SpringFling VoxBox!

It's that time again- the great folks at Influenster have put together another great box jam packed with goodies for me to evaluate! While some of the past boxes have been somewhat less exciting for me, this one was almost perfect!

When I saw the box, I got excited. See, I have this weakness for cute packaging, and this box did not fail. The Influenster box this time was a pale spring green, and it got me excited before I even opened it! I know, it's sad, but I can't help it. Cute stuff makes me happy!

Once I got it open, I was even more excited! Except for the tampons, this could have been picked for me specifically. Kiss nails? Yes please! Lip balm? Sure! Mascara? Definitely! Lotion? Don't mind if I do!!

I don't do menstrual products because I had a hysterectomy years ago, so I really can't do that good a review of the tampons. I can say they're scented, and they smell... well, strong? Unpleasant? I don't think I'd want to use these even if I did need them, but I'm picky about that sort of thing. As always, your mileage may vary, and you might absolutely love these.

Moving right along, let me tell you about the Softlips Cube! Now, I don't know why they call it 5 in 1 lip care, but I DO know that this is fabulous! It's lightly scented and flavored, which is nice because I don't like things that are heavily scented or flavored. I got the blueberry pomegranate kind, which worried me a bit. I don't usually like blueberry things, but this is actually really nice.

It's also WONDERFUL on my lips. It isn't overly greasy, and it's made my lips super soft. It does seem to either wear off or be absorbed a bit faster than my usual lip balm, but that's not a problem for me. I'm kind of iffy on the way it's packaged- it's very similar to the EOS balms, except it's in a clear cube. The ball shape is odd, but it's also nice- I can apply it to both lips with a single swipe. And getting back to the "I'm a sucker for cute packaging" bit, I love the actual package. This little clear cube is just so pretty! Add in the pretty card it's packaged on and I'm totally sold. This balm is an all-around winner in my books.

How gorgeous is this?? I know, I'm a sucker for a pretty package.

In keeping with the moisturizing theme, let's look at the Nivea Skin Firming Hydration body lotion. Again, I'm really picky about smell, and many harsh-smelling body lotions can trigger a migraine headache in me, or aggravate my asthma. If a product makes me sick, I clearly won't be using it, and unfortunately many skin products have really strong scents.

This lotion does not, thankfully. It does smell wonderful, but it's a light clean scent that I find really pleasant. It's also very soothing, and absorbs into the skin very nicely. I'm not so sure about the "skin firming" claim, but I tend to think that most of the claims of this sort are purely marketing with no real effect.

That doesn't stop me from loving this lotion, and it has now earned a place in my purse. My skin has become very dry in recent years, so I'm absolutely loving this! Another plus- my husband likes this scent, which makes me willing to use it more often!

I have yet to test the remaining products. I can share my initial impressions, though. First, let me address the Labor Day air freshener. I don't know how you are, but I don't tend to get excited over air fresheners, and I honestly have zero interest in this peach pie air freshener. It comes back to the artificial scents issue for me. I don't get the logic behind this sort of marketing, really. But that's me...

I'm really looking forward to using the Rimmel Scandaleyes. I like mascara, since my eyes are deep-set and tend to sort of disappear into my round face. Anything that makes them more visible is a plus!

Finally, I'm really looking forward to wearing the Kiss Everlasting French nails. For whatever reason, I don't seem to be able to really give myself a decent french manicure. I can do all sorts of things, but not that! I'll be trying these using temporary adhesives, and I'll gladly share my results soon.

So keep an eye on this space, and hopefully I'll have some more experiences with these products soon!

SpringFlingVoxBox  was provided by Influenster for consideration.

See my disclosure statement for more information.

Kiss Fall Giveaway!

Oooh, it's that time of year again- one of my favorite companies is giving away lots of goodies just because they can! Kiss Nails will be giving away 10 days of prizes ranging from press-on nail kits to hair straighteners, and lots of other goodies!

I won a package from them in the spring and was absolutely overjoyed- enough false lashes to require new storage! (Seriously, I got one set of every lash they make! GORGEOUS!!) They shipped quickly and the package came securely wrapped. It was so much fun! And now, it could be your turn!

The fine print- you have to enter daily, so that's a bit of a pain, but it's SO worth it! This is one of my top 5 favorite brands, and I frequently turn to Kiss products to achieve the looks I want. No, I don't get anything for promoting this giveaway, I just love the brand!

While you're there, don't forget to like Broadway Nails as well- same company, more great products to love! Also, you can find both Kiss and Broadway on Twitter so you can get all the latest details about new products and more giveaways!

Til next time!

I love Kiss Nails' Facebook page- it's fun!

See my disclosure statement for more information.

Win a Beach Bag FULL of Awesome Kiss Supplies!

Wow!! I just saw this amazing summer giveaway that might make me hate summer just a little bit less! It's doubly awesome because I love Kiss products!

Kiss Products, the leader in artificial nail technology, has teamed up with lovemyshoes.com for a “Step into Summer” Sweepstakes.  Each winner will receive the colorful beach bag shown above, a Kiss branded beach towel, an assortment of Kiss toenail and at-home pedicure tools, plus a pair of Havaiana Sandals from lovemyshoes.com.

                To Enter:

•       Entrants must “Like” the Kiss Nails facebook page, submit name, address & email to the contest form (click on image)

•       Facebook fans will have 4 chances to enter on 6/21, 6/28, 7/5 & 7/12 only.  One winner will be selected from each day’s entries using a third party random draw service.

To enter, visit:   Facebook.com/kissnails  & click on “Kiss Freebies”   

Til next time!

Information and photo were provided by KISS.

See my disclosure statement for more information.

Kiss Your Way to the Dress of Your Dreams!

Enter Kiss Bridal Sweepstakes to Win a $3,000 Wedding Dress

 

Summer brides listen up!  Here’s your chance to win the wedding dress of your dreams valued up to $3,000 simply by entering the Kiss Bridal Sweepstakes via www.kissua.com.


Kiss Products, the leader in artificial nail technology, has created new bridal inspired nails that give a perfect French manicure for the wedding, and throughout the honeymoon.  For a subtle hint of pearly shimmer, brides say I do to the Everlasting French Pearl Nails, and for those wanting a minimal design, then the French Design Nail Kits come in 3 different designs.

Complement any wedding dress with the new Everlasting French Pearl Nail Kit ($5.99) or the Everlasting French Design Nail Kits ($6.99)
available at Walmart and Walgreens stores nationwide.

The Prize

The winner of the Kiss Bridal Sweepstakes will receive a gift certificate to their nearest participating wedding retailer to use towards a wedding dress of their choice, valued up to $3,000.


Prize value will vary depending on the particular dress selected by the winner. Alterations and accessories not included. Prize is not redeemable for cash or transferable; and no substitutions are allowed except at the discretion of the Sponsor, who may substitute prizes of equal or greater value. Certificates for prizes must be redeemed within 120 days of notification that the entrant has won the monthly sweepstakes.

* Offer ends June 30th 2011.

How to Enter

Visit http://www.kissusa.com/649/PROMOTION, then click to enter. You'll be taken to a short form where you can enter your information, and then you're good to go! Also, while you're there, why not sign up for their future promotions- Kiss and Broadway are always giving goodies away, and there's nothing more fun than opening up your mailbox to find a package filled with fun stuff!


Good luck!

Information and images were provided by Kiss.

See my disclosure statement for more information.

It's Giveaway Time!! **ENDED**

Hiya!! This is a very quick post to let you know I'm holding a giveaway! The fine folks at Kiss have once again sponsored a sweet giveaway for my readers, and I'm super excited to share with all of you!

Kiss has recently released a selection of nail art products that I am absolutely in LOVE with! First off, there's sweet collection of nail art stripers that come with tip guides so that you can make your own French tips! There are several combinations, so I'm not sure which one you'll get.

I got a set that had blue, lavender and bright pink. I wouldn't call them pastels, because their colors are too saturated. In fact, the pink is so intensely bright that it would probably be suitable for a certain fashion doll known and loved by all.  I played around with them and they are so wonderfully saturated that one single stroke gives you perfect full color. They also dry quickly, which is a nice little bonus!

The set of three polishes not only includes tip guides, it also comes with a sheet of adhesive rhinestones! I love these because they're the perfect size, and very sparkly. They're a wonderful addition to any french tip. You'll receive one package of three nail art paints with 2 types of tip guides and one sheet of adhesive-backed rhinestones.

Then there are the nail art pens. Now, don't get me wrong, I've used quite a few nail art pens. I love different pens for different purposes. These pens, though, may just be my favorites! They have such a fine point that you can easily write whatever you like with them and have it be readable. I LOVE these pens! You'll receive one package of two nail art pens, either the black and white or the pink and silver.

You'll also receive a package of the new flat nail stickers. I love these... they're so pretty, and they're super easy to use. They're also very detailed, so it looks as if you've had your nails airbrushed at the salon! You'll receive one package with three sheets of stickers.

Finally, and perhaps my favorite, you'll receive one package of Broadway Nail Dress stickers. Oh my goodness, can I even begin to tell you how much I love these things? They are very easy to use, and they look like you've just been to the salon! I wore mine for three days with absolutely no lifting or chipping, and they removed easily with nail polish remover.

So, how do you win this kickass package? Easy. First, you need to be a GFC follower of mine. You should  also leave your email address, so that I can know how to contact you. That gets you an entry into the giveaway.

However, you can get additional entries. If you "like" Kiss and Broadway on their facebook pages, you'll get an additional two entries. Following Kiss and Broadway on twitter will also give you 2 entries. Following me on Twitter earns you an additional entry, as does friending me on Facebook. Tweeting about my giveaway will earn you an additional entry, as will blogging about it (or putting it into your sidebar- I'm not too picky!). And finally, if you're a frequent commenter on the blog, I'll give you an extra entry. I'm lenient, so you don't have to add that on the entry form.

Also, be aware that yes, I actually do doublecheck to see that you've done everything you say you've done. If I see you've said you did something you didn't actually do, you will be disqualified. Also, I'll frown at you sternly and you may not get dessert with your dinner. Seriously, it's annoying. Don't do it.

So- that's lots of entries for this sweet package! You've got until April 30, 2011 to enter- if it's still April somewhere in the world, then the entry form will be available.  What are you waiting for? Enter already!!

Sorry, the giveaway has ended.

This giveaway was sponsored by Kiss and Broadway.

See my disclosure statement for more information.

KISS & Broadway March Glamness Sweepstakes for the Month of March!

Wow, I wish I'd seen this sooner! You guys have probably figured out by now that I love KISS & Broadway products, yea? Well, this is one more reason to love them! Every day in March, they're giving away one of their products, and on March 31 they're giving away a giant package with everything they've given away for the rest of the month!

Pretty awesome, yes? The only catch is that you have to enter every day. It takes a whole minute or so to enter your information, though, and they're not bad to send you spam.

Entering is easy. Just go to the KISS & Broadway facebook page, become a fan (I don't know if it's necessary, but go ahead and do it, they're awesome!), then click the "Sweepstakes" tab. You'll be taken to the sweepstakes page, where you can click "Enter." Then just type in your information, and you're done! (Click the images for more details if you can't find it.)

So what are you waiting for? Scoot on over to the KISS & Broadway March Glamness Sweepstakes and enter!

Information and top image provided by the manufacturer for consideration.

See my disclosure statement for more information.

Happy Holidaze the third! A simple snowflake design...

EEEP! The night got away from me, and I totally missed posting the blog tonight. I feel so guilty, but I had a lot of fun going out with my husband and my son, so I guess it was worth it.

It's a simple design today, one inspired by the weather up north. Living in Louisiana, we don't often get snow. Instead, we have weather that bounces back and forth, often seeing 85° one day followed by 35° the next. That actually happened last week, and let me tell you it's NO FUN! How can you get in the holiday spirit when you're in shorts and a tee shirt, sweating your tushie off?

I decided I wanted something pretty to remind me of the first snow we saw while living a bit north of here. We'd gone out in the night to watch it fall- enormous fat, fluffy flakes lazily drifting down to dust the grass. It was a slow fall at first, with huge flakes scattered in the night, standing out starkly against the dark sky. Later that night, the snow fell hard and covered the world with a soft blanket of white, the night absolutely silent as the snow muffled the sound. It was magical, and waking up that morning was so memorable. We walked outside and just looked around, feeling as if we'd been transported to a magical winter wonderland in the night.

This gives you a hint of where my mind was when I did this design, yes? I started with two coats of Sally Hansen Ultra HD Laser, then let that dry. I then pulled out my stencils that came with the limited edition Kiss Nail Art Nail Paint three pack. It's got such adorable stencils for the holidays- a candy cane, a christmas tree, snowflakes and gingerbread men... lots of holiday-themed cuteness! I chose this snowflake, and as you can see they're reusable! I then added a small rhinestone in the center of each snowflake from a pack of adhesive stones by Kiss, then topped with a coat of Seche Vite to smooth everything out and protect the art.

The stencils are super-easy to use. Make sure your polish is dry, then pull the stencil of your choice off the plastic sheet it comes on. Place it carefully on your nail, making sure to press it down thoroughly. If you don't, there's a chance the polish could seep under the edges, ruining your stencil. Apply your polish, then while it's wet lift off the stencil. (I haven't tried letting the polish dry before lifting the stencil off- I'll try that tonight!) Let the stenciled area dry completely, then add a layer of topcoat to protect it.

Once I pulled the stencil off, I'd place it back onto the plastic it came on, then clean off the wet polish with a cotton ball soaked in polish remover. Then I'd place it onto the next area again and start again! The stencils really are lots of fun to use!

Now... let's see if I can get some sleep before tomorrow. I hope your Saturday night was as much fun as mine... what did you do for the evening?

The Kiss Nail Art Nail Paint set with stencils was provided by the manufacturer for consideration.

See my disclosure statement for more information.

Do You Love Minx Nails? You'll Love These As Well!

Some of you may have noticed by now- I'm pretty frugal. I prefer the term frugal over cheap, because I like to think it's a positive thing. I mean, I'm disabled and don't have a job, so it's probably a good thing that I can make my money go far.

Unfortunately, this means when I see a trend like Minx, two things happen. First, I start thinking of how cool they are, and how much I want to have them myself. Then reality kicks in and I realize that 1- I have no where to wear them, and 2- even if I did, my nails are too short to look worth a darn with them, and 3- even if I had someplace to wear them and the nails to make them look good, I don't have the money to get them. Then I'm sad, because you know... no Minxy goodness!

You can imagine my excitement, then, when I found these Fashion Diva chrome nails from Broadway! Actually, when I first saw them I was a bit unsure... they seemed sort of cheesy to me, sort of fake. I assumed they would be silver all the way through and would look like you stuck plastic nails on your hands. I just wasn't really feeling them.

"Those are cute! Where can I buy those?"

Lots of places, actually! Major drugstores carry them- WalMart, Rite-Aid, Walgreens, CVS, and the like carry Broadway nails. Just look in the cosmetics section where the other artificial nails are!

I decided I needed to try them for myself. Instead of using the pink glue that came with the kit, I used Kiss Mega Hold Press-On Tabs, which are so convenient! They're a glue alternative for full-coverage artificial nails that are much more gentle, and they don't require filing your nail bed before application! Removal is super-easy as well: simply soak your nails in warm water for a few minutes, then gently lift the nails off starting from one edge.

The down side is that they only last one day, but I'll definitely take that for the ability to wear gorgeous artificial nails without damaging my natural nails! I was really impressed by not only how easy they were to apply, but also at just how strong they are. I haven't yet tried to wear these all day, but I don't think I'd have much problem, other than trying to get used to suddenly having long nails. :D

Speaking of nails, let's get back to those, shall we?

These nails are freakin' hot, people. I had problems photographing them because of just how shiny and chromey they are, but believe me when I say these are like having mirrors on your fingers. There's no way you could get a polish that's this shiny, it's just not possible. They look like Minx, except that instead of spending $40 for a set that can only be worn once, you're spending around $6 for a set of nails you can wear over and over again!

"But Laynie," you ask, "sure they're gorgeous on top, but what about underneath? Won't they look silver and stupid and cheap, like kiddy nails?"

 Please, like I'd not tell you if that were the case. No, the people at Broadway thought of everything with these, and thankfully they're a nice natural-looking creamy off-white underneath, just like a natural nail would be. Now, obviously they won't pass for your own if someone takes your hand and studies your nails mere inches from their own nose, but truthfully? Who does that?

"But Laynie, they have square tips! What if I don't like square tips? Or what if they're too long? I can't handle nails that are too long!"

What do you do if your own nails are too long? You file them down into any shape you like, and you can do that with these nails too! Ovals, square, or even stiletto nails (although they'd be really short stilettos!), it's entirely up to you. Honestly, I can't even begin to explain how much I love these!

And because these are simply too gorgeous, and because I had such a hard time photographing these, I had to take more photos than usual to share with you. I know, this blog is photo-heavy compared to my normal ones, but can you blame me? Look at them!! They're almost hypnotizingly beautiful... I couldn't stop looking at my nails! It was like they were calling to me. "Laynie... look at us... looooook at usssss.... we're so shiiiiiny... we're so beauuuuuuuutiful!"

For approximately $6 you get a pack of 24 nails in 12 sizes and 2 patterns (plain chrome and zebra print) and a small container of pink nail glue. Kiss Mega Hold Press-On Tabs are approximately $2 for 48 tabs in multiple sizes. That's enough for 4 manicure applications, which means you can wear these nails 5 times for $8: four temporary wears for 1-3 days and one semi-permanent wear for up to 7 days! You can't do that with Minx!

These were provided by the manufacturer for evaluation purposes.

Halloween is Coming, and These Nails Are SPOOKY!

I'm giddy. The air has cooled, the skies are that crisp blue that are so gorgeous they take my breath away. It's fall, and that means it's almost time for sweaters and boots, kitty hats and scarves, and for m favorite holiday of all- Halloween! Don't get me wrong, I love Thanksgiving and Christmas, spending time with family and giving thanks for all the good things that fill our lives. But Halloween is my favorite.

I love the drama, the costuming that goes into Halloween. I minored in theatre in college and spent entirely too many hours in the costume shop, sewing costumes or building props to be worn by people. I've bled on costumes (it's good luck!!), I've taken costume and makeup classes, I've worked backstage doing theatrical makeup... I love dressing up!

I know what you're thinking. "But Laynie, this is a NAIL ART blog, where is the NAIL ART?!"  You're so impatient! Anyway... today I got an email showing me the KISS Limited Edition Halloween nails, and I thought they were so adorable that I just had to share them with you! There is a design to go with most outfits, and honestly I want them all! Just look close up...

 The nails on the left are black with tiny spiders on the tips, perfect for any gothy costume where you want spooky nails. Be a creature of the night with ebony nails!

If you're going for glam, the nails on the right are the cat's meow. Deep red nails with a black moon look amazingly retro vampy! Dita von Teese, eat your heart out!

Perhaps you want to be a seductive vampire? These blood-red nails with black scrollwork on the tips will help you unleash your inner blood lust! One wiggle of your crimson-tipped finger and he'll be putty in your hands...

Or perhaps you simply want to enhance your inner undead? With spiderwebs on your nails you can be both creepy and sexy.

Frankly, I think any of these would be a total win for Halloween. You get 24 nails in 12 sizes in each kit along with 24 press-on glue tabs. To remove them, simply soak your hands in warm water! At $3.99 a set, how can you go wrong?

Using Nail Stencils With Nail Art Pens? Why Not!

Having such a lovely metallic polish on my fingers is fun, but I get bored so easily. As I was looking through my polishes trying to figure out what to do to make things more interesting, I realize that I had some stencils that came with my Kiss Nail Artist Nail Paints that I'd never really used. I wondered if they could be used with nail art pens. I decided to experiment.

 

I pulled out my nail art box and started to experiment. I find my box lid makes a great surface to test on, and cleans up easily with a bit of tape. I painted a layer of Wet nWild Shield onto the box, let it dry, then pulled out my Sally Hansen Nail Art pens. I tried silver first, but then realized that silver on gold is basically invisible. I decided not to share the photos of that one... you can use your imagination, it'll be more helpful than the pics!

But I had more luck with the black pen. It went quickly, and I made sure I colored from the stencil into the nail, instead of from my nail out onto the stencil. That way, it didn't force any polish under potentially unsecured edges. Once I pulled up the stencil, I was left with a lovely design! It was time to move on to my nails...

I went with a single design on my ring fingers, just for fun. I was actually surprised at just how easy it was, and just how cute it turned out! Seriously, this was simple!! All I needed to do was add a layer of Seche Vite over it and I was done! However, this design would look adorable with rhinestone accents... I just didn't think to add any at the time!

Keep in mind that if you're using the Sally Hansen nail art pens that they're water soluble and definitely need a topcoat. If you leave them without it, they'll wash off or flake off, which isn't what you want!

Also, make sure that your nail art has dried with the pens or they will smear like crazy into your topcoat. Once they're dry they're fine, as long as you use alight touch with the topcoat. Once that's dry, they're all sealed in and ready to go!

So remember, the next time you pick up some Kiss Nail Artist Nail Paints to hold on to the stencils, because you can use them with any polishes you like!

Kiss products and Sally Hansen products were provided by the companies for evaluation.

Everyone Needs A Manicure Kit!

I am not an organized person. Don't get me wrong- I try to be. I have great ideas, and I plan out how I'm going to really do it this time, but then the next time I go to look for nail clippers I realize they aren't where I left them last. Then I'm stuck digging in drawers and looking on shelves, and wondering just who had them last and what they did with them. However, this all changed recently.

The folks at KISS were kind enough to send me their Professional Manicure Kit for evaluation purposes. I've been using it for a few weeks now, and I have to say I am really pleased with it. It's come in handy several times already, and has proven absolutely priceless when I'm working on nail tips. It's also wonderful to use when you're frankening, but I'll get to that in a bit.

When you take everything out of the kit, you find there's a tray with items tightly pressed into it, as well as a few items behind the tray. While the tray is in use, the kit is jam-packed so tightly that I wondered how well everything would fit! There are the obvious bits- clippers, a sapphire file, cuticle nippers, manicure scissors. There are also things which are nice to have- the 4-sided buffing block, the large emery board, and the metal cuticle pusher. Finally, there are cuticle sticks, small emery boards, and a cute little nail brush with soft bristles.
 

Once I freed everything up, though, I found that it all fits wonderfully, with room for more stuff should you need it. I have needed to put more stuff in since I took these photos, and it's working out beautifully!

Looking at the various contents, they're not all of super-high quality, but most of the contents are really nice and usable. The emery boards are a bit rough for natural nails, but that's the case with all emery boards. I generally use them anyway, then go over it with the buffer block to smooth out those microtears on my nails. It works for me, usually. The clippers are fine, the manicure scissors are fairly light, but work extremely well. The metal cuticle pusher seems a bit rough, but I don't think I'd use it for that purpose. The buffing block is wonderful, and I really like the nail brush.

I'd like to make one request, though. The are lots of blogs about how to manage your cuticles. I never thought mine could be pretty until I started using cuticle remover, but I haven't cut mine once. I believe cutting your cuticles is unnecessary and can be unsanitary, and I don't intend to cut mine anymore. My request? I'd like to ask you to read what these ladies have to say about cuticle care, and reconsider what you're doing. If you're comfortable cutting afterward, then at least you've thought about it. :D

Lacquerized's Guide to Happy Cuticles

iVillage's Cuticle Care Guide

The Goth Girl's Guide to Cuticle Care

Finally, I'll end on a lighter note, now that I've frowned at you about cutting your cuticles! This single tool may be my favorite from the entire manicure kit. I don't think I'll be using it on my cuticles, but I have used it to clean under my nails. It's also the absolute perfect size to use as a scoop to pull out glitter or pigments when you're frankening polishes. It works to stir as well, and cleans up with no problem at all. I love it so much!!


Overall, this set is totally worth $9.99 at your local shops. You can keep it with you if you get your nails done at a salon so they can use your own tools. Or you can simply keep it at home like I do, keeping all your manicure goodies safe!

Do you have a manicure kit? What's in it? What's your favorite tool for doing your own manicure?

Manicure kit was provided by PR for evaluation.