DYI: Gradient Polish Design

I am loving the gradient polish design that is all the rage! Tonight, I decided to try it on myself and I got great results. To attempt this design, you'll need the following items: two contrasting nail polish colors, a base coat (I recommend Seche), and a makeup sponge (the disposable kind is fine).

Step 1: Apply your base coat and two coats of your primary color; let dry.

Step 2: Paint a strip of your secondary color onto the edge of your makeup sponge and dab onto the very tip of your nails.

Step 3: Dab side to side and work your way upwards to the center of your nail bed. Always dab from the bottom up so that the tips are the darkest. This is what creates the gradient effect.

Step 4: Repeat on all nails, let dry and use a cotton swab to clean up around your nail beds. Apply top coat and admire your DYI Gradient Design at home manicure.

Tip: This is also a cool way to accent your big toe for a funky and unique pedicure design.

I used Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear nail color in White On as my primary shade and Orly's Mirror Mirror color as my secondary gradient color. I completed the look with Orly's high gloss top coat.

Post comments on how this look worked for you. What are some of your favorite colors when wearing the gradient design?

Enjoy the photos that inspired me!

What is Birchbox?

Birchbox is a high-end, invitation only beauty and lifestyle product sample membership club. Birchbox is an internet based company that charges a very low, $10.00 monthly membership fee to receive a monthly box of beauty and lifestyle goodies. Birchbox now features women and men’s boxes! The boxes come loaded with a variety of moderate to high-end products in the full sized or large sample sized version of the products. Birchbox is perfect for those of us who love to try new products ranging from skincare to makeup and body products to hair care, including some non-beauty lifestyle products. The samples included in each box vary and are from both well-known and emerging brands.

I was recently invited to join Birchbox after maybe a two week waiting period. Once invited, you have 96 hours to complete your membership registration and then you sit back and await your first box. After your first box, boxes are shipped on the 10th of each month and your membership automatically renews until you cancel.

Birchbox is a wonderful gifting idea as it lets you gift subscriptions in three, six or one year intervals. It’s a wonderful idea for your bridesmaids or friends. If you have a special man in your life who might enjoy sampling men’s products why not gift a subscription? Father’s Day is next month! For more information or to request an invitation, please visit, www.birchbox.com

Stay tuned for my review of the products included in next month’s Birchbox!

Target Tuesday: Today’s Cosmetics Haul

Today I went into Target with the intent to purchase my everyday foundation and sun tanning oil for my Florida trip at the end of this month. I made my way to the L’Oreal section only to find that they didn’t carry the cream version of the True Match line. Disappointed, I opted instead for the liquid version in my winter color, W6. Look for my application tutorial soon! One aisle over I found the wide array of sun block and tanning lotions. I chose Banana Boat’s deep tanning oil which is a spray-on sun block w/ sun protection factors ranging from 4-15. I won’t embarrass myself by divulging exactly which SPF level I selected. After getting the two products that I went for, I found myself w/ a lot of extra time to browse the cosmetics section, which for me, is never a good thing…

I also purchased what I think will be an uber amazing new sculpting blush duo by L’Oreal, in a shade called Nectar (825). It is called The One Sweep Sculpting Blush Duo and it claims to both color and sculpt in one felt swoop. We’ll see about that! What attracted me most to this product was the pretty shade of subdued tangerine and the fact that I will only need to travel w/ one blush compact and no additional contouring shade. I was sold and I can’t wait to review this sculpting blush duo.

My haul didn’t stop there. My brand loyalty to L’Oreal prompted me to pick up a lip gloss from their new ‘8 hour infallible’ lip gloss line and I bought it in Coral Sands (405). I tried it out in the car and I like it a lot. It is very subdued and perfect for everyday wear as there is nothing about the shade I chose that pops or begs much attention.

Last but not least, my least expensive purchase was a Sinful Colors nail polish in a bright pink color called Timbleberry. It looks pretty in the bottle and because I so badly need a manicure, I’ll be using it this evening. 

That’s all for now folks, stay tuned for my upcoming reviews!

A Review of Seche Base Ridge Filling Base Coat

I first learned of Seche Base during a conversation w/ two of my coworkers about the pains of nail polish that chips or peels way too soon. For starters, before using Seche Base, my nail polish would literally disappear by way of chipping or peeling. I had begun to think that my nails were rejecting nail polishes because nothing would make the polish stick! Then I tried Seche Base.

The Seche Base product I use is the ridge filling base coat which is now sold in stores and retails for about $6.99 and up. The product paints on a pearly white color and literally seals and shields your entire nail. It dries quickly and primes the nail for any shade of polish. To me, Seche Base feels a bit rubbery when it dries which is what I feel makes whatever polish you choose really bond to your nail for a long lasting wear.

Besides providing a smooth base on which to apply your polish of choice, Seche Base helps prevent the color staining and yellowing that often occurs after wearing dark shades of polish. For a base coat, I couldn't ask for better than Seche Base.

What's Next in A Pretty, Pretty World? Upcoming Posts

The posts to follow my introductory makeup brush discussion will include: describing the brushes, what their made of, the purpose each brush serves, how to use the brushes, best uses/techniques for each brush, how to clean/maintain the brushes and advanced techniques for working w/ the brushes. 


In addition, A Pretty, Pretty World will include tutorials, lots and lots of beauty/hair/cosmetic reviews, videos (coming summer 2012) and discussions on all things pretty! Stay tuned pretty girls!!!!

Makeup Brushes: A Basic Introduction

So today I am beginning a discussion on makeup brushes. I experimented w/ makeup brushes years ago but a combination of not getting the hang of it, poor brush maintenance and lack of really trying turned be right back on to the sponges and poufs I was used to. Last summer (July), I was in Sephora and walking around w/ one of the sales people who couldn't believe that w/ my knowledge of their product line and makeup in general, I wasn't using face brushes. I explained that the brushes are expensive and there are so many to choose from I never used them bc I didn't know what to buy or what brush to use for what. He ended up selling me a travel brush set that was on sale for $30 (orig. $50).

The set I bought included many of the essentials, came packaged in a little pouch that closes magnetically, and are shorter than full-sized brushes. I immediately started using the brushes for my powder foundation application and I fell in love! (Btw, not sure if you guys know that I've been a fan of powder and cream foundations for years bc I find that liquids are heavy and oily on my skin so I tend to only use them for special occasions and what not.)

Fast forward, I've been using that brush set everyday since I got it last July. So for the past couple of weeks (since my friend Ashli's Benefit Cosmetics House Party), I've been researching makeup brushes to find out which brands offer the best quality brushes for a budget conscious gal who wants the flawless, airbrushed look of a $100+ brush set.

I've gone on YouTube, Amazon and a bunch of beauty sites and resources comparing prices and reading hundreds of reviews from real girls who look AMAZING bc they use brushes to apply their foundation, blush, bronzer, highlighter and for contouring. Based on my market research, I’ve narrowed down the top three brush brands.

Highest Price / Professional Use / All Natural Hair/Fibers: Sigma Beauty

Sigma makes 12 essential brushes that when purchased together cost $89 (Amazon). This set does not include a case, carrier or any brush protection whatsoever. It is intended for professionals who already possess a brush belt. They also make “eyes only” and “face only” brush sets which retail for $60.50 and $66.50 respectively on Amazon. The “eyes only” kit includes seven brushes and the “face only” kit includes five brushes. The twelve brushes together are what comprise the $89 Essential Brush Kit so buying together is already a huge savings. They also make a very cool cylinder set that house and protect all of their essential brushes and comes in four different colors (black, purple, aqua and coral). In the cylinder set, which is called “Make Me Crazy” the brush handles are all colored to match their container. The set retails for $126.50 on Amazon. Sigma Beauty also makes synthetic brushes which are priced slightly less and not all of their brushes are available in synthetic fibers.

Medium Price / Natural/Synthetic Blend: Sedona Lace

The Sedona Lace line is available only on their website SedonaLace.com. They retail a twelve-piece brush set w/ protective case for $59.95 which from my understanding is a lower price than what their brushes used to retail for. They have higher prices kits that include belts and better brushes that ranges from $79.95 and up from there. They have been gaining in popularity thanks to pretty girls YouTubing about the brushes which most were gifted by the company. I don’t mind someone who reviews freebies but when your review is based on only having used that one brand of the product you’re reviewing I made to question how valid your claims actually are. With this product only available on their website, it is pretty hard to find unbiased reviewers.

Lowest Price / Best Value / Most for Your Money: Coastal Scents

Coastal Scents debuted their leather (maybe pleather) brush set back in September 2011 and the set sold out by the end of the Labor Day weekend. They restocked and sold out again on Black Friday when they dropped the price by 50%. YouTubers who self-purchased and own Sigma Brushes have said that Coastal Scents brushes are the only other brushes that compare to the quality and durability of Sigma’s brushes. That statement alone goes a very long way when you’re talking about getting twenty-two brushes (w/ a protective case) for $34.95 (available on Amazon and at CoastalScents.com). I searched and searched but failed to find one bad review of the Coastal Scents product either online or on YouTube.

I could go on and on about getting twenty-two brushes for under $35 but I’ll save it for my own review which will be coming soon. I ordered the Coastal Scents twenty-two piece set on Monday w/ free super saver shipping from Amazon and it is “out for delivery” to my house as I type. I am so excited to experiment w/ this brush line!