happy easter!

♥ Happy, Happy Easter, bunnies! ♥

xx

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backstage beauty...

...one of my favorite elements of fashion.

xx

{pictures via}Instagram / Tumblr / Twitter

fuchsia & coral

On their own, fuchsia and coral are not necessarily shades that I gravitate to; but there is something magical that takes place when the two colors are combined in a colorblock fashion, as they were at Monique Lhuillier S/S 14. It's hot and electrifying {so perfect for the warmer summer months ahead}; yet manages to remain chic and sophisticated in the very same breath. Here, seven of my personal favorite fashion and beauty finds that bring the sultry shades to the forefront. {Clockwise from Top Right}.
MAKE UP FOR EVER Eyeshadow in Fuchsia 26 {$21.00}

FORMULA X Electrics in Danger Zone {$10.50}

Forever 21 Caged Chiffon Racerback Tan in Fuchsia {$11.80}

Versace Leather Tote in Clover / Oro {$1,295.00}

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupté Shine in 12 Coral Incandescent {$35.00}

Gemma Redux Small Flora Cuff Bracelet in Fuchsia Ombre {$225.00}

Sole Society Gwyneth Stacked Heel Wedge in Hot Coral {$69.95}


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xx

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Ciaté Dolls House Collection Review

I will never be one to resist cute; so when I spotted the Ciaté Dolls House Collection online, I clicked buy based on the packaging alone. Truth. No regrets here.

The Dolls House Collection could best be described as the epitome of spring. It's a mix of 5 matte pastel shades that dry to a porcelain finish that is glaring and bright yet somehow subdued. It's also a collection that takes the cake for most novel idea to grace the nail polish scene. Let's take a look at the swatches...

Paper Doll is a Porcelain Matte White. This color right here? Ob-sessed {and not just because I received so. many. compliments. while wearing}. Paper Doll is basically the best white polish I have ever used. In a way, the brightness of it makes it look as if you painted your nails with White-Out; yet it manages to be ridiculously chic and so attention-commanding. The formula is amazing. Typically, pastels and white polishes are an absolute pain to work with - streaky, sheer...Paper Doll doesn't suffer from any of that. The strokes are even and opaque; and the dry time is literally 45 seconds or less. This is the white polish to buy. This is 2 coats.

Baby Doll is a Porcelain Matte Peach. My camera wants to read this color as a neon; it's not. Baby Doll is a gorgeous pastel peach that possesses that coveted bright-yet-pale combination making it just as perfect for summer as it is for spring. It reminds me quite a bit of one of my all-time favorite polishes: Sinful Colors Poudre - only in matte form.

Baby Doll was slightly more difficult to work with than Ciaté Paper Doll. While it wasn't sheer; it was a bit patchy, and harder to even out due to the fact that it dries so quickly {as you can see on my pointer finger, because of the fast dry time, the polish dragged and clumped a bit}. I still found the color to be beautiful; but would recommend doing each coat as quickly as possible to avoid dragging. This is 3 coats.

Poppet is a Porcelain Matte Lilac. Lilac is a hard shade to nail {pardon the pun}. I feel as if I always wind up with a color that is too dark for my liking; but Poppet is perfect. Poppet is a true lilac {that is slightly lighter IRL than it appears here}. It harbors a white undertone that keeps it from becoming your run-of-the-mill lavender or fall-apropos pale purple - personally, I feel this has a lot to do with the matte finish, which is slightly chalky; but keeps the pastel vibe in check.

Formula-wise, Poppet was identical to Paper Doll - right down to the streak-free, insanely simple to work with qualities. If lilac polish is on your list of spring must-buys; this is the one you need to add to your shopping cart. This is 2 coats.

Sweet Pea is a Porcelain Matte Pistachio. This shade is so necessary if you love mint polishes. It has the freshness of a mint; but has white undertones which make it more muted and soft then, say, Essie Mint Candy Apple. My love for this color is infinite; but the formula...Not gonna lie...very frustrating to work with. It had the same refusal to even out issues that I experienced with Baby Doll; only at a more magnified level. Lets just say there was a lot of sighing taking place during application. This is 3 coats.

Doll Face is a Porcelain Matte Nude. This is the color that I thought I wouldn't like, and I wound up loving it. For a nude shade, it has a very strong presence due to the matte finish - something that you don't usually find with skintone polishes. Out of the entire collection, Doll Face had the best formula. It went on smoothly and evenly with absolutely no trouble - two factors that only made me love it more. This is 2 coats.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I've read so many negative reviews regarding this collection; so I'm in the minority when I say that I, personally, love it. The colors are gorgeous; as is the way they are presented {dollhouse...le sigh}. That said, there are certain aspects that may turn some people off; the first being dry time. The fast dry time of these polishes is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it's awesome to be able to complete your mani so quickly {each coat tends to dry completely in 45 seconds or less}; on the other, it makes it difficult to get a smooth finish, because the polish immediately wants to drag, which creates patches and unevenness {never a good thing}.

Wear time...I change my nail polish every few days, so this isn't a deal breaker for me; but I think that most people will find the wear-time to be the most aggravating thing about the collection. Even with an amazing base coat, by day 2 or 3, little cracks start running through the polish, and soon start falling off in big chips, leaving your nails looking, for lack of better words, seriously heinous. This has to do with the fact that you are not wearing a top coat, so the polish has no protection.

The only thing I can suggest to counteract this issue is to use a standard top coat, which would create a shiny finish; or try a matte top coat which would give you the same matte finish, but with the added protection of top coat.

Would I recommend this collection? Absolutely. The colors are beautiful; and as long as you can deal with the formula and chipping issues, I'd say it's a must-have for spring.

xx

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{fashion folio} bohemian rhapsody

Kendall & Kylie Madden Girl 'Seriious' Sandal in Cognac + House of Harlow 1960 Eye of Wisdom Pendant Necklace in Gold / Jade + Xhilaration Junior's Lace Detail Button Down Shirt in Coral Lily + Ksubi Alberceque Distressed Denim Shorts + Sole Society Friendship Hinge Bracelet Set in Multi + Sole Society JILL Tribal Drawstring Bag in Black Multi + Urban Decay Ink For Eyes in Perversion
Knee-high gladiator sandals and distressed cut-off denim shorts are an easy, breezy bohemian chic match for a drapey, chiffon-like button-down blouse. Play up the haute hippie vibe with tribal print accessories in the form of a backpack and friendship-inspired hinge bracelets; adding a goldtone oversize pendant necklace with cabochon detailing for good measure. Finish things off with a flick of jet black liner to accentuate your peepers. Perf, right?

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xx

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{beauty board} luminous skin

Score a dewy, fresh-faced glow {inspired by Tanya Taylor's NYFW SS14 beauty} with one of these 7 pearlescent highlighters guaranteed to add a goddess-like luminescence to skin.

Clockwise from Top
{1} NARS The Multiple in Copacabana {$39.00}

{2} BUXOM Divine Goddess Luminizer {$28.00}

{3} benefit Watt's Up! {$30.00}

{4} NARS Illuminator in Copacabana {$30.00}

{5} CK ONE COLOR Skin Illuminator in Cool {$20.00}

{6} Josie Maran Argan Illuminizer {$28.00}

{7} NYX Cosmetics Born To Glow Liquid Illuminator in Sunbeam {$7.49}


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xx

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NOTD: Ciaté Paint Pot in Poppet

Two coats of Ciaté Paint Pot in Poppet from the Dolls House Collection. Porcelain Matte Lilac.

I love the name of this one - it makes me think of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. You know, how Spike always used to call Drusilla poppet? That sounds so fan-girly. Moving on...

Lilac is a hard shade to nail {pardon the pun}. I feel as if I always wind up with a color that is too dark for my liking; but Poppet is perfect.

Poppet is a true lilac {that is slightly lighter IRL than it appears here}. It harbors a white undertone that keeps it from becoming your run-of-the-mill lavender or fall-apropos pale purple - personally, I feel this has a lot to do with the matte finish, which is slightly chalky; but keeps the pastel vibe in check.

Formula-wise, Poppet was identical to Paper Doll - right down to the streak-free, insanely simple to work with qualities. If lilac polish is on your list of spring must-buys; this is the one you need to add to your shopping cart.

What nail color are you rocking for #ManicureMonday?

Follow me on Instagram @cateyesandskinnyjeans to see more of my favorite nail colors / art.

xx

Instagram / Tumblr / Twitter