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.

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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?

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: Poppin' Pink Nails

BellaSugar — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 08:00:04 -0700

As the end of the season approaches, you might expect wine-toned polishes, deeper hues of blue, or smoky taupes making an entrance. But with the warm weather still going strong, it looks like bright, fun colors haven't fallen by the wayside just yet. After catching a glimpse of Kim Kardashian wearing vivid, bubble-gum pink a few days ago, I was reminded of other ladies sporting some seriously pink nails in recent weeks.

To get the look, try OPI La Paz-itively Hot ($7), OPI Holy Pink Pagoda! ($7), or China Glaze Laced-Up ($5).

Formaldehyde, Toluene and DBP-Free Nail Polishes

BellaSugar — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:00:58 -0700

Ask and you shall receive. I read your comments on yesterday's post about nail polishes that contain formaldehyde, and I wanted to respond by giving you a few safer suggestions. Brands such as Butter London and Priti Polish are free of formaldehyde, toluene and DBP - and here are some other options.

Some "three-free" polishes
Avon	Peacekeeper
China Glaze	Rescue Beauty Lounge
Elizabeth Arden	Revlon
L'Oreal	Rimmel
Lippmann Collection (newer formula)	Sally Hansen
Maybelline Salon Expert
Nars (newer formula)	Spa Ritual
OPI (newer polishes are safe, but some hardeners use formaldehyde)	Zoya

For a few of my favorite safe-polish picks, read more.

Nars Nail Polish ($16) has developed an improved formula. The varnishes are now enhanced with UV protection, have a glossier finish, and supposedly last longer without chipping (I haven't reached a verdict on this just yet). They are also free of formaldehyde, DBP and toluene - which I think makes the smell less severe.

The polishes in the Lippman Collection ($15) are now not only free of DBP, formaldehyde and toluene, but they also contain green tea and biotin (protein) to help your nails grow stronger. The formula dries quickly and has a really nice shine. I personally love the two new spring colors. Have you had the chance to check out Dream a Little Dream of Me yet?

Adorée Professional Nail Polish ($5) has more than 140 different nail colors in its range. While they are free of the "big three" polish no-no's, they do contain hardeners to help strengthen nails, and they claim to provide a high-shine finish.

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

Lovely Links

BellaSugar — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 09:00:50 -0800

Beauty Banter shows us MAC's new Strobe Collection.
Enter to win Allure's $400 Dior Makeup Giveaway.
Go on a Beauty World Tour with Beauty and the Blog. This week's destination: Tokyo.
Kiss and Makeup suggests using Pink Sugar Hair Perfume to cover up nasty hair odors.
Teen Vogue offers advice on how to salvage a bad haircut.
Steph's Closet gives us a first glance at China Glaze's 2008 Spring Ecollection.
Cosmetics Design explains why the California Attorney General is dismissing claims that there is a dangerous amount of lead in lipstick.