The sun can’t really make up its mind, but it’s there, hovering around deciding whether to slip out and catch us all by surprise with unshaved legs, untanned limbs and unpainted toenails. It just likes to keep usguessing because it’s cool and nonchalant like that. Well sun I’m here to tell you that I’m ready – let’s be havin’ ya. My shins are defuzzed for the first time in well…I’m not sure I wish to share that information, the Xen-Tan Dark Lotion Absolute Luxe has been working overtime (still my fave tan of all, three years after I cracked open my first bottle open) and my toenails are lacquered up and ready to be unleashed from their winter boot home. Since last year I’ve employed a strict gel-only policy for my toes. Let me explain…
The Red Carpet Manicure Starter Set coming into my life last year was a big beauty moment. I’d never felt inclined to split with the £50+ for an in-salon gel mani, but was intrigued by the lure of a paint job that lasted weeks instead of the two chip-free days I usually get on my beds. RCM offers an at-home version which though isn’t exactly speedy – I timed that it took almost two hours to prep and paint both my toe and finger nails the other day – the paint/cure/paint/repeat results warrant the work. On my nails I get about 10 days of wear before I feel the urge to whip it off and on my toes I can eke it out for about a month at a time. A WHOLE MONTH. Gross, but true. And with nail painting being one of my biggest beauty bores that makes me one happy lady.
Of course there is a downside – removal – which basically involves soaking and scraping. Which feels about as nice as the bruising sensation you get before a big-ass spot makes its arrival. It’s grim and long and it feels like you’re doing the worst thing that you could possibly do to your nails, which is why I don’t tend to use it on my fingernails all that often unless I’m really short on time or heading somewhere for an elongated period. But otherwise I just use it solely on toes as they spend a good 90% of their time hidden away in socks anyway. It’s not enough to put me off and I haven’t physically seen any damage, but it’s worth noting.
But what I wanted to give a nod to today were the contents of a recent RCM-centric Beauty Bay haul. The colours I owned were lacking in the summer-friendly department and I was running low on the basics, so I thought I’d give you the need-to-know on what I purchased. First up, refills of the Erase and Purify formulas – boring but necessary. Then I plumped for three new shades: Blushful Moments, an Essie Tarte Deco look-a-like, Voiletta Darling, a grey-tinged lilac and my current favourite and what I’m donning on my nails right now – Parisian Chic. Isn’t it a beaut? A not too sickly sweet mint that at first I wasn’t too sure off, but now I’m feeling. It’s a grower, not a show-er. My final purchase was a Nail Polish Organiser which is now my new home for all of this and keeps everything neat, tidy and in order. Virgo Anna is happy.
Well I think that’s enough rambling for one day. Moral of the story: gel polish rocks, but is a pain in the arse to remove, preferably used for pedi purpose, new shades look stunning. See – could have done that in just 21 words…
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