I had an awesome experience with the Off the Floor EZ Store just recently. I was sent one of their products called 'Glam It!' which totally changed my not-so-tidy tween & teenage daughters' organizational lives! Please check out my new product review published on Yahoo! Voices for more details and some photos of how we used the panels to keep my girls' bedrooms organized.
With the New Year coming, this product is such an excellent solution to help keep you or other's on your Christmas Shopping List on track if being organized & clutter-free is on your list of New Year's resolutions. ;)
To me, Foil Nail Art Deco is a new type of nail design medium. One will discover that most foil nail art being sold online comes in the form of cards or rolls of different colors & multiple textured graphics. However, the BornPrettyStore's version of nail foil came in small, clear, 1-inch diameter acrylic pots. BornPrettyStore.com recently gave me the opportunity to test out their foil nail art deco and share my objective impressions on them.
My foils were a mix variety of golds & coppers with traces of muted blues, oranges, & greens to mimic the natural oxidation seen on some metals. They can be purchased at BornPrettyStore.com in sets of 12 pots for a reasonable $6.28 or a value of $0.52 per pot. Upon the writing of this review, they offer discounts for multiple purchases of the same product. This type of foil conforms to the shape of the nail better than the foil that comes in rolls or cards.
Because of the delicate form of the nail foil, the application can be time consuming for the first timer. Personally, I spent one hour to complete only 5 nails using my dominant hand.
Although the creative possibilities are endless, other simple variations of applying the foil include:
1. a 'French Manicured Look' - where only the tips of the nail are covered with the foil. For better results, apply a similar metallic polish resembling the nail foil on the nail tips instead of the clear nail polish. With the tip of an orange stick wrapped in cotton & dipped in acetone, the smile line can be better defined & edged.
2. an 'Accent Look' - where only one choice nail on each hand (i.e. ring fingers) is foiled. This is beneficial when time to work on a manicure is limited or conserving product usage is desired.
3. a 'Dotted Look' - where the adhesive medium is dotted on the nail in similar or varying diameters so the foil only adheres to the dots creating the look. As needed, an orange stick wrapped in cotton & dipped in acetone can also be used to define the edges of the dots.
Yard work, hand washing, laundry, dish washing, etc. can eventually take a toll on a manicure. With nail polish alone, polish will normally start chipping from a finished manicure within a few days to a week depending on the wear & tear a person subjects their hands to. During this test, I applied foiled nail art on one hand & achieved a similar look on the other hand just using metallic nail polish. The foil nail design lasted 3 more days longer than the 'polish only' nail art before it began showing signs of the deco chipping.
Overall, the novelty of having foiled nail art was a unique experience in itself. I enjoyed the opportunity to select from the wide variety of foils included in BornPrettyStore's packaged set. An individual with foiled nails will definitely be considered an "original" especially since this deco medium hasn't fully infiltrated the nail design community as opposed to crackle polish or nail decals.The application process may be considered time consuming for the average person, however, major nail enthusiasts will most likely find joy in being able to create sparkly, luminescent designs with this trendy medium.
If you'd like to try out foiling your nails, BornPrettyStore.com has generously offered a shopping code for my readers. Use code: DELW10 at check out for a % discount on your total order.
Just posted a new nail art video on YouTube using fimo I purchased at the BornPrettyStore.com. Below is a link to what I purchased. They came in stick form, so I still had to manually slice them with a scrapbooking paper blade.
The nail art is really easy and simple. At the time, I was in the mood for a cutesy design :) Here's the link to the video. http://youtu.be/s7YCB0XLCB0 -- Feel free to switch up the colors and fimo design -- I would love to see what you come up with.
Because it has been months since my last video, I am hosting a little giveaway. Below are the rules and a list of the prizes.
1. Comment on what you think of this nail design on
http://www.facebook.com/deselvie2008
2. Leave your YouTube username.
3. Must be subscribed to http://youtube.com/Deselvie2008
4. Open internationally.
5. Winner will be randomly chosen from all wall posts on June 1, 2012 and notified.
6. If winner doesn't send me their contact info after 7 days, I will need to draw another winner.
7. If under 18 years old, please state that you have your parents' permission to receive the prize.
8. Need a Facebook account to be able to post on my wall. Send me a friend invite (if we are not FB friends yet).
Lucky subscriber will get:
1 - Sally Hansen Color Quick Fast Dry Nail Color Pen in "Purple Chrome"
1 - ELF Professional Nail Buffer
1 - ELF Nourishing Cuticle Pen
Fimo Sticks/Slices random designs from the BornPrettyStore
After almost one year of being a faithful user of Elf's Waterproof Eyeliner, I've come to be fan of this affordable eyeliner. Because it costs only $1 - as the majority of their product line is priced - I didn't risk a heavy loss if I did not like the product after first trying it.
Below is the link to my full review:
http://yhoo.it/JbRNUo
Let me know if you have already tried this product and what your experience is.
Waterproof eyeliner is perfect for those who cry often at sad movies, or those whose eyes well up with tears to sentimental FACEBOOK posts or stories :)
Thanks for the visit!
Til next post...
Deselvie2008
Just wanted to give a little shout out to CRYSTALIS007...I've been following her blog for about a year now and really find her posts really informative. Most of them are short, straight to the point and almost always have photos of what the post is about. She talks about a wide range of beauty related products from high end make up to drug store brands. She even holds weekly giveaways so her followers are able to try out some of the products she blogs about. I enjoy following her and I'm sure you will, too.
I recently won her giveaway for 2 "Beauty Addicts" Lip Glosses that I'm really lovin' at the moment. I just wanted to give her shout out because she just makes me smile whenever I read her blog; her positive personality just speaks through her posts.
Here are this week's giveaways! I originally intended to get this out every Friday, but I got busy with work and wasn't able to get this post out on time. So, I'm calling it 'Sweet Saturday' today :)
Check out these awesome ladies...
1. Haute Lacquer Follower Appreciation Giveaway Extravaganza! - Deadline 7/31/2011 Just found Shaina's Extravaganza. She's already given out some awesome gifts this past month but the grand prize is still up for grabs until tomorrow. So, rush on over to her blog for the rules and participate before it is too late! In celebration of her 400 Blog Followers, she is giving a huge batch of nail art supplies which include polishes from Barielle, Zoya, KleanColor, Revlon, NYX & Ulta. In addition, she is also giving away dotting tools & nail tatoos as a part of her incredibly generous grand prize package. Deadline is tomorrow so click here - Haute Lacquer - to get started. Good luck!
2. Nail Art Contest - Deadline Aug 17, 2011 Carmen of 1maquillage on YouTube just hit her 200 subscriber milestone and is now hosting a nail art contest to celebrate. Her contest theme is "Floral and Cute" which she opens up to nail artists at the beginning & intermediate level.
Carmen inspires others to tap into their own creativity through her nail designs. She's actually done celebrity portraits as nail art of Princess Diana & Audrey Hepburn. Check out her channel for her other designs and for the detailed rules to her contest. 1maquillage
3. Zoya & Color Club Nail Polish Giveaway - Deadline: 8/7/2011
Ever wanted to try Zoya or Color Club? Kathryn of 'Mommy Kat and Kids' Blog is giving away 2 bottles of each when you enter her giveaway by August 7. Winners will be chosen randomly from comments entered under her giveaway post. It's always fun to win free stuff especially if it's higher end products like Zoya Nail Polish :). Click here - 'Mommy Kat and Kids' - for the full rules & how to get additional entries.
Much gratitude to these generous ladies -- they deserve all their success and more....
It's Friday! There are some generous ladies out there hosting some awesome giveaways. They all offer easy rules and fantastic, more than generous prizes...I'm giving them a quick shout out here - so please visit their sites/blog and see if their content fits your interests as well. Have fun :)
MakeUpByNessa
Vanessa does such beautiful makeup looks and also dabbles in nail designs. My favorite is her eye makeup. Her color combinations are so amazing & hypnotic. Take a peek at her blog and see for yourself. Details to her giveaway can also be found there. http://makeupbynessa254.blogspot.com/
A Lil Bit of This and That
Christina provides such fantastic info on incredible makeup deals, ideas on Konad stamping nail art as well as on product reviews. At times, she will even share some of her fave recipes. I love that she shares her experiences on products as it helps me make better choices when I go shopping for the same items. She is also hosting a giveaway, so check out her blog for the 411 :) http://alilbitofthisandthat77.blogspot.com/2011/07/youtube-give-away-comment-on-this.html
VenusOcean
Ocean just turned 1 year old on her YouTube Channel and is now celebrating it with a giveaway. On her channel, she features such incredible Make-up Face Art looks plus an occasional review and/or DIY projects. She is so talented that I get excited to see what she comes up with next on her videos. LOL! Preview her channel and see for yourself -- below is the link to her giveaway video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVE8bv_uQGc
On Fridays, I will try to feature more awesome ladies who take the time & energy to host these type of giveaways for their subscribers & followers. Having recently done my first contest/giveaway, I found greater admiration and empathy for others who host these gestures of appreciation. :) So much time, effort and money goes into hosting even the smallest of giveaways, that they deserve so much more for their generosity.
Just wanted to share a Twitter Giveaway hosted by @ImQueenFrostine. The rules are simple and winners will be chosen randomly of those who reply by June 25. Good luck -- something fun to start off the week! Click on the thumbnail for the full rules and a glimpse at the super Kawaii prizes.
You will need a Twitter.com account -- Would love you to follow me @Deselvie2008
I remember Artmatic Cosmetics when I was a teenager. They were a drugstore brand of cosmetics that sold for about $1.99 comparable to today's popular NYC & Wet N Wild brands products. Back then, in the late 1980's, I was intrigued by lipsticks & lip color; those were the main products I used from Artmatic.
As time passed, I no longer noticed that the Artmatic brand was displayed in the local drugstores in California. No public announcement or news report on their absence in the mainstream cosmetic counters in my community could be found. Even today, it is difficult to find any articles in the World Wide Web on the history or updates on Artmatic Cosmetics.
With my recent interest in finding the most value and being able to 'stretch' the mighty dollar, Artmatic has resurfaced into the cosmetic limelight again.
By clicking the image below, get access to wholesale pricing from DollarDays. You can actually get 144 bottles of nail polish for only $64.80 -- that equates to $0.45/bottle plus shipping. Artmatic's regular retail price is $1.99/bottle. Get extra savings by using discount code: LS12; you can receive an additional $12 off any order on the DollarDays Website.
You will have to register on their site to gain access to pricing and the ability to put an order in. With this special pricing you will get a total of 12 sets of 12 unique colors: Orchid, Freesia, Lilac Glow, Sizzling Red, Silver, Renegade, Dusty Rose, Butterscotch, Copper, Cream Puff, Natural and Silver Grape. The quantity of nail polish is enormous, however, so are the savings.
Top 10 real writing jobs, earn $1-$5 per task. Looking for bloggers, help w/scripts, articles, stories, etc. There is a fee to access the information on the writing jobs. They claim to have opportunities that pay up to $500 for certain projects like improving movie scripts or up to $25 for blog posts. The introductory period lasts for 7 days at $4.95. If you choose to stay, the cost is $77/year. The opportunity sounds great to someone like me who loves to write; however, the initial fee -- even if it is pretty low -- makes me a little hesitant. Perhaps, to make it more appealing, they could offer deducting the fee from the first successful completed writing assignment?
Post a comment if you decide to try them out, or have actually received some writing assignments through their service.
Fashion mistakes? With LikeMyWear, never again! Use the power of your friends to put your most fashionable foot forward. That is what they promise on MyLikes.
'LIKE My WEAR' is a brand new website coming soon where members can upload & share their photos and have friends & other fashion experts give their opinions on what to wear & what to not to wear as seen in the photos. How they plan to do this is still unclear. It may be a simple 5 star rating similar to that of YouTube's rating determined by the number of 'thumbs up' a photo may receive or a tally system as in FaceBook where 'likes' are counted and posted on a picture. We'll have to wait and see...
They are currently taking an email list on their site to announce the actual launching of their website. I'm excited to see what features they will be offering to their members and how they will actually carry out there proposed concept. Stay tuned for a follow-up review or better yet submit your email address for a personal invitation to their 'LIKE My WEAR' launching. :) Have fun!
Check it out -- she's giving out 20 pairs of false eyelashes, some Elf, Rimmel, NYC cosmetics and other goodies. In addition, she is also having giveaway on her YouTube Channel.
For official rules to her giveaways, please click the link above. Good luck!
Get a free personal style analysis at 'SEND the TREND' to get "bling" and fashion accessories tailored to your unique style. 50% off @ Send the Trend! Christian Siriano is the curator who spots the latest trends on celebrities, fashion events and the current season. A great tool to incorporate fashion accessories into your personal wardrobe that can reflect the overall current trend of the season.
No membership fees to use their website and view their recommendations. Each month they offer you recommendations of the latest fashion accessory trends. You are free to only purchase items that you want with free shipping. Each piece is regularly $29.95 but by clicking the image above you can get a 50% discount for the term of their special. Pieces range from scarves, bracelets, sunglasses, and more.
Instead of flipping through hundreds of fashion magazines or traveling to faraway fashion shows to discover what is 'in,' save time and money through 'SEND the TREND' who brings all the fashion trends to you.
I really like their concept. Thanks to 'MyLikes' for the introduction to an innovative website.
While I stumbled upon the Origins' special for Earth Day, I also discovered that they offer free mini-facials & skin consultations at their store. They offer 5 different facials to choose from:
What a great way to enjoy some 'me-time' as they called it on their website. Included with the free facial is a personalized skincare consultation, nature's gentle exfoliation and a facial mask targeted to your particular skincare concern.
If you don't mind having your face 'touched' or not having any make-up on in a public area (for example, my closest ORIGINS is at a Macy's Department Store), then this mini-facial offer may be for you. I'm a little shy when it come to exposing my bare skin, so I'll have to think twice about setting up an appointment. LOL! If you aren't a bit shy, then absolutely go for it! Maybe I'll invite my sister-in-law or mother to come with me so we can feel 'vulnerable' together....:)
In celebration of Earth Day, Origins is having a 'trade' day. While supplies last, they are exchanging their full sized facial cleansers -- packaged appropriately with their Earth Day Design -- for any old or empty x-brand facial cleansers on April 22. Anyone who brings their old or empty facial cleansers to the counter will receive a 5oz size of "Checks & Balances" (retails at $18.50) or a 5oz size of "A Perfect World" (retails at $20.00)
According to Origins' website, "Checks & Balances" is a frothy face wash that is intended for all skin types while "A Perfect World" is geared towards combination/dry skin.
"A Perfect World" is slightly more expensive than "Checks & Balances." It also claims to be an antioxidant cleanser containing White Tea, thus, also has "age fighting protection." The Palm & Coconut antioxidants are said to grab the dirt so that free radicals are prevented from aging the skin.
"Checks & Balances" focuses on a more 'oily' skin type. Having the ingredient 'broad leaf kelp extract' that allows the cleanser to keep excess oil production in check and still be soothing enough with Lavender, Spearmint and Bergamot to be aromatic, refreshed and not 'tight.'
If you are not too attached to your own facial wash, this special is something to look into -- provided that there are not masses of people clamoring to your local Origins counter-top! LOL -- My usual cleanser cost me $5-6, so this is an opportunity to try a higher end product. Should you decide to trade your old cleanser in, leave me a comment and let me know how your experience was. :)
Be sure to print out this form -- CLICK HERE -- before heading out to your ORIGINS. The forms states "no purchase required." They have a similar special online, but you need to purchase $30 worth of products before getting your free facial cleanser.
Looking for a new SPRING wardrobe to match your spring nails? There's an amazing website called PrettyGirlShoppe that has the cutest clothes & accessories for as low as $10. MyLike for the moment is the LAVANDAR 109 -- perfect for springtime weather. For those not wanting to show off the shoulders, just throw on a light shawl or sweater & still be rockin' :) -- Believe or not, but there are also party dresses for $15! Long gowns, short dresses, with some complete with a wrap-a-round. Find even hair accessories, jewelry & nail polish to complete your look -- each item is truly under $10, except for the party dresses. I'm so shocked for the value & styles available. Check it out and comment which dress/item is your LIKE :)
Yes, it is contest time. First contest ever on Deselvie2008. Thanks for your patience during these past couple of weeks -- today is DAY 1 of the contest. :)
THEME:
Without further delay, my contest announcement on the theme of my first ever nail art contest is: "Harajuku Kawaii" or "Cute & Funky." In Japanese, 'kawaii' simply translates to 'cute.' On the other hand, Harajuku is a fashion style in Japan. Local teenagers there developed the style as their personal way of self-expression to break out or rebel against the confined structure found in their strict, conservative culture. Most schools in Japan mandate school uniforms and conformity. In my opinion, the two words combined equates to a FUNKY CUTE. :) -- a fashion sense that is fun, quirky and still harbors a touch of innocence.
In outside countries, Harajuku/Kawaii influences are seen in the fragrances of Harajuku Lovers, the hair style salon name "Hair A Juku" in California, the global infatuation with "Hello Kitty" & other Sanrio characters as well as in the make-up line "Tokidoki" sold at Sephora stores.
Please browse through the widget below - courtesy of Amazon.com - to get an idea of what is it that I will be looking for in your nail design. Feel free to GOOGLE the words "Harajuku Kawaii" to find other images to inspire your nail contest entry. :) Here is also another YouTube video that has a slideshow on other kawaii pics --> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qI8QRpzwn30
VIDEO ENTRY RULES:
1. Nail art must incorporate the theme: "Harajuku Kawaii or Funky Cute"
2. No 3D acrylic. Only nail polishes & acrylic paint.
3. No stickers. All kinds of nail deco allowed (ie glitter, rhinestones, spangles, fimo, pearls, etc.)
4. International entries are welcome.
5. Include a sign with your nail design stating your YouTube USERNAME & the Contest Name. For example, YOUR USERNAME's Entry to "Harajuku Kawaii or Funky Cute Nail Art Contest"
6. Post your entry as a video response to the contest video on YouTube http://bit.ly/mwdWFJ and title it "Entry to "Harajuku Kawaii or Funky Cute Nail Art Contest"
7. Parental permission required for ages under 18 years. Please state it in your video or on your sign.
8. All videos must be your new creation & not a re-edit of an old video of yours.
9. Please limit length to under 4 minutes. Include a beginning, middle & end of the process. Does not have to be a full tutorial.
10. Minimum 3-5 nails. Fake fingers/nails are allowed.
11. Include at least 3 final pics of the design. Must be clear for me to see.
12. You may submit a max of 2 entries.
13. Must be subscribed to my channel on http://youtube.com/deselvie2008
14. Favorite the YouTube Contest Announcement http://bit.ly/mwdWFJ
15. Contest ends May 14, 2011 (SAT) midnight PST.
16. 2 winners will be selected.
COMMENT ENTRY RULES:
1. Must be a subscriber to http://youtube.com/deselvie2008 and favorite the YouTube Contest Announcement at http://bit.ly/mwdWFJ
2. Only comment once under the video contest on http://bit.ly/mwdWFJ
3. No "enter me" comments.
4. Let me know what is the max amount that you are willing to spend on a bottle of nail polish and why. Also, state what colors you are most drawn to. :)
5. OPTIONAL: For an extra entry, send me a Friend Request on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/deselvie2008
& post your YouTube username on my wall. If you are already a friend of mine, just post your YouTube username.
6. OPTIONAL: For 2 additional entries, post your YouTube username on my Beauty Review Channel at http://blip.tv/file/5012822 under the contest announcement.
7. OPTIONAL: For 5 additional entries, follow me on twitter. http://twitter.com/#!/deselvie2008
Post your Twitter name with your YouTube comment at http://bit.ly/mwdWFJ. If you are already a follower of mine, just post your Twitter name with your YouTube comment.
8. Parental permission required for ages under 18 years.
9. Open International.
10. 2 winners will be selected.
11. Follow my blog, just cuz you want to. :)
Please read the rules carefully -- I will be checking that all items are followed. If you have any questions re: the contest, please message me on YouTube so I can find & answer your question quickly. I reserve the right to adjust the rules as needed, so be sure to check the description box under the YouTube Video or this blog for any changes.
Have fun! I can't wait to see your entries. :) I will be uploading the prize video soon.
I hope you all enjoyed participating as much as I enjoyed holding the giveaways to celebrate my first 500 subscribers. Thank you so much for making YouTube such a 'happy' place! :)
As some of you already know, Deselvie2008 was approved for YouTube Partnership last week. Your views & interaction to my channel undoubtedly has made partnership into a reality. Thank you for your continued support and your time! You've motivated me to continue improving, growing and creating more videos for your viewing pleasure. Needless to say, your participation & comments have slowly moved me to step out of my 'comfort' zone or my 'shield' behind my camera and consequently pushed me in 'front' of the camera. This is all quite a challenge for me as I am uneasy to share anything about 'beauty' in the vast community of the Internet, moreover my own little world!
So, I owe it all to you, my beloved Subscribers & Followers...thanks for the boost in confidence :)I appreciate your loyalty and the continued support.
Please stay tuned more videos to come as well as the contest announcement. Muwahh! :)
I posted the last Subscriber Appreciation Giveaway video yesterday (be sure to enter if you haven't already). The swirls in the nail art design in the above picture were created using Nail Star's Nail Art Pen & Brush.
I bought a set of 24 bottles from a seller in China through EBAY for under $12.00 -- there were so many colors that I still haven't not been able to use all 24 colors yet! So, I wanted to share a Nail Star Nail Art Pen/Brush as an appreciation token for one lucky subscriber for Giveaway #4.
The NailStar Nail Art Pen//Brush has a similar bottle design as brand names like Claire's, Nubar & Lazer. When you unscrew the top, a nail art brush is revealed. When you uncap the cap, the hollow, metal nail pen tip can be accessed. These gives the nail artist an advantage of using the product in 2 ways. It is also a great alternative for those looking for a more budget friendly nail art pen that are usually priced at $8 or more for only one color/pen.
I love being able to easily create swirls, dots, circles & curves using the metal tip which is essential in recreating today's trendy detail & abstract designs. The form of the bottle allows for the polish to flow through the hollow metal tip like ink flows through a writing pen. The variety of colors are amazing as well; the set included creams, frosts & glitter polishes. Although one can create nail art using simple tools like toothpicks & pins for dotting tools and crafty paint brushes, the Nail Star Nail Art Pen/Brush simply adds convenience to the nail artists' tools.
Despite the convenience, the Nail Star is not perfect. First, delivery from China was incredibly long; it took more than 70 days for the package to arrive. If you are not willing to wait that long, then you may be willing to pay a little more at a local beauty store.
Second, the narrowness of the metal tip has the tendency to clog, especially with the glitter polishes. A pin must be occasionally inserted to unclog the hollow of the tip. A nail thinner could be also added to the polish to ensure proper flow, but the result will be more runny and watery.
Third, the nail brush on some bottles were uneven in length. In addition, some brush hairs could easily be pulled apart from the wand.
From a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being best, I rate Nail Star a "7." On a good day, their product does the job. I'm not a total 'lover' of the product, but it serves its purpose (until I find a better, more budget friendly nail art pen.)
It's week #3 of Subscriber Appreciation....I wanted to give a lil' back to all of you who make me smile. YouTube has made it possible for me to connect with you all through your comments, views & subscriptions. I find incredible joy even with your 'thumbs-up!'
Each Friday until my birthday, I will be picking 1 subscriber to send a few tokens of appreciation. The winner will be chosen randomly from the comments posted on the past week's video starting from Friday to Thursday the following week.
1. One comment entry per person under the video on YouTube. Please no "enter me" -- let me know when you first began wearing nail polish. :)
5. Must be 18+ years old or have parents' permission.
6. For the extra entry, post your YT username on the Face Book FAN PAGE so I know who gets the extra entry.
7. Winner will be chosen randomly on March 31, Thursday, and announced the following day.
8. Winner has 48 hours to send me their contact info. Otherwise, I must choose a new winner.
Deselvie2008's Giveaway #3 for Weekly Subscriber Appreciation starts today, Friday, March 25, 2011 and ends on Thursday, March 31, 2011. Good luck!
This week's gifts:
1) 15 inch silver chain necklace with a 2.5 inch diameter circle/flower/glitter pendant
2) 3DNail Stickers of white flowers & gold swirls.
3) One vial of gold holographic hearts.
Past Winners:
Giveaway 1 -- supahrockah
Giveaway 2 -- mslynduh
Good luck!
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Disclaimer: All opinions are my own. Free products were not provided to me by any company for consideration unless otherwise stated. Any products and/or materials used, mentioned or seen in this video were not used or suggested for any advertisement. I was not compensated in any way for using them.