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Posted by hillary on May 22, 2013 in Nails |

Introducing Cuccio Colours Lacquer Swatches

60 trendsetting colours available to professionals at www.cuccio.com (salon and resale)

I pulled these puppies out to prepare for an intense afternoon of swatching, just as the receptionist walked by.

“Ooooooo…Those colors are sex. That is a box of sex.”

I can’t think of a better way to sum up the vivacious collection from Cuccio. Best known for their luxurious spa/scrub treatments along with sister companies Star Pro and Cina, California based Cuccio is reaching the world with the new lines. Company founder Tony Cuccio recently returned from visits to Taiwan and Vietnam; just a few weeks earlier he had been overseeing the launch in central Europe with Elaine Watson, who helped develop the line.

Photo: Cuccio/FB

Tony Cuccio in Taiwan

Having just launched in February, Cuccio Colours are doing very well. Sixty nail polish colors created using a triple pigmentation process practically give one coat coverage for this lacquer. That saturation gives a real vibrancy to the collection, but subdued colors remain classic and not overbearing. I’m not quite sure how they did it.

Cuccio also has a matching soak off gel called Veneer. I’m hoping to give it an official review on here soon, but I can say that I found both lines to be very workable, great for art, and pretty gorgeous. Following the Star International strategy, the quality product is also well priced, and if you are going to Premier Orlando (Florida, June 2 &3) – even better. The show specials are phenomenal!

SWATCHES

Los Angeles Luscious

Shimmer – Light Brown with Gold Shimmer

Eye Candy in Miami
Neon – Bright Purple

So So Sofia

Opaque, French Color – Soft Buttercream

Meet Me in Mykonos

Opalescent – Light Blue Shimmer

Parisian Pastille

Opalescent – pink on pink

Turkish Delight

Opaque – Rose Pink

Cobalt Cool – Limited Edition Precious Metals collection

Opaque, Shimmer, Matte

Kyoto Cherry Blossoms

Opaque – Deep pink with purple undertones

Totally Tokyo

Fuscia with gold shimmer

Cheeky in Helsinki

Purple

Boston Cream Pie

Brown with pink undertone

I Left My Heart in San Francisco

Opaque – Pale, natural pink

Bali Bliss

Mauve Lavender

Playing in Playa del Carmen

Deep Plum

Chillin in Chile

Coral

Never Can Say Mumbai

Light Metallic Copper

Brooklyn Never Sleeps

Deep purple with medium purple shimmer

One Night in Bangkok

Metallic Burgundy

Iron Clad– Limited Edition Precious Metals collection

opaque, shimmer, matte

Oh My Prague

Metallic gunmetal

Maine Lobster

Cool tone red

Romania After Dark

Deep Burgundy black

Holy Toledo

Copper Tan

This only touches part of the collection. Go to www.cuccio.com to see and order the rest.

Posted by hillary on May 21, 2013 in Nails |

Cuccio Colour Neons Nail Polish

Cuccio Colour Professional Nail Lacquer is releasing an 8 piece Neon collection in June. Have you tried this brand? The polishes are dreamy to apply – very smooth and highly pigmented. If you are going to Premiere Orlando, do not miss an opportunity to check out their monster show special$$$$.

This collection adds all kinds of mixing options as well as keeping nails on the tip of the neon trends.

Glitter Coat =Shock Value

Purple = Elec-Trick

Blue = Lightening Strike

Dark Pink = Fusionista

Light Pink = Recharge Your Battery

Orange = Say Watt?

Green = Alternative Energy

Yellow = Power Trip

You can also add this optional “spotlight” cap for funsies.

Posted by hillary on May 17, 2013 in Beauty, Nails |

Nails Magazine, “Thirty Nails to Commemorate 30 Years”

Check out pg 166 June 2013 Nails Magazine for “Thirty Nails to Commemorate 30 Years” ~ tickled to be in the company of the 9 other amazing artists for this spread. I love seeing the diverse designs. Happy 30th, Nails http://nailsmag.epubxp.com/i/128780

Posted by hillary on May 17, 2013 in Beauty, Nails |

A Girl’s Gotta Spa: Need for Speed

Have you checked out any of the latest fast drying polishes? I break down top consumer and professional releases on agirlsgottaspa.com

Top manicurists have known about pro top coats for years – those specially formulated clear coats that left lacquer intact for an extended wear manicure. Compatible with nearly every brand, topcoats like INM and Seche Vite give shiny, rock hard results. Now, there are number of launches for those t…read more

Posted by hillary on May 1, 2013 in Beauty, Celeb-essence, Nails |

Nails Magazine 30th Anniversary Nails – Predator/Prey

Who’s hot at 30? Nails Magazine! Happy Anniversary! For turning the big 3-0, Nails is celebrating all year. I’m honored to be one of 10 nail artists asked to come up with three nail looks that reflect the last three decades of the magazine.

First reveal: Predator/Prey
Snakes eat birds, and birds eat snakes, so it’s a mystery who is Predator and who is Prey

This look is a tribute to Tom Bachik’s October 1999 cover. As an nail artist, he has catapulted nail design as fashion – starting with Hollywood stars and traveling all the way to everyday nail enthusiasts.

Feathers are trending again in nails (not hair) and my tribute adds in the texture for Year of the Snake (2013). I’ve stayed with the blue and ice white, and love how the scales seem to transform into the dots on the feather. The feather, now updated to the side, completes the shape of the nail with a wing tip.

This is very much an editorial look, but would you try feathers?

Tomorrow: Fools Gold

Posted by hillary on Apr 29, 2013 in Beauty, Nails |

CND Vinylux Weekly Nail Polish Swatches

Vinylux by CND, available to professionals, is the latest release in new, longer lasting nail polish

After discontinuing their Colours & Effects nail polish line, CND had to make a comeback with something special. The new Vinylux line does this with highly pigmented color, longer lasting wear, and a faster drying top coat.

Thirty of the 62 colors also match the Shellac line, which will be a boon to resale for extended wear users.

The colors officially launch May 1st in the US, after having been released first in New Zealand and the UK.

I have a small sampling, but from the colors I saw (not all were in yet) the matches were pretty impressive. The one dud? Tropix, which is much creamier and pinker than the Shellac version. A pretty color, but not a match.

A mini intro kit of “Summer Brights” contains matches for the four newest releases for Shellac (Grape Gum, Water Park, Pink Bikini, Lobster Roll & Top Coat).

Suggested Use:

Vinylux is said to be the perfect product for the fashionista that needs to change out polish on a weekly basis.

NO base coat required = faster service
Self adhering formulation that continues to cure in the sun (natural UV lighting)
Top coat said to be specific to Vinylux cures in under 10 minutes

CND uses their polish line to create looks for designers at Fashion Week, so it’s imperative the colors dry quickly and look rich. The polish is smooth, and seems to dry at the same speed as Colours & Effects. I think this is fine, because any faster and you start getting into competition polishing 😉 and that isn’t a pace everyone can keep up with.

I’m currently having Vinylux testing out on some hands, and will get back with you on wear. I will also update with colors released.

Have you seen/tried the new weekly polish from CND?