This post might be helpful to aspiring makeup artists, who are curious about what it’s like to have a career in the industry. Everyone’s take will be different, and some might view what I think are advantages as disadvantages. But because I’m so grateful to have what I consider the best job in the world, I want to share what I love.

Why I Love Weddings

Weddings are such a big day, and I love being part of that. I may be biased here, but I think one of the most fun parts of the wedding day (for the bride, anyway) is the getting ready time. For many women, getting dolled up is fun, and even more so when your friends are there with mimosas in hand. Maybe I’ve been lucky enough to always have great brides, but the atmosphere of the getting ready time, as I know it, is full of fun, laughter, and story telling. I really love making a bride happy, knowing that having the makeup look she wants is part of what she envisioned for her wedding day. I’ve worked with a ton of wonderful brides and have stayed in touch with many of them, and I look forward to doing many more weddings. 2012 is already shaping up to be a busy season

Why I Love Film/Television

In my opinion, there is nothing like the energy of being on set, especially when you get to work with a great cast and crew (a situation I’ve been lucky enough to be in many times). I love doing film and television makeup because I get to create character looks. Usually I am sent a script first, so I can get an idea of the character and picture what I think they’d look like, makeup-wise. Then I talk to the director, because he/she is the person I’m ultimately trying to please. I also have to take into consideration the actor or actress’ skin type, coloring, and bone structure. And I have to be aware of the lighting, wardrobe, and makeup continuity. Another big part of film/television work is touchups. The lights (and sometimes nerves) can make the talent “glisten” a little, and onscreen shine is a big no-no. Everything has to look the same for each take, and it is the makeup artist’s responsibility to ensure that the makeup does not fade, smudge, or move in any way. Working in film/television can mean longgggg days, but that doesn’t bother me. And yes, seeing the finished result on the big screen, or on tv, is definitely cool. Working on a film is a teamwork situation, and if you play well with others, it can be a lot of fun.

Why I Love Photoshoots

Here’s where you really get to flex your creative muscles. Sometimes my photoshoots are more commercial–an ad for a specific product or service, which is less artistically creative (but I still love it). But the shoots I’m referring to here are more of the fashion or beauty variety. I’m talking glossy blue lips, multi-colored eyes, retro-inspired shoots. I once did a Barbie comic book shoot, and it was a blast. In these type of shoots, your responsibility is to the photographer. You have to take their vision, add in your ideas and expertise, and translate it to a look that works well on the model and in photos. Sometimes you’re doing more than one look, or working on more than one model, so you have to work quick and be on top of things. And like film/television, touchups are key. There’s great energy at photoshoots too, especially when you’ve got a talented team of photographer, hair stylists, stylists and models to work with. I’ve had some of my most fun days working on photoshoots, and I am always planning more.

Why I Love Makeup Lessons

There are women who have no interest in wearing makeup, which is totally fine. I have no interest in camping or skiing, and I wouldn’t want anyone to say I should try anyway. I respect that some people just aren’t into makeup, but I have found that most women are. But the biggest “issue” I hear from the women I meet is that they don’t know how to do their makeup. And that’s where I come in! I love helping women figure out what colors and types of products work best on them, and sharing tips, tricks, and techniques is one of my favorite things to do. I truly believe that every woman has at least one beautiful feature, and properly applied makeup is a great way to showcase that feature or features. One of the most rewarding parts of my job is when someone gets up from my makeup chair and clearly has more confidence. Some people look at makeup as a superficial thing, but I disagree. As corny as it may sound, I see it as something that reflects the inner beauty, on the outside. I know that teaching women how to apply makeup in a way that works for them is a confidence builder, and if that’s superficial, then so be it!

Why I Love Teaching Classes

As my mother says, teaching is in my blood. Both she and my father were teachers for a long time, and I did love playing school when I was young I’ve learned a lot about makeup over the years, and teaching is a way for me to share what I’ve learned. Whether it’s an informal setting, like a makeup party, or a formal setting, like a beauty school or corporate office, I really enjoy talking about makeup and demonstrating techniques. I don’t think makeup artists should be the only ones who know how to do makeup, and I believe that one of the most important parts of what I do is teaching other people how to achieve looks that will work best for them. And I love helping aspiring makeup artists get started. I had help from experienced makeup artists when I first started, and I think it’s important to “pay it forward.”

And that was me keeping this post as short as possible! I love doing makeup, if you can’t tell. It’s as much a part of me as my child-sized wrists or freckled skin. If I won the lottery–which I plan on doing–I would still do makeup. It’s my calling, I have no doubt about it. I get “in the zone” when I am doing makeup (this may be the same zone that I strive for, but rarely reach, when I’m running). When I’m in the zone, I can’t think of anything else except the makeup application. If I’m not feeling well or stressed or someone is breaking my heart (not that I let that nonsense happen anymore), it doesn’t make a difference. Until I’m done doing the makeup, it is impossible for me to think about anything else. And that is definitely a blessing.

So that’s a little glimpse into my makeup-covered world. Thanks for reading

But I am also a curious person. So when I kept hearing about Pinterest, and how addicting it was, I had to see for myself. So I created an account, and I love it. For those of you not familiar with Pinterest, it’s a site where you create visual collections of things that you like. The images go on “boards” that you can name whatever you want (they give you examples like “My Style”, “For The Home”, “Books To Read”, etc.) You can upload your own images, or “re-pin” them from other boards. You can re-pin from people you’re following (their updates don’t alert you, at least the way my settings are) or by searching the Pinterest boards. When you search the boards, you can re-pin images from people you are not following.

It’s similar to Tumblr, but my brain likes to compartmentalize things, so the different boards are great. (Maybe there is a way to do this in Tumblr too, I don’t know enough about it.) Anyway, the reason I’m telling you about this in my beauty blog is that two of the five boards I’ve created so far are related to beauty. The “So Pretty!” board is a collection of makeup, hair, and fashion photos that inspire me, and might give others ideas for different looks. And the “Beauty Must Haves” board shows many of the products I use and love. If you’re planning a wedding, renovating your house, or are working on any type of project, it’s a great place to store your visual ideas without taking up space on your hard drive.

If you want to jump on the Pinterest bandwagon, you can request an invite from Pinterest, or I can send you one (email me at AllisonBarbera@AllisonBarbera.com if you want to do that). If you’re a visual person, I think you’ll love this site. Like the Pinterest people say, “Happy Pinning!”

This is me http://pinterest.com/alliebmakeup

It can! There is an affordable way to uncover a fresh layer of skin, brighten your skin’s appearance, and make it softer. It’s called exfoliation, which is the removal of dead skin cells from the top layer of the skin (the epidermis). I know you’ve probably heard of this before, but how often do you actually do it?

Let’s talk about the two types of exfoliation–mechanical, or physical exfoliation, and chemical, or enzyme exfoliation. In mechanical exfoliation, dead skin cells are rubbed off with an abrasive product. It sounds harsh, but if you use an exfoliant (also called an exfoliator) that contains beads as opposed to apricot scrubs (which contain jagged pieces of nut shells and other ingredients) it won’t cause micro tears in your skin. Chemical exfoliants contain enzymes or alphahydroxy ingredients that break down the “glue” that keeps the dead skin cells holding on to the epidermis. With chemical exfoliants, the product does not need to be manipulated once it is on the skin. Think of it as the lazy lady’s exfoliant

On the extreme (and more expensive) end of mechanical exfoliation is microdermabrasion, which uses a machine to spray out a crystal or diamond tip exfoliant (the diamond tip is the newer and more gentle form of microderm). Then, a small vacuum suctions up the dead skin cells and exfoliant residue. The extreme and more expensive type of chemical exfoliation is the chemical peel, which uses stronger or more concentrated ingredients to loosen the dead skin cells. Both microderm and peels are done by estheticians or in a dermatologist’s office.

If you can’t or don’t want to go to a professional for microderm or a peel, you can still get great results at home. I think that exfoliation is essential for all skin types, and should be done once or twice each week. If you have dry and flaky skin, exfoliation will remove those dead skin cells that you can see and feel on the skin. It will make the skin feel softer, and allow it to more easily accept moisturizer. Those with oily and acne-prone skin will benefit from exfoliation because it will remove surface oils from the skin, helping prevent breakouts. Dull skin, often a complaint of those who see their skin aging, will be brightened after exfoliation. It’s amazing what the removal of dead skin cells can do to your skin’s appearance! And for those who have sensitive skin, exfoliation should still be done, but a gentle chemical exfoliant is recommended, as the rubbing action needed for a mechanical exfoliant can be irritating on very sensitive skin.

Regardless of your skin type, regular exfoliation usually means you can get away with wearing less foundation. The reason is that removing the dead skin cells (and surface oils, if your skin is oily) makes the skin look healthier. And unless you are going for a full coverage look, why not let that healthy skin show through? I find that when my skin is clear, soft, and bright, I don’t even want to wear much foundation. Most of the time, I wear and use foundation to fake a natural, glowing, even, healthy skin. You can get there with regular exfoliation, in combination with a good cleansing and moisturizing routine, so why not try it? (You may not want to skip any face makeup entirely, but a tinted moisturizer can give you some coverage and let your skin show through.)

And again, your skin will feel softer and will more easily accept skincare products, like moisturizer, night cream, and serum, if you exfoliate. Without the layer of dead skin cells on the surface, products can more easily penetrate the skin and do their job. You might find that you need less product on exfoliated skin for this reason.

It’s not too late to start a New Year’s resolution for your skin. So out with the old (dead skin cells) and in with the new (healthy, glowing skin)!

What I Loved:

1. First off, it’s got a standard wand. None of this spiky ball or rubbery wand business. Just a good ole mascara wand. Especially because I have to use disposable wands on clients, I’m more interested in the product than the applicator. I feel like if a mascara can be good on its own, without a fancypants wand, it’s a solid product.

2. It is super buildable. It might actually be the most buildable mascara I’ve ever used. So whether you want a barely there look, or a full on look, the High Impact Mascara can take you there.

3. It is an excellent lengthener. I have found this with other Clinique mascaras too. They know how to make a girl’s lashes look long.

4. It doesn’t flake off. Being a contact wearer (and having many clients who wear contacts), mascara flakes are one of my enemies. But I had absolutely no problems with flaking with this mascara. Score.

5. It washed off easily. A little cleanser, some eye makeup remover, and we went our separate ways. Some mascaras take forever to remove. Clinique High Impact is not one of them.

What I Didn’t Love So Much:

1. The scent. It kind of smells like burnt rubber. It’s not so strong that that’s the first thing you notice when you open the tube, and you certainly can’t smell it once it’s on the lashes, but it’s there (at least it is in the tube I have!) I have to smell everything before I use it–let’s call that one of my “quirks”–but the scent of this mascara was not so overpowering that I couldn’t use it.

2. I did experience some smudging, but only from my top lashes. Because this didn’t happen with my bottom lashes, I suspect it happened because I have oily upper lids. I rarely get smudging from bottom lash mascara, eyeshadows, or eyeliner, but if I don’t wear an eye primer on my upper lids, my eye makeup fades in no time. So I’m going to blame my oily lids for this one. And I also want to point out that the smudging was so minimal–literally a few tiny dots on each eye where my lashes hit, and only after about 4 hours of wearing the mascara–that it wouldn’t stop me from wearing it again. I just wiped off the smudges with my finger, and all was well.

3. It’s not the best volumizer. It’s certainly better than many, but it’s no Diorshow. When I said it was buildable, I was referring more to the length. With each coat, the volume does increase slightly, but it’s the length that really builds up. I’d say it has average volumizing power, which again, is better than the majority of mascaras I’ve tried.

4. It’s not black black. This is purely a preference thing, because my natural lashes are already black. So I like deeply pigmented black mascara–like Smoky Lash Mascara by Make Up Forever–and the High Impact wasn’t quite there.

The Verdict:

This is a solid mascara, and I think it’s worth the $15 price tag. If you like your mascara to be clump-free, buildable, and lengthening, Clinique High Impact might be perfect for you.

My fascination with times past spills over into my makeup artist work. One of my favorite things to do as a makeup artist is to learn about and re-create looks from different time periods. I have been really into researching and re-creating period looks lately, so guess where that information is going to end up? This will be the first in a series of blog posts about beauty looks in America from the 1920s through today. I will concentrate more on makeup, since that’s my area of expertise, but will include info about hair styles when possible.

Cosmetics have been around for centuries–you can thank the ancient Egyptians for the black kohl liner look–but I’m going to focus on the 1920s and later. This is partially because cosmetics became more readily available after WWI, and and partially because there weren’t many pictures (and no color pictures) of beauty looks until well into the 20th century. I think it will be helpful to show pictures of beauty icons from different decades along with the posts, in case my writing is unclear or you’re not in the mood to read

Part of the reason I love learning about makeup and hair from different decades is because so much of what we see today takes its inspiration from the past. Celebrities like Adele, Gwen Stefani and Katy Perry wear some of the more obvious throwback looks, and you can see retro inspiration in runway shows each season. But little nuggets of retro-ness show up more subtly in many looks. It’s hard for me to do a cherry red lip without thinking of 1950s pinup girls, and a bright blush applied high on the cheekbones automatically reminds me of the 1980s.

Hopefully you’ll enjoy reading these posts as much as I’m sure I’ll enjoy writing them. Now time to decide what decade I want to be today…

The Pixiwoos channel on YouTube has hundreds of makeup (and sometimes hair) tutorials on every look you can think of. From celebrity to trend to creative, pro makeup artist sisters Sam and Nic cover it all. I’d like to think I am a decent writer, but I still can not explain in words how much I love and appreciate these tutorials. I graduated from Esthetics school, but I think I should be refunded at least 50% of my tuition so that I can write a check to the Pixiwoos. I learned a little bit about makeup in school, but the “instructors” I have learned the most from are Sam and Nic.

Whether I want to ensure that I accurately re-create makeup looks from beauty icons of the past (my obsession), or try some different techniques for bridal makeup applications (so I don’t get stuck in a rut), I turn to the Pixiwoos channel. When makeup artists who are starting out ask me for advice, I say my piece then direct them to Sam and Nic. I meet dozens of people each month who tell me that they want to learn to do their own makeup, but don’t know where to start. I offer makeup lessons–one of my favorite parts of my job!–but still recommend watching Pixiwoo tutorials as well.

I check the channel for new tutorials every day, and have seen every one at least twice. For me, the Pixiwoos channel is a continuing education resource (for free!), a break from paperwork (that comes with the business side of being an entrepreneur makeup artist), and my entertainment (I don’t have a tv, I watch makeup tutorials and read for fun). Besides showing me how to do different techniques, and sparking new ideas, I love watching Sam and Nic because they seem like people I would be friends with. Their personalities really come through on the Pixiwoo channel (as well as their Pixiwoo Madness channel, which includes 10 minute makeup looks, their shopping finds, and some personal updates), and I think they are easy to relate to and learn from.

Sam and Nic also do makeup tutorials for the The Daily Mirror (U.K.), and Sam does tutorials for Real Techniques, the makeup brush line she co-created. And while looking for a beehive hair tutorial recently, I stumbled across some videos they did for Channel 4. A full list of their tutorials (at least, the ones I know of!) are below.

I think that even as a professional makeup artist, there are always things I can learn from other pros. Even if you don’t do makeup for a living, watching others can help you with your own makeup routine. If you have any interest in makeup, either professionally or personally, I really really really recommend checking out Sam and Nic’s tutorials. But watch out, you might get hooked and spend hours watching

*I HATE WordPress when it comes to links. I have been fighting with it for 20 minutes, sorry if some of these don’t work*

Pixiwoo’s Channel: (The original)

Pixiwoo Madness:

The Daily Mirror

Real Techniques Channel

Channel 4

Facebook

So when I can do something without really thinking, it’s amazing. This often happens when I’m doing my own basic day look makeup, which I call my Go To Look. This changes due to the time of year, what my skin is doing, my mood, etc., but I tend to use the same products for a month or two at a time, letting the makeup part of my brain run on autopilot.

My Go To Look lately has been:

1) Benefit Total Moisture Facial Cream. Usually, my skin starts-a-peeling at the first mention of winter, but this cream has saved me. It is thick, but doesn’t feel heavy on my skin. It absorbs almost immediately and doesn’t leave a residue or any sticky-ness. Love.

2) Too Faced Shadow Insurance Eye Primer. Even if I don’t plan on wearing any eyeshadow or liner, I use this because it does a little camo action on the tiny veins you can see through my super fair skin. And if I do wear other eye makeup, I know it will stay on longer and not crease with the Shadow Insurance underneath.

3) Dior Diorshow Mascara in Black. Still the best volumizing mascara I’ve ever used. I use this first, on top lashes only, because I find it tends to smudge on my bottom lashes (but never the top, so weird).

4) Clinique High Lengths Mascara in 01 Black. It took a little while to get used to the semi-circle comb-like applicator, but I’m cool with it now. The black, inky-ness of this mascara rivals Make Up Forever Smoky Lash, and it is a phenomenal volumizer and lengthener. My two mascara combo has caused more than one person to ask “Are your lashes real?”

5) MAC Select Coverup. This is the only concealer I’ve ever liked for under my eyes. It’s a liquid that dries to a powder, and it sets quickly, so you can’t be dillydallying around while you apply it. Once it’s on, the coverage is amazing, and it doesn’t cake if you prep the area with a tiny bit of moisturizer first.

6) Make Up Forever HD Foundation + Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer. I mix my two shades together for a slightly less heavy coverage than the HD foundation. I mainly do this because in the winter, it’s the only way for me to get my perfect shade, but any extra moisturizing on my dry winter skin is a good thing.

7) Make Up Forever HD Powder. In the summer, I reach for the MUFE Super Loose Matte Powder to control shine, but this time of year, the HD Powder is where it’s at.

8) Make Up Forever Sculpting Kit #2. I use the darker color to contour, and it really makes my bone structure look so much better. It’s not too orangey or too dark, it’s just right.

9) NARS Blush in Orgasm, MAC Powder Blush in Peaches, or Sonia Kashuk Beautifying Blush in Flamingo. My blush changes depending on what colors I’m using on my lips and cheeks, but these have been the three I reach for most.

10) Lipstick Queen lipglosses from the Peacock Alley collection. The ones I have are sheer with a hint of color and some glitter, so just enough for me to feel polished without doing a lipstick or more intense color.

11) MAC Eyeshadow in Brun to fill in my brows. It matches my coloring, and I love the MAC eyeshadows for filling in brows.

That’s about it for my most basic makeup look. Now when I say basic, I don’t mean I wear this to go for a run, or to walk to the mailbox down the street. But if I have to head over to CVS, or the bank, or the library (oh, do I love the library!), I’m usually wearing my Go To Look. It makes me feel polished and put together. I just feel better when I have makeup on, like I’m being true to myself. (Some people feel the opposite way, in which case I say, rock on!) Some people drink coffee–I can’t, gives me the heart palpies–but my Go To Look is what I need to really start my day.

I often go back later in the day to add on some eyes or lips, and night makeup is a whole different ballgame. But during the day, if I don’t have a lot of time or am feeling lazy, I turn to the Go To Look. And now I need to Go To bed. Can’t wait to hear what my brain wants to talk about tonight…

I chose a gorgeous red color called “Hollywood,” and Emily did the rest. I tried to pay attention as much as possible, but this was close to a month ago, so I’m not sure I’ll get it all. From what I remember, there was some cuticle pushing back, a base coat, two or three coats of color, and a top coat. Also involved was a UV lamp (or little oven, as I called it in my mind) that my hands were placed in after each coat. The whole process took around 45 minutes.

When it was done, my nails were completely dry. Even so, I still acted like they weren’t. If there was one person in the history of the world who could somehow mess up a shellac manicure, it would be me. Don’t get me wrong–I completely trust Emily, and know that she wouldn’t lie! But I couldn’t get used to the idea that my nails were dry, even though I knew they were.

I got the shellac manicure a couple of days before Thanksgiving, which was the perfect time to test it out. At my parents’ house, we have a Big Italian Thanksgiving, which means that roughly 400 plates, bowls, serving dishes, wine glasses and utensils need to be washed. And guess who is part of the dish washing crew? Miss Hollywood Shellac Nails.

My nails made it through Thanksgiving without even a miniscule chip. And since shellac makes your nails stronger, I didn’t break any nails either (I always break at least one nail on Thanksgiving, our dish washing crew is intense.) For a total of three weeks, I did not get one chip or break a nail. And the polish stayed shiny the entire time. The only reason I had the shellac removed after three weeks is because my nails grow quickly, and you could see a gap with natural nail showing through at the cuticle.

There is a way to remove at home, but I went to a salon instead. It’s only $5 in my area, so I decided that was worth it. After the shellac was removed, the nail tech was nice enough to apply a layer of nail strengthener. I did have a nail break the following day, but I imagine there may have been more breakage without that strengthener coat.

I would absolutely, 100% get this done again. A three week manicure with nary a chip (that people frequently compliment)? It doesn’t get much better than that. Out of my three nail product purchases, this was the most expensive (ranges from $25-$45 in my area), but it also lasted the longest. It took the most time to apply, but there is also no dry time involved.

If you are a low maintenance nail girl like me, a shellac manicure is a great way to go. Once the application process is over, you don’t have to pay any attention to your nails for a few weeks. (Except to stop and admire how great they look, which I did regularly.)

So that’s the end of my Nailed It series. Anyone have any other easy nail products or techniques I should know about?

I eventually grew out of my sticker collection phase and entered into my obsession with beauty products. One of the first products I was allowed to use was nail polish. And use it I did. It wasn’t unusual for me to have a different color on each nail, and new colors every other day. My previously mentioned adult issues with nail polish–not enough time in the day, chipping issues–did not matter to a 12 year old who had all the time in the world (at least after school was out) and changed polish before it had a chance to chip.

My one issue at the time was my teeny tiny nail beds. While everyone else was painting hearts, Christmas trees, and the lyrics to “Back That Ass Up” on their nails, I struggled to find space for even a tiny star. My toddler-sized nail beds meant I couldn’t go the nail salon and have wonderfully trashy designs airbrushed on my nails, like some of my high school friends did. How jealous I was of the girls with broad, healthy nail beds! To compensate, I grew my nails super long, prompting my best friend Danielle to name them “little chefs’ hats.” At their peak, the whites of my nails were three times as long as the nail beds. Sixteen year old Allison considered this an accomplishment.

Fast forward ten years. I read about Minx Nails in Allure, and thought “I need these.” Minxes are a flexible films that shrink wrap to the natural fingernail. They are basically stickers for the nails, marrying my childhood obsession with my teenage years obsession. Don’t you love a clean storyline like that? Minx wraps come in a huge variety of colors and patterns, and are custom fitted to your nails. So all nail beds can be decorated, regardless of size! The product promises to stay on for up to 10 days, with no possibility of smudging. I badly wanted to be Minxed, but it required around $60 and a visit to a nail tech. At the time, I was in Esthetics school and waitressing, so my disposable income was roughly $0.31 per week. Hoping for a windfall, or a month of 70% tips, I ripped that article out and filed it in my “Beauty Wishlist” folder. And then I forget about it…

…until last year. Sally Hansen, the monopolizer of drugstore nail care, came out with Salon Effect Real Nail Polish Strips. (I know other lines carry similar products, and they may have been out prior to last spring, but bear with me here.) The Salon Effect Strips are at at-home process, with no dry time and 24 colors and patterns to choose from. And they only cost about $10 per pack. I was sold.

First I tried the “Laced Up” pattern, a pretty black and white design that looks like lace (duh). The package includes 16 pre-sized nail strips which are supposed to fit all nail sizes. Hmmm, not all sizes, Sally Hansen. Some adults have the nail beds of an 18 month old. Luckily, this is nothing a good pair of nail scissors can’t fix.

I cut the nail strips to my size, then went to work applying them. (If you are going to do this, make sure you don’t have any nail polish on. The strips won’t adhere to anything but a bare base.) They are pretty easy to apply–you just pull the backing off the strip, press down onto your nail, and smooth out. Because the strips are way longer than even my high school nails, you have to file off the excess strip (with the file that comes in the kit). Once you do this ten times, you are done. No top coat, no buffing, and best of all, no dry time. The actual application can take a while, especially the first time you do it, but it’s something you get used to after a couple times.

The Sally Hansen Salon Effects strips did not chip from wear and tear. The only downside was that after a week or so, the sections closest to the base of my nails began to lift. So when I’d put my hair up, strands would sometimes get caught under the strips, pulling them up more. I could usually press them back down a little. But after repeatedly catching on a strand, sometimes a bit of the strip would come off. At that point, I would remove them. I usually just peeled them off–making nail techs across the country cringe–but I did remove what was left with nail polish remover. That worked well, no soaking or elbow grease required.

The strips come in a sealed plastic packet, and they do dry out after a while, once the packet is opened. I found this out when I went to apply some “Misbehaved” (a fishnet pattern) a month after I had opened the pack. I had already used them as a full manicure the previous month, and they worked great. I then eventually painted my nails with a regular polish, and when it started to chip, I thought I could patch over the chips with pieces of Misbehaved strips (this was me rebelling against the “no polish before you apply” rule). I figured with a little lash glue and some ingenuity, I could make it work. But when I went to apply small pieces that I had cut out, I found that they had dried out and lost any adhesiveness. So although I think I should get points for a decent idea, apparently the strips have a shelf life once opened.

Overall, I have to say I friggin’ love these things. No dry time, I get to finally! have designs on my nails, easy removal process, and I find $10 to be very budget friendly. I just bought some new ones–blue and silver glitter on a black base–called “Winter Funderland,” and I can’t wait to use them.

I have one more nail product I love, coming up in Part 3….

My other nail gripe is chipping. Even with high quality polishes, it’s usually only a matter of days (sometimes hours) before I’ve destroyed my manicure. Chipped nails (on me) drive me nuts, but when it happens mid-day and there’s no remover in sight, I have to deal for the rest of the day. When that happens, all I can see every time I look at my hands–which is often, as they double as makeup palettes–is (up to) ten areas of imperfection. And because my hands are always making their way into “behind the scenes” or pre-wedding getting ready photographs, I am painfully aware of how my nails look.

So up until recently, my solution to my issues with nail polish was to avoid painting my fingernails entirely. (Ironically, my toenails are always painted. And always red.) But starting last spring, I tried three new(ish) nail products. And loved them all.

Crackle/Shatter Polishes

There are a bunch of different brands that carry this type of polish, all with different names, but I’m going to refer to it as crackle. For those who don’t know about crackle nail polishes, they are polishes that you paint over an already dry coat of nail polish. As the top layer dries, the color “cracks”, allowing sections of the base color to show through. Crackle nail polish is not new–I remember using it in the 90s–but it disappeared and made somewhat of a comeback in the last couple of years.

Out of the three nail products that I tried, crackle was the only one I didn’t intend to try. I was buying something else at Sally’s Beauty Supply, and they had a crackle polish promotion going on. To reward me for spending whatever ridiculous amount I spent, I was given a choice of one free bottle of China Glaze Crackle Glaze. I of course chose black, because black is slimming.

I carved out a portion of my day–which happened to be my birthday, so I felt okay taking some time off to self-induldge–to crackle my nails.
I decided to use gold as a base coat. After that dried, I applied a coat of the black Crackle Glaze. It dried quickly, and gave the exact effect it claimed to. The black cracked in random patterns, showing slivers of the gold.

I love playing with different textures in makeup, so I loved having textured nails. And best of all, when the inevitable chipping occurred, it was barely noticeable. The polish came off easily, with regular polish remover. I found this to be a great, affordable, easy, and low-maintenance option.

Stay tuned for Nailed It: Part 2 to find out about the other nail products that I adore.