Dolce&Gabb​ana Passion Duo Lipsticks for Summer and Beyond

Dolce&Gabbana's best-selling Passion Duo Gloss Fusion Lipsticks have some new shades in the family for summer thanks to a new collection, Summer Pleasures, created to keep you looking fab for the rest of the {hot!} season and transition you seamlessly to fall {my fave time of year!!}.

these vibrant, vividly rich hues include juicy reds and oranges inspired by luscious summer fruits, neutral nudes and beiges to compliment all sun-kissed, light to dark skin tones, as well as deep fuschias, rich browns and pinks that capture the allure of sunsets seen in the late-summer and early fall.

i have three shades that were sent to me, and i'm happy to report, they are gorgeous! take a look...

Exotic {an intense fuschia}, Tropical {vibrant, warm orange} and Royal {a rich berry} are moisture-rich, highly pigmented and gorgeously glossy. i wouldn't normally wear any of these shades, but as you can see from the pics, they're quite flattering {if i do say so myself ~ smile*}.

10 fusion duo shades are in the Summer Pleasures collection {other shades include Natural, Intrigue, Fatale, Imperial, Feminine, Sensual and Vivid} along with 5 nail lacquers {Grey Pearl, Passione, Royal, Fire and Cosmopolitan}, making for the perfect on-trend beauty accessories!

you can find the Dolce&Gabbana Summer Pleasures collection in select Saks Fifth Avenue stores and online at saksfifthavenue.com

products featured sent to me for review consideration; pics taken by me :)

nail color of the week: Sonia Kashuk Taunting Teal

definitely a different flavor for me, but i am beyond gushing ~ j'adore this shade!

when i first spotted this beauty i thought, wow, gorgeous. my daughter was with me at the time said, "what, really, blue?"

please excuse her...she's 11

and besides, i own plenty of blues, thankyouverymuch...but with this one, it was love at first sight.

i didn't actually buy it that day, though.

then i kept thinking about it {does that ever happen to you?}, so i knew i really wanted and would wear it. also, it's affordable {$4.99}, so the next time i was at Target, i put it in my cart. :)

so, what do you think?

here's the rundown: the formula applies gorgeously and wears beautifully. since i don't wear my polishes longer than 3-4 days at most, i'm happy to say that there was very minimal wear, even after typing and lots of hand washing...fabulous job SK! i'll be wearing this one a lot this season...

you can find all Sonia Kashuk products at your local Target store.

all pics taken by me :)

Jason Wu Nail Polish Collection by CND

i always love the details that go into putting the finishing touches on the ensembles presented during fashion shows. of course, drooling over the clothes is a given, but sometimes i just have to know what nail color the models are wearing and who designed the shoes and accessories, if not the designer.

for Jason Wu's spring 2011 runway show, i was excited to discover that another color was created exclusively for the runway by CND, and will also be part of a new polish collection! the Jason Wu Nail Colour & Effects Collection will be the designer's first beauty endeavor and CND's first direct partnership with a designer.

"every season i play with different ways of using color in my collection, so it was a natural choice to collaborate with CND on a capsule of nail colors that reflects my aesthetics," the designer told WWD.

these shades will be limited edition and available may 2011. the stylish palette features four staple colors: Miss Wu (a limestone gray), Brigitte (a dirty rose), Veronica (a blood red, pictured below on model), and Sophia (a dark mushroom). also part of this collection is an effect topcoat, named Anna, that contains silk fragments to provide depth.




tell me: is this a polish collection you'll be interested in purchasing for yourself?

xo

nail color of the week: Color Club She's So Glam

pink is my favorite color, as many of you know, and this pink, Color Club She's So Glam, is no exception. i did find the application of this opaque creme to be a bit difficult, as the formula didn't apply as easily as i typically like (on the thick side and a bit streaky, if you know what i mean), but i managed to do an ok application with just two coats.


indoors w/flash on left; indoors no flash on right (sorry it's blurry!); pic up top taken outdoors, no flash.

other than that, i think this is a fun pink to end the summer with, don't you?

xo
pics taken by me; product sent to me by the brand.

nail color of the week: OPI for Sephora Mermaid to Order

something a little different: OPI for Sephora's Mermaid to Order. i bought this amazing blue-green shade at the beginning of summer on a trip to Sephora with my daughter. we both said "ooohhhh, so pretty!", so i bought it.

then it sat on a shelf all summer...


top pic taken indoors with a flash; above pic taken in the sun

if mermaids were real, their tails would be this color (well, at least some of them, LOL). anyway, i finally pulled it off that shelf last week and put it on. when i went to pick up my kids from school, my daughter instantly noticed-- "you've had that for so long, i'm glad you're finally wearing it"-- of course now she wants to wear it, too. :)

you can find OPI for Sephora Mermaid to Order at Sephora or online sephora.com

xo
pics taken by me :)

Fall Beauty 2009: MAC Nail Trend by Jin Soon Choi

much-sought-after nail guru, Jin Soon, who has worked the shows and with the best celebs, has created an of-the-moment, stylish collection of nail color exclusively for MAC. these six colors will thrill fashion and nail polish addicts alike-- you won't be able to survive without them this fall.



Cool Reserve- dirty grey lavender






For Fun- rich clean purple






Dance All Night- brick red






Dry Martini- khaki olive green






Rich, Dark, Delicious- rich blackened brown






Beyond Jealous- blackened blue green


Overlacquer and Underlacquer (top and base coats)


so what do you think? are there any colors you are dying to try? let me know in the comments!

MAC Nail Trend is available now at your local MAC stores and beauty counters nationwide. visit maccosmetics.com to order online.

xo
info and images courtesy of MAC

nail color of the week: China Glaze Fly

China Glaze has a new summer collection called Kicks, and the color that caught my eye first was this one called Fly. i would describe this color as a violet-raspberry shimmer-- so pretty and very wearable. the whole collection is fabulous, so check it out-- it's perfect for summer!

xo

Essie Neon Collection

add a touch of neon this summer with Essie's latest polishes: Essie Neon Nail Polish Collection. have fun, rock out and play with color on toes and tips. Essie brings color intensity back with the Neon Collection - a new crop of bright shades that pop.

as a sequel to last year's high-demand neon hues, Essie's new vivid nail colors are uber-chic, bold shades that take cues from both fashion and art. vibrant pinks and purples on the Spring runways and pop culture's technicolor graffiti art explosion have inspired neons to have their day in the spotlight. the Essie Neon Collection is a palette of gorgeous acid tones that light up the night.

"i want women to have fun with nail color," says founder Essie Weingarten. "these colors make a strong fashion statement and have personality. they really will bring smiles to women’s faces."

shades include:

Punchy Pink- delicious berry icicle
Flirty Fuchsia- flaming hot magenta
Funky Limelight- brilliant day-glo yellow
Perky Purple- electric boogie violet


tip from Essie Weingarten: "since neon nail colors produce a matte finish, make sure to apply a base and top coat like Essie Protein Base Coat and Good to Go! top coat for a rich, high shine finish."

the Essie Neon Color Collection is limited-edition, and available now at essie.com and fine spas, salons and beauty stores nationwide may 2009.

xo

nail color of the week: Chanel Vendetta

Chanel Vendetta is the "it" color of the spring season, believe it or not, and i am beyond thrilled with it. i love this deep purple (that has a hint of shimmer)-- it's really a color that could be worn year-round! :)

xo
pic taken by me :)

nail color of the week: Notorious by Jessica Cosmetics

i had to wear a dark color this week. i don't know what the urge was, but i needed to see my tips in a dark color. earlier this week, i told you about my shopping trip to Target, where i happened to pick up some nail color, and it turns out one of them was a dark shade from Jessica called Notorious.

i love this color-- a shimmery red-black shimmer that is similar to Sally Hansen's Glossy but instead takes on a more deep purple cast in dimmer lighting. the shimmer is very fine, so it's very pretty.

what do you think?

xo
photos taken by me :)

nail color of the week: OPI Pompeii Purple

another OPI lacquer this week, and it's one of my favorites! Pompeii Purple is a bright pink with a bluish-purple iridescence to it. in certain light, you can see it.

this color always makes me feel cheerful, and it looks great on toes too! :)

xo
photo taken by me :)

My Favorite Products of 2008

happy new year! how would you say 2008 was for you? good? better or worse than most? i would say, for me, it was a good year overall. i have learned a lot, and grown a lot. i hope 2009 will be even better!

this is my first-annual "favorites of 2008" post, and i have chosen the products i absolutely loved this year, but i have to say, it wasn't easy! but, i had to choose, so here they are...


my favorites of 2008 by beauty girl

favorite cleanser: Philosophy Purity Made Simple-- really i can't say enough about this cleanser except that it is really the best cleanser for removing all traces of dirt and makeup (including mascara)! i love everything from the smell to the texture and i even sometimes use it to clean my makeup brushes! honorable mention: Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

favorite eye cream: iQ Derma RestoreEyes Firming Eye Therapy-- this eye cream keeps my eyes looking bright, hydrates wonderfully, and i never have to worry about puffiness when i use it! honorable mention: L'Oreal Skin Genesis Eye Serum

favorite moisturizer: L'Oreal Skin Genesis Daily Moisturizer Oil Free Lotion-- to quote myself, "i love this stuff!" honorable mention: Bioelements Beyond Hydration

favorite acne treatment product: Bioelements Amino Mask-- this fabulous mask keeps my skin clear and works great as a spot treatment. honorable mention: iQ Derma Acne Treatment Lotion

favorite spf product: Lisa Hoffman Day Cream SPF 15-- non-greasy and keeps my skin looking healthy! honorable mention: Raw Minerals Active Veil

favorite oil-control product: Cosmedicine Medi-Matte-- controls oil, and contains an spf! honorable mention: MAC Oil Control Lotion

favorite foundation: Redpoint Transformative Dual Foundation- this full coverage foundation goes on smooth, blends easily and never feels heavy. honorable mention: Revlon Custom Creations Foundation

favorite new eyeshadow: L'Oreal HiP Metallic Eyeshadow Duos-- highly pigmented, long-lasting, beautiful colors for a beautiful eye look. honorable mention: Bobbi Brown Metallic Eyeshadows

favorite mascara: Maybelline XXL Extensions Mascara-- gives me long, lush, beautiful lashes that wears all day and removes easily at night. honorable mention: CoverGirl LashBlast mascara

favorite blush: Redpoint Airbrush Effects Blushwhip-- love the beautiful sheer color it gives. honorable mention: The Body Shop's Nature's Minerals Cheek Color

favorite lipgloss: L'Oreal Infalllible Never Fali Lipgloss--the best long-wearing lipgloss that doesn't dry lips out in the slightest. honorable mention: Clinique Superbalm Lipgloss

favorite lipstick: Bobbi Brown Metallic Lipstick in Pretty Pink-- i don't usually like lipstick, but this one is easy to love. honorable mention: NARS Lipstick in Beautiful Liar

favorite body wash: Caress Cream Oil Body Wash really surprised me with how soft and smooth it left my skin! honorable mention: Jan Marini Bioglycolic Resurfacing Body Scrub

favorite shampoo: Aveda Dry Remedy Shampoo-- the most moisturizing shampoo ever! honorable mention: none

favorite conditioner: L'Oreal Vive Pro Nutri Gloss Conditioner-- a product i didn't expect too much from, but found to be truly amazing! honorable mention: none

favorite hair treatment: Moroccanoil Masque for Hair leaves my hair silky and shiny! a definite must-have! honorable mention: Bumble & Bumble Creme de Coco

favorite styling aid: Bumble and bumble Spray de Mode-- a fabulous and unique hairspray! honorable mention: Product

favorite multitasker: Ojon Tawaka Ancient Tribal Rejuvenating Cleanser-- cleanses the skin on your face (removes makeup, too!) and body, as well as your hair with good-for-you ingredients. honorable mention: Global Goddess Beauty South Pacific Shimmer

favorite body lotion/cream: Bioelements Vitalization-- leaves skin feeling and smelling fabulous! honorable mention: Elizabeth Grant Vitamin C Body Lotion

favorite nail color: NARS Jungle Red-- my perfect red. honorable mention: OPI Baby It's "Coal" Outside

favorite fragrance: Miss Dior Cherie-- an amazingly girly scent that is fun and still sophisticated! honorable mention: John Varvatos for Women

favorite beauty/fashion book: Carmindy's Get Positively Beautiful-- i love the makeup tips and how-to's, but i think it's great that there's so much more to this book than that. honorable mention: Rescue Your Nails by Ji Baek and The One Hundred by Nina Garcia

what were some of your favorite products this year?

happy new year!

xo

nail color of the week: OPI Baby It's "Coal" Outside

Baby It's "Coal" Outside is a color from OPI's Holiday in Toyland collection. this is a fabulous, deep charcoal color with shimmer.

i thought about wearing red, you know, the "typical" holiday color, but i wanted to do something different this year. it's really a great color- I love it!

xo

nail color of the week: Sally Hansen Guilty Pleasure

Sally Hansen Guilty Pleasure is a color i have been admiring for a couple of weeks now. i don't know if it's the time of year or maybe it's the trend going on with metallics, but i was just drawn to it even though i don't realy consider myself to be such a gold-wearing person. but, since i do sometimes wear gold eyeshadows and bronz-toned accessories, i figured i could (finally) try this one out.

i don't know if i like it just yet. i think i'm just not used to seeing it on my hands, so it's a bit odd to look at right now. but it's festive and pretty for the holiday season, don't you think?

xo
photo taken by me :)

Chanel Moscow Nail Collection

Chanel has just released an amazing three-color collection first seen at the Chanel Paris-Moscow show at the Ranelagh Theatre in paris on december 3rd. this limited edition collection of nail lacquers was conceived by Peter Philips, global creative director for Chanel Makeup.

the colors:

Or de Russie (black with gold shimmer)
Nuit de Russie (black with blue shimmer)
Feu de Russie (black with red shimmer)

Mr. Phillips says, "the base of these three shades is black, to which we added a different sparkle for each of the colours: red, gold and blue. the Feu de Russie shade is intense and reflects passion. Or de Russie has a slight gold patina and evokes richness, while Nuit de Russie blue is full of mystery. when you apply the shades, which are rather dark, the surprising element is that they capture light so well that they create a fireworks effect – the shades dazzle with an unbelievable sparkle."

visit chanel.com or your local Chanel boutique to purchase these little beauties!

so what do you think? love them, right?! which is your favorite?

xo
source
image courtesy of Chanel

nail color of the week: essie Rockstar Skinny

from the Winter Collection, essie's Rockstar Skinny is a gorgeous deep red with a hint of shimmer. indoors the shimmer can't be seen and the color looks like a deep brown-red.

xo
photo taken by me :)

nail color of the week: nubar Pasadena Purple

i love purple polishes, and this one by nubar called Pasadena Purple, is fabulous! it goes on smooth and dries, as my son would say, "super-fast!" so i can move on with my day.

xo

nail color of the week: NARS Jungle Red

did you see the movie The Women? well in both the 1939 version and the 2008 version, the nail color Jungle Red is like a character in and of itself.

the 1939 version was in black and white, so who even knows what the red actually looked like, but the 2008 movie is in full color and yes, it is NARS Jungle Red that is featured.

as you can see it is an amazing red (really, i think this one is my favorite red), and i believe this would look amazing on every skintone!

xo
photo taken by me :)

nail color of the week: OPI Pink of Hearts

Pink of Hearts from OPI is a very pretty pink that is not completely sheer, and gives your nails a great pink "flush".

this color, first introduced in 2007, also helps support the Susan G. Komen for the Cure!

a heartfelt, hopeful light pink, Pink of Hearts is a shade every woman will be proud to wear because it represents the power of caring, the power of women supporting each other, and the power of pink.

support the cause, buy it here.

xo
photo taken by me :)

nail color of the week: L'Oreal Innocence

L'Oreal Innocence is the perfect shade for those days that you don't have time to take the time to apply a dark polish (or get to the nail salon), but you don't want to go bare. this color adds great shine and, as you can see, makes your natural nail look fabulous!

xo
photo taken by me :)