Quickie Review - Nail Envy Nail Strengthener by OPI

Hey There!

I'm ready to toss my Nail Envy Nail Strengthener by OPI in the recycling bin. It's almost 2/3rds empty but it's gone all gloopy. When I first purchased it I told you that I'd report back. Well, I'm ready to report back.

I purchased this last fall (info here). At this point I had used it a bit and knew how I felt about it. The original price was $17.99 but I couponed and discounted and ended up paying $6 for it.

It's not the magical base coat that I wanted it to be. It was nice but it doesn't do anything special. If you are like me then you think that it's not worth the price. I mean I'd like a great nail base but at $18, I'm not willing to pay that amount if it doesn't do magical things.

My favorite top coat, Sally Hansen Insta-Dri, is at most $7.49. I can normally get it for about $3 or $4 with coupons and discounts. It IS magical. I live for that stuff. I will not paint my nails without it. I take my nail color AND that top coat to the nail salon for pedicures. And, at highest price it's $7.49. That being the case, I don't think my base coat should be much higher than that.

I'm still playing with new base coats. It does take a long time to find one that you love. This bottle of OPI has lasted almost a full year. So, one would say that it was worth the price then.

Let's look at it this way. 

My most recent base coat purchase was Revlon Treat and Boost $3.49. Full price it's $6.28. Using it almost every week, that's twelve cents per use! If a twelve cent nail base is as good as a (do the math) thirty five cents nail base, which one do you choose? I go with the cheaper one if all things are equal.

I have nothing against OPI treatments. I'm sure they are lovely. And, if I were to find this discounted for five bucks, I'd pick it up. But if my Revlon Treat and Boost or some other nail base was on sale next to it...

...it would be a hard choice to make. And, I'm not sure the OPI Nail Envy Nail Strengthener would win.

Nail Polish Change - Sephora Formula X Hydrate Nail Hydrator and Revlon Treat and Boost

Hey There!

There won't be much reading going on for the NPC this week. Sorry. I decided last weekend that my nails looked a little war torn so I decided that I'd do a warm oil nail treatment and then use my Sephora Formula X Hydrate Nail Hydrator and let my nails get a rest. Then on Wednesday, I was ready to polish but I didn't think my nails were ready. So, I did another warm oil nail treatment and then used my Revlon Treat and Boost.

Folks I've been struggling with my nails for the past month. They began splitting all over. I don't think it's the polish I've been using. Perhaps it's the remover. So, I do plan to use a gentler remover for a while and see if that works.

This upcoming week, I do have a polish that is supposed to strengthen and nourish your nails. We'll see it if really does and I'll come back and tell you all about it.

What do you use when you have nail problems? Is there something that really gets your hands back in shape?

June Faves

Hey there!

I really had a hard time picking my June favorites. I tried so many things that I didn't really wasn't able to give things enough time to see if I loved them or not. If I say something is a fave, I really want to be able to stand behind it and show it love. So, while I liked quite a bit of stuff this month, here are a few things that I loved.

    

                                                                                                   

Have you been to Wal-Mart and tried the new Glade Something Sweet collection? I like to use plug-ins so I try new scents every now and then. Y'all know I love my cotton candy scents so when I saw the new Something Sweet - Cotton Candy plug in, I had to purchase it WITHOUT A COUPON! I don't pay full price often! This plug in smells so good! I have a plug in by the front door and one by the back door and between the two smells so delicious. I also take them to work (I mean I can't light a candle at work so this is the next best thing!).

I also have been loving the Bath & Body Works Watermelon Lemonade candle. I wish I had bought this one in a 3 wick. It smells sweet and sticky like lemonade tastes. I really love it.

When the kiddo was preparing for prom, I bought several inexpensive face powders to try for that night. She doesn't wear powder normally, so I didn't want to spend $25 on something that she'd wear once, maybe twice. I picked up the Black Radiance Pressed Powder in Honey Amber. It was a tad bit light for the kiddo so I put it in my drawer. Earlier this month I pulled it out and tried it for myself. It's a perfect match for my summer self. It controls shine well, wears beautifully and is almost as good as my MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation (I know, right?!). The Black Radiance was $4.19 compared to $27 for the MAC. MAC is great though. BR is a close second in my book.

I received a NYX Butter Gloss in Crème Brulee in my Ipsy bag this month. I already owned a ka-gillion others but it reminded me to pull these sweet smelling concoctions out of their drawer. These are the two that have been in my purse ALL month. Crème Brulee and Vanilla Cream Pie have stayed on my lips. As a matter of fact, in typing this post, I pulled out the Vanilla Cream Pie (sniffed it - you know you sniff these vanilla scented goodness glosses) and then coated my lips. It is all I can do not to sniff my lips all day. Really, if you haven't tried these, I need you to get $4.99 out of your wallet and go get one.

I just published a post about these nail treatments. The Revlon Treat and Boost and Sephora X Nail Hydrator are wonderful nail treatments. Totally worth the money spent.

I have also mentioned the BareMinerals 5 in 1 BB Advanced Performance Cream Eyeshadow. This eyeshadow/highlighter is wonderful and I have used it every day since I got it. I haven't given anything else a chance! It's the perfect accompaniment to my eyebrows, whether I have used a pencil/powder or not.

And last but not least, my e.l.f. Flawless Concealer Brush. This one is my clean one. I have 2 of these bad boys at all times. I looked back over my posts to see if I have touted the attributes of this wonderful brush -- I have not! That is a total slip up on my part! I used the brush to add my BareMinerals Well Rested Powder under my eyes most days. I then use it to add a hint of e.l.f. High Definition Undereye Setting Powder to the area. This brush is perfect for that area. The brush is soft enough to use in this delicate area yet no so flimsy that it doesn't put the powder in place.

What are you loving this month? What are you hating this month? What are you going to try to use up this month? Tell me what's going on!!