Personalized Polish

Anything personalized makes a great gift, but when I saw the latest offering from one of my favorite nail polish brands, I couldn't stop wanting to make an entire collection for myself.  Greedy, I know, but after you see them you may do the same. Whether you're looking to buy your bestie a present, for unique bridesmaid gifts or just a special token for yourself, look no further than Nails Inc..

The public relations firm for Nails Inc. sent over a mailing featuring this new collection – Couture.  Before I read the press release, I was immediately taken by one of the shades; a pale mauve.  The bottle top was surrounded by pearls, which was cute, too.  I went to see what the color was called and saw "Jeannine."  I died telling my fiance, Joe, that this color was meant to be for me.  And then... I read the press release.  The new Couture Collection by Nails Inc. lets you personalize your polish from the color, to the cap and label for just $20.  A personalized nail polish?  I felt special!

Purple Hair, Don't Care

If I wasn't getting married in about three months I'd do it.  I'd dye my hair purple, permanently.  While I wouldn't be able to go as drastic as Nicole Richie, I'm picturing more of an ombre style with my brunette hair leading to violet tips.  Thinking about switching up your hair color for spring?  Purple is the only non-natural shade that compliments all skin tones.  I got the scoop from Nicole's colorist, Danny Moon from the Andy Lecompte Salon, on how her exact shade and have recs on how how you can get it, too.

Danny used Pravanas ChromaSilk pastels and vivids to create Nicole's color in the salon.  Unfortunately for us, we don't all have the luxury of visiting Danny in LA, but we can still get the look.

Temporary: L’Oréal Professionnel Hairchalk

For the commitment phobes who just want to have fun (like myself), L'Oreal Professionnel Hairchalk is the way to go.  The shade: First Date Violet.  When using hair chalk, I recommend creating peek-a-boo streaks or coloring just the ends to create an ombre effect.

Permanent: Vidal Sassoon Pro Series Hair Color

The Vidal Sassoon Pro Series Hair Color in London Lilac is vibrant and last about eight weeks, just like an in-salon color would.

5 things worth checking out this week

Dying for a change this coming spring? Now's your chance, purple hair is all the rage! [Beauty High]

In case you missed it, John Travolta totally butchered Idina Menel's name at the Oscars ... and now he can butcher yours thanks to the Travoltifier! [Slate]

The perfect Paris Fashion Week cheat sheet for those of us too poor to go in person #brokegirlproblems [The Luxury Spot]

Beauty products that will never let you down  [Bella Sugar]

Our obsession with the bottomless brunch and why it can never be banned(I'm looking at you, New York City) [Elite Daily]

 

3 Drugstore Beauty Buys, Upgraded

When it comes to my beauty regimen, I'll test anything. From DIYing a goopy egg and olive oil hair mask to getting a spermine facial and of course, I never hesitate to bring on the chemicals. I even found that slathering oil all over my face is possibly the best thing I've ever done for my skin.  However, just like with anything in life, I have my basics.  The tried and true, never fail products that just get the job done.  Some of my favorites underwent a makeover and you'll be grabbing them off of drugstore shelves in no time.

Cetaphil - The gentle skin cleanser is now available in wipes!  It's the same, gentle, yet effective formula that you're used to in a cleansing cloths form.  Unlike other wipes, these are about 30% bigger and have no scent.  I brought them home from the launch event and my fiance already stole them.

Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy - When this first came out about two years ago, it became the Cetaphil for my hair.  A staple fixture in my shower that became part of my shampoo and conditioner rotation.  The basic scalp nourishing products expanded their range and now offer an Intense Hydration line.

Secret- As a Clinical Strength user, the brand just launched a new collection of Invisible Solids inspired by Brazil, Paris and Hawaii that are doing the trick.  To test out their 48 hour claim, I recently went on a Brazilian adventure through NYC to put it to the test and it hasn't failed. Rainforest Mist is the right scent for me, as it's light and refreshing.

5 Winter Beauty Fixes on BetterTV

Last week on BetterTV I shared some of my tips for beating the most common winter beauty woes.  From dry, dull skin to broken nails, frizzy hair and even watery eyes, I have solutions. Check out the segment.  Of course, I listed the products used below as well.

1. Dull Complexion: 

  • Olay Regenerist Luminous Tone Perfecting Cream, $33.99 at drugstores

2. Brittle Nails:

  • Semamed Hand & Nail Balm, $29.99 at drugstores

 

3. Dry, Itchy Skin:

 

4. Frizzy Hair:

  • Dove Pure Care Dry Oil Nourishing Hair Treatment, $11 at drugstores 

 

5. Watery Eyes: 

 

 

Anne Hathaway: Oscar Makeup Breakdown

When it came to style last night, it looked as if many of the A-listers were about to walk down the aisle to exchange "I dos."  With a wedding in just three and a half months, I swooned over each and every bridal inspired gown, but Anne Hathaway's natural makeup also caught my attention as it seemed to fit within the theme.  Here's how her makeup artist, Kate Lee, made her the most beautiful version of herself.

Skin:  "You don’t need to cover your skin—just place it where you want to create a diffusion of light," Kate explain.  Using a bit of CHANEL Perfection Lumière Velvet Beige Rosé 22 (Available in March), she pressed it into Anne's skin with a sponge so it melted in seamlessly and didn't sit on top of the face.

Eyes: "I knew her look was going to be mainly about lashes so I kept her eyelids very nude by sweeping on CHANEL Soft Touch Eyeshadow in Safari.  A matte, pale lid helps make the lashes stand out.

Lips: She chose a color close to Anne's natural lip shade, CHANEL Rouge Allure Velvet Luminous Matte Lip Colour in La Câline, a violet rose, to enhance them without creating a look.  "I like to apply one coat of lipstick with a lip brush, blot and feather over the lip line with loose powder for staying power, then go back for one more coat with the lip brush."

Lupita Nyong'o's Award Winning Lip Balm

It would be a sin if I didn't report on this.  If you were watching the Oscars last night, you know that one of the moments that really peeked my interest (and if you're reading this blog yours too) was when Ellen stole Lupita Nyong'o's lip balm out of her purse (see here). Well, breaking news: I got the scoop.  Lucky for Clarins, it was their HydraQuench Moisture Replenishing Lip Balm.  You're welcome.

Oscar Makeup Trend: Smoky Eyes & Nude Lips

The Oscar red carpet was exciting, especially when Kate Hudson showed up and completely put most others to shame.  Well, in my book.  Piercingly defined, smoky eyes and nude lips seen first on Giuliana Rancic, then on celebs like Penelope Cruz, Sandra Bullock and Kate Hudson, was not only my favorite makeup trend, but also the most wearable seen tonight. It's sophisticated, glamorous and with the right tools, anyone can pull it off.  Here's all you need:

Smoky Eyes: The right tools are essential.

Eyeliner Sharpener  Your liner needs to be as precise as possible.  Fluff, Shadow Brush This has a rounded shape and is used to apply shadow to the lid.  Angled, Crease Brush This helps to get into that crease and contour the eye shape.  Blending Brush Blend and shade, blend and shade.

Nude Lips: Preparation is key.

 Lip scrub to remove any dead skin. Lip balm to moisturize.

Jared Leto's Hair Secrets

Jared Leto's Oscar hair was dirty.  As I was live tweeting the Oscars tonight (and swooning over him), it wasn't to my surprise that a twitter account for @JaredLetosOmbre popped up.  Threatening to pull his hair up into a bun all night, I just got the scoop from his stylist, Chase Kusero, that a wet, side parted man bun was actually his original plan for the night.

Last minute, they decided to embrace the rockstar's ombre, wavy hair and have him wear his hair down. The styling took place the night before.  His secret? Vidal Sassoon Pro Series Waves Primer Spray to enhance the waves then the second day (since it wasn't freshly washed) he used Vidal Sassoon Pro Series ColorFinity Dry Shampoo in Rich Darks to freshen up.

So for those of us ladies envious of this guys hair... second day hair with a bit of enhancer is the way to go.

The Exact Makeup Used on Lupita Nyong'o

The Oscars are like my Super Bowl, so with two days left, I'm stalking out the pre-awards show parties and of course, look who caught my eye – Lupita Nyong'o.  Honored yesterday for her performance in "12 Years A Slave" at the Essence Black Women in Hollywood event at the Beverly Hills Hotel, her makeup artist, Nick Barose created a polished look with coral shades to compliment her ivory dress.  Here are the exact products he used and how to get the look.

STEP 1: Gently dab the YSL Top Secrets All-In-One BB Cream Skintone Corrector in Dark into skin to hydrate, soothe and add radiance. Then gently apply L'Oréal Paris True Match Naturale Mineral Foundation in Soft Sable over the foundation to give skin a flawless finish and even out skin tone.

STEP 2: Use the YSL Eyebrow Pencil in 005 Ebony ($30) sparingly to fill in and shape brows, and then brush with a clean spool brush to even out and distribute color.

STEP 3: To highlight eyes, first add a winged line above the upper lash line and beneath the lower lash line using the L’Oreal Paris Infallible Silkissime Eyeliner in Plum as it’s a perfect color for daytime that plays well with darker skin tones. Gently tap Lancôme Color Design Infinité Eye Shadow in 102 Timeless Taupe above the liner onto the lid to add a more bronzy color to the eyes. Apply two coats of L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Butterfly Mascara in Blackest Black to the upper lashes.

STEP 4: Dab cheeks lightly with a cream blush first, such as Giorgio Armani Blushing Fabric in Fresh Baby Pink, to add a natural flush. On cheek bones only, dab a little bit of L'Oréal Paris Visible Lift Blush in Coral Lift to add a finished soft glow. STEP 5: Create a polished glossy lip using L'Oréal Paris Extraordinaire by Colour Riche in 303 Rouge Allegro ($9.99).

5 things worth checking out this week

These three guys literally #killingit in this Spice Girls video remake [Buzzfeed]

Excited for the Oscars? So are these adorable sisters! [College Candy]

These stars reveal their top favorite workouts to help you keep that New Years resolution you've already forgotten [Beauty High]

If you're the type to see a breakup coming a mile away and you like swiping left or right, there's an app for you! [The Luxury Spot]

If you're a single woman, stop everything and read this letter to remind yourself how awesome you really are [Elite Daily]

5 Foods That'll Make You More Beautiful

You are what you eat.  Literally.  Giving up milk made me find my collar bone that was there, but now it's predominate thanks to the lack of dairy (see post).  There was literally what I like to call a 'coat of bloat' (hot right?) lying on top.  Just like the way I decided to eliminate food for beauty, there are also foods we should be eating to enhance our beauty.  An old friend of mine, Jolene Hart, a certified beauty and health coach and author of Eat Pretty, filled me in on five essential beauty foods.

1. Lemons. My skin has extra glow ever since I made it a priority to start my day with a simple detox drink: warm lemon water. Lemons are full of collagen-building vitamin C (our collagen production slows as we age, so a collagen boost means more youthful-looking skin), plus they clean out the digestive tract and balance aging acidity in the body.

2. Avocado. Half an avocado will instantly supercharge a smoothie, and it makes a beautifying snack spread on gluten-free bread or sprinkled with a little sea salt and spices. Avocado burns quickly and easily for energy, naturally detoxes the body and supports strong, well-hydrated skin cells.

3. Greens. The greens in my kitchen change with the seasons and my mood; they might be dandelion greens in the spring, watercress in the summer or kale in the winter. With fresh greens at hand, I can whip up a green drink, throw together a salad, or create an instant dinner by steaming them and tossing with a protein-rich grain like quinoa and fresh sauce. Greens have their own unique benefits, but all tend to be high in vitamin A, a beauty nutrient known to smooth skin, renew and repair skin damage and fight acne by regulating sebum production.

4. Cinnamon. Spices are beauty powerhouses and, since I have a major sweet tooth, cinnamon is the spice I reach for most often. When paired with high glycemic foods like sweets, it reduces the aging, blemish-causing blood sugar spike that we experience. It’s a favorite beauty secret to fight wrinkles, breakouts and signs of aging.

5. Ginger Root. In the winter, fresh ginger is a cold-fighter; in the summer, ginger makes a cooling addition to spicy food. Ginger supports healthy digestion and reduces inflammation— two powerful essentials for a calm, even, radiant complexion.

Jolene's book, Eat Pretty, offers plenty more!  Check it out on Amazon and at Barnes & Noble.

The Chic Way to Wear White Nail Polish

Normally while riding the subway I get lost in my headphones and try to mind my own business, but recently I was struck by a manicure.  The girl sitting directly across from me had the most perfectly painted white tips and I found myself instantly envious thinking, white polish would never look that striking on my nails.  Eager to put the hot new spring beauty trend to the test, I visited the Jin Soon Nail Spa in the West Village and spoke with Jin, herself, about the do's and don'ts to wearing hot hue.

"White is very tricky and can be done horribly wrong," she commented.  "There are a few simple rules that come into play when wanting to wear it."

  1. Find the right formula.  Opaque whites can be gummy or streaky.  You need to find a formula that paints on smooth.  Two coats should do it.  It's really all trial and error.
  2. Shape your nails appropriately.  In order for the color to look modern, your nails should be short to medium in length with a rounded square shape.  Wearing white polish is a whole look, not just about the color.
  3. Apply precisely.  A professional job may be worth investing in unless you have a very steady hand.  Make sure it looks chic and not cheap by making sure the polish doesn't touch the cuticle.  

Jin Soon used her new "Kooki White" shade for fashion shows like Karen Walker. Inspired by the 1950's,"Kookie White" isn't stark white, like you may think.  It's a universally flattering shade of with blue and grey undertones, which even looked chic on my pale skin.  That's right, no tan needed. (Note: Kooki White will be available here soon).

Skincare with Immediate Benefits from Garnier

Looking for instant gratification?  Who isn't?  One of the best pieces of advice ever given to me was to, "Be patient and act classy."  It applies to everything in life and I find patience to be the killer, which is why I once opted for a Fraxel treatment instead of gently ridding dark spots overtime.  Never again.  Because of people like us, skincare brands have gotten smarter by providing instant and long term results.  The latest...

I recently got my hands on a new launch by Garnier, their  Ultra-Lift Transformer Anti-Age Skin Corrector, an anti-aging moisturizer that immediately illuminates your skin and makes the tone appear more even and then works on the firmness and reducing fine lines and wrinkles over time.  Using pro-retinol as it's main anti-aging ingredient, it helps the skin cells turn over quicker, which results in a brighter, more youthful complexion.  The formula adjusts to boost your skin tone and of course, I also like that it has SPF 20.

Garnier skincare is impressive.  I know most of you are familiar with the brand for their haircare, but if you're into the above, check out their latest, Garnier Clean +, which caters to different skin types.

*This post is sponsored by Garnier, but all of my thoughts and actions are true.

How to Properly Wash Your Face

No one said your skincare regimen had to be complicated or abrasive to be effective. Now while you may believe me, would your man?  I swear guys love scrubs (my fiancé says grit) and need to feel like something's working in order to believe it is. Have a man in your life who can benefit from knowing the basics?  Share this with him – my new piece for AskMen.com – How to Properly Wash Your Face (hint: it includes moisturizer).  The more you know...

Spring Beauty Trend Spotting: Blue Eyeshadow

Blue eyeshadow was one of the makeup trends that dominated the spring runways. Of course as soon as you hear about it you probably think about Mimi from Drew Carey. Eek! However, the hue can be bold and beautiful as the statement lids at Marc by Marc Jacobs and light washes of color at Badgley Mischka and The Blondes proved. Here's how to rock it this season.

The trick to wearing the shade is to either wear it as a wash of color all over the eye or incorporate it into your smokey eye.  As a wash of color, use a cream shadow like Shiseido Shimmering Cream Eye Color in Peacock Blue and use your ring finger to apply it (since it's the weakest and won't deposit too much color in one spot).  Just sweep it across your lid.  You can control the intensity of the color by layering it.

Here's a pic of Jamie Chung in a recent Mark Cosmetics ad taking it up a notch.

Makeup artist Jamie Greenberg gave me the exact shades she used to get her look: Sweep mark's Color Swing Mix It Up Palette in the light blue shade (middle) over the lids as well as in the creases. Next, apply the dark blue shade (right) at the outer corners of the lid. Run eyeliner along the upper lash line. Finish the eye, with two coats of mascara.

5 things worth checking out this week

In honor of Sochi, let us revisit the most comical ice skating costumes of the 80's [The Luxury Spot] The queen herself teaches us her tricks to looking #perfect in under ten minutes. All hail LC! [Refinery 29]

The most epic way to quit your job ... EVER [Slip Talk]

How to rock this seasons go-to look: The Bold Brow [College Candy]

Because Olympic Curling isn't funny enough, let's hear it narrated like a nature video [Pop Sugar]

Exclusive: Backstage Beauty at Alice & Olivia

This season, the Alice & Olivia presentation was held at the McKittrick Hotel and the backstage space was so narrow that models, Stila makeup artists, Tresemme hairstyles and Essie manicurists were squished into tiny diagonal spaces around a long, rectangular table trying to get ready without getting aggravated.  Try to be the only beauty blogger who had access, trying not to get in the way.  Like a snake, I slithered in and out of their chairs and got the scoop.  The lip look alone was worth the craze.

This was the fourth season Sara Lucero for Stila took the lead on the makeup for Alice & Olivia.  Heavy liner was complimented by false lashes, the skin was left radiant skin with a youthful, pinkish glow on the cheeks and the lips were the focus.  "Depending on what the girls were wearing, they had different lip looks," Lucero stated.  One was to resemble a "forbidden poison apple," which was a layering of candy apple like colors from Stila including a mix of Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Fiery and Merlot Vinyl, topped off by Lip Glaze in Cranberry, which acted like high shine top coat for your nails.  The other was a super glossy opaque nude that, "knocked out their natural lip tone and gave it coverage."  The shade: Banana Lip Glaze, which is a golden shimmer.

Matthew Curtis of Tresemme lead his team to create, "big, crazy brushed out curls." First he sprayed Tresemme 24 Hour Body Finishing Spray, because the heat from the curling iron works with the alcohol to contract the hair, making it hold.  Using  1" tongs, he curled all the way up to the root, but left about 1" from the root straight. The inspiration was vampish victorian, dark but feminine. Left pin curled until the models were dressed, he then teased the hair back and brushed out the curls.  To create a "fantasy-like lift," before he finished it off with hairspray, he used hair nets around the bottom of the hair to lift the curls up and sprayed.

Essie manicurist, Miss Pop applied two coats of Essie polish in Licorice and created small dots with Good as Gold.

Pin Stripes Earned Derek Jeter The Hottest in Hollywood

Derek Jeter is a big deal. Not only has he won pretty much every single award you can in baseball history (I’m serious, the guy’s trophy case has to be as big as a garage), but he has also dated literally all of the incredibly gorgeous women on the planet, spanning from Mariah Carey to Minka Kelly. In honor of the hottest Yankee's retirement announcement, let’s take a look through his little black book of high profile ex’s.

1. First up, Mariah Carey. Come on, it’s not even fair to be that good looking. Carey was Jeter’s first celebrity girlfriend back in the 90’s and somehow, he only managed to go UP in hotness from there. I didn’t even think that was possible.