BellaSugar

20 More Out-of-the-Ordinary Manicure Ideas

BellaSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:00:50 -0800

I've seen so many great manicure and nail art ideas lately that, after my last slideshow, there were still a ton of examples I wanted to share with you. So here they are - 20 adorable, wildly creative ideas for your manicure or pedicure. Whether you're off to a party or just having fun, they're sure to grab attention and get you compliments. So click through and get ready to have some truly rockin' tips.

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15 Unusual and Fun Manicure Ideas

BellaSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:01:19 -0800

Looking for an out-of-the-ordinary manicure? You've come to the right place. These creative manicures can give you ideas for your own designs, making it all the more likely that you'll nail a unique look. Click through and get inspired.

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Kylie Minogue's Painting Medium of Choice Is Nail Polish

BellaSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:00:11 -0800

Kylie Minogue is unquestionably a pop music icon, but now she's trying her hand at being a visual artist, too - and nail polish is her paint of choice. It's an interesting choice, and totally in keeping with Kylie's girly persona. This piece, a photograph of her by the artist Rankin that she covered in abstracted swirls, is being auctioned off this Saturday for the UK charity Youth Music. Since nail polish and car paint have very similar formulas, I can see it being a legit medium. But what do you think? Is nail polish art like Kylie's meant to be taken seriously?

Is It a Time Travel Flick or Nail Polish Shade?

BellaSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:00:51 -0800

Potential nerd alert: recently, I have become rather captivated with time travel movies. What's not to love? The main characters make some kind of fantastical journey through time, typically to make things right. I think it was Back to the Future that started my fixation with this film genre, with perhaps a bit of Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure thrown into the mix.

Just as these types of movies have some pretty whimsical names, so do nail polish shades, like Nicole by OPI's chuckle-worthy Black to the Future ($7). So let's go back in time to see if you can distinguish between the two: is it a time travel flick or nail polish shade?

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What's Your Favorite Nail Polish Finish?

BellaSugar — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:00:05 -0800

We all know that matte nail polish is hot these days, and it's definitely one of those textures that either you love or you hate. Matte, which has a no-shine, flat appearance, is great for an edgy style, but it has a tendency to chip. The great thing about polish in general, besides the abundance of shade choices, is the finish. Tell me your favorite.

Polishes Inspired (or Created) by Your Favorite Stars

BellaSugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:00:39 -0700

Lots of cosmetic companies name their products after celebrities. In fact, there are many fragrances inspired by - or occasionally developed by - the stars. On a side note, just how many celebrity fragrances are too many, anyway? In addition to scents, there are also nail polishes with famous people as the muse behind the shade. For instance, celebrity manicurist Deborah Lippmann is famous for collaborating with people like Pat Benatar, Cher, and Sarah Jessica Parker to come up with distinctive colors and finishes. Check out my widget below for more, and tell me what other celebrity-inspired polishes you like.

Bobbing For Apples: 15 Apple-Inspired Nail Polishes

BellaSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:00:53 -0700

With the H1N1 scare still fresh in our minds, I'm not sure many of us will be partaking in any activities involving saliva-swapping, like round after round of beer pong or a playful game of bobbing for apples. But since we're in the heart of apple harvesting season and Halloween is upon us, I figured there had to be another way to do the whole apple bobbing thing without transferring communicable disease. That's why I've gathered together different apple-colored polishes to pay tribute to this classic autumnal symbol. From red to trendy green to every finish in between, here are 15 polishes you might like.

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Can't Get Your Hands on Chanel Jade Green? You've Still Got Options.

BellaSugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 07:00:24 -0700

Every year, there seems to be a highly coveted nail polish shade or two that hits the market with a frenzy. One example is last year's Metro Chic ($8) from Sephora by OPI, a perfectly muted smoky purple. Another example is Chanel's Le Vernis Nail Color in Vamp, so popular, in fact, it even has its own Wikipedia entry.

This year, there's a big to-do with another Chanel shade. The brand's Jade ($25), a green with a slightly hazy undertone, sold out almost immediately after it launched in September. In fact, it's now going for some pretty crazy prices on eBay - upwards of $117. Wowza. But that doesn't have to stop you from wearing an almost-identical match. While some of the options below might not be exact replicas, they're pretty close. Have you tried any of these Jade Green dupes yourself? Which ones are your favorites?

For more options, keep reading.

5 Ways to Get Chip-Resistant Matte Nails

BellaSugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:00:29 -0700

There's no denying that matte nail polish is the "it" polish finish right now. In fact, there's no denying that nail polish in general is having one hot moment - particularly in the drugstore category. While matte has a very fashion-forward appearance, the problem is that it just doesn't wear as long as regular polish.

While chips can sometimes lend to the cool factor, they're typically unwanted. Besides, the only "Chip" I ever really liked was this blond-haired, dark-eyebrowed cutie from the high school years. At any rate, to find out some of my tips for getting the most out of your matte finish, read more.

Ellen DeGeneres Makes Polish Jokes

BellaSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:00:07 -0700

Ellen DeGeneres is one of my favorite comedians, and this monologue is too funny not to share. It's about one of womanity's common bewildering experiences - polish selection during a manicure. Ellen's right about the surfeit of polish colors, and I've poked fun at some ridiculous names in my quizzes. I'm pretty tickled that she covered this, and that she didn't actually drink the Dry Martini.