BellaSugar

Revlon's New Topcoat Is All Glitz

BellaSugar — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 04:00:00 PDT

You may recall how well Chanel's Noir Et Or Nail Lacquers went over with Team Bella. Well now, if you don't mind going silver instead of gold, there's a similar look for less: Revlon Nail Enamel Topcoat in Belle.

It's as glittery as Chanel's, at a fraction of the price. The only negative is that it's difficult to get enough of the large glitter flecks on the brush, and then it's equally difficult to get them arranged attractively on your nails. (A manicure stick could help). But still, it's cute, cheap, and perfect for Labor Day weekend parties.

New Product Alert: Addicted To Speed

BellaSugar — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 10:00:57 PDT

Brand-new from the Lippmann Collection is a quick-dry polish called Addicted To Speed ($20). Despite its strong smell (P.U.!) and hefty price tag (that's 20 bills for a top-coat, sheesh) it really does work to get your fingertips functional again in a few minutes.

Although your nails won't be thoroughly dry, they'll be touch dry and non-tacky which means that you can put on your coat, dial the phone and begin to go on with your day (a nice change from the waiting game of manicures).

The directions say to hold off for about two minutes after you've applied your final coat of colored-polish and then paint on an even, thin coat. Tip: You don't want to glop it on like you would with other brands; this is important for optimal results. It provides a high-shine finish and it contains UV protection to help preserve your polish color. All things considered, are you excited to try Addicted To Speed?

What We're Sweet On: Fun, Flaky Topcoats

Miriam Lacey — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 03:05:34 PST

If you missed out on the "flaky" nail polish trend the first time around, this is your chance to try it out. Zoya's new Fleck Effect topcoats ($8 each) are full of Mylar "flecks" that create a pretty holographic effect on nails. They're all transparent and pretty versatile, but if we had to choose one we'd take the pink shade, Chloe. The orange, gold, and red tones in the flecks will go well with any warm-toned nail polish, and the shade reminds us of the fire inside an opal. The other two shades, Maisie (blue) and Opal (green) are also really fun to wear, but Maisie looks better over cool-toned polishes, and Opal is prettiest over black, navy, and green, making it a little more edgy. Get them now and you'll be able to wear them all year long.

Expert Tips to Make Your Manicure Last

BellaSugar — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 03:02:16 PST

If you like the look of painted fingernails but hate polish chips, the solution could be as simple as adding one more step to your paint job. That's the advice of UK-based celebrity manicurists (and Rococo Nail Apparel creators) Ange and Vernice Walker. Their famous manicures last an average of 10 days, all because of a few easy tips. Read on to see them.

Easy Pointers For a Flawless French Manicure

Miriam Lacey — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 06:03:55 PDT

French manicures are the polish jobs by which all others are judged, and whether you go traditional white and pink or try something more colorful, you can do this look at home. With a few good tips - pun intended - you can get salon-style results on your own. To find out how, just keep reading.

What We're Sweet On: A You-Control-It Mascara

Jaime Richards — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 04:30:06 PDT

You know how we're always told not to pump our mascara wands, else we're just shoving bacteria right into the tube? Well, Jennifer Paulson Lee, a Broadway choreographer and performer, has come up with a clever way to keep mascara applications a bit more sanitary with LashControl mascara ($20).

Lee noticed that many makeup artists in her field were first wiping mascara off on a tissue before application to get the perfect amount of product. So she invented LashControl, which, with a built-in rubberized "sleeve," allows you to internally pinch away excess product before it even comes out of the tube. Clever, no? Available in: Pink Squeeze for lengthening; Purple Squeeze for volumizing; and Clear Squeeze, to be used as a topcoat or for grooming the brows.

Link Time: Fergie Debuts a Brand-New Cut

BellaSugar — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 15:24:00 PDT

Fergie debuts a cute new bob - InStyle
Look alive! Five products to erase under-eye circles - Refinery29
A week in the life of makeup artist Jonny Polizzi - Product Girl
Why not caring about your appearance is overrated - Glo
How to stop your pedicure from smudging (without wearing flip-flops all Winter) - The Gloss
Five flattering, bright lipstick shades - Real Simple
Kelly Cutrone may be replacing André Leon Talley on ANTM - The Cut
Topping it off: three of the best topcoats for a flawless manicure - College Fashion
Lily Collins shows how to successfully wear dark makeup with pale skin - Nylon

Manicure Monday: Get These Cute Lava Lamp Nails

Miriam Lacey — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 06:09:00 PDT

Making this adorable "lava lamp" nail art might look tricky, but it's actually exceedingly simple if you know a couple of tricks. All you'll need is a small, point-tipped object (like a pencil, ballpoint pen, or orange stick), plus your preferred nail polish shades and topcoat. To see how even the least manicure savvy among us can create this look without a hassle, just keep reading.

Track-Girl-Meets-Romeo-and-Juliet Nails at Jen Kao

Jaime Richards — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 18:26:23 PDT

You have to love the clever concepts designers and beauty teams come up with (Elizabeth Taylor at the gym, anyone?) during Fashion Week. And for Jen Kao's Spring 2012 runway, the nail art inspiration did not fail to disappoint on the quirky factor. Models sported nail art that complemented the designer's "track-girl-meets-Romeo-and-Juliet" theme. "It's a very dangerous, lethal person with a feminine, soft side," explained manicurist Wanda Ruiz for CND. To get these ombré-style nails at home, Ruiz recommends you paint the brand's Inkwell or Oil Slick polish as a base, starting from the cuticle and blending out toward the center. Next apply a saturated color, such as Anchor Blue, Green Scene, Rouge Red, or Midnight Sapphire (which are the exact shades featured at the show), and immediately finish with a topcoat to diffuse the colors together. What happens next is up to you.

Link Time: The Best Concealers For Hiding Dark Circles

BellaSugar — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 11:45:00 PDT

The best concealers for hiding dark circles - Real Simple
See Serena Williams's red-hot US Open manicure - InStyle
Tom Ford thinks women wear more makeup these days because it's "cheaper than buying clothes" - The Cut
Stick-on eye makeup gets luxe with Dior's new Velvet Eyes - Refinery29
Natural hair products on a budget - Naturally Curly
This topcoat might just save your manicure - Jezebel
Red lipstick review: Julie Hewett - Beauty and the Blog