Nail bargains at Beauty Brands
On sale at Beauty Brands
Most of us love a bargain. Here’s a good deal for your nails. OPI Berry Extraordinary nail polish is on sale for $4.98 at Beauty Brands. But that’s not all. You can also get a .5 ounce bottle of Seche Vite top coat for only $4.98 (regularly $9.98) and a .5 ounce Stickey Base Coat for 98 cents. It usually costs $6.95. Supplies are limited. Sale ends July 5.
Beauty Brand stores are at Northwest Expressway and Council and at Pennsylvania and Memorial in Oklahoma City.
Bring on spring weather, feminine blouses and sandals
Ahhh, Monday. The start of another week. Another week digging through the closet trying to come up with something to wear that’s springlike yet tough enough to handle a weather forecast that just barely inches into the 70s.
Of course, the weather can change — hopefully for the better. I’m just ready for consistent spring weather in the 70s. I want to wear open-toe shoes and flimsy, feminine floral blouses without getting goosebumps.
Enough of the roller coaster weather. It’s time to heat things up a bit. I want to show off my bubble gum pink toe nails before the polish starts chipping!
Chip-free French nail kits
Kiss Everlasting French Nail Kit for toes.
As I write this I’m looking at my bare nails. I need a manicure, but it’s been a busy two weeks. A pedicure would be nice, too, but closed-toe shoes hide a lot.
Whether it’s a time issue or budget concerns, it takes time and money to make frequent trips to the nail salon. To the rescue comes Kiss Products Inc. with a French manicure kit for hands and nails that’s said to be chip-resistant. New technology makes the white part of the nail molded rather than air-brushed. What’s more, the thin material makes the nail more flexible for better comfort.
Last summer, my daughter often wore glue-on French toe nails, and I have to admit they looked good. I’m not sure what you do if you have a nail malfunction, though. Maybe you should always carry a few extra nails and glue in your purse.
Everlasting French Nails is available in flat and regular nail arcs and in 12 sizes for hands. There’s a “real short” length as well as a medium length. Toenails are available only in short length.
The price: $5.99. Look for it at Rite Aid, Walgreens, Wal-mart, Ulta and CVS.
Kiss Everlasting French nail Kit for hands.
“Prep” yourself for Orly’s new spring nail colors
I’m a sucker for nail polish. I must have at least 25 bottles, none of which I can toss because I never know when I’ll want that one exact shade.
Usually I prefer pastels, but lately I’ve been loving a bit more color. Not black or purple or even navy. My fave is last year’s seasonal bubble gum color called Hard to Get by Essie. I’ve worn it for months and months. Luckily, I recently found several bottles in the clearance bin at Ulta. They were each marked 99 cents. Such a deal!
Anyway, Orly has introduced new spring colors for its Prepster Collection. Prepster. Preppie. Get it?
The shades, pictured here, are Prim & Proper (lavender shimmer); Cashmere Cardigan (iris blue cream); Polo Princess (bright pastel pink cream); OMG (fuchsia pink cream); Tennis Anyone? (nude cream); and Country Club Khaki (taupe cream).
Celebrity manicurist Jenna Hipp suggests women practice the layering technique. She likes Tennis Anyone? on top of Country Club Khaki. Layering lacquers breathes new life into your favorite shades and offfers a whole new color palette, she said. She nicknamed the new duo Non Fat Latte. Yum … and I don’t even like coffee.
Hipp has used Country Club Khaki on several celebs, including America Ferrera at the Golden Globes. Could Country Club Khaki be the next “it” nail color? Hipp thinks so.
Finally, an “it” that I can afford.
Nailtini’s Lavender glossy opaque is just right for fingers and toes
Lavender is expected to a hot hue this season. But you already know that if you read the post about spring’s Top 10 colors.
To complement all those fabulous lavender-tinged clothes you’ll be slipping into in a few weeks comes Nailtini’s Parfait Armour, a tribute to the French liqueur of the same name and said to instantly dissolve any lovers’ quarrel.
Word is that Rose Byrne, Kyra Sedgwick and Emma Roberts are among the celebratives who have this nail polish, which, just so you know, has not a hint of frost or shimmer. It’s just opaque gloss that’s not too pale or too dark. Wear it on fingers or toes and let it complement your wardrobe of navy, silver, white, pastels and neutrals.
Cost: $12. The MakeUp Bar in Oklahoma City carries Nailtini and it’s available online at www.nailtini.com. The MakeUp Bar’s number is 405-810-1226.
New nail colors for spring and how they work with fashion trends
I’m already tired of winter. Cold weather, coats and heavy clothes. I want something new, fresh, spring-like.
One of the easiest ways to ease into the season without looking silly is with a new nail polish. Creative Nail Design’s team of nail stylists painted thousands of fingers and toes for the spring fashion shows in New York, London and Paris. Here’s how the nail polish trends break down:
The No. 1 designer favorite color and look at the spring 2009 shows? Opaque flesh tone to elongate hands and match clean faces. CND’s Cocoa was seen at Nina Ricci, Max Azria, Halston, Jason Wu, Thakoon, Peter Som and others.
Top nail trends:
Whitewashes : Creamy and iridescent white shades.
Shades of gold: Whether 24-karat or honey bronze, bling abounds.
Gothic tones: A trace of red? Hint of blue? Anything goes, as long as it’s almost black.
Solid foundation: Opaque nudes — not just for the face anymore.
Blue mood: From navy to deep sky, it’s all about blue.
Red again: From bright Wildfire to dark Decadence.
Here’s more detail:
Role reversal: Dark toes and light fingertips may be big now, but some designers led a change from the norm, giving fingers a dash of dark, with shades like Fedora and Nail Nor, and using nudes on toes. Think toes that Twinkle. Still others preferred a monochrome look, where the red-viole shade Wildfire raged on both fingers and toes.
All in favor: The eyes, and the nails, had it when it came to beauty trends. While lips were neutral or pale pink, eyes flashed with silver, iridescence or vivid color. There were cat eyes, smoky eyes and dark eyes ringed with heavy black liner while nails were drenched in opaque red and blue creams or sheer whites. Cheeks were often neutral and hair was easy and undone, with parts, ponytails and braids. Loose chignons featured fly-aways for a messy look, while texture and volume gave energy to long, down hair.
Exotic inspiration: There was plenty of Spanish, and a bit of Moroccan, with earthy sophisticates and a muted palette were contrasted with bright mineral blue and coral shades. Fingers flashed with a customized Tiger Eye bronze. At Louis Vuitton, deep shiny burgundy nails in Decadence/Nail Noir blend matched with dark red lips.
Naughty and nice: Peplums were plentiful at numerous shows, ranging from tuxedo-like to men’s suit style, and pants, including the cigarette, cpari, cropped and wide leg variety. High-waisted pants emphasized midsections as did pieces such as peplumed biker jackets and dresses. Bondage elements such as bandage-wrapped skirts, leather jackets, S&M caps and corsets contrasted with feminine looks such as backless dresses, silk ruffle blouses and pencil skirts. Demure manicures in sheer French Pink added to the innocent deception.
Decade to decade: Large bold patterns, maxi length dresses and sexy sheer caftans provided a 1970s chic feeling. Short shorts, blousy tops and draped chiffon column dresses enhanced the vibe, which was fast-forwarded to the ’80s, thanks to short skirts and loose hip-length jackets with rolled up sleeves. Metallic manicures from Cappuccino to 24K hit the retro mark.
Icy sculptures: Folded fabrics emphasized structured geometry. Exaggerated flared skirts and muted floral prints. The mostly white and silver palette of chic dresses and tops were contrasted by two blue and champagne dresses, and plenty of shine. Translucent fabrics further heightened the icy effect. To elongate and and exaggerate the limbs, manicures and pedicures in foundation tones such as Cocoa gave a modern finish.
Holiday gift idea: Essie nail polish for $3.98 at Beauty Brands
Time’s running out. Money, too, maybe. So here’s a cheap stocking stuffer. Beauty Brands is offering Essie Private Wine Cellar nail lacquer for $3.98. It’s regularly $6.98. Such a deal!
There are two beauty brand stores in Oklahoma City — Council and Northwest Expressway and 13820 N Pennsylvania.
Chanel introduces new nail color trio
Chanel has introduced its Moscow Nail Collection, paying homage to the beauty of Russian women. The limited-edition collection was first seen at the Chanel Paris-Moscow show in Paris on Dec. 3.
The collection was conceived by Peter Philips, Global Creative Director for Chanel Makeup. The collection will launch in late December exclusively at Chanel boutiques and on chanel.com.
There are three shades, the base of each is black. Sparkle was added to each — red, gold and blue.
Chanel says the shades, which are rather dark, capture light so they create a fireworks effect.
The cost: $30.
Holiday gift idea: Nailtini nail polish
Here’s another stocking stuffer idea — Amaretto Fizz nail polish by Nailtini.
The hue is a chameleon; it twinkles purple in some light, brown in others, and adds a strikingly dramatic touch.
It’s $12 and is available at The MakeUp Bar, 7646 N Western, Oklahoma City. The phone number is 810-1226.
Jennifer Lopez is lovin’ Dior nail polish
Not that I believe every gushy note that lands in my in box, but celebrity manicurist Elle Gerstein says her client Jennifer Lopez is raving about the new Dior Vernis polish shades in Black Sequins and Pure Diamonds, both $19. Pure Diamonds is available at specialty stores and you can get Black Sequins at Sephora stores or on sephora.com.
Dior Black Sequins
