&*(Reivew -- Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips)*&

Hello lovely's, thank you for being patient and sticking with me through this move and getting set up. I'm still not set up with my own computer here yet but my family has let me play with their Apple computer and I'm in love! Took a bit to figure out since it's been awhile since I used one but FINALLY got it figured out and am getting to post again! I have missed you all and thank you again for all the support!

Today I have a review of the new Sally Hansen Salon Effects, real nail polish strips. I was at first not going to even try these because of the fact that at my Wal-Mart they are being sold for $7.50 and I thought for something I get to use one time, that's not really worth the price. I WAS WRONG! haha I wanted something new to show you all since I'd been doing a lot of designs with decals I got at a not really widely known store so here is something you can pick up at your Wal-Mart or drug stores! Definitely worth the price if you want a quick nail look that doesn't have a lot of wait time for all the layers to dry! haha Keep reading if you want to know how they apply, what they look like on, the wear time, my review, etc.

So here is how these strips work!

Step one: Clean your nails, shape them, and leave them dry with no polish underneath. 

Step two: Find the right strip that fits your nails.

Step three: Remove plastic backing.

Step four: Stick the strip to your nail and smooth with the smooth end of the file that comes with it.

Step five: Fold end of nail polish strip over the end of the nail and file it up against the end of your nail.

You're done, or so they say.. haha

MY REVIEW.

First I was kind of surprised when it smelled like nail polish when I pulled the backing off. I know it said it was real nail polish strips but it wasn't what I expected. To place them was super easy!! I'm serious from start to finish, it took me 10 minutes with even filing the extra polish strip off. When I first pulled the strip over my nail I was kind of confused how to file it off but it actually is really easy. :) I was pretty happy with these. Now, the wearability.. No, it wouldn't last more than 5 minutes without a top coat. THAT IS A LIE! You can not just apply these and leave it like that. They peel at the edges of the nail. Now, EVEN with that, I'm still impressed! If you have a fast drying top coat, it still dries quickly and it still is faster than trying to do detailing on your nails. They come in a variety of looks. I picked the lace/fishnet one. It is black design with my skin tone color underneath. I did this design three days ago and still is going strong! 

So for the price, yes I will buy these again! Just remember to keep a fast drying top coat with you when you do these! Definitely check these out! They are fun, have lots of styles, and easy to do!

Hope this helps you find other alternatives to having to wait forever for nail polish to dry! If you can place a sticker, you can place these! I even had a nail that I didn't like how it lined up and just carefully pulled it off and placed it again! :) Easy right?!

Have fun with these! Here is a pic of my finished nails!

I was going to post a review on the philosophy acne line but I want to try it for a full month so I can give a good review on it. I haven't been able to use it everyday when I was packing and moving so I will start that today! :) 

Anyways, until next time (which should be soon I promise haha), stay smiling and remember you are beautiful just the way you are!!

XoXoXo,

LB

&*(Been Away WAYYYY Too Long)*&

Hello lovelys. I want to apologize on the delay of new posts and getting my youtube channel going. I feel really bad because I said I'd be back sooner but I've been getting settled in with my family. My husband is military and is deployed for a year so I moved back to be with family and we had an interesting 3 day trip in the car with my three dogs and cat in one car, and my family their two dogs and my stuff in a trailer STUFFED of my stuff. lol I feel really bad because we left later than we planned and we had to pack the whole house for getting ready to leave. So thank you all for having patience! I still haven't even set up my computer here yet so I promise sometime this week I will have a post up for you. Most likely a nail tutorial and product reviews since I haven't done one in forever. lol

Anyways, thank you all again. I'm so glad I got online today to see I had almost 400 views since I started this blog! Makes all the hard work worth it! Glad everyone loves it as much as I do. Until next time, remember to stay smiling and be proud of who you are! Lately I have just felt better than before and found even more self confidence. I will admit even in here that I have had weight problems. I gain it easily but to lose it, well it's a challenge. I lost alot of self confidence recently with all the changes going on in my life and finally decided to take back my life. I started weight watchers recently and I feel fantastic! No, I am not a spokesperson for them or anything nor am I being paid to say this but I really am happy with the new system. I have already lost weight and once I get a good pair of walking shoes, its on! lol I challenge each of you to not be afraid of change and take back your life. Confidence is something so many people have issues with. I'm learning that I'm beautiful the way I am BUT I want to be healthier is my main goal. I know what I was eating before and how I was letting stress and things take my life over, that I wasn't doing the best for myself. To each their own, I'm just saying don't be afraid. I was afraid it'd be hard, afraid to do it alone, afraid of change but now that I've embraced it, BRING ON THE WORLD! lol I will keep you all informed as to how it is working for me if you are interested. I just want you all to be happy and healthy! :) I wouldn't normally talk about this topic but its been something I have had issues with so I thought I'd share my story with you all too. I'm not perfect. I have acne (that is starting to go away with eating right Score for eating healthy!!) and I'm short so weight shows easily on me. I just challenge you all if you want something in your life to change, take hold of it! Never let fear stand in your way!

Until next time, be beautiful, be you, and be happy! =)

XoXoXo,
LB

&*(Nail Tutorial -- Medieval Times)*&

Hello lovelys! As promised, here is my second nail tutorial of the day!

I recently found a store called Jewelry in a Box where everything in the store is a dollar. Yes, a dollar! For nail stuff, hair accessories, makeup, fashion jewelry, and much more! I was beyond excited when I saw that the El Paso store had more items than the one they had in Las Cruces. Anyways, I've been looking for nail decals that didn't cost an arm and a leg! Luckily the store in El Paso had a lot of decals to choose from! I was super excited and spent more than I should but happy with the quality of everything I got.

Anyways, here is a tutorial with a few of the items I got from this store! Hope you enjoy!

NOTE: I am sorry that some pictures are turned and others are not.. all the pictures are aligned right and are how all my other posts are but for some reason, some are turning when loaded on here. Not sure what is going on! =(

Here are the products I used for this nail design:
1.) Sinful Colors Basecoat
2.) Sinful Colors nail polish in Black on Black
3.) Kiss Nail art Striping nail Polish in Black
4.) Nabi Striping nail Polish in Black Glitter
5.) Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Hardener

Decals from Jewelry in a Box

Abella Glamour Nail Art Kit

I used the gold glitter beads.

Starting with clean natural nails, I put a layer of Sally Hansen Hard as Nails hardener to help strengthen my nails to protect them from breaking. This hardener is a great product and is the reason I can grow my nails out like I do. I just recently cut them after doing the number one mistake people make with nails: To peel nail polish off... I knew better but did it anyways. lol Oops!

Next, I put two layers of Sinful Colors basecoat. I like this basecoat with dark colors to protect my nails from staining. It leaves your nails with a milky white base color.

Next, I painted my nails with one coat of Sinful Colors nail polish in Black on Black. This is such a pigmented color that you really only need one coat.

Again, I'm sorry the pictures are turned.. Can't figure out why they are loading that way but when I view the pictures they are all aligned the same way.

Next, to add some detail in the background of the stick on decals, I decided to do stripes of the Nabi striping nail polish in Black Glitter.

If you make too large of a stripe, you can always use the Kiss Nail Art striping nail polish in Black to fix mistakes. =)

Now time for decals! These decals are super easy to use. Literally I just picked them off the sheet with tweezers and placed them.

NOTE: After you do most of the decals and the french tip beads, the Nabi striping nail polish in Black Glitter doesn't show very well. I found it didn't give as much of detailing that I wanted. It's very subtle.

To do the french tip in these really small gold beads, I put a small amount on a paper plate and put the hardener nail polish on just the tips of my nails where I wanted the beads to stay.

Then I dipped my nails in the gold beads and shaped them the way I wanted with a wooden stick used for nails.

I personally liked doing this where the black was a little wet on the tips to darken some of the beads to give different tones to the beads. I think these turned out really cute. Just be careful not to let too many beads stick or it'll make the tips of your nails very thick.

Top with a top coat of your choice and you're done!

I personally used the hardener for my top coat because I feel it holds to decals better. Just my opinion though!

Have fun with these and I hope you all find a store like Jewelry in a Box near you!! I am always driving the like two hours to El Paso now since they have an Ulta store as well as the Jewelry in a Box! Gotta love it!

Until next time, Remember to Always Stay Smiling!

XoXoXo,

LB

&*(Nail Tutorial -- Girly it Up)*&

Hello lovelys! I feel terrible that yet again I'm late on getting my post up! But I promise I do have the two tutorial pictures ready and am posting today! Also, doing a what's coming up post as well! =)

So if you'd like to see how I did these super cute girly nails, read on! Thanks again for all of the support!

The products I used for these super cute nails:
1.) Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Hardener
2.) Sinful Colors Basecoat
3.) Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Lacey Lilac
4.) Pure Ice polish in Oh Baby!
5.) Glitters from the Edelle Deco Art Kit
6.) Little jar of decals are from Abella Glamour Nail Art Kit

Starting with natural nails, I decided to do a coat of Sally Hansen Hardener because I know I preach about how you shouldn't peel off nail polish but I did the other day and tore up the tops of my nails. haha I had to cut them down and am trying to let them grow back in. Anyways, this was just an extra step, it isn't needed.

As always, start with a base coat. I don't care how light the nail polish is, you should always protect your nails to keep them from staining and to add just a protective layer in between your polish and your nails.




I used Sinful Colors Basecoat because it leaves a light milky colored coat which can help enhance the color of your polish.

Next, I used Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Lacey Lilac. This is a perfect color for spring in my opinion and it makes like the ultimate girly nails. :)

I should have done this to my other hand but I didn't think about it haha... Just a tip, you can use one of these wooden sticks to wipe away the nail polish that gets on the skin. They are cheap and can save you from having to use a lot of nail polish remover. =)

Now for the decorating! =)

To do the glitter french tip, I used Pure Ice nail polish in Oh Baby! because it has the same iridescent glitter as the glitter I used for the nails.

I did the normal swipe of the polish across just the tip of the nail and then dipped the nail into glitter on a paper plate.

NOTE: Make sure the rest of your nail polish is dried or it will stick too it.

To add the decals, I put a drop of the Hardener on a paper plate and used the wooden stick to dip into the polish and to pick up the decals and place them on the nails! It's as easy as that.


Add a top coat, and you are finished!!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. Stay tuned for some black and gold medieval nails. =)

Remember: Always stay smiling!

XoXoXo,
LB

&*(Late Update)*&

Hello loves, I want to apologize! I hate that I broke my promise about having something up soon. =(

My father in law was here for a much needed visit and we have my family coming in the next few weeks to help us move. We have lots going on with moving. Gotta love the military lifestyle! haha Anyways, Sunday I WILL have two new nail tutorials up. I just did my second nail design today (even though I did my nails two days ago) just so I could have another one to post for you all. I again apologize. I hate that I didn't keep too my promise but life has to come first and this move is across the USA!! Anyways, I will be trying to do more to post for you all before I do my move so you will all have something to read before I get set up in SC. I will be also trying to get my youtube channel up after I get to SC.

It's really hard to find good lighting in this house and by the time I get everything set up for the videos, we will have to pack it up! haha I promise I will be doing my channel though.

Until Sunday enjoy your weekend and I will talk too you all soon.

Remember, always stay smiling!

XoXoXo,
LB

*Little Update*

Hello lovelys! I apologize for lack of posting lately. My Father in Law is coming to visit today so I've been busy preparing for his visit. If that wasn't enough to keep me busy, my husband and I are moving in about a month and its a big move SOOOO that also has us on our toes! haha I promise I will be posting another nail tutorial (cherries ^_^) this week. After my Father in Law leaves on Sunday, I'll be back doing my reviews and such! =)

I know it may not be huge to everyone else but thank you for helping me reach 250 views! That is beyond exciting for me since I didn't think I would get that many people to see my blog! I hope to reach more and just share this wonderful passion of mine!

Until then, remember keep smiling!

Have a great week everyone!
=)

XoXoXo,
LB

&*(BFTE Cosmetics Looks!)*&

Hello loves! So I know I'm a little late getting this up. I apologize. I've been busy getting ready for my father in law to come to visit and just had a lot of stuff going on. ANYWAYS!

So I finally got to play with my colors and I have to admit, I didn't think I could be any more impressed but yet I am! These colors blend so well and I love their staying power! Even my go to eye makeup remover *extra virgin olive oil* had a little trouble which hey! I'm okay with! I rather have my colors stay put so that means I don't have to do touch ups 5 times a day! haha

Anyways, I decided to also do a look with the new color of the week: Iced Violets. The color of the week is where you get a full size jar of eye shadow for the sample size price.. $2.00. I love Iced Violets because its such a soft purple which is not something I have in my collection. Definitely check it out!

http://www.bftecosmetics.com/

**Note: I haven't done my hair for the day yet... Its 4 AM. haha Decided it was just easier to put it in a pony tail and keep my bangs to the side haha*

First Look -- Neutral

I truly believe everyone should learn to do a neutral look as one of their first looks. As many guru's and such have pointed out.. makeup shouldn't define you, just enhance your natural beauty! I personally usually do purple looks because of my eye color BUT neutrals will look good on ANYONE! =)

Remember be happy with who you are underneath your makeup too!!

First tip of this Blog! haha

All colors are exactly as said in picture BUT...

I took Truffle AND Oak and blended to the brow bone. I like truffle as a matte color BUT I wanted some sparkle too this which Oak is exactly that!! No matter how much I tried my flash took out the sparkle and since its 4 AM.. I kind of needed the flash! haha

My picture above this I liked but I wanted a little more flash too it so I added Autumn as a liner.. I just smudged it into the lower lash line.

Second Look -- Green on Green

 Okay, Second Tip of this Blog: DEFINITELY have a larger fluffy brush to blend out harsh lines and blend colors together. My first attempts with these eyeshadows I couldn't find any of mine and it was harder to blend with a contour brush. I LOVE the fluffy blending brush from ELF. I used all ELF brushes for these looks. =)

I had never done a bright color like this but I decided to try and even though I have green/hazel eyes.. I really like this on me.

Third tip of this Blog: Don't be afraid of color. Think about it. Your eyes are not closed all the time *unless sleeping haha* so you won't see all the bright colors the whole time your eyes are open! Bold colors can enhance your eye color as well! =)

Just as the last look, everything is as is in the picture but I blended Green Apple and Caribbean together all the way to the brow bone.

I have to say out of these colors, I am loving $10 Pineapple! I'm going to buy a full size of this color as well as Butt Naked which are such great high light colors for me. Personally I just love the sparkle in $10 Pineapple. =)

Third Look -- Smokey Blues

Usually I stay away from blue unless its a blue smokey eye. A lot of people tend to fear blues because they can sometimes be really intense but...

Fourth Tip of this Blog: NOT ALL SHADES OF BLUE OR GREEN OR PURPLE etc are the same! Don't be afraid to try a color that you wouldn't normally wear. In this case, I mixed a bold blue called Bermuda with a charcoal sparkly gray called Alakazam to tone the color down to make it more wearable.

Fifth tip of this Blog: Ever have one of those days where you are running late and you have to do your makeup fast; try a neutral lid and a pop of bright color on the lower lash line! It will instantly brighten your face and you are out the door! =)

As I wrote earlier, your eye is not always open so the colors are not as intense when your eye is open. I decided to just show an example of this look. Personally I wish I would have done an eyeliner on the bottom lash line to just make this a little more intense of a smokey eye but that's just me.

Sixth tip of this Blog: As you can see usually always add a color to my crease. Doing this adds depth to your eyes and is key to doing a smokey eye. I personally don't take the color in my crease all the way to the inner corner of the eye because I feel it becomes too harsh and like to keep light colors on the inner corner to brighten the eye area.

Just as the others, I decided to blend two colors to the brow bone.. Alakazam and Bermuda.

For me, Bermuda is a little too bold of a blue for me all over the lid so I just toned it down with another color. I do that a lot when it comes to a lot of the palettes I have and such.

Seventh tip of this Blog: Use a lighter color than your skin tone on your inner corner of your eye. This instantly brightens the eye area! I used Butt Naked on the inner corner and under my eyebrow.

Fourth Look -- Mixing Colors

Mixing color combinations to make an eye look is one way to instantly grab people's attention. I personally LOVE using teal colors as a lower lash line color. It brings a pop of color to the look and compliments the other colors used.

I kept the lid very light and then put the bold teal on the bottom to bring attention to the eyes.

Eighth tip of the Blog: Okay, so I didn't do this with this look because its 4 AM and I was only wearing lip balm BUT remember the best rule with makeup... If you do a bright eye or bold eye makeup, make sure you do your lips in a nude/neutral color.

If you do a light eye, then do a bold lip! You don't want your makeup to be too in your face *no pun intended haha* and as I pointed out before, just enhance the beauty you already have!!! =)

As you can see in this look, I chose to do a light pink, purple (the color of the week, this week!!!), and the pop of teal.

This is actually what I'll be wearing today!

Remember, be creative! Try things you wouldn't before! You'll be amazed. I never thought I'd like yellow on me or pinks and I actually do!

Have fun with your makeup! =)

Remember to check out http://www.bftecosmetics.com/ every week to see if a color you want has been chosen as the color of the week. Join their fan page on facebook (just seach Beauty From the Earth) and you can help choose the color of the week and keep up to date on sales and contests!

Thanks for reading and hope you liked all the looks and tips! I'll definitely do more soon!!

XoXoXo,

LB

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