Nails
Fact: When I’m upset, I paint my nails.
Yesterday was one of those days — the Bulls lost (good run though, guys…you were quite the injured team and you still made it farther than most people expected you all too! Also I dunno why I’m writing to you guys here as if you all would ever read a makeup/food blog…sigh). Anyway, the PMS didn’t help. My email was compromised. My room needed serious organizing. After walking around in a few circles, I decided there’s nothing I wanted to do more at 1AM than paint my nails with Jin Soon’s new Spring line, which I’ve been crushing on since FOREVER. Or, at least last winter when I began seeing the most stylish editors sporting them on their nails.
Jin Soon nail polish in French Lilac, Tea Rose, Blue Iris, Coral Peony, and Poppy Blue
Seriously, in all my years, I haven’t seen a line up of gorgeously elegant colors I’ve coveted more. Specifically, her Blue Iris. It amazes me how nail polishes now come in almost every color imaginable, but none have nailed (no pun intended) this specific shade of blue quite as perfectly as Jin Soon. Plus, the color blue itself causes the body to release calming chemicals and give you a sense of peace and tranquility. Needed.
Jin Soon Blue Iris
It’s easy to see why it’s their best seller. With just two coats, it dried to a nice, clean, and shiny finish. I wanted to make sure it stays a while though (and I have a basketball game tonight — my nails have yet to last through a game), so I finished with Julep’s new Freedom Polymer Top Coat ($17 at qvc.com).
Julep Freedom Polymer Top Coat
Party Brunch Nails by Caravan Styling Studio
Party brunch nails...or cosmic brunch nails -- we had trouble deciding what to name these
This was something new: I was invited recently to check out the exclusive Caravan Styling Studio, which is discreetly tucked away on the 2nd floor of the luxurious Carlton Hotel.
Wall art inside Caravan Styling Studio
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Some of Caravan's beauty sponsors: Salon Grafix, Pop Cosmetics, Babyliss Pro, and Zoya
Their services are mainly reserved for celebrities, musicians, editors, and bloggers (hi!) to come together with designers and photographers to be styled and made up for events and special red carpet appearances. I went last week just to see what they were about and when I met Valerie Star, she asked me if I wanted my nails done.
Maybelline New York goes electric!
Just another day playing with nail polish.
Maybelline Color Me Electric
Maybelline New York just released their brand new, limited-edition Color Goes Electric line and it’s available only this month! Thought I’d give you a preview:
Blast of Blue
So all this nail art that have been popping up has been magnifying my own ineptness to come up with fun designs. Thus, I thought I’d try to distract you all instead with the new iPhone case I got my roomie from Caseable (they handcraft electronic cases straight from Brooklyn!).
This case: Meditation ABC by Kaitlyn Parker
New: Long-lasting nail polishes from CoverGirl!
Fun story: There was a point in 8th grade where I would come to school every day with a different nail polish design…to the point the private school I went to sent a letter home specifically about banning nail polish of any kind.
CoverGirl Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss in Black Diamond, Lasting Love, Constant Caribbean, and Grapevine
Sad day, but maybe foreshadowing to this: CoverGirl just recently released their Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss and I partnered with them to help with the launch!
Those are my flip-fantastic nails!
The nail polishes delivers high gloss color (no base or topcoat needed!), with 15 shades that will expand to 45 trend-inspired shades come January.
The PERFECT red polish: CoverGirl's Lasting Love
Three minute nails.
I’ve been waiting for a reason to bust this one out. I was on my way to an event with bare nails and had NO time to try to get a manicure. Instead, I picked up a box from my stash of Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips. This one, “Headbanger,” was from Avril Lavigne’s limited-edition collection (I met her at the Crosby Hotel earlier this year to interview her about them…check it out!).
Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish in Headbanger
Three minutes later, I ended up with pink glittered nails with a funky skull design. And yes, the lovely lady who sat next to me at the event commented on how fun they looked too!
Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips are available at drugstores or ulta.com for $10.
BaubleBar teaming up with Essie for the cutest polish & bangle sets
Do you ever match your nail polish to your jewelry? Here’s a good reason to start: Bauble Bar (the jewelry site I’m obsessed with) is partnering up with Essie for the cutest holiday sets.
Bauble Bar x Essie
It’s pretty genius: You just pick one of Essie’s nail polish and matching bangle, then two more complimentary bracelets of your choice, and they’ll send you all of them in a snazzy carrying case for $50.
Matching polish to bangles
The Essie colors come in Snap Happy (a cheerful red orange), Where’s My Chauffeur (an opulent turquoise), Beyond Cozy (a decadent silvery gold glitter), She’s Pampered (an indulgent red), Butler Please (an indulgent bright blue), and Leading Lady (a supreme deep red with glitter).
Layering bangles
From top to bottom: 1) Silver Scrunch Bangle, 2) Ettika bracelet (my own), 3) Baroque Clear Bangle, 4) Matching bangle that came with my ‘Where’s My Chauffeur’ set. I can really appreciate that the collection is so edited that it helps takes the guesswork out of layering. It’s really hard to go wrong with the options they give you for every set!
Essie Where's My Chauffeur?
Carrying case
