After a long, one and a half month Manicure Monday drought, we are back with a vengeance! Because of my busy 7 weeks, my gel manicure obsession has come to an end. I've given my nails the break they needed after removing the gel manicure myself, before it was meant to come off, and now I'm ready for polish again.

I still haven't bought the Olive & June Gel Manicure System but it's next on my list...however, we're going to be talking about one of their Fall 2024 polishes that I hadn't yet used after I initially placed my order.

After red nails for a month and a half, I was ready for something to truly put me in the fall spirit and the polish of choice was easy. Museum Date from Olive & June's most recent fall collection is so unique and truly one of a kind in my collection and probably a lot of yours too.

As mentioned last week, I've been all-in on Olive & June lately! I was going to use this week to paint my nails with another Stoney Clover collab color but I had some other Olive & June shades calling my name,

Back in July, I was shopping at Target when I saw a bunch of Olive & June on clearance. I picked up two beautiful, summery shades for less than $5 and they have been patiently waiting to be used. I figured before I dove into the more neutral SCL shades, I'd give these a whirl! 

This Manicure Monday is a little different in that I want to review the entire manicure, including the base and top coat which is also Olive & June.

Glossy Top Coat

I've been using the OJ Glossy Top Coat for almost a year (I think) at this point and I have to say, I love it. It makes the entire manicure come together and I feel like it kind of fixes any mistakes I might've made with the polish. The manicure just doesn't feel complete until I put the Glossy Top Coat on. It adds a ton of shine but also provides a nice protection layer and I think the manicure definitely lasts longer with this.

I've used this both on Olive & June polishes and other brands, and I think it works the same on all of them. Aside from Essie Gel Setter, which I haven't repurchased since having this topcoat, the OJ one is probably my favorite! 

Nail Strengthener   

I threw this into my cart when purchasing the Stoney Clover collection because I was in desperate need of something to build my nails up. This is another post that is coming but my nails were ruined after my first and only powder gel manicure and I needed something to help restore them. That's what the Olive & June Nail Strengthener is doing. I've used it three times now, once as a clear coat without any polish on top, and then twice with polish on top.

I definitely have noticed a difference in my nails. They aren't as brittle or soft and feel stronger than they did before I started using this polish. Aside from helping build up my nails, I do think it's helping keep the polish on a little longer than usual too so as a base coat, it gets my full approval.

I'm curious to try Olive & June's Ridge Filler and Nail Primer and compare how they stack up against the strengthener. 

Dry Drops

I topped off the polish with the Olive & June dry drops. I haven't been a fan of these in the past because I felt they were a little difficult to squeeze out and very oily. However, I used them anyway and liked them better this time, maybe because I got used to the bottle. They were very oily though but I think if you're a little more precise with application, you won't have a problem.

The drops definitely do help your nails dry faster and I think they're probably better versus other drying drops on the market. 

Now, onto the color, I painted my nails with this week! 

Fierce & Loving is a bright, lilac shade with pink undertones so it looks bright and fresh on the nails. I do think it's a little brighter and louder on the Olive & June website than it is in person but it's still gorgeous. It definitely is a spring and summer shade and reminds me of the Essie shade "Playdate" though I much prefer the OJ formula.

This polish went on very smooth, opaque, and not patchy in the slightest bit. I didn't have to build up the color or go over it a million times to make the color stand out. I've had the polish on for a few days now and it hasn't chipped or smudged. I'm pretty impressed because I'm quite hard on my hands and have been a little clumsy with knocking things over and bumping into things which usually chips my nails. 

I also am a big fan of the color... it's bright & fun without being too neon or overpowering. It almost seems like a neutral purple shade that would look good on anyone. 

All in all, a full Olive & June manicure makes all the difference. I definitely feel myself making the switch from Essie & OPI to exclusively Olive & June. I love the branding, the nail care products, and the colors! The formula is also superb and you can tell the difference versus the traditional drugstore nail brands.

Stay tuned next week for the continuation of the Stoney Clover and Olive & June collab! 

xoxo
B

I've been in the mood to try something different for my manicure and when I stumbled upon these Dashing Diva Ulta Shine Gel Strips, I was intrigued. I have tried different nail stickers in the past and wasn't that impressed; they were difficult to put on, felt heavy and bumpy on my nails, and just didn't look great. However, I had really enjoyed press on nails and these stickers seemed similar enough & had great reviews.

I got the shade 'Glitter Glamour' and they are supposed to mimic gel manicures. I'm not a fan of gel manicures because I don't feel like they're worth the money and I like to change my polish too much. I figured these stickers are a happy medium.

Off the bat, the Dashing Diva Gel Strips were very easy to apply, easier than the other stickers I've used. You just apply the right size sticker to your finger, press it down gently and then file off the excess. It was super easy and took less than 10 minutes!



The only downside to these packs is that they don't come with enough of the same pattern so you can't have the same color/pattern on every nail. I mixed them up and had a different sticker on every nail. I LOVED how the different designs looked and I got so many compliments on them. It was so different from anything I've ever done and obviously a lot neater; I loved the designs the most, obviously, because I would never be able to do something like that with nail polish.

The strips are meant to last 14 days and mine lasted about 8-9 but only because I started picking them off. As I was picking them off, they came off in one strip, without any nail polish remover. My nails aren't damaged from them and feel pretty strong after having a nice break from actual polish.

I really want another pair of Dashing Diva Gel Strips but have to decide what design/pattern I want. I still have leftover from this pack and will probably apply them at some point.

If you are looking for something fun, easy and quick to apply and aren't that skilled with a nail polish brush, I highly recommend Dashing Diva Gel Nail Strips. They are pretty outstanding and a total game-changer.

xoxo
B

I've been loving the Grease Collection from OPI and really want to get my hands on more shades, but for now, I want to talk about the 2nd shade that I purchased.

I mentioned Frenchie Likes to Kiss in my last Grease OPI post but when I tried it out, I solidified my love for it.

I love a good lavender nail color and this is IT. Frenchie Likes to Kiss is the perfect sheer, lavender color that is ideal for spring and summer. It looks gorgeous on the nails and really pulls together a nice summer outfit.




There's something really nice about having a polish that makes you feel good and makes you love how your hands look (it's weird but you know what I mean) and that's how this polish makes me feel.




The formula is fine on this -- it's a little watery and sheer but two coats is enough.

I highly recommend this shade and this entire collection to all the #ManiMonday lovers out there -- it won't disappoint you!

What's on your nails this Monday?
xoxo
B

It has been quite a while since I did a new Manicure Monday post but I've been in a nail polish mood. This week it's all about a pale pink color from a new OPI collection that has my chills multiplying.

When I saw that OPI was releasing a Grease collection I knew I had to have something from it. Grease is my favorite movie of all time and I have seen it well over 200 times. I first watched it when I was 7 years old and ever since then, I've been in love.

Danny Zuko was my first love and Grease is the reason I fell in love with musicals. Grease means a lot to me and I get very excited when I see/hear other people express their love and appreciation for the iconic movie.

The Grease Collection from OPI is to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the movie and I knew I needed a few (if not all) of the shades.



My first pick was the shade I'm talking about today and that's 'Pink Ladies Rule the School'. Since I purchased this one, I've also purchased 'Frenchie Likes to Kiss' which is a beautiful lavendar shade.

Pink Ladies Rule the School is of course, a gorgeous pink shade. It's a classic, baby/candy pink that is simple but really looks gorgeous on the nails. It's a color that can be worn throughout the year and adds a nice pop of color to a traditional manicure.




The formula is on par with other OPI nail polishes I have tried. It's smooth, easy application, and opaque after just one coat. It dries rather quickly which I can appreciate.

As for chipping, I think this was better than most. It looked good a solid 4-5 days after application so I was quite pleased with that.

I really loved this nail color and I'm excited to try "Frenchie Likes to Kiss" and try to pick up some more colors from this collection!

*The Grease Collection also comes in an Infinite Shine finish, and a Leather Effects finish. I'm interested to maybe try one or two from these collections as well.

 Below is a good overview of the entire collection available on Ulta.com

Aside from the press on nails, I've been really into wearing different, unique color nail polishes lately. When I first saw the Winter 2017 collection from Essie, I wasn't really interested in any of the colors.

That is until I took a closer look at them and saw them on real nails, on the Essie Instagram. That's when the Social Lights color caught my eye.

It's so different from anything I have; it's metallic but has looks as if it has a hint of shimmer to it. It's described as a gray polish but has a hint of green in my opinion. On the Essie website, it also says that there is a hint of amber warmth which I  definitely agree with.



Social Light is the perfect winter color; it's warm, cozy, and just dark enough that you feel like you're on trend.





Also on the Essie website, it has a chart to show you where this color falls in comparison to similar shades. It's really interesting! I'm curious to go check out some other of my favorite shades.



I am obsessed with this color and have worn it quite a lot since getting it. The formula is one of the better Essie ones and I pair it with Julep Oxygen Treatment, Essie Gel Setter & my Orly Quick Dry Drops and it's a pretty good manicure!

What is on your nails this Monday?
xoxo
B

A few weeks ago I had an urge for really long nails. When I was young, I was allowed to get french tips for special occasions like my confirmation, graduations, and proms. While I loved how they looked, I was bored of them after a week because they were too hard to navigate life with.

It's been a hot minute since I had tips, and while I always had moments when I wanted them I didn't want to shell out the money for them. They're really expensive and the upkeep isn't worth it.

Last year my coworker mentioned that she buys press on tips from the drugstore so I bought a pair and they've sat in my drawer ever since.



That is until 2 weeks ago when the urge for long, Kardashian like nails took over me and I finally put them on.

The imPRESS Press on Manicure One Step Gel nails are incredible; they're pre-glued and have a super strong hold. They fit my nails perfectly and I didn't have to fuss with a nail file or clipper to get them perfectly right.

It definitely took some getting use too, and I was fumbling with things for about a day and a half but I loved having long nails. I felt very glamorous, very chic and my favorite thing of all was typing with them. I felt very like myself with these long tips and they were less than $10!




At first, I was being super delicate with what I did while wearing the nails, and one did pop off when I was opening a package but it went right back on.

The nails are very hard to get off; when it was time to remove them because I was bored, I had to soak them in nail polish remover and then gently pop them off.



The packaging says that you shouldn't wear them longer than 7 days and I wouldn't want to wear them longer because like I said, I get bored very easily.

After I was done with the package I already had (there are enough for two wears but I wanted to try a different color) so I went to Target and got a white iridescent pack that I can't wait to try!

I am officially impressed with imPRESS manicure!

Have you ever worn press on nails?
xoxo
B

It's been a while since I've done a Manicure Monday but I got a few new polishes over the past few weeks and I wanted to share one of them.

You'd think that the week before Christmas I'd be rocking red nails and I may change it up this week, but last week it was all about OPI's Iceland Collection. I love how trendy Iceland has become over the past year... it's somewhere I really, really want to go and I never thought that I would.

The shade I've been obsessed with is Less is Norse, which is a dark icy blue. It's not navy but somewhere in that family. It screams winter to me and it has made me feel super cozy and chic, which is how I like my nail polishes.





The formula is really good and I always forget that OPI has some great formulas; I'm just overwhelmed by all the colors so I always opt for the limited edition polishes.

This formula was smooth, and not messy; it lasted a while too. I'd still have it on if I didn't pick at some of the little chips.

The entire Iceland Collection is really gorgeous and it was a tough decision to only buy Less is Norse but the taupe colors are also really pretty-- I may have to go back to Ulta and get them!

What's on your nails this Monday?
xoxo
B

I haven't been buying as many nail polishes this fall as seasons past because I haven't really loved any of the fall collections. I also have quite a lot of dark, vampy colors already in my collection.

However, the Essie Wild Nudes collection was something that I've been wanting to get my hands on and the color Exposed was perfect for Fall. I don't have anything like it in my collection so when I saw a bottle at my local Rite Aid, I scooped it up.

I don't know if it's just me but sometimes when I'm buying nail polish in the drugstore, it's discolored and separated at the top. That's why I always order my nail polish from Ulta because it's fresher and looks better. Sometimes the nail polish in drug stores looks old, even if it's a new color. This bottle of Exposed was in the perfect condition which is half the reason I got it.




I haven't had a new Essie polish in a while and this formula is ultra smooth and applies perfectly. I probably could've used only one coat and been good but I opted for two as always. It was a bit watery so it bled onto the skin around my nails but it wasn't sloppy like some polishes I've used.

The nail color lasted about 4 days before it chipped a little and then I reapplied. After the reapplication, it chipped 2-3 days later and then I started just peeling the color off. I'd say it was about the same wear time as any other Essie polish, no worse and no better.

I do really love the color; it's not too green but is the perfect accent nail for the Fall season!

What is on your nails this Monday?
xoxo
B

Last week I went to a salon in Manhattan for a complimentary blowout and manicure. It's called MB45 and is located in Tribeca. Their whole shtick is that you get a blowout and manicure in 45 minutes; I posted an Instagram gallery all about it last week -- it's definitely worth it in my opinion!

I was not going to do a Manicure Monday post today because it's just been too much but I feel like it's my civic duty to tell you about this.

At MB45 they used the OPI Infinite Shine nail polish which is OPI's version of Essie Gel Couture -- a gel manicure without the LED light.

I've never used this nail polish before so I just assumed it would be like a regular polish; non LED light gel manicures never really last longer than regular polish on me. My nails are just too damaged for that.

Well, I'll be dammed!

It's been one week and there is minimal chipping on my nails. I've never been so impressed with a nail polish formula before.


It was a long week and I was very active with my hands so I'm really shocked that the polish held up well. I could probably last another half a week with this polish and I just might!

The color I got is gorgeous; it's called "From Here to Eternity" and it's the perfect summer pink; it's a hot pink with a touch of coral but not neon, so it's awesome for everyday.



Below is a photo of when I first got my nails done:

Some time last year, Essie released their first gel nail polish. I'm pretty sure I did a post on it but cannot find it anywhere! Just know that I was a big fan; I only had 2 colors in this Gel Couture line but mostly because I didn't feel drawn to any of the other colors in the line.

It took them a while to expand the line but within the last month or so, they did and I was so excited.

The new collection is called "Ballet Nudes" and plays on the soft colors of the art of ballet. I was a ballet dancer when I was younger (yes, I had pointe shoes and everything) so anything ballet related I am a sucker for.



I've been in a true nude mood lately when it comes to nail polish so I went with "At the Barre", a soft nude color and decided to pick up another top coat, both from Ulta.

I hadn't used the gel couture polish in a while because I've been on a new nail polish spree (and also have been wearing bare nails a lot (with the help of the Formula X Sheer Strength polish, but I was reminded at how wonderful it is.

I prepped my nails with my Julep Oxygen Base Coat, went in with the nude polish and topped it off with the Gel Couture top coat. I don't remember the last time I had such a pleasant manicure or the last time a polish went on so smoothly.



The formula is thin but not too runny and is very smooth & opaque. Finish off with the OPI Quick Dry Drops and you have the perfect at home manicure.

Because I'm so obsessed after one use, I decided to head back to Ulta.com & pick up the "Perfect Posture" shade, a light periwinkle blue that is so stunning and perfect for spring.

If you have yet to try Essie Gel Couture, I promise you won't be disappointed. I'm very loyal to Essie but they have their hits and misses; this line is definitely a hit.

PS: Essie also just released some new treatment nail polishes and I picked a few up. I'm obsessed with treatment polishes lately so keep an eye out for those reviews; below are a few other Essie products I've been dying to try!

I've always been into experimenting with my nail polish, whether it was wearing black nail polish when I was 14 because that was trendy, or doing a glitter accent nail, or even trying my hand at nail art... I like to be different.

That's why, when I saw this photo, a retweet from Essie, I got inspired. I've seen this type of "ombre" nail look done before, but I've never done it.

credit

I knew exactly what colors to do, and immediately got to town painting my nails.



I used OPI IsabelleTway, Essie Mink Muffs & Essie Jazz; the key to this look is finding colors that are in the same family, but aren't too different. You could also probably throw in a 4th color but I kept it simple for the first time around.




I haven't been this in love with a nail look in a while and I think I will continue to do this forever. I loved this look so much that I had to write this Manicure Monday right now; I was going to wait for next week since I already had a post scheduled for this morning but it could not wait!

I can't wait to play around with more colors in my collection.

What is your favorite nail look for fall?

After a hectic week and a half, it feels good to get back to some sort of routine. Thank you for the love & support, it is much appreciated.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, you can read this.

With that being said, I did a lot of retail therapy over the past few days and it's catching up with me. Expect a lot of haul posts and reviews -- there is so much to be shared.

Let's start off with my favorite beauty product to talk about -- nail polish!

Last week was incredibly warm in NYC and I couldn't handle it. 75 degrees in March?? No thank you! Give me a sunny day with a cool breeze, that is March weather.

I love the cold months to pieces and as hard it is to say goodbye to the cool seasons, there is one piece of Spring I always love and that is nail color.

I'm over my reds, berries, and darker colors-- please bring on the fun pastels!

I've been experimenting a lot with other, higher end nail polish brands but I always come back to Essie and their spring & resort collections are some of my favorites.

When I saw that they released their resort collection, I fell in love with all the colors instantly. A dull orange, hot blue, light pink, and a lime green -- they are the perfect spring & summer colors!

I didn't buy one or two colors, I bought them all -- which is something I rarely do. I never love every single color in the collection but this one was the expectation. I did something I have been wanting to do for a while and bought the mini nail polish Resort 2016 collection.



When do you ever go through an entire bottle of nail polish? NEVER. So why not buy a mini polish set? I think it's a great idea and I honestly may do it more often.

Expect to see more Manicure Mondays in the future because doesn't that always happen at the change of season?

This week I opted for a not so bright, spring color while I still hold onto cold weather. First up is Taj-ma-haul, which is described as a spicy, apricot marigold color and I think that's spot on. It's not orange, it's not peach, it's not yellow -- it's a mixture of everything and it's stunning.



I've been really into nude nails and I think this is a great little transition into spring weather. It's not your bright, neon color but a more muted tone and it would look great on every skin tone.

The formula is pretty good. I've definitely used better Essie polishes but it applies smoothly, evenly, and really nice. The staying power isn't that great but I'm starting to think it's my nails because chipping happens immediately with any polish I use.



I haven't tried out the other polishes in the collection yet and I can't wait to get my hands on the Spring Collection .

What is your favorite spring nail polish color?

I have gotten so many new nail polishes in the past few weeks and I just feel the need to use and share all of them.

The After Christmas sales really got to me a few weeks ago and while I was browsing the Interweb, I saw that Julep, a brand I have tried but not fully, was having a really ridiculous sale. From my memory, it was around 60-70% off. They had a lot of products on sale, and one of them was a mystery box of 10 nail polishes. It was only $20 so I jumped on that bandwagon really fast.

I loved the idea that I didn't know what shades I was going to get and couldn't wait to dig in when the package arrived on my doorstep.

When I received my order, I noticed there were a lot of glitter topcoats which I'm totally fine with. I love adding glitter to any nail look because it adds a little something extra. I knew I immediately wanted to experiment with the different glitters and the other darker colors in my new Julep collection.

I was immediately attracted to the purple polish, "Joanne" and the gold glitter topcoat, "Sharna".

Excuse the few chips :(

Both polishes applied really smooth, clean, and neat. Two coats made the purple super opaque and the glitter applied in even coats, not patchy at all.

Julep polishes have a great reputation and I've tried a few in the past but now I think I'm really convinced that they're fabulous quality.

PS: Since we're talking about glitter polishes, I need to mention the best glitter (and regular) nail polish remover I have ever tried. Sephora's Instant Nail Polish Remover takes away the glitter and regular nail polish without even trying.

What is on your nails this Monday?