Peace

Hello ladies,

If I were to envision a peaceful and beatific world, white doves would traverse a glittering sky. There would be diaphanous flowers with jewels in the center. What perhaps cannot yet exist in the everyday, can be expressed on my nails.

Color Club Untamed Luxury formed the base for this look. I used white Konad special polish to stamp the dove from fauxnad plate H34. Near my tips, I positioned rainbow white flowers from the Art Club Boudoir Collection. To the center of each flower, I added a blue pearl.

After viewing other on-line swatches with three coats, I decided to paint four coats of Untamed Luxury. The jelly formula maintained its high gloss and there was no visible nail line. The color dried relatively quickly with a fast dry topcoat. I will caution to be certain to apply this shade evenly. Though it's lovely with three coats, I feel it's worth the effort to go to four, especially given the quick dry time.

Untamed Luxury is both the namesake and the jewel of the collection.

This polish was sent to me for review. The Untamed Luxury Collection is available for purchase at victoriasnailsupply.com. The Boudoir Collection was provided for my consideration. This kit can be purchased from enailsupply.com. For a chance to win the Boudoir Collection and Technicolor Doll nail art kit, stop by the Art Club: Black, White and Bold Giveaway.

Image plate H34 was provided for review. To see the entire line of nail art stamping design plates, visit chez-delaney.com.

Happy painting, ladies!

Cooling

Hello ladies,

At the last moments of August, the temperature in Philadelphia asserts that summer is still in residence. I decided to create a cooling manicure to help offset the weather. I can imagine this look worn in January under wool mittens.

I began with the glittering grey from the Color Club Untamed Luxury Collection. The polish is De-luxe-cious. I am rather in love with this shade. The grey base is stirred with silver and holographic glitter. The bottle is as entertaining as a snow globe.

I chose the starry flowers image from fauxnad plate H30. I used white Konad special polish for stamping. My inability to resist the mirror gems from the Art Club Boudoir Collection continues. I alternated with the white buttons from the gem wheel.

The diffuse light photo below best displays the stamping design and gem placement. The brighter, sunlit pictures will show more of what De-luxe-cious can do.

De-luxe-cious needed three coats and a layer of topcoat to best showcase it's wonders. It looks decent at two coats, but I highly recommend adding a third. I don't think I own another grey based glitter polish. It looks like the month of February went to a disco. I love it!

This polish was sent to me for review. Color Club Untamed Luxury can be purchased at Victoria Nail Supply. The Art Club Boudoir Collection was provided for review. It is currently in stock at enailsupply.com. For a chance to win the Boudoir Collection and Technicolor Doll nail art kits, please visit the Art Club: Black, White and Bold Giveaway.

Image plate H30 was provided for my consideration. Please stop by chez-delaney.com for the full selection of stamping nail art design plates.

Happy painting, ladies!

Leslie Tyler Liplicious Gloss: Spellbound

Hello ladies,

I recently had the chance to try Liplicious Gloss by Leslie Tyler. Since my first application, my tube of Spellbound has been residing in my Hello Kitty make up bag, along with my favorite cosmetics. This shade is a light berry with delicate shimmer. I love the natural appearance of this gloss.

Liplicious Gloss in Spellbound.

The packaging has a retro pin-up quality.

The doe foot applicator.

Liplicious Gloss has been worn by the following celebrities: Angelina Jolie, Audrina Patrige, Kim Kardashian, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, Megan Fox, and Shane Lamas. While admittedly I don't closely follow celebrity style, I do enjoy the make up and photography in Vogue magazine. I admire how make up artists achieve a natural looking lip with a blush of color. Liplicious Gloss easily produced that effect for me.

Spellbound seems like a fusion between a lipstick and a gloss. The consistency doesn't produce a sticky feeling the way some glosses can. After application, the color will settle into the lips. It feels matte, but never drying. As the gloss wears off, a subtle stain of color is left on the lips. Even if you don't have the chance to reapply, your lips won't look bare.

There are 42 available shades in the Liplicious Gloss Line. I am interested in trying Apricot Glaze, Burnished Bronze, Red, and Meteor. I am curious about Gold Nugget as well. I'm not sure how that shade work work for fair skin. Perhaps I could use it as a layering note.

If you are looking for a gloss that enhances your natural lip color, check out Leslie Tyler's Liplicious Gloss.

Spellbound was sent to me for review. The entire line of Liplicious Gloss is available for purchase at leslietylerstyle.com. Each Gloss retails for $12. At her website you can also learn a little more about Leslie Tyler and her upcoming tv show: Leslie & the Journey to True Love. She has been featured on numerous tv and radio programs as a lifestyle expert. I am best acquainted with her through her fabulous lip gloss.

Happy painting, ladies!

The Bridge

Hello ladies,

Today I created a manicure using two shades from Color Club's new Untamed Luxury Collection. The finished manicure makes me think of the command bridge in a space ship. Calling to mind flashing buttons on a control panel, I am tempted to press the mirror gems to see what would happen. The shimmering grey of Ms. Hautie looks futuristic. The flakie glitter in Covered in Diamonds could be the view outside the window of the bridge. The Captain sees a glittering nebula ahead.

With a black Art Club striper, I painted an arch to form the french. I filled in the tips with Covered in Diamonds. The nail art wheel from the Boudoir Collection afforded me with small and large mirror gems with black and white borders. I alternated colors and placement of the smaller gems from nail to nail.

I painted three coats of Ms. Hautie for the best application. I found that with two coats the glitter looked slightly textural. The third coat evened the polish out beautifully. Ms. Hautie has a pearl finish. A little extra care when painting will minimize brushstrokes. I love the look of this polish. There is rainbow and hot pink micro shimmer in a silvery grey base.

Bolder than Nubar 2010 and Sally Hansen Hidden Treasure, Covered in Diamonds is my new accessory. It lit up my tips. The polish has a thick consistency, which is useful. The flakie glitter will apply directly to the nail without needing to fish pieces out of the bottle. Perfect! I recommend when applying Covered in Diamonds to gently run a finger along the free edge to tap any pieces that overhang back on the nail. I only needed to do this on one occasion, but it's worth being vigilant.

I am really excited to be sharing more of the Untamed Luxury Collection with you. The colors are gorgeous!

The polish and nail art items featured in this post were provided for review. Color Club Untamed Luxury is available for purchase at Victoria Nail Supply. I have seen the Boudoir Collection at amazon.com, but I will inquire about other sources. For a chance to win the Boudoir Collection nail art kit, please stop by the Art Club: Black, White and Bold Giveaway.

Happy painting, ladies!

Apothecary: Neutrogena Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 30

Hello ladies,

Today I want to share with you one of my favorite facial sunscreens: Neutrogena Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 30. Part of my beauty routine for several years, I am a devoted user of this product. I rely on Healthy Defense to protect my skin from UVA and UVB rays.

The box contains post-consumer recycled material.

Rose on a blue trellis. I had a really lovely conversation with the gardener of the plot where the rose bush is abloom. He welcomed me to take cuttings of his flowers for the rest of the growing season.

Neutrogena Healthy Defense has a lightweight formula that absorbs quickly into the skin. I find this moisturizer works effectively even on hot and humid days. The consistency feels sheer on my face and neck. I find the formula to be relatively sweat proof for standard daily activities. I would recommend reapplying after exercise or exertion.

This moisturizer works exceptionally well under makeup. I have no problems with my concealer or bronzer shifting after application. My skin feels soft, but never oily. Healthy Defense leaves no perceivable residue.

Having fair and sensitive skin causes me to be very critical of SPF efficacy. I find that brands with similar active ingredients may not result in the necessary sun protection if their inactive ingredients don't assist in absorption. Neutrogena's patented helioplex broad spectrum UVA-UVB provides me with worry free protection against sun damage.

It's essential to wear a sunscreen that offers both UVA and UVB sun protection. Affecting the surface skin, UVB rays are the primary cause of sunburn. UVA damage goes deeper, penetrating skin layers to break down collagen and elastin found in healthy skin. This damage is what results in the signs of aging: lines and wrinkles, visible loss of elasticity resulting in skin sagging and age spots or discoloration.

The active ingredients include: Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 12%, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 2.35%, Oxybenzone 6%.

The inactive ingredients are as follows: Water, Dimethicone, Trisiloxane, Diethylhexl 2, 6-Naphthalate, Glycerin, Glycerl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Behenyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Methicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pantothenic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, BHT, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Cetearyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Methylisothiazolinone, Benzyl Alcohol.

The formula contains Vitamins B5, C, and E. These are listed as Panthotenic Acid, Ascorbic Acid and Tocopherol respectively. I am always pleased when antioxidants are present in skin care. Protection against the formation of free radicals is necessary for skin health and longevity.

I will continue to review sunscreens for face and body as a regular feature at painted Lady fingers. An advocate for daily use of facial sunscreens, I have worn a moisturizer with SPF every day since I was 12 years old. If you already practice daily sun protection or would like to start, I highly recommend Neutrogena's Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer.

Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 30 can be purchased at neutrogena.com for $13.99. I bought my tube at the local CVS drugstore.

Happy painting, ladies!

Art Club: Black, White and Bold Giveaway

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks so much for entering! You can view the winner's announcement here.

Hello ladies,

Welcome to the Art Club: Black, White and Bold Giveaway! I am excited to roll out one of the final giveaways in the painted Lady fingers Anniversary Celebration. It is my special thank you to new and long time readers alike.

One very fortunate winner will receive:

Two nail art kits from Art Club:

Technicolor Doll

The Boudoir Collection

Let's take a more detailed look the prizes.

The Boudoir Collection includes:

A nail art booklet featuring design ideas.

Three Art Club Stripers in clear, white and black.

A nail art wheel with black and white mirror gems and circles.

Nail Art Sprinkles: black mirror circles and white flowers.

Nail Art Sprinkles: white teardrops and black hearts.

Two sheets of elegant decals. (only one is shown)

The Technicolor Doll nail art kit includes:

A nail art guide.

Five Neon Art Club Stripers in Technicolor Doll (pink), Cosmic Creature (green), Electric Universe (blue), Paisley Paradise (purple) and Psychedelic Dream (orange).

Nail Art Sprinkles: blue and hot pink stars.

Three sheets of neon decals with hearts, stars, flowers and butterflies.

Many thanks to the Forsythe Cosmetic Group for sponsoring this giveaway! You can learn more about Art Club products and view nail art designs at cosmeticgroup.com. The Technicolor Doll and Boudoir Collection Nail Art Kits were sent to me for consideration.

The Art Club: Black, White and Bold Giveaway is open internationally for followers and e-mail subscribers. The contest runs through the end of the day September 15th. To keep this simple, I am willing to count the date as the last available time zone worldwide. As long as it is September 15th somewhere on the planet, you may still enter.

Here's how to enter:

Mandatory:

1) Become a follower or e-mail subscriber of painted Lady fingers. If you are currently a follower or subscriber, that certainly counts! Please let me know in the comments which option you choose for keeping up with painted Lady fingers. For example: I follow via Google Friend Connect or I subscribe via e-mail. Be specific. I check entries very carefully.

If you follow via Google Friend Connect, log into the proper account when you leave your comment. If you follow via Google Friend Connect, your account has to have some public aspect. It is okay if you don't follow publicly, but there needs to be some signs of humanity on your profile page. If you subscribe via e-mail, your e-mail address must be confirmed through feedburner. If you have never received an e-mail related to painted Lady fingers' blog posts, you do not have a confirmed account.

2) Include your e-mail with your entry to qualify. If you forgot to write your e-mail in with your contest entry, leave me another comment with your e-mail address.

Both 1 & 2 together = 1 entry.

Optional extra entries.

3) Let me know: Have you tried any Art Club stripers or nail design products? 1 entry.

4) Blog about the contest in a post or add contest info to your sidebar. I will definitely count your entry if your blog is not written in English. I will also count your entry if your blog is just getting started and has a small number of followers. These extra entries are meant to be inclusive and fun. Please provide a link. 2 entries. If you use one of my contest photos, add another entry. Please mention that you used a photo.

5) Tweet about the contest. Only once, please. Please provide a link. 1 entry.

6) Have painted Lady fingers on your blogroll or add painted Lady fingers. Please provide a link if I haven't already commented on your blog. Otherwise please remind me. I want to be sure to count the entry even if painted Lady fingers has been on your blogroll for a long time. If you have a nail polish blog and you would like to be on my blogroll, please e-mail me. 1 entry.

7)In appreciation, I am going to add an extra entry for those who comment regularly on non-giveaway posts. I do enjoy reading your feedback! Thank you! Not to worry, I am very inclusive with this extra entry. 1 entry.

You are welcome to put all your entries in one comment or return to the contest post with comments for each entry. Either way works for me. Your entries don't have to be sequential. Enter in any way you like whenever you like before the end of the day September 15th.

Please feel free to enter any and all of my anniversary giveaways you desire. There is no limit to how many giveaways you can win! Even if you have won recently, you are still welcome to enter. Thanks so much for all of your support over the past year. xoxo!

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for participating!