright color for summer.

Here are a few swatches:

Great Product for Summer

With summer on its way, I thought it would be a good idea to purchase some powdered sunscreen. I am one of those people who has really oily skin and hates the texture of sunscreen. I purchased Peter Thomas Roth's Oily Problem Skin Instant Mineral SPF 30 Sunscreen. I think it's a really good product- it's easy to apply when you're in a rush and doesn't have that icky feeling of sunscreen. It's so handy that you can toss it in your purse and reapply anytime. It's also great for oily skin because it's mattifying and oil absorbing. For people without oily skin, there's another version that is SPF 45 so check that out.

This is what it looks like:

So to use it you basically just take off the cap and dust yourself wherever you want sun protection as it automatically comes out. Then, the middle part pulls up so you can recap the brush.

Have you tried any other powder sunscreens? Let me know!

MAC's Creme Cup vs. Maybelline's Pink Please

I just purchased Maybelline's Color Sensational Pink Please lipstick, which I have heard is a dupe to MAC's Cremesheen Creme Cup. I thought I would see for myself how close they were and show you guys. They are very similar- you probably can't tell the difference from the lip swatches, but on my hand you can see a slight difference. The MAC one is more mauve and the Maybelline is more orange (hence the name). They are both beautiful colors and you could definitely get away with purchasing the Maybelline to save yourself some money.

Here are the swatches:

Side by side comparison:

Which do you prefer? Let me know your thoughts!

Best Bikini Waxing Kit!

Of course every woman dreads getting a bikini wax, but with summer on its way, I've been looking for an easy way to do it at home. I've been trying out the Surgi Brazilian Waxing Kit. The kit comes with the container of wax, pre-epilation oil, two little spatulas, and detailed directions. The wax is microwaveable so it's easy to use at home.

Here's what the wax looks like:

Overall, I would definitely recommend this product. It's still painful of course, but it works really well and it's a much cheaper alternative to getting paid to be waxed. I would recommend doing fairly small patches because it's less painful that way. You can get a 3-pack from Amazon for ~$17, and each container lasts for quite a few uses.

Tahitian Pearl Necklace

My mom just got me this beautiful black pearl necklace from Overstock.com. It was on sale and less than $100! I really love it and think it's perfect for work or special occasions. However, I would be careful because the chain is extremely delicate, so I would recommend getting another more sturdy chain for it.

Some pics:

Thoughts?

NOTD: OPI Lincoln Park at Midnight

Today's nail is OPI's Lincoln Park at Midnight. It is a beautiful shimmery dark purple and is Lincoln Park After Dark's more glitzy sister. I do love the After Dark, but the Midnight one has more glamour. It depends on what mood you're in, but in my opinion they're both fabulous.

Thoughts? Which is your favorite?

Here's a swatch:

My Spring It Review

I've been using the My Spring It tool lately, and I really like it. If you have facial hair that you want to remove easily, I would recommend this. It's pretty easy to use- all you do is roll it up and down in a U shape where you want to remove hair (I mainly use it on my upper lip area). It removes hair from the root so hair grows back thinner. One downfall is that it's hard to control exactly which hairs you want to remove if that makes sense, so I would not use it to remove hair from your eyebrows. It hurts of course, but it does the job and it does it fast- it only takes a few minutes.

Here's a pic:

It's $15.99 from MySpringIt.com and shipping is $0.99 in the US.

JewelMint Review!

So there's something similar to the Sole Society website, except it's for jewelry. Kate Bosworth is behind the JewelMint site, where she and stylist Cher Coulter design jewelry together and sell each piece for $29.99. It's obvious that a lot of work and detail goes into each piece- every piece has a video that talks about the story behind it. In addition, if you don't like your personalized picks, you can click show me more and add what you want to your showroom. After you place your order, they ship it the next day and for me it took about 5 days to receive after that. I ordered the Coachella Chain and the Mumbai Bracelet.

Coachella Chain:

Mumbai Bracelet:

I think the Coachella Chain is perfect for that hippie-boho look and will come in handy for the summer. You can wear it as a necklace or wrap it around your wrist as a bracelet like I did. The Mumbai Bracelet is really beautiful and I love the ethnic feeling it has. I think it's a very versatile piece that would go with any outfit. Both items are of really good quality and I can't wait to wear them! Overall, I love the site and actually made another order so when I get it I'll post more pictures.

Use the code YTV1 for a limited time and get 50% off your first piece!

*Update: Be careful as not to get the Coachella Chain wet when you wear it. The silver will wear off. It happened to a small section of mine, so it's not too noticeable but keep it dry!

Seche Vite vs. Sally Hansen Top Coat

I've constantly been on the hunt for the best top coat for my nails. I have been using the Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat for awhile now. It does make your nails dry very fast, but it has a lot of issues and it's not really up to my expectations. I know many people have said great things about it, but it's just not working for me. The first few times I used it I was in love with it, and then I began to notice a few things.

First, after a few days, my entire nail (not my literal nail, but the whole nail polish part) would just peel right off. Second, over time it became thick and goopy in the bottle and difficult to apply. Finally, when I would apply it, it would sort of shrink back and not cover my whole nail, which I think had to do with the thick texture.

I had heard positive things about the Sally Hansen top coats, so I gave the Sally Hansen Mega Shine Top Coat a try. The texture is a lot more runny, which I prefer, and it made my nails shinier. It was also much easier to apply than Seche Vite. Make sure to apply a thin layer because otherwise little bubbles form on your nails. Out of the two, I prefer the Sally Hansen because of its easy application, but I'm still looking for the perfect top coat.

Thoughts? What is your favorite top coat?

Great Moisturizer for Oily Skin

Clinque's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel

for Combination Oily to Oily Skin

I'm sure most of you have already heard about this product, but I just recently discovered it. I tried a sample and loved it so I just picked up the regular size. I have very oily skin - within an hour of putting on my makeup, my face starts to shine. This gel feels so lightweight but is moisturizing at the same time. I noticed that once I put it on it leaves minimal residue and shine compared to other moisturizers. It also goes on very smoothly and has not caused any problems with my acne prone skin. In combination with my Revlon Colorstay foundation, my face stays shine free much longer throughout the day. I definitely recommend this for everyone with oily skin! It's been a lifesaver!

For those of you with dry skin, I believe Clinique has another product similar to this except that it is a lotion instead of a gel. I have heard great things about it, so check that out as well!