March 27, 2012

Champagne Wishes & Caviar.....Manicures??




As of late, nail art has become just as much of a fashion accessory as let's say a piece of jewelry!  Last year was all about the crackle top coats and magnetic polishes. And this year, we are still kind of waiting for the new trend to drop.  Well, that wait may be over!   

UK nail polish brand, Ciate, will soon be launching their Caviar Manicure kits which is sure to have nail art lovers ABUZZ!  Seen first on the runway at Cushie et Ochs' Fall 2011 show where nail artists used beads from the designer's collection to create this three dimensional look, Ciate has decided to make achieving the look a lot easier!  By creating a kit which will combine nail lacquer and beads, making it a one-stop-shop.  The Caviar Manicure kit is set to make its US debut at Sephora stores in April and will be offered in three colors:  multi (rainbow), white (mother of pearl) and black (black pearl).  And I am pretty sure that more colors will follow with increased demand!


I actually like this look and I think the Caviar Manicure Kits will take off once they hit the shelves.  However, I worry about how easy it will be to apply.  This will probably be a job left for a trained professional (aka my nail tech, Cindy) as I just don't have a steady enough hand to apply without making a mess.  I could probably apply to my left hand without incident but my right hand is another story!  lol  And lastly, while I think the Caviar Manicure is very festive, pretty and sophisticated, even, I would more than likely leave this for special occasions or to create an accent nail as seen here....but that's just me! :)

What do you think.....will the Caviar Manicure be the new glitter??


XOXO

~Tiaja

March 22, 2012

Coming Soon: OPI's Spider-Man Nail Polish Collection!



With the July 3rd release of The Amazing Spider-Man on the horizons, OPI is launching a nail polish collection inspired by the movie!  There will be seven heroic shades including one color inspired by Emma Stone's character and Peter Parker's first love, Gwen Stacy, named "Call Me Gwen-Ever".  By the way, I love OPI's word play when naming their colors! :) When asked to decribe this latest collection, Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, Executive VP at OPI, says, "the colors in this line capture the movie's exciting atmosphere, and the new chapter this film covers is both dark and sexy".  And from the looks of it, she's exactly right.  The colors range from a flirty pink to a smoky slate and with nail polishes & lacquers being my latest beauty obsession, I am definitely excited to try out this new collection!
 



Meet the Collection (from clockwise):
  • Just Spotted the Lizard:   a reptilian-inspired, holographic green
  • Number One Nemesis:  a sexy slate
  • Shatter the Scalesa teal shatter which creates a web-like effect when dry
  • Into the Night:  an iridescent shade of navy blue
  • Your Web or Mine?:  a flirty shade of bright pink
  • My Boyfriend Scales Walls:  a bright white
  • Call Me Gwen-Ever:  a fiery orange

While there is no official release date, these lacquers are expected to hit stores in May!  They will retail for $8.50.

What do you think of this new collection?  Will you become entangled in this latest web of colour?

XOXO


~Tiaja

March 16, 2012

Benefit's Boo Boo Zap is B-A-C-K & Revamped!!


This news has literally made my day!  I swore by this stuff for years and then out of the blue and without warning, Benefit Cosmetics decided to discontinue the product.  I was heartbroken!!  The product that I speak of is Boo Boo Zap, the magical zit zapper! 

Old Boo Boo Zap
I was first introduced to this wonder product by my close friend, Cole, who worked for the company at the time.  And it was love at first try!  I loved everything about this product, from it's comic book packaging with the zit-fighting superheroin leaping across the SF skyline (see Right), to it's compact size & more importantly, how effective it was at getting rid of my zits.....with this stuff, they did not stand a chance!  I carried Boo Boo Zap with me everywhere I went.  A dab of this stuff and my blemish/ acne problem was zapped away!  So, imagine my horror when I visited the Benefit counter and was told that the product was no longer available.  But today, that all changed with the announcement that this wonder product was back on the market!

Meet the revamped, reformulated and repackaged Boo Boo Zap!  Although there have been a few changes made, its objective remains the same - to banish blemishes and reduce the appearance of redness and swelling.  While it still contains salicylic acid, they have removed the witch hazel and camphor, and added glycolic acid, bisabolol (an extract of chamomile believed to soothe flaky dry skin), PPG-26 and PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil, a compound some folks try to avoid. Sounds like a MAJOR overhaul, huh?  I just hope that these changes will not compromise the effectiveness of a product that I feel was perfect the way it was.





While doing away with the comic book theme, Boo Boo Zap has been added to Benefit's b.bright SKINCARE line and has adopted its lighter more sophisticated look of green, tan and white packaging.  In addition, you get more product and a lower price tag (which is always an added plus)!!  The new zit zapper will contain 7.4 milliliters and will retail for $16, while the old one held 6 milliliters and retailed for $20.  A $4 decrease is pretty substantial...that's a grande Mocha Frapp at Starbucks!! :)

I have yet to try this revamped formula.  And while i'm excited that Benefit Cosmetics has decided to bring one of my favorite products back, I am equally nervous that it will not live up to its predecessor.  My fingers are crossed with this one!

The new Boo Boo Zap is scheduled to hit Benefit stores and counters in May.  However, if you cannot wait to get your hands on this product, I have good news!  It is currently available online at http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/!

XOXO

~Tiaja

March 8, 2012

Beauty Alert: Chanel's Fall 2012 Nail Laquer is causing a "Frenzy"!


With Paris Fashion Week in full swing this week. fashion enthusiasts are over-dosing in all of the latest fashion looks and trends & loving it!  Not only does Fashion Week dictate what will be on the racks in our favorite boutiques and department stores for the upcoming season, but it also gives us a sneak peak into the beauty world, as well.  Everything from hairstyles, to eye brow shapes, to nail polish hues all receive their stamp of approval on these runways.  And each year, Chanel's Global Creative Director, Peter Phillips, is notorious for debuting a new and soon-to-be-coveted nail color in their shows and this season was no exception!

This new "It" color is aptly called "Frenzy"!  According to Glamour, Phillips describes the shade as a "lavendar-taupe-gray hybrid" nude polish.  And each model received two coats of this opaque nude before taking to the runway.  Per Phillips, "It's a very beautiful, delicate pastel".  And the polish matches the blush used on the models during the Fall 2012 runway show.

But sorry ladies, the nail polish and the blush, which are apart of the Les Essentials des Chanel collection, will not be available until September.  The anticipation is sure to send beauty lovers into a full-fledged frenzy....pun intended! ;)

XOXO

~Tiaja

March 1, 2012

Product Preview: MAC Chenman Collection - Love and Water, Yin and Yang




MAC Cosmetics has partnered with Beijing-born fashion photographer,  Chen Men, to create a sensual colour collection inspired by her infatuation with love and water, yin and yang, pink and blue.  This hot new limited edition collection hits MAC counters today!

Here's a sneak peak into the new collection:



Mineralized Eye Shadow Duo
Supersweet Duo – half bronze, pink, gold mélange/half solid golden pink (frost)
Pink Union Duo – half taupe, lavender, brown mélange/half solid dark violet (frost)
Love Cycle Duo – half light blue, white, dark blue mélange/half solid dark royal blue (frost)




Pigment - $20
Naval Blue Deep smoky blue
Glitter - $20
Reflects Blue Sparkling blue





Lipstick - $14.50
Force of Love Vivid honeysuckle pink (matte)
Budding Love Pale lavender (lustre)




Nail Lacquer - $16
Breezy Blue Dark blue
Pinkly Fresh Mid-tone blue pink





Beauty Powder - $23
Play It Proper Pastel soft pink with sparkles




Fluidline - $15
Blacktrack Solid flat black
Waveline Navy blue with low level gold pearl



The Chenman Collection will be available at MAC Stores, counters and online from March 1, 2012 through April 5, 2012 (or until they sell out).

XOXO

~Tiaja