I was recently turned on to a brand called Polish & Co. Founder Theresa Williamson wanted to create a brand inspired by Scarlett O'Hara and North Carolina's mint juleps and Southern belles. The polish is 3 Free and available in both classic and fashion-forward shades. Keep reading to check out the two I tried!
Cash Only is a gorgeous deep green with a hint of mint. In the bottle, it looks more mint than on the nail. It will surprise no one that it's inspired by money!
Future And A Past is a beautiful dusty lavender. I love the smoky undertones and the hint of shimmer. Definitely a standout from the collection for me -- it works day or night, winter or spring!
Overall, I was really impressed by this brand. The polish applied thinly and evenly in two coats, and it's super glossy to boot! The polishes are $12 each and available at polishandcompany.com.
Monday, July 30, 2012
Polish & Co. Nail Polish Swatches
Mani of the Week: Zoya Kelly
I went for an oldie but a goodie this week! Zoya Kelly is one of my all-time favorite nail polishes. This color was originally part of the Fall 2010 collection, Wonderful -- and Kelly certainly is! It's a rich, deep charcoal that applies glossy and even in two coats. Depending on the light, you may see some purple and blue undertones, but I've always found it to be the perfect deep grey.
I know that grey might be a little harsh for August, but I needed a break from the oranges and pinks of late! I'd really been wanting to paint my nails with Kelly for awhile, and -- gasp! -- I didn't even have it in my collection. So I went right to zoya.com a couple weeks ago and snapped it up!
What's on your nails this week? Let me know in the comments!
Friday, July 27, 2012
Nails Inc. Special Effects Sprinkles Collection Swatches
For anyone with a sweet tooth, the Nails Inc. Special Effects Sprinkles Collection should be on your must-have list! Each of the four polishes in this collection are named after four of the most delicious streets in London -- and they look like candy sprinkles on your nails! Read more to get up close and personal with three of the four polishes from the collection. All are seen with two coats.
Sweets Way is a white base with pastel blue, pink and silver sparkles. I liked this one a lot more than I expected -- the various colors of sparkle really punch up a classic milky white, turning it into something different and unexpected.
Pudding Lane is a turquoise base with navy and gold glitter. I love the combination of turquoise and navy, and the addition of gold really punches up the contrast. I'm a sucker for an amazing blue nail polish, and this definitely fits the bill! 
Topping Lane is a baby pink with mulberry, bluish purple and silver glitter. This was, surprisingly, my favorite of the three! I must be getting girlier, because pink nail polish is my new go-to. In any case, I found the application of this one the easiest, and I just love the combination of glitter colors -- I've never seen anything like this one!
I found that with all three of the nail polishes, application was easy and thoroughly covered the nail in just two coats. I was worried that the glitter might not really come through, which is a problem I have with a lot of chunkier glitters -- but a liberal amount came out with each coat. And this is just with two coats of each polish! Even after one, a lot of glitter was on the nail. I haven't seen anything like this collection and I think it's just so fun and perfect for really making a statement with your nails. I highly recommend all three colors!
The nail polishes in the Nails Inc. Special Effects Sprinkles Collection retail for $9.50 each at sephora.com.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Welcome to Heaven: Bliss High Intensity 24-"Heaven" Healing Body Balm
There's a new body moisturizer in town, and its name is Bliss High Intensity 24-"Heaven" Healing Body Balm. This cream seriously puts all others to shame. It's rich, it's lush, it's thick, it's creamy ... in short, it's amazing.
Before I opened the generously sized tub (it's a massive 8 oz.), I expected it to be more of a greasy, medicinal-like balm than a cream. But upon opening the tub, I found a sweet-scented delight that reminded me of fluffy whipped cream! Formulated with lactic acid and colloidal oatmeal, this cream works to turn dry, cracked skin into a smooth expanse.
And I'm here to tell you it WORKS. My legs have been parched all summer, no matter what lotion or cream I was rubbing into them day and night. Within a matter of days, the ashiness is gone, replaced by glowing skin that feels softer and smoother than it had in weeks. AND, one application lasts for up to 24 hours! If I rub it on before bed, my skin is good to go for the entire next day. I've never had that happen.
In short? I think I've died and gone to heaven.
Bliss High Intensity 24-"Heaven" Healing Body Balm retails for $35 at blissworld.com.
Skin So Soft: Organix Hydrating Moroccan Argan Oil Creamy Oil Body Wash
I honestly wasn't sure what to expect the first time I uncapped this body wash. Would it be greasy? Would it smell weird? Would it leave an oily sheen on my skin? Luckily, none of those worries came to fruition ... because, in fact, it's lush, smells fantastic and softens skin without any grease or sheen whatsoever.
This is due to the inclusion of Moroccan argan oil, of course, but also the combination of sugar cane, willow bark, rice milk and bamboo extract. Skin is left looking radiant and feeling touchably soft and smooth.
Plus, the bottle is eco-friendly and manufactured from materials containing recycled post-consumer resin. AND the label is printed with environmental ink and compostable label film. So, in short, you're doing good for the environment, as well as your skin. What could be better?
Organix Hydrating Moroccan Argan Oil Creamy Oil Body Wash retails for $9.99 at drugstore.com.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Maybelline Color Show Nail Lacquer Swatches: My Top 6 Picks!
Have you heard about the new Maybelline Color Show Nail Lacquer? 40 -- yes, you read that right, 40! -- colors make up the brand's new collection, in every color of the spectrum. Read on to see my top 6 of the collection. All are seen with two coats.
Tenacious Teal didn't actually seem teal to me at all. I don't see any teal in this color -- it came out more as a kelly green for me, much like OPI Don't Mess With OPI. Easy application, pretty if not totally unique, but definitely a keeper. And maybe it would look more teal in different light.
Shocking Seas is a gorgeous turquoise. It calls to mind the waters of the Caribbean or Hawaii for me. Really easy application and very glossy finish, even without topcoat. I think this would look fantastic as a summer pedicure.
Orange Fix definitely stood out for me, since I'm going through an orange phase right now! I love how bright and bold this color is. It stood out to me from the masses and it's definitely going into my long-term stash.
Styled Out is one of the colors from Color Show's Denims line. Out of the six pictured here, this is the only one that needed topcoat -- it applied very matte without, which still looked great, but I'm a glossy nail polish girl. I suggest applying thin coats with this one, as it can get gloppy if you have too much on the brush. But I absolutely love the color -- it looks exactly like dark denim, with a touch of silver sparkle to really make it shine.
Denim Dash is another polish from the Denims line. I equate this color to your favorite pair of jeans -- just the right shade, just the right amount of wearing in, just super perfect.I love the indigo hue with silver micro glitter.
Bold Gold is, obviously, gold! It's very metallic, which I thought would give me application issues or weird streaking, but it did neither. It applied easily and smoothly, with little to no brush marks. I love this one for a fancy night out -- and, as golds go, I think it's pretty unique.
All 40 shades are available for $3.99 each at drugstore.com.
Mani of the Week: Chanel Holiday
I went for another orange nail polish this week! I'm really on an orange and pink kick lately. And Chanel Holiday, from the brand's Summer 2012 collection, just really spoke to me this week. Holiday is a gorgeous bright orange -- some are calling it orange-coral, but I don't see any coral at all in this color, just a lot of juicy, almost neon orange!
I'm enjoying the fact that I can actually wear orange nail polish. I spent way too many years thinking it wouldn't look good against my skin tone, so it's been fun to try out all of the shades that have come out this year.
What's on your nails this week? Let me know in the comments!
Monday, July 16, 2012
The Cleanser That Changed My Skin (and My Life): CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser
Sunday, July 15, 2012
New Obsession: Fresh Sugar Coral Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Essie Summer 2012 Bikini So Teeny Collection Swatches
I am totally loving the Essie Summer 2012 Bikini So Teeny Collection. All six of the colors are bright, bold and beautiful -- and fabulous for notice-me-now summer manicures and pedicures! This collection is made up of five creams and one shimmer, which offsets the creams nicely. See more in-depth swatches and my take on the colors below. All are seen with two coats.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Summer's Perfect Moisturizer: Garnier Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream For Dry Skin
When summer hits, I reach for a lighter moisturizer that won't clog my pores and makes me feel rejuvenated and refreshed. Enter Garnier Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream for Dry Skin.
Friday, July 6, 2012
The New Black Runway Color Barometer Nail Polish Set Swatches
I've been obsessed with The New Black for awhile now. I kept seeing the sets in Sephora, and finally, I bought The New Black Runway Color Barometer 8-Piece Nail Polish Set. This set called to me more than the others because of the variety of colors included -- 8 in every color of the rainbow, plus a couple extra to boot! See more in-depth swatches and my take on the colors below.
Just Shocking is a gorgeous, glossy candy apple red. This is definitely my favorite of the bunch -- which is shocking, considering I normally don't gravitate toward red nail polish! But this one applied like a dream and makes me think of a hot little sports car.
Gypsy Rose is a pretty coral pink with gold shimmer. I don't really see rose in this one, it actually looks a lot more orange on the nail. I had slight application issues with the formula but I do think it's a good summer pedicure color.
Orange Crush is, as you might guess, a bright orange! There's a touch of white shimmer sweeping through this one, but it's pretty hard to see unless you're in direct sunlight. I like this one, but it's not perfect with my skin tone.
Electrical Banana is a crazy bright yellow with a very slight hint of shimmer. It applied well, and although I don't love it against my pale skin, I think it would be fun for a beach vacation pedicure. The yellow reminds me of the McDonald's arches, which, truth be told, just makes me want fries.
Mint Tea Shimmer seems to be named incorrectly. I picture a color with that name to be a pale mint green, which this is not -- it errs more on the side of hunter or forest. The shimmery metallic finish made this the most difficult to apply of the entire set, and while I like the color, I don't love the way it looks once it dries.
Midnight Blue is a gorgeous navy creme. After Just Shocking, I think it's the prettiest and most stunning color of the collection. It applied easily, which I can't say about many dark blues, and just looks so chic on short, rounded nails. I have a feeling I'll be rocking this one a lot once fall rolls around.
Heliotrope is a lavender/lilac hybrid with tons of silver shimmer. I really like this one -- it applied fairly easily and is a great day-to-night shade. It also works no matter what the temperature, and it would look equally pretty on tips or toes.
Horchata Cream is a basic putty creme. It makes me think of the heart-shaped designs baristas create in fancy cups of coffee. I like the color, and I think it's great when you're looking for a clean, simple nude.
The New Black Runway Color Barometer 8-Piece Nail Polish Set retails for $32 at sephora.com.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Salon and Spa Directory: Face Place Facial Treatment
For starters, the treatment is about two hours long. My normal facials are at most 75 minutes, which is already a pretty luxurious amount of time to be on the table. But two hours? Color me happy and relaxed, especially since it involved me lying on a table with my feet and legs propped up (so the blood could rush to my head and give me a better glow, according to Tom, my amazing esthetician).
But then there's the treatment itself. Mask after mask is applied to the face, with strips of muslin, flannel and cotton soaked in various solutions (like a combination of zinc and Vitamin C, which calm the facial tissues and stimulate collagen production). After each session of strips were applied, various masks were placed on top -- which, I have to admit, look like a cross between hockey masks and the mask from Silence of the Lambs! Luckily, they don't feel tight or constricting and don't make you feel claustrophobic. The second mask actually ties around the face and runs a galvanic current, which helps the product to really penetrate the skin and make you glow.
Add to that one of the least painful sessions of extractions I've ever experienced -- seriously, Tom has magic hands -- and my skin was GLOWING at the end. Really, GLOWING. I have to type in all caps! I also appreciated that Tom recommended products for my skin that would actually work and weren't too expensive -- and, since they don't actually sell product at Face Place, he was really working on recommending ones that my skin would respond to the best. (For the record, he recommended a cleanser by CeraVe that is absolutely amazing.)
If you're in NYC, I highly recommend making an appointment at Face Place to experience this one of a kind treatment. Especially since you can get a manicure or pedicure at the same time by the fabulous Erica Marton! (The dope watermelon mani I got was during this treatment!)
The Facial Treatment at Face Place is $140. For more information and to book an appointment, visit faceplace.com.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Get Protected: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunblock
I normally find spray-on sunblocks to leave my skin feeling greasy and wet hours after application. Not so with this can, which comes in varying degrees of SPF protection (I prefer 30). It sinks into skin immediately without any annoying residue left behind, and it smells good!
The other problem with spray-on sunscreens? Making sure you cover every single inch of your skin. But I actually find that I get better coverage with this can than with any cream sunblock I've tried -- I never have those "oops" patches near my shoulders or back where I just couldn't reach.
This is the only sunscreen I consistently buy summer after summer. I take it with me on every vacation and use it when I'm laying out on my gym's rooftop. I honestly couldn't imagine life without it!
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunblock retails for $8.99 at drugstore.com.
Two Bright Manicures This Week: Essie Ole Caliente and China Glaze Surfin' For Boys
What's better than one bright manicure for summer? TWO, of course! I'm really having a love affair with oranges and pinks lately, and these two manicures are no different. Behold...
Essie Ole Caliente, a dark creamy orange from Essie's Spring 2012 collection. This one had been sitting in my stash for quite awhile, and I have to admit I experienced some trepidation using it as oranges normally look terrible on my pale skin. But this orange has just enough red in it to look good on every skin tone, even my Casper-like white! I loved the application and it was glossy, opaque perfection in two coats. Plus it just looks perfect against the sand of the Atlantic City beach, don't you agree?
China Glaze Surfin' For Boys, from the new Summer Neons collection. I love this one in theory, and it's even brighter and cooler in sunlight (plus the shimmer really comes out). But I had major application issues and, even though I waited about 3 hours after applying before going to sleep, got lots of sheet marks. It is a very unique shade though, definitely neon and somewhere in the orange/coral/pink spectrum. I think it would look even better on toes.
What's on your nails right now? Let me know in the comments!