Tag Archives: deborah lippmann

white hot nails

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white nailswhite hot nails
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i cannot get enough of the simple chicness of the white nail trend. yes, at first it reminded me of the days when i used to paint my nails in white out (yes, i was the girl painting her nails with white out during study hall…then drawing flowers on them with a sharpie. what can i say? it was the pre-teen nail art of the 90′s.), but i have overcome my own white nail prejudices and i’m totally loving the trend. there is something so impossibly elegant about the finished look and i’m extra excited to wear it when i’ve got a bit more a sunkissed glow going. thankfully the brands are on board, and you can score white nail polish at both the department store and the drugstore:

essie marshmallow, $8
revlon spirit (on my nails, above), $4.79
deborah lippmann, $17

will you try it?

easter basket beauty

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easter basket beauty

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i haven’t seen the likes of the easter bunny in well over a decade, but if his hippity hop highness were to pay me a visit i would love to see these treats hidden inside my basket – or, better yet, tucked into this holographic bag from sephora.

dr. hauschka eye shadow trio, $40
deborah lippmann rockin’ robin, $19
bobbi brown lilac rose shimmer brick, $42
mark. stack and style rings, $18
smith’s minted rose lip balm tube, $6
sephora the perfectionist makeup sponge, $12

happy easter sunday to you!

best in beauty: spring 2013

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spring beauty favorites

the beauty brands are coming out big for their spring 2013 launches and i am loving everything that I see. here are my picks for the best products from the spring 2013 collections:

paul & joe limited edition eye color in la belle epoque is perfectly pretty. shades of powdery pink and smoky gray mean that you’ll easily stay on trend this season. ($28, beautyhabit)

lancome nailed the blush trend this season. their “in love” blush for spring 2013 is a mix of pinks that presents the most gorgeous feminine flush. the brand also wins prettiest package with the added bonus of a slide out mirror. ($49, lancome)

deborah lippmann’s moon rendezvous nail lacquer gives a flash of metallic that’s perfect for day or night. since the color is on the pale side, you’ll be sweetly in line with spring’s pastel palette. ($17, nordstrom)

simple protecting light moisturizer isn’t heavy and it offers just the right amount of hydration as we head into the warmer months. i love the addition of spf15. ($10.99, amazon)

i’m getting my punk rock princess on with juicy couture’s new couture la la. talk about unexpected! this scent is all things girly, light, and sweet. ($70, nordstrom)

nars’ dressed to kill satin lipstick will go with many skin tones, and the gold-flecked fuchsia is just right for valentine’s day. get a bold rosebud lip from this tried and true formula – it’s definitely a shade you’ll wear for seasons to come. ($24, nars)

simple’s eye make up remover pads are a welcome addition to my beauty routine. i really feel like the market has been missing a disposable eye makeup remover wipe that’s easy on sensitive skin. these are sized right and impressively effective for removing all of spring’s eye makeup (including waterproof mascara) in one swipe. ($5.00, amazon)

planet beauty x the glossarie giveaway!

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planet beauty x the glossarie giveaway!

i’m so thrilled to partner with planet beauty for a giveaway featuring four of my favorite products. i was introduced to the cosmetic e-retailer last month and i’m still floored by how many of the best brands they carry. after a quick browse, i easily found dozens of products that i had reviewed in the glossarie over the years, ranging from popular cult favorites to those lesser known niche brands that i’ve got a soft spot for.

my lucky cali girls can actually visit this beautiful mecca in person and browse all of their amazing brands. for the rest of us, we can shop the incredible selection online enjoying free shipping on orders over $34!

to celebrate this pretty discovery, the lovely people at beauty planet have selected four fabulous glossarie favorites to give away to one lucky reader:

sara happ’s the lip scrub in vanilla bean ($24)
murad’s clarifying mask ($37)
deborah lippmann happy birthday ($18)
tokyo milk makeup bag ($14)

i don’t know if you’re doing the math, but that’s over $90 in beauty booty – not a bad start to start the new year, right? to enter the giveaway, please click through to raffle copter below. follow the simple instructions and watch your inbox. i’ll announce a winner one week from tomorrow. good luck!

ENTER HERE

my ten favorite product finds of 2012

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my vanity, makeup bag, and face see a constant rotation of products. with the volume and frequency of beauty being tested, it can be really tough to hang on to something for longer than a few weeks, let alone give it permanent residence in my bathroom’s beauty basket. low and behold, some products do actually stand the test of time. here are ten products that i posted about in 2012 that are still in my daily routine:

my ten favorite product finds of 2012

1. urban decay’s naked foundation is my go-to for a flawless face; i use it every day and i am still loving the semi-matte finish.

2. dr. lipp’s nipple balm for lips is a godsend for chapped lips; when all else fails, i know this will get the job done!

3. pattern body wash’s balance of effective cleaning and hydration makes it a permanent favorite in our coed shower. i love the scents and feel like i’m doing something good for my skin when i’m lathering up.

4. oribe’s dry texturizing spray is better than the best dry shampoo. it continues to make day two hair look better than day one. and the scent! yum.

5. sheswai’s nail lacquers come in the most playful shades. i still haven’t found anything that’s easier to apply than these, saving me bundles in salon manicures.

6. deborah lippmann’s the stripper to go is the most ingenious nail polish remover method. the little mitts may be pricy, but their portability and swift polish removal makes them completely worth the expense!

7. i still dab leila lou’s perfume oil in the crook of my elbows daily. the fragrance is flirty, fresh, and light, plus the rollerball makes it easy to travel with.

8. when i cannot stand to look as tired as i feel, tarte emphaseyes inner rim brightener saves the day. i constantly rely on this small wonder to fake eight hours.

9. i will never go back to plain old boring hair ties! olivia’s mane message pretties crop up everywhere, from all around my condo to the depths of my handbags to my car cup holders. you’re sure to always find one on my wrist, too!

10. chanel’s precision eyelash curler has replaced my beloved shu ueumra and proven better than the original. lashes are left perfectly curled without the awkward crimp some other curlers leave behind.

have you discovered anything through the blog that has found a permanent home in your beauty bag this year?

cuticle care

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cuticle care 101

the harsh effects of winter are so unforgiving on your skin, but perhaps no precious part is hit harder than your hands. while hand creams and balms play a big role in preventing dryness, i like to be sure to give a little extra love to my cuticles this time of year.

historically, they are probably the least cared for part of my entire body, but as i have slowly discovered the benefits of a good cuticle treatment, it has become a tiny luxury that i cannot live without. (dry cuticles can lead to snags and tears that are not only painful, but can open you up to infection – ouch!)

in the land of cuticle care, there are creams and there are oils. depending on your needs and your preferences, the options are endless. the key ingredient in all products is some sort of moisturizing oil, so you can opt for a convenient, less messy cream, or go straight to the source and choose an easily absorbed oil. some say that oils are best, especially if you’re dealing with super dry skin, but i find that a cream can definitely soften things up nicely.

now that you’re schooled in cuticle care, i’ve rounded up several of my favorite products, at all price points to help ensure that yours are not overlooked this season:

top row, left to right:
dior creme abricot fortifying cream for nails, $24
deborah lippmann cuticle oil, $20
sally hansen cuticle eraser + balm, $6
l’occitane cuticle & nail cream, $18

bottom row, left to right:
the body shop almond nail & cuticle oil, $12
butter london handbag holiday cuticle oil, $18
burt’s bees lemon butter cuticle cream, $6
lush lemony flutter cuticle butter, $16.95

keep it pretty: diy manicure bowl

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keep it pretty: diy manicure bowl

my diy manicure skills are gradually improving! i’ve picked up some tricks and finally found the right products to make painting my nails at home a pleasure instead of a chore. i keep everything on my dresser in this zelenka bowl from anthropologie. here are the steps and tools that have boosted my at-home mani confidence:

1. a soft cuticle pusher really makes it easier to paint polish on without making a mess. this $1 version from elf is a no-brainer.

2. a glass nail file smooths and sculpts nails far better than a classic emery board. it’s better for your nails and works so much faster. i’ve been using this $3 one from sephora.

3. a good base coat is crucial to making your mani last longer. i’m loving deborah lippmann ‘fast girls’ – it creates a smooth canvas and i swear it makes application easier. it’s also super quick drying!

4. i like to add a top coat for protection and extra gloss. deborah lippmann umbrella is high-shine and chip resistant.

5. finally, the cleanup. i *always* end up with polish on my cuticles, but there’s a perfect solution: dip the absolute smallest eyeliner brush (or paint brush) into some acetone remover and drag it along your cuticle to get that super clean edge. the result is almost better than what you can get at a spa!

do you have any diy manicure tips and tricks? where do you keep all of your tools?

ps – allure voting is extended through the weekend! if you think of it in between all of that boating and barbecue-ing, please vote, vote, vote!

deborah lippmann run the world (girls)

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some of you may have seen this yesterday on facebook or twitter, but yesterday’s was my 500th blog post. i’m still in a bit of awe over that milestone! in celebration, i’m taking a bit of inspiration from deborah lippmann’s new “run the world (girls)” mini nail polish collection.

top: i kissed a girl (poppin’ pink), it girl (yellin’ yellow), and hollaback girl (outrageous orange)

bottom: nasty girl (flaming fuchsia) and party girl (sassy salmon)

the five neon shades are juicy and bright, with a matte finish to make them special (and more fun!) they are begging for you to break out your nail art tools and just aching to be included in some fun and fabulous color combinations.

in honor of my big 5-0-0 and deborah’s nod to girl power, i thought i’d share some lovely links to the ladies of the beauty biz who, along with deborah, keep me motivated and inspired to blog the pretty day after day.

who did i miss? who inspires you?

my weekend

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i had the best weekend in new york with two of my favorite people.

my friends blair, sarah, and i were pretty inseparable when we were all living in dc, but they moved away to chicago and long island respectively this winter and i’ve been missing them terribly.

we rendezvous’d at sarah’s beautiful home and had ourselves a lovely little weekend. highlights included a long, lingering trip to sephora, an impulsive indulgence at godiva (chocolate covered oreos? don’t mind if i do!), some super tasty mexican food and plenty of qt with sarah’s sweet, almost two-year-old babe, caroline.

(thanks to blair for snapping these pictures!)

after i gifted her mom a stephanie johnson mini pouch with deborah lippmann’s ‘almost paradise’ tucked inside, the baby beauty addict perched herself on my lap for a teeny tiny manicure. the result was perfectly pistachioed nails which she proceeded to display for anyone who would take notice over the entire weekend.

all in all, it was pretty perfect.

hope your weekend was just as great!

deborah lippmann the stripper to go

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it’s a gloomy day where i am, so that means cheering things up with a new watermelon pink manicure over my morning latte.

i don’t know about you, but i find the art of removing nail polish to be such a chore, so when i discovered deborah lippmann’s nail lacquer remover finger mitts, i wanted to kiss the woman! never in my life have i seen a beauty breakthrough so genius as these.

inside each pouch is one finger mitt soaked in aloe vera and lavendar laced remover. (these ingredients prevent dehydration and protect your delicate cuticles with anti-bac properties.) each mitt easily cleans all ten nails and because it wraps all the way around the finger, it makes things completely mess free! gone are the days of your finger turning red from one of these or dipping your finger in a sponge like this. no more spilled acetone in the living room from soaking your nails in the cap (i know i’m not the only one who uses that method!) or dripped on the floor from a remover pad too awkward and bulky to use.

see them in action here, here, and here. i’m telling you, they will change your at-home manicure.

deborah lippmann stripper to go nail lacquer remover mitts are 6 for $12 at nordstrom.