Broadway Nails: imPRESS Press-On Manicure

For a couple of years now, I have been taking the minimalist route when it comes to my manicure choices. A solid color is usually sufficient enough for me. And when I want to add a bit of pizzazz to my nails, a glitter accent does the trick. But lately, I have been wanting to experiment more with my nails, and what better way than with imPRESS' Press On Manicure set!

Press-on nails are a fun and quick way to instantly spruce up nails. They are a cinch to apply, and require no drying time. It can't get any better than that. I received the imPRESS Press-On Manicure "Sexy Fresh" Set in my Influenster Spring Fever VoxBox, and I couldn't wait to give them a try. The bright and colorful feather designs are super fun, and the shiny finish these nails impart is just amazing.

Press-On Nails (love the cute nail polish bottle packaging!), Prep Pad, Mini Nail File

imPRESS Press-On Manicure: "Sexy Fresh"

These press-on nails are super easy to apply-as expected. First, you lay out the ten nails that size up best with your natural nails-tab aligning with the cuticle (the nails are numbered on the back, so one can easily find which two to pair together), then you cleanse/wipe your natural nails with the included prep pad. After that, peel off the clear film on the back of the nails and firmly press the nails on. That's it! The set also includes a mini nail file, but I didn't really feel the need to use it. I liked the shape and length of the nails as is. But the file is handy to have, in case you want to file down or round out the edges of the press-on nails. Quick tip: When applying the nails, start at the pinkie and work across from there, leaving the thumb nails for last. This way, application is so much easier.

The imPRESS Press-On Manicure set promises up to one week of lasting power. I started to get some tip wear three days in, and one nail came off on day five. Not bad. To remove the nails I just carefully peeled them off from the sides. I loved that no damage was done to my natural nails.

I think those with wide nail beds will benefit the most from these press-on nails. My nail beds are on the wider end of the spectrum, so I didn't have much trouble finding a good fit. But there were a couple of press-ons that didn't quite fit over my entire nail bed. For a few nails, the sides of my natural nails still peeked through. Luckily it wasn't something that was majorly noticeable.

Overall: For the most part, I was very pleased with the imPRESS Press-On Manicure set. The nails were comfortable to have on, and for press-on nails, I am really impressed (no pun intended) with how long these nails held up. I like that 24 nails were included in the set, which is enough for two applications. Gotta love that. I am definitely going to pick up a few more of imPRESS' Press-On Manicure sets next time I stop by my local drugstore. I hope to find some bright colors, which are going to be so fun to sport this summer!

What do you all think of imPRESS' Press-On Manicure?

Disclaimer: I received this product complimentary from influenster for testing and review purposes. My reviews are always honest, never influenced, and my own.

Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadow: Inked in Pink

It's no secret that I am a major fan of Maybelline's Color Tattoo eyeshadows. I just love how these creamy gel shadows have the ability to last all day on my oily lids. Maybelline's Inked in Pink Color Tattoo Eyeshadow is part of their metal collection, which is comprised of gorgeous shimmery metallics. Out of the five shades available in the collection, Inked in Pink was the one that stood out to me most. I just couldn't pass it up.

Inked in Pink is a gorgeous soft pink that contains a dazzling dose of shimmer. I love shimmered shadows, especially in the summer. Something about shimmer and radiant sun-kissed skin just works for me. Inked in Pink is surprisingly a very wearable color. While pigmented, it's definitely on the understated side, and the shimmers don't look overbearing on the lids in the slightest. 

The creamy gel formula is an absolute dream to work with. It's smooth consistency makes application effortless. Love that! One can use a flat shader brush to apply the color tattoo shadows, but personally, I like to apply them with my finger. Not only do I feel I get the best results that way, but the warmth of my finger makes spreading and blending the shadow so much easier. 

I noticed that I don't have to worry about over-blending with this. The color stays true and it's easily buildable. Lasting power doesn't disappoint-not really surprising, at least for me. Applied atop an eyeshadow primer Inked in Pink pretty much hangs on all day on my oil-prone lids, with very minimal fading.

Overall: For those who tend to shy away from color when it comes to eyeshadows, I think Maybelline's Inked in Pink Color Tattoo is a great shade to sport on the lids. It gives off just the right color pop that looks delicate, and not overpowering. Ever since I added Inked in Pink to my color tattoo arsenal, it quickly became a new favorite that I reach for constantly. This shadow is definitely on the road to becoming one of my summertime staples.

What do you all think of Maybelline's Color tattoo in Inked in Pink?

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned above. I purchased this product for my personal use.

MAC Fashion Sets Lipsticks: Ablaze, Embrace Me

A couple of months ago-April to be exact, MAC came out with their Fashion Sets collection which was comprised of color coordinating bold and bright lipsticks, lip pencils, lipglasses, eyeshadows, and nail polishes. The products looked lovely overall, but for me, the lipsticks were the stars of the collection. There were four lipsticks in the collection and today, I am going to be sharing with you all the two that won me over-Ablaze and Embrace Me ($15.00, each). My sincerest apologies for not getting this post up sooner-these items aren't available anymore. But better late than never, right?

Embrace Me, Ablaze

Ablaze, Embrace Me

Ablaze

Embrace Me

Ablaze is a bright coral matte, and Embrace Me is a showstopping bright fuchsia. Both lipsticks are highly pigmented, and they contain matte formulas that are just a dream to apply. These effortlessly glide on my lips without tugging on the skin or enhancing dry areas, and as a bonus, the lip colors feel really lightweight and comfortable on. Because of their matte consistency, these lipsticks do pretty well when it comes to lasting power. Both lip colors can easily hang on a good few hours, before they fade to a very pretty stain.

Overall: I am just so enamored with both Ablaze and Embrace Me. No surprise, really, seeing as I love bright lip colors like these ones. Not only are these shades equally striking, but they are also great for adding a fun and edgy flair to my summer makeup looks.

What do you all think of Ablaze and Embrace Me? Which are your favorite summer lip colors?

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned above. I purchased these products for my personal use. 

NYC New York Color: Applelicious Glossy Lip Balm in Big Apple Red

Even though I am a lipstick girl at heart, I can't help but reach for a good ol' lip balm from time to time. More so now that the weather is starting to warm up. During the summer months, lip balms are almost all I really use during this time. They not only feel lightweight on lips, but they are also conveniently low maintenance. I received this NYC New York Color Applelicious Glossy Lip Balm ($2.99) in the shade Big Apple Red in my Influenster Spring Fever VoxBox, and it has recently since been in constant rotation in my routine. I haven't been this excited about a lip balm in a long time.

Check it out!

NYC New York Color's Applelicious Glossy Lip Balm offers color, moisture, and shine. All the good stuff is in the super cute looking, apple-shaped core. The core is infused with moisturizing ingredients like Jojoba oil, Vitamin E, Shea butter, and Avocado oil. All amazing treats for dry and parched lips. 

Big Apple Red couldn't have been a better shade pick for me. The red tint doesn't skimp on color, and the juicy bitten look that results is ridiculously natural looking. Not to mention, my lips have a much healthier appearance to them, thanks to the added glossy shine.

My lips are pretty dry prone, and for me, this lip balm is very effective at giving my lips a moisture boost, along with some added softness. Even though the lip balm fades away after a couple of hours, I love that my lips still have that moisturized look and feel which prolongs all day long. It may be no surprise that this lip balm contains an apple fragrance. It's a little artificial, but not terribly so. The apple scent is light, and I actually find it to be quite pleasant.

Overall: I can't rave enough about NYC New York Color's Applelicious Glossy Lip Balm in Big Apple Red. It not only contains moisturizing ingredients, it also offers a lovely tint to lips that I am sure many will find very flattering and easy to wear.

What do you all think of NYC New York Color's Applelicious Glossy Lip Balm?

Disclaimer: I received this product complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. My reviews are always honest, never influenced, and my own.

Julie G Nail Colors: Birthday Suit, Bikini, Gelato In Venice

Hey, dolls! I hope you are all having a lovely day. Today I am going to be sharing with you all my thoughts-along with swatches, of the three Julie G nail colors that I picked up at IMATS back in April. While choosing which shades to get, I pretty much had summer in mind. So of course, I had to go with a couple of summer-ready colors that were sure to fit the bill.

Three coats, no topcoat

Birthday Suit: Milky pink creme. I am sure this pick comes to no surprise, seeing as I love and frequently sport similar shades like this one. There is just something about a milky pink creme that always has me coming back. Not only is the color beautifully understated, but it also gives a delicate look/feel to the hands. Super pretty. Birthday Suit went on streaky and patchy on the first coat, but a second-third coat resulted in opaque coverage, and helped even things out.

Four coats, no topcoat

Bikini: Neon pink creme. This shade just screams summer, with its showstopping vibrant hue. I am actually rocking Bikini on my toes at this moment and I just love it! It's going to be a summer staple pedi color for sure. Bikini proved to be quite tricky when it came down to application. I found this nail color to be very streak prone and super patchy. Thick coats are essential to obtain the best and smoothest looking results. Three-four coats usually does it for me. Since I love the color so much, I am willing to put in the extra work.

Two coats, no topcoat

Gelato In Venice: Mint green creme. This color may not be really unique, but it never hurts to have a couple of mint green nail colors in your collection. If you are a fan of mint green cremes, Gelato In Venice will not disappoint. The color is not only striking, but it had the best formula out of the three. I achieved opaque and smooth results with just two coats.

I loved that these resulted in a shiny finish when dry. Bikini had a semi matte finish-as most neons do, but the shine did peek through, eliminating a completely flat look. Of course, the addition of a glossy top coat heightens the shine factor a great deal. When it comes to lasting power, these do pretty well in that department. It's not until the fourth or fifth day in, that I start to see some tip wear and chipping.

Overall: For the most part, I am very pleased with my latest Julie G nail color additions. I found that the formulas were a little inconsistent, but they can definitely be worked with as long as one has the right application method down. Remember, thick coats is best with these.

What do you all think of these Julie G nail colors? Which are your favorites?

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned above. I purchased these products for my personal use.