Archive for December, 2008
Don’t Forget To Vote in the Fanatic Favorites 2008 Survey
Have you voted in the Fanatic Favorites 2008 Survey yet? What are you waiting for people? There are only a few days left to make sure your faves from 2008 win.
Remember, if you enter your contact info at the end of the survey, you are registered to win one of three prize packages. You could win…
- CND Creative Scentsations Winterberry Lotion and Scrub
- Zoya’s Color Lock System and three bottles of Zoya nail color. Colors will be chosen during a personal color consultation with yours truly.
- Yes To Carrots package – Yes To Cucumbers Face Mask, Body Butter, Leave In Conditioner and Color Care Conditioner. Yes To Tomatoes, Facial Wash, Hand Cream, Shower Gel and Shampoo.
- China Glaze package (to be announced)
The survey closes on New Year’s Eve at midnight EST with winners announced on January 2nd so ENTER NOW!
NOTD – Duri Night Before Christmas
Last Saturday we hosted an Un-Xmas Party, a party to celebrate with our friends without the pressure of decorations, gifts or any type of forced holiday cheer. We just wanted to have a good time with our favorite people. It was a blast of course and like any time my girlfriends come over, we eventually ended up in the polish room looking through my latest finds.
While digging through boxes one of the girls discovered a hidden gem that I had passed off at first glance, Duri Night Before Christmas. As you can see in the pic below it looks extremely glitter packed so I wrote it off as a Lippmann Superstar clone. Boy was I wrong. My friend asked to try on the color and with just one coat, it was glowing under the incandescent light. Right then and there, she proceeded to give herself a full mani and it looked stunning. For a girl that doesn’t like dark nail colors, she was mesmerized by Night Before Christmas so it seemed extremely apropos for my Christmas Eve NOTD.
Night Before Christmas has a berry base that becomes crimson with two coats. The shade is peppered with gold, bronze and red glitter that leaves a slight texture on the nails but it’s nothing that a coat of Seche Vite can’t fix. I showed it without top coat and as you can see, it doesn’t dry matte or rough like a lot of glitters tend to do.
Duri nail polishes retail for $5 and can be purchased directly through the Duri website. Right now they are offering a holiday promotion. Purchase their Holiday Special ($30) that includes Rejuvacote, Herbatherapy and Brush’n Go and you’ll receive 3 Free Polishes. The deal automatically comes with their most popular shades but you can request alternate colors in the comments section upon checkout.
Merry Christmas Eve everyone! What’s on your tips today?
Chanel Spring 2009 Preview
Some of you may have already found Chanel’s Spring collection at your local counter but for those of you that haven’t been as fortunate, here’s a preview of what’s to come.
For Spring 2009, Chanel’s Global Creative Makeup Director, Peter Phillips, has created a “boho-chic” look. The collection includes two new nail lacquers including Django (beige pink), which was seen on the runways of Paris last September.
While delving through the house archives, Peter Philips, Global Creative Makeup Director for CHANEL, rediscovered gypsy dresses by Gabrielle Chanel. “The Gypsy is a heroine with very distinctive beauty codes,†explains Peter Philips. “After looking through the sketches by Mademoiselle Chanel, I also wanted to play with all of these contrasts. The gypsy’s eyes are as dark as her lips are fiery. She has the passion of travel in her veins, that of celebration, dance, and especially that of darkness and mystery.â€
I was wondering when we’d finally see a purple nail from Chanel and Vendetta (dark violet) is the answer to that question.
Now I don’t know about you but I’m a sucker for packaging so when I saw the LÈVRES SIGNÉES CHANEL Satin Lip Colour, I just about died. Who wouldn’t want to pull that from their purse and just stare?
It’s CHANEL lip colour as you’ve never seen it. Five lush satin lip creme shades, from pale pink to deep plum, form the legendary double C signature in a black lacquered case. Complete with a rich velvet pouch and brush applicator, the compact is the epitome of glamour.
The Chanel Spring 2009 is scheduled to hit counters in January ’09 but it’s already been popping up on counters around the country. Chanel LE VERNIS Nail Colour retails for $23 and the LÈVRES SIGNÉES CHANEL Satin Lip Colour retails for $60.
Sally Hansen Gift Sets for the Holidays
When you’re out in the shopping frenzy this weekend, if you’re looking for great stocking stuffers, look no further than Sally Hansen. As usual, they’ve put together a variety of gift sets that meet the needs of every budget conscious nail diva.
I don’t know about you but I always get sucked in by the gift sets at the drugstores and discounts stores during the holidays. There’s something about cute prepackaged sets that draw me in. But so many of the nail and makeup sets in the budget price point are by no-name brands. And who wants to give “Joe’s Nail Care Set” to their BFF? You want to give quality products that you know will work long after the holidays have passed. For that reason alone, Sally Hansen is where I put my money.
Tools
Sally Hansen La Cross Salon Manicure Set ($9.95) – Housed in a zipper carry bag, the kit includes a Cuticle Nipper, Toenail Clip, White Buffing Block, Three-Way Buffer, and 6†Cuticle Sticks.
Sally Hansen LaCross Salon Pedicure Kit ($9.95)
Nail Nipper, Toenail Clipper, Pumice Stone, Callus Remover Rasp, 7†Black Cushion Board, and Toe Spacers, all in one Zipper Carry Bag.
Sally Hansen LaCross Stocking Treats Implement Set ($2.95)
These sets come in a festive stocking, available in three different shapes and colors. Each set includes the following essential LaCross implements: Cuticle Scissors, Slant Tip Tweezers, Nail Clipper and a Sapphire File.
Mini Polish Sets
Salon Mini Manicure Kit ($9.95)
The Salon mini sets both come include four Salon shades, a bottle of clear polish and french manicure guide stickers. You can select the Deep Collection filled with dark, trendy shades or the Holiday Collection with classic metallics, a red and white.
Mini Gift Sets ($4.99)
Each set contain five mini bottles of either Diamond Strength, Xtreme Wear or Lacquer Shine Nail Color
The Sally Hansen Mini Polish Sets can be found at Walgreens, Rite Aid and CVS and the Sally Hansen La Cross Nail Tools can be found at Rite Aid and Duane Reed.
Happy Shopping!
Deborah Lippmann on Martha Stewart
So I was getting my morning Martha Stewart fix and I was so excited to see Deborah Lippmann as a guest, discussing holiday nail trends and winter manicure maintenance. I’ll admit, I wasn’t the biggest Martha fan but I started listening to her daughter’s talk show on Sirius radio and seeing her through Alexis’ eyes intrigued me. Realizing that she’s not always perfect, just a real person with flaws like the rest of us (except with a ton more money), made me a Martha fan. Knowing that she’s also Deborah Lippmann fan makes me like her even more.
Deborah was wearing fall favorite Pump Up The Jam on her tips, which were appropriately short, while she gave her best tips for keeping up your manicure during the cold winter months. It’s nothing we haven’t heard before but certainly something a LOT of women fail to do.
Use a base coat – Why people skip this step, I have no idea. The oils on your nail will destroy your mani right quick!
Use a top coat – I know a lot of polishes dry shiny but think of it like waxing a car, you’re sealing and protecting the color while giving it shine.
Hydrate your cuticles – What’s the point of having an amazing paint job if the frame (your cuticles) are tore up? Put a mini cuticle oil/balm/cream in every purse you own. Your skin will thank you.
Wear gloves when cleaning – All the chemicals in cleansers are damaging, protect your skin and nails so you don’t end up with leathery hands by the age of 40.
In regards to color trends Deborah talked about dark nails like the color she was wearing, Pump Up The Jam, a dark berry shimmer. She also gave a great tip for punching up your holiday manicure. Those of you who have read my post, Frankenpolish and The Art of Layering are already familiar with layering but I really loved her idea of popping a wash of red over a sparkly silver to give your tips a jelly, candy apple red look.
Of course, I had to try the look for myself. I picked out a couple reds, including Holiday from Deborah’s holiday collection, to test. I layered them all over Fingerpaints Easel Come, Easel Go!, a foil like silver shimmer.
As you can see in the lower “After” image, having silver underneath really upped the glitz factor. With the creme I chose, Rescue Beauty Lounge Chinoise, the effect was subtle with little hints of glitter peeking out like stars. I think because RBL’s cremes are so pigmented (think one coat red), a more sheer creme would give more bling.
Did anyone else catch Deborah’s Martha segment today? What are your favorite holiday layering combos?
Lisa N.
Ms Meatballhead
Birdie
Spa pediccure chairs
