NAIL CARE + [MINI REVIEW] Orly Nail Defense Protein Enriched Strengthener

2.23.2013

Hello there! As you can tell from the title, this is going to be my nail care routine post plus my little quick review on Orly's Nail Defense Protein Enriched Strengthener. Before I get started however, I have to give y'all a little run down on my nail history! Currently, my nails are in the recovery stage. During last year, (2012) I had acrylic nails and gel nails on and off up until around November where I started working at Tory Burch whom require a natural make up, hair, & nail look. Therefore, my nails aren't 100% perfect, but the fact that I got them to recover this quickly, I feel the need to thank Orly! 


[Disclaimer: Everything said here is my own opinion, I am NOT being sponsored at all by any companies to say these things. I am also not a professional, therefore, these are just tips I've gathered base off my own personal experience, and cannot guarantee 100% success] 



BEFORE                                                                                               AFTER
The first picture, the one with Hello Kitty, is just with buffing and no Orly Nail Defense, basically after step 1-4! Sorry I don't have a picture of before reshaping and stuff, for you guys to see the difference!
NAIL CARE ROUTINE.
1. Gently remove all nail polish, dirt, etc. from your nails with nail polish remover. 
Personally I prefer the "cotton pad + aluminum foil" technique, especially if your using a stronger polish such as gel (shellack) nails. Here's a link to what I mean. This is especially useful when you have glitter nail polish on because we all know what a hassle that is to remove!!
2. Wash hands with antibacterial soap, thoroughly. 
3. Cut nails to desired length, leaving a just a tid bit room for filing and reshaping. 
When cutting your nails, always leave room to cut more or at least file. You can always cut it down some more, but if you cut one nail too much, you can only cut down the other nails, you can't resurrect that nail. Its never fun to have nails too short for your liking.
4. File & shape nails as desired, then BUFF for a smoother surface, and to bring up some natural oils!
Personally I prefer my nails to be more rectangular, with a slight round around the edges. I feel like it allows my fingers to look better and longer! 
5. Apply Orly Nail Defense Protein Enriched Strengthener, or your preferred nail strengthener.
When I want to let my nails just breathe and grow, I reapply another coat and then I stop here, and allow the strengthener to dry, then apply a hand cream to rehydrate the area around my nail bed.
6. (optional) Apply a layer of base coat, especially if the nail polish color you'll be using is darker hued.
Nail polishes that are darker color have more pigments and tend to be more likely to stain your nails. YES, you have the Orly on the bottom already, but its created to strengthen your nails and not to protect your nails, so a base coat is still a good idea. I like using the OPI base coat.
7. Apply a nail color, thinly, layer by layer.
Applying the nail color in a thin layer, allows you to better control the color and how your finished look will look. You want them to look more natural and to be even amongst all ten fingers. So always keep a light hand, especially on the first layer!
8. After a few minutes of dry time, apply your preferred top coat. 
Top coat is really important, I really find that it helps maintain the life length of your manicure, if you don't apply top coat, your nails are more likely to chip faster and require reapplying, which means doing all these steps over, which means lots of chemicals to your nails ): which is bad for your health and increases your chances of cancer........ (speaking exaggeratively of course). [IF you have a matte polish, and don't wish for shiny top coat, you can always buy a matte top coat like Esse's Matte About you.]
9. (optional) Apply one more, THIN layer of Orly Nail Defense. 
I like to apply another layer, because on the bottle it says that you can apply this over nail varnish, and it asks you to apply a layer every few days! So I thought its best to start with day one. However, one thing to keep in mind is, make sure the bottom layers are semi dry before reapplying this last layer. One time I didn't wait enough time and I ended up getting little air bubbles on the surface of my nails. 
10. After your nails are completely dried, wash hands and apply a nice amount of hand cream, especially around the nail bed area. 

ORLY NAIL DEFENSE PROTEIN
ENRICHED STRENGTHENER. 
Original Picture, taken by my iPhone4s, via LINE Camera. Sorry for the sad quality, I didn't have any room in my camera, nor the time to sort through the 600+ pictures & videos. Plus I really wanted to get this post up to y'all seing as I haven't posted a post in a long time and my horoscope says that I should write this month!

Top 3 Reasons Why I Like It.
1. It is clear and can be worn as just a clear coat of nail polish when I just want my nails to breathe and regain health. It makes my nails look nicely polished and groomed, whilst helping my nails to recover from all the harsh chemicals its been through. 
2. It applies smoothly and it dries quickly. Therefore you don't have much excuse as to why your nails aren't well groomed at all times, even when there's no color on them!
3. IT REALLY ACTUALLY WORKS. I found that my nail surface, which was all scratched up, un-smooth, rigidity, and dented from all the drilling, began to smooth out more and more, and regain its healthy hydrated look. When I first stopped with acrylics, my nails were so flimsy and soft and now their healthy, stronger, and just full of color and liveliness. 

Buy ORLY NAIL DEFENSE at your local drugstore that carries Orly products! 

Hope you guys found this interesting! 
I know its nothing new, but hopefully you guys found out something new!
Until Next Time!
xoxo,

Shannon Marie
fashion-impossible.blogspot.com

"MAGIC KINGDOM"

1.29.2013

One of my New Years resolution this 2013 year, is to not skip an issue of American VOGUE. I used to be a devoted reader, thoroughly reading, page by page every issue of VOGUE, but suddenly as school got busy, I only merely skimmed the pages, before tossing it into my vast collection of fashion magazines. Today's post is going to be on my favorite feature from the February 2013 issue. Enjoy!


Title: Magic Kingdom
Features: Georgina Chapman
By: Chloe Malle
Photographed By: Norman Jean Roy
Sittings Editor: Tabitha Simmons


"Magic Kingdom.
Whether designing ethereal Marchesa frocks,
 stepping out with her husband, Harvey Weinstein,
 or putting her two year old to bed,
 Georgina Chapman casts an enchanting spell." 
-Chloe Malle. VOGUE.


This stunning photograph of the every gorgeous Georgina Chapman, with daughter India is the cover photo of this feature, taken by Norman Jean Roy. 
Can you tell Chapman is pregnant? I sure can't! She looks just as beautiful as ever. And how cute is little India? Roy definitely knows how to capture the perfect moments! 

Who is Georgina Chapman? For those unfamiliar to this lovely lady, she is the cofounder AND designer of the one and only Marchesa. (She's partners with Keren Craig, who does the textile behind Marchesa). Chapman is British born, but currently based in New York. OH! And she's also married to the famous American Film Producer, Harvey Weinstein! 

What I loved about this feature is how they not only detailed just how magical her designs can be, but also how seemingly effortlessly magical Georgina Chapman life is as the designer of Marchesa.  
"...Georgina Chapman breezes through the glass doors ahead of her husband, Harvey Weinstein, who lays a protective hand on his wife's back. They advance directly to the step-and-repeat, where photographers bid for the couple's attention... she makes up for her husband's immobility with poised tilts of her head... 'Ohh, thank you!' she says genuinely pleased--and utterly in her element" (Malle). 
Of course, its all about the way she holds herself, things weren't always this easy. Chapman and Craig paid their dues once upon a time. According to the article, Malle points out that eight years ago, when Chapman and Craig were still working in a London Flat, and still a never to be heard of brand, they made their first debut via help of then "just friend" Harvey Weinstein by getting Renee Zellwegger to wear one of their gowns. After that different celebrities of Weinstein were seen on the scene in Marchesa, and the rest is history.

The rest of the article goes on to talk about how Chapman and Craig met, and what brought them together, the inspiration behind Marchesa, the growing of the brand name, and ends by giving a little more personal insight to Georgina Chapman's life with her friends and family. (Plus a peek at India getting her first haircut! Gosh she's adorable) All very interesting, and I highly suggest anyone to go read it for themselves, Malle did such a good job there's no point in me rewording and saying it here!

[Highlighted by VOGUE / My Favorite Quote in the Feature]

"'In a way she is Marchesa, isn't she?' 
her mother, Caroline Wonfor, says thoughtfully. 
'When people wear her dresses, 
they think they're her'"

[Marchesa's Celebrity Following]

Renee Zellweger, 
Cate Blanchett, 
Penelope Cruz, 
Blake Lively 
(who got married to Ryan in a Marchesa!!), 
Jennifer Lopez, 
Kate Hudson, 
Cameron Diaz, 
Selena Gomez, 
Halle Berry, 
Leighton Meester 
(BLAIR WALDORF WEARS A TON OF MARCHESA), 
Rihanna, 
Eva Longoria, 
Taylor Swift, 
Miley Cyrus, 
Olivia Wilde, 
Kristen Stewart, 
Nikki Reed, 
Hailee Steinfield, 
& Sandra Bullock.

Look at how different of styles each of those celebrities have! Yet all of them still love Marchesa. Its no wonder in the feature, Malle thought it crucial to include the conversation she had with Chapman and Craig: 
"'It's very hard to pinpoint the Marchesa woman' says Chapman, 'because we have girls buying it for their bat mitzvahs, and then we have 90-year-old women buying the dress' 'And not always different dresses' adds Craig" (Malle)
Everyone loves Marchesa. I think every girl deep down inside loves the feeling of delicate fairy tale elegance. Its a sort of girly that's not overbearing nor sassy. Its simply classy and in my opinion, emits feelings of pure bliss, its definitely magic! (yes i'm insisting on over doing the "magic" motif, please don't kill me!)
left to right: Caroline Trentini, Kasia Struss, Jourdan Dunn, and Miranda Kerr.

Most girls when asked of their dream wedding dress, they say Vera Wang, who's wedding dresses are simply flawless and most definitely worth such hype, however, if you ask me, I want to be wedded in a Marchesa. I want my wedding to be my happily ever after inside my very own MAGIC KINGDOM.

Hurry, go get the February 2013 issue of American Vogue and read this article for yourself! Found on page 246! xx

xoxo,
Shannon Marie


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