Nails Inc. Be Gelous Collection

Hello everyone!


So if you've watched any of my videos, you probably already know how deep my love for nail polish goes. I absolutely love painting my nails on a regular basis week after week. Honestly, doing my nails is my "mommy time" whenever I chose to do my manicures. I truly look forward to my next manicure especially now that I've discovered some incredible nail polishes.


This set I'm reviewing today is by Nails Inc. and it's called Be Gelous Collection. I purchased mine weeks ago from Sephora and it retails for $42. If you would like to order this set or anything else from Nails Inc., then click here. I am new to the Nails Inc. brand so I like exploring new brands through sets. This way I can try a little of everything a brand has to offer. This set in particular is the "Gel Effect" formula which claims to give you a high shine, long wearing, gel like professional finish as you'd come to expect from the typical salon gel manicures. Essentially, Nails Inc.'s claim is to give a salon gel manicure in a bottle. Pretty interesting, right? I think so :)

I do believe Nails Inc.'s claim to provide a high shine, long wearing, professional formula to be true. This polish formulation is freakin' awesome!! I have been looking for nail polishes that can provide longevity with a super high gloss finish. Every brand I've tried until now, falls short to my expectations. I highly recommend this brands' gel effect formula!


Let's take a look at the colors in this set:
(my apologies for not saving the packaging)

5 nail polishes and 1 glitter
each  0.27 oz.
L to R:
The Boltons, Grosvenor Crescent, Old Bond Street,
Uptown, New Oxford Street, Piccadilly Place

The Boltons: the most gorgeous metallic red (so perfect for the holidays)

Grosvenor Crescent: a deep midnight purple (online it's described as an aubergine) 

Old Bond Street: a violet shade that pulls just a touch of blue (described online as a glossy violet)

Uptown: a soft blush pink-y mauve (described online as a winter pink)

New Oxford Street: a dark purple-y mauve (described online as a chic mauve)

Piccadilly Place: a beautiful glitter with silver, white and multicolored glitter specks

I love all of the shade options within this set. To me, these colors scream fall and winter time. Although, they may appear to be perfect for this season, you can wear these colors any time you'd like. The best part of these besides the color range, is the super glossy finish without a top coat. The formula also lasts a good 6-7 days without chipping with the Nails Inc. 45 second top coat. 

*I haven't worn these shades with a different brand topcoat.

Here are the nail swatches of each color:

without top coat

Each of the colors applies very evenly without streaks but the darker colors I find need two coats. If you were to apply one generous coat, you could probably skip the second coat. As you can see, these Gel Effect polishes don't even need a top coat, which is so awesome!

Some screenshots of photos I posted on Instagram after doing my manicure with Nails Inc. Gel Effect

Uptown 

The Boltons & Crushed Diamonds
by Nails Inc.

Grosvenor Crescent
without top coat

Overall, I'm super impressed with the formula. I would recommend this set because it's an affordable way to try several of the colors within this formulation by Nails Inc. Within the next few weeks I plan on reviewing another Nails Inc. Gel Effect set that I got during the most recently Sephora VIB Sale. Have you tried Nails Inc. polishes? 

I hope this review was helpful :) Feel free to leave me some feedback on here!

Stay in touch with Me on Twitter & Instagram:

@GlamourbyLexi

Thanks for stopping by,

xoxo

~Lexi 

Urban Decay Vice 3 palette Review + Swatches

Hello & Welcome Back!


Today I'm finally sharing my thoughts along with pictures and swatches of Urban Decay's Vice 3 palette. I recently picked up this palette because a subscriber has asked for my thoughts on this palette compared to another major palette that was released weeks ago. I'll start filming that video sometime this week. Honestly, when this palette came out months ago, I didn't feel like I needed it. I wasn't even thrilled about its release like other Urban Decay fans were. I am a huge UD fan but lately their palettes have been somewhat the same or playing out a specific theme i.e. the infamous Naked stuff.

I guess I was somewhat tired of hearing about additional installments of preexisting palettes. This Vice 3 eyeshadow palette is the third installment to the Vice palettes. The perfect example of releasing similar things. I bought the original Vice palette when it came out sometime on 2012 and completely skipped Vice 2 from last year. Again, didn't feel the need to own Vice 2.

This Vice 3 palette is set up the same as the previous two, containing 20 eyeshadows; 6 matte finishes & 14 shimmers/metallics. Each eyeshadow is a great size within the palette so no worries of running out too quickly. The mirror is also great quality, which is a bonus. The Vice 3 palette retails for $60 on several websites (links are at the end of this post).


Let's get into this palette:::

Palette comes with its own travel pouch &
a double ended eyeshadow brush

I like how Urban Decay included the matching travel pouch which will be handy if you choose to take this with you on your travels. It can also double up as an everyday makeup bag.

Inside Look

Again, great sized mirror. Good quality too!

Exterior packaging

Exterior packaging is all plastic, a bit cheap looking. I don't mind the stripes of color with the Vice logo done with bright neon green plastic rhinestones. The logo is similar with the other two vice palettes. I like the brightness of the packaging, it's fun.

Inside colors

I've taken the photos in small groups for better viewing. I also tried to zoom in so that you can see the finishes and textures of each eyeshadow. I am a fan of the color selection of this Vice 3 palette :)

Upper left corner

Upper right corner

Lower left corner

Lower right corner

Swatches of each color......

L to R
DTF, Downfall, Undone & Truth
(1st column on left side)

This column has all the basic neutral shades needed to accompany the brighter colors. I like how all of these are matte finishes.

L to R
Brokedown, Heroine, Freeze, Dragon
(2nd column on left size)

This column has some fun shades like Dragon and Freeze. I like how Heroine is a dark matte navy, which has an awesome payoff. I love bronze-y tones like Brokedown especially during this time of year.

L to R
Bobby dazzle, Regin, Lucky, Vanity
(middle column)

*All colors in this row are awesome with great pigmentation except for Bobby dazzle. This shade is a shimmery white with silver sparkle and it's not very pigmented compared to the others.

L to R
Sonic, Bondage, Alchemy, Alien
(2nd column from the right side)

I love this column for all the dark reddish tones. I've been loving these types of shades lately :) All of these are shimmery finishes.

L to R
Revolver, Deft, Angel, Last Sin
(last column on right side)

Last column has good basic smokey colors. Only one matte finish (Defy) in this column.

As I look at this palette, I can see how each column from top to bottom, is set up to give a complete look. Of course, you can mix shades to created different eyeshadow looks. Overall, each color has a good amount of pigmentation and payoff with the exception of one color (bobby dazzle).

I think Urban Decay did a good job with this palette. I can see many people loving it because of the shade ranges offered. This palette is available on the following websites: Ulta, Sephora, Urban Decay. I can definitely see myself reaching for this palette often. I hope this review was helpful if you were curious about it or debating whether or not to buy it.

Here's a look I did using this palette (tutorial coming soon on my youtube channel):
I love this color combo :)

Stay in touch with Me on Twitter & Instagram
@GlamourbyLexi


Thank you for stopping by,
xoxo
~Lexi

How to Foiled: Eyeshadows & Pigments

Hello everyone :)


Today I'm taking a break from reviewing makeup products and doing a post on how to foil eyeshadows and pigments. If you haven't try foiling, then you definitely should at some point. To me, foiling is the easiest way to transform one eyeshadow or pigment into a better, more intense form of itself.

While playing around with several eyeshadows and pigments from various brands, I realized how a foiled shadow can look totally different then what is displayed in the pan or jar. Often times, we look at an eyeshadow, swatch it and think "ok, this might actually be good", but rarely do we stop and think what it'll look like foiled.

This posted is centered on the beauty of foiling and creating intense versions of our favorite eyeshadows and pigments. But first, you'll need a few things to get started.....a synthetic eyeshadow brush that has densely pack bristles to allow for better application. The next item needed is a simple bottle of eye drops. Yes! eye drops is the magic ingredient. I got mine from Target for about $1.14 :) Then of course, some of your favorite eyeshadows and/or pigments.

Eye drops are Target's Up & Up brand
Eyeshadow brush is by Coastal Scents

*When foiling, all you need to do is load up your eyeshadow brush with an eyeshadow or a pigment and then apply one small drop of the eye drop solution to the brush. Doing it this way is better versus adding the drops directly into the eyeshadow pan or pigment bottle. You don't want to ruin your eyeshadow by adding liquids to them. 

**Tip: when foiling any eyeshadow or pigment, make sure your brush isn't trenched with eye drops. It only takes one drop of the solution for this to work. Any more then one drop, you'll start getting more of a liquidity texture, some what like liquid liner consistency.

Here are some of the brands used for this experiment:

I tried to use a variety of brands like MakeupGeek, MAC, Morphe, and LORAC.  I found these brands worked great at foiling :) 

MakeupGeek Razzleberry Eyeshadow

MakeupGeek 'Razzleberry' eyeshadow was definitely a complete transformation. Razzleberry eyeshadow is a beautiful raspberry red with gold glitter. As you can see, there's a huge difference between applying it with your fingers and foiling with a dampened brush. Foiling this eyeshadow created an intense version which I find is even more beautiful. I was shocked by this one :) 

Morphe Brushes
35B Color Glam palette

This turquoise eyeshadow is from Morphe Brushes 35B Color Glam palette. This brand has some awesome palettes and individual eyeshadows that have a great amount of pigmentation to them. The foiled version of the color is way better. 

MAC Tan pigment

This MAC Tan pigment is stunning on its own and there isn't too much of a difference between the two swatches. I can see something slightly more intense but MAC pigments are very intense already. Foiling this Tan pigment made it more metallic looking...gorgeous!

MakeupGeek 'Vegas Lights' pigment

MakeupGeek 'Vegas Lights' pigment is so incredibly beautiful. It's one of my favorite pigments by this brand. It's a stunning coppery shade that is perfect for fall and winter. This one definitely had a difference when foiled. The foiled version is much more vibrant and intense, like a true metal finish. 

NYX Ultra Pearl Mania 'Jade Pearl"

NYX Ultra Pearl Mania 'Jade Pearl' is really good. It's more of a summery spring green shade but you can see such a difference here. These Ultra Pearl Mania pigments are only $3 but foiling can make them look more expensive.

MakeupGeek 'Liquid Gold' pigment

MakeupGeek 'Liquid Gold' pigment is very intense on its own but foiled...holy cow! It has a liquid metal look when foiled....out of this world good! This is the very reason why I'll be foiling my eyeshadow more often. 

Urban Decay 'Reign' from Vice 3 palette

Urban Decay 'Reign' eyeshadow is a perfect brown with a hint of taupe. The foiled version is a bit more intense and it's definitely smoother looking. 

LORAC 'Navy' Pro 2 palette

LORAC 'Navy' from Pro 2 palette is such an awesome shade of blue in a matte finish. I really love wearing this shade and it has a great payoff when applied dry. Obviously, when foiled, this looks so much better. It's much more vibrant and packs a punch when foiled. 

**This same technique can be done for creating your own liquid eyeliner. Just use a few more drops of your eye drop solution and swap out the eyeshadow brush for an eyeliner brush. Violà! Homemade eyeliner :) :) 

I hope this post on foiled eyeshadows and pigments inspires you to start foiling your eyeshadows. Have you tried this technique? If so, which brands do you find work best?

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@GlamourbyLexi

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Thank you for stopping by,

xoxo

~Lexi