Revlon Runway Collection Nails Review

Revlon Runway Collection Nails Review

To promote the Revlon Runway Collection nails the Assistant Brand Manager from Revlon, Janet Lai, sent out the nails to various bloggers to try and review. Lucky for me, I was one of them as well. Even though a lot of bloggers have reviewed the nails already, I think some people might be interested in this particular review because it was my first time trying out glue-on nails! Let me start off my review with a picture of the result.

[Click images to enlarge]

The review is a bit long because I wanted it to be detailed & filled with pictures, so I've added a little summary of my review (list of pros & cons) as an introduction or for those who don't have the time to read it all.

PROS:

• Looks like you just got a manicure done - simple & from the comfort of your own home
  
• Many designs to choose from - simple, to glittery, to bold
• Medium length is just perfect!
  
• Many different sizes provided, so you're bound to find sizes that match your nails pretty closely
• Great price
  

CONS:

• Annoying air bubbles - people might not be able to tell from far, but I know they're there & that's good enough to bug me!
• Glue dries a bit too fast to apply an even layer of glue on your nail & the fake nail & then figure out how to put it on, causing a bigger mess
  
• Glue got on my fingers & wasn't easy to take off
• The maroon colour of the Mystic nails wore off the edges - I suspect that this might happen to the Studio nails as well
  
• Gems weren't all centered in the Mystic nails
• Like all glue-on nails, they're hard to take off (you have to soak them in acetone or an acetone based polish remover) & they damage your real nails
  

Here I've attached the PR flyer that Janet Lai e-mailed me before sending me the nails. I was excited to try the nails just after seeing the flyer!
From looking at the flyer, the collection sounds pretty good, doesn't it? The price seems reasonable for the product that they're offering as well. Keep reading to see more pictures of the nails & read my review on them.


When I opened the package that Janet Lai sent me, I found not only 1 or 2 packages of the Revlon Runway Collection nails, but I found 6 different designs! Of course, I was stoked! There's a close-up of the nails later on, so you can have a better look. But for now, here are the nails that I received.
Each package includes the following items: buffer, nail glue, manicure stick, & 24 nails (although, Starlet has 28 nails).
Glue - dries a bit too fast to give you the opportunity to apply an even layer on both your nail & the fake nail & then apply the nail.
Manicure stick - was very useful in trying to separate my skin from getting glued on to the fake nail, since I put too much glue at times that oozed out all over & made a mess by getting on all my other fingers & nails.
Buffer - a bit rough so I ended up using my own since I didn't want my nails to go through any more damage that they would be going through already.
More nails - a variety of sizes available, which is amazing because you can find a match that fits closely to your real nail without having to worry about filing the nail down to match sizes.

Here's a close-up of the 6 designs that I received

The designs range from simple that you can wear everyday, to bold that you can sport on a night out. Mystic was the first set that I tried because it matched my outfit on Eid (religious celebration, which was a few days away). I didn't think I'd like the dark colour so much for everyday wear, but surprisingly, once I had them on, they actually looked awesome & matched most of my outfits! However, they didn't look that great just after 4 days of me having them on...
I don't have a picture of them on, but I have the nails that I wore so I just took a picture of those. In the picture you can see that the edges of the nails are worn off, which was quite disappointing. Another disappoint was that all the nails with the gems didn't have the gems centered, but I got lucky & found nails with centered gems in the sizes that I needed. I wore the nails with the gems on my index & ring finger & both of them fell off within just 2 days!! Of course I wasn't going to sport these worn off nails on Eid, so I decided to try out my favourite design of the bunch: Sequins (91087).

I thought since it's my second time applying the nails, I would get better at it & there would be less air bubbles, but no such luck! (For reference, look closely at the picture above). Others couldn't really tell that I had air bubbles from far, but I knew better & saw my nails up close all the time, so the air bubbles looked disgusting & really annoyed me!

What I loved about the nails is the medium length. It is perfect! They're not too long to interfere with your daily activities, such as texting, typing, &/or writing, especially if you're not used to having long nails or having fake nails on. They really don't take long to get used to at all. They're not too long to look tacky either & you don't have to waste time trying to file them down to the right size.


& here's a little snippet of information, that's not directly related to the review:
Most people don't know that Muslim women can't pray with nail polish on. Actually, that's a lie... you can't perform ablution with nail polish on & you're supposed to perform ablution before your prayers. That's a whole different story, so I wont talk too much about that besides saying that the only time I can wear nail polish is when I'm menstruating. This is also means that I can only get a manicure during that week & the timing never works out, so I've never gotten a manicure done either!
I didn't mention all that just 'cause. I said it because the Revlon Runway Collection nails made my hands look like I just got a manicure & I could do it at home without having to worry about going to get a manicure done when I get my period. Now that was an automatic bonus for me!

Now, the question that's left is would I buy the nails again?

Personally, I don't think I would just because I don't like the damage that is caused to my real nails by the glue. Also, to take the nails off, you have to soak the nails in acetone or an acetone based polish remover. Acetone dries out your skin & I wouldn't want to use too much of it.

However, I still look forward to trying out the rest of the nails. I'm thinking I'll be bold & try Studio first. Or maybe Stella for a very simple look? Just hope I can keep the air bubbles to a minimum this time around.


Have you tried these nails before? Which one is your favourite design? How did you like the nails?

Hope this review helps anyone who wants to try these out.

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M.I.A

M.I.A

Hi everyone,

I know I said I'd try to blog once in a while even though school has started and I'm busy but I haven't really been doing that. I would have but there's just a tiny little problem.. I don't have my laptop! It took 4.5 weeks to repair it and when I got it back, it was still giving me problems so I've sent it back again hoping that it will be repaired and returned to me before I have to start researching for and typing up my essays, research proposals, papers, etc.

I miss blogging so much that I'm blogging via my iPhone now. It would be a pain to edit pictures on here though, so even though I'd love to share some pictures with you, that will just have to wait till my laptop is fixed and running properly again!

I do have a picture on my phone that I'd like to share with you though. It's a picture of me of course. I decided to go back to my blunt bangs/fringe because I think they really suit me and I have received TONS of compliments on them when I've had them before. So here I am sporting the new (well, not exactly new anymore) hairstyle...


I've also been wanting to blog for a while now, especially about the smudgeliners by Annabelle cosmetics that I've been using recently! Also, I want to do a picture post of all the different haircuts that I've had to date which should be neat. And I've also had the chance to try out the Runway Collection nails by Revlon which most bloggers have had the chance to try already, but I still want to review them. Maybe the review will be a little different than the other reviews since it was the first time that I've tried glue-on nails, so it's from the perspective of a beginner.

All that and more coming up. Just don't know when though.

Hope you have a great Thanksgiving weekend!


- Posted using BlogPress from my fabulous iPhone

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It's henna time!

It's henna time!

This henna post will be a little different than the previous ones. In this post I have 2 pictures. The 1st picture was taken right after the henna is applied and some of it is still wet. The second picture was taken the next night after I had left the henna on overnight, woke up and brushed it off, went to a wedding, and got home at night and decided to take a picture of it.

[Click images to enlarge]

The thing with henna is that the longer you go without getting your hands wet, the darker your henna will get. So after you apply henna, it is best not to do the dishes or shower for a long time. However, lately I have noticed that way too many chemicals are being added to henna cones that I get. Since more chemicals are being added, the henna comes on really dark the day after you put it on and its almost gone in around 3 or 4 days. In the past, henna used to fade away slowly in about a week. But now the colour doesn't stay on for too long in the beginning, however, it stays on for way too long for in the end. And it looks disgusting and blotchy at the end as well.

I really do wish that they'd stop using all those chemicals and what not to make the colour come on that dark. I hardly apply henna anymore because my hands look pretty for about 3 or 4 days and then they look disgusting for a week or more.

Personally though I like henna when it's wet cause of the dark colour. It almost looks like a tattoo. A 3D tattoo that is :)

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Things I'm loving & missing

Things I'm loving & missing

Loving:

1. Neutrogena's Fresh Foaming Cleanser. I realized how much I love this cleanser when I stayed over at a family friends house for 1 night & didn't take it with me. When I use this cleanser I don't have to worry about carrying around a makeup remover & then using a face wash because the cleanser does it all. I plan on doing a review on it, but that will have to wait till I finish up with at least half the things on my 'to do' list.
   
   
   
2. Going au naturale most of this summer. I used minimal makeup (with the exception of a few days) to give my skin a break. I also reduced the amount of products that I used in my hair & left it curly most of the time & just straightened the front bit that frames my face. I didn't use any hair gel or anything either. Instead of using products, I took a really little bit of Parachute coconut hair oil in the palm of my hand (as much as a Canadian nickel) & worked it in my wet hair (from the tips, working my hair to the mid section & a little bit at the roots). My mum was so skeptical about this when she saw me do it because coconut hair oil usually stinks but I asked her to smell my hair right after I had applied it& to her relief, she could still smell my conditioner. This method worked best when I slept an hour or 2 max after applying the tiny bit of hair oil & I woke up with gorgeous curls.
   
   
   
3. Working at Bath & Body Works. Whenever I'm in the States, I stop by BBW (& Forever21 too). The American chain is expanding in Canada & I'm surprised our store opened before many of the other locations, but that's a bonus for us :) If there isn't one in your area, don't worry because there are around 11 or something stores opening in the fall. Anyway, who wouldn't like to work at a store that smells good all the time? & the best part is that we don't have to push for large sales & trick customers into buying expensive products.
4. School starts soon! As silly or nerdy as it may sound I can't wait to go back & be around my close friends all the time. This year is gonna be a bit harder not only because I'm entering my 3rd year now (eek!), but because all my courses count as my major since I'm doing a combined major now. Sigh, I'm gonna miss taking easy electives.
   
   
   
5. Winning. If you've read my blog in the past, you will know that I love entering contests & have won a couple of them. Recently, I've also been winning little contests at work. I never win giveaways though which sucks because they're so easy to enter, but winning contests is a great feeling because I know that I'm working hard to achieve something & my work is being recognized. & as long as my hard work pays off, I'm happy :)
6. Experiencing the Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours once again. The first time that I went on this attraction was in grade 9 for a Geography school trip. Ever since then, I've recommended this attraction to all of my friends & family who are visiting Niagara Falls. I usually tell them: if you don't have enough money to see all the attractions in the area, save your money & just go on this one attraction because even though it's a bit pricey, it is def worth it & it's better than all the other attractions combined! Perhaps I love it so much more because I am a Pisces & I love being in or around water ;)
   
   
   [Click image to enlarge]
   
   
   Childhood family friends & I getting soaked in the front row on the Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours
   
   
   

Missing:

1. My laptop. Seems like I always have some kind of problem with it. The latest thing that came up was that the wireless wouldn't work on it at all, so I had no option but to give it for repairs. I miss using my laptop from the comfort of my own room, sigh.
   
2. Playing card games. When my childhood family friends were staying with me for a bit, we played various card games all night long. It was SO much fun. I miss playing Poker on Facebook too because my home computer just wont co-operate when I try to play it, which takes me back to me missing my laptop!
   
   
   
3. Having more watches. I never used to wear watches before but thanks to a good friend, I now wear my watch every time I go out. Sadly, I only have one that fits right. The other that I have is a bit big & I haven't had the chance to get that sized yet. I wanna buy more watches soon. I came across a Valentino one online that I adore, but it's too dressy to wear every day & I wanna get one that I can wear on a daily basis first.
   
   
   
4. My old body. I'm so not used to my body right now. I'm the heaviest that I've ever been & since I've always hated working out, getting my old body back seems like such a difficult task. I've never been the kind of person that has complained about their weight or anything of the sort, but lately this whole issue is frustrating me to the point where I'm not even buying clothes anymore cause I don't know how to dress my new body. Now if only I can use that negative energy to take some positive action & work to get my body back to where I want it! Luckily, I'm not that short so I can hide my weight more than a lot of other shorter people probably could.
5. Blogging & entering contests. Summer was too short & somewhat busy too, so I didn't update my blog as much as I wanted to. Even though I had a lot of posts in mind, every time I signed on to Blogger there were so many blogs to catch up on & most of the time I was so overwhelmed that I never got the chance to update my own. As mentioned above, I didn't wear too much makeup this summer either so I didn't really have any makeup posts. I def missed reading the lovely comments on my posts from everyone though. Some of you did keep in touch through e-mail & comments though which was much appreciated :)

That being said, I really want to keep updating my blog once in a while. Even though I'm going to be busy with school & work, I will try to blog simply because I love doing it & I love the response that I get from family, friends, fellow bloggers, & complete strangers at times as well. I'm not making any promises but don't worry, I'm not going anywhere... yet.

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Day to Night Look

Day to Night Look

Juggling work & play can be a tough thing, especially if you work a lot or you work long hours & can't afford to spend much time to get dolled up to go out with friends or to a birthday party. Changing between a day & night look doesn't have to be time consuming though if you plan ahead a little. Through a pictorial, I'm going to show you how to go from a day look to a night look in just 10 minutes (or under)!

So 1st I'm going to start off with my...

Day Look

[Click images to enlarge]

This is a business casual look. I am in love with blazers, so here I paired up a gray blazer with a black tank & denim. My hair is tied loosely behind, allowing a few short strands to frame my face & I'm wearing silver, pointed kitten heels. As for accessories, I have dark gray hoop earrings, a long black & gray bead necklace that I've knotted, my watch, & 10 bangles on. Nothing in this look is loud.

Here's a close up of the eye makeup that I'm wearing. I have MAC eyeshadow in Girlie all over my lid & on my lower lashline. I have MAC's Cranberry eyeshadow in the outer V & crease & I used Prestige eyeshadow in Angel as a highlight & on the tear duct.

On some skin tones & depending on the shade of the eyeshadow, pinks can be really vibrant, but the pinks that I chose are not too bold on my skin tone, especially after blending. Since my accessories & clothes weren't too colourful, I used colour on my eyes. Part of the reason I used colour is also because whenever people mention a day look or a work-friendly look, most people automatically go for the neutrals & browns. However, personally I think that coloured eyeshadow is acceptable in the workplace if you choose the right colours that go with your skin tone as long as the makeup isn't bright.

Here's a closer look at the products that I used for the day look:

I wore the same jewelry for both looks.

• Jeans from Dynamite
• Blank tank from Suzy Shier
• Gray Blazer from H&M
• Kitten Heels from ShoeMart (Dubai)

• Maybelline Dream Matte Powder in Honey
• NYX blush in Dusty Rose
• MAC eyeshadow in Girlie
• MAC eyeshadow in Cranberry
• Prestige eyeshadow in Angel
• Nivea Caregloss
• Almay blendable eye pencil in black
  
• Almay One Coat Triple Effect Mascara in 02 Black

Now for my...

Night Look

As I mentioned above, I wore the same jewelry for both looks. To start off the transition, the only thing in my outfit that I changed was my blazer & shoes. I exchanged the kitten heel for a sexy, silver high heel & I chose a leopard print blazer. Even though the colours on the blazer are still neutral (white, gray, & black), the print makes a statement on its own. Also, I don't think a night out means showing skin. A well tailored blazer paired with your fave pair of jeans & some high heels can be just as sexy as a dress or skirt. The clothes have to make you feel sexy & you have to have the confidence to pull it off.

• Blazer from Forever 21 (Oh, how I love that store)
• Silver high heels from Wal-Mart - I got these before any other store had this design. I remember seeing it in all the shoe stores later & Le Chateau had them for $60 or something ridiculous, but I got em on sale from Wal-Mart for $10 :D woohoo!
  

Since this look doesn't require me to change my bottoms/jeans/pants, it makes it much easier to go through the day to night transition. I can just change my blazer & shoes in the car or in the washroom! On the other hand, if I had to change my jeans, I probably wouldn't change in the car (umm, do I need to explain why? hehe) & I wouldn't change in the washroom either because do I really want my jeans touching the floor in a public washroom? I don't think so!
I also let my hair down :)

For my night makeup, I just made everything darker. Once again, you can re-do your makeup in a public washroom.. you do not have to go back home to go from your day look to your night look. Just carry your blazer, heels, & a makeup pouch with you to help you through the transition. Here are the makeup products that I used:

• Marks & Spencer blush
  
• Rimmel Colour Rush Quad eyeshadow in 001 Smokey Noir (I used the black on the lid & lightest colour: silver to touch-up on my highlight)
• Sephora lipgloss in Rosy Glow
• Almay blendable eye pencil in black (on the waterline)
  
• Almay One Coat Triple Effect Mascara in 02 Black (re-applied a little mascara to make my lashes bold against the dark eyeshadow)
  

You can see the cheek colour is darker, but in this pic with the flash on, the eyeshadow looks like a dark gray. I didn't take off my pink eyeshadow from before. I just took the black eyeshadow & blended it inward from the outer corner.

You can kind of see the dark eyeshadow in the pics below. When I uploaded the pics, I realized that none of the pics showed the proper colour of the dark makeup, so I took another pic (the pic on the right). As you can see, by that point I had already changed my clothes & earrings.

Close up of the eyes. Once again, the eyeshadow looks like it's a dark gray, but at least it's different than it was in the day look.

So as you can see, you only need a few items to go from a day to night look. If you don't have time, don't worry because you can achieve a different look in just 10 minutes! I mean really, it doesn't take that long to change your blazer & heels & darken your makeup. Also, I love blazers so I used blazers for both my looks, so I guess this transition would be great for the fall season when it's not too hot & not too cold & you can sport a blazer in the day as well as at night. You can also just put on a shirt/blouse/etc. at night instead of the blazer, put some heels on, darken your makeup, & you'll be ready for a night out in no time :)

Btw, this is an entry for Vanessa's Day to Night contest. Check out her blog. She posts the cutest hauls. Hope you liked the look.

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o.b. tampon samples

o.b. tampon samples

Most women would agree with me that they're never looking forward to that time of the month. Some dread it & others just want it to pass by as quickly as possible. However, it is something that all women go through, which is why I think women will be interested in this free sample: o.b.'s free tampon samples!

It seems like o.b. tampon samples have been around for a while, but I got mine recently. The tampons are "mighty small" (as described on the website) & do not have an applicator.

Here is the 1st question in the top 5 frequently asked questions on their website:

I’m not sure about not having an applicator. Why doesn’t an o.b.^® tampon have one?

An o.b.^® tampon is designed not to have an applicator. However, it is not uncommon for a woman to feel somewhat uncomfortable, at first, about inserting a tampon with her fingertip. Using a fingertip is a natural way of placing the tampon, so it can be positioned in the most comfortable position and where it can protect best. Applicators are stiff, while the vagina curves. The fingertip can follow the natural curves of the vaginal canal.

To view other F.A.Q's, click here or visit http://www.mightysmall.com/faq


The 3 tampon samples arrive in a little carrying case. I have added a picture below in which you can see exactly how small the carrying case is as compared to a pencil.
It's great because you can carry it in a mini clutch or if you're not carrying a clutch, you can slip it in your jeans pocket because it's so small! I haven't tried the tampons yet, but I've heard bout the brand & the product sounds good, so I'm sure I'll like it.


By now I'm sure you want to get your hands on the sample, so without further delay... There are 2 different links below. One is for residents of Canada & the other is for residents of the U.S.A.

Residents of the Canada, click here to receive your free o.b. tampon samples (or visit http://www.obtampons.ca/home). Once the page loads, click "Free Trial Offer" on the top right hand corner.

Residents of the U.S.A., click here to receive your free o.b. tampon samples (or visit http://www.obtampons.com/mightysmall/en/register_landing.jsp). Once the page loads, click "here" (written in pink).

Both links will take you to a short form that you have to fill out in order to receive your samples. Just fill out the form & you'll receive your samples in a few weeks. Enjoy!

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Henna Design #5

Henna Design #5

This henna design was done the night before I was going to a wedding. I wanted to put some henna on cause I hardly ever get the chance to get dolled up desi (South Asian) style. So besides dressing up traditionally, I thought I'd add a little extra desi-ness by applying henna.

[Click image to enlarge]

To view all the henna designs that I've posted so far, click here.

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Paris Hilton Impersonation

Paris Hilton Impersonation

I did a Paris Hilton impersonation for Pop Champagne's contest.

[Click images to enlarge]

& I had to put on a tiara too :)
The Inspiration

I used all the M.A.C makeup that I received from Fashionista514 for this look. To view the makeup used, click here. I didn't get to post a look with all the makeup that I received from Robyn & I took this contest as an opportunity to do that since Paris Hilton's makeup usually doesn't involve really dark or bright makeup, so I thought it would be the perfect time to do a look using the products.

Do I pull off the heiress look? I think I need more hands on practice with money & parties to really get the feeling of being Paris Hilton hehehe ;)

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Beauty Tip: When in Doubt, Always Apply Mascara

Beauty Tip: When in Doubt, Always Apply Mascara

Have you ever wanted your eyes to look/appear bigger? Or have you ever wanted to make your eyes open up? Has anyone ever suggested that you use mascara to achieve this? I'm here to show you that mascara does in fact open up your eyes & make them appear bigger. That's right, SHOW not tell. After these pictures, I'm sure most of you will agree with me that...

When in doubt, always use mascara.

[Click images to enlarge]

Here I've added 2 pictures to show you the difference when you apply mascara & when you don't. By the way, I didn't curl my eyelashes.

Did I really need 2 pictures to prove the same point? Definitely not. But I wanted to show my readers that you can tell the difference not only in a clear picture that's taken with the flash on, but you can also see the difference in a picture that's a bit blurry because it was taken without the flash. & which eye looks better in both pictures? No doubt, the one with mascara on, right?

When I apply mascara, I always start from the outer corner & work my way inward. This way most of the mascara gets used on the outer corners & as I work my way to the inner corners, the mascara on the wand decreases, making the corner lashes appear longer. & of course it also helps that I'm wearing one of my favourite mascara's, so my lashes really stand out even though I have a lot of eye makeup on.

Finding your favourite mascara(s) is not an easy task. Warning: Be careful not to fall for cute packaging. Also, when you read reviews online or hear about the product from others, make sure that you understand what the mascara does most: thickens/volumizes, lengthens, &/or curls. Some people have long eyelashes & want their lashes to appear fuller & not necessarily any longer than they already are, so a mascara like Maybelline's Lash Stiletto is not the best mascara to use because Lash Stiletto mainly lengthens.

Now for a full face picture to show you the overall look when I applied mascara on one eye, as compared to the other eye without mascara on.

As you can tell, you can really see the difference. So readers, find a mascara that really suits you & your lashes & do not skip your mascara! Even when you think you're wearing really dark eye shadow & thick eyeliner & you think it wont really show, put it on anyway, especially if you're going to be taking pictures. You might think it won't really show, but it will.

In the full face picture in this post can you tell what else is different on one side of the face as compared to the other side? Take a closer look. On the side that I have mascara on, I also applied blush. Like I've mentioned before, my camera doesn't seem to pick up the colour of my blush unless my blush is really dark (& I look like a clown in person), but you still might be able to see the difference if you look close enough. Blush is another one of my favourite products that I cant seem to leave behind. When the right colour of blush is chosen & applied properly, blush gives you a naturally flushed look & balances your whole look (especially when you have really bold eyes or really bold lips going on).

Anyway, getting back on track... one beauty tool that I cannot live without is my eyelash curler, but no look is complete without mascara. So when in doubt, always apply mascara.

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Bright Leopard Print Eyes

Bright Leopard Print Eyes

When I saw a post by Miss Yaya on Mehron's coloured leopard print eye makeup at the NYC Makeup Show, I was in awe.

To see Miss Yaya's post on Mehron at the NYC Makeup Show, click the image of the Mehron model below.

Leopard print eyes look gorgeous in pics, but it was the first time that I saw a leopard print eye that was so colourful & I loved it. I knew I was going to re-create that look sometime & when Miss Yaya announced her next Brightest Face Forward contest, I knew my time to re-create the look had come. & also cause I received a Too Faced bronzing powder in Pink Leopard from Miss Yaya herself, so the whole bright leopard print theme reminded me of her.

[Click images to enlarge]

Too Faced bronzing powder. It has a little mirror & below the mirror it says: "You are absolutely purrrfect!" How cute is that?

The Look

So, here's my re-creation of the bright leopard print eye makeup. At times like these I wish I had the Coastal Scents 88 palette or the Beauties Factory 120 palette because I don't really have bright eyeshadows. But, I worked with what I had & added bright pink lips & cheeks & sunshine yellow nails.

No flash

Products Used

I found this yellow nailpaint a month ago when I was cleaning out my room. It's so old & I never really used it, but it's still good so I'll def be wearing this. It's perfect for spring.

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