Naughty Nautical

I have been dying for this color and finally found it in Bed, Bath & Beyond. Who knew they carried so much Essie polish?

Essie Naughty Nautical is a nice teal blue color and a shade that I don't have in my polish stash currently. It's just as gorgeous on your nails as it is in the bottle. It's hard to see in the picture but there is a faint shimmer to it that looks awesome outdoors. This is definitely a polish I got many compliments on...Essie has done it once again! Seen below is two coats of Naughty Nautical and Essie No Chips Ahead topcoat.

My stepmom bought me a set of dotting tools this past weekend so I had to use them! I chose Essie Tart Deco for my accent nail.

Running time now before I get started on some homework! Have a great week and let me know what you think :)

Loyally Lacquered,

Caitlin

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Lilacism

It was a relaxing weekend with some nail polish time...haven't had one of those in awhile. My polish this week is from Essie once again :) My Grandmother bought me this one as a nice surprise.

In natural light

Lilacism is just as its name says, a lilac color. It was much lighter than I was imagining, but still very pretty. Shown above is two coats with Essie No Chips Ahead top coat. The formula was very nice, an easy polish. I thought I needed something to add some character so I went with my go-to glitter, Essie Beyond Cozy on my ring finger.

In artificial light

I bought some new Essie products this week and some new polishes from their Summer 2013 collection so stay tuned for next week :)

Loyally Lacquered,

Caitlin

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Tips and Polka Dots

I finally had time to do something with my nails this week! It's not too fancy but I'm happy with the outcome!

I used Essie Come Here for the base color. It is a bright red/orange that looks very similar to Essie Hip-Anema that I painted my nails awhile ago. The formula was a bit watery and I noticed I flooded my cuticles quite a bit when painting, which was frustrating. But the color is still very pretty and definitely a good one for the summer.

Photo taken in natural lighting

Then I took Essie Bobbing for Baubles and made the polka dots on my thumb nail with the tip of a bobby pin. I free-handed the tip of my nails using the regular polish brush. It does require a steady hand, but just wipe off the majority of the polish and gently dab the remaining color on the tips until you get a thickness you're happy with. In these pictures it looks black, but Bobbing for Bobbles is a deep navy.

A close-up of my thumb nail

And I just got my ring back from being sized this week so had to take a picture :)

Back to homework and projects for me...surprise surprise. Have a great week!

Loyally Lacquered,

Caitlin

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Matte About You

I found it! I have been searching for Essie Matte About You matte finisher for awhile now. I was on Amazon.com and stumbled upon it for only $6.50! This is definitely my new obsession and I apologize in advance if the next few mani's are all matte :)

I am pretty sure I have never worn black polish, but I'm in love with the idea of a black matte nail, so that's exactly what I did today. I chose OPI Lincoln Park After Dark. It is a truly black polish that went on
smoothly with full coverage after two coats.

Photo in natural lighting

After the black polish dried, I applied one coat of the matte finisher in lieu of top coat. In the bottle it looks gooey, but it is that same consistency as any other polish and applies smoothly. It was very cool to see the transformation from gloss to matte in less than 10 seconds. The matte finish gives your nails the appearance of being dry, but don''t be fooled! Sit tight for a few minutes to let the polish dry. I learned the hard way and had to re-do one of my nails after I smudged it.

I wanted to spice up the matte so I added some dots of Essie's Mint Candy Apple. I love the way the high gloss looks against the black matte. I used the tip of a bobby pin and dipped it in the polish to apply to the nail. What do you think?

Well, back to homework for me. Enjoy the week everyone!

Loyally Lacquered,
Caitlin

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Turquoise and Caicos

No time this weekend to do nail art :( My family is in the process of moving so that has been tiresome along with homework and work...trying to stay positive though! I did buy some sponges so I can attempt glitter gradients and ombre sometime in the near future!

The good news: one of my little sisters graduated high school today so a new polish for the occasion was necessary.

Seen below is Essie Turquoise & Caicos. This name makes me think of how nice it would be to just sit on a nice island with a pretty drink in my hand. A girl can dream, right?

In artificial lighting

The formula was a bit watery and required 3 coats. I am home for the week and forgot my base coat at school, but I did use Essie No Chips Ahead top coat as usual. The color is amazing! It is a subdued turquoise shade; a beautiful mixture of blue and green.

In natural lighting

This week should be fun. Only two days of class and some fun events planned for the holiday weekend. Yay for a 4 day weekend!

Loyally Lacquered,
Caitlin

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Mojito Madness

This polish name definitely goes well with this week: The madness of this week makes a mojito sound really nice right about now!

Grad school has been a whirlwind to say the least. All of the projects, assignments, and tests seem to be right around the corner and a textbook crisis has already occurred. But no worries, I am in the process of getting organized and will hopefully have one assignment that is looming over me completed by the end of the day.

My sister got me this polish for graduation. It's called Essie Mojito Madness. I don't usually wear greens on my nails unless it is in the mint family, but this color is really nice. Definitely a bold color and one that people will notice you wearing. The formula was awesome! It went on so smoothly and did a very nice job settling when my strokes weren't exactly even. I used a base coat, 2 coats of color, and a top coat to get the look you see below.

Photo taken in natural lighting

Photo taken inside with artificial lighting

In honor of Pantone naming Emerald as the color of the year, All Lacquered Up has started "Emerald Madness" where you can vote for the best green polishes. It is set up bracket style like the NCAA March Madness Tournament. So if you are a green polish lover, stay up to date and go vote :)

Now back to doing homework while trying to resist looking up wedding vendors (It is just so much more fun). Have a great weekend!

Loyally Lacquered,

Caitlin

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10 Steps to a Perfect Manicure

Sorry again for the absence in posting. It has been a rough week for my family. But I'm back at school and ready for the summer semester to start and have some time today to share this article with you.

My Mimi mailed me this article and thought I might be able to use it for a post. It's "10 Steps to a Perfect Manicure" written by Melanie Rud from Good Housekeeping. I thought it would be awesome for those of you just starting out and also for those who just want to revamp their mani routine. I'll give you each step included in the article but also share my own personal knowledge as well.

Image taken from pdfmagazines.org

1. Pick a pretty shape- shape your nail to match the arc of your cuticle bed. I find that rounded nails are the most flattering. Square shaped tips tend to make your nail beds look unnaturally large.
2. File this way-  File in one direction; the back and forth movement breaks down layers of keratin and protein your nails need to grow. I noticed that in nails salons they tend to file back and forth- do not do this! A crystal nail file seems to work the best for me and is easy to clean as well.
3. Wipe nails clean- some polish removers leave behind a residue that make it difficult for polish to adhere to your nails. Mix two parts rubbing alcohol to one part water to wash off your nails. This is something I actually didn't know so I plan on trying this out my next mani to see how it helps.
4. Lay a good foundation- Base coat, base coat, base coat! Find one you like and use it to prevent staining- some even double as a nail strengthener. I use OPI Base Coat and have no complaints.
5. Brush in two directions- Paint vertically to the edge of the nail, then horizontally swipe the end of the brush along the tip to seal the color and prevent chipping. I don't do this and I'm not sure how easy it is but I am definitely going to give it a try.
6. Layer wisely- Apply the first coat of color a bit heavier then make the second coat much lighter to avoid smudges. Finish with a top coat to seal in color and add shine. I always try to stick with two coats of color unless the polish is very sheer. I also use Essie No Chips Ahead Top Coat that I really love and would recommend.
7. Oil up- Apply cuticle oil to the top of your nails 5 minutes after the top coat. Also apply daily to keep your cuticles soft and your nails moisturized. I am a big supporter of Essie Apricot Cuticle Oil. In case you missed my review on this product, here it is.
8. Be patient- Let the polish dry for about 15 minutes. I used to be the worst at this but now I know to give myself enough time for a mani. Also be sure to go to the bathroom and put up your hair before you start because these are the two things that always get me right after I finish my nails.
9. Make it last- Apply a clear coat every 2 or 3 days to make sure your mani lasts. I use my top coat and go over the polish if I notice it gets a little dull throughout the week.
10. Take it off- Soak cotton balls in polish remover and apply to each nail. Leave for a few seconds and then remove. I use the round make up pads you can pick up at the drug store. I only use 5 each time too because they are big enough to flip around so they can be used once on each hand.

This article also tests out different brands and determines what I have always said: Essie is the best nail polish. I won't give too much away because this article is definitely worth a read. It also includes little tid bits of information on how to make your nails look fabulous.

Definitely pick up the May 2013 Good Housekeeping magazine if you want to take a closer look :)

Loyally Lacquered,
Caitlin

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Pretty in Pink

Hi All! This week is a big one for me: my last final of my undergraduate career is tomorrow, I graduate on Thursday, and Friday I leave for a New York vacation with the boyfriend! Trying to study, pack, and get everything organized these next few days before the craziness kicks in.

I decided I needed a bit of relaxation so I went to the nail salon today for a pedicure while studying- best idea ever! I chose China Glaze Surfin' for Boys. I won't post pictures because I know some people have a feet aversion, but it is a neon coral/orange color that is perfect for summertime. I really wanted my toes to pop against my nude heels I chose for graduation.

Here are my nails this week shown with my necklace I'm wearing for graduation. We had senior pictures with all of my sorority sisters this weekend so I chose Essie Madison Ave-Hue. This fuchsia color has a faint shimmer that is hard to see in these pictures but is so beautiful in person. The formula is great, went on smoothly and I used two coats and then Essie No Chips Ahead Top Coat.

Still haven't decided if I want to keep this polish for graduation/vacation so if you have any other ideas, let me know :)

Loyally Lacquered,
Caitlin

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Moving Up in the Nail Art World

So short post for today...I'm supposed to be studying but I just had to take a break before my brain explodes!

Good news: I accomplished more nail art! This week I attempted glitter tips on top of a new color I received as a gift from my best friends. Essie Bikini So Teeny is a favorite of many so I was so excited to try it out. The pale blue is so beautiful and has a hint of lavender to it. Three coats is shown below.

With natural light

I'm not very talented when it comes to nail art so I went for something very simple and uniform. I added silver glitter tips to accent the base polish. Seen here is Essie Beyond Cozy. It is a great, full coverage glitter. In fact, later in the day I smudged my thumb nail so instead of doing this design over again I just painted the whole nail Beyond Cozy and it looked great with just 2 coats!

A close up

I think it turned out awesome and have gotten so many compliments. Trying to expand my nail art horizons! Let me know what you think :)

Loyally Lacquered,

Caitlin

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Polish of the Week

Graduation tassel and Hip-Anema

Hi Everyone! Sorry for the short post, but I have been super busy. Definitely a bittersweet weekend: sisterhood retreat was so much fun but I also had my last chapter meeting as an active sorority girl :(  I'm getting ready for a busy week ahead as well. Just picked up my cap and gown for graduation next week! Now time to focus on my three final exams and then I'm done with my undergrad!

My polish this week is Essie Hip-Anema. My awesome friends got me some graduation presents and this polish was among them. I must say I am obsessed with this color. It is very similar to OPI MonSooner Or Later if you have that one in your collection. Shown here is 2 coats with 1 layer of OPI Top Coat. The formula is great and goes on very nicely.

Photo with natural light

Hip-Anema is part of the Essie Madison Ave-Hue Collection. Below is the whole collection with the exception of Bonding With Whoever. I just have so many pale purple polishes that I couldn't bring myself to buy it. Also, Go Ginza is already in the purple family so I definitely didn't need two purples from the same collection.

L-R: Hip-Anema, Madison Ave-Hue, Avenue Maintain, Go Ginza, Maximillian Strasse-Her

Let me know what you think! Off to study for finals! Have a great week :)

Loyally Lacquered,
Caitlin

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Newbie Does Nail Decals

So it's the last full week of classes for the semester and I just got a package in the mail from Make It Stick Designs! It's my sorority's Sisterhood Retreat this weekend so I wanted something fun and girly for my nails that would look great in pictures :) This is my first time ever using any type of nail art so let me know what you think!

I currently have a minor obsession with chevron so when I discovered Make It Stick Designs on Etsy I was so excited to see their nail decals. There are so many different chevron colors to choose from, including glitter ones! There is also the option of small chevron or large chevron stickers. I chose large white stickers since it's spring and I think they will go well with a lot of polishes I'm into this season. For a mere $5 you will get 60 chevron nail decals that will be sure to last awhile (I only used 2 on each ring finger for my mani).

Photo with nautral light

The polishes I used are Essie Go Ginza and Essie Mint Candy Apple. Both such fun colors! Go Ginza is a pale purple color that I am in love with. It goes on smoothly and I used two coats for full coverage. Mint Candy Apple is one of my favorites as well and I also used is two coats that I let dry for awhile before I put the decals on. I was working on homework at the time so I would say I waited about 30-40 minutes just to be safe. I used tweezers to peel off each chevron from the sheet and placed them carefully on the nail. I used small nail scissors to cut off the excess on the sides of the nail. I added two coats of top coat to be sure the decals wouldn't peel at the corners. Not too shabby for my first attempt at decals :)

On a more somber note, I think it would be insensitive to go without saying that I am extremely saddened by the events that occurred in Boston this week (and now the fertilizer plant explosion in Texas). The nail polish community came together and we are painting our nails purple for Boston. It's not much in this time of great tragedy, but it's something I can do to show my support. My Pappy has always used the phrase "Peace and Love" when ending a phone conversation with family and I truly believe if the world had a little more peace and a lot more love things might be better.

Loyally Lacquered,
Caitlin

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Review: Essie Apricot Cuticle Oil

So I was in Target this week for printer ink because I was in the process of printing a 40 page group project and my printer just had to run out of ink! I of course had to swing by the nail polish aisle because I have been on look out for Essie Matte About You for weeks (Target carries Essie in case you were looking for a place to buy it). Unfortunately they didn't have it, but what I did find was Essie Apricot Cuticle Oil.

I have always had severely dry skin and my cuticles have been no exception. The winter weather is never helpful and my cuticles have been so awful recently. I have been using hand cream but it only lasts for so long. Since using the Essie Apricot Cuticle Oil for the past week I have noticed a huge difference! Instead of being dry and rough, my cuticles are more moisturized. They are so much easier to push back when I prepare to paint my nails and I haven't had very many hang nails either.

Photo taken from Ulta

So for any of you with extremely dry hands, this is what I would recommend before  you put on polish:

1. Soak hands in warm water
2. Use a cuticle tool to push back your cuticles ->
3. Put on moisturizing hand lotion (Short & Sweet In Texas has a giveaway now with Avon Moisturizing Hand Cream up for grabs!)

These three things have helped me out tremendously. In addition to this, apply the cuticle oil twice a day, every day. If I don't have any polish on not only do I apply it to my cuticles, but my nails as well. Depending on my schedule, I usually apply once after I eat lunch and then again after dinner. Since it is oil it will rub off easily if you are doing something that involves your hands, but it generally soaks in within 20 minutes.

This product is awesome. It's literally like my cuticles have disappeared! I would definitely recommend this product to anyone who has cuticle issues and not sure what to do.

What do you do to make sure your cuticles are moisturized and under control?

Loyally Lacquered,
Caitlin

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Light It Up Blue

Hi All! Thought I’d give you a quick post for the weekend as I promised. If you follow me on Instagram you saw I took a little shopping trip to Ulta :) I picked up two more of the polishes to add to my Essie Madison Ave-Hue Collection (I already have Maximillian Strasse-Her and Go Ginza). If you haven’t looked at this collection yet, it’s to die for! The Queen of the Nail has a great review of the full collection here.

In honor of Autism Awareness Month, I put on Avenue Maintain. It’s a cornflower blue color that is just so beautiful- one of the prettiest blues in my collection. I used two coats just to make sure I didn't miss any spots, but there was full coverage after just one. The formula was the perfect consistency, not too thick. I also used OPI Base Coat and OPI Top Coat.

If you are not familiar with Autism, there is an amazing website you should visit. Autism Speaks is a world renowned organization that is leading research in the causes, prevention, and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders. It also happens to be the national philanthropy of my Panhellenic sisters, Alpha Xi Delta!

Check back on Friday for my post next week!

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