Tag Archives: essie

Killer Color Combo

Posted on by
Reply

Ever the nail freak, I have become particularly obsessed with keeping them looking elegant and well manicured at all times now that I have a ring on my finger! But no busy girl on a bridal budget can get them done professionally every week, so I’ve been doing a lot of home maintenance these past couple of weeks.

Pretty cute, right? Polishes are $8 a bottle at essie.com.

While sorting through the always-growing polish collection, I came upon two hues that really work together. Funky enough for this glitter girl, but not too loud as to disrespect my engagement ring. A lady has to think about these things, right? So, Essie once again… “To Buy or not to Buy” — two coats, followed by a coat of “Shine of the Times.”

Wonder Woman Manicure

Posted on by
Reply

Not a super hero? Learn how to fake it.

I went into my local nail salon for a straight-up manicure and selected Essie’s “To Buy or Not to Buy.” For some reason I was expecting it to be a little more sparkly than it turned out. I was bummed. My manicurist totally got it — like me, she is a sucker for anything glitzy and over the top. We thought about applying a glittery topcoat to all of the nails, but she wanted to do something different and special.

She pulled from her arsenal an opaque slate glitter polish that I immediately deemed way too dark. She told me to shh and trust the expert. My goodness! When a beautiful Russian salon owner who loves glitter tells you to shh and trust her, you shut up and do it. Right?

The result was this ridiculously fly mani with one little diagonal swipe of girl power silver across each ring finger. I might be missing a certain sparkly something on this finger, but for the time being, a swipe of Wonder Woman-esque polish will do. What do you think?

Orange you glad you painted your nails?

Posted on by
Reply

I was watching the Today Show last week and was thrilled to see every blogger’s favorite blogger, Emily Schuman of Cupcakes & Cashmere, presenting her top five picks for summer. The loose denim shirt and paint-your-own costume brooches were fun and cute, but my favorite moment was the orange nail polish. And how much there is! And how exciting it is to think that there is a nail trend going on that you don’t have to be a millionaire or a beauty genius to work! I’m in.

Coral had its big moment last summer, but Schuman insists you can wear it in place of orange if you’re not quite ready to take the plunge. This product junkie is all about the orange crush angle though, and ready to explore the different varieties out there. If you check out her blog this week, you’ll see Lauren is sporting Essie’s “Fear or Desire,” an almost pearlescent creamsicle orange that will work on your skin tone, whether you think so or not.

Here are some of my other faves:

Image

Neon EVERYTHING is in right now. Why not work the orange nail trend and the neon thing at once? This polish is an excellent choice for a beach vacation or for toes that peek out of cute little sandals. American Apparel neon orange polish, $6, americanapparel.net

Bright just right. Dior Vernis keeps it classy in a bright coral-orange that will spark millions of compliments. $23, sephora.com

Image

Flashy and sassy but more pumpkin than tangerine, this opaque choice from Essie is ready for summer fun. $8, beauty.com

Terracotta: The New YES! Color

Posted on by
Reply

It’s natural that a beauty-obsessed girl is going to spend a fair amunt of time on the blogs and around the web sniffing out cosmetics trends and innovative products. And while there always seems to be a new idea out there to grab my fancy and make me want to write, it’s rare that I have an “a-ha!” makeup moment as profound as I did today while scoping the latest on HuffPo’s beauty site.

They have this fab section that features a new fresh face each post, walking readers through the cosmetics breakdown of every look. I like that the blog tends to feature natural beauties unfettered by crazy drama makeup, but rather facing the city as they do on an average day. Today I discovered a particular favorite that sparked a thought. This girl is wearing DIY blush made from natural terracotta she dug out of the earth on some eccentric trip. Good for her.

Okay, now let’s face facts. It’s clear I won’t be venturing outside of Manhattan to dig out my own blush from the bottom of a rock anytime soon. But suddenly it hit me. Terracotta! Of course! A burnt pinky orange that will flatter fair girls and dark girls and all the pretty colors in between. A color that will enhance cheekbones and brighten brown, blue, and green eyes. A color that would be delicious in a gloss swept across any girl’s pout. Duh. Terracotta!

So, how to make it work? Pick a spot and stick with it. Too much orange on the face is a definite no, so if you already have a great tan and you try to work this look into both your shadow and lipstick, you could be entering OompahLoompahVille (just North of Planet Snooki!). Instead, keep your makeup neautral throughout and compliment one feature at a time with terracotta accents.

EYES: Eyes are amplified with a shot of orange. No need to go seasonally neon on this particular trend wagon, instead you can keep things warm and sexy with a proper pot of terracotta shadow and a great brown liner. And while this look is especially sexy on blue eyes, it’s one of those equal opportunity stunners that will sex-up your brown, gray, green, or hazel eyes too. Yay!

Remember this ad campaign? Now, go make it happen for yourself. Guerlain still offers their sexy terracotta bronzer collection, but you should also consider their eye shadow in L'Instant Fauve. Beyond gorg.

LIPS: You may have noticed, I’ve been all about lipstick of late. You can go either way with this color–if you’re set on being a glossy girl, I recommend going for a pencil and gloss, and wearing your eyes in neutral browns or with just a slick of black liner to keep things balanced. But if you want to have just a little more fun, you can try the terracotta trend with a great, matte lipstick and then plenty of drama on the eyes. A smoky eye is balanced with a sexy, burnt-orange lip.

If you're gonna go for it, REALLY go for it. Physicians Formula Plumping lipstick in Sunkissed Potion, under $10, drugstore.com.

CHEEKS: Keep your face even-toned with a creamy foundation or just by using concealer on those trouble spots. Then, work in a powder blush with orange undertones, starting at the apples of the cheeks and spreading out with your fingertips. To keep from entering Clownville, tap your brush twice before applying. You can always add more, but it’s difficult to remove effectively once you’ve overblushed.

I like the pink base of this blush from Dr Hauschka, with just the right hint of terracotta undertone. Bonus: this one is designed to suck excess oil out of your skin, keeping unwanted greasiness and general afternoon ick-factor at bay. $30, beauty.com.

Nails: You might have to do some digging, but this deep burnt orange from Essie (a few seasons ago) is a great fit. Called Chubby Cheeks (random!), it’s a summer-happy hue with just enough darkness and depth to keep you grounded for the coming months. Here is a photo–now, if you find it online, you must email me at once and tell me where!

Surprisingly Sparkly

Posted on by
Reply

I’ve been noticing a fair amount of advertising for those new Essie “Luxeffects” glitter topcoats. And, since I happen to be in the business of decoding these ads into tips and tricks that work for real women, I had to buy the polish, right? The jury’s still out on whether I really needed to buy two different colors, but I justified the purchase by telling myself there was no point in paying shipping for an $8 purchase. The verdict? I don’t regret the decision.

My killer combo.

While all the options seemed really pretty, I wanted to pick a) the most different from everything else I’ve seen on the market recently, and b) the one I thought I would use the most. So, the two I selected were “Shine of the Times,” a pearlescent pastel-white that runs the gamut from silver to pastel pink, yellow, and beyond; and “As Gold as it Gets,” a rockstar-worthy gilt-free gold. They arrived in the mail and I struggled for about 20 minutes trying to decide which one to try first. In the end, I went with the one I thought would get the most attention, Shine of the Times. It worked.

Shine of the Times

What I love about this topcoat over other glittery nail products I’ve tried is that it isn’t chunky. Instead, the glitter is like a hologram that floats in and out of view but is inherently part of the liquid itself. Thus, when the polish dries, it is in an even shine instead of a rough chunky mess. The next day at work, strangers and colleagues could NOT get enough of my nails. I must have had to walk at least ten people through the products I used under badgering. And a good dozen more simply remarked, “Love your nails!”

Bonus: I painted mine several days ago, and I still don’t have a single chip. This glitter really works as a Teflon-strong topcoat; I didn’t put anything over it!

As Gold as it Gets

I tried Essie’s “Sweet Talker,” a pale powder blue under my Luxeffects. This unique combination of pastels is super pretty and attention-grabbing. Next up? I plan to try a cherry red covered in As Gold as it Gets, like the ad shows. May as well put their tried-and-true combo to the test, no? Happy glittering, girls!

You can purchase the Essie Luxeffects line of products on ulta.com, $8 a bottle.

Drugstore Digging

Posted on by
1

Duane Reade is having a major cosmetics sale right now. Or, at least, the Duane Reade on 46th and 2nd is. Here’s the thing; drugstore cosmetics are always affordable, but when they slice ‘em down to 50% off, it’s seriously time to roll up the sleeves of your winter coat and figure out which new shades of lipstick you need to try. In any case, the sale got me thinking about drugstore beauty. It’s a sad fact that the La Mer and Bulgari creams, the Kiehl’s masques and the Dior mascaras cannot be harbored in bulk anymore. They are specialty splurges I treat myself to once or *maybe* twice a year, and the majority of what I’m refilling the cabinets with is unfortunately quite cheap.

Think you can't be this on-trend with cheap makeup? Think again.

But is it really all that unfortunate? When you look around at all the beautiful women in this city, the mind starts to ponder. Sure, most of us have a really special lipgloss in our treasure chest, or swear by a certain serum that, at $100 (or more) a bottle, cannot be outdone. But for the most part, aren’t many of us existing almost exclusively on affordable products? In other words, I think I’ll be just fine… for now.

*All products below can be purchased at drugstore.com; all photos courtesy of drugstore.com.

Best Remedy for Chapped Lips:

Whether you prefer the classic beeswax or honey flavor, this 100% natural balm will heal your pout in days. And at $2.99, it's a total steal.

 Best At-Home Manicure:

This LED-activated OTC gel polish will last for weeks and every single one has a fun name like "Thank You Thank You" or "Paparazzied." Red Carpet Manicure polish, $9.99.

Best Name-Brand Hair Product Line:

Sally Hershberger is as famous as she is for a reason. Her product line is just as genius as she is. I like this wavy hair shampoo and conditioner; it keeps my waves fluffy and loose, without the frizz factor. $9.99.

Best Expensive-Looking Lip Product:

Maybelline ColorSensational Lipstick is rich, reflective, and long-lasting. I love the pinks and reds, of course! $7.49.

Hands-Down Best Mascara (Even when compared with Dior!):

I've always been faithful to Volum' Express--the Falsies version is like that, only better. $6.59.

Best Cheap-o Makeup Tool:

This eye shadow brush works like a charm, and is only $1.49! Unbelievable.

And, as for that sexy photo above… all it takes is this:

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Covet, $18, beauty.com.

L’Oreal Voluminous False Fiber lashes kit, $12.76, drugstore.com.

Yes to Carrots C Me Shine lip gloss in Nude, $6.49, drugstore.com.

Essie nail polish in Trophy Wife, $8, essie.com.

Yes!!

Lavender Dreams

Posted on by
Reply

Her lavender skirt is a vintage find. I love how she roughs it up with messy, bleached hair and a bright red bag. Tres chic. Photo borrowed from lookbook.nu

I’m a pink girl and always have been, but recently my eye has been drifting toward all things purple and pretty. Though fall is upon us and it’s time to button up, and often darken up, there’s no shame in using this bold pastel in your styling from head to toe. Here are some fab uses for lavender.

Sweep the floor.

A floral chiffon skirt packs major punch and will look great with a gray wool sweater, tights and boots. Americanapparel.com, $58

Top it off.

The fun pattern keeps this classic cut youthful and cool. Anthropologie.com, $88

Wrap and go.

Things are coming up roses with this delicious scarf. Oldnavy.com, ON SALE for $10

Sparkle.

A beautiful amethyst necklace will brighten up your woollies. Bloomingdales.com, ON SALE for $312.50

Paint.

I've always been crazy for Liliacism, and am thrilled that it's still available. Essie.com, $8

Easy tip: a fresh, fun manicure

Posted on by
Reply

Monday will henceforth belong to “easy tips,” cool little ideas and how-to’s in the fashion or beauty departments. This week, we plan your best at-home manicure to date.

My constantly-growing collection of nail lacquers found a home in the bathroom vanity

I am a total nail polish junkie and my vast collection spans the entire color spectrum–and price range, for that matter. Every girl loves to treat herself to a manicure, but these days I find great satisfaction and doing it at home. Prepping and painting your own nails is not only cheap, it’s easy. You only need a few solid tools and the rest is up to your creativity! I have a six-way nail buffer I picked up at Duane Reade for about $3. Follow the instructions on your buffer, file nails to a short, square shape, and always remember base and top coats.

This week, I jumped on the trend train, painting eight of my nails a punchy reddish coral and my two middle finger nails a pale, shimmering peach. In addition to looking funky and seasonal, this tactic tricks the eye so nails appear to be professionally done. I did this home-manicure six days ago and it’s still hanging on. Have fun combining different colors for a fun change of pace.