BellaSugar

Trend Alert: Oceanic Nails

BellaSugar — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0700

Over the last couple of days, celebrities have been popping up at Fashion Week and the 2009 Toronto Film Festival with more than a love of cool clothing or a movie premiere in common. From Rachel Bilson to Drew Barrymore, blue and blue-green nails are everywhere. I love that these traditionally warmer-weather shades are making the seasonal transition, and the range of fashionable colors means there are flattering colors and depths of tones for practically every skin tone. From sky blue to bright turquoise, why not go under the sea with this trend? I put together a widget with some of the cutest marine colors around. Click through and dive right in.

What's Your "Something Blue"?

BellaSugar — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 10:00:17 -0700

In April, I mentioned that my friends Liz and Dave would be tying the knot in Boston. I'm happy to report that the ceremony and reception went off without a hitch, and the newlyweds are off on their honeymoon. The bride already knew how she'd be wearing her makeup, and her hair was styled in a classic looped bun. As for her nails? She opted for a neutral polish on her fingers, and cleverly in keeping with the traditional, "something borrowed, something blue" theme, she wore a beautiful steely blue shade on her toes.

While she could have opted for a lovely blue shadow or nail polish on her fingers, I have to admit that I was a huge fan of her pedicure choice. Model Agyness Deyn recently wore some bright royal blue polish to complement her funky style, but for a wedding, a more muted version is a great option. Plus, by keeping the more adventurous shade slightly hidden, Liz was able to mix trendy with the traditional and subtle with the bold. Check out my widget for some inspiration.

Blue Nail Polish Is Still Hot in Hollywood

BellaSugar — Fri, 02 May 2008 10:00:32 -0700

Just in case you were wondering if your coveted bottles of blue nail polish were still "in" for Spring, don't go throwing them away just yet. Two of Hollywood's hippest heavy-hitters, Lindsay Lohan and Lauren Conrad, are still sporting shimmery navy nails. Just remember to keep them filed short, square and neat looking (no drippage onto your cuticles, please).

Source and Bauer-Griffin Online

Trend Alert: Turquoise Nail Polish

BellaSugar — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 16:00:20 -0700

Among the many qualities that make Whitney Port (of The Hills) so lovely is that she has her own style. I've always thought of Whit as someone who sets trends as opposed to following them. So when I spotted this style star sporting shiny turquoise nail polish, I was excited.

For anyone who's willing to try out a wild new water-colored varnish, get ready for the next big nail trend. You can always go back to my China Glaze review, and here are two more aqua nail polishes.

Nic's Sticks by OPI in Baby Go Bye-Bye ($6.99) is a vibrant turquoise color. This relatively new and easy-to-use nail polish pen is great if you are looking for a quick color fix. I haven't tried them, but there are 30 colors and from what I understand, the only drawback is that they are a little runnier than the original OPI formula. The advantage: the polish dries in just one minute.

For one more turquoise nail polish, read more.

Attention all neon lovers: Creative Nail Design in Hot Pop Blue ($10) is a bright aqua nail lacquer for you. There are also two more Hot Pop colors in the collection for those of you who dare to wear bold pink or orange polishes. Two coats and a top coat are all it takes to create sexy, shiny, chip-resistant nails.

Source

Chanel Vs Dior: Battle of the Blue Polishes

BellaSugar — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 07:00:41 -0800

If you've been following nail polish trends over the last few months, you know that Blue Satin is this season's It color. Part of the Chanel spring color collection, it's an inky shade that nearly looks black. But Dior wants you to take a new look at its blue-polish offering, which just launched as a Sephora exclusive in the States.

How will you know which blue's for you? Well, that partly depends on whether you prefer wholesome musicals or New Jack Swing. Read on:

	Chanel Blue Satin	Dior Poison Blue	Advantage?
Color	Dark navy with a subtle shimmer	Dark, glossy navy	It's a matter of personal preference, really.
Spokesmodel	Russian model Natalia Vodianova	French actress Eva Green	Chanel. Both women look intense, but the Photoshop job on Eva crushes any hope that we'll remotely resemble the ad.
Song association	Reminiscent of the "blue satin sashes" that Julie Andrews sings about with the Von Trapp children.	Inclusion of "poison" in name hints at possible Bell Biv Devoe inspiration.	Dior. (Yeah, poison.)
The backstory	Blue Satin was as sought-after as its Fall 2007 predecessor, Black Satin.	Until it became a Sephora exclusive, Poison Blue was available only abroad.	Chanel. Poison Blue is a little late to the party.
Availability	Sold out at many Chanel counters, but Nordstrom still has stock.	Only at Sephora	It's a draw.
Price	$19/.4 oz	$19/.33 oz	Chanel, by a drop.

New Product Alert: Fall 2007 Designer Shades by OPI

BellaSugar — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 09:00:02 -0700

Who knew that OPI had so many different categories of polishes? I thought they only came out with one new collection each season, but I've recently learned about two more: A line of six colorful Dog PAWlishes and the Designer Shades Collection.

For Fall 2007 OPI has released two new shades in this dynamic designer group: DS diamond and DS fantasy.

DS fantasy is a dark blue polish with heavy silver shimmer. How appropriate for Fall since there's just been a recent surge of trendy navy nail polishes on the scene.

DS diamond is a softer, silvery polish infused with diamond dust. This creates a glamorous, glittery evening look that reflects light. Both polishes come with the ProWide Brush for easy application. I wish all polish companies thought about their brushes like this!

Trend Alert: Navy Nails

BellaSugar — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 13:59:00 -0700

Hey there sailor! Navy isn't on reserve for nautical use alone any longer. These deep navy nail polishes are this season's next big "it" nail. Say hello to inks and indigos, which are richer alternatives to ultra dark black and traditional red lacquers. Here are three rich blue hues for the gal who's not afraid to make a statement.

Let your dark side shine through with this Deborah Lippman Color Nail Lacquer in Rehab ($15). Sources say that the Kitson store on Roberston can't even keep it in stock.

I guess with all the young celebs going to rehab this summer the polish would naturally be popular in Los Angeles! Kidding aside, the color is dark yet sheer and looks best with two coats.

For two more trendy navy nail polish suggestions, read more

OPI Nail Lacquer in Russian Navy ($7.50) is a sexy opaque deep sea indigo color that is completely covetable. For a vampish, daring and dark diva...this is the color for you!

Nars Nail Polish in Midnight Express is actually about to get discontinued, so get it while supplies last at the discounted rate of $7.50. This rich and deep blue hue is perfect if you're looking for a bright pop of blue with a little bit of shimmer and lots of sheen.

For Audrey: China Glaze's Hepburn-Honoring Polish

BellaSugar — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 06:44:28 -0700

It's been 46 years since Audrey Hepburn enchanted audiences in Breakfast at Tiffany's, but her influence as Holly Golightly is still strong. Case in point: China Glaze's new "For Audrey" nail polish ($6.50), which bears a striking resemblance to Tiffany Blue. I say "striking resemblance" because Tiffany & Co. holds a trademark to the shade you see on its bags and boxes; although other colors come close, nobody else has official dibs on that particular hue.

Like Melanie at Blogdorf Goodman, I received a sample to try out. I usually don't go for wacky colors on my nails, but I'm surprised by how much I like this turquoise-and not just because I spent my late teen years shamelessly mimicing Audrey's style. For the detailed review and a Breakfast-inspired photo, read more

It turns out the polish is a lot more wearable than I anticipated. Sure, it's not something I'd recommend for a job interview, but on short nails it's a fun flash of blue. I think it would be overkill to wear this on long nails unless you're the kind of woman who can pull off high-drama, attention-getting looks. Next time I'll probably wear it on my toes, which a lot of brides might want to do for the "something blue" of their weddings!

This was the first time I used China Glaze lacquer, and I was very pleased with the application. I'm too clumsy to use long, thin brushes, so China Glaze's short, fat one was a breeze to handle. And not to get too Mr. Wizard on you, but the formula has just the right amount of viscosity: It wasn't so runny that it dripped into my cuticles, but it wasn't so thick that it glopped up, either. Easy application means one happy Bella. I had good color coverage with one coat, but I recommend two to get a more even and consistent hue. For Audrey is shipping now, so it should be in nail boutiques any week now. When I find an online retailer that hasn't sold out, I'll let you know.

Here's a picture of me about to pet a very squirmy "Cat," just before we hopped onto the fire escape to croon a little "Moon River." What do you think?

Great Minds Think Alike: Blue Nail Polish

BellaSugar — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 06:23:33 -0700

Um, I just want to point out that this nail polish trend is so last week. Some of you may recall I was sporting cobalt blue nails very recently. It appears that Eva Mendes and I are on the same beauty wave length. In this week's Life & Style you'll see she is sporting this daring, cool nail color too. She pairs it with blues while I like to wear complementary colors like emerald green, white and plum. In the words of RUN DMC: Can you rock it like this? I can rock it like that...

To see my favorite blue polishes, read more

Essie Aruba Blue, $7.

Although, I'm thinking for summer I'll try out Essie St. Barths Blue, $7.

Celebrate Inauguration '09 With Patriotic Beauty Products

BellaSugar — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 09:00:38 -0800

Tomorrow morning, the world will watch the inauguration ceremony for Barack Obama, our 44th president. I'm all about showing my American pride, but when it comes to patriotism and beauty, I like to take a more subtle approach. So, perhaps I'll put an extra zip in my step with a sweep of shimmery blue liner on my eyelids or a cute star-patterned clip in my hair. Check out my widget below for some red, white, and blue-themed makeup, along with some stars and stripes hair accessories, too. Whether it's clothing, hair, or makeup products, will you be sporting any symbols of American pride tomorrow?

POP Beauty Nail Glam Nail Polish, Turquoise - $14.00	NARS Nail Polish (Limited Edition), Blue Lagoon - $16.00
butter LONDON Henley Regatta Nail Lacquer - $14.00	SEPHORA by OPI Ocean Love Potion Nail Colour - $9.00
Bright Nail Polish 3-Pack - $12.50	POP Beauty Nail Glam Nail Polish, Brave - $14.00
China Glaze Nail Laquer With Hardeners - $6.50	SpaRitual Nail Lacquer Surreal - $10.00
Piggy Polish Nail Laquer - $7.00	butter LONDON 3 Free Nail Lacquer, Artful Dodger - $14.00
Sea Grass Nail Lacquer - $2.80	China Glaze Nail Lacquer with Hardeners - $5.99

Stripe Headband - $4.50	Maybelline Nail Polish - $3.79
Lippmann Collection Nail Color, Rhapsody in White - $16.00	NARS Nail Polish - $16.00
Midnight Stars Hair Clip - $2.80	Crystal Star Headband - $49.00
Karen Zambos Vintage Couture Vote Scarf - $108.00	Converse One Star Kennington Fedora - Navy - $4.24
Clinique colour surge eye shadow super shimmer - $14.00	NP Set Lip Gloss - St. John Red - $15.00
NP Set Runaway Star Lip Gloss Set - $14.00