Essie is killing the nail polish releases lately and my local Rite Aid is on top of the game. I think I've officially transitioned out of my winter nail colors and fully into spring mode. I want all the pinks, especially.

That's why when I stumbled across the stunning new shade called "Babes in the Booth" I didn't think twice about purchasing it.



Babes in the Booth is a newer shade to the Essie line; it was released in the Soda Pop Shop Collection a few months ago. I've never come across it online so that's why I was so enamored with it.



The pink polish is a traditional bubblegum, taffy shade that has silver iridescent and a slight shimmer to it. It almost has a metallic look without being overbearing. It is so pretty and really shines in the sun, making it the perfect warm weather color. I definitely think this will become a new favorite once beach season hits. It gives me the same happiness as Bikini So Teeny!

The formula is noticeably better on my nails. I've had the polish on for about a week and there is a lot of chipping (most of it my doing) yet some nails are still completely intact.




If you're in the market for a new pink polish, try to get your hands on this. It's not a typical hot pink but the more muted, shimmery tones really make it special!


What is on your nails this week?
xoxo
B

A few weeks ago when I was at Ulta for a work event I came across the Essie display and a color caught my eye. I feel like I hadn't seen this color before and I was intrigued.

Barbados Blue is a gorgeous irridescent baby blue shade that screams summer. It's not like anything I have in my collection and to me, just seemed like a really unique shade.

I didn't pick it up that day but I was on a mission to find it. Barbados Blue isn't a new shade to Essie's collection, it's at least three years old but I was shocked to know that I've never seen it before.

I couldn't find it in my local drugstores but found it online at Ulta. I ordered it when I ordered my Urban Decay Naked Heat Palette and couldn't wait to use it.




I painted my nails last Monday and there was minimal chipping on Saturday and some of that was my fault for picking it off. It's definitely one of the more long wearing polishes.

This is definitely a summer color so I'll be getting as much wear out of it over the next two months.

xoxo
B

I've dove deep into the summer nail colors and this week I needed a break. I've been experimenting with bright blues and hot pinks and just wanted something more subdued, but still with a touch of spring and summer.

Bring in, OPI's new 'California Dreaming' Collection...

I purchased this peachy shade, 'Barking Up the Wrong Sequoia' and have been obsessed with it since I received it. This is, however, the first chance I'm getting to wear it.



In recent months I've really taken a step far from Essie and started experimenting with more OPI formulas and I have to say, I really have been sleeping on this brand. I love OPI polishes and they're more consistent than my beloved Essie.

When it comes to Essie, the formulas vary from shade to shade but OPI, all the colors I have are pretty much the same which is great because you know exactly what you're getting. I can appreciate that.

This gorgeous peach shade applies smoothly, evenly, and two coats will do it justice. I use my typical base and top coat with it, which you can shop below. The other colors from the California Dreaming Collection aren't up my alley but they do scream summer!

OMG I promise I will stop posting Manicure Mondays, I'm sorry! I just keep getting new nail polish and feel the need to blog about them.

I also wanted to post an update on last week's Manicure Monday of my new Smith & Cult nail polish. The polish stayed *almost* chip free for a week. I picked at the polish a lot, filed my nails, and bit my nails off so that really is the only reason that the polish chipped.

Look at that?! How incredible! My mom had the same experience so I will be purchasing another color very, very soon.

Let's start off by saying HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY! The long weekend has been very relaxing but at the same time, boring.

I always forget that these holiday weekends are a big deal and then I'm sitting in my room on a Sunday afternoon, looking at Snapchat and all my friends having a great time. FOMO is a real thing and it sucks.

I need to keep this in mind in a few months when 4th of July comes around and I am once again, in this same position.

I'll be honest and say that as I was writing this post on Sunday afternoon, I forgot the next day was Memorial Day and I usually don't post a "regular" post on holidays but hey, this needed to be talked about. (I'm also in total blog mode right now and have created an editorial calendar through JULY--am I back? I might be!)

Anyways, let's go with this Manicure Monday because I'm obsessed and in love.

I went one week without a posting a Manicure Monday #cool.

I walked into CVS over the weekend and saw this gorgeous polish and I think I finally knew what love was.

No, seriously. I am not being dramatic. I have never fell in love at first sight with a polish the way I did with this color.

I knew Essie released their 2015 Summer Collection but haven't seen any colors in person yet. This bad boy was the only one at my local CVS from the collection and the only one left in this color.



I don't have anything like this. NOTHING. I think that's why I'm so obsessed--because it is so unique and unlike any other color I have ever seen...not just from Essie but from any nail polish brand. Maybe I just live under a rock but I don't care. It's stunning!



Pret-a-surfer is the most gorgeous blue. Essie describes it as a marine blue and I think that it's pretty spot on. It's a summer, beachy blue. It's almost like a darker "Bikini So Teeny". Its so gorgeous I can't even describe how amazing the color is.

The formula of this is one of the best Essie polishes. It doesn't streak, it's very opaque, and it didn't stain my nail beds. It applied like a dream and played well with both my topcoat and basecoat.



I've been using a new base-coat, which doubles as a topcoat. Orly Nail Defense is a protein enriched nail strengthener which I desperately needed. My nails are cracked, peeling, and gross and they need some help. I don't know if it's working, because it says you need to apply every two days which I haven't been doing so I shall start this week.

In addition to using the Nail Defense as a topcoat, I've also been using my normal Sec 'N Dry quick dry topcoat by Orly. The combination seems to work well!

In conclusion, this polish is BAE and will continue to be BAE all freaking summer!

What color are your wearing this Memorial Day? Tell me in the comments :)