Archive for April, 2009
Get The Look – Fergie’s Striped Nails at the Wolverine Screening
 At last night’s screening of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, one of our fave nail trendsetters, Ms Fergie Ferg, rocked the red carpet sporting some flashy nail art. You all should know by now that I’m not really a nail art kind of girl but the occasional polka dot or stripe can be fun.
To accent her black and metallic dress, Fergie donned a silver and black striped nail that looks like a futuristic easter egg. She wore this same design for her birthday bash in Miami a few weeks back which is why I suspect that she’s actually wearing Minx, not polish. But fear not nail art lovers. You don’t have to plunk down a pile of cash to have a pro give you this look, you can recreate it at home on the cheap. I show you the tools and technique after the jump! Edited to add: Celebrity Manicurist Kimmie Kyees just confirmed that she did apply Minx on Fergie for the screening. |
Tools: China Glaze INK with Nail Art Brush and Sally Hansen Shooting Star Technique: 1. Apply two to three coats of Shooting Star and let dry. 2. Lightly swipe the INK nail art brush against the bottle to remove excess polish but leave a very small blob on the brush. 3. Place the tip of the brush at the side of your nail and gently roll the nail to create the swoosh. The brush will drag the blob across the nail, getting thinner as you reach the other side. 4. Repeat to create the number of stripes you prefer. 5. Let the design dry completely before applying top coat. Application tip: I rest my arm on a hard surface and hold the brush steady while rolling the nail to create a fluid, smooth line. Shaky hands + moving brush = uneven lines. Or if you prefer the straight lines, try Sally Hansen’s Nail Art Pens. The tip is like a small felt tipped pen and because the formula is water based, you can wipe off any mistakes without having to start over. So are we feeling this look? Would you try it at home? How do we feel about nail art? Share with the class.
Instead of recreating the look dead-on, I chose to do an inspired design with swoosh-like stripes.
You can use any foil-like silver polish if you can’t find Shooting Star. Finger Paints Easel Come, Easel Go! is a great substitute. China Glaze INK with Nail Art Brush ($2.60-$2.99) can be purchased online from Head2ToeBeauty.com or TransDesign.com.
BIG SALE at Rescue Beauty Lounge
Get out your wallets because Rescue Beauty Lounge is having a 75% OFF SALE on their bath & body products. No, I did not stutter, from now through May 10th, enter code “mom” at checkout to receive 75% off any of Ji’s luxurious body care treats.
This is quite the deal kids. Too good to pass up. In fact, I just placed an order for some of her yummy Citrus Vert goodies. The scent is so fresh and fruity, perfect for summer. If you’re looking to make a great spa themed basket as a gift for Mother’s Day, this is your opportunity to spoil mom at a fraction of the cost. What are you waiting for? Get shopping!
NOTD – Milani Totally Cool
 Purple lovers, you better strap yourself down for this one because it’s a BEAUT! Drugstore gem Milani released a new perm shade that the lovely Steph from Steph’s Closet sent my way and it’s beyond. Beyond gorgeous, beyond stunning, beyond beyond. I say “beyond” too much, don’t I?
It’s been a while since I’ve picked up any new Milani polishes. Not because I don’t like the brand but because I rarely run across their seasonal displays. I had all their “me” perm shades before I started ALU so they haven’t gotten much blog love but Totally Cool is changing that. Check it out after the jump! |
I don’t blame you if you completely miss my review and just drool over the pictures. I’ll let it slide this time. The color is insane, no? It’s this burpley jelly-like confection with duo-chrome shimmer floating throughout. When I say duo-chrome shimmer, I mean that it looks bronze or magenta depending on the angles. And it dries totally flat, glossy and smooth. I seriously can’t stop staring at my nails. Now it did apply semi-sheer so I needed three coats but I don’t give a hoot. Do you?
Milani Nail Lacquer can be found at CVS, Walgreens, Target, Winn Dixie and Drugstore.com. I have the best luck at CVS because they usually have larger displays than my Walgreens. And be sure to check your Sunday sale ads because Milani tends to go on sale every other week or so. Usually BOGO 1/2 Off.
Thanks again Steph! I LURVE it!
Misa Living On The Fast Lane
 I’m falling in love againAint nothing I can do Falling in love again Girl this time its with you - Eagle Eye Cherry Dear Misa, I’ve officially fallen head over heels back in love with you! I was all “in like” after the Poisoned Passion collection but now we’re talking full on love. You see, when Misa intro’d their new formula with the Love Connections collection back in Spring ’07, I was less than thrilled. A brand that I was such a fan of, broke my heart with thick, hard to apply polish. Gone were the amazing colors and lovely chemical filled formula. Seriously, the formula was such a PITA it hurt my feelings! But now it’s all changed for the better. The Living On The Fast Lane collection has gone and flipped the script on me. Misa has given me (yes, I’m pretending that they made it just for me even though I know that’s not true) two fabulous blues, an on-trend muted blue-green and one sassy orange. Oh and there’s a berry and red to boot. Check out the loveliness after the jump! |
At some point in the past year, Misa has changed their formula yet again. It’s still massively pigmented but the toluene has been removed. And even though the polish is still thick I’ve found a way to work with it and make each shade look perfect.
Application tip: To avoid a lumpy, bumpy surface I’ve found it’s best to apply the 2nd coat right on top of the first, before it has a chance to dry. I’m telling you, it’s genius. There’s no evening out issues, no pulling at the cuticles and the color is completely opaque. Works like a charm, every time.
Dirty Sexy Money is a stunning dusty blue-green. The name really couldn’t be any more fitting. It’s a gorg, gritty, grayed out green. Though the name makes me a wee bit sad as I’m reminded of the frothy ABC series by the same name that was canceled this year. I love me some Peter Krause and I was beyond PO’d when ABC brought down the axe.
On The Edge oh how I love thee. Let me count the ways… 1. you’re blue (already makes it a winner in my book). 2. you look blue in sunlight, shade, natural light (you get the picture). 3. your application is flawless (trick or no trick). 4. you’re glossy and creamy and PERFECT. I could go on and on. Seriously, will I ever get sick of blues? I hope not.
Stop Rewinding, Just Fast Forward is a slightly muted cherry red. Like a car that’s been sitting in the sun too long, in need of a good wash and wax.
Push Upon It joins the other berry lacquers that are hitting the scene this season. Much like its long lost twin, OPI Miami Beet, Push Upon It is a deep, rich creme.
If it were up to me, Speed of Life would be renamed “Speed of ALU” because this is SO the type of orange I’m feeling for this summer. In contrast to last year’s more popular neon look, this version has a creamsicle softness with a hint of melon peachiness. Such a wearable hue.
Right Here Now, No More Later is like sky blue on crack. It’s so so vivid. If I could look up and see this shade every day, I’d cut a skylight in my office. This one’s definitely a keeper.
The Misa Living In The Fast Lane collection is avaialable NOW online at MisaCosmetics.com, Head2ToeBeauty.com and TransDesign.com.
What do we think kids? How do you feel about Misa’s formula? Share with the group!
“What’s On Your Nails?” with Fiorella Valdesolo
 What’s On Your Nails? is a series focusing on my fellow beauty bloggers and industry insiders, their favorite nail polish and other hot nail topics.
You may remember my little freak out over being in the April edition of Glamour Magazine. The article’s writer, Fiorella Valdesolo is a freelancer that contributes to Glamour, their website and other publications like the New York Post. And as the Beauty Director for NYLON Magazine she even wrote a book, Pretty: The NYLON Book of Beauty. After reading many of her nail related posts on the Glamour beauty blog, I just had to ask about her polish tastes. So read on to learn more about Fiorella and check out what NARS polish tops her list of faves. |
Lisa N.
Ms Meatballhead
Birdie
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