More Pretty for the Fall

NARS always has the prettiest lines of cosmetics.  Each season, their looks are great.  But what's even better with NARS is that their quality is top-of-the-line.  Their pigmentation is good, so you're going to get a lot of color to create your look.

Check out the Fall line from NARS:

The Fall 2011 collection is resolutely avant-garde. Daring shots of color are tempered with softer, subtler tones. Eyes range from bright true blue to silvery taupe, dazzling peach and matte dove gray. Lips run the gamut from statement-making matte red to sophisticated plum and sparkling champagne pink. A stormy gray nail color adds a mysterious finishing touch.

The campaign was designed and photographed by NARS Founder and Creative Director François Nars. Italian beauty Mariacarla Boscono was chosen as the face of the campaign because of her sophistication and chameleon-like ability to become the character she is made up to portray.

Outremer Single Eyeshadow, $23

Bold blue

Grand Palais Duo Eyeshadow, $33 (Limited Edition)

Silvery taupe and dusty rose

Delphes Trio Eyeshadow, $45 (Limited Edition)

Sparkling sheer peach, matte dove gray and frosted sage

Oasis Lip Gloss, $24 (Limited Edition)

Sparkling pink champagne

Train Bleu Velvet Matte Lip Pencil, $24

Deep aubergine

Pago Pago Lipstick, $24

Petal pink

Montego Bay Pure Matte Lipstick, $25

Rose pink

Mascate Pure Matte Lipstick, $25

True red

Galion Nail Polish, $17 (Limited Edition)

Deep gray

Available now on the new narscosmetics.com

Ready for the Fall?

I know, I know...it's still summer.  True, but back-to-school sales are everywhere, the days are getting a little shorter, and all this means one thing: fall is on it's way.  Yay!  Fall's my favorite season, so I'm a happy girl.

China Glaze is offering a lovely line for this fall, their Metro collection.  Check out the goods and see what they have to say about this urban-inspired line: 

City living boasts excitement, a cool, edginess and confidence that oozes from fashion forward women like none other. City loving celebs like Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Ivanka Trump, Rosario Dawson and Jaime King have style to spare and their fashion sense trickles down to everyone from working women to college kids. This Fall, China Glaze has captured the big city feel in 12 sexy, sophisticated shades that are on trend, exciting and will be on every fashion maven’s “must have” list. Whether you prefer downtown funk or uptown class, China Glaze’s METRO collection pulls together ensembles and will undoubtedly make heads turn! Colors in this collection include:

• Skyscraper: A sparkling, glitter blue reminiscent of the sky over the city.
• CG in the City: Glittering dusty purple, bronze and silver multi-tonal glitter, perfect for a pop of edge from West side to East side.
• Urban-Night: Exactly what you need for a night on the town – rich purple crème.
• Traffic Jam: Stop traffic with a breathtaking, raspberry pink crème.
• City Siren: The perfect deep, red crème to match any outfit.
• Loft-y Ambitions: Burgundy shimmer and cocktail hour – nothing better.
• Brownstone: Burnt terracotta crème mirrors the quaint townhouses of the city.
• Midtown Magic: Burgundy base with flecks of gold shimmer captures the latest fashion trend.
• Street Chic: This gorgeous beige crème is the perfect go to shade letting your clothes do the talking.
• Concrete Catwalk: Steel grey crème is amazing for a chic mani.
• Westside Warrior: For the trendsetting woman this camo green crème is to die for.
• Trendsetter: Mustard yellow shimmer translates beautifully from hot dogs to nails.

China Glaze is free of DBP, toluene, and added formaldehyde.

My favorites from this? Hard to pick, but my top three are:

Concrete Catwalk

Urban Night

Midtown Magic

Yup, with these shades, I welcome the Fall!

Summer Trends: Coral

Summer is supposedly just around the corner.  Here in Seattle, it seems like warm weather is NEVER going to get here, but I know that soon enough it will heat up to the point where I can bust out the short sleeves!  Summer's the time to lighten up when it comes to makeup, but it's also a time to embrace fun, lively colors.

This year, one big color trend is coral.  Coral's great because it gives a pop of color and looks great on almost everyone.  If you want to incorporate coral into your summer makeup bag, here are a few awesome options:

For your cheeks: Cargo BeachBlush in Coral Beach.  This product is great because it combines blush with bronzer.  It will give your face a soft, radiant glow and a nice depth of color.  It's a nice option for faking your tan and having some color on your cheeks.  Available at Ulta for $28.

For your lips: fresh Sugar Lip Gloss in Sugar Glory.  fresh lip gloss is light and lovely.  This shimmery coral feels natural, not sticky.  The color is subtle but flattering--perfect for your daytime look. Plus it contains SPF 15.  Available at Sephora for $18.

For your nails: Sephora by OPI in Let's Do Lunch.  This nail color is warm and wearable.  It's not the most exciting color in the world, but it's great for everyday.  It's especially lovely on darker skin tones and is worth checking out.  If you're looking for a more pink-hued coral, check Sephora by OPI in How Cute is That?  The name says it all!  Both are available at Sephora for $9.50.

Hot or Not: Python Pedicure

I was flipping through the latest issue of Vogue, and they highlighted a new "trend": a python pedicure.  (Head over to the Vogue website to read the article for yourself.)  The insanely expensive pedi (it's $300!) involves using real snakeskin applied directly to the nails.  The result: serpentine-patterned nails that don't come from a decal.

According to the article, the nail artist uses the skin that is naturally shed from a python.  This has me feeling very relieved.  The thought of having to slaughter a poor snake so some wealthy trendjumper can have fancy nails bothered me.  But since the skin is shed naturally, the python is more like a renewable beauty resource.

So, as for the actual look: python printed nail...do you love it or loathe it?  At first I wasn't impressed, but the more I look at it, the more the python pedi is growing on me.  I don't think I'd do it (I have plenty of other things to spend $300 on!), but it's kind of interesting.  I like animal prints in general, so this is a natural extension.

Since no snakes are hurt in the creation of this, I give the python pedicure a nod of approval.  If you've got money to burn, go for it!  What do you think?

Hot or Not: Shattered/Crackled Nails

There's a nail trend that I've been seeing for months: the shattered look.  When I was flipping through the latest batch of beauty mags, there they were, right in my face and completely unavoidable: shattered nails in the current OPI Pirates of the Caribbean line. 

Let's take a look at the line.  It features six new shades inspired by this summer's version of the Pirates franchise: Skull & Glossbones, Steady as She Rose, Sparrow Me the Drama, Planks a Lot, Stranger Tides, and Mermaid's Tears (see below; the color on the left end is the Silver Shatter...keep reading!).

You can wear the lacquers alone, or you can do what OPI suggests and go one step further: break out a bottle of OPI's Silver Shatter and apply one coat of it over your dry, freshly painted nails. The results?  Multi-dimensional nails; cracks of color that show underneath a shattered silver layer.

Like I said, this trend has been picking up steam over the months. Different salons and nail companies offer various techniques and products to get this look, but you get the idea from OPI's latest offerings.

Here's my question for you: what's your take on the crackled look?  Is it a hit or a miss?

Here are my two cents on the matter:

• For me, I personally don't like this look.  I prefer a neater, more polished look.  It's interesting, yes, but nothing I'd want to wear.
• This nail technique reminds me so much of faux finishes used on furniture in old home improvement/decorating TV shows from the 90s.  Somewhere Christopher Lowell is loving this nail trend.  (Don't know who I'm talking about?  Click here!)
• I am not loving the new Pirates of the Caribbean nail line from OPI.  There wasn't a single color I was excited about, but maybe I'm just jaded.  I'm not a huge Pirates fan (I find the movies stupid and--worse--boring!), so a beauty tie-in doesn't ring my chimes.

Would you wear crackled/shattered nails?  Leave me a comment!

Lady Gray

I came home the other day to several boxes waiting for me.  The one that stood out the most was marked "Dior."  I ripped into that sucker like a little kid on Christmas morning, and was rewarded with three beautiful gray nail polishes from Dior.

Let's take a look!

The entire new gray collection is inspired by the great fashion cities of the world: Paris, London, and New York. Dior considers the collection an invitation to an urban voyage, and I must say: the colors rock.

First there's Gris Montaigne (Paris), which, according to Dior is "sleek and elegant, the very iconic color of the Dior House."

Then there's this lovely shade: Bond Street (London), "a gray London fog infused with a touch of blue, urban chic."

And finally (the shade I'm currently wearing and LOVING!), NY 57th (New York), "a metallic asphalt, a homage to the dusky light of the Manhattan skyline."

All the new nail polishes feature an interesting new brush--it's short and tapered slightly at the tip, so it does take some time to get used to applying this stuff. But in the end, you're rewarded with nails that feel smooth and that shimmer like crazy. This is high end polish, and at $21 a bottle, it's not for everyone. But for those who care, Dior's new gray collection is AMAZING.

I'm so totally hooked!

Anchors Away!!!

Are you ready for Spring yet?  I sure am.  Though the Winter hasn't been particularly awful here in the Seattle area, I am more than ready to have longer days, warmer weather, and maybe, just maybe, to see the sun on a somewhat regular basis.

Since it's Monday and it's still Winter, I thought it would be a good time to look at a colorful, lovely Springtime collection of nail color from China Glaze.  Because hitting stores in time for better weather is their fun Anchors Away collection.

Let's see what they've got for us...

Sail away this spring in 12 nautically-inspired colors from China Glaze. These bold and confident brights are reminiscent of a carefree natural getaway, with soft ethereal hues that inspire leisurely thoughts of sand and sea. Colors in this collection include:

Life Preserver: Highly pigmented and luxurious poppy crème.
Hey Sailor: Vibrant crème red.
Ahoy!: Delightfully intense pink that flashes with reflective glass speck.
First Mate: Sophisticated and rich navy crème.
Starboard: Hip and playful green crème.
Lighthouse: Multi-dimensional, bright yellow glass speck.
White Cap: Whimsical and sparkling multi-dimensional white.
Pelican Gray: High shine, cool toned grey crème.
Sea Spray: Calming pale blue crème.
Below Deck: A flirty mix of taupe and violet.
Sunset Sail: Delightful peachy pink high shine crème.
Knotty: Micro-particle beige shimmer.

I received samples of the new line and I must say: the colors are great!  My favorite?  Hands down: Below Deck.  It's such an interesting, pretty, and wearable color.  I also really like  Pelican Gray and Life Preserver (though that shade doesn't look great on my skin tone...pout!).

What do you think of this collection?  I say it beats the pants off of OPI's Texas collection!

How to Wear It: Matte Lipstick

Matte lips, from NARS (for Marc Jacobs Spring/Summer 2011)

Matte Lipstick has been a big beauty trend for a while now.  And for good reason: super shiny (and super sticky!) lips can look a bit too...much at times.  Too much gloss has a tendency to look juvenile at best, cheap and oddly "blow-up doll" at worst. 

Matte lipsticks provide a nice alternative.  They give color without distracting shine, but those who have been known to overdo it on the gloss may have a hard time transitioning towards this trend.  There are ton of matte lipsticks on the market at all different price points, so there's no good excuse not to try them out.  The color also lasts longer, so you won't have to touch up quite so much. 

Here are some tips to pulling off matte lips this season:

1. Prep your lips!  Matte lipstick can be "chalky" to some users and it's a bit less forgiving then glossier offerings.  Exfoliate your lips daily--just gently run your toothbrush over your lips to remove dead skin cells.  You can also use a lip scrub, but why waste the money?  A little honey and sugar also help slough off dead skin, leaving your lips softer and not cracked.
2. Apply a light coat of moisturizer (note: not lip balm!) to your lips.  Or...try for a lip primer.  I'm not typically a fan of primers, but for matte lipsticks, they just might help.
3. Take your time and apply the matte lipcolor with care.  Use a lip brush for more precision.

What do you think of matte lipstick?  Is it something you can wear or do you find it too drying? Leave me a comment and let me know!

More Fall Trends!

As I mentioned yesterday, a new season means it's time to make some changes and to adjust your beauty routine to reflect the new season ahead. For whatever reason, it seems like the move into fall brings with it the most change...and it makes me want to update my beauty products and clothes more than at other season changes throughout the year.

No matter what season we're in, I think we all want the basics: glowing skin, kissable lips, rich hair color and perfectly styled strands.  Here are some tips and beauty buys to keep you looking effortlessly chic throughout the fall season from the folks over at Proctor & Gamble (don't laugh--they're the home of some of your favorite beauty products like Pantene, Cover Girl, and Olay!).

Hair Color
Variations of warm reds, red-auburns and strawberry will be the color looks of the season. Whatever your hair color, fall looks will be fresh - the days of visible roots are over! Get the vibrant fall color you want with Clairol Perfect 10. The AminoGlycine technology creates depth and dimension using high-gloss, high-shine color for flawless gray coverage in just 10 minutes. (No visible roots!  Ah!  I need to get to my salon ASAP!)

Hair Style
Flat hair is so last season! Fall is all about making a statement with your look – including your hair style. Boost strands to reveal ultimate volume and bounce with the NEW Pantene Pro-V Fine Hair Triple Action Volume Mousse. It is formulated to keep hair from falling flat, creating effortless volume by lifting at the root and extending through strands. (I could really use this stuff!  My hair has seemed a bit too flat lately...)

Skin
This season give your skin a fresh start and a firmer, younger look. The Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Serum is a super concentrated serum clinically proven to help firm skin’s appearance across three key zones – the face, neck, and décolletage after only five days. Containing Olay’s most concentrated amino-peptide complex, this hydrating serum is the perfect pre-makeup skin solution.  (I love Olay.  For me, they can do no wrong!)

• Insider tip from Olay Celebrity Makeup Artist Bruce Grayson: “Great makeup starts with great skincare. The key to prepping and hydrating the skin without overdoing it is using a product that’s powerful yet lightweight.”

Lips
Complementing all skin tones, sheer lipsticks in rose, pink, peach and beige will be seen this fall season. Soft color gloss will mimic nude lips and add fullness. COVERGIRL Outlast Lipstain gives lips a natural look and the innovative formula delivers precision application and color that lasts without the sticky, heavy layer of many traditional lipsticks. Lips feel bare and look beautiful – what more could a woman want from her lip color?  (I am currently on the hunt for a killer fall lip product and will happily accept any suggestions you want to throw my way!)

• Insider tip from COVERGIRL Celebrity Makeup Artist Molly R. Stern: “To achieve the perfect pout and smooth lips, start by exfoliating your lips with warm water and a wash cloth, then apply an emollient lip balm to deeply nourish lips throughout the night.”

Embrace Fall Colors Sephora

I LOVE the fall.  It's my absolute favorite season.  I love the weather, the way the trees change colors, and all the new fashion and makeup trends.  It's the best time of the year.

Now that summer has met its end for 2010, it's time to start easing into fall beauty trends. With the virtually unlimited product selection at Sephora, incorporating fall colors and fragrance is effortless!

Here's a selection of fall beauty must-haves available at Sephora:


Sephora Collection Colorful Palette in Kiss From 10 ($24) - Give the neutral eye a twist using this natural toned palette perfect for all skin complexions. The four shadows and matte liner featured are all formulated with a color-intensifying HIBOOST complex to ensure a look that lasts.

Sephora Advanced Lash Booster ($17) - The first lash booster mascara that doubles as a cosmetic AND treatment product. It works to improve the four most important lash characteristics - Length, Thickness, Fullness and Strength - for healthy, beautiful lashes.


Sephora Ultra Shine Lipgloss in Dazzling Violet ($14) -This lip gloss combines form and function with a new generation of “multi-holigraphic” shimmers, a special “ultra hydrating complex” to help stimulate hyaluronic acid synthesis in the lip, and an elegant, transparent tint that showcases the perfect shade of violet that will give lips an overall boost.

Sephora by OPI Nail colour in Just A Little Dangerous ($9) - Purple is the trend shade for fall. The dramatic eggplant purple will add an edge to any look.

Kat Von D Adora Eau de Parfum ($55) - This new fragrance from Kat Von D exudes a sensual and passionate aura with notes of lychee, boysenberry and thyme, the perfect mix for transitioning your scent to the new season.

Fall Nails from Essie

I'm a bit late on this one, but I'm a nail color fanatic, so sue me!  Anyway, Essie's Fall 2010 Collection is out now and features six lovely new shades for us to paint our nails this season.  I must say: I like all six of these shades and think that they'd look great as we get into the cooler months.

Here are the colors:

• In Stitches: cheeky blush pink
• Limited Addiction: racy garnet red
• Sew Psyched: cashmere-soft sage pewter
• Merino Cool: sensuous autumn mulberry
• Velvet Voyeur: intense chocolate amethyst
• Little Brown Dress: beguiling black coffee

Essie nail polishes retail for $8.00 each.  What do you think of the collection?

Do or Don't: Big Hair

I've been flipping through what feels like (and probably is!) thousands of pages of fashion magazines lately (thanks to all the September issues).  In my reading, I've been bombarded with trends for the fall and winter.  In one of the mags, they featured big hair. 

To get big hair, the magazine (I think it was Glamour) suggested boosting hair by doing the following:

• Add volume, carefully.  Instead of making hair wider or higher, pick just one.  They suggest going with wider hair if your face is long; higher hair if your face is round.
• Add width by making spirals with a curing iron, working from the bottom layers up.  Follow this by fingercombing and letting top hair fall flat.
• Add height by teasing the crown area with a fine-toothed comb.  Smooth out the front up and over the teased section--pin the sides back and spray.

If none of these work, I suppose you could always pick up a Bumpits.

So: what do you think of the big hair trend?  Is it something you would try out?  Or do you think it looks ridiculous?  Here's my take: I prefer the high look over the wide look, but I don't think I could personally rock either look.  Big hair can look cool on the catwalk and if done right for an event, but for every day?  Meh.  It's too fussy.

What do you think?  Leave a comment!

I'm A Sucker For A Palette!

Last month I gave you a list of super cute beauty products that are coming out this fall.  In looking over this list, it seems that I'm a sucker for a palette.  Then as I flipped through a few September issues, I noticed a lovely new palette from Estee Lauder: their Blue Dahlia Pure Color palette.


I am not usually a fan of blue eyeshadows, and I don't know if I'd actually wear any of the five shades included in the palette.  However, I find them to be just lovely.  If you're a fan of blue, check this out.  If you're like me and don't love blues, check out the Surreal Violet version--it includes five purple shades that rock.  Both the Blue Dahlia and the Surreal Violet palettes cost $42.

I always think of skin care products when I think of Estee Lauder.  In fact I don't think I've ever tried anything from Estee Lauder, apart from a tube of lipstick.  Still, this palette is lovely.  I can't wait to check these out in person.

Fall Nails

For the past few years now, super dark nails have been all the rage in the fall/winter.  I don't think deep purples, blues, and blacks are going anywhere any time soon.  HOWEVER, if you want to try something new, why not consider tones like gray, beige, or taupe?

Here are five great shades to consider:

 Essie Nail Polish in Mink Muffs

OPI Nail Lacquer in You Don't Know Jacques

Butter London in Tramp Stamp

Deborah Lippman Nail Lacquer in Waking Up in Vegas

Chanel Particuliere

What do you think? Will you try "greige" nails?  I love 'em!

Cute Stuff Alert!

Since the end of summer is almost here, I've been reading more fashion/beauty magazines than normal.  In all my recent reading, I've stumbled across three cute products that are either out now or are coming out soon.  Check out these cuties...they're lust-worthy!

Kooba for Laura Mercier Wallet, $85.  Preorder by September 1st from www.nordstrom.com. Here's what Nordstrom has to say about this baby:

Kooba, known for their attention to detail, original styles and distinctive textures, joins Laura Mercier, the founder of the 'flawless face,' in a brilliant partnership to create a limited-edition color palette wallet.

Carry your makeup in style. This trendy textured Kooba clutch holds your wallet essentials, plus a limited-edition Laura Mercier palette of hand-selected shades. Also included is a double-ended professional brush and mini mascara. Many different makeup looks can be created with this versatile color mix for eyes, cheeks and lips. A 'Look Card' with a few of Laura's secret tips and techniques is included. You'll love the portability of this take-along clutch—it's absolutely perfect for touchups on the go!

Guerlain Ecrin 6 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette (in Champs-Elysees--above), $84 from Neiman Marcus or Bergdorf Goodman.  According to Allure, "lift the filligreed silver lid and you'll find a mirrored door that reveals six coordinated shadows and a double ended goat-hair brush."  So pretty for so many reasons!

The Gossip Girl Collection from Nicole by OPI.  I've never been a fan of Gossip Girl (I've never watched a single episode!), but the nail colors in this collection are a lot of fun.  Available at Target soon, you'll be able to pick from Scandal, Secrets & Sparkle (a sparkly silver shade), Too Rich for You (a lovely blue), and Nicole...Spotted (a glittery, lighter blue).  I love blue nails in the fall/winter, so Too Rich For You looks irresistibly yummy to me!

Do or Don't: Frosted Lips

Note: Every Wednesday this month, I am featuring a do/don't entry.  I want YOUR opinion on makeup trends.  There's no right or wrong answer, but I bet you have an opinion on some of these topics.  If you all like this, I'll try to make it a regular thing. 

Do or Don't: Pearly lips as seen in an ad from Maybelline.

I was flipping through one of the many fashion mags out there, and came across an ad for a new line of lipstick from Maybelline--their Colorsensational Pearls collection.  The ad stopped me mid-flip and resulted in a groan.  Pearly lips.  Really?  Now, to be fair, Maybelline says their Pearl line is "always flattering, never frosty," but to my eye, that lip color is looking decidedly frosty.

I'm in my mid-30s and remember with a degree of horror and embarrassment how popular frosty makeup was when I was a kid.  I had a 5th grade math teacher (who I hated!) who wore frosted lipstick, covered her eyelids with frosted shadow, and had frosted hair.  It was a hot shimmery mess.  And whenever I think about the frosted makeup, my 5th grade math teacher comes flying into my mind.  Not good.

I know, I know...everything old is new again.  For some reason, 80s inspired looks are everywhere lately.  For me personally, frosted lips are not just a NO, they're a HELL NO.  I am a firm believer that if you lived through the trend the first time around, you're probably too old to jump on the bandwagon the second time around.

But that's just me.


So I ask you: What do you think of frosty lipstick like that seen in Maybelline's ad?  Is it hot or not?  Leave me a comment and let me know!

Gray: Hot or Not?

I received an email from Infusium 23 about what they consider to be the trend of celebrities embracing and enhancing their gray hair. Here's what Infusium 23 had to say:

For most women, gray hair means one thing – getting older. However, thanks to the gray hair trend among celebrities and fashionistas, gray is the new black (or blonde, or brunette!). Songstress Pink, supermodel Kate Moss and reality TV star Kelly Osbourne have gone as far as dying their locks gray, while older women such as actress Jamie Lee Curtis have sported their gray locks proudly.

Disguising gray hair can be a never-ending battle, but women can now embrace all shades of gray! Dare to wear hair gray (whether it’s natural or not!) with these tips from Infusium 23 hair health expert Gavin Harwin:

• With gray hair, it’s important to avoid things that look like roller sets and teasing. Think simple and modern, not retro, to keep it fresh.
• Gray hair can be drier and coarser. Add moisture and control frizz with Infusium 23 Frizz Controller Leave-In Treatment which infuses the hair cuticle with nutrients to provide smoothness, control and protection against frizz.
• Try a cool, short haircut which makes gray hair look young and hip.

What do you think of gray hair as a trend?
Here are my 2 cents: If you are an older woman and your hair is naturally going gray, I think there's no reason NOT to embrace gray. Salt and pepper, white, and shiny silver hair can look beautiful. If a woman likes her hair to be gray, then she should go for it.

My mother has salt and pepper hair, but she would love for it to be silver. She's asked stylist after stylist and has always been told that it's difficult--if not impossible--to dye hair gray in a way that looks good. She's stuck with her salt and pepper, hoping for the day when it all turns gray.

While naturally gray hair looks just fine, I think it looks really weird for someone who is not naturally gray to dye their hair that shade. Look at Kelly Osborne in the photo above. It looks strange to me, but what do I know?

Let me know your thoughts! If this really is a "trend," I can't see many women embracing it.

Okie Dokie, tokidoki!

Have you been anywhere near a Sephora lately? If so, you've no doubt been bombarded by cutesy products from tokidoki.

When I first saw the products, I shrugged them off. I had never used anything by tokidoki, and the graphics seemed a little too tween-ish for my taste. I figured tokidoki was all about packaging and that the actual quality of the product would be an afterthought.

But then I actually tried something by tokidoki--their Prisma Lip Gloss (in Bullets)--and my mind was changed. Apart from being a bit too fruity, I adore this lip gloss. The color is subtle, the shine is insane, and I love the way it feels--and looks!--on my lips. The applicator takes a bit of getting used to: it's a clear silicone paddle that makes lip gloss application a snap once you get used to it.

Based on my experience with Prisma Lip Gloss, I feel a bit better about the tokidoki collection and would recommend checking it out--especially if you're buying products for a slightly younger woman.

Here's what Sephora has to say about their tokidoki products:

With summer just around the corner, it’s time to add a pop of color to your palette! Whether you are an au naturel gal or glam goddess, the new criminally cute tokidoki collection exclusively at Sephora has you covered with the hottest shades of the season. From shimmering bronzer to long-lasting lip stains and eye-popping shadows, the collection offers all you need to create an irresistibly edgy new look!

Add a little mischief to your makeup bag with these colorful must-haves:

• tokidoki Perfetto Eyeliner ($16) – Channel your inner artist and draw a temporary tattoo on the skin or expertly line the eyes with this innovative chisel-tipped liquid liner. Available in eight bold shades.
• tokidoki Fantastico Lip Stain ($15) – This unique marker pen applicator will provide lips with intense color for all-day wear.
• tokidoki Luminosa Powder ($22) – Achieve a luminescent, radiant glow with this highlighting powder.
• tokidoki Cromatico Eyeshadow ($15) – Housed in signature tokidoki heart and crossbones packaging, these high-pigment shadows layer beautifully for a velvety finish. Available in 16 shades and multiple textures.
• tokidoki Brillante Glitter Eyeliner ($14) – Make your eyes sparkle with these vibrant, glitter-infused pencil liners. Available in 14 vivid shades.
• tokidoki Prisma Lip Gloss ($15) – Add sexy shine to lips with this non-sticky, moisturizing formula in a sweet blueberry flavor.
• tokidoki Inferno Bronzer ($22) – A shimmering bronzer gives your face a glowing, warm color that looks stunning solo or over makeup.
  

Blend art and beauty for a criminally chic look with the new tokidoki collection available exclusively at Sephora stores.

OPI For Spring/Summer

Every season, OPI looks for exotic locations as their inspiration for their newest line. This Spring and Summer, OPI's going with Hong Kong, the fragrant harbor.

Here are their new shades:

• Bling Dynasty: A shimmery gold
• Red My Fortune Cookie: Rich red
• Hot & Spicy: A sizzling coral
• Dim Sum Plum: A purple-berry hue
• Jade is the New Black: Vibrant green
• Suzi Says Feng Shui: A serene cobalt blue
• A Good Man-darin is Hard to Find: A zesty red-orange
• Lucky Lucky Lavender: Light purple
• Meet Me on the Star Ferry: A moonlit violet
• Panda-monium Pink: Light pink
• Pearl of Wisdom: A lustrous pearl shade
• Chop-sticking to My Story: Warm caramel shade

Hmm. I am not entirely sure that I like this line. Maybe I'm getting OPI fatigue, but the names seem stupid and borderline stereotyped. And the colors are a bit too Easter egg-ish for my taste. If I had to pick a favorite, I'd probably go with Jade is the New Black, but I'm just "meh" about the whole thing. Maybe in my old age I just prefer the classics. Who knows.

What do you think of OPI's Hong Kong line?

Spring Trends for Your Nails

Spring is in the air! I mentioned yesterday that the Spring 2010 collection from NARS is due out in a few days. Then I got an email the other day from the good folks over at Ms. Manicure with the Spring 2010 forecast for nail trends.

Here's what they had to say. And let me just add that I've tried Ms. Manicure products and they're decent...and affordable, which is always a plus. Let me also add that I really like the green nail trend for some reason. What do you think of it?

Mint Green

Give polish color the green light this year – literally. Spring 2010 is all about pastel colors, especially mint green. Promising to be popular, the color provides an exotic pop to the hands without being too bright and distracting. With Essie and Chanel already offering greens, it is sure to be a trend that sticks. Make the polish last longer by providing proper cuticle care prior to the polish with the help of the Ms. Manicure Handy Dandy Mani kit ($9.99). With the help of a cuticle clipper and wooden cuticle boards, you can moisture and take care of manicures so the polish won’t pop off!

Lace Nails

Boudoir is back – and not just in your lingerie drawer. Translate the trend to your manicure by sporting a lace pattern on your nails. A different approach to the everyday nail art, the glitz and glamorous look takes the patterns your kid sister used to press on her fingertips to a whole new adult extreme. And, if you’re feeling wild, you can even get the look at home with real lace!

Nude Nails

This year, it’s all about going au-natural. From organic products to sustainable living, take the trend all the way to your fingertips by forgetting the bright beach-inspired colors and black. Grab a light peach, champagne or pink tinted polish and bare it all. Before applying the polish, don’t forget to buff out imperfections with Ms. Manicure‘s Call Your Buff ($2.99), a four-sided emery board. Buffing your nails will provide a solid base for the polish, and will ensure they look great underneath a thin sheen!

Polish-Free Manicures

With smudges and imperfections a thing of the past, new nail product alternatives, like Minx Manicure, promise to keep the caps on your polish in 2010. A favorite of Rihanna and Blake Lively, the no-polish mani offers a 2- to 4-millimeter-thick film that's cut to fit the nail and affixed with a heat-activated adhesive. Costing $35 - $45 a manicure, each manicure lasts over two weeks. If you are looking to do your own no-chip manicure, make a point to polish the tips of your nails (as well as the tops) to avoid chipping. And, if you accidentally get a bit of polish on your skin in the process, roll a piece of a cotton ball around a wooden cuticle stick (available in Ms. Manicure’s Handy Dandy Mani kit), dip in nail polish remover and gently rub off excess polish!