Way-Cool Mani Wednesday: Coral & Gray

My new favorite color combination is definitely coral and gray.  A few months ago while shopping at an outlet store I came across this top that was bright coral with gray stripes. It's been my favorite top every since. Then KBShimmer comes out with an awesome gray crelly with coral and teal glitter. Perfect! It's not a color combination I'd ever think of on my own, but I absolutely love it. I needed to do a mani of it of course!

Polishes Used:

Revlon Just Tinted Victorian (circa 2011) & KBShimmer Make My Gray

Happy Wednesday! 

a-england Dancing With Nureyev

Have you ever had a polish that was too pretty to describe? This is my problem with this a-england polish I'm going to share with you today. I'm going to struggle through my description because it's just too beautiful. I'm speechless. Ok, it's not that dramatic, but it's still pretty awesome. 

Dancing With Nureyev 

Dancing With Nureyev is a light-medium blue with a touch of violet holographic.

Color: This color is just sublime. The blue in this in intense. The color is clear and crisp. I want to say this color is crystal-like, but I don't think that makes sense at all. Everything about this color is just so pristine. Gorgeous. 

Formula: Excellent formula. This holo along with other a-england holos apply so nicely. I used 2 coats above. 

Price: This is $10.00 on Color 4 Nails site. 

Overall:  Like Mary Poppins, this color is "practically perfect in every way". My only regret is that I didn't get to try this in 2013, it would of definitely been in my Top 25. 

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Paint Splatters

Glitt-A-Licia Guest Post: Do Not Apologize For Being You

My friend Steph, who just so happens to be the the brains behind this blog, made a comment on Facebook that made a huge lightbulb turn on above my head. No, I'm not talking about the kitchen light, I am talking about that "Ah-Ha!" lightbulb moment.

Steph made a comment that she wished people (aka all of us insecure women), would not post a picture of ourselves, then immediately apologize for their imperfections.  I admit that I have been guilty of doing this myself. I post a pic and say, "Oh, forgive blah, blah, blah."

Then, once I saw Steph's comments and thought..."Hmmmmm....she has a point!" Why do we apologize for our imperfections? Why do we feel the NEED to apologize for being who we are?  Every human that lives, or has lived on this planet, has imperfections, so why do we need to apologize for ours??

I then took a long hard look at myself.  Being a scientist, I did a quick experiment on myself. If I try to make my imperfections disappear, I look like this.

I think this picture smooths all my wrinkles, blotchy complexion, and ruddy skin tone. You can still see my dark under eye circles and horrible roots that I need to highlight.  Other than that, I see no major imperfections, no lines, no squiggles. I see very little that is considered "imperfect," yet I see an expressionless mask. I look older. I look cold. I look sad.

But if you look at these pictures...

...there are imperfections everywhere. Acne scars, crows feet, red tinted nose, and wrinkles galore! However, I look younger, happier, and more like myself than the previous picture. Smile lines mean you SMILE! Crows feet are eye smiles!

There is absolutely nothing wrong with these pictures. The only thing wrong with these pictures, is how my own mind sees myself. I will not apologize for my appearance (my house is a different story).  I will not apologize if I am not wearing make up or if my hair looks like a crow's nest!

If you don't like it, that's fine too. You be you. I will be me. This is me. I am a goofball who might be a little insecure but trying to love myself for who I am, wrinkles and all.

Sparkle On Dear Reader,
Love,
Licia

Maya Cosmetics Sprummer Collection (4 of 7)

* I received the following products in exchange for my honest review. 

I have for you today some of the shades from Maya Cosmetic's "Sprummer" release. This release is a collaboration of spring and summer shades, hence the name. This collection is scheduled to be released on April 4th.

Beach Baby

Beach Baby is a full-coverage glitter blend of bronze, sand, pink, and orange glitters in a shimmery bronze base. (2 coats)

Beyond the Pale

Beyond the Pale is a coral orange jelly base with pink and peach micro flakes. (3 coats)

Zazzy

Zazzy is a orchid foil with micro fine holographic glitter. (2 coats)

Ethereal 

Ethereal is a golden base with peachy-gold sheen and a scattered holo finish. (2 coats)

Colors: What surprised and impressed me with these colors is how they captured the nude color trend. I'm not sure if that was intentional or not, but I'm seeing a lot of nudes in cosmetics lately. I've never really seen a indie tackle nude shades before and these are great.  Ethereal and Beach Baby are excellent blingy and fun takes on nude! Zazzy and Beyond the Pale while not nudes, are more subdued and fit with nude/neutral theme of this selection of colors.

Formula: The formula on all of these was good and easy to apply. Beach Baby and Zazzy definitely need top coat though as they dry matte.

Price: The full size polishes will be $9.50 each on the Maya Cosmetics website on April 4th.

Overall: I really enjoyed these colors from this collection, they're unexpected and preform well. Beach Baby is probably my favorite in the bunch.

My Rating 5 out of 5 Paint Splatters

Be sure to follow Maya Cosmetics on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Happy Friday!

Throwback Thursday: China Glaze Exotic Encounters

Green is my hardest color to pull of with nail polish. Actually, green in general is not my color at all. I don't own any green clothes. Imagine my difficulty on St. Patrick's Day. Teals can even be difficult for me even though I love them. I have oldie (not very oldie), but goodie China Glaze teal today I think works out well for me. 

Exotic Encounters

Exotic Encounters is a medium dusty teal creme. 

Color: I think it's the dusty quality of this shade of teal that makes this work for me. Is it me or do you feel like muted/dusty shades almost work as neutrals? Does this make sense? Colors like this I feel really can work with most anything you wear because they have that touch of gray to them? I'm rambling, I know! I really like this color, and I'm happy to find a greenish shade that I can wear well!

Collection: China Glaze On Safari Fall 2012

Formula: Great formula. I used 2 coats in the swatch above. 

Price: This can be found on mulitple e-tailrs, ebay, or Amazon in the the $3.75-$8.00. Google it! :)

Overall: Very nice muted teal shade. The formula is on point, and this color seems like it would be flattering and wearable for most. 

My Rating 5 out of 5 Paint Splatters

Happy Thursday!