{beauty board} on pointe

Grace, precision, poise...the life of a ballerina is brimming with all of the above; but it's also full of femininity and fearlessness - two things that should make any appearance in any and all aspects of a girl's life; including her makeup bag. Here, 9 of my personal faves for adding a little ballet beautiful to your life.

{1} ESSIE Nail Polish in BALLET SLIPPERS {$8.50} | {2} ESSIE Cashmere Nail Polish in JUST STITCHED {$8.50} | {3} ESSIE Nail Polish in PRIMA BALLERINA {$8.50} | {4} DIOR 5-Colour Eyeshadow in TUTU 846 {$60.00} | {5} LANCOME Lip Lover in 313 ROSE BALLET {$23.50} | {6} RIMMEL LONDON ScandalEyes Show Off Mascara in BLACK {$6.99} | {7} HOURGLASS Femme Rouge Velvet Crème Lipstick in BALLET {$30.00} | {8} NARS The Multiple in UNDRESS ME {$39.00} | {9} REPETTO Repetto 1.7 oz Eau de Toilette Spray {$55.00}


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xx

shades of the evil queen {e.l.f. disney villains 12 piece nail polish collection swatches + review}

The e.l.f. Disney Villains 12 Piece Nail Polish Collection has been in my possession since Christmas 2013, but I've only begun using it over the past few months. Not too long ago I showed you swatches of the 3 Maleficent shades, and today I'm bringing you the shades of The Evil Queen {of Snow White fame obvi}. The shades of Cruella De Vil and Ursula will be coming soon.

clockwise from top left: Pot of Gold; Cranberry; Thunderstorm.

Cranberry is a Deep Metallic Red with Gold Microshimmer. It's like Christmas in a bottle {and so apropos for the yearly Thanksgiving feast - which is how I'll be wearing it this year}. Cranberry is hyper pigmented and such a lush + beautiful shade for the holiday season. Formula was phenomenal - super easy to work with, and very quick-dry. This shade actually dried semi-matte for me, so you definitely need a top coat for shine! This is 2 coats.

Pot of Gold is a Metallic Gold. Le sigh...it's like liquid metal, yes? Pot of Gold is another stunning holiday shade {that also looks beautiful for year-round sparkle}. The formula, again, was great here. Bonus: No brushstrokes! This is 2 coats.

Thunderstorm is a Deep Teal/Dark Green/Stormy Gray Creme. Not sure how they did it, but OMG e.l.f. somehow managed to capture angry, about-to-downpour storm clouds in a bottle. I know. This shade makes me think of the Furies that always seemed present around the Underworld's Hades and Persephone in Greek Mythology {I read a lot}. The formula for Thunderstorm was slightly thinner than that of Cranberry and Pot of Gold, but built to opacity nicely. This is 2 coats.

AVAILABILITY: This particular set was a 2013 Limited Edition; however, you can buy the bottles individually for $2.00 each here {some shades are no longer available}.


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{fashion folio} off-duty vibes

Bracelet: BaubleBar Mini Round Cut Gem Bracelet in Clear / Hematite | Boots: Stuart Weitzman Lowland Over the Knee Boot in Black Suede | Top: Topshop Long Sleeve Rib Funnel Neck Top | Shorts: Band of Outsiders Satin Shorts | Nail Polish: Essie Cashmere Nail Polish Collection in All Eyes On Nudes | Earrings: Nordstrom Tapered Hoop Earrings in Silver | Lipstick: Tom Ford Beauty Lip Color in Vanilla Suede | Blush: NYX Cosmetics Baked Blush in Journey
Black tailored shorts and a charcoal gray mock-neck get a sophisticated-meets-off-duty lift with a black OTK boot {super sassy}, silver hoop earrings {a touch street}, and a fierce yet feminine gem bracelet. Slick on a suede nude lippy and satin nude nail polish for subtle beauty accents; adding a swipe of dewy peachy pink blush for a kiss of color.

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xx

NOTD: Sephora Formula X Illusionary

Two coats of Formula X in Illusionary. Pearlized Gray.

I debated posting this review because, in all honesty, I'm not a fan of this color. But...I'm not always going to love every nail color, and that's okay; you have to post the good with the bad, so here's the bad.

Initially I thought ooh a pearlized gray, that's new - and it is; but I don't like how it looks on me. Truth: Illusionary gave me corpse hands. Too harsh? I don't think so. Something about the lavender-meets-gray undertones in this color brought out a purple/red hue near my cuticles that just read creepy.

Formula was good; though Illusionary looks sheer, it actually reaches full opacity with just a couple of coats, and doesn't chip. I think this color would look good on someone with darker skin; if you have super pale skin {like me}, it just doesn't work.

What nail color are you rocking for #ManicureMonday?

xx