Luxury

Bi-Weekly WTF :: Vol 14 – Azature Diamond Nail Polish

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Diamond Nail Polish from Azature

 

If you’re new here, my hobbies include talking smack on unnecessarily expensive nail polish. I get (perhaps irrationally) angry when I see ludicrously expensive I came across another one yesterday, and to my surprise it was not yet another offering from repeat offender Louboutin!

Instead, this diamond nail polish from Azature more than takes the metaphorical and, hell, for that price, literal cake.

So Damn Foolish

Clocking in at a whopping $230,000, Azature’s Black Diamond polish was made as a single batch limited edition – and the formula was made with 267 carats of black diamond.

Why?

Aside from the, “I have so much money that I may as well shred it,” demographic…I don’t get it! Why even make diamond nail polish? It doesn’t enhance the color or hardness/strength-enhancing properties of the formula. It is nothing but brag fodder – but it isn’t impressive to drop a house’s worth of money on a damn bottle of nail polish.

Shockingly, there are no reviews to speak of.

The Bottom Line

There’s nothing this can do to be worth it. Not even my usual uncouth jokes that I refrain from on here would make it worth it! I realize that products like this aren’t targeted at us plebeians but it just seems ridiculous and ostentatious to do in the first place.

Don’t wish to take out a mortgage on nail polish – hey, me too! If the novelty of diamond in the polish excites you, they have less-ambitious formulas at $25 (pictured).

What ridiculous stuff have you seen this week?

Worth it? Clarisonic Smart Profile

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Clarisonic Smart Profile

Several years ago, I purchased my first Clarisonic (a Mia 2). After an entire year of use, I wrote a comprehensive review. Following that, I created a bunch of other Clarisonic–related content. As time went on, my Mia 2 suffered normal wear and tear. I noticed that it’s battery was waning. It still charges, it still operates, but the longevity of a charge isn’t as robust as it once was. I suspected that it might be on its last legs soon, and I had resigned myself to replacing it. The Clarisonic Smart Profile Uplift had just come out and I scoffed at its ridiculous $350 pricetag. I had decided a long time ago that I’d go with a Mia next; the dual-speed feature of the Mia 2 wasn’t worth the extra money to me (I never use the slower speed).

Then, I was in Costco one day late last Autumn and they had a Clarisonic Smart Profile clearanced for $150 (insane!). The Smart Profile replaces the Aria line of years’ past and is compatible with the body brush heads. Considering the regular price of the Mia has increased to $129 in the last year or two, I was sold on the Clarisonic Smart Profile.

I’ve had it for about three months now and I’m ready to open up on its features, flaws, and other fun stuff.

Clarisonic Smart Profile Features

To be clear, this is not the Clarisonic Smart Profile Uplift. The original Clarisonic Smart Profile seems to have been discontinued, but the Clarisonic Smart Profile Uplift retails for the same price point and includes some different skin tools.

Multiple Modes & Notifications

The Smart Profile features four facial speeds, a body mode, and a turbo option for an extra, quick burst of cleansing power. If you’re using the Smart Profile brush heads, the device can tell identify them (vs all the classic heads) and supposedly adjusts the cleansing mode(s) accordingly.

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July 2017 Favorites

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July 2017 Favorites
1. Small Nalgene Containers, varies / 2. Cinema Secrets Brush Cleaner 32oz, $36 / 3. Tanwise Facial Sunless Tanner, $7 / 4. S’Well Milky Way, varies

I had a hell of a time with my image editing software this month and simply couldn’t create a cutesy, pin-worthy (ha, right) graphic this month. My July 2017 Favorites have images in line with the text itself.

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Costco Beauty Finds – May 2017

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I’ve been a Costco member for a few years now and have shared some beauty finds in the past. Costco Beauty is a veritable treasure trove of desirable products at even-more-desirable prices. Arguably, if you have a makeup/skincare/haircare habit, the savings on some of these finds alone more than pays for the membership if you were planning to buy them anyway.

Here are some neat things I came across recently. I haven’t purchased most of these items, but either want to at some point or think they’re probably interesting enough to some people to share.

Costco Beauty Finds - May 2017 - Amope Pedi Perfect Wet & DryAmope Pedi Perfect Wet & Dry

The standard Amope Pedi Perfect is the recipient of several consumer awards as well as overwhelmingly positive reviews. Between 4.5 and 5 stars virtually everywhere, the Pedi Perfect typically retails for $30-36 for the device itself with only one head. Costco regularly carries the Wet & Dry variety, which is waterproof and therefore safe to use in the shower, for $40; the Wet & Dry variety typically goes for $50+ elsewhere. Costco’s package includes FIVE replacement rollers heads, which retail for $20 for a pack of two, plus a storage bag. Bonus: You DON’T have to be a member to order this from Costco.com, but there is a non-member surcharge of a couple dollars. This is the best value I’ve found via Costco Beauty to date.

Costco Beauty Finds - May 2017 - Murad Rapid Age Spot and Pigment Lightening SerumMurad Rapid Age Spot and Pigment Lightening Serum

This popular Murad serum goes for $65 at Sephora and Ulta in the same quantity. Even with a 20% off Platinum Perk or the November VIB sale, it drops to $52…so the $43 price tag Costco has it for is a steal. People have luck fading acne scars, sun spots, and age spots with this.

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PMD Personal Microderm

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PMD Personal MicrodermPMD Personal Microderm, $159

I’ve been questing to achieve skin that doesn’t piss me off for a while now. Around the holidays, I ordered a PMD Personal Microderm system from Nordstrom to try. My concerns:

  • General exfoliation/cellular turnover
  • Sebaceous filaments
  • Skincare product absorption
  • General preventative aging stuff

PMD Personal Microderm describes their device as…

…a revolutionary at-home skincare tool that provides the same brilliant results as professional … treatments. PMD Personal Microderm combines Patented(1) Spinning Disc technology(2) with Perfectly Calibrated(3) Vacuum Suction to brighten, smooth, and even skin tone and texture. Personal Microderm reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, blemishes, and enlarged pores. This exfoliation process removes the dead, dull skin cell barrier, increases blood flow, and boosts the body’s natural production of collagen and elastin.

Having a Patent isn’t as Big of Deal as it Sounds

First things first: I hate when marketing departments throw the word, “patented,” in front of something. It’s a buzz-word. It isn’t more impressive simply because it was patented. Not to be crass here, but toilet tissue was patented, too.

Patented

Just add, “Technology!”

Second, more marketing criticism – “Spinning disc technology.” You know what else uses spinning disc technology?

frisbee

Perfection is Ambitious

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It Costs How Much? The Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer

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Dyson SupersonicDyson Supersonic Hair Dryer, $399

I believe in investing in quality products that will last. Not just trivial beauty products, but anything; if I buy a coat, I don’t want to have to replace it in at least five years. My time is worth a lot to me; I don’t relish having to spend my time to replace things when I could spend a bit more and have it last. Then, net-of-the-net is that I’ve spent less time AND money on that particular purchase.

In short, I’m comfortable with higher up-front investments (within reason, of course – price does not equal quality). Some believe the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer is just that.

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