BellaSugar

Take a Peek at the Trendiest Nail Polish Collections For Fall

BellaSugar — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 10:00:00 -0700

As far as Fall nail polish trends are concerned, I foresee lots of hot pinks, mushroom tones, smoky metallics, burnt oranges, deep, intense greens, and the return of purple - but with a little less smoke and a little more attitude. As far as textures go, think mattes, creams, and brushed, velvety finishes. But, if you're a fan of the shimmer, don't fret. There's plenty of sparkle to go around. Like most makeup collections, nail polish colors take inspiration straight from the runways, and since nails are a fashion accessory, after all, many of these recently launched polish shades come straight to us from the Fall catwalks. Let's just say I'm not bored.

View Slideshow ›

Psst! Zoya Has Some Summer Gossip

BellaSugar — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 08:00:43 -0700

Looks like The Hills is unstoppable. Zoya has created six new shades of toluene-, formaldehyde- and DPB-free nail enamel and three new shades of sheer shiny lip gloss. They're named after LC and company.

It makes sense, especially since Whitney and Heidi are setting nail trends of their own. You'll appreciate that these colors are much more likable than some of the characters, and they're perfect for your upcoming party circuit. My favorite shade is Elodie, a vibrant melon-colored polish. Check out the colors below and let me know what color you like the most. Even if it turns out to be Heidi, I'll forgive you.

View 9 Photos ›

For a description of each of the nail polishes and lip glosses, read more.

Nail Enamel ($6 each)

Audrina is a creamy purplish red.
Whitney is a bright fuchsia shade.
Lo is an electric bubblegum pink.
Elodie is a pop of poppy melon.
Heidi is a fruity, neon orange.
LC is a soft and shiny summer red.

Lip Gloss ($6 each)

Brody's Girl is a sheer red shade.
Datenight is a deep vinyl red which is actually available for order now.
KissKiss is a glossy purplish mauve.

Zoya's Spring Colors Are Light and Rich

BellaSugar — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 07:00:12 -0800

Zoya, whose nail polishes are free of toluene, formaldehyde, and DPB, now has its spring collections available for pre-order. There are two color stories available: Blissful (creamy pinks and peaches) and Purity (sheer, natural nude tones for French manicures).

You can see Purity here, and I wouldn't be surprised if you're thinking the same thing I'm thinking: Wedding time. These light, neutral shades would be ideal for any springtime bride, but since they'll look sheer and polished on anyone, you don't need to be a bride to enjoy them. The majority of you love French manicures, and these colors would work well for that style.

Personally, though, I'm more interested in the Blissful collection. It's filled with more-exciting shades that will look great when paired with a springtime sandal. I know, I know, it's too early for that, but we can dream. To see those colors, read more.

2007 Sugar Awards: Best Nail Polish

BellaSugar — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 16:08:35 -0800

I can't say that I'm shocked by the results of this year's winner for best nail polish. While one brand in particular didn't win, it looks like black stole the show with total of 19 percent of the votes. Dark purple came in second place, and navy, and other inky blue hues came in at close third. Looks like goth-colored nails rocked 2007.

My personal black fave is OPI's nail lacquer in Black Onyx. It's a really shiny and opaque shade, and the formula can last up to eight days on my nails - which is a record high for a manicure for me! Now that we know that black polish rules, do you have a favorite brand, too?

Trend Alert: Deep Green Nails

BellaSugar — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 13:00:23 -0800

This nail trend might make you green with envy - or it just might make your fingertips green. For the holiday season, Nars released this dark green nail polish. Called Zulu, it was on the cover of Sephora's holiday catalog - and it sold out almost immediately.

You can sign up for the waiting list or bid on Zulu on eBay (right now, a bottle is $26, with five days left to go). Or if you want to hop on the green nail trend-as Partysugar did last week-check out three options when you read more

I tried to find an exact match for Zulu, but this ain't the '90s, and green nail polish is hard to find. I did manage to find three greens that are in the general family, so take a look:

And if you have other suggestions, share 'em here!

November Must-Haves

BellaSugar — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 17:07:44 -0700

Okay, seriously, how is it November already? It seems like it was just last week when we were gallivanting in warm weather, and now I'm already planning my Thanksgiving shopping list. Sheesh, time flies. But along with the Tofurky shopping, I'm going to be doing some beauty shopping for this chilly month. Here are my picks:

For a description of each, read more
Body: To stop flaky skin before it starts, be sure to moisturize your body right after stepping out of the shower. Instead of rubbing your body dry, use your towel to pat it. Then, rub a lotion into it. This will help "seal" moisture into your skin. I'm planning to pick up Lavanila body butter ($25) because I keep hearing great things about its vanilla scent.

Face: Flawless skin is paramount for the holiday season, especially if you are going to wear red or bold lipstick. I suggest a loose powder to set your skin, like this one from Laura Mercier. It comes in two shades, one for fair complexions and one for dark complexions.

Lips: My lips tend to get chapped beginning in November, so I'm planning to stock up on lip balm. Origins has just come out with a line of certified-organic products, including this Soothing Lip Balm ($15). The shea- and cocoa butter formula has oils of sunflower, safflower, palm, coconut and vanilla. Sounds good enough to eat.

Nails: I'm beginning to have a little bit of fatigue when it comes to the dark-polish trend, so I'm taking a break with this shimmery deep rose from Zoya. It's called Ivy, and it's free of toluene and formaldehyde.

Hair: With winter coming, hair tends to dry out a little bit in the cooler air. This Restorative Hair Treatment ($21) from Ojon is a best-seller for a reason. You can use it as a deep conditioning treatment, a leave-in conditioner, or a shine-boosting product.

So those are my picks. What about yours? Any essential buys we should all know about?

Trend Alert: Gunmetal Nails

BellaSugar — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 08:00:55 -0700

Here's a new twist on the metallic nail trend. Those who find black nail polish to be a touch too dark, red to be too bright, and yellow to be too over-the-top can find comfort in gunmetal gray. Gunmetal is a sleek, dark and sultry member of the silver family. Here are three bad-ass nail shades you'll be sure to love.

Hit Me With Your Best Shot from the Lippmann Collection ($15) was created with Pat Benetar! This is polish is a sexy and smoldering ultra dark gunmetal gray that will make you feel like a rock star. It has been formulated with biotin and green tea to nourish, strengthen and protect your nails and has a chip-resistant glossy finish.

For two more gorgeous gunmetal nail polishes, read more

Gunmetal Grey from Zoya ($6) is a deep steely, silvery metallic polish that looks glittery and sultry on nails. Caution, this color encourages all kinds of naughty behavior!

CND polish in Hyde in The Dark ($6) is part of the new Fall 2007 collection. This dark metallic grey polish lasts for up to ten days without chipping. The color is chic and it won't streak-an important thing if you're dealing with metallic lacquers.

Trend Alert: Fruit Punch Nails

BellaSugar — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 10:45:00 -0700

If any of you can get through the summer without shelling out cash on fruity beauty products, please tell me how it's done, because I'm really a sucker for this stuff. First, I was salivating over Bare Escentuals Fruit Smoothies eye shadow collection, and now, I'm ready to pounce on this season's fruit-punch nail color trend.

Style.com recently declared Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in Orange Blossom ($18) one of its perfect summer polishes, and now I'm finding it difficult to live without this tropical-melon tone. At the spa last week, I saw a woman getting a pedicure with this polish, and it's just as beautiful on nails as it is in the bottle.

For three more nail polishes that pack a fruity punch, read more.

Zoya Smitten Summer 2007 Nail Polish in Sylvie ($5.50) is a yummy guava shade with an iridescent finish and a tiny bit of sparkle.

OPI Classics Nail Lacquer in Strawberry Margarita ($7.50) is a pinker shade that's almost perfect, except that it makes me want a strawberry margarita. Or a daiquiri. I'm not particular.

Estee Lauder Pure Color Nail Lacquer in Coral Reef ($18) is a magenta-raspberry shade with an ultra-shiny finish. These are great polishes that last a long time without chipping.

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.

Trend Alert: Coral, Raspberry, and Purple Polishes For Spring

BellaSugar — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 13:00:08 -0800

Bold tones will rule for Spring 2009, as nail polish manufacturers release their latest collections. We saw brighter colors on the Spring 2009 Fashion Week runways, so it's no surprise that nail polish manufacturers have followed suite. While you should still expect to see some traditional pastels, look for lots of depth and colors with some punch that move away from the deeper, darker colors of winter. My favorite trends for the upcoming season are bright corals, purples, and raspberries. Check some out below:

Deborah Lippmann Purple Rain ($15), a shimmering lilac frost created by Zac Posen.
Essie One of a Kind ($9), a poppy red.
Zoya Nail Polish in Moxie, a red-plum, and Malia, a cream violet.
OPI's South Beach collection in Miami Beet, ($7.32) a red-violet; OPI on Collins Ave ($7.32), a red-orange; and Done Out in Deco ($7.32), an opaque lilac.