True Life : I'm Addicted to Lip Balm

When a normal person thinks about lip balm, they probably think that you just need one tube of chapstick, and when you run out you will buy another one. Right? Wrong.

Me, being totally not normal, think that I instead need a million different kinds, and always have 3-4 on me to choose from. I promise it all makes sense in my mind, but I have a serious obsession with chapstick/lip balm/lip treatments of any kind. Today I'm going to talk about the ones that I love and which ones are worth the splurge. These are in no particular order, I instead sorted them by purpose (because there is many purposes to chapstick, right?) Right.


Day to Day Chapstick:

For day to day, I don't like anything too heavy. Heavier lip balms (which we will dive into later) can often look like you have a lot of medication on your lips, and it isn't a good look.

1. Sugar Advanced Therapy by Fresh
My number one favorite, this baby. It is such an amazing lip balm. It is so luxurious, and worth every penny. I haven't gone through a whole tube yet but will repurchase when I do. It is a little more on the medicated side of lip balm, instead of just being fruity and smell good. This is really great in the winter, and when applied consistently can really help my dry lips. It has a really nice lemon-lime type smell, and it is my absolute favorite!!

2. Nivea Olive Oil & Lemon
If I had to recommend a single lip balm that you could pick up from a drugstore, this would be it! Nivea makes really great lip balms, that feel really nice, but are super affordable. This is a very practical day to day lip balm since it is so cheap, but still delivers really great moisture. I love every flavor they have in this line, the Milk and Honey one is really great!

3. Baby Lips Dr. Rescue by Maybelline
This is really similar to the one above. Great quality, for a cheap price. It is more of a "treatment" lip balm, so again it is really great in the winter. I don't like the normal Maybelline Baby Lips line, but the Dr. Rescue line is actually pretty great!

4. Noya lip balm in Cherry
I got this lip balm in an Ipsy bag along time ago, and I love it so much. It is the smoothest lip balm ever, and smells sooooo good of cherry. It is an all natural brand, and I believe you can only order from their website. Obviously I don't need any more lip balm, but I wouldn't be disappointed if I received another one from Noya in a future Ipsy bag.

Overnight Treatments:

If you really want to take good care of your lips, it is important to apply lip balm before you go to sleep at night. A regular lip balm will do great things for your lips, but one targeted for overnight treatment is what is really going to make a difference in the dryness and hydration of your lips.

1. Agave Lip Mask by Bite Beauty
My favorite in this category. I actually have an entire review of this lip balm (my first blog post ever), so you can read that here. But I will sum it up by saying, it is worth every penny, and really helps my lips stay moisturized through the night even though I sleep with a fan on, and I breathe through my mouth, which are two things guaranteed to dry your lips out.

2. Yes to Coconuts Hydrate and Restore Lip Oil
This is more of an oil, than a "mask" like the one above. It is a really great affordable option, that can still help you keep that moisture overnight. This is under $10 in the drugstore, smells great, and really feels good on the lips. Every once in a while I will switch it up and use this one, and I'm surprised at the similarities it has to the mask above. My lips are pretty hydrated in the morning, not as much as with the Agave Mask, but it is also a third of the price.

3. Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm in Natural Mint
They have a few different flavors in this, they are yummy. Available at Ulta, and fairly affordable, this is a great option for anyone wanting to purchase their first medicated lip balm. It is also a skincare line targeted for men, so it is a great one to get your man to use to keep his lips nice and soft too!

4. Philosophy Kiss Me Tonight
This was my first overnight lip balm I purchased. It actually is almost gone, but I kept the container because I knew I was doing this post soon. It is another spendy one, but I can say that it is worth the money. It smells good, feels good, and is still working when you wake up in the morning. I truly believe you get what you pay for, and when you are looking for something to hydrate your lips for 8+ hours, it's worth the splurge.

Potted Lip Balms:

Some lip balms come in the form of a pot, which requires you to use your finger to dig out the product. Some people don't like this form of lip balm, but I love it. I usually apply one of these right when I wake up as I'm getting ready. They are usually heavier than a day to day chapstick, but not as heavy as an overnight balm.

1. Christian Dior Creme De Rose
I just got a few weeks ago, so I feel a little hypocritical including this here, but I can already tell that I love it. It smells like roses, which is so luxurious, and it feels amazing on my lips. I've applied it every morning since I've got it, and I really love it. It is definitely a luxury product, and I can't quite say if it is worth the money yet since I just received it, but it has AMAZING reviews so I'm looking forward to using it more.

2. C.O. Bigelow Rose Salve
This is actually a multi purpose salve, that can be used for dry skin anywhere. On your knees, elbows, cuticles, or face. I love it as a lip balm, and a cuticle balm. It is really cheap, and great that it is multipurpose! It is a great comparison to the Dior one above. Obviously not as great quality, it is a sixth of the price, but it is still great and I'd recommend it! I got mine at Sephora, it is around $5.

3. Elf Conditioning Lip Balm
I love this, it smells amazing and feels amazing. As you can tell, I have higher end lip balms, so this $3 lip balm doesn't really stand a chance. As far as recommending it to somebody though, it is really great! I will admit I barely reach for it, because I have so many options, but it is so great for the price point. I believe they have different colors too, mine is a nude color.

4. The Body Shop Lip Butters in Mango and Coconut
If you ever want a product that smells TRULY like it is called, then you should make your way to your nearest Body Shop. Their products are so true to smell, they are too fun not to use. This mango lip butter smells so strong of mangoes, and they are equally amazing quality.


Lip Scrubs:

I think it is important to know that if you are suffering from dry cracked lips, lip balm can only do so much. You really need to scrub off the dead skin and dry skin, and then start being consistent with moisturizing. Picture a wall with pieces of old wallpaper on it, you wouldn't paint over that and expect the pieces of wallpaper to disappear would you? Same with your lips, you need to scrub your lips so you can proceed with moisturizing healthy lips. I have only tried a few, but I'm sure there are many amazing ones out there. It doesn't need to be fancy, it just needs to be rough enough to scrub your lips and convenient enough that you'll actually use it.

1. Philosophy Peppermint Stick Lip Scrub
This is my favorite lip scrub. I find that I use it the most because it smells good, and works good. I love making a DIY lip scrub (you will see down below), but sometimes you just don't have the time and need something quick.

2. DIY Vanilla Brown Sugar Scrub
I love this scrub, it is amazing. Like I said above though, sometimes you just don't have the time to make a lip scrub. This one is extremely easy, I have an entire blog post about it, you can check it out here if you want to know how to make it!



Well there you have it, my favorite lip treating products! Obviously I'm a little obsessed with soft lips, but I feel like everyone should! If you want to take some steps to healthier lips, you don't have to splurge on these products. Here is an easy routine to get your lips back to healthy.

1. SCRUB - This is essential. You can DIY one (linked above) with products already in your pantry. Or simply use a toothbrush with some warm water and sugar. It doesn't take a luxury scrub, your lips just need scrubbed.

2. MOISTURIZE - that is it. You need to moisturize before your lips go dry. It is just like drinking water, if you feel thirsty, you have gone too long without water. If your lips get dry, you've gone too long without balm. Find one that you like and is convenient for you, and apply it. That is all there is to it :)


As always, thanks for reading
xoxo, jaimie

Perfectly Posh Review!

Recently I had the opportunity to review some products from Perfectly Posh. Perfectly Post is an independent sales company, similar to a Mary Kay or Avon for better reference. They are all naturally based. All of their products are free of sulfates, parabens, lanolin, and phthalates. Their products are also made in the U.S.A and are cruelty free! 

products below were sent to Glitter with Grace in exchange for an honest review. As always, anything written on my blog is 100% my personal opinion, regardless of whether the products were sent to me or not. 

Since this is an independent sales company, you buy the products through a rep. It is okay if you don't personally know a Perfectly Posh rep, because I know a great one! Her name is Crystal, and she so generously provided me with the below products to sample. You can check out her page here, and find out what other products Perfectly Posh has to offer! 

1. Mint for Each Other Body Scrub

This is a body scrub made with chunky sea salt, peppermint, and rosemary. It exfoliates skin to remove dead skin cells, dry layers, and reveal tighter, nourished skin. First off, it smells amazing. It smells like straight up peppermint, which is so refreshing. When I sampled this product, I just happened to have really bad allergies, and the peppermint in my shower was so refreshing for my sinuses! It is a strong smell, but I loved it. The chunky sea salt, is truly chunky. It was almost a little too chunky for my liking, but overall I loved this sample. This retails for $24. 

2. Lil Snarky Big Fat Yummy Hand Cream

Okay, their names are just amazing aren't they? This was a really great hand cream. It is really moisturizing but not greasy at all. The fragrance is "exotic flowers and sandalwood" but it just smells really fresh to me. I really liked this, it is one of their best sellers on their site. It retails for $9 and it is the perfect size to throw in your purse. 

3. Gender Bender Big Chunk Bath Bar

This is a charcoal loaded detox bath bar that cleans and moisturizes skin with luxurious lather without sulfates or other drying agents. This was such a unique product. First off, it retails for $9, so not terrible, but still kind of spendy for a bar of soap. Oh but wait, this is a little more than just a bar of soap. My skin felt super moisturized after using this, and didn't feel tight like I normally feel after using a bar of soap (I'm a body wash type of girl). I did really like this, but not more than my normal body wash. If you are a true "bar soap" user, then you might really like this, and I'd recommend trying it!!

4. Dragon Mojo Skindelicious Body Butter

When I read that the fragrance of this was Wasabi and Ginger, I was a little put off. But, I actually love it! It is so fruity but not too sweet, ugh I seriously love this smell! It is a really nice body butter, not too thick, but thicker than your normal lotion. I am probably going to purchase the full size of this from Crystal, I think it would be a great one to use right after the shower!

Well there you have it, my review on the four products that the lovely Crystal sent me! I was really impressed with their products overall. Here are some final points about Perfectly Posh products.

1. I love supporting independent sales companies. As a small business owner, I have a strong appreciation to women who sell products on their own, just a personal opinion but I love supporting these companies.

2. I love that they are all natural! Their products don't have any chemicals in them which should be important for everyone. I know it is close to impossible to eliminate every chemical that you use but being able to find great products that don't have them is great!

3. The pricing, is back and forth. Some of their products seem like a really great value, coming it at under $12 for a body product. Some of the products, like the chunky scrub above, go upwards to $24. The products that are a little more expensive are their best sellers, and also I believe a higher quality product. I think this is a great thing though because anyone can find something they like from Perfectly Posh that fits their price range.

4. The brand is so cute. Great smells, fun names, and cute packaging. I recommend checking out Crystals website, because it is just such a cute brand. I am looking forward to placing an order soon and supporting Perfectly Posh.

As always, thanks for reading

xoxo, Jaimie

Ulta Holiday Beauty Sets 2014

My favorite part of the holiday season, is when all of my favorite brands release their holiday value sets. It is a great way to sample a few products, and some others, for the price of one product.

If you've never bought a value set before, they are usually deluxe size samples, or mini sized products. All brands will vary with the value included, and whether there are full size products included, but that is all the fun of finding a good steal around the holidays!

Ulta usually has the best value sets, I just went through the entire website and was a little overwhelmed when I saw how many tabs I had open with amazing values!! These are in no order, and  are all clickable links in the title.

1. BareMinerals Lip Spectacular - $26
Here you get to try out six colors of the Marvelous Moxie lip glosses for a little over the price of one! They are 0.07 ounces each, and a full size gloss (which I've tried and loved), is .15 oz. So this is Practically three full size glosses, a $54 value!

2. Lorac The Royal Lip Lustre Creme Collection - $25

This is a $90 value, with six FULL SIZE lip glosses! Now I've never tried these glosses, so I can't speak much to the quality of them, but it is definitely worth looking up reviews if these are colors you can see yourself wearing. Their lip glosses aren't cheap, but this value set puts them at $5 each, which is cheaper than drugstore lip gloss!

3. Benefit Cosmetics Cheeky Sweet Spot - $36

You get six of Benefits most popular blushes in this holiday box set! The only down side is that they are inside this box, so every time you want to use one you have to bust this big box out. But when they are only $6 each, it is kind of worth it! It has a perfect 5 star review on Ulta, so this looks like a great steal!

4. Stila Be Jeweled 2 - $33

This is a unique value kit. First off, it comes with Stila's famous "Kitten" eyeshadow. This eyeshadow has been a best seller for years, and goes for $18 on its own. Then it comes with three full size lip glosses from Stila. I've never tried these glosses, but they don't look amazing to me. On top of that, you get an adorable bracelet from Bauble Bar (love that site) and a $10 gift card to Bauble Bar. This might make for a really fun gift!

5. Tarte Away Oui Go Portable Collectors Set - $48

This value set is on the spendy side, but it really packs a great value! For starters, you get 18 full size Tarte Eyeshadows. On top of that, you get 4 full size blushes (they are amazing quality), the rest of the products are considered "Deluxe Size", and this is a $410 value!!! Also, it comes with a magnetic compact, that you can pop the eyeshadows and blushes into for traveling or your purse, I love it!

6. Tarte Sweet Dreams Best Sellers Collection - $19

Another great Tarte set, they are amazing around the holidays! This one includes three deluxe size products. Their best selling eye cream, cheek stain, and maracuja oil! I have had over three huge bottles of their Maracuja Oil, I love it! This is a great way to try a few of their products, for a very reasonable price!

Well there you have it, my top picks! There are SO many more amazing value kits online at Ulta, and I know Sephora will release some soon also. Like I said above, they are a great way to try out new products without spending too much! 

As always, thanks for reading

xoxo, Jaimie

Crack Dip : Glitter with Grace Cooks #1

You know how everyone has that recipe? The one that everyone always asks "What is in this?!, Will you make this for our potluck next week?!, Can I have this recipe?!"  Well, this is that recipe for me.

This is a chip dip, that is so addicting, it is named "Crack Dip". I have made this so many times, and the bowl is cleared every time. There is 4 ingredients, and there is 4 steps. It is a great dip that you can bring to any event that is affordable and quick to make! If you would like to see the recipe with no pictures, scroll to the very bottom.

Ingredients:

16oz Sour Cream
1 Packet (3 Tbsp) Dry Ranch Seasoning
1 Cup Cheddar Cheese
3oz Bacon


Step One:

Empty your sour cream into your mixing bowl. It is totally possible to mix this in the same bowl that you will serve it in, but I mix in a separate bowl so that my serving bowl is nice and clean.

Step Two:

Mix in your ranch seasoning. If you buy it by the packet, then empty one packet into your sour cream. We buy it in the jar, so it is equal to 3 tablespoons. Fold this into your sour cream until it is all mixed together.

Step Three:

Mix in your cheese. The recipe calls for one cup, I usually put a little more than that. In my recipe, I want every bite to have bacon and cheese in it, so I think 1 1/2 cups of cheese is a better call. For good measure, add one cup at a time and you can visually decide how much more to add. 

Step Four:

BACON. Yep, throw it all in. You can put in your choice of bacon bits, or real bacon. The main compliment I get on this dip is how good the bacon is in it. I buy "Real Bacon Pieces" from the store and they are delicious. I think traditional bacon bits would be a little too hard and "fake" in this recipe, so if you can find these bacon pieces, then definitely use those!!

Mix that all together, and you are done!! I then move it into the bowl that I will be serving it in, and flatten it all out and then toss it in the refrigerator. It needs to be refrigerated for 4-6 hours, but the longer that it is refrigerated the better it is! I try to let mine sit at least 12 hours, or overnight at least.

There you have it, the easiest dip recipe, that you will be constantly begged to bring to every event! It is so addicting, and simple. I haven't had anybody who has tried this and not liked it, it is simple, and delicious. I serve mine with Fritos Scoops which it is the best with, but I've served it before with Ritz crackers, or tortilla chips.

If you recreate this receipe, PLEASE take a picture and let me know how it worked out! Hashtag #glitterwithgracecooks on instagram, twitter, or facebook so I can see!

FULL RECIPE:

Ingredients :
16oz Sour Cream
1 Packet (3 tablespoons) Dry Ranch Seasoning
1-2 Cups Cheese (your preference)
3oz Bacon

1. Put sour cream in large mixing bowl
2. Add in your ranch seasoning, and fold it into the sour cream until it is all mixed together.
3. Add in your cheese, one cup at a time so you can see how much you prefer in your dip.
4. Add in your bacon and mix.
5. Transfer it into your serving bowl, and refrigerate for 4-6 hours at least. (12 hours recommended)

As always, thanks for reading
xoxo, Jaimie

Birchbox vs. Ipsy - September 2014

One of my more popular posts is every month when I compare Birchbox vs. Ipsy. Septembers post is coming pretty late, but it's here now! Unfortunately, I wasn't extremely thrilled by either box, and I think that might be what kept postponing me writing this blog post. So keep your eyes peeled, because Octobers post will be up soon since this one is going up late.

If you haven't heard of these before, they are both monthly subscription services that deliver a bundle of products to you monthly. The products range from sample size, to full size, and the value of the bag/box always varies. Each service is $10 a month, and here I am to compare which one I enjoyed more this month.

Up first, Birchbox. I've said before in previous posts, Birchbox is the original subscription box. They do tend to send smaller samples, but they are a very successful company with great consistency, and a wonderful reward system online. You can check out more about Birchbox here. 

1. Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream
Full Size Value : $16.00 for 1.25oz
Sample Size : 1 oz
Verdict : I tried this the other night and it wasn't bad. It  is a pretty thick moisturizer, so I will only be using it at night. It is a great sample size that I can get quite a few uses out of. I won't be purchasing the full size just because I have other moisturizers that I love.

2. Suki Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser
Full Size Value : $32.95 for 4oz
Sample Size : 0.2oz
Verdict : I haven't tried this yet, but I'm super excited to try it. The fact that it is a foaming exfoliator is really intriguing to me, and it smells great. It is a pretty small sample, I'm assuming I can only use this once or twice, but I'm excited to try it. It is pretty expensive so I'm hoping it is a good quality exfoliator.

3. Ruffian Nail Lacquer in the color Naked
Full Size Value : $10.00
Sample Size : FULL SIZE
Verdict : I have received this nail polish in Birchbox before and really enjoyed the formula. This is a good color, and I'm generally happy about receiving this in my box. The value of the nail polish pays for the box this month, so I'm excited about that. This also came with a nail polish remover wipe, which I  used before taking the pictures for this post. I DIDN'T like the wipe at all, it was greasy and smelled really bad.

4. Noir Cosmetics Long-Wear Eyeliner
Full Size Value : $15.00
Sample Size : FULL SIZE
Verdict : Extremely happy about receiving this in my box this month. I honestly don't know the last time I purchased a black eyeliner, because right when I get around to needing one, I receive one in a subscription box! I am not picky with pencil eyeliner at all, so I'm happy to have received a full size liner in my box this month.

5. Dr. Brandt Pores No More Vacuum Cleaner 
Full Size Value : $45 for 1oz
Sample Size : ?? .. small ;)
Verdict : The sample doesn't have a size on it, but it is a smaller sample for sure. I am looking forward to trying this, simply because the name sounds so disgusting but so awesome. Dr. Brandt is a really well known skin care brand so I'm looking forward to trying this and expecting it to be nice quality.

Up next, Ipsy. Ipsy comes in a makeup bag every month, as you can see up in the photo above. Ipsy tends to have smaller brands, but bigger samples. I usually like Ipsy more than Birchbox, but you never know!! Also, the brands that you get in Ipsy often give a coupon code that you can use at their site for the month, which is a really great bonus.

1. Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair Deep Conditioning Mask
Full Size Value : $26 for 5.25oz
Sample Size : 1oz
Verdict : I haven't used this yet, but will be soon. It doesn't have much of a smell to it, but it is very thick which is common for deep conditioning masks. It has pretty good reviews on Sephora so I'm looking forward to trying it. I still swear by the Loreal Total Repair 5 deep conditioning mask that I know I would never purchase this, but excited to try it!

2. Hikari Lipstick in Cabarnet
Full Size Value : $13
Sample Size : FULL SIZE
Verdict : I love this lipstick! It is such a pretty red for fall, and it looks great with my skin tone! The main reason I love Ipsy is that they actually put full size makeup in their bags and it makes it completely worth it. Very happy to see a great lipstick in my bag!

3. Pacifica Natural Eye Pencil in Fringe
Full Size Value : $11
Sample Size : FULL SIZE
Verdict : Like I said earlier for my birchbox, I love getting eyeliners in my subscriptions! I use eyeliner daily, and for some reason I don't like purchasing them so receiving them in my bag is really nice! I love brown eyeliner, and Pacifica is a great brand that you get at Target!

4. LeeAni Eco 3 in 1 Revolution
Full Size Value : $18 for 2oz
Sample Size : This sample doesn't have a size on it, but it is enough to use a handful of times.
Verdict : This is an individual company, that I have never heard of. Their website looks like they have some pretty innovative skincare. This product claims to be a toner, serum, and moisturizer in one. I'm really looking forward to using this and seeing what it is all about.

5. Crown Brush C476 Brush
Full Size Value : $17.50
Sample Size : FULL SIZE
Verdict : I love this brush!! I've used it almost every day since getting my bag. Crown Brush is a really great brand for brushes, and I loved seeing a brush in my bag this month. Makeup brushes are something that I would always be happy to get, since you can never have too many. It was a great value, and I'm super happy to have received it!!


Final Verdict

This month, Ipsy won. I wasn't overly excited about either box, but the lipstick and the makeup brush were enough for Ipsy to win this month.

Interested in seeing previous months?
- May
- June
- July
- August


As always, thanks for reading!
xoxo, Jaimie

Top 10 Darker Nail Polishes for Fall and Winter

I have always preferred darker nail polish, so when fall rolls around I get extra excited to be able to wear dark nails and feel appropriate. I made the official switch today from bright nails to dark nails, and I thought it would be the perfect time to round up my top 10 fall/winter nail polish shades. What are your favorite fall/winter shades? Let me know down below!

I swatched each color on my nail, because they look so different on the actual nail. If you click on the title of each polish, it will take you to the website where you can get a better view of the color, price, and where to purchase.

Okay, onto the first five.

1. "Bobbing for Baubles" by Essie
This color is a very pretty blue/gray color. The brand describes it as "the deepest, darkest sapphire blue" This color is picking up a little bit of green, but it is definitely more blue, like the first picture when they are shown in the bottles. This is a very nice formula, completely opaque in just one coat, but even better with two coats. Essie is my favorite formula, so obviously I'm a little bias here. This is a great color for everyday wear, it isn't too dark, but still fall appropriate. This is also very "office appropriate"

2. "Odette" by Zoya
This is a great mauve-purple color for fall. It isn't too bright, but still a way to incorporate a lighter color into the darker months. It is appropriate for all ages, my mom tends to borrow this one sometimes as she doesn't like to have anything too bright on her nails. This is also a very opaque shade, all you need is one coat. Zoya is a great brand, toxic and paraben free, I've loved all the shades I've tried from Zoya!

3. "Rodeo Drive Royalty" by NCLA
You have to have a good red nail polish when you're approaching the winter months with all of the holidays. This color is such a true red, but it can also turn a little darker if you choose to apply more coats. I like this formula, but not as much as Essie, so I'm definitely adding a "true red" to my shopping list from Essie. NCLA polishes are $16 a bottle, and Essie is $8 so I would definitely recommend a red from Essie such as "Really Red" or "Lacquered Up"/

4. "Because You're Worth It" by L'Oreal
First off, the name of this polish was enough to make me add it to my collection, but the polish is equally as amazing. It is a great formula, and such a gorgeous gold shimmer polish. It isn't too shimmery, you could definitely wear this on all 10 nails and not look like you're headed to your first middle school dance. It is a very "classy" shimmer polish, and definitely great for all of those holiday parties that come up in the winter!

5. "Neve" by Zoya
Another Zoya polish, they are so great! This is such a gorgeous blue color that has a touch of shimmer in it. It isn't too dark when it is on the nail so it is perfect for work or everyday wear. Like I said above, I love Zoya's formula, the polish stays for a long time and you truly only need one coat, I always do two for maximum wear, but their formula is truly so great.

Okay, onto the next five.

6. "For The Twill of It" by Essie
This color is probably the most unique color I have in my collection, and unfortunately in this photo, it doesn't do it justice at all. Lucky for you all, I've done an entire blog post about this color and showing photos from all different angles because this polish looks different at every angle, and under different lights. It is such an amazing polish, so you can check it out here!

7. "Power Clutch" by Essie
This is in my top ten polishes ever, which might not sound that great, but I have A LOT of nail polish, so thats a tough group to fall into. This is just a gray polish. Nothing more, nothing less. It has no shimmer, no shine, and no special finish. It is a plain, gray polish, and that is why I love it! It is such a consistent, go-to polish for me. It is the closest to black polish that I can wear without wearing black polish. I absolutely love it, and of course, love the formula. #EssieLover  ps: online, Essie says it is a gray/green, but the bottle I have has always been straight up gray.

8. Essie
So, funny story, I picked out my favorite polishes, took all the pictures, and then started writing. When I picked up this polish to write down the name, the name sticker isn't on the bottle. I don't know the name of this polish, which sucks, but I'm going to talk about it anyways because it is already in the pictures! It is a gorgeous red color, with swirls of silver shimmer (you can really see them in the pictures of the bottles). I love this color as it is a darker burgundy red! Sorry for the name fluke, I even looked it up on Essie's site and can't find one that this might be, they have SO many.

9. "Bluecoat" by Butter London
Holy cow, another one that is in my top 10 all time. This is the most gorgeous blue polish, as you can see in the photo. It is so creamy, shimmery, and opaque. It reflects so beautifully in the light, and wears really well. Butter London is another one of my favorite brands, they are a more expensive nail polish brand, but the polish holds up really nice, especially paired with their top coat which I love!

10. "Under Your Spell" by Wet and Wild
This is such an affordable nail polish, I believe they are $1.99 at any drugstore. They are such a great formula!! I recommend this formula to anybody who wants to try a new nail polish shade without spending a lot. It is a great formula for the price, and even if it was a more expensive polish, I would still feel the same about it! This color is so great for those winter months. Some days it looks a little more red, some days it hits more into the wine/purple color, and it always has a really pretty metallic reflection. I love this vampy nail color for fall!


Well there you have it, those are my ten favorite darker polishes for fall and winter. What are yours? Or do you like to still wear bright polish through the winter months? Let me know down below!

As always, thanks for reading
xoxo, Jaimie