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Posted by on Dec 17, 2012 in Beauty, Nails |

Top 5 Nail finds for your Nailphile

When she talks double digits, she means five on the left hand, five on the right, and possibly an additional set at her feet. She couldn’t make gift giving any easier for you. Here are top five selections to keep her happy these holidays:

1. Tom Ford Nail Lacquers – 16 piece set $480
This Neiman Marcus exclusive will slay the fingertip fashionista. A beautiful range of colors from pale to pow (including my favorites, Indian Pink and violet Noir), there is just no nail set comparison. Utter opulence. This set might polish off what’s in your wallet, but you can opt instead for the equally sexy four piece ($120) or custom mix at $30 per individual bottle.

2. Julep Maven $20-$200+
A series of nail parlours in the pacific northwest, Julep has taken nail polish sampling to new level. Surprise with a premix set (shown in GEM), or purchase 3, 6, or 12 months of Maven boxes for a surprise every 30 days. A foot scrub, lippy, hand mask or some other surprise beauty item is always tucked in with the polish. I just completed a year of gratis Maven service with Julep and found the testing to find personal style fun, and eagerly looked forward to the unique black packages each month. Plus, I’m fantasizing the new copper color called Hilary in the Bombshell collection (my style) was named after me!

3. Zoya Dream Boxes $24
A staple at fashion week, Zoya churns out an enormously creative number of colors all year long. They’ve introduced Dream Boxes, a way you can select three of your favorite colors to create a custom box of colors. These black beauties are the same high quality, custom foam fit boxes Zoya houses their Fashion Week designer color collections. Another bonus? All Dream boxes ship free.

4. Essie + Bauble Bar $50
Pick a color, any color. It comes with a matching bracelet! Now pick another bracelet of your choice. And another. Now, put your polish and three bracelets into the tote Essie gives you. Voila – one classy Christmas. Sign up now and get an additional $10 off.

5. CND Shellac Gift Certificate $35-$60
Let’s get real – some woman have neither the time nor talent to polish their talons. Those ladies might be pining for the authentic two-week, no chip Shellac service that can only be found in salons. Hit up a nail technician and add a paraffin dip to the tab for an especially pampering service. Search CND.com for the salon nearest you.

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Posted by on Aug 3, 2012 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

Holiday 2012 Shellac colors releases

In addition to the six new Shellac colors coming out, CND is making good on the promise to dip their toes into special edition sets for Shellac. The first Holiday set has been announced. With Glitzy Tinsel Toast (L) and Ruby Ritz (R), it’s difficult to tell exactly what they will be like but I’m hoping they’ve gone down the hologram road.

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Posted by on Jan 12, 2011 in Uncategorized | 3 comments

CND: Valentine’s Day Releases and James Wu Collaboration

Creative Nail Design (CND) isn’t just keeping people busy with their long wearing hybrid Shellac – they’ve also got ideas in mind for softening your skin. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Scentsations™ Heart Duo is a combo pack that includes an 8.3 fl oz bottle of Heart Lotion (citrus, white flower and warm amber) paired with a .39 fl oz tube of sheer-pink Heart Lip Gloss. Retails for ~ $17.90 us/22.40 CAN

 

Photos courtesy Creative Nail Design

Who doesn’t love a little pop of shimmer?  For the Effects fans, CND is also releasing a new Red Hot Colour Collection that includes a bottle of Just Red Colour that can be layered with Red Sparkle Effect.   Retails ~ $20.00 usd/ 25 CAN

Last but not least, fashion designer Jason Wu has collaborated on a spring line with CND, focusing on the shimmery greys, pinks and naturals that will dominate the season:

  • Miss Wu – super-pale grey/signature Wu color
  • Brigette – warm pink
  • Sophia – soft mushroom
  • Veronica – oxblood red

The above last three are named after Hollywood startlets. The kicker to this collection is the addition of a top coat that adds fiber, going for a tweed-like effect.

Although this polish will debut at Wu’s show during New York Fashion Week, this set won’t be available in the US or UK until May.

Photo: CND/Elle

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Posted by on Sep 30, 2010 in Uncategorized | 7 comments

Stocking Stuffers: Sigma Makeup – Kabuki Brush

It’s only October? Just about the time to start making a list and checking it twice.  Fret not, I’ve done the heavy work for you.  From now until Christmas I’ll be sprinkling in posts that showcase the perfect stocking stuffers for beauty lovers.  Simply give out these favorites to end up on everyone’s nice list for next year!

Friends, take note: There isn’t a woman alive that can’t use a good kabuki brush, and Sigma Makeup has the cutest around.

A good kabuki makes powdering pleasurable.  Dense brushes keep their shape, pick up fine particles and places them easily and evenly across the skin.  Sigma’s kabuki ($25) is high quality with a dense base, super soft no-shed bristles, and a cover to keep them from getting bent.  This is my biggest peeve with kabukis, because if there is a cover the bristles always get damaged.  Sigma’s slider base keeps everything in order, and in a fancy purple, pink, red and black option.

What an upgrade? Go for this option instead:

The Hollywood Glamour Kit ($49) comes with an easy to clean soft carrying case, a kabuki brush and a darling mirror compact.  Enjoy storing your Sigma makeup brushes in the case too, but I recommend carry-on for air travel.  I know someone in TSA is enjoying my set right now!

Purchase any of these items and a wonderful selection of affordable, good quality makeup brushes at SigmaBeauty.com

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Posted by on Sep 15, 2010 in Uncategorized | 5 comments

Sneak Peek: OPI Holiday 2010 – Burlesque

The OPI Burlesque collection will ship end of October 2010.   Nail Pros must pre-order by September 25th.  Grab this gorgeous collection!

opi_holiday2010_solessence

OPI’s Burlesque collection for Holiday 2010 takes on the bling that is a huge nail trend for now and into 2011.  Comprised of six full glitters and six metallics/shimmers, this set can easily glam up any mani/pedi in a way that isn’t glaringly ho-hum holiday.  For the salon, this is my pick for the season.

opi_holiday2010_teasydoesit opi_holiday2010_alisbigbreak opi_holiay2010_letmeentertainyou opi_holiday2010_takethestage opi_holiday2010_risingstar

opi_holiday2010_sparkleicious opi_holiday2010_showitandglowit opi_holiay2010_simmershimmer opi_holiday2010_growupalready opi_holiday2010_bringonthebling

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Posted by on Nov 18, 2009 in Uncategorized | 10 comments

Minnesota Event: Dior Holiday Collection, makeup & fashion

Where has the time gone?  The holidays are descending and now is the time to perfect your looks for the season.  Plan to attend this event Thursday.

dior_collage1

If you are near Minneapolis you must RSVP for this free event hosted by Kari and DIOR on Thursday, November 19.  Located in the prestigious Oval Room of Macy’s downtown Minneapolis

Specialists will be on hand to:

  • Show how to take a Dior palette and your wardrobe from work to party
  • Demonstrate Dior holiday collections
  • Model fashions from the Oval Room

Holiday drinks and appetizers for all on the guest list.  Again, this is a free event but due to demand, RSVP is required. To RSVP:

  • Contact Justin or Anya at Dior Macy’s at 612-375-2360, or email  kari@faboverforty.com if you’re interested in attending
  • Event starts at 5:30pm, Thursday, November 19.  Third Floor Oval Room.

EXCLUSIVE EVENT DEALS:

For any purchase over $50 in fragrance or beauty you’ll receive a Dior makeup bag with goodies inside.  But for only the first 9 people who spend $300 or more in Dior product, you’ll receive a beautiful custom Dior bag with goodies inside!  Hope to see you there!

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Posted by on Oct 28, 2009 in Uncategorized | 4 comments

Lush: Snow Fairy Shower Gel & Bath Melt

As with most Lush products, this dark bubble gum pink gel evokes pure love or hate among users. There is seldom an in-between for the line that tends to tread on earthy smells and claims of being all natural. Despite the marketing image, many, if not most, of the products in Lush cannot be classified as Natural or Organic.

snowfairyLush Fairy Shower Gel is a limited edition product that, at $20 for 16.9 ounces, seems like a steal for the line. It promises to be:

Candy floss pink and sweet as sugar with iridescent sparkles and a hint of wicked frutiness

I am not a super girly girl, but there is something inviting about this bottle that makes me want more! The pink, the promise of shimmer. It is heavy on the peppermint, but the scent is cut with some other fragrances. During the winter months it takes a bit more powerful scent to get things moving, and Snow Fairy does the trick. I’m pretty sure the fact it has the potential to be overwhelming is the reason it is not sold year round. I will be getting another bottle before it leaves stores.

Back to the shimmer. Glitter is on the label and ingredient list, but the only place you can find it is in a thick layer of goo at the bottom of the bottle. No amount of mixing will bring any to be visible with the naked eye. That’s a shame!

This is a product that works best with a loofa or washcloth. It can be a bit drying otherwise. I used it over the body with the Clarisonic and it did a superb job of cleaning, exfoliating and leaving all the bits soft. It makes for a fragrant bath gel too.

Snow Fairy also comes in a pretty gift set.
snowfairygiftset
In the US, order online at www.lushusa.com and in Milwaukee Lush can be found inside Macy*s.

BATH MELT
lushfairy_bathmeltWhere Snow Fairy Shower Gel is mildly overpowering but slightly intoxicating, the Bath Melt I had was pumped full of fragrance, and my jaw became numb from tingling whenever I was in the vicinity of said melt. Mint is an oil that has to be used in low quantities but there was no moderation here. Counter staff also does not wrap these items for some reason, leaving the melt to rub against all of your other products. A tad messy. Unless you like tingly, painful appendages and the possibility of contact dermatitis, skip this item.

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