Are You Raisin The Bar?

Sometimes we just pick up a polish because we like the name.  Sort of seems silly, but I KNOW nail bloggers do this, for sure.  Come on, 'fess up!

Here's a pinky-mauve that isn't all that exciting...

 This is 'Raisin the Bar' from Sally Hansen's Complete Salon Manicure collection.  This is one coat of base, 1 coat Seche Clear, 2 color coats, 2 Seche Clear and finale, Seche Vite.

Yea...go ahead...sing it!

Raisin the Bar got a bit bubbly on me.  But it only shows up on the middle finger.  The rest wasn't that noticeable.  It's an OK shimmery pink that is almost a mauve.  This photo shows it to be more pink.

I liked the cutesy name more than I like the color.  It's a timid color.  Let's say 'safe.'  It's one I call the 'job interview' color.  It won't RAISE any eyebrows.

Is it a 'safe' color?  Where would you wear this mani?

Black with Magic Sparkles

From Wet'nWild's Megalast collection: Blackmail...

This is right after I broke my ring finger nail...past the quick.  Ugh.  So I cut the others to match.  But what a freak my thumb looks!  Well, here it is...warts and all.

Blackmail is a black that has minuscule glitter in teal and orangy-pink.  Little squaty bottle with a stubby brush.  The brush itself is fine, it's the neck that's stubby.

Polished up great after 2 coats.  First coat didn't give me any promises though.  Very watery.

Then I realized, I might have a dupe on hand!  So I got out Sally Hansen's 'Midnight in NY' from the Complete Salon Manicure collection.  I removed the polish from my index and ring finger to compare...

Can't tell the difference here...

Ahhh...at last a photo showing you the colors in the bottles.  It seems that the WNW has more glitter.  However, on my nails, I tried and tried to see a difference.  So, I'm putting my neck out and saying they are a dupe, color-wise.

The Midnight in NY applied evenly and gave a better 1-coat polish.  I still did 2 coats, however, as 1 coat wasn't quite perfect.  Both have 1 coat of Seche Clear and Seche Vite.

Any experiences with either of these?  Do they look like dupes to you?

You Better Wash That Look Off Your Face

You might remember me mentioning the African Black Soap I saw at the flea market.  The folks I bought my Shea Butter from was selling it too.  Here's where I wrote the post on the Shea Butter.  Which I am still lovin'.

I could not get the soap out of my mind.  After seeing it at the flea market, I came home and Googled it.  Damn! How did I learn about anything before Google???!!!  After reading info on the soap, I was really lemming for it.

I returned to the market and made a beeline to their booth.  Sweet folks, and they remembered me.  I got this in a deli like container.  This is $5 worth.  Hey, this ain't black!
Here's a link to learn more about how African Black Soap is made: here.

As the photo shows, this soap is actually light brown, like brown sugar.  It is crumbly but molds into a ball very easily.  It has an odor that I don't really care for. I can't really compare it to anything either.  It is definitely the palm oil.

Some of the benefits are: clears up acne and blemishes; relieves rashes, itching, dry and scaly skin; cleans the skin making it fresh and clean; good for eczema, fungus, ringworm, acne and body odor.  I also found out that you can wash your hair with it but, as I found with my skin, you more than likely will need a good, hydrating conditioner afterwards.

I scooped up some and formed it into a ball.  I took a shower using it as well as washed my face.  I was squeaky clean.  The odor didn't linger on my skin either.  I did use it a couple of times to wash my hair and it felt very, very clean.  I made sure to use a good, thick conditioner, as my hair tangles really easily.

This is not meant to be a brag, however, my skin is damn near perfect.  I rarely get any zits, didn't have them as a teenager, and my skin is very smooth with no dry patches or overly oily spots.  People better not be blowing smoke at me, but no one is able to guess my age, usually thinking I'm 10 years younger than my real age.  I do owe this to good skin care and good genes. 

So, what African Black Soap does for me is clean my face like nobody's business.  No type of residue and a totally fresh, clean feel.  I always do follow a wash with moisturizer and using the soap is no exception.  African Black Soap washes away the skin's oil, as does most cleansers for me, so moisturizing is necessary.  And I didn't have to use a separate product to wash off my makeup.  The soap took care of that.

My skin can be a bit sensitive to products.  But this was not an issue at all here.  There was just this feeling of super clean.

Recommendation:  Great stuff!  May not be for everyone, I'm sure.  But it's a go for me.

What I Use to Clean My Makeup Brushes

There has been some talk, and always has been, in the beauty world, about how to take care of and clean your makeup brushes.

In the distant past, I would use baby shampoo.  Then I learned that this wasn't even good for shampooing my hair!  So I started using the hydrating shampoo I use for my hair.  That is, until I discovered this...

This is 'Brush Off: Makeup Brush Cleaner.'  I have been using this for at least 10 years.  Seriously.  In fact, I can't even remember how I came across it.  I 'think' it was from a home shopping show.

And, if I'm still using it after all that time, you can bet I found a winner.  Since I've been using this, I have seen it at Ulta and Sephora as their brush cleaner for their make overs.  There used to be the small, pump bottle sold at Ulta too.

Here's the scoop: The larger bottle is 16 oz.  It says that it's good for over 800 cleanings.  The smaller 4 oz. bottle is the one I use and keep on my vanity.  I just use the larger bottle to refill it.  The 4 oz. bottle is from my original purchase.  Whoa...and it still works and looks fine.  In those 10 years, this is probably my 3rd purchase of a 16 oz. bottle.  I just purchased this new 16 oz. Brush Off bottle, after better than 2 years, and the total cost with shipping was $38.  That's about $15 per year.  Not bad in my book.

Soooo, what's in it?  Here's what their website says in their FAQ:

Why aren't the Ingredients listed on the container?

The FDA considers Brush Off a Consumer Product, not a Cosmetic. Ingredient listings are not required for Consumer Products.

Although our ingredients are a trade secret it may be helpful for you to know that Brush Off contains alcohol in the form of ethanol and an anti-bacterial agent in the form of benzalkonium chloride. 

So, not only does it condition my brushes, it kills buggaboos.  Still find it odd they won't tell you what's in it.  What would I tell poison control if someone accidently (?!) drank it or dumped some in their eyes?

Here is my favorite part:  After I use the brush, I squirt it 1 or 2 times with brush off, wipe it back and forth on my microfiber cloth and it's ready to use again.  Right then.  No waiting for it to dry.  Well, OK, maybe a few seconds.  


Doesn't smell, is a clear liquid and works!  I use this on my professional-grade brushes as well and my cheapies.  


My recommendation: HIGH!  I order from their website at www.brushoff.com.

I'm Still Green

Would you like more green polish reviews?  TOUGH!
*evil laughter*

I'm actually cheating, sort of.  I have a mega stack of polishes to review.  They are lining up quickly on my printer table. 

Getting requests helps too.  Kim at Overall Beauty asked about the green from Icing's fall collection.  I found this one to be quite nice.

This creme green has no name.  How about 'Green Apple of My Eye'? It's a creme that is like a darker Granny Smith apple. And it look to have more yellow in it than blue.  Oh, yes, the ring finger broke down past the quick.  The other nails not wanting to point out that finger's short-comings, got cut down as well.

Loved how this applied.  Very easy and this is with just 2 coats.  I do have 2 coats of Seche Clear and one of Vite on top.

I'm a glitter, sparkly gal at heart.  However, this creme was a likey.

And it just so happens that I got a green shimmer from Icing as well.

This is 'Uncommitted'.  Pretty much what you could expect from Icing polishes.  It looks best with 3 coats, dries fairly quick, almost always polishes to the color in the bottle.

This shimmers silvery-green, but ever so gently.  It would need at least 3 coats to get the opaque-ness I look for.  I think, also, that 'Uncommitted' is the shiny sister to the green in 'Green Apple of My Eye.'

Two greens that I like very much.  I hope you do too.