September Julep Maven Box {Unboxing & Swatches}

September 13, 2015September 13, 2015 ~ Taylor Justine ~ 2 Comments

Ready for some of the prettiest colors you’ve seen in a while? Well here they are!

When I first saw the full September Julep collection, I almost died. I needed the polishes, and I needed them now. They are rich, delicate and feminine shades that are so inspiring. And on top of that, Julep threw in their signature purple shade for free! Best month ever!

I’ve swatched out the five colors & added in some additional thoughts/details about each polish:

Julep Zoey – I adore this shade. It’s a dusty blue/green/grey that will transition between summer and winter so well. The formula was a bit thick, but nothing I couldn’t handle (which I will gladly do for the perfection of the color). It’s a little bit reminiscent of Julep Shelly, which is another of my favorites, but different enough to fit a fall color palette!

Julep Delores – Holo obsession, part 1 of 2. YAS. It’s a beauty, and I’m in love. I don’t have anything like it, which is rare to find since I own WAY too much nail polish. Two coats + top coat = heaven.

Julep Aubrey – Like I mentioned in the video, I had really high hopes for this polish before putting it on. Plum/burgundy during fall is everything, but this guy just fell flat on my nails. I suppose it’s pretty enough, but it really isn’t doing anything for me right now. I’ll try it again later in fall, and hopefully it’ll grow on me!

Special Edition Julep – WOO! Every maven is probably rejoicing at this freebie! It’s Julep’s signature color, and one of the main reasons for getting this box. Radiant Orchid {à la Pantone 2014 color of the year} returns in full force, and this is going to be the perfect color for spring and summer next year!

Julep Ellis – Holo obsession, part 2 of 2. Double YAS! If it’s possible to outdo holo number 1, than Ellis is the polish to do the job. This pale pink holographic shimmer and Zoey are my two stand-outs from this month. Is it weird that I can’t stop staring… ooh shiny!

Did you get a September Julep box? What were your favorite polishes? Happy Reading!

White After Labor Day {Nail Polish Edition}

September 6, 2015September 6, 2015 ~ Taylor Justine ~ 1 Comment

“Never wear white after Labor Day.”

While I definitely take cues from fashion rules, this one is a little bit harder to follow. Especially living in Southern California, where the weather is as hot as your Venti PSL through the end of November. With Labor Day coming up tomorrow, I decided to shine a spotlight on white polishes – my favorite brands and a fun negative space mani!

White Nail Polish Showdown – Top White Nail Polish Picks

Essie Blanc + OPI Alpine Snow + Ulta Snow White + Sally Hansen White On — Essie Blanc + OPI Alpine Snow + Ulta Snow White + Sally Hansen Let’s Snow

I tested out four white polishes: Essie, OPI, Ulta and Sally Hansen. I’ve been a religious Blanc user for years, but it was never the perfect white. It turns out that it’s actually not even in my top two from this test!

First thing I learned from trying out the polishes is that it’s really hard to photograph white nail polish and make it look true to life. Above are the four bottles and their corresponding swatches. You probably can’t tell, but the winner is…

OPI’s Alpine Snow (shown on pointer finger). A close second was Ulta’s Snow White (ring finger). Sally Hansen came in dead last. It was streaky and not opaque at all in two coats. Sadly, Essie Blanc wasn’t much better – still streaky and not very user friendly compared to the wide OPI brush or creamy consistency of Ulta’s Snow White.

Now that we’ve figured out which white does the job best, let’s chat about negative space manicures. First, make sure you have a good base coat that won’t peel off with striping tape, which can leave the unpolished area uneven. Next, tape off your negative space design and paint finger by finger, peeling off the tape before the polish dries. It’s the perfect subtle mani for Labor Day… and every day after that!

Happy Reading!

Nail Polish Favorites // Summer 2015

July 10, 2015July 10, 2015 ~ Taylor Justine ~ 1 Comment

Summer – Now is the time to paint your nails the color you want and spend your days outside in the sunshine! This season, I’m all about textures and colors that stand out past the normal cream red that is classic during June, July and August.

Sun-bleached pastels, jellies and berry brights are living on my nails these days! I was really interested in the unique textures and finishes that the fashion shows and magazines were highlighting for summer 2015, so collecting these polishes was a lot of fun. Let me show you what I’ve found!

Powder Blue – Bleached, pastel polishes like Essie’s Find Me An Oasis are just so perfect for summer. They have a little more personality than stark white, but are still clean and classic for those summer nights! Plus, they really make your tan look fab!

Glitter – No longer are glitter polishes only for the holidays! Chunky glitter is fun, AND a layer of it on top of your mani can extend the life of your polish for another couple of days. Play around with cream polishes and coordinating glitters for a punchy manicure!

Lavender – As the days get longer, summer sunsets are so gorgeous and I adore the blues and purples of twilight! Lavender always reminds me of that time of day when you’re sitting outside and watching the sun go down, cold drink in hand. Julep London is full coverage and creamy, and a great pastel to bring into summer months.

Neutrals – I’m a huge advocate for big, bright colors during the summer months (you’ll see below!), but sometimes you want a nice, nude nail to polish off your crisp white summer sundress! I might be biased, but that’s where Zoya’s Taylor makes her debut!

Fuchsia – Flirty. Feminine. Fun! All my favorite adjectives to describe the berry bright fuchsia, especially OPI’s Pink Flamenco. Take inspiration from the blooming bougainvillea all around!

Tangerine Red – Jellies are all the rage this year, so why not combine the summery tangerine with a fun sheer look. One coat gives you a sexy, peek-a-boo mani, or pair with a chunky glitter for a whole new effect!

What are you wearing on your nails this summer? Happy Reading!

Happy First Anniversary to Lillian Eve! {Giveaway}

April 3, 2015April 3, 2015 ~ Taylor Justine ~ 11 Comments

This is your birthday song. It isn’t very long!

Today I’m sending my congrats to the Lillian Eve team on a huge milestone:

Their First Anniversary!

As I’m always a fan of supporting indie polish brands, especially those proudly made in the USA, I am stoked to help them celebrate their first birthday. And all of you lovely peeps get to join in the fun too!

Anniversary-Celebration (1)

To thank all of their fans for being awesome over the last year, they’re running a HUGE giveaway! Just follow the directions below to enter:

How to Enter:

Create an account on lillianeve.com.
Visit the shop and click the heart icon on any product page to add it to your wishlist.
See your finished wishlist here!
Make sure you enter through the Rafflecopter entry form!
Last, but not least, come on back to this post and leave a comment below to satisfy the entry requirements.

Good luck everyone! Happy Reading!

The Details:

Giveaway begins on 4/1/15 and ends at midnight on 4/15/15. Open to US residents 18 years and older only. Subject to Terms and Conditions as stated in the giveaway widget. Winner will be notified within 48 hours. Must claim prize within 48 hours.

Nail Polish Favorites // Spring 2015

March 22, 2015March 22, 2015 ~ Taylor Justine ~ 2 Comments

SPRING! My favorite season is finally upon us, and I am overly excited for the gorgeous nail polish trends this year.

I am so inspired by the Pantone collection, En Plein Air, for Spring 2015. It’s a gorgeous blend of soft pastels and understated bright shades that you’d find in florals & nature, and ultimately will stand out beautifully on your nails. We seriously can’t do wrong with any of their choices. You know who else has channeled this trend TO PERFECTION? Essie’s collab Spring 2015 Collection, Flowerista, with Rebecca Minkoff.

I could continue to rave about how passionate I am when it comes to the absolutely gorgeous colors gracing nails this season, but how about I just show you?

Marsala – As Pantone’s 2015 Color of the Year, Marsala is rich and robust, which lends itself to great manicures. I love Mint’s Moonlit Stroll as the perfect, wearable version of this trend. It has so many dimensions, and when I have it on, I can’t keep my eyes off it!

Nude – If you ask me, a good nude is always on trend no matter the season. When you’re looking during spring, you need a nude that brings new life and depth into your wardrobe in the same way the earth begins to find life again after winter. If you’ll bear with me, I’m about to start my lovefest over Essie’s spring collection! Picked Perfect is one of two nudes in their new collection, and this guy specifially is a warm almond shade I’ve fallen in love with.

Teal – I’ve already mentioned how much I love Essie’s Spring Collection this year, so obviously my teal of choice this season is Garden Variety! There is no lack of pigment here, and if you want a punchy, funky teal, you’ve come to the right place.

Grey – I always crave a nice grey with blueish undertones for spring. It really is the ultimate color that allows brighter, more showstopping shades to take center stage. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, Essie’s Petal Pushers is perfection! Another home run for their spring collection.

Dusty Pastels – Whether it’s blue, pink, purple or green, pastels shine brightest during the spring. This year, I’m extra loving the dusty versions of these soft shades. Julep’s Shelly, a dusty mint, has been the apple of my eye for the last couple months, and I can’t wait to continue to wear it through the spring months!

What are your picks for Spring 2015 nail polish trends? Happy Reading!

Stuff Your Stockings in Style

December 18, 2014December 18, 2014 ~ Taylor Justine ~ 1 Comment

Some gifts are not meant to be stuffed into a stocking in any way, shape or form (for example, Gone with the Wind). But there is a golden handful of items that exist to be the quintessential stuffers. One of my favorites happens to be half of my blog’s namesake: nail polish!

I spent most of my holiday gift guide finding unique and cute gifts book worms will love, so now I’ll take a moment to put the other half of my blog in the spotlight! Nail polish is wonderful for procrastinators (you know who you are!!) because you can find it almost anywhere, at any price point! Grab a fab bottle of Sinful Colors glitter at Target for under 2 bucks, or lust over a bottle of Chanel at a department store. There are colors and brands for everyone, and that’s what makes nail polish such a versatile gift.

Budget-friendly – Any drug store or Target has a wide variety of brands and colors to choose from. Whether you go with a classic like Essie, or fan fav like Sally Hansen, you will find what you’re looking for!

Tried & true – Julep is an oldie but goodie for me. I’ve been a Maven for almost two years, and have amassed a huge collection. Their bottles have a sleek design, and the formula of their polish has improved greatly over the years. You can even gift your monthly box to someone (which also makes it perfect for birthdays, just sayin’).

Splurge-worthy – If you’re looking to spoil that special someone, go with Butter LONDON. Since the start of my nail polish obsession, I’ve gazed longingly at their gorgeous bottles and silky smooth finish each time I’m in Nordstrom or Ulta. It wasn’t until recently, though, that I can say I’m a proud owner. And the brand really does live up to the price and hype! It applies perfectly, and the colors are so rich! Another splurge-worth gift I adore is anything Cath Kidston. They make my go-to travel nail kit, and everything comes in perfect, feminine patterns!

What are your favorite brands to gift? Happy Reading!

Winemas Weekend Essentials

December 15, 2014 ~ Taylor Justine ~ 5 Comments

Not many people can say their company takes everyone on a weekend holiday getaway every year. I feel lucky enough to say that we can as a part of the Konnect PR family! This year, our fearless leaders took us wine tasting in Temecula, complete with horseback riding, wonderful food and a sunrise hot air balloon ride.

After I toss everything in my suitcase, my final task when packing is always picking my nail color and book to bring with me on the trip. This might be just me, but I place way too much importance on my nail polish when I go on trips, because it really helps set the vibe of my outfits. The mani needs to be subdued enough for day activities, but turn on the fun at parties and nights out.

With the holidays as my inspiration, I grabbed Essie Blanc and Nails Inc. Buckingham Square for a clean, yet festive look. And I brought John Green’s Paper Towns along to keep me company. From yummy lunches to winery tours, I had my book in tow (although I didn’t get TOO much reading done! ).

Reading over lunch — Flat-bread + Wine Tasting

We had a couple of incredible activities planned, aside from the delicious wine tastings and tours! First up, horseback riding! Meet my new bestie, Squirrel.

And the grand finale of the trip: sunrise hot air balloon ride!

This incredible ride was one of the most exciting moments of my 20-some year life! The views were outstanding, and the weather was perfection! Pictures truly don’t do it justice.

What are your weekend getaway essentials? Happy Reading!

Novels and Nail Polish

A pretty, little blog that celebrates well-written books and beautiful nail polish.

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