First Impressions: Jamberry Nail Wraps

 Sample.

 

Welcome to Samantha by the Sea! I recently tried out some Jamberry Nail Wraps and I wanted to share my thoughts with you!

 

I received the wraps in the "June Host Exclusive" pattern, a nail file, a nail prep wipe, and moisturizing hand creme. I loved the pattern of the wraps, as I felt that the purple and red really complemented each other. 

 Application Steps:

1. Prep your nails by pushing back your cuticles and wiping them with the nail prep wipe.

2. Match your nails to the wraps, so you can find the best fitting wrap for each nail.

3. Cut the nail wrap in half and remove it from the clear sheet with an orange stick (or similar tool).

4. Warm the adhesive on the non-patterned side. I used a blow dryer for 3-5 seconds on medium heat.

5. Apply wrap to nail and smooth the wrap down.

6. File off the excess using a downward motion. 

7. Apply heat to the wrap and smooth it out to make sure it is secure.

In total the application for both of my hands took around 30 to 40 minutes. I did not apply top coat, as it was not on the instruction sheet.

 I experienced some creasing in the nail wrap toward the end of my nail that I was not able to smooth down. I also noticed that the wraps did not fit my nails as well as I would have hoped. If I use these wraps in the future, I will make sure to cut some of the excess off of the sides. I would also recommend applying top coat, especially on the tips, because I was able to feel the wraps catching on my sheets.

If I needed a quick manicure that I didn't have to worry about smudging, I would use these again. 

If you are looking for a Jamberry consultant or are interesting in trying Jamberry, check out the lovely lady who sent these to me to try, Kelly! You can find her website by going to JamWithKelly.com. You can also find her on Instagram @JamWithKelly!

What do you think? Have you given Jamberry a try? I would love to hear your thoughts below!

Alba Botanica Hawaiian Detox Sheet Mask

 I bought this.

Welcome back to Samantha by the Sea! Today I wanted to share with you my thoughts on the Alba Botanica Hawaiian Detox Sheet Mask with anti-pollution volcanic clay.

Price: $2.50 USD

Claims: The goal of this mask is to mirco-extract pollutants from the skin and to dissolve debris. The end result should be fresh, bright, and renewed skin.

Fit: This black colored sheet mask did not fit on my face well. I had to stay extremely still during the fifteen minutes that I wore this mask because if I did not, it would move and start to touch my eyes.

Essence: The mask had a milky essence. It saturated the entirety of the mask and there was little to no essence left in the pouch.

Smell: The smell of this mask was horrible. Based on the smell alone I would not repurchase this mask.

Results: After fifteen minutes of wear I could not handle the smell anymore and the mask started to burn my face, so I removed it. Instead of letting the rest of the essence seep into my skin I washed it off using cold water, as I had to get rid of the burning sensation. Once the burning sensation stopped, my skin felt soft and firmed. 

I was excited to try this mask, but the smell, combined with the fit and burning sensation I experienced, are why I am not recommending this sheet mask. After looking at some of the reviews on Amazon (it received a 1.4/5), I know that I am not alone in this decision. There are plenty of other similarly priced sheet masks out there that are way better quality.

If you have any recommendations for good skin detoxing sheet masks, let me know below!

Pastel Dry Brushed Nail Art

Welcome to Samantha by the Sea! Today I would like to share another nail art look with you! 

I used the dry brush technique for this look! If you haven't heard this technique before, it is when you wipe almost all of the polish off of the brush before applying it to the nail. As always, I started off with my Revlon Colorstay Gel-Smooth Base Coat. For the base color, I used Dream by PS Cosmeceutical in Southern Sand. I used Zoya Lillian, Neely, Kirtridge, and Cole for the dry brush technique. I sealed everything in with Sally Hansen Insta-Dry Top Coat.

Overall, I'm loving this - so much so that I'm already planning out my next dry brush look!

What do you think? I'd love to know in the comments below!