My Triple Shine Birthday Party!!

A few weeks ago, it was my birthday!  So what better way to celebrate than with a mani party?  My absolute favorite new nail polish is Sally Hansen Triple Shine ($5 at drugstores), so it was a Triple Shine b-day mani party.  I'm all about the shine, and this stuff is definitely the shiniest, non-gel formula that I've encountered.  Since the formula isn't super thick, I was surprised that my mani lasted pretty much a week with minimal chipping.  The brush is also a nice feature.  It's similar to the Sally Hansen Insta Dri ($4 at Walmart) brush.  Although it's a little thick for the precise application necessary for French manicures, nail art, etc., it allows you to coat your entire nail in one or two strokes for a fast and easy application.  And you can't forget the packaging...isn't it just adorable?

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm obsessed with pink and wear pink nail polish pretty much all of the time.  I'm in love with the "Clam Up" shade because it's a really pretty light slightly iridescent pink color.  And of course to add some excitement, I like to do an accent nail with some glitter.  "Twinkled Pink" worked perfectly here.  Don't forget to top it off with the Triple Shine Top Coat ($5 at drugstores) for the full shine effect (and it helps prevents chips too).  

Also, I must say that we didn't have nail dryers, but the Salon Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Dry & Go Drops ($7 at drugstores) worked like a charm, and they're totally non-greasy like some of those dry and go sprays. 

So thanks to manicurists, Nancy and Heather from the Nail Candy Salon, we all had beautiful nails by the end of the event and were full with wine as well as yummy red velvet cupcakes and hors d'oeuvres from Ithaca Bakery.  Plus, I managed to convert my college apartment into a festive pink party environment.  Overall, I had such a great time, so thank you to all of my friends at Cornell who attended! 

Glitter French Mani - Yay or Nay?

I simply LOVE French manicures because they're clean, elegant, and most importantly, they match with anything.  

French tends to be my default nail style.  But today, I decided to add some sparkles to my mani to spice up the look while still keeping it professional.

Get the look...

• 1 coat of Sally Hansen Salon Manicure Smooth and Strong Base Coat ($7.99 at Ulta):  ALWAYS use a base coat to protect against polish seeping into your nails (causing them to turn yellow)  I find that the Sally Hansen one is pretty fortifying and protective. 
• 1 coat of NYC Long Wearing Nail Enamel in French White Tip ($0.99 in drugstores):  I know a lot of people, who struggle with
  
  painting the tips, like to use white nail art pens.  Those pens may give you a smoother application, but an actual brush will give you more control when you are painting, and polish formulas generally stay on better.  I like the NYC white polish for French manis because the brush is relatively thin, and the formula has a higher viscosity...perfect for nail tips!  Considering how cheap this stuff is, it lasts a pretty long time, which is always a bonus.
• 1 coat of Essie Nail Enamel in Mademoiselle ($8 at Ulta):  Really you can use any
  
  sheer pink (or other color) that you'd like.  I like the Essie polishes in general because I find that they're more long-lasting than other brands. Mademoiselle is a nice balance between sheer and color.  However, it may be too pink for those of you, who prefer a more nude French mani.
• 1 coat of Confetti Long Wearing Nail Color in Dreamdate ($1.99 at
  
  CVS):  This is actually my first time using a Confetti polish.  So far, I'm liking it.  The brush is really nice, and the color is just what I was looking for (An ultra sheer pink with tiny glitter particles).  We'll see how it holds up!  But if you want a more matte, sparkle-free look, trade this coat for another coat of Essie Mademoiselle.
• 1 coat of Sally Hansen Mega Shine Extended Wear Top Coat ($6.99 at Ulta): 
  
  When it comes to finish, I'm all about the shine.  The shiniest top coat that I've used is Mega Shine...I absolutely obsessed with it.  Don't forgo the top coat!  It sets the whole look and keeps your polish from chipping as quickly. 

What do you think about a French mani with a little bit of sparkle?