nail polish

Summer Mani Pedi Combos for August

It’s mani Monday and I have bare nails. And I’ve had bare nails for like 2 weeks or so! I’m ready to feel human again and lacquer these puppies up but what color should I choose!? I’ve picked up a few new shades in addition to put tother a few of-the-moment, perfect-for summer-in-August, mani/pedi combos:

Nuditude and Teal Me About It

I just picked up Teal Me About It and I’m dying to use it. I saw Essie make this pairing with similar shades and I’ve been thinking about it ever since!

Parfait Pink and Creme Brûlée

A bright pink is my go to for summer, it always wears well and paired with an on-trend white shade on the toes its a no-fail pairing. (see Creme Brûlée on here)

Sterling and Roses are Red

A collab that will look great through Labor Day!

Sapphired Up and Orange You Crazy

This pairing has those Nautical vibes I’ll be loving come Labor Day for Week O’Nautical. Sapphired up is also one of my all time favorites (see here).

Terracotta and Limoncello

This duo will look stunning with all the leopard and animal print that’s SO IN right now. Don’t be scared of that Terracotta shade, its actually really wearable and pretty, not blah and brown.

As you can tell these pairing are all in my favorite formula, the Avon Gel Finish Nail Enamel. It is hands down my favorite formula and paired with the Gel Finish Top Coat it literally looks as good as a classic gel mani, and lasts really long. Right now you can get any 2 polishes/top coat for 2 for $11. An even better deal, you can get the Gel Finish Top Coat with select shades for only $10! Shop Gel Finish polish and the deals online here. Now the bigger question is what color should I pick to do my mani/pedi!?! Leave a comment on your pick for me 🙂

Nailed It: Birthday Mani!

It’s Mani Monday AND Birthday Week sooooo Birthday Mani it is!

Nailed It: Birthday Mani!

I’m a summer baby so I wanted a summer mani but also a little party so I went with a bright orange with gold glitter accents. I did go gel… which is rare for me. Even having a professional mani is rare for me but #birthdayweektreats! Well actually pre-birthday week treats. I had them done last week, so I knew I needed to last a week, so what lasts? Gel. What ruins my nails? Gel. It’s a love hate relationship. I know once I soak these off those long talons will soon break. I have ridged nails so all the buffing and filing them down really removes a lot of their strength. But until then I’m sporting birthday nails!

Orange and Gold Glitter Gel

I know the glitter gel is Daisy Gel Polish Legendary Diamond 467 but I didn’t take note of the orange. I know it was the brand DND and in the 400’s so it might of been Pastel Orange but either way I’m digging it for a late summer birthday mani!

Birthday Talons

Happy Halloween Mani With A Mom With Lipstick Kisses

Happy Halloween Manis

Happy Halloween Goul-friends! Today Rebecca from A Mom With Lipstick Kisses and I are bringing you our Halloween manis to get you in the spooky mood!

Alicia’s Mani:

Creepy Eyes for Halloween Mani!

This Halloween I went with a more fun take with these googly eye nails wraps from Jamberry. Not only are they fun colors, worked perfect with my Rick and Morty Halloween costume, but they also glow in the dark! (If only I could of captured it!) My key to getting Jamberry wraps to stick perfectly without damaging my nails… Avon True Color Base Coat! It’s the perfect base for not only nail wraps, but under any polish or even worn on its own for a clean nail look. It fills the ridges, smooths things out, and allows your polish/wrap to last longer. Pair it with the Avon True Color Nail Conditioner which is in an easy to use brush on application, just like polish. Both are currently buy one get one 50% off.

Rebecca’s Mani:

Rebecca’s Halloween Mani

Rebecca used Avon True Color Pro Nailwear in white, purple, and black for her fun and spooky spiderweb mixed mani! Topped with a little dazzlers for a little bling and the Avon True Color Top Coat to seal it all in. To see more head over to A Mom With Lipstick Kisses! Avon True Color Nailwears are currently on sale for $5.99!

Hope everyone has a Happy Halloween! I know Rebecca and I are ready for it

Rick and Morty Wish You Happy Halloween!

Trending Tuesday – #fuchsia

If the world of alicia was the internet #fuchsia would totally be trending. Currently I’ve been having a color crush on #fuchsia. After seeing it all over the place lately I’ve been really loving the color for a summer color crush. Not only does it pair well with you summer neutrals like white, black and navy, it also is an unexpected pairing with lilac, red and blue. As I build my wish list from my current inspo the easiest way to get this in my life is with a mani. Check out my current fuchsia my mani!

Fuchsia and Lilac Mani

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Summer Makeup: mark. Instant Vacation Buenos Aires Color Collection

mark. Instant Vacation Buenos Aires Vibe In Fun Tropical Packaging!

I’m not going to lie, I like looking like I just came back from vacation regardless if it’s a random Tuesday. Problem is I didn’t… so fake it to you make it right!? If you want an instant vacation look you should check out the mark. Buenos Aires Color Collection for you summer makeup:

mark. Caliente Eyes ($16)

mark. Buenos Aires Vibe Caliente Eyes

Catch The Vibe: At first I was unimpressed with this pallet. Then I began using it daily and I was like what was I unimpressed with!? They’re the perfect range of colors for whatever look you’re going for. I wear the middle pink shade just all over with the liner below for easy day look. Then I like to mix the grey and purple for a smokey night look. The purple is matte so it plays really well with the shimmery shades.

Caliente Eyes – Lucy Hales Top Pick from the collection

mark. Saved By The Gel in Majorly Murado and Cool Azul ($11)

mark. Saved By The Gel in Majorly Murado and Cool Azul

Catch The Vibe: These Saved By The Gel Liners are my new favorite liner. First off, this pot is going to last you forever so that $11 price tag is pretty much all you’re going to spend for the next year on eyeliner. The blue shade (Cool Azul) is so pretty and perfect for 4th of July and Labor Day with a red lip! The colors are super bold, their really wearable so you can wear them for day for a subtle summer look. Really easy when you don’t want to wear a lot of makeup and these won’t sweat off so win win for summer!

Up close and personal on the Saved By The Gel Limited Edition

mark. Caliente Glow ($16)

mark. Buenos Aires Vibe Caliente Glow

Catch The Vibe: This is another daily wear item. I use a fan brush in the bronze to contour and swirl a blush brush in the center 2 shades for the apples of my cheek. OR if I’m being lazy or for a quick summer look swirl all three on a fluffier blush brush and sweep up from apples to cheek bones. The purple undertones really make this one stand out from most others out there on the market and it has ZERO orange factor. THIS IS the item for the fresh from vacation look.

THE perfect shade combos to not look orange!

mark. Nailed It Trend Mini Nail Lacquers ($7)

mark. Nailed It Trend Mini Nail Lacquers ($7)

Catch The Vibe: I already did a swatch post here but seriously these are so fun for summer! I’ve been wearing the blue on my toes non stop! It’s such a great shade of blue and has a great shimmer that screams summer! I can’t wait to wear this on my fingers for the 4th!

Check out that shimmer and halo!

You can get the collection at my eBoutique here and use promo code JUNE15 for FREE SHIPPING on a $15 order! Which is a killer little promo! BONUS anyone who orders anything from this beauty collection before July 8th gets a FREE bonus item! Shop online at http://www.youravon.com/aliciahessinger (your bonus item will ship separate directly from me) OR just contact me if you want me to take your order directly!

Your Summer Makeup Needs All Right Here In 1 Collection

Week O’Nautical – Julep Sail Away Bombshell Maven Box

Julep Set Sail Collection for May

Ok so I was supposed to post this yesterday but the long weekend was way to enjoyable to be on the computer/tablet/etc. I definitely disconnected over Memorial Day weekend and I’m totally ok with it. So here’s my mani Monday post “going up, on a Tuesday!”

May Bombshell Maven Box

For May, Julep released a “Set Sail” collection based around nautical influences. I HAD to opt in this month and get my monthly maven box in bombshell which included a purple creme with blue undertones (Denise) and a slightly off white creme (Vanna) with a lip crayon in a fuchsia (which I gave to my mom because it looked PERFECT on her). Even though these shades aren’t your typical nautical red white and blue (which I was this close on getting instead) they still go perfectly with your nautical looks. For my add on I added these anchor nail decals because as much as I liked my free-hand anchor last year (see here) this was WAY EASIER! Oh and can we mention it came with salt water taffy from Ocean City MD, how fitting!

Julep Anchor Nail Decals Add-On’s

I really couldn’t decided on what I wanted to do with this box since I’ve been into just classically painted nails in one color with a great topcoat. So I decided just to do 2 fingers in Vanna (white) and 3 in Denise (purple) with the anchors on my pointer and middle.

Week O’Nautical Nails with Julep

I have to say despite my horrible cuticles this nail look definitely was a favorite as of late. It got a lot of attention randomly, like the check stand girl complimenting how great they looked and how she thought it was a gel mani. Goes to prove how fantastic the Julep formula is!

Thumbs up for Julep!

Nautical Mani for Week O’Nautical

Julep Denise and Vanna from the Set Sail Collection

As we are officially unofficially now in summer, and the long Memorial Day weekend is now over, so is my Week O’Nautical here on the blog… until the 4th of July that is. Until then, let’s paint the town red! and purple! and white! and all the other mani colors of summer!

A little Kate Spade and Julep!

Nailed It: Lilly Pulitzer for Target Essie First Timer

Lilly Pulitzer for Target Essie First Timer

I can’t stop. Something about this Lilly for Target that just has me obsessing! Especially in the Essie collaboration on the coordinating nail colors. You already know I’m head over heels for Borrowed and Blue (as seen here) but I’m totally smitten for Essie First Timer too! Now this shade I already owned from when it was originally released for resort 2013. Since I’m obsessing over this Lilly for Target line I figured it was time to pull out First Timer.

Lilly For Target Upstream Print Pairs Perfectly With Essie First Timer

What I love about this shade is that it’s bright but not too bright, green but not too green and creamy oh so creamy! It has a great aqua tone to it so the green isn’t to green. I forgot how much I loved this shade! It’s just the pop of color I needed! I love it just clean on the nail, no need for nail art or an accent nail (not that Essie Gold Nuggets from the Lilly Pulitzer for Target collab wouldn’t look GREAT as an accent nail).

Target Style Finds for Memorial Day

Lucky for me I scored this Lilly For Target Upstream Jumper in my size as a return! I love the navy and white print paired with Essie First Timer. I also found this super cute paper fedora in the dollar bins (only it was $3). I think I have the perfect Memorial Day outfit with these 3 together! Thanks #targetstyle

Essie Polish for Lilly For Target

Did you pick up any of the Lilly For Target Essie Collaboration Shades? I’ll say it again these shades are all you need for your spring and summer mani/pedi needs. I just can’t get over how smitten I am with this Lilly for Target collection. I totally should be pleased with what I got but I can’t stop. I’m just throwing this out there… I’m totally ISO’ing for the plazzo pants (boom boom, my fans or fan dance!) and maybe the Upstream Pom Pom Shorts and maybe the Boom Boom Satin dress aaaaaand that super cute lemon juicer and stir sticks. My gosh I can’t stop!

Nailed It: Essie Lilly For Target Borrowed and Blue

Essie Polish for Lilly For Target

Mani Monday just got a little preppier! If you’ve been living under a rock Lilly Pulitzer’s capsule collection for Target not only sold out in minutes, was extremely cute for even the non-Lilly, and included a special release from Essie in 9 perfectly preppy shades! These are all existing Essie shades but picked to coordinate with the Lilly For Target prints and styles. Lilly is known for her preppy following and happy prints and I think Essie NAILED IT with their collection release. The full collection pictured above from left to right: Baby’s Breath, Gold Nuggets, Forget Me Knots, Capri, First Timer, Pansy, Mesmerized, Borrowed & Blue, and Where’s My Chauffeur.

Lilly For Target Beauty

I didn’t participate in the Pink Sunday Hunger Games, but I did show up the next day on my way to work and was pretty pleased in what they still had left in beauty. After seeing this pale blue shade, Borrowed & Blue, in the sneak peeks it was THE item I was hunting for. When I found it and the coordinating headband, bobby pins and nail file in the “My Fans” print I got pretty excited.

Essie Borrowed and Blue from Lilly For Target Collection

Ready For A Summer in Lilly with Essie Borrowed & Blue

Essie Borrowed & Blue is the perfect pale blue pastel. It has just the right amount of white to not make it look too gawdy on (you know me and blue/green nails). Application was also a dream! It wasn’t too thick and it self leveled perfectly.

Essie Borrowed and Blue Swatch from Lilly for Target

A little note, I totally rushed this mani (I was so excited!) and put on way too much quick dry top coat and my cuticles are bad, like really bad. Don’t let that sway you, this color is perfect! And even with the slight chipping from the massive amount of top coat it still lasted a week!

“Palm Beach Is A State of Mind”

Mani Monday in Essie Borrowed and Blue

Another note, these pictures were taken as the storm was rolling in, so super grey and cloudy day. I tried to boost the exposure to see them a little better but it was so hard to capture the true color. Just believe me when I say this is a true robin egg blue! Here’s a little out of focused shot to see the great shine this polish has.

And shiny too!

If you weren’t able to get your manicured mitts on any of the Essie polish, don’t worry because these are past shades from Essie, so they’ll pop up. Maybe not with the tag (but who cares you throw that away anyways), but don’t pay the outrageous price on ebay, just be patient. I know this shade is going to be in heavy rotation on my fingers this summer in Lilly!

Essie Borrowed & Blue for Lilly Pulitzer for Target

Nailed It: Julep Alicia

What a better mani Monday then our own namesake! Julep Alicia!

Julep Alicia

I have this thing with names, I like to get people polish in their name even if its not a color they’d wear. It’s like a collectors piece. Alicia, while you know the name, it’s not really as common as you’d think, so when I saw Julep had an Alicia I was ALL OVER IT. Except it’s been sold out for-ev-ver! The re-released in the new formula a few months ago and I snatched it up. At first I was like, eh, it will probably not look that great on me, but I want it for my vanity, so it sat in it’s box all pretty and new. Then for Easter I decided to bust out this shade. I was going to do a fun Easter mani but I also had a wedding and business trip so I needed just an easy shade to get me through. Julep Alicia it is!

Julep Alicia for Easter

Once I applied Julep Alicia I was immediately in love with my namesake. In just two coats it’s full coverage cream with the shiniest finish with NO topcoat! It’s super super bright and unique but doesn’t come across as gaudy. Julep Alicia is the word. If I was ultimately going to create a polish that represented me I wouldn’t change a thing!

Spring Favorite: Julep Alicia

You can shop Julep here and get your first Julep Maven 4-piece box FOR FREE using promo code SCORE.

12 Mani’s of Christmas

So many Christmas nail ideas, so little time! Only a week until Christmas, so even if I do a new nail look everyday I still couldn’t fit in thislist! Lucky for me some of these work great for New Year’s and beyond! In no particular order, let’s count them down… 12 drummers drumming…err…

12. Classic bright red.

mark. Nailed It Duo in Firestarter and Hot Coal

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Sometimes perfect bright classic red is all your nails need. The perfect red for me this year is the mark. Nailed It Duo in Firestarter. Creamy, bright and pure holiday excellence. See it on here.

11. Avon Nail Art Design French Tips

Avon Nail Art Design French Tips

For my holiday party this weekend I’ll be wearing these Avon Nail Art Design French Tips in Let It Snow and using them again in Tartan for Christmas Eve! All you do is use your favorite shade as your base. Then apply the nail art strip after it’s dried. Place it higher on the nail if you want a typical french tip look or lower to show just a little for a half moon mani look. Could even just use these just as an accent nail. Either way they’re fun and festive and a level of detailed design I could never do on own! Aaaaand they’ve been marked down to $2.99 so take advantage of that free 2-day shipping and get these NOW! (http://www.youravon.com/aliciahessinger)

10. Nude with gold tips.

Nude with Skinny Gold Tips

This is just too pretty! To recreate the look go with a nude that’s a little more on the pink side and make your gold french tips super slim. Try Essie Penny Talk for the tips!

9. DIY Buffalo Plaid

DIY Buffalo Plaid

Easy enough to recreate after seeing the tutorial over at http://petitepeinture.com/julep-holiday-tartan-tutorial Obviously I’ve been having a plaid moment this fall/winter!

8. Jackie from Living After Midnight’s Snowman Mani

Living After Midnite: Snowman Nails

My Wear and Share partner in crime, Jackie over at Living After Midnight, showed us her KILLER snowman mani. Not only is this guy super festive, it’s great in snowy January as well! I’m LOVING it paired with her striped top and emerald jewels too!

7. Green and gold.

Green and Gold Mani

Go to the other end of the Christmas color spectrum with a deep green polish topped with some gold glitter. Try Essie Stylenomics with Essie LuxeEffects in Rock At The Top.

6. Snowy White

Glistening Snowy Nails with Avon Iceberg White and Essie LuxeEffects in Shine Of The Times (with and w/o flash)

Our friends over at Sealaura already showed us how chic an all white mani can be, but let’s step it up a notch with a snowy white look! Top Avon’s Gel Finish in Iceberg White with Essie LuxeEffects in Shine Of The Times for a glistening snowy white look… and maybe if you want, do a red accent nail like I did!

5. Santa Nail Art!

Santa Nail Art

This one looks easy enough to recreate! Basically do a red nail with white french tip. Where they meet draw a thin line in silver. (Try using an old liquid eyeliner brush to get a super thin line!) To do your Santa accent nail start by doing the beard first. Let that dry, then do the red santa hat by just making a thick line. After that dries, make small dots in a row for the top of the hat. Dot on black eyes (try using a toothpick) and the nose and you’re done! Seal it all with a topcoat!

4. Blue Christmas – Avon Gel Finish Winter 2014 Shades

Avon Gel Finish in Iceberg White, Alaska and Inked Up (L to R)

For your non-typical holiday mani I’m loving these shades from Avon. You already know I’ve been digging Iceberg White, but Inked Out and Alaska (now only $4.99!) are also perfect wintery shades. Blue for the holidays has become a favorite and not just for Hanukkah! If you want to make it a little more festive, top it with a silver glitter topcoat.

3. Gold Stripes with Julep December Box: Classic With A Twist

Julep Maven December Box – Classic With A Twist

Julep always has the perfectly paired offering with their monthly box selections. For December I went with the Classic With A Twist selection featuring Sienna and Ilga from the Count It Down collection. I also added on the striping tape for a little holiday nail art. This is the perfect set for the work week leading up to Christmas!

2. Presents

Presents!!!

Create cute little presents on your nails with some striping tape and a bow decal or just paint it on with two stripes and a bow! Bonus points if you can do that awesome tree!

1. Fair Isle Nails

Fair Isle Nails

Now this might be for the advanced but it’s like a Christmas sweater for your nails! How festive and cozy!

And a partridge in a pear tree…

word of alicia

word yo.

nail polish

Nailed It: Birthday Mani!

Trending Tuesday – #fuchsia

Summer Makeup: mark. Instant Vacation Buenos Aires Color Collection

Week O’Nautical – Julep Sail Away Bombshell Maven Box

Nailed It: Lilly Pulitzer for Target Essie First Timer

Nailed It: Essie Lilly For Target Borrowed and Blue

Nailed It: Julep Alicia