Bésame Cosmetics

The Top THREE–Cosmetics Companies

I’m known for extending my “Top Five” lists to include six items, but today I’m taking a look at the rare “Top Five” list that only has three items, because while I have a lot of brands in my vanity table, there are just three cosmetics companies that I absolutely love!

  • Bésame Cosmetics–This vintage-inspired brand offers products that are designed based on actual cosmetics products/colors from the 1920s through the early 1970s. They have also created collections inspired by influential women from that time period including Lucille Ball, and most recently, Ella Fitzgerald. I especially love their refillable powder compacts, and the different formulas of powders they offer, including setting, finishing, and illuminating varieties.
  • Colourpop Cosmetics–If I want fandom-based cosmetics, from Animal Crossing to Disney to Sailor Moon, this is where I turn. Aside from the cool theming, I love how pigmented and shimmery their eyeshadows are (especially the Super Shock Shadows), and I really love their lip lacquers…I just wish they’d make more of them!
  • Holo Taco–These are the prettiest nail polishes I’ve ever seen! The colors are vibrant, and there is so much shimmer in the holographic formula that it absolutely sparkles in the light. It also wears exceedingly well…I can go for much longer without chipping a nail with Holo Taco than I can with any other brand, and after over a full year of “Mani Mondays,” I’ve had a lot of experience!

Where are your favorite places to buy cosmetics?

Mani Monday–A Year’s Worth of Designs

I have now shared a total of 52 “Mani Mondays”…a whole year’s worth! It has taken me more than one calendar year to complete this project, partly because I didn’t realize when I started that I was going to turn it into something this big and my nail painting was kind of sporadic, and partly because I just can’t always find time to do my nails every single week. I really love how it is a snapshot of a year in our family’s life…you can see the holidays we celebrated (Christmas, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter), the change of seasons (winter, summer, fall), special events we looked forward to (the Coronation, Combo Breaker), family heritage (flags), special family interests (Disney, Ahsoka), and even school spirit (college and high school colors).

First, here’s a look at my very favorite manicure I’ve done so far…I love the color blending and the added sparkle of the glitter!

And then all of the rest, in the order they were published. Sally Hansen Miracle Gel and Holo Taco were by far my two most-used brands, but there are some others mixed in there, too.

I’m by no means done with “Mani Mondays”…I’ve really enjoyed being creative in the colors I used and the techniques I’ve learned, and I already have some ideas for future designs I’m looking forward to attempting!

Mani Monday

Today’s mani is inspired by the beautiful colors of autumn. Starting with the thumb, I used Holo Taco “Holo Cappuccino,” Bésame Cosmetics “Holiday Red,” Holo Taco “Box Office Bomb,” “Need I Say Mocha?,” and “Espresso Your Holo.” I think it’s the perfect combination of shades for fall!

Mani Monday

Just in time for Oktoberfest season, the last of my manis inspired by the flags of my heritage…the German flag! I used Sally Hansen Miracle Gel “Stilettos and Studs,” Bésame Cosmetics “Holiday Red,” and Sally Hansen Miracle Gel “Sunbrella” for the colors representing the stripes of the flag, and Sally Hansen Miracle Gel “Hi Ho Silver” to bookend the look.

Mani Monday

The second mani in my heritage series is inspired by the Hungarian flag. I used Bésame Cosmetics in “Holiday Red,” Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in “Get Mod” and Holo Taco in “Wicked Potion” for the iconic stripes of the flag, and Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in “Game of Chromes” for the thumb and pinkie. And what better way to showcase this look than a bottle of Tony Packo’s Hungarian Paprika!

Mani Monday

Today is the first of a series of three very special Mani Mondays featuring looks that represent the flags of my heritage. I’m beginning with the one closet to me, the red and white flag of Austria, the birthplace of my grandfather. I alternated Bésame Cosmetics “Holiday Red” with Sally Hansen Miracle Gel “Get Mod” to create the stripes, and of course I couldn’t leave out the edelweiss!

Mani Monday

Today’s Mani Monday is inspired by Bunny’s new college, which begins classes today. I did a single nail of Sally Hansen Miracle Gel “Stilettos & Studs,” and alternated Bésame Cosmetics “Holiday Red” with Sally Hansen Miracle Gel “Get Mod” on the rest.

Mani Monday

This week’s manicure is inspired by the blazing colors of summer, with Bésame Cosmetics “Holiday Red,” plus Sally Hansen Miracle Gel “Eternally Grapefruit” and “Sunbrella” with a shimmering, golden Unicorn top coat.

Mani Monday

Coronation Day is almost here! In honor of the event, I planned a very special mani inspired by the cross of St. George and saltires of St. Patrick and St. Andrew that make up the Flag of the United Kingdom. This one gave me a lot of trouble, because I can’t make a skinny, straight line with a nail polish brush to save my life, but as uneven as it looks, this is actually the better of my two attempts (I had to completely remove the polish from the first try because it looked so terrible)! It’s the thought that counts, though, and I think it’s a fun way to celebrate an historic event. It features Bésame Cosmetics “Holiday Red,” Sally Hansen Miracle Gel “Get Mod,” and Holo Taco “Twice in a Blue Moon.”

Sartorial Saturday–Make it Blue Make it Pink

Today I’m taking a look at a most unexpected lipstick!

You might not think blue is my color, at least not as far as lipstick goes, but that’s the beauty of this particular shade from Bésame Cosmetics…their beautiful “Magic Pink!” It’s inspired by the famous dress scene from Sleeping Beauty, and the color changes as you put it on to create a signature shade of pink!

It really is just the shade of pink I imagined when I thought of the perfect shade for me!

I love cosmetics that are not only beautiful, but also fun!