Proclaiming my love for Aquaphor

I am going to take a minute here and tell you about my most favorite product for my nails-Aquaphor! 

I have loved this product for over 10 years. I use it for so many different things. I have only been using it on my nails and the skin around my nails for about 3 years.

Let me tell you how I first fell in love with this product. Several years ago I used to be a habitual lip bitter/ lip peeler-gross I know, but it's the truth. I tried SO many different lip balms and chapsticks, even vaseline, and nothing worked. Finally my friend gave me a little sample bottle of Aquaphor. I applied it to my lips 3-4 times a day and every night when I went to bed. I made sure to not pick my lips and was determined to stop this bad habit. Who likes to talk to people when they have dried cracked lips?! It was embarrassing at times. Within a few weeks my lips were healed and no longer cracked or peeled. So, there wasn't a need to do any picking so...I didn't. Habit gone! Seriously...gone! So that's how I first fell in love with Aquaphor. :)

I have always been into nail polish, but three years ago I really started to enjoy painting my nails often and looking online for fun new colors. I knew I needed to do something for my nails I had been neglecting. Ugh, I guess that leads me to reveal another bad habit (please tell me I am not alone people)-nail peeling and skin picking around my nails. Not to the point of my fingers being red and sore all the time, just enough to know that I didn't have nice nails and I figured I probably never would. I started with just applying Aquaphor to my nails and cuticles every morning and night. They started to heal and once again I stopped picking! Now I have Aquaphor on my nightstand, in my car, in my purse, and in my kitchen. I will never stop using it. I apply it to my lips and nails (and heels, elbows and baby bums)- All. The. Time. (Especially in the winter).

There are other things I did to take care of my nails as well, like wearing gloves when cleaning my house (4 kids=lots of cleaning), wearing nice thick gloves while working in the yard (one of my favorite things to do), never using my nails as tools, and keeping them painted to prevent nail peeling. All these things combined helped me so much!

While my nails aren't perfect, they are SO much better! They still tend to peel in thin layers at times, although not as much as they did. I have come to realize they always will, it's just in my genes, and that's okay, because I discovered that I can have nails that look nice if I just give them a little extra care and keep them painted. Best discovery ever! This might sound silly, but there is just something wonderful about having pretty colors on your nails. Am I right?!

So, if you are struggling with any of these habits or problems, give this product a try, and let me know how it goes. Even if you don't have any of these problems, I feel like my cuticles are so much softer and easier to push back.

*This post is not sponsored. I bought this product with my own money. All opinions are my own. :)

-Go Polished

My #12 favorite fall polish for 2015...

Essie-With The Band!

With The Band was part of the Essie Fall Collection Leggy Legend that was released this year. It is a red polish that leans a little orange. The formula is very thick and creamy. You just need to make sure you don't load your brush up too much with this one. What's great about the thick formula though is that it makes it a OCW (One Coat Wonder)!

 This swatch of With The Band is one thick coat! I usually like to do two coats anyway, but with this one, if I did it would be too thick!

Above are some Essie polishes in my collection that are similar to With The Band, but not at all dupes. Double Breasted Jacket and She's Pampered (my most favorite red ever) lean more pink. Fishnet Stockings is more of a deep true blue toned red. Since With The Band is more orange I love it for Fall!!

I have been wearing so much plaid this year! Seriously, I wear it almost every day. There are several plaid designs I will be trying over the next few months, but I knew I wanted to start with the Buffalo Check. Probably my favorite plaid pattern. It's not perfect, but I still love it!

Click on the link below for my full length tutorial, you can go polished too!

Nail Tutorial: Buffalo Check (Red and Black)

*If you try any of these nail designs, use #gopolishednails in Instagram so I can see your designs!

-Go Polished

My #11 favorite fall polish for 2015...

Zoya Payton!

Zoya describes Payton as a full-coverage, galactic cranberry with holographic glitter. Couldn't have said it better myself ;). If you aren't a fan of glitter and are ready to pass this up...don't. I am not a huge glitter fan, but there is something magical about these holo Zoya polishes. The moment you put them on your finger tips you will fall in love. Seriously though, you need to give these a try!

The swatch above is one thick coat. You really have to get a good thick coat though if you want to have it be opaque, or you can just do two thinner coats. Such a beautiful color for fall. What do you guys think? Do you love it!

I don't have any comparisons for this polish because, well...there isn't any polishes that compare. You just need this one. :)

You can buy Zoya polish on their website zoya.com for $9. Amazon and Ulta also have select colors available. 

I knew I wanted to do a fairly simple design with this polish just because it is such a stand out by itself. Doing a design with negative space seemed appropriate, and I decided a nice soft pink would work well with Payton's cranberry tone. The pink I used is Essie Romper Room. So pretty!!

Click on the link below for the full length tutorial!

Negative Space Nails (cranberry and light pink)

*If you recreate this design use #gopolishednails in Instagram so I can see your designs!

-Go Polished

My #10 Favorite Fall Polish for 2015...

China Glaze First Mate!

I have tried several navy polishes and I always seem to go back to this one. Some are too metallic and some are so dark they look black. When I am in the mood for navy I want a creamy one that looks navy in any light and one that has a slight dusty tone. This polish is all of those things. 

Not to mention it is a one coater! I always like to apply two though. The swatch above is just one coat. First Mate is a thick polish that applies so nicely and doesn't flood your cuticles. It's one of those colors that doesn't look all that exciting in the bottle but, when you swatch it you are like..."Dang, now that's a pretty color". Warning: if you wear this polish you will stare at your nails all day long. :) 

Essie Bobbing for Baubles is a pretty deep grayed out dusty blue which looks much darker when on the nails. OPI I Saw, You Saw, We Saw, Warsaw is not quite a true blue, is much darker and less creamy than First Mate. I love all of these polishes but, when I really just want a straight up navy polish I always grab First Mate.

I love this quatrefoil design! It truly looks like a stencil but, you might be surprised to find that I created this design using only dotting tools. It really is so simple! Anyone can do it with a little practice. (By the way, I always practice new designs on paper or a paper plate before attempting them on my finger nails).

Click on the link below for the full length, easy to follow tutorial. Please make sure to give me thumbs up and subscribe to my channel. It would really help a girl out. :)

Nail Tutorial: Quatrefoil Nail Design
*If you recreate this design by following my tutorial, please use #gopolishednails in Instagram so I can see your nails!


-Go Polished

My #9 Favorite Fall Polish for 2015...

OPI Purple Palazzo Pants!

Purple Palazzo Pants was released this fall in the OPI Venice Collection. It has just the right balance of pink and purple. In low light it appears more purple and in brighter light it can appear more pink. While it might not be your "traditional" color for this time of year, I personally think it is just dusky enough to make it perfect for Fall. 

The formula is fantastic and is opaque in two thick coats or three thin coats. Depending on how heavy handed you are. It applies so nice and even. This swatch above is three coats. Gorgeous!

I originally thought it would be almost an exact dupe for either OPI Lucky Lucky Lavender or Essie Warm & Toasty Turtleneck, but as you can tell from the photo above, it isn't. Compared to Essie Go Ginza, Purple Palazzo Pants is much darker and slightly more purple. This definitely makes my purchase justifiable for sure. ;). Haha.

 The moment I saw this polish I knew I wanted to pair it with a deep plum purple! I decided on doing some half moons of OPI We'll Always Have Paris the base of the nails. I really love this color combination. What do you think?

Click on the link below for a full length tutorial for this look on my YouTube channel!

Nail Tutorial: Purple Half Moon Manicure

-Go Polished

Skeleton and Crossbones Manicure

Skeleton and Crossbones Nail Design

My last nail design for Halloween 2015! This is the manicure I will wear on Halloween Day. I love any black and white design because it can make anything look classic! Even a creepy skeleton and crossbones:). Right?!

Here are the supplies you will need (with links to each product I used):

Base Coat - OPI Nail Envy
Black polish- OPI Black Onyx
White polish -OPI Alpine Snow
Top Coat -HK Girl Fast Dry Top Coat
Nail striping tape -What's Up Nails vinyl regular straight tape
Detail brush -What's Up Nails #2
Pure Acetone
Clean-up brush -Sonia Kashuk no 105


-Click the link below for an easy to follow tutorial!!

Skeleton and Crossbones Nail Design

*If you recreate my design please use #gopolishednails in Instagram so I can see your designs!

-Go Polished

Monster Mash Manicure Tutorial

Monster Mash Manicure

I really love the way this Monster Manicure turned out! And, it was so fun to do! I looked at several clip art monsters online for inspiration and drew out all the monsters so I would have a guide.  I also decided on the color for each monster and what monster I wanted on each nail.

Below are close-ups of each monster, and I couldn't help it, I had to name them and give them some personality! :)

A close up of Bob: a frightening spider monster who loves spending time searching the web.

A close-up of Blobby: a sweet spirited monster who is happiest when he's eating his ghoul scout cookies.

A close-up of Frank: You are right to be afraid of Frank. Frank's favorite foods are beans-human beans!

A close-up of Cyclo: an easy to talk to monster, although he might leave you feeling perplexed after your conversation. Was he winking at you or just blinking?...

A close-up of this green monster. You might be afraid of getting eaten by him, but believe me, he is more afraid of being eaten by YOU. His name is Boogie.

You can do a manicure with all the monsters together (like I did above), or you can choose your favorite accent monster and a coordinating color for your remaining nails. Like this...

Here are the supplies you will need for this design, with links to each one:

Base Coat-ORLY Bonder
White polish-OPI Alpine Snow
Black polish -OPI Black Onyx
Orange polish-OPI Where Did Suzi's Man-go?
Purple polish-OPI Do You Have This Color in Stockholm?
Red polish-OPI Big Apple Red
Green polish-OPI You Are So Outta Lime
Gray polish-China Glaze Intelligence, Integrity and Courage
Brushes-What's Up Nails Detail brushes #1 and #2
Dotting Tools
Pure Acetone
Clean-up brush-Sonia Kashuk no 105 smudge brush
Top coat-HK Girl Fast Dry Top Coat

Give these monsters a try! If you recreate this design please use #gopolishednails in Instagram so I can see your manicures! 

Here is the link to the tutorial:

Nail Tutorial: Monster Mash Manicure

-Go Polished