Since Easter is coming up soon, I was collecting some images of inspiring egg decoration. I landed upon this, and began thinking…what about doing this to your nails? So I did. And it turned out amaaaaaazing. (Who doesn’t love chic gold leaf, right??!) 
Here’s how to do it too:
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I was contacted by Beauty Box 5 to see if I could do a review of their monthly beauty subscription box service. I immediately agreed (after all, who doesn’t like free beauty items?!) and they sent me a customized box in December.
My BB5 box came with Coolway Cool Cleanse & Hydrate Shampoo and Conditioner, be a…bombshell Eyeshadow in Bora Bora, Spongeables Pedi Scrub Foot Buffer
Coolway Cool Cleanse & Hydrate Shampoo and Conditioner
I was glad that I received both the shampoo + conditioner in the box (sometimes you only get sent one or the other and it makes it tough to tell if it works). The duo smells spicy and minty, with a fairly light texture. Once my hair dried, I could tell it was shiny and there seemed to be fewer flyaways…but I love messy volume and texture so these weren’t my favorite.
be a…bombshell Eyeshadow in Bora Bora
This eyeshadow from be a…bombshell is a bright teal: a beautiful turquoise blue with a green shimmer to it. It’s very, VERY pigmented and bright. Normally I don’t go for a ton of bright eyeshadow, but this is a fun one even just used as a thin liner close to the eyes. I have to do a full face of makeup to feel even remotely comfortable wearing it, but it is quite a head-turner and long-lasting.
Spongeables Pedi-Scrub Foot Buffer
I think this was my favorite product in the box: this little workhorse of a foot scrubber from Spongeables. Besides it being so well-timed (my feet are definitely feeling ravaged by Winter lately!) it smells amAHzing: soapy and vaguely floral. It lathers up quickly and scrubs efficiently, all while releasing that lovely scent. My feet never felt so pampered! (I was sad that the trial size I received only lasts 5 uses…this full-sized version
NUBAR Nail Lacquer in Blondie
This glitter polish from NUBAR is great – LOVE that it is vegan and cruelty-free. It has scattered glitter in large hexagons and small dots – that ranges from light gold to light turquoise depending on the angle. Two coats is what it took to get the coverage above – and I found it was quite easy to take off with a nail polish remover (no scrubbing or soaking like some glitters).[line]
So is Beauty Box 5 worth it?
Starting from $12, Beauty Box 5 subscription plans are one of the most affordable out there, and deliver 5 beauty samples and products each month from drugstore, vegan, and luxury brands. (For only $30 you receive a subscription for 3 months!) You specify your personality and beauty issues and you receive a personalized selection each month. Every month there is always 1 full-sized product in the box, so the monthly subscription pays for itself.
If you love trying new beauty products and especially like vegan or cruelty-free brands, I’d recommend trying our Beauty Box 5. Every single item in the box may not be a keeper, but it’s certainly fun to try new things – and is way less than a splurge at Sephora. Plus, you’re bound to come across a new product or favorite brand that you find you just can’t live without. 🙂
xo
Carly
FTC Disclosure: I was sent a Beauty Box 5 with 5 products in it for review purposes. The above opinions are my own. I have not received compensation for this post. To read my full Disclosure Policy, click here.
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When nail polish starts chipping there are only a few options for you: take it all off, swipe another coat of same-colored polish on to try to hide it, or try a contrasting color layered over top. I’m very much a contrasting-color sort-of-person since I love incorporating different textures and colors into my mani.
One of the easiest ways to fix a slightly chipped mani is by adding a French manicure tip: I love the luxe look of a gold glitter tip! {Click for photos of my version above)
Another great way is with a shiny metallic tip: so chic and polished. I love cool silver too – and this can even be accomplished with a silver metallic Sharpie you may have on hand!
My mani is just a coat of clear – and then silver Sharpie at the ends – and a topcoat. You could also do any color you want, and pair with a gold, rose gold, or other metallic-hued pen for ultra glamour!
How do you extend the life of your mani?
xo
Carly
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We’re all busy. Life can be totally hectic sometimes, and it’s easy to let one’s beauty routine fall by the wayside, especially when you’re in a rush. Besides being a full-time fashion and DIY blogger and freelancing in graphic design and illustration, I’m also a full-time mom to a rambunctious 7 year-old. It seems no matter how early we get up in the morning, we always end up in the car 20 minutes late to get my little one to school. Body lotion is the last thing on my mind in those precious few minutes I have to get ready.
But summer’s here, and I want to walk around in breezy dresses, shorts, and shorter skirts. My legs are nowhere near summer-ready and I am way behind on starting a moisturizing routine, but I’m still in a rush and honestly quite lazy when it comes to beauty. The more hands-off and fuss-free, the better!
That’s why Vaseline® Spray & Go Moisturizer appealed to me from the very first commercial I saw (I tried the Total Moisture® variant, specifically). Spray it? Go? Instant absorption? Sounds like Vaseline just cut moisturizing time in half. It’s super easy to use–same concept as using hairspray or spray-on sunblock–just uncap, aim, and spray.
The moisturizer is actually more of a lightweight lotion (with a multi-layer moisture complex), and I was surprised by how quickly it absorbed into my skin. Before, I would apply body lotion (when I would remember to) at night after my bath, but with Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer I can just add it into my morning routine and have healthy, moisturized skin all day without the mess.
To apply, you just spray up, switch hands, spray down, and then rub in (“Up, Switch, Down, Rub”). After spraying it on and rubbing it in, I put on a pair of jeans within 3 minutes and my legs weren’t sticking to the inside of the jeans–an awesome improvement.
And I was surprised that my legs were still soft and gleaming–even when I got in the bath about 8 hours later in the evening, when the water beaded wherever I had applied the moisturizer.
Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer comes in three variants: Total Moisture, which contains pure oat extract and leaves skin feeling healthy and soft skin (pictured); Aloe Fresh, which contains pure aloe and leaves skin feeling healthy and fresh, and Cocoa Radiant™, which contains cocoa butter and leave feeling healthy and skin glowing.
And yes, although I am still rushed in the morning, it’s not that big of a deal to just spray the moisturizer onto my legs before slipping into jeans.
Soon…I’ll be slipping into shorts. 😉
Sweepstakes: Win a $1,000 SpaFinder Gift Card
Tell me! How would Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer maximize your morning? Each comment will automatically be entered for a chance to win a $1,000 SpaFinder gift card. Entries will be pooled from participating blogs and one winner chosen.
Sweepstakes Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
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For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winner will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 7/1/13 – 7/31/13.
Be sure to visit the Vaseline® Spray & Go page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!
To learn more about Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer visit their Facebook Page!
Good luck to everyone!
xo Carly
FTC Disclosure: This post is part of a paid campaign with Vaseline® and BlogHer. I received compensation for the post, and a sample of Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer Total Moisture. All opinions are my own. My Disclosure Policy is here.
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As a child I was always drawn to the rainbow sherbet at the ice cream shop in my little town…and loved to watch all the colors melt together in my tiny paper cup into a rainbow lava flow of epic proportions (read: icky orangey-brown). I’ve always had a thing for ombre colors (and sherbet, LOL), but they’re really hard to re-create on one’s nails without an airbrush. 
While in Tokyo I recently bought a couple extra sets of Beauty Wild’s nail polish trios that I first discovered during last year’s Japan trip. This year Beauty Wild now has a “Gelato” version that includes a neutral base + color, with a glitter polish to create a pretty ombre transition (and labeled A, B, and C for ease of use). 
Even if you don’t have access to Beauty Wild products, you can easily re-create the ombre mani at home with 3 coordinating nail polish colors in your stash. Here’s how:
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Carly J. Cais I am a DIY’er, designer, sewist, maker, and marketer. Chic Creative Life is where I share what I do, and help others bring their unique style into their own lives.
