What is Big 3 Free and My NP Haul

This is turning out to be a nail blog! 

However, I am sticking to my theme of minerals or no harmful chemicals as much as possible hence my purchases of Big 3 Free polishes.

What was that again?  

As you may have noticed in previous posts I keep mentioning Big 3 free polishes.  What does that mean?  Big 3 Free means polishes free of the 3 toxic chemicals: Formaldehyde, Toluene and DBP or Dibutyl Phthalate.  

To break it down:

DBP (Dibutyl Phthalate) - is commonly used as a plasticizer.  This chemical is banned in the European Union and is restricted for use in children's toys.  Possible health issues with the use of DBP: suspected teratogen (may cause birth defects), carcinogen (can cause cancer), diabetes, obesity, suspected endocrine disruptor. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dibutyl_phthalate

NOTD: OPI Jade is the New Black with CG Snow Globe

My NOTD on my footsies is made up of 2 polishes: 

OPI's Jade is the New Black topped with China Glaze's Snow Globe (from their Glitter collection of 50 specialty shades).

NOTD: Barielle Make-It-A-Latte

My NOTD this week is Barielle's Make-It-A-Latte.  It is described as a "chocolate cream with golden highlights".

All taken with flash, applied with basecoat, 2 coats polish and Poshe Fastdry topcoat.

Awards!

Thank you to Laarni of the jagged barn for these awards:

I really appreciate it! And now the rules:

Skin Food Fresh Fruit Lip & Cheek

Hi all! 

Belated Happy Father's Day to all Dad's out there.  Since school started, it's been pretty busy here what with my DD's new schedule in big school.  We all sleep earlier than usual (9pm !!!) and wake up earlier too (6 am !!!).

Anyways, here's a long overdue review.  It's Skin Food's Fresh Fruit Lip & Cheek in Pomegranate.  I have no idea how much this is locally but based on their other products it's probably 2-3x more than what it is in Korea.  I got this from a Korean pre-buy months ago for less than Php500.

Nubar Prize!!!

Painted Lady Fingers is having a contest sponsored by Nubar.  The prizes are shown in the photo:

I am sooo entering coz Nubar is on my lemming list.  For more about the contest head on over to Painted Lady Fingers' Blog HERE.

NOTD: Orly Glam Rock

NOTD: Orly Glam Rock from the Metal Chic Collection

This is 2 coats with basecoat and topcoat coz I put this on yesterday and needed a topcoat to make it last a few days.  I used OPI Nail Envy Matte as the topcoat.

no flash

NOTD: Orly Solid Gold (Metal Chic Collection)

Orly Solid Gold from the Metal Chic Collection

All with basecoat and no topcoat.  This was 2 coats.  The polish dried fast like all matte polishes but you can still work with this because it didn't dry super fast, if you know what I mean.

with flash

Orly Metal Chic Collection

Yesterday I got my own set of Orly's Metal Chic Collection.   This collection gives a matte finish with a metallic look.  Like all matte polishes, a basecoat may be used but not a topcoat to keep the matte finish.

L-R: Iron Butterfly, Solid Gold, Glam Rock

Also, Orly is Big 3 Free (no DBP, Toluene and Formaldehyde) and I am slowly converting all my polishes and treatments to B3F.  Actually 3/4 of my polish stash are B3F (Essie, Orly, OPI, China Glaze, Misa, E.L.F. and Zoya).  Sadly, TFS and Elianto polishes and top/base coats turn my nails yellow so I am now steering clear of them since they're not B3F (and I plan to have another baby soon).

Orly's Metal Chic Collection will be available in the Philippines by the end of June for Php 350 per bottle (Pls. correct me if I'm wrong about the price).

*I purchased this set with my own money (but at a discounted price, ha, ha!).

Etude House Sleeping Pack

About time for a review on the Etude House Sleeping Pack.  I got the Pore Tightening variant in the green tube.  There are other variants available (Pink- Moist & Firm, Lilac- Bright & Soft) for Php 428 per tube.

NOTD's: Essie and OPI

Been busy as usual.  Was out of town for 2 consecutive weekends with enrollment of my DD in between and preparing for start of classes this week.  Now that summer is over I hope I'll be able to post more.

Here are a couple of NOTD's since these are easier to post.  I haven't or barely used any of the new cosmetics I got since the start of the year except for nail polishes so I can't post reviews on them.

This is Essie's Boca Ratanned. I wore this to the beach in San Fabian, Pangasinan a week ago.  Unfortunately this is a discontinued color but I was able to find a brand new bottle of it thru a friend a couple of years ago.  No application difficulties with this one.  This is 3 coats.