CND Daily Nail 9.13.11 Harlequin Hardware Manicures at Diego Binetti

Please enjoy the following press release from CND!

The CND Daily Nail 9.13.11

Harlequin Hardware Manicures at Diego Binetti

September 13, 2011 - CND pioneered nails as accessories on the runway, and for Diego Binetti, nails are a true statement piece. So ladies and gents, please grab your disguises - we're on our way to a masquerade ball!


For Diego Binetti, Candice Manacchio delivered drama for digits, crafting "Harlequin Hardware" manicures stained in CND Colour in Raspberry Parfait and Frosting Cream, capped in gold and silver metal for an artisanal finish. Toes were polished in Raspberry Parfait. Makeup embraced "mask as part of the model," and hair was crimped and elaborately wrapped for a nighttime beauty look to remember:

At Karen Walker, Wanda Ruiz custom blended "Murky Mustard" manicures using CND Colour in Bicycle Yellow with 7 drops of CND Colour in Blackjack for a summery, spirited and youthful shade. Fresh faces with poppy orange lips and Victorian twisted hair made it almost possible to hear the songbirds tweeting!

OPI I Lily Love You

I saved the best for last from the 2011 Nice Stems collection.  This is I Lily Love You, a pink based jelly glitter with flakies!  The flakies are mostly pink and semi-iridescent but it's still a flakie!  To show you how it looks alone, this is 2 coats over OPI Natural Nail base coat.

The flakies are hard to see on the nail, and there is also some glitter sprinkled out there too.  Not sure how much I like this on my nails bare - it almost makes the fingers look injured?

In the shade, it looks a bit better.  I have to tell you, this dries gritty.  You can use OPI Top Coat or RapiDry, but if you want a smooth finish, I recommend Seche Vite or nubar Diamont.

Finally indoors with the flash, you can see the flakies, the glitter, the pink jelly base... it's all pretty.


However, this color seriously looks amazing over other colors.  Here is it over OPI Come to Poppy.

Oh yes, much better.  I still wish the flakies showed up on the nail as well as it does in the bottle, but hey, it's a start!  More like this OPI!

And in the shade - seriously, I'm just repeating myself at this point.  I LOVE THIS COLOR.  I noticed that my salon I go to for my manicures and pedicures had this color up on the shelf, so it's good to see that the locals here like it too.  I still have to say my peace on the piece that was in NAILS magazine but since I haven't gotten my issue yet, I'm waiting a bit.  More on all that later.


And this completes this collection!  Woo hoo!


OPI is available at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and Ulta, for $8.50 ($10.95 CAN) suggested retail for each Nail Lacquer. Please visit their website for details [official website].  

Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Spring 2012

Please enjoy the following press release from Sally Hansen!

INTRODUCING

COMPLETE SALON MANICURE

LIMITED EDITION SPRING 2012 DESIGNER NAIL COLOR COLLECTIONS

FROM SALLY HANSEN

THINK: Trend-setting spring polishes, hot off the runway.


WHAT THEY ARE: A designer spring wardrobe for your nails. Nail leader Sally Hansen took New York Fashion Week by storm, joining forces with Tracy Reese, Prabal Gurung, and Alexander Wang to create exclusive nail colors to complement each of their runway collections. Sally Hansen’s limited edition fall collections put exclusive runway nail looks at your fingertips.


The designers looked to Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure to create their custom colors. Complete Salon Manicure is an all-in-one formula that combines the components of a professional salon manicure—base coat, strengthener, growth treatment, rich color and top coat in a single multi-tasking polish. Backstage Beauty fixture and nail expert, Jin Soon Choi, created the manicures at each of the three shows.


Tracy Reese joined forces with Sally Hansen for the twelfth consecutive season to create seven bold shades that mirror the designer’s relaxed, romantic spring aesthetic. On the runway, models wore Complete Salon Manicure in Temptation.

Prabal Gurung’s three-color Complete Salon Manicure collection features eye-catching brights and creamy pale hues with an edge that reflects the designer’s spring collection inspired by Nobuyashi Araki’s photographic series, “Sensual Flower.”On Prabal Gurung’s fall runway, models sported Loves-Me-Not, a deep plum.

Alexander Wang enlisted Sally Hansen for a first-time collaboration to create a clean, natural-looking runway nail to offset his spring collection which channels a tropical speed racer using perforation and lasering. Models wore Parchment, a sheer nude Complete Salon Manicure shade on the runway—the perfect accent to Wang’s downtown cool looks.

Tracy Reese for Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure:
• Buttercup
• Fired Up
• Honey Whip
• Olive Branch
• Temptation
• Parrot
• The Sky’s the Limit


Prabal Gurung for Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure:
• Barely Bluebell
• Loves-Me-Not
• Purple Posy


Alexander Wang with Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure:
• Oxblood
• Parchment
• Petrol


WHAT THEY COST: Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure, $7.99 each.


WHERE TO FIND THEM: Sally Hansen products are available at chain drug stores, food stores and mass merchandisers nationally starting April 2012

OPI Be A Dahlia Won't You?

Almost through the Nice Stems! collection - here is Be A Dahlia Won't You? - a red with purple shimmer.  This color reminded me a lot of OPI Wing It! from the 2010 Summer Flutter collection, but they are slightly different (promise!).  There's a joke here about nail polish junkies really knowing all the tiny differences in polishes, but I'm not quick enough to make it.  ;]  I used a base coat of OPI Natural Nail, 2 coats of polish and a top coat of OPI Top Coat.  The formula was super nice on this polish - good job on OPI for this collection so far!

In the sun, you can see the purple showing already.  This is supposed to be a fuchsia shade, but I'm just seeing more red than anything.  It's a pretty color - lots of sparkle in it.

In the shade, it's all about the purple shimmer.  Talk about a stunner!  I definitely can see myself wearing this color often.

Finally indoors with the flash and it's a nice combination of that red base coat and the purple shimmer.  There's more pink in this than the OPI Wing It! so I definitely have to have both.  Who am I kidding - I'd keep it even if it was the exact same.  ;]


OPI is available at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and Ulta, for $8.50 ($10.95 CAN) suggested retail for each Nail Lacquer. Please visit their website for details [official website].  

Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.

CND Daily Nail 09.12.2011 Sugar Babe Manicures at Alexandre Herchcovitch

Please enjoy the following press release from CND!

The CND Daily Nail 9.12.11

Sugar Babe Manicures at Alexandre Herchcovitch

September 12, 2011 - This season, CND is transcending nails past the point of nude and neutral...to totally transparent!Take a look at today's nails looks, which took shimmer and texture to the max:


At Alexandre Herchcovitch, Wanda Ruiz designed "Sugar Babe" manicures that dazzled with shimmery white glitter on clear tips - fit for Sugar Plum Fairies on Summer holiday. The nails were created using Air Dry Top Coat on the entire nail, with fine white sparkle sprinkled on top, and an additional sweep of Air Dry down the middle, loaded up with more glitter. Eyes were shimmery iridescent to match nails, and popped with a collection of 40's-inspired feminine golden silks, intricate embroidery and elaborate beading.

For Norman Ambrose, Candice Manacchio fashioned six different manicure looks to go with high glam 1960's pieces straight out of vintage Vogue - for the sexy, exotic woman who swims in her diamonds. Here are the recipes to re-create each of these long, oval shaped nail styles at home:


1) CND Colour in Flashpoint iced with Sheer 24K Sparkle Effect for a funky French tip
2) Flashpoint topped with CND Colour in Poppyfield, acid washed with a sweep of acetone for texture
3) CND Colour in Gold Chrome topped with CND Colour in Copper Chrome, finished with acetone wash
4) Gold Chrome edged with CND Colour in Blackjack and gold leafing
5) CND Colour in Desert Suede topped with Ice Blue Shimmer Effect, edged with CND Colour in Silver Chrome
6) CND Colour in Putty topped with CND Colour in Creamy Cameo and Ice Blue Shimmer, and edged with CND Colour in Silver Chrome

OPI Come to Poppy

Continuing with the Nice Stems! collection is Come to Poppy, a coral-pink with a very slight red shimmer to it.  My son calls my dad "Poppy", so this color's name is pretty funny to me.  The formula was super nice on this polish.  I used a base coat of OPI Natural Nail, 2 coats of polish and a top coat of OPI Top Coat.

Look at how shiny this color looks!  In the sun you can really see the red shimmer shining through.  The bottle looks like a creme but on the nail - nope... it's a shimmer!

In the shade, the shimmer is hidden and this color is fighting between pink and coral.  Very pretty!

Indoors with the flash and you can see that the shimmer ALMOST looks like a light lavender or purple but it's not.  It's still very beautiful.

OPI is available at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and Ulta, for $8.50 ($10.95 CAN) suggested retail for each Nail Lacquer. Please visit their website for details [official website].  

Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.

essie Fall 2011

I originally saw these at Cosmoprof North America - Las Vegas but now they are available!

Please enjoy the following press release from essie!

"Fall is the perfect time to reinvent the classics."  Sensuous. Desirable. Refined. This is the season of understated luxury that exudes a quietly smoldering allure.  The look is powerful, bold and perfectly accessorized.  Daring in its elegance and simplicity, it's a style that blends timeless sophistication with contemporary cool.


This collection is designed for the woman who has an innate sense of how to put a look together with great accessories.  Dress up your wardrobe with classic colors that carry you through every fashion adventure.


Carry On: Can a color encapsulate the spirit of an entire era? This magnetic mulberry merlot is the one.  Bold, intense, romantic.  Now and forever.


Glamour Purse: This incomparable almond blush is a scene-stealing beauty that creates a stir wherever she goes.  The girl can't help it.


Lady Like:  Etiquette, posture, protocol.  Did we miss anything?  Oh, yes, this pretty, demure pink.  It's just the thing, you know.


Case Study:  This shade of rich camel beige exudes Ivy League charm with a hint of sweet seduction.  A case study in the very meaning of a modern classic.


Very Structrued:  Get down to business with this shade of creamy burnt sienna.  Add this soft tan to your agenda.


Power Clutch:  Nighttime is the right time.  What happens when this enigmatic darkest green comes out to play?  It's just the right amount of impact after dark.


You can purchase essie in a number of locations; check out their website for more.  You can also like them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.

OPI Play the Peonies

From the Summer 2011 Collection "Nice Stems!" is the soft pink Play the Peonies.  It's a very light pink with a slight shimmer to it.  I used a base coat of OPI Natural Nail, 2 coats of polish and a top of OPI Top Coat.  As soon as I opened the cap however, I was met with this.

Lovely, eh?  I just had to push the white cap (where the brush is stashed) into the very top of the black cap.  It was a bit messy because of the polish on the brush but I lived.

As you can see in the sun, this color doesn't like to hide my wretched ridges.  I definitely need to stick to a ridge filling base coat.  Sorry about that!  This is a light pink as previously mentioned and the silver shimmer is a hard to see but it's there.

In the shade, it's a bit darker but almost more pearly looking than before in the sun.  The shimmer is also a bit hidden here.

Finally indoors with the flash and you can see that shimmer (finally).  I definitely need to get a manicure soon so my nails can be shaped and cuticles can be fixed.  Enough about my nails... this color is nice but kind of blah for me.  I've never been great with light pinks - it's just a bit boring for me.  This collection included "I Lily Love You" which has some flakies but I didn't choose to layer it on this manicure.


OPI is available at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and Ulta, for $8.50 ($10.95 CAN) suggested retail for each Nail Lacquer. Please visit their website for details [official website].  

Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.

CND Daily Nail 09.11.2011 Pretty Poison Manicures at Jen Kao

Please enjoy the following press release from CND!

The CND Daily Nail 9.11.11

Pretty Poison Manicures at Jen Kao

September 11, 2011 - CND is bringing you the trendiest manicure looks straight from the Spring 2012 catwalk! Today's nails were dangerously beautiful, 70's chic, and Brigitte Bardot-inspired:


Look, but don't touch! For Jen Kao, Wanda Ruiz created "Lethal Love" diffused, gradation manicures that attract the eye with bold shades, but like a poisonous frog, have dangerous undertones. These four uniquely artful manicures were shaded using an airbrush tool, but can be re-created at home using CND Colours in Midnight Sapphire, Anchor Blue, Rouge Red, and Green Scene each combined with Inkwell and topped with Air Dry Top Coat while wet for an ombre finish.

Dean Quinn's 70's-inspired collection of tangerine crush and mild mint pieces were accessorized with "Sunday at Studio 54" manicures designed by Wanda Ruiz using CND Copper Shimmer Effect on the whole nail topped with one coat of CND Colour in Putty and iced along the cuticle in CND Colour in Desert Suede. Nails complemented peachy bronze makeup and intricately woven basket hair buns.

At Joanna Mastroianni, Candice Manacchio fashioned "Luminous Lucite" tips using CND Colours in Desert Suede, Brilliant White, Ivory Coast, and Gold Shimmer Effect on the edges for an illuminated finish with texture.

At Kate Ermilio, Candice Manacchio designed "Baby Bardot" manicures in French pink with subtle, double moons using CND Colour in Creamy Cameo layered with Ice Blue Shimmer Effect. The first moon was created with CND Colour in Brilliant White, and the entire nail was covered with CND Colour in Washed Down White. A second, smaller moon was inserted using Brilliant White for a fantastically femme finish.

OPI Your Royal Shine-ness

Mooooving on down the line on my polishes and today I have Your Royal Shine-ness, a silver metallic from the Glam Slam England collection.  This was definitely a break from the other Glam Slam collections where colors were paired with a Shatter; instead the duo-packs came with Servin' Up Sparkle.  For this manicure, I used a base coat of OPI Natural Nail, 2 coats of polish and a top coat of OPI Top Coat.  The formula was smooth.

As you can see in the sunlight, this is a "grittier" metallic - more shimmer than molten looking.  See Sally Hansen Platinum Chrome to see what I mean.

In the shade, you can see that this color likes to reflect what is in the background - like a mirror.  You can see some red on my nails but that's from my red roof, not anything in the actual polish.

Finally indoors with the flash and totally out of focus... this color didn't want to behave for the cameras but you can see how shiny and shimmery it is.  This is a different type of metallic and while I think it's great for Halloween, layering under a Shatter or New Years, I can't see myself wearing it daily.


OPI is available at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and Ulta, for $8.50 ($10.95 CAN) suggested retail for each Nail Lacquer. Please visit their website for details [official website].  

Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.