If you buy something through my links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I appreciate your support! See disclosure for details.

About Lumē

Lume is a woman-owned, small business founded by a gynecologist in 2017. The brand launched with odor-controlling aluminum-free body deodorant and has since expanded into a variety of other products. Lumē is pronounced Loo-Me (I watched a video by the brand to confirm!)

How Does Lume Body Wash Work?

The brand claims the body wash controls odor for 24 hours. It does this by eliminating bacteria which is the culprit behind odor. It’s safe to use anywhere (and EVERYWHERE) on the external body.

Mandelic Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) and is what makes the body wash “acidified”. According to Allure Magazine “Mandelic acid’s powerful antibacterial properties team up with its gentle exfoliating, cell-turnover-activating abilities team up to defeat acne, dull skin, uneven texture, hyperpigmentation, and fine lines and wrinkles.”

Body Wash Scents Offered

Since I have sensitive skin, I appreciate Lume Body Wash is offered in Unscented with no added fragrance. This is important because often unscented products have added fragrance to make it unscented.

Those with sensitive skin know we would choose fragrance-free every single time. In addition, they offer four scents: Clean Tangerine, Toasted Coconut, Lavender Sage, and Peony Rose.

Product Overview

Where to Buy Lume

Lumē Acidified Body Wash is available in the following locations:

• DTC – they sell directly via their website! A benefit of going directly to the source is they offer bundles of various products. The mini body wash set is great because you can try different sets and they are TSA-compliant for easy travel. They also have a subscribe and save offer.
• Amazon – Like most things, it’s available on Amazon!
• Target – Target offers a smaller 7 oz. size, although Unscented isn’t available at the time of publishing.

Other Products Offered by Lume

Lumē launched with deodorant and that now includes solid stick, cream stick, cream tube, and cream tube + sweat control (with added aluminum salts). Aside from the deodorant category, and body wash, Lumē offers a cleansing bar, soap, wipes, and body cream.

FAQ

• Does Lume Body Wash Actually Work? I’ve done some pretty vigorous yoga classes and no one would be the wiser. It might be a placebo effect, but even though I sweat, I haven’t smelled anything.
• What is the downside of Lume? The price per ounce is higher than my traditional body wash and the packaging isn’t pretty.
• Is Lume body wash safe for private parts? I’m no doctor, but Lumē was developed by one and they say it’s safe for “pits, privates, and beyond”.
• What does Lume acidified body wash do? It blocks odor-causing bacteria using mandelic acid.

Final Verdict of Lumē Body Wash

I am pleasantly surprised at how great of a body wash Lumē is aside from the odor-blocking properties. The gel lathers nicely, doesn’t strip my skin, and is non-irritating. On days I know I’ll be working out I use this product, and it’s been great. Could it be a placebo? I’m not sure but I like having the extra insurance just in case. I plan to keep my regular body wash on hand as well as Lume to use if I’m doing a vigorous workout or if it’s really hot outside. 

Next, I’ll be trying the cleansing bar! The product is new and wasn’t available when I bought the body wash, but it will be perfect for warm-weather trips, like the one I have coming up soon!

If you loved this Lume Body Wash review, check out these other beauty posts:

DISCLOSURE: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you.  I only feature products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are my own.  Because I am very obsessed with FTC compliance, check out my full disclaimer here.

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The post An Honest Lume Body Wash Review – Acidified and Unscented appeared first on Very Obsessed.

If you buy something through my links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I appreciate your support! See disclosure for details.

About Facile Nails

The headline is that Facile Nails won “Best Press-Ons” from Allure Magazine, which is a highly regarded award in the beauty industry. That is what piqued my interest initially, but I love that they are a woman-owned company located right here in North America.

Facile Press-On Nails Sizes

Facile Nails offers a variety of options in length, shapes, and finishes. The website is a little clunky so it will take some patience to find what you want, but there’s quite a bit to choose from.

What I Bought

I bought two different styles to try. I’m excited to try French Influence which is a coffin/ballerina, medium-length, semi-transparent ombre style. Glazed Donut (pictured below) is perfect as a winter white (which I did) or summer bright. It’s almond, medium-length with a chrome finish.

The cost at the time of purchase was $16-$19 per set.

Facile Nails Press-On Kit Product Overview

The press-on set includes 24 nails in 10 sizes, with multiples of the most popular size. This is key because most press-on sets only include two of each size but my index and ring nail are the same size so usually one slightly doesn’t fit.

Another benefit to Facile Nailes over other press-on sets I’ve tried is that they include both glue and nail tabs. When applying nails with the glue, the nails can last up to two weeks. The tabs can last up to a couple of days, they can be easily removed, and then the nails are reusable. By including both ways to adhere the nails there is a lot of flexibility in how and when we wear the nails!

Everything needed to apply press-ons is included in the press-on kit. Not only the nails, glue, and tabs, but also a file, buffer, and alcohol pad for proper prep, which is essential to making them last.

Results

In other press-on nail brands I’ve tried tabs can make the nail…bouncy, for lack of a better term. I used the tabs and didn’t feel that sensation. The tabs feel more like press-on nails applied with glue, which is great. One thing that is a little unusual is the longer nail curves down a bit, which I think is supposed to give it a more natural appearance, but my natural nails don’t so it looks a bit odd on me.

I had one nail pop off an hour after applying. When I reapplied it with a new tab, it popped off again later that night. I didn’t have any issues with any other nails, so I’m thinking maybe I didn’t prep that one nail correctly. It feels like it’s probably a user error.

Where to Buy

At the time of publishing Facile Nails are only available directly from their website.

Final Verdict of Facile Nails

When I looked at the nails throughout the day, they looked great! I love the option of glue or tabs, but they don’t fit my nails perfectly. I have rather long, square nail beds so even choosing the medium length, and cutting my nails short, I was still able to see some of my natural nails. If you have short nail beds or rounded tips, these would be great!

I won’t be buying them again strictly because they don’t fit my nail beds, but they could be a great option for you!

If you loved this Facile Nails review, check out these other nail posts:

DISCLOSURE: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you.  I only feature products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are my own.  Because I am very obsessed with FTC compliance, check out my full disclaimer here.

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The post Facile Nails: An Honest Review appeared first on Very Obsessed.

1. The US is kind of lax on the 1-quart bag rule, and if I plan it right I’ll be out of shampoo and conditioner coming back into the US so really I don’t need to bring bars with me.
2. It would be nice not to have to worry about planning exactly right though and if I’m bringing enough.
3. I need to do my part in reducing plastic waste.
   • Am I embarrassed that plastic waste was my second/third thought? Yes, but at least I got there, right?
4. The amount of money I spend on fancy shampoos and conditioners and the first ingredient is water is crazy.

So after walking through all the above thoughts, in that order, I decided if I could stop spending so much on water and harming the planet, it’s worth trying. Hence, here’s my honest review of trying the Brixy Shampoo Bar and Conditioner Bar.

If you buy something through my links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I appreciate your support! See disclosure for details.

About Brixy

Brixy uses premium products, for those of us who are beauty conscious and need products to really work, but that are better for the planet using no plastic packaging. They also have a giveback program where they donate 1% of all sales to help improve the planet.

The current product line consists of three products in three scents. They offer Shampoo, Conditioner, and Body wash in Citrus, Mint Eucalyptus, and Coconut Vanilla.

The shampoo and conditioner are $13.99 (at the time of publication) and the body wash is $5.99. Brixy claims that each bar replaces 24 liquid ounces, so the product is very cost effective!

As mentioned, not only are the products premium for what they contain (like coconut oil, shea butter, and argan oil) but they are also premium for what they don’t. You won’t find any sulfates, parabens, phthalates, or palm oil in the Brixy line.

Product Overview

I tried the Coconut Vanilla Shampoo Bar and Conditioner Bar. I’m also using a bar for cleansing but am using the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser bar for my body and face. CeraVe is my go to at home in liquid, and I’m shocked at how good the bar is!

Since I have tape in hair extensions I always double cleanse my hair. Following the instructions, I rubbed the wet shampoo bar on my wet scalp and was pleasantly surprised to find I got a nice lather, more than I do on my first pass of traditional shampoo. So I rinsed and repeated.

Then I followed the instructions on the conditioner and applied the wet conditioner bar on my wet scalp and let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing.

While I love all three scents offered, I think a fragrance free version would be great to have.

Brixy: Where to Buy

Brixy is available to purchase in several places, which makes it so convenient!

• GoBrixy.com
• Whole Food
• Amazon
• My local bougie/boutique grocery store carries it, albeit at a premium price, so yours may too!

Traveling with Brixy

Since I decided I would, in fact, be traveling with three solid bars, next on the list is how to travel with them. Not only was I looking for something cute (natch) but I could not see buying plastic containers when part of my intention is to reduce plastic waste.

I found these Aluminum Travel Tins and they are great! They are supposed to be rust resistant so I’ll try them out and report back, but I really like the minimalist design and they are the perfect size.

Final Verdict of Brixy

The day I washed my hair with the Brixy Shampoo bar, used the Brixy Conditioner bar, and styled my hair as usual, my husband said my hair looked exactly the same. Would I have loved for it to be the best thing my hair has ever experienced? Sure, but I think that’s asking a lot of shampoo and conditioner so I consider his statement the next best thing.

If I look exactly the same but can save money, travel smarter, and save the planet, why wouldn’t I? I will say that since I have extensions I’m cautious about where I place my conditioner and the very ends of my hair felt a titch drier than usual, but I will just make sure to focus more attention there. I was able to go the same amount of days between washing so my hair held up the same too!

It will be hard for me to go cold turkey with giving up traditional shampoo and conditioner completely, but my transition plan is to finish what I’m currently using, then finish Brixy bars and then alternate. It might not be perfect, but it’s progress!

If you loved this Brixy Shampoo Bar and Brixy Conditioner Bar review, check out these other posts:

Jones Road Beauty Review

Do SiO Silicone Patches Work?

Olive and June Nail Polish Mani System Review

DISCLOSURE: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you.  I only feature products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are my own.  Because I am very obsessed with FTC compliance, check out my full disclaimer here.

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The post Brixy Shampoo Bar and Conditioner Bar Review appeared first on Very Obsessed.

I happen to be allergic to one of the products in What the Foundation so I hadn’t gotten around to trying the line, but I’ve been meaning to ever since! When the team at Jones Road Beauty reached out to me to see if I’d like to try the product I jumped at the chance! I selected three items to try and have now worn them multiple days, hours at a time. While the product has been gifted, this post is in no way sponsored and all thoughts are my own. Keep reading for my honest Jones Road Beauty review.

If you buy something through my links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I appreciate your support! See disclosure for details.

About Jones Road Beauty

Jones Road Beauty was launched in 2020 when founder, makeup artist, and entrepreneur Bobbi Brown, who left her namesake company in 2016, saw a need in the market. She was looking for clean makeup that could deliver a no-makeup-makeup look, be made of high-performance ingredients, and multitask. Just like she did with her original line, when she saw a need in the market that didn’t exist, she set out to create it. The line continues to expand and has won numerous awards in the industry

So what is clean beauty? According to Allure,

Though the buzzword has been floating around the industry for years, there’s still no universally agreed-upon criteria for what makes a product “clean,” “green,” “natural,” or “eco-friendly.”

Allure.com

Jones Road Beauty not only meets the EU standards (which are more strict than the US) but is more stringent and doesn’t include over 2,700 potentially harmful ingredients. I consider that clean.

As someone who has sensitive skin, I really appreciate that they list all of their ingredients so I can know if something would irritate my skin. As mentioned above, I’m allergic to one of the ingredients in What the Foundation (nothing harmful, it’s botanic), so I’m happy to know that I’m only using products that will agree with my skin.

Jones Road Miracle Balm

Miracle Balm comes in nine shades, from natural to sunkissed and everything in between. True to Bobbi’s mission, this balm is a multi-tasker and is meant to be used anywhere you want to add color (although it’s not specifically meant for the eyes).

I love this product. As I’ve gotten wiser (read: older) I gravitate towards products that are moisturizing and are not powder. This balm looks amazing on the cheeks! It lets your skin shine through (which is what I want) and gives a glowy look, but without being shiny. I chose a blush color but I will be picking up another shade to use as a bronzer.

Another perk of the balm, as I am traveling to Europe and attempting only a carry-on (a first for me), is that the blush isn’t a liquid and that makes it travel friendly. I should also note, Miracle Balm is 1.76 oz but it’s a pretty sizeable container and I imagine it will last a long time.

How to Use: Take your index finger and break through the surface of the balm to achieve its full color. Kind of fun! After that, you can apply using your fingers, brush, or whatever applicator you like, but I prefer to warm it up in my fingers and apply it directly to my face.

Shade: Miami Beach

Review: Obsessed

Jones Road The Face Pencil

Another multi-tasking item, The Face Pencil comes in 25 different shades. As the name implies, this is a pencil (yay, no liquid again!) so I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect of the texture but it really glides on the face. I suspect this is due to Shea Butter being an ingredient. Not only is that included, but it also has Vitamin A & E so over time The Face Pencil can help reduce fine lines. It feels like nothing on the skin!

At noted below, The Face Pencil can be used in multiple ways (another great travel find) but I use it as concealer around my nose and under my eyes. It’s light coverage but is buildable. Some settling in my fine lines happens, but if I’m honest, I’ve never tried a concealer that doesn’t settle without using setting spray or powder. After settling I just rewarm that part up with my fingers, blend again, and then am good for the rest of the day. I like it better than traditional concealer if I’m going for light coverage.

How to Use: Apply The Face Pencil directly on the face as you would concealer, or sharpen to remove pigment and mix with moisturizer to create more coverage.

Shade: 4

Review: Entertained

Jones Road The Lip Tint

As a sucker for lip products (I can wear nothing but that and feel pulled together) I knew I had to try The Lip Tint. The product is amazing! It’s the perfect formulation of lipstick, not matte, not glossy. It can be worn more sheer and smudged out or more opaque and it just adds a beautiful color, feels great, and lasts a long time. I am definitely buying more colors.

Shaed: Pink Rose

Review: Obsessed

How Does Jones Road Compare to Other Clean Beauty Brands?

Jones Road Beauty is a serious player when looking at other clean beauty brands. The clean brands I use most are Ilia and Saie, and while I love specific items from them (like Ilia’s Skin Tint and Saie’s Glowy Super Gel Highlighter), Jones Road Miracle Balm is a truly unique product and I am obsessed with The Lip Tint.

This makeup line is the most no makeup-makeup of them all. I also love that many formulations are travel friendly.

I’ve seen some comments on the price of Jones Road and wondering if the price is worth it. I absolutely think it is! At the time of publishing the prices are: Miracle Balm $38, The Face Pencil $25, and The Lip Tint $26. Can you find a less expensive product? Of course. But if you look at what is similar in the market I think you’ll find the prices are right in line. Ilia’s lipstick is $28 and Saie’s concealer is $26.

Jones Road Beauty: Where to Buy

Jones Road Beauty is available direct from their website and they also have three stores, all located in New York and New Jersey. They do not sell at any of the traditional beauty stores at this time, like Sephora, Ulta, or Bluemercury. Note if you search Amazon you will probably see Jones Road Beauty, but it’s not sold directly from them so I would not necessarily trust that. I’m pretty careful about what makeup and skincare I buy from Amazon.

FAQ

• Does Jones Road Work on Mature Skin? Yes! It depends on what you consider ‘mature’ but I’m in my 40s and Bobbi Brown is in her 60s. I love the extra moisture it gives. It also depends on how much of your skin you want to show through. Most days I don’t use foundation or tinted moisturizer and you can see my skin shine through the balm, and that’s the exact vibe I’m going for.
• How is Jones Road Different From Bobbi Brown? I assume this question is referring to Bobbi Brown the makeup line, and not Bobbi Brown the person. Bobbi Brown, the makeup line, is now owned by Estee Lauder. While they produce high-quality makeup, they are not a clean brand and are more of a traditional makeup line.

Final Verdict of Jones Road Beauty

It can be somewhat daunting, to place a makeup order online, with a company you aren’t familiar with when the free shipping doesn’t kick in until you hit $85. To be honest, that’s why I hadn’t gotten around to trying it too. I hope this honest Jones Road Beauty review gives you some insight into the line and some confidence to try it.

I really love some of the items and will be placing an order for new shades. I’m also excited to try some other things I’ve been eyeing! I love that the product is travel friendly, gives a no-makeup makeup look (I want people complimenting my skin, not my makeup!), and has a nice glow. If you still have some hesitation, they do have a generous return (30 days) and exchange (45 days) policy.

If you loved this Jones Road Beauty review, check out these other posts:

Saie Beauty Review

Do SiO Silicone Patches Work?

Olive and June Nail Polish Mani System Review

DISCLOSURE: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you.  I only feature products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are my own.  Because I am very obsessed with FTC compliance, check out my full disclaimer here.

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The post Jones Road Beauty: An Honest Review of the Clean Beauty Brand appeared first on Very Obsessed.

If you buy something through my links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I appreciate your support! See disclosure for details.

About Olive & June

Olive and June is a California-based, Woman-owned company (owned by Sarah Gibson Tuttle). Sarah opened a wildly successful brick & mortar nail salon in 2013 and launched the now-famous line of (long-lasting) nail polishes in 2019.

This luxury nail polish brand is vegan and cruelty-free and is 15-free formulated, which basically means it’s made without all the toxic things that so many nail polishes contain. The other key claim is that it is a gel-like finish but doesn’t require UV and comes off with a basic nail polish remover.

What is Available in the Olive & June Quick Dry Nail Polish Line

Olive & June launch their Quick Dry Nail Polish line in 2022 with 19 shades and a Quick Dry Top Coat. As of publication, they haven’t added any additional colors, but I’m hopeful they will. The colors are all glossy and range from opaque white to an inky black with a range of the rainbow in between.

I’m a big fan of the Olive & June mani system, which includes everything you need to get a salon-like manicure at home in one convenient kit, and what’s awesome now is that you can select long-lasting, quick dry, or a combination of both in the kit. If you decide not to get the system I highly, highly suggest you get The Poppy, which pops onto the top of the nail polish and gives you more control when painting. It’s a game changer when painting my dominant hand.

What I Bought

I bought two colors of Olive & June Quick Dry Polish, Smooch with is a bold red and Cateye which is an inky black. I also bought the Quick Dry Top Coat because if I’ve learned anything from Olive & June long-lasting polish is that the top coat makes all the difference.

The cost at the time of publishing is $7.50 per bottle or you can purchase the mani set. I’m a member (which means free shipping, discounts, and exclusive product) which brings the price per bottle down to $6.75.

How to Apply

It wouldn’t be Olive & June without The Poppy so of course it fits on the Quick Dry bottles to help with control of the brush.

Because the Quick Dry formula is thinner than Long-Lasting any imperfection on your nails (like ridges) could be visible. For this reason, I started out (after filing, buffing, swiping my nail with polish remvoer to make sure there was no residual oil) using the Ridge Filler. Then I proceeded to paint two coats of color and finished with the Top Coat. It’s important to paint thin layers to let each one dry fully. Since the Ridge Filler isn’t Quick Dry I let that dry for about 5 minutes, and then each color only about two minutes before going on to the next step.

Removal is super easy just using regular nail polish remover with a cotton pad, or skip the cotton pad and just use the Polish Remover Pot!

The Results

The polish genuinely is Quick Dry and will dry to the touch in about a minute! I wouldn’t go to sleep or right away as you might have some bedsheet lines, or drag something sharp across them, but to the touch it’s good to go. Without the Top Coat the polish isn’t matte, but it’s not a super high gloss finish. The Top Coat is key.

Now, the Quick Dry polish doesn’t last as long as the regular line, which is now called Long Lasting, which kind of says it all (meaning the Quick Dry is…short lasting?) Olive & June claims Quick Dry nail polish will last about five days, but I think it depends on how hard you are on your nails. I’m on a keyboard all day so for me it will last about three, but it’s enough to take me through the weekend and that’s amazing!

Where to Buy

Olive & June started as a DTC company and I still prefer buying directly from their website, as they have the best variety. Since I have the membership shipping is always free, but if you aren’t they also have free shipping with a minumimum purchase.

Along with Press-Ons and Long Lasting polish, Quick Dry polish is also available at Target. While Olive & June recently launched at Wal-Mart, they aren’t currently offering the Quick Dry line

Final Verdict of Olive & June Quick Dry Nail Polish

Olive & June Quick Dry Polish has been a complete gamechanger when I am getting ready and realize my nails don’t look up to par. Give me 5 minutes and I will have a salon looking manicure!

The only negative is Olive & June has sold out of colors pretty quickly, and I’d like them to add more variety.

Could the manicure last longer? Of course! But the tradeoff of only lasting a couple of days is definitely worth the Quick Dry option. The amount of time I spend painting my nails with Quick Dry is directly proportianate to how long it lasts. Quick Dry has become part of my regular rotation of nail polish. I’m OBSESSED!

If you loved this Olive & June Quick Dry Nail Polishreview, check out these other nail posts:

Olive & June Press On Nail Manicure Kit

Ohora Gel Stickers: Do They Work?

Olive & June Long Lasting Nail Polish Manicure System Review

DISCLOSURE: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you.  I only feature products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are my own.  Because I am very obsessed with FTC compliance, check out my full disclaimer here.

If you enjoyed this post, please share it on social media using the icons below!

The post Olive & June Quick Dry Nail Polish Review appeared first on Very Obsessed.

If you buy something through my links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I appreciate your support! See disclosure for details.

About Marmalade Nails

Marmalade Nails is an Austin, Texas-based company that produces vegan and cruelty-free press-on nails. They also donate a portion of each sale to PetSmart Charities.

Marmalade Press-On Nails Sizes

Marmalade Nails offer a variety of options in length, shapes, and finish so it’s easy to find a design that works for you.

What I Bought

I bought two different styles to try. Slice (pictured below) is a short, round, modern classic style, and Purple Crush (pictured in header) which is a short, square, fun trendy style.

The cost at the time of purchase was $16 per set and free shipping.

What’s Included in Marmalade Nails Manicure Kit?

The press-on kit pretty much gives you everything you need to apply the nails, with no extra frills. Aside from 24 nails in 12 sizes, the below is also included:

• Nail File
• Nail Glue
• Wooden Orange Stick
• Nail Remover Tool

From my previous experience with press-on nails (read my Olive & June review here) I know it’s also key to prep the nail prior to application. For that, I also used nail clippers (to get the correct nail shape and ensure they didn’t show under the press-on) and nail polish remover since any traces of oils need to be removed.

How to Apply Marmalade Nails

Marmalade includes an application guide in the kit, but I found the website video to be the best. Here’s what worked for me:

1. Select the size nail that is the closest to my natural nail bed. I had to trim some of my natural nails down to not see them peek out of the sides since I selected a short, round style.
2. Prep natural nails by trimming down (see above), buffing (you can use the fine-grit side of the nail file), cleaning with nail polish remover, and pushing cuticles back with an orange stick.
3. Decide on the long, medium, or short-term wear glue application and apply glue accordingly.

How to Remove Marmalade Nails

In full disclosure, I have yet to remove press-on nails with literally 0 damage, but I found there was pretty minimal damage with this method.

File the finish off the top of the nails and soak them in warm soapy water. Marmalade includes a nail removal tool in each kit which is a bendable plastic piece that can be used to get under the nails. The trick is to know when to apply a little pressure to help the nail pop off or when to put your nails back in soapy water.

After the nails are removed, buff off any residual glue. The Olive & June nail strengthener has worked wonders in restoring my nail health quickly after press-on nail removal.

The Results

As noted above, I used the medium wear glue application and the nails lasted 6 days which is perfect for me! If the nails last longer than a week I get impatient and inevitably end up ruining my nails.

The actual press-on nail is pretty thin so it looks more natural than some of the other brands I’ve tried. One of my close friends thought my nails were done in a salon, so that’s a pretty major compliment for a $16 at-home press-on nail kit.

Where to Buy

At the time of publishing Marmalade Nails are only available directly from their website, but shipping is free and pretty quick. I like to buy a couple of sets at a time so I just have them when I need them.

Final Verdict of Marmalade Nails

These nails look the most like I just came from a salon. That is to say, they look great but I wish there were more variety in designs. If you are looking for fun nails there are a ton of options, but if classic nails are your thing the skys the limit.

If you loved this Marmalade Nails review, check out these other nail posts:

DISCLOSURE: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you.  I only feature products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are my own.  Because I am very obsessed with FTC compliance, check out my full disclaimer here.

If you enjoyed this post, please share it on social media using the icons below!

The post Marmalade Nails Review appeared first on Very Obsessed.

If you buy something through my links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I appreciate your support! See disclosure for details.

About Olive and June

Olive & June is a California-based, Woman-owned company (owned by Sarah Gibson Tuttle). Sarah opened a wildly successful brick & mortar nail salon in 2013 and launched the instafamous line of nail polishes in 2019.

This luxury nail polish brand is vegan and cruelty-free and is 7-free formulated, which basically means it’s made without all the toxic things that so many nail polishes contain.

Olive and June continues to add to their line of products and in late 2021 they came out with press-on nails, which are available to buy online and at Target. One important note, since the nails are plastic as is the packaging is they are made with 94% of upcycled material.

Olive and June Press On Nails Sizes

The great thing about Olive and June press-on nails is they come in a variety of shapes and lengths, so you can find what style suits you best. 13 different sizes are included so there is a good chance you can find one that fits your nail bed, but more on that below in the ‘how to apply’ section

Lengths

• Extra Short
• Short
• Medium
• Long

Shapes

• Round
• Oval
• Almond
• Squoval

What I Bought

I tried Olive and June press-on nails when they first came out, but recently tried them again and bought the whole Press-On System in extra short Hot Strawberry. They offer a lot of limited colors and Hot Strawberry isn’t available now, so just know if you like a color buy them when they are available because you never know if they’ll be back in stock.

What’s Included in the Olive and June Press On Mani System

The Olive and June Press-On System includes either one set of nails or four sets of nails. I purchased the system with one set of nails for $54 and all of the below is what is included:

• Nail Remover Kit
• Nail Strengthener
• Nail Clipper
• File
• Buffer
• Cuticle Serum
• Cuticle Pusher
• Pouch (for extra nails)
• Storage Case

The nail remover kit is included in the system, and only in the system, and also has a few components:

• Press-On Remover
• Sponges
• Finger Covers
• Orange Wood Stick

A set of press-on nails includes the necessities so there is a little duplication with what comes with the system:

• Press On Nails
• Prep Pad
• Nail Glue
• File/Buffer Combo
• Orange Wood Stick

How to Apply Olive and June Press On Nails

Olive and June gives pretty clear directions, but after trying the nails two separate times, here’s what works for me.

1. Select the size nail that is the closest to my natural nail bed. This is important as the first step because since I don’t have short nail beds, but I had extra short fake nails, I had to trim my natural nails down to not see them peek out of the sides.
2. Prep natural nails by trimming down (see above), buffing, wiping nails with the prep pad, and pushing cuticles back.
3. Apply nail strengthener as a primer.
4. Decide on the long term wear or short term wear glue application. In my experience, Olive and June press on nails last about 8 days for the long term application and 48 hours for the short term.

If you are like me and don’t have short nail beds, but want shorter press on nails I recommend you buy either short or medium and cut them down to your desired length. The extra short was great for the length of the full nail, but since they were round there were a couple of fingers I could see my natural nail even though they were trimmed all the way down.

How to Remove Olive and June Press On Nails

The first time I tried Olive and June Press On Nails I didn’t buy the full system so I didn’t have the nail remover kit. This is an honest review and I will say, I used the long term application and they did not come off easy on day 8. I filed the tops of the nails and soaked them in the remover for a looooong time and I still had to pry them off, causing some damage to my natural nail.

Since I bought the press-on system for my second time trying I know have the remover kit but I didn’t need to use it because I did the short term application and they kind of popped off after 48 hours.

I can’t vouch for how well the kit works, but the next time I try them I will be doing the long term application and definitely be trying out the nail remover kit.

The Results

The long term application really lasts, and I got compliments when wearing them so I think they’re really good! The biggest element in them looking great is finding the right size and style to fit your nail bed, and prep is the key to making them last.

Final Verdict of Olive and June Press On Nails

I love the look of them…when I can get the right fit. I’m also somewhat of a commitment-phobe and generally prefer shorter nails so when I want them off, I want them off NOW. With that being said, if I have a special occasion I will absolutely be wearing these again and highly recommend them to a friend.

If you loved this Olive & June Press On review, check out these other nail posts:

DISCLOSURE: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you.  I only feature products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are my own.  Because I am very obsessed with FTC compliance, check out my full disclaimer here.

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The post An Honest Olive and June Press On Nails Review appeared first on Very Obsessed.

If you buy something through my links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I appreciate your support! See disclosure for details.

About Ohora Nails

Ohora is a Korean nail brand that launched in 2019 with the first semi-cured gel nails with intricate designs on the market.

According to Ohora,

We use safe materials that are ISO quality certified. We produce toxin-free & safety certified strips.

Ohora.com

The technology is certainly impressive with one strip including the base, color, and top coat and curving to fit the nail, it isn’t the most clear what the exact ingredients of the gel nail strips are.

How Ohora Works

Ohora sets itself apart from other gel nail polish sticker companies because they ship the strips 60% cured. The UV lamp at home cures the nails 100%. The cured gel is a real gel, hard and shiny, just like walking out of a nail salon with a gel manicure.

Where to Buy Ohora Nails

There are three places where Ohora Nails are available for purchase in the U.S.

Vanity Table curates K-Beauty brands to sell in the United States, and they are an authorized licensed seller of Ohora.

Ohora now has its own website for purchase in the U.S. and offers the widest selection of designs and they also have frequent sales.

Like most things, Amazon carries Ohora nail stickers with Prime shipping.

What I Bought

In 2020 I had first tried Ohora and there wasn’t a huge selection so I picked a solid color. This time I chose two different designs since part of the benefit of using gel stickers is being able to have professional nail art done at home. Mellow is a combination of glitter, light pink, and houndstooth and Basic Nails No.11 is a sheer peach with a gold stripe on some of them. The price ranged between $13.50-$16.00 per design.

Each kit comes with an alcohol prep pad, nail file, orangewood stick, and gel strips. The lamp is separate but both Vanity Table and Ohora offer a free lamp with the first purchase.

How to Apply Ohora

After applying the gel strips on 3 separate occasions, doing research, and performing trial and error, below is what has worked best for me.

1. Swipe the alcohol prep pad over each nail to ensure there is no residue.
2. Select the size nail that is the closest to my natural nail bed.
3. Peel the stickers off the plastic from the opposite of the cuticle side (the plastic indicates which is the cuticle side).
4. Apply the nail sticker to my nail, starting at the center base of the nail. If the sides of the sticker don’t come close to the side of my nail bed, I stretch the sticker so it does. The sticker is flexible and stretches since it’s only 60% cured.
5. Use the provided orangewood stick and go over the edges of the nail, ensuring the best seal.
6. After applying, turn my hand over and do a rough clip of the excess sticker with nail clippers, making sure not to clip my natural nail if I want to keep the length (remember these aren’t press-on nails, you’ll need your natural nail to be the foundation). It seems like the stickers shrink a little bit when curing so keep the stickers slightly longer in this step.
7. (Optional)Take a brush (I use the one from my Olive & June mani kit) and dip it in 100% acetone. Swipe the brush around the edges of the nail. More details on that are below.
8. Cure each nail for 2 rounds of 60 seconds under the UV lamp.
9. File the cured nail anywhere it wasn’t perfect after clipping.

I note above that step 7 is optional. My original review calls out that my hair got stuck under the nails and after trying again 2 years later, my hair still got stuck (and you know these extensions aren’t cheap). I came across ThatOhoraGirl on YouTube and she had this great trick which is step 6. Running a brush soaked in acetone along the edges of the nail strip thins down the edges and makes for a much more seamless transition from real nails to gel strips.

Ohora offers a Glossy Gel Top Coat that you apply once the nails are cured. I haven’t personally tried this but it seems like it would also help eliminate hair snagging under the nails since it is creating a totally seamless transition from gel nail strips to real nails.

Ohora Gel Nail Strips Results

The first time I tried Ohora two years ago (review of that here) I removed the nail strips after 4 days because my hair kept getting stuck and it was annoying. This time around I was a lot smarter because I did my nails on hair washing day after I washed my hair, thinking that I would at least be able to keep them on for a week.

They have been fantastic! At a minimum, I’ve taken these off after 10 days, and that’s because one or so started peeling up, but by that point, my nails had grown so much anyway I needed to remove them. The quality is impeccable and they look like a professional salon gel manicure.

How to Remove Ohora

ManiMe is very easy to remove and caused minimal damage, only because I was impatient. The real way to remove is to soak the included orangewood stick in 100% acetone or nail polish remover and then slowly, gently pry it under the sticker. I was impatient and when the nail started peeling up I just kept going with it. The top layer of my nail is damaged in a few spots, but nothing extensive.

Final Verdict of Ohora Semi-Cured Gel Nail Polish Strips

Ohora looks like a professional manicure, is cost-effective, has many options to choose from, and lasts at least 10 days. The only major downside is getting that nail polish to be as close to the cuticle as possible. So, are Ohora nails worth it? For the price and how great they look, they absolutely are. I love these as an option and definitely recommend them.

If you loved this Ohora review, check out these other nail posts:

DISCLOSURE: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you.  I only feature products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are my own.  I am very obsessed with FTC compliance, check out my full disclaimer here.

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The post Ohora Nails Review: Are they Worth It? appeared first on Very Obsessed.

If you buy something through my links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I appreciate your support! See disclosure for details.

About ManiMe

ManiMe launched in 2019 when founder Jooyeon Song, originally from Korea, saw a need to eliminate the pain point of going to a salon to get a professional manicure. Along with her business partner, David Miro Llopis, she created an idea for custom-fit gel nail polish stickers using 3D technology.

According to ManiMe,

Our stick-on gels are made of 100% Korean gel, similar to what you’d get in a salon. The only difference is that our manis and pedis can be applied in minutes, removed in seconds, and do not cause harm to your nails or require UV-curing. Also, our gel is non-toxic (10-Free) and cruelty-free.

ManiMe.co

How ManiMe Works

ManiMe sets themselves apart from other gel nail polish sticker companies because they are customized to fit your fingernails. There is no guessing which sticker to use for each nail since there is only one sticker for each fingernail. They do give you five extra in case you make a mistake while applying.

Once you purchase your product, you will then upload photos taken with your phone of your fingernails from multiple angles. It’s as easy as that! It took nine days from the time of purchase for them to arrive in the mail.

When they produce the stickers they make them longer than the images you upload to allow for nail growth. I was a little concerned because I had just cut my nails, but the stickers were more than enough to account for a longer nail length.

What I Bought

I bought custom nail stickers in the color Kyoto, a very light purple shade, for $15 and the Max Top Coat No. 2 for $8.

How to Apply ManiMe

After prepping your nails with the included alcohol pad, to remove any residue, you simply take the sticker from the plastic it arrives on and place it on your fingernail. I found it to work best to pull the sticker off from the far end (not cuticle side) and then place it on my fingernail cuticle side first.

A practice set of stickers comes with the nail so I defintely recommend practicing because it can be a little tricky until you get the hang of it.

They recommend wrapping the end of the nail down around your nail and then taking the provided nail file and filing the excess sticker off. That didn’t work great for me since I like to keep my nails on the shorter side. The second option they recommend is to use nail clippers and this worked a lot better.

After wrapping the excess sticker around my nails I took a nail clipper and clipped the sticker AND my nail together. If you are going to go this route then you will not want to shape your nails prior to application or they’ll be shorter than you want. Think of this as when a hair stylist cuts your hair while it’s still wet or once it has dried.

Once the stickers are applied and the excess has been removed you can stop at this point but I used a top coat over it to help seal everything in place and give an extra glossy shine.

ManiMe Nail Polish Results

This is an honest review of ManiMe nail polish stickers and I will be absolutely honest. I had mixed results. I actually bought two sets of stickers to test them twice before writing the post and had two different experiences. It’s most likely user error, but let me start with the pros and cons and then I can get into the different results.

Now, for the mixed results. The first time I applied them not using a base coat and you could see a horizonal ridge I had in my nail (I think from trying press-ons), but the stickers looked great other than that. The second time I used them I applied a base coat first (the Olive & June Ridge Filler) but there were some creases in the stickers at the end of the nail. It was almost as though there was an air bubble that I couldn’t get out and the stickers just didn’t lie flat against my nails.

What was consistent in both cases is that with the use of the top coat there was no gumminess around the stickers like there was when I first tried ManiMe in 2020. Also in both cases my nails lasted around 4-5 days until they started crackling or peeling. ManiMe claims they can last up to 10, but that hasn’t been my experience.

How to Remove ManiMe

ManiMe is very easy to remove and didn’t cause any damage. They just peel off! I found it easiest to peel them off at the end of a shower. When I didn’t have a base coat on they came right off with zero residue. When I did have a base coat on, it took a little more prying to remove them and I needed to use nail polish remover to eliminate the residue that the base coat left behind.

Final Verdict of ManiMe Gel Nail Polish Stickers

I absolutely love that ManiMe are custom fit and you don’t have to spend any time picking which sticker goes best on which nail. There may not be an easier, and more cost effective way, to have fun designs and nail art. My only complaint is that application isn’t always flawless, but I think with some practice one could get very good at applying the nail polish stickers. If they have a design that I like I would buy them again.

If you loved this ManiMe review, check out these other beauty posts:

How to Wear Lola’s Magnetic Eyelashes and Eyeliner

Saie Beauty: A Review of the Clean Beauty Brand

Olive and June Nail Polish Mani System Review

DISCLOSURE: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you.  I only feature products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are my own.  Because I am very obsessed with FTC compliance, check out my full disclaimer here.

If you enjoyed this post, please share it on social media using the icons below!

The post ManiMe: An Honest Review of the Nail Polish Stickers appeared first on Very Obsessed.

If you buy something through my links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I appreciate your support! See disclosure for details.

About Saie Beauty

Saie Beauty was launched in 2019 when founder Laney Crowell, who had a background in the beauty business, saw a need for a clean beauty that worked just as well as conventional makeup. They launched with four products and the rest, as they say, is history.

So what is clean beauty? According to Goop,

In broad terms, clean beauty products are those made without ingredients shown or suspected to harm human health.

Goop.com

Saie Beauty meets the EU standards (which are more strict than the US) and has a whole page on its website dedicated to ingredient transparency.

Saie Slip Tint

As mentioned above, Slip Tint is what initially drew me to Saie Beauty. It’s a tinted moisturizer with SPF 35, dries to a natural finish, and is available in 14 shades. Saie claims the finish is dewy, but when compared to another favorite of mine, Ilia Skin Tint, I wouldn’t call Slip Tint that. It won an Allure Best of Beauty award in 2021, and those products are usually pretty great. Slip Tint is no different.

I always use Elta MD UV Clear as my moisturizer and SPF and then layer this over. It takes one and a half pumps and gives me extra moisture, extra sun protection, and the most natural subtle overall coverage.

Shade: Three and Half

Review: Obsessed

Saie Glowy Super Gel

When Becca Cosmetics closed down I needed to find a new liquid highlighter and found Saie Glowy Super Gel. It is a highlighter but so much more. As a highlighter, I dab it on the traditional places and it’s an almost wet (but in the best way) look. I love that it’s not sparkly or glittery the way some highlighters can be. What I didn’t realize when I bought it is that the Glowy Super Gel is multi-functional and can be used in basically any step in your makeup routine.

I’ve used this as a primer before applying the Slip Tint and it gives a luminous glow but really helps makeup stay put. You can also mix it with foundation and apply it all in one step. My absolute favorite way to use it though is as a highlighter because it just gives you that extra glow.

Shade: Starglow

Review: Obsessed

Saie Dew Blush

As I’ve gotten older I realize if I can transition from powder cosmetics to something liquid, cream or gel, the better it looks on my skin. Hydration is the name of the game.

Saie Dew Blush is a hit and a miss. Hear me out. The gel blush is only offered in 6 shades and frequently many are sold out. While my usual shade is a warm berry the only warm or neutral shade they had available was Peachy and to my surprise I love it! With the doe-shaped applicator, the product is easy to apply, blends like a dream, is buildable, and gives a dewy glow (almost like there is highlighter built-in). It gives the perfect summer sun-kissed look and I’m completely Obsessed.

Here is where the miss comes in. After loving Peachy so much I really wanted to try a berry shade and see if it’s the full range. All they had at the time was Dreamy, a cool berry. I used it a couple of times but even just the lightest application was way too intense, and I didn’t get that dewy look. They need more shades and they need a warm-toned berry.

The one last thing I’ll say is that while it looks glowy upon first application it does try down to more of a natural finish, so you may want to reapply in the middle of the day.

Note that Sephora calls out this product may include Yellow 6 Lake, Red 22 Lake, and Mica, so that’s kind of a grey line for a ‘clean’ beauty brand. As always, do your own research and only use what you feel comfortable with.

Shade: Peachy

Review: Entertained

Saie Sun Melt Bronzer

Like blush, I thought it would be best for me to switch from a powder bronzer to a cream. This cream-blam bronzer gets rave reviews all over IG so I had to try it. Maybe it’s the wrong shade, or maybe it’s a user error, but it’s just way too much. When I blend it out I cover my entire face. After trying it, again, on a day I was going out in public, I ended up washing my face and starting over because that’s how bad it looks on me. Back to the store it goes.

Shade: Medium Bronze

Review: Annoyed

Saie The Big Brush

I bought The Big Brush to apply the cream bronzer, and although I returned the bronzer I kept the brush. The bristles are dense and good quality and the brush is compact without being too small. It’s a great overall brush.

Review: Entertained

Saie Beauty: Where to Buy

Saie Beauty is available direct from their website, where it seems like they have the most in stock. They also offer cost-saving bundles, so that’s great! Sephora also offers the brand and I like that they call out the undertones of each shade and help match your skin tone based on past purchases. Follain and Kohls (if they have a Sephora shop) also carry Saie Beauty.

FAQ

• Is Saie Beauty Really Clean? As noted above in the Goop quote, clean is an industry term and not regulated. However, since Saie doesn’t use parabens, phthalates, sulfates, talc, or synthetic ingredients, to name a few, it’s definitely cleaner than traditional makeup brands.
• Is Saie Beauty Organic? According to the FDA “The USDA requirements for the use of the term “organic” are separate from the laws and regulations that FDA enforces for cosmetics. Cosmetic products labeled with organic claims must comply with both USDA regulations for the organic claim and FDA regulations for labeling and safety requirements for cosmetics.” I have not seen a claim that Saie is organic. An organic brand I’ve really been loving is Ilia.
• Is Saie Beauty Good for Sensitive Skin? I can only speak for myself because sensitive skin is specific and what works for one person may not work for others. For instance, I am sensitive to some botanicals but others may not be. I thoroughly read all ingredients before buying any products and I’ve never had one issue of breakout or irritation with Saie.

Final Verdict of Saie Beauty

Although there have been a few misses, there have been far more hits and what it’s been good has been very good! I would absolutely recommend that a friend try Saie Beauty and I will definitely be trying more products as they launch. In fact, I’ve been wanting to try the Hydrabeam Concealer that went viral on TikTok but it’s finally now just back in stock. Adding to the cart now.

If you loved this Saie Beauty review, check out these other posts:

DISCLOSURE: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you.  I only feature products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are my own.  Because I am very obsessed with FTC compliance, check out my full disclaimer here.

If you enjoyed this post, please share it on social media using the icons below!

The post Saie Beauty: An Honest Review of the Clean Beauty Brand appeared first on Very Obsessed.