No secret I have a soft spot for all things NARS. But one little gem from the holiday collection has stolen my heart. This eye shadow, in my book, is the universally beautiful base and highlighting shadow. Texture and formula have me reaching for it every single day. And as a beauty blogger with an arsenal of makeup, that’s saying a ton.
Read more “NARS Guy Bourdin Holiday Collection LE Cinematic Eye Shadow in Mississippi Mermaid”
So here is that exciting news I’ve been dying to share with you! I have teamed up with Suave® and Q-tips® for the ManiCure Pinterest Sweepstakes which just launched this week. Over the next four weeks, I will be sharing six nail art designs created by myself. This week’s inspiration is Fashion; perfect as we are in the throes of fashion month and I just returned from NYFW. Not only will I be sharing how to get these nail art looks, but I will also be sharing tips on keeping skin hydrated and nails looking clean and healthy.
So, a little detail about the ManiCure Pinterest Sweepstakes– make sure to head over to the Suave Beauty Pinterest page and pin one of my featured looks (or any other looks by my fellow influencers) and copy the pin URL to the Suave Beauty Facebook page to enter for the chance to win Suave® Skin Solutions Body Lotions and Q-tips® Precision Tips™ cotton swabs or $500 for the ultimate day of beauty and style!
And now back to the nail art. I had the chance to be backstage at a couple spring 2014 shows and I kept seeing graphic lines and bold colors. While these were naturally inspired by spring colors, I wanted to translate into a look for our current season. Metallic on navy is what I am rocking, and here is my step-by-step guide to get the look:
Start off with moisturized and soft hands. I’ve been loving the Suave® Skin Solutions Smoothing Body Lotion with Cocoa Butter & Shea with cocoa butter and shea. My hands were so dry from all those hours on an airplane. They already appear softer and are smoother after a couple days of slathering this on. Not to mention I love the tropical soothing scent.
I use a little alcohol on a Q-tips® Precision Tips™ cotton swab to make sure my nail beds are oil-free. While this can dry out nails, I’ve found mine run on the oilier side and to ensure the longest lasting manicure, especially when doing time consuming nail art, I like to be better safe than sorry.
Next, I apply a nail strengthening base coat and allow to dry for a good five minutes. For bold gemstone colors like navy, I like to apply two to three coats for a glossy and opaque base. Make sure to let your navy base dry thoroughly before you head in on your nail art. I like to use Q-tips® Precision Tips™ cotton swabs with a little nail polish remover to clean up around the nail and on the cuticles.
Lastly, use a very thin nail art brush to draw lines either horizontally or vertically across the nail. I like to vary the direction of the lines for an imperfect but still graphic look. Use the Q-tips® Precision Tips™ cotton swabs again to clean up any mistakes. And Voila!
This post was created in connection with my appointment as an Influencer for Suave® and Q-tips®. Visit www.facebook.com/SuaveBeauty for the chance to win Suave® Skin Solutions Body Lotions and Q-tips® Precision Tips™ cotton swabs or $500 for the ultimate day of beauty and style.
Did you know about Manna Kadar? I didn’t until about a week ago. The brand has even been featured in my beloved Birchbox and I just missed it! Well, this little brand packs quite the punch. I have been wearing two of their signature items and certainly won’t stop anytime soon.
First up is the sheer glo – fans of Armani’s Fluid Sheer, pay attention. I adore Fluid Sheer but always love recommending a more affordable option. Sheer glo is that same iridescent liquid that can be worn alone or mixed with your foundation. What sets it apart is its hydrating formula, making it work really well my drier skin. I also have been swiping it on my collar bones and down my shins for a little body glow!
Prime Time is very similar to the MAC Paint Pot I reviewed last week here, albiet in a much lighter shade than Painterly. At first, I thought it was too light. But it completely neutralizes any coloring before you apply eyeshadow. I’ve found that it transforms my metallic shades. And, as a primer should, it prevents smudging and creasing. If you have a big event or a photo shoot, try it as a lip primer. It will keep dark, deep shades from feathering and give a purity of color.
Next up on my list, is this amazing palette – Gold Digger Contouring Palette. How cool does that look??
You can find Manna Kadar products on their web page or at Birchbox.
AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE WAS PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.
Today marks the day! NARS Spring Color Collection is available now on shelves. I have been wearing three peices of the collection for a week or so. All three have a sort of subtle punk glamour. However, the whole collection is more assertive:
Fresh and fierce, strong and sexy; the Spring 2013 Color Collection introduces a vibrant, ‘90s-esquepalette that sets the tone for a season of audaciously feminine looks.
Cythère Velvet Lip Gloss is a soft, metallic rose. I’m a long time fan of these pencils (see review here) which are glossy and hydrating while still uncannily long-wearing. The rose slants slightly more brown than pink, making it an almost nude and really feminine – a great shade to balance so many of the bolder shades in the collection. It does have that suggestion of frost a la 90’s but not in a cliche way.
I was new to the Soft Touchshadow Pencils. They are a relatively new product designed for smooth, long wear color. I’d like to note: these shades look really brillant in the package. I was slightly intimidated to wear these. (I still hadn’t worn Aigle Noir, part of the holiday collection). So, I grabbed Corcavado, a true 24 karat gold and part of Spring 2013 Color, and Aigle Noir and started playing.
These pencils give just a wash of color making them so much more wearable than I expected. I suppose you could layer for a full, opaque color, but I love using Corcavado for a wash of gold. Aigle Noir is perfect for the lower last line when you have a smokier, sultry eye. The shimmer is a festive level, but not adolescent I’m treasuring these for priming or layering under other looks to add some oomph.
Lastly, I’ve been rocking Disco Inferno Nail Polish. I was hoping this would be slightly more opaque. But I am so smitten with the shade, I’ll let it slide. This is three coats and I am almost tempted to add a fourth. That was the case with Desperado and Space Odyssey, reviewed here and here. It has the perfect iridescence reminiscent of holograms seen all over the runways, like this clutch from Proenza Schouler.
Shop the post here:
AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE WAS PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.
I had to have these Laura Mercier Eye Colors as soon as I set my eyes on them. Lately, I’ve been doing inky black liner and one-note metallic eyeshadow all over the lid. The look is festive and glam – perfect for the holidays. Available shades are:
These shadows have great color pay-off and can be layered for a foil effect. They aren’t creamy at all, but manage to somehow go on smooth and even. Cheers!
AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE WAS PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.
I am positively giddy about the upcoming Olympics. I have already started organizing an Opening Ceremony party and plan on being glued to the television for the whole two weeks. And butter LONDON has just introduced a new way for us to celebrate: the commemorative Olympic Heavy Medal Collection. The set includes three beautiful, metallic nail lacquers representative of those gold, silver and bronze medals that are about to be awarded. The limited edition set includes The Full Monty, Diamond Geezer and The Old Bill. I’m consistantly impressed with the quality of butter LONDON polishes, and I am sure these won’t disappoint!
