nail polish

Tried-It Tuesday: Bright Ideas

Written on May 31, 2011 at 10:26 am , by Fitness Magazine

Winter is long gone (finally!), meaning it’s not only time to tuck away our heavy coats but also to switch up our nail color. And luckily for us, sporting bright polish isn’t just for schoolgirls anymore. Deborah Lippmann‘s sophisticated new summer hues are the perfect shades for sunny days. We like the carefree coral for fingers, and the playful periwinkle and yellow on toes. What polish shades do you switch to for summer?

From left: Girls Just Want to Have Fun, I Know What Boys Like, and Yellow Brick Road

—By Maite Gonzalez, beauty intern

Makeover Monday: Polish Up

Written on April 4, 2011 at 10:10 am , by Fitness Magazine

We usually stick to solid polish on our nails, but these funky new trends may inspire us to expand our horizons:

HALF MOON

This twist on the classic French manicure has been hot since it appeared on the runway at numerous shows this spring, and the likes of fashion risk-takers such as Rihanna and Lady Gaga have been seen wearing it.

SPLIT NAIL

When we saw this outside-the-box nail trend, we couldn’t help think of a little spring ladybug (admit it – you see it too!) The flirty and feminine split nail is a fresh way to wear your favorite spring hues. While this, and the half moon above, are styles better left to nail technicians, we think the split nail is definitely worth a salon splurge.

MATTE FINISH

A matte finish is a cool switch from the traditionally glossy nail. A product like Butter London’s Matte Finish gives any polish a matte look in one coat.

CRACKLE POLISH

We usually try to avoid chipping our polish, but the new crackle lacquers actually add a textured, chipped look to nails. We’d layer a crackle top coat like OPI Black Shatter over our regular hue for a fun night out with friends. Which of these nail trends will you try?

—By Lindsay Richardson, beauty intern

Prettifying Picks to Fall in Love With

Written on February 1, 2011 at 6:58 am , by Fitness Magazine

Many women would be offended if their beau gave them makeup for Valentine’s Day. I can just hear the mental dialogue: “Does he think I’m ugly?”, “Is he not attracted to me?”, “Have I let myself go?” However, I would personally love a little V-Day pick me up for my makeup bag.  After all, isn’t Valentine’s the one day of the year a girl gets to be pampered and treated like a goddess? Here are the beauty buys that are making my heart go pitter-patter this Valentine’s season:

MAC Cosmetics consistently manages to put out stunning holiday collections—and their Tough Love line for Valentine’s Day is no exception.  We’ve got it bad for the Lipstick in Girl About Town, above.

In the spirit of indulgence, we’re eager to get our hands on this adorable NARS Forever Yours Limited Edition Eye, Lip & Illuminator Set.  The sweet little trio includes a new liquid highlighter, pink lip gloss and eye shadow pencil.

What’s Valentine’s Day with out a little seduction? Every girl needs a special scent to get the night going. On my wish list is rose-tinged Chloe Eau de Parfum Spray.

Nobody wants to be dry and scaly on V-Day. Kiss Me with Kiehl’s is my pick to ensure silky skin for the big night! The set includes the super-delicious, sweet-scented Soy Milk & Honey Body Polish.

In lieu of the candy hearts and chocolate covered what-have-you, I’m asking for a different kind of sugar this year. Butter London has a bold nail color foursome called I Want Candy that will make your heart skip a beat.

By Lindsay Richardson, beauty intern

Nails Go Galactic

Written on January 19, 2011 at 8:08 am , by Fitness Magazine

Vamp up your nails with a color that’s of a whole new dimension. Duochrome nail polish brings something different to the basic manicure. Infused with several different complimentary shades and a slight shimmer, the polish changes color as you move thanks to reflecting light. The trendiest tints come in a darker range—a slightly psychedelic mix of purples, blues, greens and gunmetals all in one bottle! Would you try a duochrome manicure?

Our space-age suggestions, below from left: Orly Nail Color in Space Cadet and Duri Nail Polish in Kingdom of Shadows.

-By Michelle Ernest, beauty intern

Disney Does Makeup!

Written on September 30, 2010 at 7:28 am , by April Franzino

M.A.C. Cosmetics and Disney have teamed up to launch the limited edition M.A.C. Venomous Villains Collection, based on the sultry styles of four of the most infamous Disney villains: Cruella de Vil from 101 Dalmatians, Dr. Facilier from The Princess and the Frog, Evil Queen from Snow White and Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty (my favorite Disney fairytale!) Each collection offers a range of makeup, including eye shadow, lip gloss, lipstick, nail polish, eyeliner, blush and powder. The products can be purchased starting today at maccosmetics.com and at M.A.C. counters nationwide for as long as supplies last. Our favorites (below, from left): Maleficent Mineralize Eye Shadow in My Dark Magic ($21), Cruella de Vil Lipglass in Devilishly Stylish ($15.50) and Evil Queen Beauty Powder in Oh So Fair ($25).

Who’s your favorite Disney villain? Will you grab a piece of this magical makeup collection before it’s gone?

Weird Find Wednesday: Are You Ready For Some…Football-Themed Beauty Products?

Written on September 29, 2010 at 12:00 pm , by April Franzino

Women make up 44 percent of football fans, so it’s no surprise that the NFL is launching more and more products geared toward us. The latest? Team-branded body lotion, bath salts, body scrub and even coordinating nail polish (see the Pittsburgh Steelers gift set below), launching on nflshop.com in mid-October.

What’s your favorite football team? Would you wear their logo body lotion or nail polish—or does a jersey do just fine?

Miracle Manicure

Written on September 10, 2010 at 9:37 am , by Fitness Magazine

This past summer, after what seemed to be endless trips to the nail salon, my manicurist pleaded for me to give a gel manicure a try. She guaranteed it would last two weeks, with no chips or scratches. I reluctantly agreed, and could not be more satisfied with my decision. After two weeks, my gel manicure was not only chip-free, but shiny as well. Although pricier than traditional manicures ($20 at my salon), the long-lasting results pay for themselves! It is recommended to have the gels soaked off by a nail professional during your next visit to the salon.

OPI Axxium is the most popular gel brand used in salons, and offers over 30 shade options. Just be sure to choose wisely; you’re going to be wearing the color for a while!

Have you tried a gel manicure? If so, what did you think of it?

-Nina Ramadan, beauty intern

Putty Goes Pretty

Written on August 25, 2010 at 12:13 pm , by April Franzino

Step aside, pale pink: There’s a new neutral nail hue for fall—putty. These mushroom-esque mixes of gray and beige are perfect for active lifestyles; the colors are easy to paint on and the errant post-workout chip won’t be obvious. “Putty shades are fabulous on both hands and feet,” says Essie Weingarten, President and CEO of Essie Cosmetics, Ltd. “They’re universally flattering, so any skin tone can wear them, but they look best on shorter, well-manicured nails.” Our putty polish picks: Deborah Lippmann Nail Color in Waking Up In Vegas ($16; below left), and Essie Nail Polish in Chinchilly ($8; below right). What new polish hue will you treat yourself to this fall?

Make Your Mani Last!

Written on July 21, 2010 at 5:20 pm , by Eleanor Langston