My First Award...Stylish Blogger Award...WOW!!!


When I started "For Me, It Works" I had no expectations.  My thinking was to just centralize and document my hobby of being a Beauty Product Junkie.  I eventually decided to direct my blog toward my most loved hobby, nail polish and nail care.  Little did I know that I wasn't alone in this passion.  In this short period of time I have "met" some very nice people who share my hobby.  One such person has granted me a great honor and presented me with my first award-Cindy of Nail'd & Polish'd.  Thanks Cindy.

So these are the rules to the award:

1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers.
4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award

Here are my 7 things:



  1. I'm a Christian!
  2. I don't drink; have never been drunk, and have never had more than a half can of beer at one time. I'm silly sober, so I don't need the help.
  3. I love road trips. I can stop whenever I see an interesting shopping center/mall.
  4. Born and raised in Long Island, New York.  Although I now reside in Florida, I will always consider myself a New Yorker.  There is no better shopping!  It's probably a good thing that we moved.  I lived minutes from the area called "Miracle Mile", known for its high-end designer shops.  Miracle Mile-Manhassent New York
  5. Besides Nail Polish, my other shopping addictions are shoes, handbags, jewelry, and perfumes.
  6. I should have been a Social Worker/Therapist; Total strangers tell me their issues.
  7. Single, no kids, 2 cats.
Award 15 other bloggers (in no particular order).  I have looked to many of these ladies for guidence and ideas.  Some, I have already called out on the sidebar of my blog but now I get to officially grant these awards.  If you have already been awarded (tagged) before that proves how wonderful you are.
  1. loodie loodie loodie - Love her series on Nail Health
  2. Chloes Nails - Queen of Scotch Tape Manis
  3. Nails Beautiqued - Provides great guidance for New Bloggers
  4. Lacquerized - Although she no longer blogs, her articles are still a great resource
  5. Scrangie - No explanation needed
  6. All Things Nails - Gives me suggestions to step outside my comfort zone
  7. Nailicious
  8. Afroella
  9. Acetone and Old Lacquer
  10. Nailstah
  11. Kiss My Acetone
  12. Swatch and Learn
  13. Another Bottle of Polish
  14. Imperfectly Painted
  15. Bright Lights, Big Color
Grace and Peace!!!

NOTD: China Glaze Let's Groove

China Glaze Let's Groove
Today's entry is China Glaze Let's Groove from the Retro Diva Collection of 2009.  IRL it is an eggplant purple.  This photo is showing more blue purple than it really is.  Maybe one day I will get the hang of real-life color in my photos. Scrangie did a review on this collection back in 2009 and she mentioned that this collection has that "lit from within" look and I definately agree. Don't hold this against me, LOL, I was siting in church this evening and couldn't help but to notice and be distracted by the internal glow this color seems to have.  I have several others from this collection and think I need to get a few others.  The application was smooth.  As photographed, this is two coats.  As I have mentioned on numerous occassions, I love Purples so I would be hard pressed to have anything truly negative to say about this one.  It is gorgeous!

To see Scrangie's reveiw, click HERE.

NOTD: China Glaze-Tempest (Autism Awareness)

Saturday is not normally one of my posting days, but I find myself in a posting situation.  For the month of April, I have been posting Blues on Mondays for Autism Awareness, so a few days early but still in support of the cause, I give you China Glaze Tempest.  I have had this polish for quite some time.  I bought it because of a swatch post I saw by Lacquerized.  She had some of the best swatches and although she is no longer blogging, I still look back at them as a shopping cataglog, LOL!!!  Tempest is part of the China Glaze permanent collection and can be found at Sally.  It is a pearlized purplish-blue.  And with it being pearl, you know that means brushstrokes, so I carefully applied 3 coats to reach the level of opacity as seen in the photos.  When compared to the bottle the colors, IMO, appear different.  The bottle has a definite purple tone but upon application you get the blue/purple duochrome.  So don't let the bottle fool you.  I have seen several others layering with Tempest so this is a good one to have in your inventory.  My blue and purple lovers should like China Glaze Tempest.

Review:  The  formula is consistent with most China Glaze but a bit runny. 

 Grace and Peace.

Product of the Day: Philosopy's Purity Made Simple

When I first started "For Me, It Works...", my intention was to talk about many different beauty products but I eventually redirected towards nails and nail products.  However, I left the door opened so that I could, when necessary, still review beauty related products.  So today I would like to share with you my Holy Grail facial cleanser.  I don’t know about you, but after a long day, the last thing I want to do is spend a lot of time removing my make-up and cleansing my face.  My absolute favorite facial cleanser is Philosophy’s Purity Made Simple – One Step Facial Cleanser.  This stuff is irreplaceable but it did replace several products I use to use.  No longer do I need a separate eye make-up remover, cleanser, or toner.  This one product does all that and more. 

I was first made aware of Philosophy’s Purity Made Simple via QVC, the television shopping network. I had previously used Philosophy’s Amazing Grace fragrance and loved that.  But being skeptical like most people, was hesitant to try Purity.  How could one product do all that they claim. 

Here’s what they claim:

“our award-winning daily facial skin cleanser is formulated to gently cleanse, tone and melt away all face and eye makeup in one simple step, while lightly hydrating the skin.”

Directions: gently massage a quarter-size amount onto a lightly damp face, and massage for 30-60 seconds. rinse and pat dry. use morning and evening. follow with appropriate treatment and moisturizer.

Claimed features & benefits
   -deep cleans pores and eliminates makeup build-up
   -natural oil extracts help condition skin
   -fragrance-free formula

Here are my observations:

During the demonstration on QVC, they had the model in full make-up, cleanse her face on camera.  She rubbed it over her eyes, lips, and entire face.  She was able to open her eyes with the product on her face, without burning or stinging.  Really?!

So one day, while in Sephora, I saw a small 3 oz bottle for $10.  I thought I would give it a try.  If I didn’t like it, Sephora has a great return policy.  That was about 4-5 years ago and I have been a dedicated user ever since.  I have used it daily as my facial cleanser.  It removes all my make-up, including the waterproof mascara and waterproof eyeliner (Smashbox Jet Set).  I tried that “open your eyes while using this stuff trick” and it really does not burn or sting. It is free of strong, obnoxious fragrance.  Also, I don’t get the tight skin feeling I experienced after using other facial cleansers.  For most products, my success measuring tool is repurchase.  One does not repurchase a product unless they really like it.  Let’s just say, I buy this stuff in the large 32 oz bottle and have repurchased that 32 oz bottle many times over.  Other uses I have tried: I use it to remove hair color from my skin (not that I color my hair, wink!).  I also use it as a shave cream and I get a really smooth underarm shave.  The one aspect that took a little getting used to is that this product does not lather or form.  It is a cream that “melts” away the make-up.  But if you are a die-hard lather person, there is a foaming version, but I haven’t tried it so I can’t speak to the quality of the product.  But I would expect the same outstanding results.

Philosophy claims that Purity is for all skin types.  OK, I use it on my combination skin and my mother uses (and loves it) on her dry skin.  Side note: The fact that my mother now uses Purity is a miracle.  She had used Noxzema for as long as I can remember; I’m talking decades.  She tried it once and was convinced and converted.

This post is a lot longer than I anticipated but this product is so worthy…Give Purity Made Simple a try…IMO, you won’t regret it. 

2nd Side Note: Philosophy’s skin care line as well as their bath & shower and fragrance lines are all outstanding.  Just to mention a few that I LOVE: Fragrance-Pure Grace, & Inner Grace; Skin Care: Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash, Microdelivery Peel, & Hope in a Jar Moisturizer; Bath and Shower products: Salt Scrubs, Candy Cane 3 & 1 Shower Gel, & Pure Grace Shower Gel.

Grace and Peace.

Pink Wednesday: China Glaze Electra Magenta (Tronica)

China Glaze - Electra Magenta
This is going to be quick. For today's Pink Wednesday I chose Electra Magenta from China Glaze (Tronica Collection).  Since I liked High Def so much, I felt compeled to try another.  Just like High Def, Electra Magenta was also thick and goopy.  I must remember to add thinner next time.  In these photos I am weating 2 coats. However it was opaque with just one coat.  I still love the Tronica collection.  The scatter holo is beautiful!  I went and got my first Spring/Summer pedi today and now my POTD is also Electra Magenta...I know, matchy, matchy!!!

Grace and Peace.
China Glaze - Electra Magenta

NOTD: China Glaze High Def - Autism Awareness

China Glaze-High Def (Tronica)
As fate would have it, 2 days before my new camera is due to arrive, I experienced a nail crack on my right, middle nail, just at the smile line, UGH!!!  But I am prepared.  Based on My Simple Little Pleasures’ You Tube video on How to Apply a Silk Wrap, I had all the necessary tools to repair my nail.  So I have patched my nail and shall proceed.  This week for Autism Awareness  - Light It Up Blue, I have chosen one of my newest from the China Glaze Tronica collection – High Def.

I thought this would be a quick post, take the picture and post it. So many others have already blogged about the Tronica collection so what more could I say that hasn’t already been said?  But once I applied the High Def, I saw that I just had to speak on it also.  It is beautiful!  I have mentioned more than once that I love the dark blues.  High Def is my first lighter blue but won’t be my last.  I thought that with my darker skin tone, I wouldn’t like it, but I was wrong.  As has already been discussed, China Glaze High Def, of the 2011 Tronica Collection is a light to medium, almost faded denim blue.  As with all the Tronica Collection, it is a scattered holographic polish. 

Review:
The application was a bit tricky.  I found my bottle to be a bit thick and thereby goopy.  I will add some thinner before the next application.  As pictured, it is opaque with two coats.  I am happy to say that I am even more excited to try the other Tronica polishes that I own (10 of the 12).  I hope that the polish manufacturers come out with other similar shades.  China Glaze High Def is a great spring blue!

Grace and Peace.

Charged and Busted!!!

W/ & W/O Pure Ice Busted
IRL that would not be a good combination but on the nails, it's like magic.  Orly Charged Up layered with Pure Ice Busted is a marriage made in nail polish heaven.  I am not very familiar with all the Zoya polishes but it reminds me of one of the many swatches I have seen, maybe Faye.  Combined, this is a medium purple with a purple-pink shimmer overlay.  Alone Orly Charged Up is a medium purple in the same family as OPI Funky Dunkey and China Glaze Grape Pop.  For most purple people, alone, this is a great grape shade and could easily stand on its own.  I had a mishap at the end of my mani so I had to redo my left middle finger.  Looking on the brightside, I am better able to show you a before and after comparison.  To get the level of opacity and depth of color, as shown in the photo, it took 3 coats. However it is opaque with just 2 coats.  Next, I layered Pure Ice Busted.  Which, on its own, is a very sheer purple with pink shimmers.  Again, in this photo, I am wearing 2 coats of Busted. I missed out on Pure Ice Purple Reign but Busted is also a great layering polish to have in your colllection.

Orly Charged Up layered w/ Pure Ice Busted
Review Summary: 
Orly Charged Up: Opaque with 2 coats, bottle color with 3 coats.  Application is normal for Orly cremes-smooth.
Pure Ice Busted: SHEER!!!; wouldn't begin to guess the number of coats required to achieve any level of opaqueness. 

Pure Ice has several great layering polishes.  In addition to Purple Reign and Busted, there is Heartbreaker, Lilac Ice, Strapless, and Watermelon Ice.  What other polishes have you found to have good layering shades?

BTW: My new camera is scheduled to be delivered Tuesday. Yipeeee!!!

Grace and Peace.

My Response to Kiss My Acetone’s Friday Poll:

1. What’s on your nails?
China Glaze Fly from Pink Wednesday. Will be changing it today. I think a light to medium purple.

2. How has your week been so far?
 
Kodak Easy Share C195-PURPLE!!!

It has been a normal week.  No earth shattering moments. Thank God! Really excited about the new digital camera I ordered.  Can't wait. No more Blackberry pictures!!!

3. Biggest collection lemming of the moment?
OPI DS earlier polishes; DS Limited, Tapestry, Chiffon, Exclusive, Glamour, Original, Royal, Ruby, Signature, and Couture to name just a few.

4. What’s your favorite brand of lip balm?
Burt’s Bees. Love it!  Have tubes everywhere; car, nightstand, office, purse.  Don’t leave home without it.

5. Are you a dog person or a cat person?
Although I love dogs, my lifestyle is more conducive to cats.  I have two cats-Gizzy and Taz.  Now if you could train a dog to use a litter box, maybe than would could work something out.

6. Snowy mountains or sandy beaches? 
Considering I live in the Sunshine State of Florida, one would think Sandy Beaches.  However, I am born and raised New York.  My philosophy is if you get cold, you can always put on more clothes, but when you are "butt naked" and still hot, it's a lost cause.  So I am a Snowy Mountains person.

7. You wake up in the middle of the night for a midnight snack, what do you eat?
Popcorn.

8. Favorite top coat?
Seche Vite’

9. What color is your backpack (or was your backpack if you no longer use one)?
It’s been a while but I do still have it.  Adidas Navy Blue

10. What do you use to keep track of your list of to do’s? A planner, your phone, post it notes everywhere, or your head?
Yes, all of the above. Short term lists, a small note book that I carry with me; longer term lists, my phone.

Grace and Peace.

Pink Wednesday: China Glaze Fly!!!

This is going to be quick as I am about to leave for midweek Church Service.  But I couldn't let Wednesday pass without posting my entry for Pink Wednesday.  Here it is, China Glaze Fly.  It is part of the 2009 Kicks Collection.  I like this pink.  It's bright but not neon.  I was looking to start wearing more "Springy" colors and this was my first go at it.  Mind you, this does not mean that I have benched my first loves-dark blues and purples.  I am just going to also include more light, bright, pinks, and corals for the Spring and Summer. 

China Glaze - Fly
Review:  The application was a bit runny but nothing unbearable.  In this photo, I am wearing 2 coats of NP.  With just one coat, it was almost opaque, but a second coat was needed to be truly opaque.  I must admit that it is different from what I am use to wearing but it is really pretty.  One of those shades that make you constantly look down at your hands to admire the color.

BTW:  I had a run-in with the locking mechanism of a sliding glass door last week and chipped my right thumb nail so I had to trimmed back my nails.  It's funny.  I love my long nails, but I have such a sense of freedom, when they are shorter. 

Grace and Peace.

National Autism Awareness Month - ChG Bermuda Breakaway & Dorothy Who?

In order to highlight the growing need for concern and awareness about autism, the Autism Society has been celebrating National Autism Awareness Month since the 1970s. The United States recognizes April as a special opportunity for everyone to educate the public about autism and issues within the autism community.  http://www.autism-society.org/

Did you know: It is estimated that 1 in every 110 births will be diagnosed with Autism.

To show my support, I am wearing Blue. 
NOTD:  ChG Bermuda Breakaway layered with ChG Dorothy Who? 
It kind of reminds me of what a blue Ruby Pumps would look like.

I am doing this in support of the nephew of a dear friend.


...Layered with ChG Dorothy Who?
 
One last thing, I have opened a Twitter account to link with For Me, It Works.  One more way to stay in touch.  Please, feel free to follow me on twitter. The follow me button is on the left of the page.  Grace and Peace.
ChG Bermuda Breakaway (pre clean up)


Not an April Fool's Joke: Sally B2G1 Nail Polish--Stock Up!!!

I have mentioned this a few times on Make Up Alley-cautiously.  But it is true.  For the month of April for both U.S. and Canadian shoppers.  Buy any 2 polishes and get a third (of equal or lesser value) for free.  Time to get your list together and stock up!