Extend-A-Mani: Stripes

Nothing to Disclose

*These products are Cruelty Free 

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I've been doing what I call extend-a-mani nail art for quite a while. Mainly because I'm lazy. But also because I was never great at nail art and needed the practice. So last year, I started trying a little nail art on my mani before removing it. I got a little practice and it didn't really matter if I messed up because I was removing it anyway. Plus, when they actually turned out okay, I'd leave it and wear the next day. Bonus!

So now, when I'm tired of my mani, I just add a little nail art and wear it another day - extend-a-mani! I've done quite a few posts on these and got a great response, so I've decided to start showing you my extend-a-manis on a more regular basis.

Yesterday, I was wearing Illamasqua Baptiste. Last night I used a striping brush, a plain white creme (I use Wet n Wild Wild Shine French White Creme) and Essence Colour and Go Break Through, each alone, and then mixed for another coordinating shade and just did free-handed, random stripes.

I think it's a cute, very quick and EASY way to extend your mani. And it's free-hand and random, so you really can't mess up. And if you do, I'll tell you a little secret...these photos are always close-ups. At arm's length, you really can't see the mistakes.

What do you think? Is this something you would do?

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Thrifty Thursday! Starring Milani Deep Thoughts with Comparisons to Chanel and Illamasqua

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It's Thursday again! Time for a thrifty find and I have a great one for you this evening...Milani Deep Thoughts. I'm not sure which collection this is, but I found it mid-2012 at my local drug store. It was in the same collection as Orchidia, Dark Coffee and Teddy Brown if that helps.


Deep Thoughts is a deep, almost blackened royal purple shimmer polish with fuchsia and violet shimmer. Formula was perfect. No issues. I used 2 coats and no top coat for the photos.

Milani Deep Thoughts

Milani Deep Thoughts

Milani Deep Thoughts

Milani Deep Thoughts

Milani Deep Thoughts

What do you think? I love it and the formula is great. But...a few people have already asked for comparisons, so let's see how it compares to Chanel Taboo, Chanel Vendetta and Illamasqua Baptiste...

Milani Deep Thoughts vs Chanel Taboo, Illamasqua Baptiste and Chanel Vendetta

Milani Deep Thoughts vs Chanel Taboo,
Illamasqua Baptiste and Chanel Vendetta

As you can see, they're not dupes, but it certainly has the same "look" about it. There's more of the fuchsia shimmer in Baptiste. Vendetta is darker and has more of a blackened red-purple base while Deep Thoughts is more of a blue-purple base. Taboo has larger shimmer particles and more red in the base.

Is it close enough to any of those for you?

For $4.99, it's pretty hard to beat. Cruelty-free and Big 3-Free and widely available at drug stores nationwide and on milanicosmetics.com.

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Nail of the Day: Illamasqua Baptiste - Swatches and Review

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Good evening! I'm working on some swatches of new polishes for you now, so I'm just going to leave my NOTD here for you in the meantime: Illamasqua Baptiste.

Baptiste is a purple shimmer with purple, blue and fuchsia micro-shimmer. Formula was absolutely perfect and I used two coats and no top coat for the photos. No issues at all. The shimmer really gives this one depth.

Illamasqua Baptiste

Illamasqua Baptiste

Illamasqua Baptiste

Illamasqua Baptiste

Illamasqua Baptiste

Illamasqua Baptiste - natural sunlight

Illamasqua Baptiste - natural sunlight

And how is the wear? The photo below is Day 3, only minor tip wear after normal activities such as typing, dishes, laundry, etc. After the above photos, I put on a top coat and wore it for 4 days!

Illamasqua Baptiste

Available at Sephora stores and sephora.com in the States and illamasqua.com in the UK.

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Comparison Request: Chanel Taboo vs Illamasqua Baptiste

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Another comparison request already!

This time between Chanel Taboo and Illamasqua Baptiste...

Chanel Taboo vs Illamasqua Baptiste

Chanel Taboo vs Illamasqua Baptiste

Again - different enough you need both. Baptiste has similar shimmers and a lighter blurple base and dries to a higher shine.

BUY ALL THE POLISH!

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