Burb Beauty

It's time for the Spring edition of the Beauty Envy Bag! We want to share our springtime beauty essentials with you by giving you the chance to win a makeup bag filled with products we love.
For those of you who may be new to our blogs, here's a quick introduction.


Check out the reviews for the featured products in the Spring Beauty Envy Bag:

• Illamasqua Nail Varnish in Harem & Venous (Reviewed by Lakeisha)
• Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil in Quince (Reviewed by Latoya)
• Kat Von D Shade Shifter Eyeshadow in Devotion (Reviewed by Leticia)
• Dior Vernis Haute Couleur in Lilac Colorvision (Reviewed by Lola)

Extras that are also included in the bag:

• Hourglass High Shine Lipgloss in Child
• NARS Pro Prime Eyeshadow Base
• NARS Illuminator in Copacabana
• MUFE Aqua Eyes in 12L
• China Glaze Nail Apps in Cherry Blossom
• Philosphy Hope Oil-Free spf 30

Here is what you need to know to enter in the Rafflecopter widget below:

• Must leave a blog comment (just one blog, doesn't have to be all four) letting us know your favorite spring beauty product.
• Additional entries for following each blog on social media networks (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)
• Open internationally
• Must be 18 or older
• Giveaway closes on Sunday  May, 26 at 11:59 EST

Good luck, everyone! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Today, I have three shades from the China Glaze Sunsational Summer 2013 collection. Out of the jelly half of this collection, these three were the most attractive to me.

These jellies don't self-level at all. Floating the brush and avoid going over the same spot twice helped tremendously. I think they are worth getting if you're willing to be patient with them.

I only picked up one polish from this little collection because I have enough pinks to last a lifetime, and I'm really trying to cut down on purchasing full collection just for collecting's sake. So here's the most interesting color from the collection, in my opinion.

Essie Using My Middle Name is a medium violet with pinky red shimmer. The shimmer is subtle, but it is visible on the nail. I really like the color of this, and I don't have anything quite like it.

The formula is nice. I had no application issues with this one.


Essie Using My Middle Name retails for $8 and is available at Ulta.

I wanted to do something fun to get me excited about blogging again. I debated between Swatch Dump Sundays and Sandwich Saturdays for a while and decided that I'd have more fun making jelly sammies every week. So here's the first installment - two of my favorite polishes in one awesome mani.

w/ OttLite

w/ flash

w/ flash

This is 2 coats Deep Violet, 1 coat Burnout, 1 coat Deep Violet, and 1 final coat Burnout, with tc.

Because of its milky base, Burnout has a tendency to lighten whatever it's layered over. This can sometimes lead to a cloudy mani. I tried to avoid that by sponging Burnout to get more shimmer and less base.

I'm obsessed with Verity Deep Violet, and if you don't already own it, I suggest you go to Amazon right now and get it. I have a post with it swatched on its own coming up soon.

Urban Decay Burnout has been long discontinued, but the shimmer is that same amber to green shimmer that  is pretty ubiquitous at the moment. I'm sure you can recreate this look with something similar.

Although I have several Nina Ultra Pro polishes, I'd never actually used any of them until this mani. I have a habit of falling in love with a color, buying it, and then forgetting about it as soon as I put it away. Well no more, I say! I'm probably totally going to break that habit.

2 coats Violet It Ride w/ 1 coat OPI Polka.com, with topcoat

If you haven't seen my review of Illamasqua Venous yet, check it out here.

Misa Dirty Sexy Money, Illamasqua Venous, Barielle Sweet Addiction

2 coats of each

No dupes here! Misa Dirty Sexy Money is similar, but it's not as vibrant and has a touch more green than Illamasqua Venous. Barielle Sweet Addiction's difference are obvious.

I'd say they are different enough to own all three, but if I had to choose one, it would definitely be Illamasqua Venous.

2 coats

Nails Inc. Soho Mews is a lovely shade of tan. For me, that's where the loveliness ends. Textured polish without any sparkle just looks gross to me. Soho Mews certainly doesn't look like any leather I own. I gave it a shot, and I'm now positive I won't be purchasing anymore of this particular finish.

I'd love this color in a creme finish. Any recs?


Nails Inc. Soho Mews retails for $12 and is available at Sephora inside JCP.