OPI Lincoln Park After Dark vs Sally Hansen Pat on the Black Nailpolish, and Lauren Conrads signiture shade!



OPI Lincoln Park After Dark                                    Sally Hansen Salon Nails Pat on the Black


Today is day three wearing these two polishes. I applied OPI on my left hand, and Sally Hansen on my right hand, the test is to see if the $11.00  salon nailpolish is better quality than the $7.99 nailpolish from the drugstore claiming to be of salon quality.

The test is to see which color is glossier, longer lasting before chipping, color intensity, and ease of application. Both were applied the same day, I applied one brand to one hand, then the other brand to the other hand after completing application to the other hand - whew! You know what I mean!

This is OPI Lincoln Park After Dark (check out the chip on little finger) top pic, and bottom pic is Sally Hansen Pat on the Black (no chips!)

Both colors as you can see are identical if not exact!
Here are the results of my test:

Best brush stroke: OPI. OPI's brush is wider, and covers the nail better. Sally Hansen's brush is thinner, and does not cover the surface of the nail as well as the OPI brush. Neither one streaked, both applied smooth, only two coats each brand. It really just goes by your preference.

EASE OF APPLICATION: OPI. Again, this is due to the fatter brush, the brush is smooth, goes on easy, and less dipping brush into the bottle, as the fatter brush picks up more polish, where Sally Hansen had to be dipped a few times, basically for each stroke as the brush didn't pick up alot of polish, and the polish was a little bit thinner and runnier, OPI polish was a bit thicker, and runny, so you will need to apply slowly to keep polish on the nail. Sally's was better at keeping the polish on the nail though because of the thin brush! Again, this is your preference.

GLOSS and Shine: OPI. OPI is very glossy, Sally Hansen has some gloss, but is not as shiny or fresh application looking as OPI.

CHIPPING: OPI. This means that Sally Hansen is the winner! This polish LASTS!! And I have to add that Sally Hansen is applied to my right hand, the hand I always use for everything as I am right handed, so I thought for sure she would chip and not last as long as OPI!
OPI has chipped on my little finger thumb, and my middle finger! Sally Hansen - nothing, she is on there! Also I forgot to mention that I did not apply a top coat or base coat, I wanted to judge these polishes on their own.

COLOR QUALITY: TIE. Both shades are great, both have the same intensity. Two coats were needed for each brands application.

So which brand will I continue to buy, hmm, both are great quality, I do like the fatter brush OPI has, but really Sally Hansen has kinda prooved to be a great cheap alternative to the more expensive salon brand polish. Sally definately holds up her own! Awsome shade palette to choose from, lasts longer than OPI, or any polish I have tried! But I think I will still buy some OPI, AND Sally Hansen nailpolish. OPI is about $3.00 more where I live, than Sally Hansen, so it will depend on my spending mood, after all the $3.00 saved couls buy me a cheaper funky fashion color like electric peakock blue from Wet n Wild, or some nail files etc... If Sally Hansen was $5.00, hands down I would only buy that brand!

So overall to me, both OPI and Sally Hansen Salon Formula nailpolishes are winners!!

FYI: Lauren Conrad from the Hills always wore Sally Hansen Pat on the Black nailpolish! It was her shade of choice in her dark nailed days on The Hills!!

XOXO

My secret to long lasting hair colour!

I confess I use box hair dye from the drugstore to color my hair! My natural color is medium brown and I dye it black. I love and use always Nice n Easy in either soft black or natural black, I like both shades. This brand is awsome in my opinion. I have not colored my hair in almost 6 months and it has not faded, even though I was outside without a hat to protect my color all summer long in the blazing hot sun! My hair stayed black, did not fade to a funky color, turn reddish or any other color other than black! And I stress this, as I have tried Garnier, L'oreal (yuk, awful washed out fast fade colors, dried my hair to straw and made my hair fall out in chunks) all have faded within a month and left me with washed out funky colored hair, but not Clairol's Nice n Easy brand!! As long as I continue to color my hair, I will remain faithful to this brand!

Nice N easy #122 Natural Black

I also highly recommend using Dove's Moisturizing Colour shampoo and conditioner, I have been using these since the last time I colored my hair (6 months ago) and they have helped extend the life of my color a little bit longer than other shamppo and conditioners, plus they condition and moisturize my hair deep down, and leave me with bouncy soft hair!
It says on the bottle 'Moisturizing colour system helps leave hair with vibrant colour that lasts. Fiber Actives deeply penetrate to help repair hair within. Formula with Micro Moisture Serum nourishes the hair surface to help lock in colour.'
This is one product that I find not to be a gimmick, and is true to it's claims!
I love the clean Dove scent that lingers in my hair ALL day long! I also have really baby fine thin flat hair that breaks easy and lies flat to my head, but with this shampoo and conditioner, I am left with really soft, bouncy shiny, stronger less fly away locks! Oh yeah, and NO FRIZZ!!

Dove Moisturizing Colour (old bottle)

XOXO

Essie and Chanel Black Satin nailpolish review

Essie nailpolish in Ballet Slippers

This nailpolish bubbles soooooo bad once dried on your finger nails! I did not shake the bottle before using, as this will cause the polish to bubble, so I don't know why it would do this. They should change the name to 'bubbles' - ha ha. I am very disapointed in this nailpolish and don't think I will ever purchase again, there are other better quality polishes at better prices than this. What I did like about this shade, is that it is very glossy, easy to apply without streaking, and didn't chip very much. The color stayed glossy the whole week I had it on and I did not need to touch up once. But it does take forever to dry, so when I first applied I had to touch up some smudges. The polish smelled really bad AFTER it dried, I usually always apply my polish before bed, and the next morning I could still smell the really strong scent on my nails, it actually gave me a bad headache! I like the milky pale ivory pink shade, but like I said I can find the exact same shade in a better priced brand that doesn't leave my nails bumpy and bubbly!

Essie nailpolish in Bordeaux

I also bought another Essie polish in 'Bordeaux' when I got 'Ballet Slippers'. I applied this shade after I removed Ballet Slippers, I wanted to see if this one would bubble up also. It did, sadly, but not nearly as bad as 'Ballet Slippers'. I love dark colors, this shade I am in loooooove with, it is true to it's name as it is a true bordeaux burgundy red. This one is also very glossy and not at all matte, and it stayed glossy all week long! I am impressed, usually dark colors chip super easy, this did not chip all week at all, therefore not one touch up :) I may actually buy this shade again, as I can see myself wearing it alot this fall and winter! I also picked up a bottle of Essie 'Good to Go' fast dry top coat, I applied it ontop of 'Bordeaux' but not on 'Ballet Slippers' so I am not sure if that is why this shade lasted so long without chipping compared to other dark shades from other brands. I really do like the top coat, it kept the color glossy, but it is really goopy, which I do not like, almost like applying a sticky goopy thick lipgloss, similar texture, not sure if it is supposed to be that way, or if I got a bad bottle, but it did it's job, and did dry my polish SUPER FAST, so no smears etc.
Also I am wondering if maybe that is why this shade didn't bubble as bad as the previous shade which I did not apply top coat to.
I will apply this shade again, but next time without the top coat to see if it bubbles and how much it may chip, then share my results in my next review for polish, which will be OPI 'Linkin Park After Dark' and Sally Hansen Salon Nails in ' Pat On The Black'.

Chanel nailpolish in Black Satin

Waste of my money, I threw $25.00 in the garbage when I bought this CRAP!! Like I said above, I usually do my nails before bed, this was no different. I applied this polish to my nails before going to bed. I always let my nails dry completely first though. When I woke up in the morning this polish was already chipped sooooo bad, it's an embarassement to the Chanel brand! And the price they are charging! This is the most expensive bottle of nailpolish I have ever owned, and I am so sad that I paid so much for a brand like Chanel, a brand I was expecting to be quality!  Many times Chanel has disapointed me, their shadows crease and fade, the skincare caused numerous breakouts on my pimple free face, plus burned and stung, made my face feel sticky and gross, there is just too much perfume in their skincare. Their fragrances are the only thing worth buying from this brand.
Back to the polish. I have tried Chanel Vamp and a lighter shade of polish, I think it was called Ballerina? Those chipped right away also.
I really am upset that this polish is such poor quality, I mean come on, it's not like I did any manual labour, I went to bed, showered the next morning and went to put on my makeup and  that is when I noticed all the chips on my nails!!
GARBAGE! GARBAGE! GARBAGE! DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY!!!!!
There are soooo many cheaper drugstore brands selling black polish, even the dollar store has one that I tried that didn't chip for 3 days at least! Avon sells one for $2.99 and that lasted almost a week before chipping!
I did apply top coat on all my Chanel polishes, but they still chip like mad, will NEVER buy them again, EVER!! Black Satin is your basic plain old black shade, very matte, chips easy, and alot, scratches easy, and is very flat and matte, not at all glossy.
Buyer Beware!!

XOXO

Big Brother 12 winner!

I just watched the finale of Big Brother 12, and Hayden won! I was pulling for Lane. Hayden has won soooooo many prizes on this game that I really was hoping someone without all the prizes won. I am annoyed because it wasn't like he won any of the prizes deservingly really, he won them all by being greedy in the pov competition where the players did something for extra points or lost points to get a prize.  Brendon was dunked in fish slop, and had his head shaved to get points to win pov, or power of vito, to save himself from the block, Lenzo gave away ALL his clothes for points to win, and Britney didn't win any prizes because she also wanted pov.

Wonder if Hayden will take Kristen on the vacation he won?

I am so happy though that Britney at least won the $25,000 prize from the Americas Favorite Player award, she made it really far, and I think if The Brigade didn't go to the final four, and if Lane won HOH she would have won the game! Those slimy boys!!

Did anyone notice the fake smile Rachael gave Britney when Britney won the money?

I think Britney and Lane should get together, they would make such a cute couple and Lane really adores her. It's hard when you are in love with someone who is not available to you, never mind being stuck in the same house for 3 months with this person! Alot of the times when he was annoyed with her I think it had alot to do with his feelings for her. But Britney was very respectable by not cheating on her fiance or using a showmance to get her anywhere in the game, she got herself  as far in the game, final four, all by herself! Unlike last years Big Bro where Jeff helped Jordan win the game. She wouldn't have won if Jeff didn't pull her through, especially when he threw the HOH game so that she could win!

Not my fave season of Big Brother, hope next year is better, I can't wait, I really like this show and have been watching since the very beginning. I would like to know where some of the past contestants are today!

Over all I hope Britney and Lane end up together!

XOXO

My Wayne Gretzky hockey card...... is it worth anything????

I  have had the same little junk drawer for over 12 years or so, since highschool and my first job! Today, for the first time since I started my little junk collection, I decided to clean it out! I came across alot of forgotten little treasures, jewellery, makeup in old packages, all that good stuff, also my first job employee contract and id badge. My first job was working at Wal;Mart! I also found my old highschool id card! Boy has my style changed!

Anyway, one of the little treasures I found was a Wayne Gretzky All Stars Collection hockey card from a Post brand cereal box. The card says 200+ Point Season, March 25, 1982 on the front of the card. On the back of the card is picture of Moment 2 of 7, I guess in the series, not sure, but anyway, the little blurb under the moment 2 picture it says ' With two goals and two assists in a 7-7 win over the Calgary Flames, Gretzky records his first of four 200+ point seasons. No other player has ever done this once'
The card came out in 1999 by the NHL. It is still in the plastic and in perfect brand spanking new condition!

I am thinking about taking it in to the hockey card collection place near my house to find out if it is worth anything! Maybe I am sitting on a million dollar card! HA HA ya right, dont think it is worth much if anything at all,what do you think? Does anyone know about this stuff? I will update once I find out. Probably not worth more than a buck or a few cents

The adventures of a five dollar bill!!

Sometime in August I was given a five dollar bill as change from a store I was shopping at, I pulled it out of my wallet to buy a lottery ticket. I was going for a little walk to the 7-11 near my house, and didn't want to take my purse or wallet with me, I really don't need the temptation to buy junk food, so I made sure I only took enough for my lottery ticket.

As I was getting ready to leave I picked the five dollar bill up off my bed to put in my pocket, when I noticed a stamp on the bill, it had a website adress, that I cannot remember, something track this bill.com or something like that, and a little blurb about going onto the site and entering where this bill was at that moment. I also noticed that someone had written the date in pen, the city and province along with their initials, I decided to do the same.

A few days, maybe a week later I got that same bill back! I was grocery shopping and was given the five as change back again, my initials on it! Didn't travel very far, stayed in the neighbourhood - ha ha.

I wonder where that five dollar bill is now? I never really thought about the adventures or travels of my money before.............

Have YOU come across that five dollar bill?

p.s it is a Canadian five dollar bill, forgot to mention that!

XOXO

What is this blog about?

I am a 28 year old type 1 diabetic, I am on a mission to get my health and body in the best condition it has ever been. I am currently following a low glycemic diet, choosing foods that will not raise my blood sugar too high too fast. I will do some updates on my progress, meaning what I am eating each meal and snack, excercise, blood sugar levels and weight loss. My goal is to lose a few pounds and lower my insulin dose. I will post before/after pix once I reach my one goal, each month.

I am also a lover of all things girly, pink and glittery!! I love bath and body products, I have a serious addiction to sweet smelling yummy cute little things, I am attracted to cute shiny packaging-lol.
I loooooooove all things Lush, my favorite bath and body company, but I am always on the lookout for other brands. My favorite scents are usually sweet smelling - vanilla, caramel, honey, brown sugar, cotton candy etc... not a fan of chocolate scented anything though! I use soo many products that I really can't keep track of all the things I have, so I decided to use everything to clear out some space (so I can buy more - ha ha) and blog about my experience with the products, what I love and hate, all that fun stuff :)

I also have a big soft spot for candles. I  love to light a few scented candles at bedtime to relax and read a good book while in bed or in the bath with a bubbly Lush product! (no I dont work for Lush, but I do love their stuff)

But I have worked in the beauty industry! I worked as a makeup artist for a few years out of beauty school, maybe I will post a blog about my beauty school experience! I also worked for a few brands like Chanel, Estee Lauder, Clarins, Lancome, Clinique, Biotherm, Dior and Elizabeth Arden. Working with these companies in the past, I obviously got alot of products to try for free, and attended product knowledge classes etc, I do have some faves from some of these brands, one brand I looooove, and well a few I haaate!! I do not work for ANY cosmetic company now, so I am not getting anything for free, I will share my thoughts on some products, tell you what to buy and what is just so not worth your hard earned money, 100% honesty here! Also I will share some past customers experiences, complaints, results, rashes,amazing or awful results, plus my rash I developed all over my hands while working with one brand in particular from demonstrating! I will also share some bs that these companies beauty advisors are made to give you so they can get their sales goal for the week! Some are very - in a nice term pushy and forceful.


This blog will be mostly about these things. I will keep a diary of my struggles and success with my diabetes, diet and fitness, maybe include some recipes, lots of product reviews- cookbooks, novels, beauty products etc....and of course some random blogs!  I am a very opinionated person, and very honest, so if I review something on here it will be pretty staight forward and of course honest.
I am not getting paid to do any reviews or have anything sent to me from any company. I am just a regular person who likes to shop, and hates wasting money on garbage.

Hope you enjoy and get something out of my blog :)

XOXO