It's time for another edition of Dupes Up! This weeks contenders:

Barry M Silvery Lilac

Retail Cost: £2.99 (approximately $4.75)

vs.

OPI: Not Like the Movies

Retail Cost: $8.50

I just recently got this Barry M and a lot of people online have compared it to butterLONDON's Knackered which I have yet to snag.  When I got it though, I was more drawn to a different polish in my collection: Not Like the Movies.  Now, I'll start by saying there are TWO versions of the OPI color Not Like the Movies.  One is a duo chrome which was released with the original Katy Perry Collection.  The other is a silver version which came a bit later.  I have the duo chrome version and that's the one I'm comparing today.

Here is a close-up of the bottles.  Both have a silver base with a lilac/green duo chrome.  The OPI looks like it has MUCH more of a color change in this shot. You can clearly make out the purple as it shifts from green to silver.  The Barry M looks more of a silver/lilac without much change in between the two.  They both also have silver micro glitter throughout.

So here's the lowdown:  First of all, the Barry M had a much better formula, which is surprising given it's a drugstore brand vs. a salon brand.  I only needed two coats of the Barry M for coverage and I needed three of the OPI.  Both were still a smidgen sheer but I think that's just the way this polish is meant to be.  This photo was taken in natural light.  Both have a silver to lilac shift, shimmery silver flecks, and a slight greenish tinge at the edges.  I showed them to numerous people and none could tell a difference, not even my husband who is well trained in the art of differentiating polishes from one another!  The Barry M is on the index and ring finger, while the OPI is on the other two. The OPI looks a BIT darker in this photo but it's not really. If you blow this up (just click it!) you can see that they're the same.  You'll also notice the OPI is a bit streaky though it's not noticeable in person.  There is also a VERY slight shift more towards green on the OPI where the Barry M is more lilac than greenish.  But for all reasonable intents...these are the same in my book.

Verdict: Dupes. Yes there are some VERY SLIGHT differences (the streaks in the OPI, the TINY shift more towards green.)  but honestly, on the nails the differences are not noticeable at all. So I feel comfortable labeling these dupes.

Availability: Barry M Silvery Lilac is available at Boots, Superdrug, and BarryM.com.  OPI Not Like the Movies was part of the now defunct Katy Perry Collection and can no longer be purchased in stores.  It has limited availability online but there are TWO versions.

Wondering how these stack up against another silvery lilac duo chrome, Zoya Ki? Debbie has you covered over at The Crumpet!

Well I've been out of nail school for over a month now.  I can't say I really miss it although I had tons of fun while I was there!  Seventy hour weeks aren't really high on my list of things to do and I can't wait to start doing nails for a living.  Awhile back I posted some nail art that one of my nail school friends, Pauline did for me.  I have a few more of those to come but I want to spread them out a little since, sadly, Pauline doesn't live near me so I won't be able to have her do anymore pretty nails for me. :( But here's a little twist for today...nail art I did for Pauline! 

 Thing is...Pauline and I had a little TOO much fun at nail school.  We spent plenty of time learning and practicing, don't get me wrong. But we also spent an inordinate amount of time just being silly and laughing. And lets face it--when all you do is work, sleep, and go to class, a little bit of laughter is a good thing!  Most of the art I ended up doing for Pauline was more because of the fact that no matter how careful she tried to be, she almost always wrecked a nail before they had fully dried.  *sigh*  So you'll notice as these come up that the art is usually limited to the tip of the nail and it isn't always the standard accent finger!  BUT we had fun with the cute designs too!!  This one was sprung from a completely random incident.  Some time ago my husband bought me a necklace.  Knowing I love cute things and kitty things and I have a super fat kitty (who I love to absolute death!) he found this necklace of a fat, kawaii kitty on a balloon.

Super duper cute right?  I love it.  So I'm sitting in class one day wearing said necklace when Pauline leans over and says "Is that Pusheen?"  I think I asked her to repeat her question, like, three times.  "What the heck is Pusheen?" I wanted to know. Pauline tells me to "Google it" and I do and holy freaking cuteness. Pusheen love was born. So when I had polished her nails one day with Barry M Blue Moon followed by a nice dose of Deborah Lippmann's Glitter in The Air, only for her to nick the tip 10 minutes later...I thought, what better a cover up than little Pusheen?  And voila! There you have it!

I hope you enjoyed the art and thanks for following!!

Now that my nails are shorter and are starting to look healthier, I wanted to do some fun things for summer. I just got some new Deborah Lippmann's the other day and this is Let's Hear It For the Boy. It's a gorgeous pastel blue.  I thought about putting some art over the top of it but settled instead on Essence Glorious Aquarius.  This is an amazing glitter with iridescent and aqua glitter throughout.  Looks SO pretty in the sunlight! It's a perfect combo for the warm summer weather! :)  It's a simple look for today but I'm loving it! I hope you all enjoy and thanks for following!!

I have something very special for you all today and I'm excited to share it with you because it's something that is very close to my heart.  I was contacted some time back by a wonderful woman named Jackie Clark, who does outreach for the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance, a leading web resource for mesothelioma cancer.  Jackie has a really great message to share with you all today and I'm so honored to have her as a guest on my blog.  Three of my most favorite people (and bloggers!) have joined me in doing some nail art to support this wonderful cause so please check out their work by visiting their blogs.  Kerrie,  Debbie, and Emma thank you so much for participating! You can find information about the art I've done to support Jackie's wonderful cause at the close of this blog.  I hope you all enjoy!! 

Return to Style Restores Inner Strength

Remember how great it feels to step out of your home dressed in the latest fashion, carrying a cute handbag and sporting makeup inspired by current cover girl styles? Remember the empowering sensation that flows over you when you know you look great? Perhaps you are one of many women who keeps her eye toward fashion and the intention of nurturing extreme self-care. For those coping with serious illness, this empowering daily routine easily slips out of the picture.

Diagnosis of a life-threatening illness such as mesothelioma cancer, oral cancer or lymphoma radically changes life and daily routines. Women suffering from such illnesses find the flurry of doctor’s appointments and treatments challenging and, at times, overwhelming. Exhaustion and nausea that result from chemo treatments make it easy to forget the importance of caring for one’s appearance.

Finding a few fun new fashionable outfits or accessories often gives the necessary boost to the inner strength and beauty of a woman struggling for her life. Often doctors’ offices have magazines for browsing while waiting. Next time you’re waiting, take a look at any new fashion periodicals in the office. Make sure the magazine is up to date, not a discarded rag from a year ago or so. Then flip through the pages finding new looks and reading fashion tips as you wait to see your doctor.

If fashion magazines aren’t at your fingertips, a little fun fashion surfing online may be in order. Search for 2012 runway fashions, hairstyles and vogue makeup designs.

Whatever way you choose to get in touch with the latest in fashion, be sure to take note of the looks you like best. Consider your coloring and body shape in making your choice, but mostly pick the looks you love.

During treatments for any form of cancer or other illnesses, the body may change in response to illness and aggressive medical care. While you might no longer fit into some of your usual styles, this may be your chance to try some new fashions you’ve never been able to sport before now. Tunic tops and skinny jeans might be just the thing to emphasize your curves while flattering a body that has experienced swift weight loss.

Fresh makeup styles breathe new life into the looks of any woman. Today’s chic designs feature understated cheeks and smooth foundation as a canvas to emphasize either a woman’s eyes or her lips but not both. An easy style that takes little time in front of the mirror involves just a little natural base and bronzer on the face followed by simple lash lengthening mascara. Once the rest of the face features a fresh, natural look, carefully apply a generous amount of lipstick in your favorite shade of red for a stunning retro look that emphasizes the beauty of your shapely, kissable lips.Illness poses challenges in life. Self-care is of utmost importance in responding to these challenges. When your inner strength begins to fail and your inner beauty fades, give them a boost with fresh fashion.

Check out the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance blog for more information on wellness.

Nail art was created using Color Club Almost Famous and China Glaze First Mate. It represents the logo for the Mesothelioma Resarch Foundation of America.

We've all been there: you're growing out your nails, they're long and fabulous and all the same length (FINALLY) and then...chaos.  One breaks.  Or worse, splits halfway down so that you have to baby it until it grows out.  Except if you're anything like me you forget to baby it after like, an hour, and then it inevitable rips off painfully. Ouch.  Today's post will not only show you how to fix said break, but also show you how to beef up your natural nails while they're thin or just keep them a bit stronger whenever you feel you need a little more strength! You can wear silk wraps the same way as you wear acrylics but with more of a natural look and less skill!*

*Note: While wraps will cause less damage to your nail when properly applied than would an acrylic they are NOT without their drawbacks.  It will cause minimal surface damage as will any product applied to the top of your nail plate for strength (ie: tips, acrylics, gels, or full coverage false nails).  Wraps do dissolve easily in acetone and should be repaired or replaced every four weeks for maximum strength.

These are the basic supplies you will need to give yourself a wrap.  Some of them, as always, are optional.  I don't think that tweezers, Bond-Aid (or a dehydrator), or accelerator are strictly necessary.  However, if you are not going to use a nail dehydrator I strongly suggest substituting acetone or alcohol because it does really help the resin adhere.  Also, the accelerator is a BIG help since you won't have to wait forever for the resin to set.  You will also need a pair of nail scissors, which I forgot to picture.

This is a picture of the resin and accelerator.  I'm using ASP here but I really recommend Rap Stick. It's sold at Sally's Beauty Supply and it's not incredibly expensive (about $10 for both the accelerator and the resin).  It's much thicker than the ASP, the lid doesn't get glued shut (major bummer), and it's a bit cheaper.  Resin is only good for 6 months so don't buy a ton of it if you don't plan on using it.  Also, I use the Swiss Silk 40 pack of pre-cut silk wraps which can also be purchased at Sally's Beauty Supply for around $4.  If you do choose to use a resin/accelerator set PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE purchase the same brand and be VERY careful with them.  Accelerator should be LIGHTLY spritzed at a distance of about 6 inches from your nail.  Trust me, you don't need much.  If you over spray your nail (spray too close or too many times) you WILL burn the crap out of your finger.  It hurts. A lot. I've done it and it feels like sticking your finger onto a hot coal.  It doesn't cause residual damage and it only lasts a few seconds but if you do it once you won't want to do it again!! I hold my accelerator about 6 inches from my nail and lightly spritz twice.  You may want to spritz it once onto your paper towel to be sure there isn't anything jamming up the dispenser. You want an even, light spray of accelerator.

Here's how to apply the wraps:

This is the nail I'm applying a wrap to.  It's not broken, it's just thin and I wanted to keep it thicker to prevent it breaking while it was growing out.  Start by doing a basic cuticle care routine. Then swipe nail with alcohol or acetone to clean the plate. Then buff lightly to remove the shine and use the Bond Aid or alcohol to dehydrate the nail plate. Don't touch the nail after you've dehydrated it or you'll defeat the purpose.

Next tilt your nail at an angle towards you. If you use the ASP resin be aware that it is SUPER thin. It's like pouring water down your nail plate. I bought tip extenders to use with mine to make it easier. The Rap Stick is much thicker and easier to control. You might want to slide a paper towel in between your finger and your hand so that if resin drips off the nail (which won't happen with Rap Stick!) it won't go all over your hand.

So I'm just going to lay it out there for you guys. Nail school wrecked my nails. Lol...my left hand is a hot mess from having so many procedures done on it and I'm experimenting at the moment with not polishing my other hand for two months to see if polishing really does make your nails less healthy (results will be blogged so stay tuned!).  So...today when my thumb nail--on which the ridiculously thin, damaged part has finally reached the free edge--split down the CENTER of my nail I gave up on polishing.  It's split down about halfway through my nail plate and because both sides of the nail are attached to my nail bed it's essentially a giant crack in my nail which HURTS like a mother.  I bet it takes two weeks to grow off the free edge.  Polishing is a no go til I find some resin to seal this sucker up because it goes straight into my nail bed. Ouchie. :( So here are some fun with magnetic's nails I did awhile back!!  I wanted to try to use the magnets in interesting ways and create art but without doing it as straightforwardly as the magnet patterns.  It looked super cool in person 'cause when you move your hands it kind of has a 3D effect.  :)  I hope you all enjoy!! There are still TWO more Rehab posts and then there will be an awesome giveaway filled with supplies for you to keep your nails feeling and looking their best!

Thanks for following!!

Colors Used: Nails Inc Trafalgar Square, Houses of Parliament, and WhiteHall Teal. Lines drawn with Models Own Nail Art Pen in Black.

It's time for another edition of Rehab Your Nails! Today's post is all about cuticle care. It's something we all deal with and keeping them healthy and in shape is easier than you think! Here's how to properly push and nip your cuticles!

Tools needed:

1, 2: Cuticle Remover

3,4,5: Cuticle Pusher

3, 6: Cuticle Nippers

7: Cuticle cream

You don't need all of these tools I'm just showing you some different things so you can get an idea of the options you have.  If you're nervous about cutting your cuticles, you can either skip that step or start with a slanted cuticle nipper like #3.  It has a V shaped groove you can simply slide around your cuticles. If you're feeling more confident, choose nippers like #6.  I like to use 1/4 jaw nippers since the blade is smaller which gives you more control.  #4 is a two sided metal pusher.  I prefer this type but if you're new to pushing you're better to start with a soft tip pusher like #5.  Be aware that a metal pusher CAN go through your nail plate so it's important to watch how much pressure you use and the angle at which you push.  I also have some cuticle cream which is optional but a good idea to have.  Cuticle oil would be another great option to finish your cuticle care routine.  If you don't have either of those you can use olive oil or a good hand lotion but cuticle oil/cream is well worth the investment because it really will help you keep your nails healthy and looking great.  Onto the procedure!!

This is the finger I'll be showing you on.  I waited a bit so I'd have a nice amount of cuticle to work with. You may have less or more.  I've added an arrow to indicate where the cuticle is.  You can tell that it's sort of a ledge if you will where the skin of your finger meets the nail plate.  The 'base' of this ledge is your eponychium, which is a fancy word for live skin.  You'll want to avoid cutting that since it will hurt and it will bleed.

Start by choosing a cuticle remover or softener and applying it around the cuticle area.  If you want, you can soak your nail in warm water after applying it (in a semi-thick layer in that case) to help soften the cuticle.  This DOES cause more damage to your nail plate though, so for me, it's not really a win situation.  Leave the cuticle remover/softener on according to the package directions.  If you feel any tingling, pain or other sensations you should remove it with soap and water immediately. Cuticle is DEAD skin. It doesn't have feeling so if you're experiencing pain there is a problem!  I used the Avoplex Exfoliating Cuticle Remover and left it on 3 minutes (or about a commercial break!) before massaging it in to my finger with my other hand.

Now you'll want to choose a pusher.  I'm going to use a metal two sided pusher.  Please PLEASE PLEASE do not buy a metal pusher until you are comfortable with this procedure.  You can seriously injure yourself with one and can even cause irreparable damage to your nail. You can also use an orange stick in a pinch.

Hold the pusher at about a 45 degree angle aimed at your cuticle.  Now using GENTLE, circular motions, press the cuticle back towards your hand.

Start the pusher about a quarter of the way up the nail from the cuticle when you push.  There is skin on the nail plate which will flake forward and come off the nail while you're pushing the still attached cuticle back.  This is normal and it's actually the purpose of pushing the cuticles.  Here's a better picture of what I'm talking about:

You should notice the color difference in my nail where I started pushing with my pusher about a quarter to halfway up the nail plate. See all those little flakes of skin?  That's cuticle and that's what we're trying to remove.  This is another great reason to start with a soft tip pusher or an orange stick. A metal pusher CAN remove layers of your nail. It will look different and it will feel different BUT if you're starting out you might not know the difference. Your cuticle remover/softener should have loosened this skin and made it pretty easy to push off.  You're going to notice that the cuticle which is still attached to your nail is also much easier to see after pushing.  I'm going to show it to you at a different angle so you can see what I mean.

The #1 in this picture shows you the line where I began to push with my pusher.  The #2 is the attached cuticle.  You don't have to cut this.  I never cut mine for years and years and it didn't bother me.  Leaving it alone CAN make you more prone to hang nails if you're not properly moisturizing your cuticle.  But removing it can have it's downsides as well.  It will grow back fairly quickly and if it's not cut properly it will grow back a bit weird.  Nothing to worry about mind you but just enough that you'll have to keep cutting it for awhile! If you decide not to cut then you can simply add cuticle oil or lotion and swipe your nail plate with alcohol or acetone (or wash your hands) to remove the lifted cuticle.  If you're going to cut you'll want to choose your nippers at this point.

I'm going to explain how to use the 1/4 jaw nippers because that's what I use but if you choose to use the V shaped blade nippers all you need to do is place the V at the base of the cuticle and press it gently to the other side of the nail, following the natural curve of the nail plate.  Easy.  It's another great starter tool because it's cheap and fairly easy to use without making your cuticle look like a hot mess.  You can pick up a double ended V blade/pusher for less than $5. These nippers (granted they're VERY nice nippers) cost me around $40.  If you're going to get a pair of jaw nippers you should also be aware that they're only good for about a year.  After that, they're too dull to do much good anymore so keep that in mind when investing.

To use the jaw nippers, position them at the base of your nail and just above the cuticle.  Now GENTLY press them down and then close the nippers. Then, with the nippers still closed, lift upwards, similar to tweezing hairs.  If you're nervous close them slowly. If you can FEEL them, they're on live skin. Reposition and try again.  It's not a race so take your time! You don't need to press hard either.  Just enough so that the nippers are on the cuticle.  When you close them and lift upwards there should be no pulling of skin. If it doesn't cut cleanly and pulls your skin, you need new nippers. 

Now add your cuticle oil and....voila!! Pretty, cuticle free nails! You'll notice I did leave a small cuticle on my nails. I prefer it this way since I work with my hands and don't always slather on lotion. If I remove them completely I get a lot more cracks in my eponychium.  I hope you all found this helpful!  I can't wait to share more tips with you all!