Sleep-savers: Lavender Essential Oils

image taken on Instagram. My username: messywands.

I had to wrestle with a lot of personal issues the past couple of days, and one of its side-effects was the inability to fall asleep. I'd toss and turn at night, unbidden images and thoughts invading my mind, when all I really wanted to do was to rest. I think it was after the third hour lying awake that I searched for my little vial of lavender essential oil and dabbed it on the sides of my forehead. I covered myself with my blanket and inhaled deeply, and before long - and thankfully - I awoke the next day.

I think the power of essential oils seem too good to be true until it's proven right. This other time, I had to do a sound recording at my internship but was so nervous that it showed in my voice. My editor passed me his vial of Hope Gillerman True Relaxation Stress Remedy to sniff, and instantly I felt calmer (seriously, my voice was ridiculously zen and perky after I inhaled). The one pictured above is from Young Living, which offers a variety of oils on its website. If you've ever felt frustrated and helpless about your inability to fall asleep, give it a try.

PS: Messy Wands is now officially messywands.com! If you're fond of the old blogspot URL, do not worry - it will automatically redirect you.

JINsoon Auspicious Nail Lacquer

After painting on the third coat of JINsoon Auspicious, I felt the kind of excitement – the kind that makes you want to jump out of your bed and whoop for joy like Charlie Bucket's grandfather – that's become increasingly rare with every new beauty product I acquire. At first glance, Auspicious is but a light milky gray, but stare at it a little longer and you start to see the lavender peek through, then you realize it's the perfect in-betweener. It's Addiction Concrete Jungle (one of my absolute favorite eye shadows) in polish form. 

The formula for this particular color is thinner compared to the other JINsoon creations I've tried (Rhapsody and Risque, which will appear on the blog in due time), but based on how the color looks by layer, I think that was intended. I applied the polish in thin strokes, thus required three coats to reach complete opacity. It was fast drying, and hasn't chipped after a rigorous round of dishwashing and dinner making. In my book, it's a complete win.

JINsoon Auspicious Nail Lacquer retails for $18 and is available at Sephora and Space NK, as well as JINsoon nail salons. If you're interested in purchasing, I consider it my duty to inform you that the Sephora Friends & Family Sale will commence in two days, so hold on to those pursestrings just a little longer!

Le Métier de Beauté Spring 2012: Solar Flare and Faraday Nail Lacquers

Fair warning: expect many nail posts this month. It's the least time consuming to photograph and well, I can read while I paint my nails! Here are two of the three Le Métier de Beauté spring nail polish offerings: Faraday, a breathtaking lavender nude (I'm considering getting a backup. Should I?), and Solar Flare, a hot pink. I did not procure Aurora because I considered it too similar to Bon Voyage, you can see them (as well as a whole slew of blue polishes) side by side in this post.

Le Métier de Beauté Faraday

Le Métier de Beauté Solar Flare

Both feature top-notch formula and easy breezy application (my nails look pretty good in these pictures, if I do say so myself). I am completely enamored by Faraday and (not so) secretly wish the company makes an eye shadow that hue. Please? Pretty Please?

Le Métier de Beauté Nail Lacquers in Solar Flare and Faraday retail for $18 each and are available at Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, and Nordstrom.

Quick Fix: Le Metier de Beaute Lavande Nail Lacquer

I've been wanting to show you this since a week ago, but I usually save my nail posts for days when I have to be brief. (I've been traveling for the past two days and I just got back from work so I'm beat.)

Le Metier de Beaute Lavande ($18) is Bergdorf's signature color. It's a beautiful pale lavender that takes only two coats to reach full opacity. Application is per the LMdB standard. 

I personally think Lavande is a must-have, but I do spend a significant amount of my time at their basement (beauty) level. Lavande is limited edition and will not be reproduced once it sells out. Last I heard there are only around 20 bottles left in stock, so don't wait too long.

I'm hoping to get myself nice and rested tonight so I can get the blog rolling on full speed again. Blogger hasn't been a good friend to me lately since it insists on desaturating all the pictures I'm uploading and I'm all how dare you desaturate a good red lip!! 

While I work on this, I'd love to know your favorite nail polish brands/hues! Can you believe I only have one true red polish?