Glam Up My Nails Serries: My Julep Obsession

"Sweet Alicia"
with Oscar accent nail

 

 ~~ Glam Up My Nails ~~

     Very modest as I am when it comes to fashion and accessories, I do like to glam up my style once in a while ~ a simple yet sophisticated look.  Nail art specially captured me.  It's very fashionable, yet it can be as demure or as outgoing as you want it to be.  What wonderful things you can do with your nails!  Express creativity, moods, and enhance well-being through those seemingly unassuming finger tips...  In other words... I developed a craze for Nail polish and nail art paraphernalia.

I painted this one while watching "Roman Holiday"
Did I capture some of the romance?

  
       Julep Nail Polish form an integral part of my nail polish and nail art collection.  Thanks to their program called "Julep Maven."  Although there are some kinks along the way with regards to my product experience, my enjoyment of the program and the products themselves still outweigh any troubles.  In a few of my articles, I wish to share this experience with you - from colors to designs even emotions :)  You can decide for yourself whether or not you would like to be a part of this program as well.

      For now, I want to share with you this two designs I made and have enjoyed using Julep Polishes.  To carry out the company's tradition, I named these designs in honor of the polishes' titles :)  What is your favorite nail art design?

 

   

"Bubbly Sandra"
I think a strip of Glitter can make any design 'sparkle', lol.

      *I used the ever raved about "polymer top coat" in this design and loved it.  My manicure held on for a week!  It was just allowed to air dry (No UV lamp used and no reapplication of top coat done, although recommended.) There were visible signs of wear on the tips as well as lifting on the cuticle part but no chips.  Thoroughly pleased :)

You may find more of my nail art designs here: facebook.com/nail.arts.by.jem

Up next: I'll tell you how it is like being a "Julep Maven" for me.

     

Disclaimer:  The products discussed in this article are private purchases and  not company-gratuities.

For Julep Polishes:

http://www.julep.com/rewardsref/index/refer/id/35704/

Use code FREEBOX at checkout to get your first box free (value of $19.99)

Fingerpaints Gel Polish and LED Lamp

FINGERPAINTS Gel Nail Polish
and LED Lamp Review
sold at Sally's Beauty Supply

Starter Kit includes: Cleanser, Acetone
Full size bottles of Bonder, Basecoat, Topcoat and Cuticle Oil
The LED Lamp (sold separately) comes with AC/DC adaptor.
I used the Konad set to place some designs. 
The other 4 bottles of polish were bought separely.

        This is my first experience when it comes to gel polish.  I have heard many things about gel polish, not only wonderful things about it but also regrets. Add the salon price in the equation and there I run away saying, "I'll go home and do my own nails with regular polishes."

     Then why now? Well, my ever wonderful mother, and sister-in-law gave me this lovely set as a gift! (There's my Disclaimer, winkie, winkie ;) Having my own set and being able to do it at home made all the difference in the world.  Yes, I got to try gel nail polish finally.  And how do I feel about it?  Let's get down to business, mohohaha...

     This kind of gel polish applies like regular polish.  Yay!  That makes it super easy.  And with the Konad Stamping Set, it became even more enjoyable.  But you will need the LED lamp in order to cure/dry it.  UV Lamps work too.  Here's a brief list of pros and cons I enjoyed or encountered with my first experience with gel polish, specifically, the Fingerpaints brand sold exclusively at Sally's.

Here are some of the designs I did with my girlfriends using FingerPaints
gel polish and Konad Stamping Nailart set.

PROS:
     1.  Since it applies like regular polish, it is super easy to use.
     2.  It does last for a long time without chipping!  So you can enjoy your hard-worked nailart longer.
The gel is very durable. (Super-PRO)  My only thing was, my nail growth was very visible, a blank space between my polish and my cuticles which is in my opinion very unsightly. (hmm isn't that a con? winks... that could only be avoided if the nail does not grow... so it's not a con, lol)
     3.  Cheaper than most gel polishes in the market.
     4.  I can't get over how there's no more waiting for it to dry!  Zero dry time. No smudges and chips! (You do need to cure each layer with the LED lamp for 30 seconds, but that's it.  A total of 8 minutes to cure all fingers! You can instantly enjoy your nails or work with your hands.  How do you like that compared to almost an hour dry time with regular polish?)
     5.  If you have dry nails, the gel polish really stays put beautifully.  (If you have oily nails like those of little girls, the gel polish will peel off prematurely.  But that's ok, just do it again with a different color and design, hahaha)

Here's a comparison of the freshly painted gel polish nails
and at the end of the 7th day (1st week)
It's in perfect shape!  No chip nor signs of wear.
Just the visible growth of the nail bed.
Constant use of the cuticle oil maintained my fingers health.

CONS:
     1.  If you have oily (healthy nails) the gel polish does not stick very well. You may be able to just peel it off after a few days.  (Some would consider that as an advantage given the next con :)
     2.  It is a royal pain to remove it.  The very advantage you have of being able to wear your gel manicure for 2 weeks is your very own nemesis during removal.  It is recommended to soak your nails in Acetone for 15 minutes or more to remove the gel "without damage."  So get your favorite show on TV since this will force you to relax (PRO)
     3. Following the removal instructions will preserve your nails.  The Acetone is harsh and it can leave your nails dry and brittle.  So you need to give your nails a break from gel polish now and then to recover.  Apply plenty of moisturizers or the cuticle oil that came with the set.  And drink lots of water to keep your nails flexible and healthy.

     Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the gel polish.  I did my laundry, dishes, cleaned the house, cleaned my yard... just to test its durability.... and woa!!! The nails are in perfect shape! I look forward to using it when going on vacations or when I foresee a very very busy 2 weeks ahead. I would totally wear it on a very special weekend when you want to have fancy nails and don't want to worry about its upkeep.  To enjoy such would be worth the trouble of removing it after :)  Wohooo!

I removed my gel polish after 1 week out.
Yes it was early, I just wanted to try out the process of removal.
My nails were in good shape even after soaking in Acetone for
15 minutes.  See how shiny it is here?  Buffed it good and applied cuticle oil.

  More tips:  Use lint free cotton pads or paper towel to cleanse nails.  Lint can ruin your manicure and contaminate your polish. If you have more tips and suggestions, kindly leave a comment below.  Have a great and beautiful day everyone!
Make sure you apply the polish only on the nail bed and nothing on the skin.  If there are any booboos, cleanse first before curing.  Excess polish cured on the skin or cuticles will cause lifting and peeling.


All the designs you see here I did with my girlfriends with this same set.  Some of them just peeled off the gel polish after 10 days without damage :) Cool huh?

If you have any questions or suggestions, kindly leave me a comment and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.  Ciao bellas!

To watch my haul please follow this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRq3OqixP9U


Disclaimer:  The products discussed in this article are private purchases and  not company-gratuities.

Pretty Nails and Tea

    
    Each of my days start and end with a cup of tea. A rejuvenating, stimulating blend in the morning I like to call "wake-me-up" tea, then a relaxing, soothing one in the evening I love to call "sleepy" tea.  Then anytime in between, for any reason at all.... there's tea!  Before I do my toe and finger nails-routine, I also make sure that I have a comforting cup of tea, mostly a blend of floral and fruity flavors.  The floral tones provide a relaxing feeling, while the fruity flavors seem to enhance my creativity.  So there you go, relaxed clarity equals productivity (for me at least...)

     These are my passions at the moment - nail polish and tea.  Pretty sure I have made many of my friends happy by hosting a couple of tea parties in the past, nail art themed :)   What a pampering delight!  Their tummies are warmed by teas of different kinds and origins while they stare with great pleasure at their beautifully polished nails! It's suppose to be a design your own nail kind of party but most of the time, that would be me doing it, hahaha.  Oh well, the pleasure is mine.

     Two simple things in my life, I'd say. But no, not a token journey.  Each has a story to tell, each holds a special place.  There are moments when I hold a cup of tea with both hands and savor the delightful aroma of steeped leaves and wish I am able to share it with the best girls in my life.  (Yeah, that's you Mama, dear Baby-sis and one-and-only niece who lives many, many miles away...) Even when I paint my nails pretty.  My memories would traverse years of being away from home back to that sweet spot in our old home, sitting by the floor with my Mama as she painted my nails pink and gave each finger a silver quarter moon to finish... Ahh... I tell you, pretty nails and tea are bridges from my heart to my far away home. 

     So here it goes, a narrative-review type of a tale brought to you to recount memories of Pretty Nails and Tea while crossing new horizons to the ever expanding world of new product ideas and blends nowadays.  Please join me in this dramatic.... uhmmm I'm getting carried away, haha... Oh well, hope you join me in this nail art design and tea memento.  You'll also find reviews and storytelling about some products that strike my fancy.  I hope that you would join me on this amusing trip... Now, now... How about a cup of tea?

Hmmm, yummy and comforting chocolate-orange milk tea :)

     

Disclaimer:  The products discussed in this article are private purchases and  not company-gratuities.