Here Today... Aragon Tomorrow

Happy Halloween from my green toe nails! 

Perfect color for the occasion, eh? On my last visit to the salon I was in the mood for dark nails that isn't black hence I chose a shade that has grunge but is still classy enough to be worn at work and on a casual day. 

Presenting Here Today... Aragon Tomorrow.

It's practically black from afar and turns green when there is sufficient lighting. I find it tricky to wear especially if you don't have immaculate nails as it has the tendency to attract a lot of attention due to its unique shade.

I recommend this polish if you are looking for out of the ordinary dark nail color or a wearable shade of green. 

Before I say good night, the Alaskan Malamute I met during one of the Doggie Trick or Treat at my local mall greets everyone a Happy Halloween!

Dogs are simply the best!

Cupcake

I have always been vocal on my love for cupcakes. Last week, this love has spilled over to my toenails and finger nails.

I found my perfect, pink polish.

Orly's Cupcake. 

I always love anything delicate and this shade has that perfect balance of sweetness, class and subtlety. It is blush pink with hints of lavender. It doesn't come out too saccharine sweet, very unobtrusive and would complement any skin tone. It comes out washed out in this photo but up close, it's really pretty. Until I find the next perfect, pink shade, Cupcake it shall be.

Skinny Dip

I am not going to the beach any time soon therefore I will content myself with painting my toe nails summery blue.

Orly's Skinny Dip

Appropriate name, no?

Honestly, the color is tricky to wear. I thought it came out too strong and too informal but it's slowly growing on me. I like that it's a very happy and rich color. I will just have to be careful with my whole look the next 2 weeks lest I look like a box of Crayola.

If I won't get my summer vacation, then at least my toes get to enjoy it.

Jessica Be Happy

Take a look at my finger nails

And my toe nails 

Jessica's Be Happy, Nail Polish # 431. I chose this because I wanted something pink but not so pink. I got what I wanted, if Barney was Pink, then this will be Barney's shade. It is not recommended for corporate look hence I removed it after a week. The quality of the nail polish is excellent, doesn't chip easily and applies uniformly on the nails.

Jessica nail polish is a line of customized colors by Jessica Vartoughian. She is known as the "First Lady of Nails."

Do read her story here. 

D-d-d-dora

Meet Dora

She drives 

She appreciates flowers

Before the Dora - fication, she looks like this

Then she went to Jinu Hair, a Korean Salon in Alabang. 

The hair stylist, Mr. Sem Park, discussed with her the look and length she wanted to achieve. In this case, the then-not-yet-Dora wanted to cut her hair short. Mr. Sem proposed to sport bangs to better frame her face and to lessen the weight of her hair by doing a layered cut. The hairstylist meticulously cut her hair layer by layer. Also, the wash came after the cut so he had an idea how it looked like once the hair is blown dry.

The salon has a simple interior but it feels spacious.

The reason why the now-Dora likes to have her hair cut by Koreans is they seem to really know what their doing. Even if she doesn't cut her hair for 4 months, it looks like this. 

Meaning, the cut gets better with time. 

She's still not sure whether Jinu Hair is the best hair-cutter in the South but she's willing to go back to this place to evaluate it further. Hair cut costs PhP 500. 

Jinu Hair

Unit 3GF, MSA Prime Center

Madrigal Business Park 2,

Alabang

Tuesday - Sunday

63.2.659.7242

Dating a Royal

Whenever I head to the nail salon, I always keep my finger nails free of polish. It has always been that way though I have my digits painted once a year. Yesterday, I exercised my yearly indulgence and painted my finger nails blue! To be honest, I got the mani-pedi-foot spa package and since nail polish application will come out free of charge, my stingy-optimizer self grabbed the opportunity and has an Avatar-inspired nail.

Shocking choice of color considering that I am partial to neutral shades.

O.P.I. Dating a Royal. 

The nail polish dries fast and evenly. In terms of quality, I have no complaints with O.P.I. The color is another story. It's a tricky shade to wear since you have to be fair or have a rich skin tone so that the color will come out classy and not skanky. Pardon the choice of word. 

According to O.P.I.'s website, this is how the color should come out.

It came out a shade darker and Person A thinks this is indigo. This is a good tool to consult before I have my nails painted again.

Upon seeing the color on my nails, I was initially appalled! Parang PENTEL PEN blue!

After a few hours, I started to love it and I got two compliments at work today. Hahaha! Yes, I am rocking blue nails at work. In my jeans and safety shoes. Since this is a strong color and already an accessory on its own, I'll be planning my outfits around my nails so the next two weeks I'll stick to whites, beige, neutrals, brown and blue. Minimal brown and gold accessories. Maybe blue and silver can work, too.  

I Don't Believe in Make-Up: Dove Soap

I've been using Dove soap since the time I realize that I want great skin. Great meaning smooth, healthy-looking and silky skin. Nothing like waking up on a non-busy day taking a second - feeling smooth silky skin. -(",)-*wink*

Using a non-drying soap is the cheapest way to take care of your skin. Couple it with healthy diet, home scrub once a week and moisturize with lotion ... voila, invasive and expensive spa treatments unnecessary. 

Although it's slimy during bath time, once you dry yourself, you instantly get moisturized feel without the taut  skin that most soaps give. I've been enjoying Dove for more than 10 years! I am a certified Dove girl. I even seriously considered working for the company that manufactures Dove because I want endless supply of Dove products.

I tried the newly-released shampoo and conditioner but I wasn't as satisfied as the soap. I am not particular with shampoos but I am discerning with conditioners. The conditioner weighs down my hair which I prefer to feel light and soft. 

I am excited to try the intensive moisturizer though, I do home-made pampering. 

Much cheaper than going for a regular run to the salon. 

Pure Porcelain

In my last trip to the nail salon, I was in the mood to paint my nails in neutral, creamy shade I usually prefer. I contemplated among my favorite Bonbon, everyone's favorite Country Club Khaki and Pure Porcelain.

Since I haven't tried this shade yet, I opted for Pure Porcelain.

After application, it came out white and provided a good contrast to my brown skin color. The manicurist put three coats and I find it too thick. Two coats would have been sufficient. 

After a few days, it started to turn baby pink. This is best for fair-skinned and dark individuals. I am medium-toned and it comes out like a clerical white-out. White is not for me, although I like its creamy, smooth texture.

Barely There: Essie's Hi Maintenance

I am on a painting spree.

The nail polish kind. 

This is Hi Maintenance from Essie. An extra light shade of pink. First and second coat render a sheer polish perfect for french mani/pedi or the barely there effect. Third coat would give the nails a very sweet shade of pale pink, perfect for most skin tones. 

I find it too girly for my taste but this will probably be my go to shade whenever I am in the mood to color my world pink.

Khaki

I paint my toes from time to time, to get out of my boring cubbyhole of wearing thy nails bare. The reason why I rarely paint it is to prevent discoloration. I tend to choose neutral shades and sweet pastels although I do blood red when I am in the mood. 

The color is not me. Ang pangit lang ng paa ko dito.

In my latest trip to the salon, my eyes was hooked to this shade brown/gray.

Essie's Case Study, a rich camel beige shade. 

It's a very safe color, matches with most footwear color.

And a nail polish care tip I go by: Use a base coat before painting with any color to PREVENT DISCOLORATION. Neighborhood salons don't do this ( kwarenta lang naman ang manicure dun), so I suggest you bring your own and have it applied on your nail.

That's my Khaki infatuation for the week.