Naked Nails Day 1

I was so bad today... yes, I picked off ALL every single one of my acrylic nails.  Worst. Descision. Ever.

I don't know what I was thinking but I've been wanting to go to natural nails and I guess I just went for it.  My nails literally are PAPER thin.  I've had acrylics since May 2010 (so not long at all) The reason I got acrylics in the first place was because I pick my cuticles chonrically and they're alwaysss bloody and gross.  And honestly, I didn't have anything to lose.  My natural nails are a disaster.  They peel like no other and don't really grow... now they're worse.  Not dissing acrylics, loved loved loved them they looked perfect and were so fun to try out fun colors with.  I did take pictures of my nails but they're wayyyyy too embarassing to post.  I'll post them once they're decent hahaha. 

 I'm using Nailtiques nail protein formula 2.  It's advertised for "soft, peeling, bitten, weak, or thin nails"  which I have all of the above.  You're supposed to put a layer on every day for four days and then take that off and start over for two weeks.  So I'll let y'all know how that goes!

Just a note... I'm in SOOO much pain.  I'm not just being dramatic either.  (this doesn't have to do with taking my own fakes off)  My nails are SO thin that they literally feel like they're on fire.  I've taken two ibuprofin and an aleve and I've been soaking my nails in ice water for the last hour.  Dethawing them to type this was awful.  Any tips?!?!?  pleaseeee help with this one.

XO I'll keep y'all updated! BeSweet

Love This Mascara

           I'm SO weird about mascara.  I think it's because I'm so obsessed with eyelashes.  They're one of the first things I notice about people... it's really weird I know.  I'm NOT blessed with good eyelashes.  I wish I was.  Mine are relatively long but they're very very fine and I don't have many of them.  I had a coupon from CVS for two dollars off a Maybelline XXL mascara so I picked this one up on the way to a college visit Friday. 

I know this is a horrible horrible horrible picture... I took it with my phone in the car after I had put on my mascara in the car! (dangerous don't do that) I was just sending it to a friend who wanted to see the difference.  I really wasn't planning on doing a blog about this because I wasn't expecting anything but I was so pleasantly surprised!  Obviously I didn't do a great job on this I was just throwing it on on the way to a meeting so no curler, primer, etc.  And this was just one coat.

This is Maybelline XXL Bold.  But it also comes in length and curl. 

It has two steps.  The first side is for volume and it has a thinner old school brush that's super plain.  What I love about this is that even the first step is black.  Usually two step mascaras have a primer first that is white and ends up being hard to cover or giving your eyelashes a grey look.  The second side is supposed to lock in the mascara and make it last all day.  I found this to be very defining.  It has a thicker brush that is kind of peanut shaped that really separated and added extra length to my lashes. 

It's a super dramatic mascara and I love the formula.  It didn't clump but after the second coat it did start to look a little tree branchy.  (which was totally my fault not the mascaras)  Also, I applied this at 6 30 in the morning and came back to my hotel room at 4 and it was still perfect.  A little had gotten under my eyes in a line from where I had blinked but I believe that's from my concealer that is kind of oily and doesn't dry very well.  My only complaint about the XXL Pro is that I wish it was darker.  Yes, it is black but to me, black is not just black.  The reason I love Falsies so much is because the black drama version is such a rich shiny tar-looking black.  But other than that I say go for this mascara.  I would never have purchased it without my coupon but I'm so glad I did because this is now living in my purse!

Thanks for reading, if you try this let me know what you think!  What's your favorite mascara? I'm always on the prowl for more!

XO Be Sweet :) love y'all, Lina!

Loving this Nail Polish + OPI vs. Essie

Hi girls :)

One of the most difficult times for me to pick out nail polish is transitioning from winter to spring.  I never know if I should go dark or light or bright or muted... it's a long process.   Fall to winter is easy, that's the greiges matte reds etc.  Anywayyy for my latest set of fills (after I had gone back to the color table literally four times) I chose a shade of dark red. 

I know I have freaky shaped fingers... too much piano and bass time.  Just ignore them :)

This is Essie's Clutch Me If You Can

The reason that I love this is because even though it's a dark red it's NOT burgundy or maroon.  It's still a real true red which is really hard to find.  Most of the darks get purpley or browney. 

My only complaint is one that I always have.  Generally, I chose Essie for light colors and OPI for dark colors.  (I have no idea if this is true it's just what I've gathered after years of being a polish addict)  OPI tends to begin with a white base whereas Essie tends to begin with a clear.  What I'm trying to say is that even though Essie's dark colors are dark they are still a little bit translucent when OPI's dark colors are completely opaque.  The same goes for light colors.  In the summer I want a little bit of translucent pink like Essie's Sweet Heart or Ballet Slippers (all time fav) but a light OPI still gives me the very whitey pinky kinda Fiji-esque color.

Does that make sense?  If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask!

Thanks for reading, comment and subscribe! XO Be Sweet :)

Major Haulage!

ELF haul :)  I haven't been a fan of ELF (eyeslipsface) for very long simply because I didn't know about it, but in the last couple months I've completely fell in love.  I took advantage of an ELF sale called something like Coffee Break.  It was a three hour sale that had so much stuff (pictures below) for only twenty dollars!  It said it was a 150 value, I don't believe that, but it was originally 45 so I'm excited about the deal!

I LOVE these.  I got every beauty encyclopedia (Lip, Face, Basic Eye, Everyday Eye, and Sparkle Eye editions) and the ELF professional 9pc brush collection which honestly I didn't know it came with so that was a fun little addition.  The brushes came in a great carrying case that has two huge pockets and room for all the brushes.  Also, it came with Makeup Remover Cleansing Cloths which I'm not going to use, does anybody want them?

My only complaint is that a lot of these eye shadows appear really sparkly.  I'm more into matte but I'll have to test them all out first!

Tell me which one of these you would like a review on!  I love love love this purchase.. can we go back to the fact that it was only 20?!?

Comment and subscribe! XO be sweet :)

My Everyday Look

          So this is a post that's not too exciting but I felt like I should share what makeup I wear everyday.  This is the makeup I don't leave the house with out... bottom line: VERY minimal.

Face:

• MakeUp Forever HD primer
• CoverGirl NatureLuxe foundation in 310
• Neutrogena Healthy Skin loose powder in light
• Bobbi Brown Concealer in Sand
• Lancome Star Bronzer in Bronze Solaire
• NARS blush in Orgasm

Eyes:

• Sephora Perfecting Eye Primer
• Clinique Like Mink (light side)
• MAC Sandy Taupe
• Benefit pencil in Eye Bright
• Almay eyeliner in Raisin Quartz
• ELF essentials waterproof eyeliner pen in black
• Lancome Eyebrow Pencil in Taupe
• Maybelline Falsies mascara in Black Drama
• Bare Essentials mascara in Flawless Definition

Lips:

• CoBigelow in My Favorite Lip Balm
• MAC lipstick in Hue
• Chanel lip gloss in (not really sure, stickers off) maybe Tickled Pink

And there ya go!  Not anything special, just the everyday stuff but thanks for reading!

Comment and subscribe!
Be Sweet <3

PERFECT OPI DUPE

          Okay so if you know anything about OPI polishes you know about Midnight in Moscow. (Lincon Park After Dark's long lost sparkley twin)  This is my go-to polish color in the winter and I have used one full bottle and half of a second one.  I was cleaning out my nail drawer today and discovered an IDENTICAL color.  I've found dupes before but never one this exact!

This is Sally Hansen Laquer Shine in 08 Glossy.  I purchased mine at CVS. 

Normally I would say ones a little more red ones a little more shimmery, etc. but I really don't have anything to say about these!  They're literally the exact same!  I would say OPI is better quality but that's the case with all expensive nail polishes.  But if you're the kind of girl that can go through a whole bottle... go get Glossy!

XO Be Sweet!

Holy Grail Lip Combo

I've missed y'all! I've been out of town since Thursday and haven't gotten to a computer so sorry about the lack of posts lately!

I just wanted to share with you girls a lip combination that I will NEVER stop wearing!  I love love love this and can't imagine leaving the house without it. 

Sorry about this bad quality picture haha but these two are MAC Fleshpot which is a PROcolor and NARS Turkish Delight. 

It is a nude hue, which I love right now but I know I won't in a couple months, but these two together give a super natural I-just-ate-strawberry-icecream look.  It's plain enough that it's good for school but since it's glossy and pinky it's perfect for night too!

I'll get up a picture with me in this to hear what you think but I've consistently been wearing this for as long as I can remember now and I LOVE it.

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Be sweet!

What's your favorite lip combination?  Do you use a liner too?  (I probably should...)