3 Empties: O.P.I. Avojuice, Younique Illuminate Clear and Dainty Digits Creamy Base Coat

Greetings and Nailutations,

It's another installment of 3 empties, where I review 3 products I have used up and express my opinion on how well they worked, how well they smelled, their packaging and if I'd make a repeat purchase.

The first product I finished up is Dainty Digits Creamy Base Coat.  The Creamy Base Coat is slightly tinted pink and goes on smoothly.  It is the fastest drying base coat I have ever tried.  The only thing that deters me from using this base coat is when I have a sheer or light color polish on, the base coat is tinted pink and can adjust the color of the polish, so I only used it under dark colors.
Smell Test:  smells like polish!
Feel Test:  fastest drying base coat I have ever tried!  LOVE that.
Packaging Test:  I had received mine awhile ago, so it was in a recycled bottle.
Buy Again:  super fast drying base coat?  YES!  When you are in a rush, this is a must have!

Photo Courtesy of http://daintydigitspolish.storenvy.com

The next product I finished recently is O.P.I. Avojuice in the scent of Hibiscus Blossom.  I bought this lotion from Ulta and had heard great things about it.  Once I started using it, I couldn't stop.  I primarily used it morning and night on my legs.  My arms are more sensitive and have different needs for moisturizing.  I like that the product isn't greasy or oily and quickly absorbs.
Smell Test: fruit, floral, sweet (almost sounds like wine!)
Feel or Look Test: enjoyed the non-greasy formula and fast absorption
Packaging: easy to use pump that allowed me to get most of the product out of the bottle, I also like when the sticker doesn't cover up how much product is left in the bottle.
Buy Again: YES!  I have a few others in different scents, which I can't wait to bust out.

Photo courtesy of sephora.com

The last product is Illuminate Clear Facial Cleanser from Younique.  If you remember from a few posts ago I was raving about Awake, their older facial cleaner....but then they decided to reformulate.    This new formula feels different, doesn't lather and made my face break out.  The scent isn't the same either.  The only thing that is the same is the grey color.  Now I am on the look out for a new facial cleanser.  I used this product 5 times and my face revolted, so it is being thrown in the trash.

Smell Test: soft, earthy

Feel or Look Test: almost an acrylic paint type texture, not soft and didn't lather

Packaging: the lid is too small for the size of the tube, so it doesn't stay upright easily and kept falling over

Buy Again: No.

Photo Courtesy of Younique.com

Have you tried any of these products?  Did you have similar or different experiences than I did?

Happy Polishing,
Kristi aka @BeginNails

3 Empties: Dream Polish Top Coat, Younique Facial Cleanser and Fortune Cookie Soap Shower Steamer

Greetings and Nailutations,

It's another installment of 3 empties, where I review 3 products I have used up and express my opinion on how well they worked, how well they smelled, their packaging and if I'd make a repeat purchase.

First product is my trusty Gem Glam Top Coat from Dream Polish in the scent of Summer Melon.  If you follow me on instagram, you'll know that most of my manis are topped with Gem Glam Top Coat.  Out of all the scents that Vanessa offers, this has been one of my favorites (although I haven't tried Strawberry Champagne or Candy Cane yet).  For me, Gem Glam Top Coat dries quickly and provide coverage and protection for the underlying polish.

Smell Test: YUM!  I wish it was summer all year, so this scent was obtainable.
Feel Test: super shiny and long lasting
Packaging Test: one of my favorite things about Gem Glam Top Coat is the wide brush, allows me to quickly add a top coat
Buy Again: of course, I am currently stocked up with a few in my drawer of top coats!

Next was part of my first order from Fortune Cookie Soap.  I ordered the soap box and received a Steam Me Up Scotty shower steam fizzy in the scent of "I Pledge Allegiance, Amen!"  All the products in the collection are inspired by the movie National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.  This was my first experience with a shower fizzy and I really enjoyed it.  It adds an aromatherapeutic experience that is a little different than a regular shower.  I could smell mint and some herbs I couldn't place, and reminded me of fresh clean snow scent.  I am excited to try other products from Fortune Cookie Soap.

Smell Test: mint, freshness, snow, herbs, I really like the smell as it was clean
Feel or Look Test:  It was the perfect size, as it lasted about 15 minutes when it was out of the full blast of the water from the shower head.
Packaging:  it comes in a little block and foil, easy to access and use.
Buy Again:  YES!  I am excited to try more of these products of shower fizzies and also other products in this box.

*Photo courtesy of Fortune Cookie Soap

The last product is a facial cleanser that I have fallen in love with.  It is called Awake by Younique.  I loved it so much I thought I bought a second, but I bought a different cleanser made by Younique and my face has been in revolt!  Awake contains Garden Chrysanthemum, Aloe Vera and Licorice Root.  It threw me off at first because it is a dark grey color.

Smell Test: I really like the smell, it's not too flowery, and smells earthy like natural ingredients.  

Feel or Look Test: The color did take some getting used to, but my face responded positively to this product.

Packaging: Easy to screw off/on cap.  The only thing I didn't like is that it's a little thin, so it falls over easily if you aren't careful and it's even worse on the new product that replaced Awake.

Buy Again: Sadly NO.  Younique has changed it's product line and this product doesn't exist anymore.  Now I am on the look out for a new facial cleanser.

Have you tried any of these products?  Did you have similar or different experiences than I did?

Happy Polishing,
Kristi aka @BeginNails

3 Empties: Dream Polish Cuticle Balm, Sassy Polish Scrubs Sugar Scrub and Younique Daily Moisturizer

Greetings and Nailutations!

I bring today another installment of my 3 Empties!  Three beauty related products that were used up! Today I am including a "beauty" non-nail product because....why not?  :)  As always, please let me know if you have tried any of these products and what your impression was of them.

First is Dream Polish Gem Glow Cuticle Balm in the scent of pink sugar.  I initially reviewed Dream Polish and gave my first impressions in a previous blog post.  I didn't use this product as a cuticle balm.  The formula was a bit too hard for me to utilize on the cuticles (I prefer oils or soft formulas).  I did however use it all up in a different manner.  I live in the dry desert of Arizona and often times my hands are very dry at the end of the day.  I would take the Gem Glow Cuticle Balm and place it all over my hands and then throw on a pair of cotton gloves that I sleep in.  Several times I went to bed with peeling skin and woke up to fresh, mended, sweet scented hands.
Smell Test:  sweet scent, not over powering
Feel Test:  too hard for cuticle balm, so it was used as a moisturizing balm on my hands and worked great.
Packaging Test:  Love the packaging, easy to hold and take anywhere.
Buy Again:  I wouldn't buy it for the sole purpose of my cuticles, but I'd like to keep one on my night stand for dry hands.  (Currently using the Fresh Peach scent one now.)

Next is Sassy Polish & Scrubs Melon Ball Sugar Scrub (which my tub actually calls it Watermelon Jolly Rancher...I'm assuming name change is due to copyright infringement).  I ordered this when I received a blogger code for reviewing polishes and decided to try out a sugar scrub.  You get an 8oz tub (which is quite large).
Smell Test:  delicious scent...I really wanted to taste it because it really did smell like watermelon candy
Feel Test:  since the tub was so large, the oil used in it all went to the bottom, so the product at the top of the tub was very dry (like sand) and the product at the bottom was very wet/oily.
Packaging Test:  packaging is a tupperware container with a sticker.  Would like to see something that keeps the product in a smaller container so that it is consistent throughout.
Buy Again:  I did like the scent, but the overall product should be in a smaller container to keep product uniform in appearance and use.  I will pass on purchasing this product in the future unless packaging changes.
Photo Courtesy of Sassy Polish & Scrubs

The last product I have to share today is not nail related, but it is beauty related.  I used up a new face moisturizer and love it so much, that I wanted to share.  It is Brilliant Daily Moisturizer from Younique.  My younger sister is a presenter, so I decided to try out some of the products.  I've been very impressed with all of them so far.  (Younique sells the 3D fiber lashes that are really hot right now as well.)
Smell Test:  I described the scent to my sister as "Earthy dirt" and she laughed at me, then she tried it herself and said "I get what you mean."  To me the scent isn't flowery or full of perfume, you are smelling the natural products that are in the moisturizer. (ginseng, pearl powder, silver)
Feel Test: most moisturizers I use leave my face oily and I wake up to an oily face.  With the use of Brilliant, my face is clean in the morning, my face absorbs the product and I'm not left with a greasy face!
Packaging Test:  the packaging threw me off for a bit at first.  It comes in a jar, with "pearls" of moisturizer or beads.  You are provided a scoop and directed to scoop out 2 beads along with the surrounding gel.  Then apply the mixture to your face and neck.  It is kind of fun...like a science experiment.
Buy Again:  Yes!  Just received my 2nd jar!

Have you tried any of these products?  What were your experiences with them?

Happy Polishing (and Moisturizing!),
Kristi aka @BeginNails