Beauty | Fashion Pulse Daily - Part 129

Beauty

November 29, 2011

NIYOT Nail Polishes- A New Eco-Friendly Favorite

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Ethic responsibility at the core of a brand is something that certainly encourages me to choose one brand over another, really just based on this fact alone. Luckily, NIYOT nail polish, which just launched in the USA with a core three-color red collection, produces amazing results, as well as following their mission as ethically sound products.  The formulas are non-toxic and Formaldehyde, Toluene, and DBP free (3-free), made in the United Kingdom with no animal testing, as well as possessing packaging that was ethically sourced from sustainable manufacturing.

I tested NIYOT’s Lost Red (the color in the middle, picture above), which went on smoothly and after two coats produced a shiny, glamorous laquer hue that didn’t even need a clear top coat! I can’t wait to see what colors they will come out next, and in the meanwhile, shop NIYOT nail polish, $10 each, at NIYOT.com.

–Julia DiNardo

November 26, 2011

Step into Hydro Healing with FixMySkin Balms

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There’s certainly nothing pretty about having a cold; the red, irritated face from blowing the nose and the ultra chapped lips from the heavy breathing at night and generally grossness associated with the common cold.  Since I was in such a state this weekend, it came to be the perfect time to pull the FixMySkin balms out of my “to review” bin and give ’em a good old a test run.  Each medicated product contains 1% hydrocortisone, that heals while moisturizing the skin and also includes beeswax, soy bean, Shea butter and cocoa seed butter.

Using the face balm, my t-zone was quickly soothed, while my lips were quenched without feeling addicted to needing more and more of the balm. Great for psoriasis, eczema, insect bites, poison ivy, dermatitis, I won’t be surprised if I start to see this product popping up everywhere. Check out the options at FixMySkin.com, where you can choose from unscented or vanilla for face ($10), lips ($8) or body ($12).

–Julia DiNardo

November 24, 2011

The Last Minute Holiday Gift Guide

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It’s happened to all of us: someone presents  a gift and… uh oh, we’ve got zilch, nada, nothing for them. Panic sets in as we run through our brains for any gift we can potentially scrounge up, or worse, “re-gift.”

We want to make sure these situations never happen again, or when they do we are as prepared as possible. That’s why we’ve compiled our very own Last Minute Holiday Gift Guide. The following selection has a variety of gifts– from quirky to chic– for every person on your forgotten list (oops!). Never feel unprepared again, or at least not during the holidays!

Sweet Tea Towels

For the hostess…

Sweet Tea Towel $15 – The name is simply too appropriate. These towels make the perfect addition for any kitchen or tabletop, plus the soy and hemp blend makes them eco-friendly!

For the foodie…

StateByFood Tote Bag, $25 – By combining two fabulous concepts, fashion and food, this tote bag features illustrations of food from each state in the U.S from New York Bagels to Idaho Potatoes. Ideal for grocery shopping or everyday use, this is sure to put a smile on any foodie’s face.

For the techie…

Kate Spade iPhone Cases, $40 -Let’s face it; none of us can endure life without our beloved technological gadgets. We’re always looking at them, so why not style them?

For the workaholic, or the friend in need of organization…

Moleskins, $12 – A definite MUST-have, the Moleskin Memo Pockets multi-pocketed folders are perfect for our multifaceted lives. Consider it a portable file folder.

For the girl on the go…

mark Main Squeeze Lip Glosses, $10- These sheer, high-shine glosses put tubes to shame. Mod, yet girly all you’ve got to do is flip, pinch and apply. [Also makes perfect stocking stuffers.]

For the wild party girl…

Pop Rock Diamond Ring Bottle Opener, $12 -This diamond ring bottle opener is “committed” to opening up drinks.

For the accessories queen…

west elm Porcelain Ring Dish, $19 – This matte white bird ring stand will bring peace to any disorganized dresser or nightstand. Place rings on the tail so as to never lose them again.

For the artist…

Avon’s Expert Mega Palette, $29- The fun never ends with this expert palette, originally a $75 value! With an array of colors for eyes, lips, and face (over 75 shades to be exact), you can primp and play everyday from this holiday until the next. I mean, who couldn’t use some extra makeup?

For the cold lover…or hater…

Topshop Black Faux Fur Mittens, $36 – A furry fun force against the fierce frigid cold. Say that three times fast!

For the gym rat…

Lululemon skinny satin pirouette headband, $12 – Hair never wants to stay in place, especially when working out. These headbands hold bangs and flyaways, while giving our ponytails the love they deserve. Looking good while working out is certainly not a crime.

For the fashionista…

Chanel Nail Polish, $25- Whether a classic shade, wild metallic or matte, Chanel does nail polish like nobody else. The polishes apply evenly and vividly, delivering long-lasting results.

-Alana Quagliariello

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November 22, 2011

Custom Blend Your Own Nail Polish, with Tips from Expert Wanda Ruiz of CND

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[Backstage Beauty from the Karen Walker Spring 2012 show; Image courtesy of CND]

One of the best things about beauty is that playing around with color is strong encouraged, if not highly recommended. After hearing about how CND nail expert Wanda Ruiz mixed two CND colors, Bicycle Yellow and Blackjack together to get this stunning nail color, it definitely inspired some curiosity as to how to best DIY a new shade of nail color, adding in a new spin on the current colors in our collections.

FPD: Please tell us about how you made the Karen Walker nail color.

WR: The nail color was custom blended…I took a bottle of Bicycle Yellow and added 7 drops of Blackjack to it, shook it up, and that was the final shade. It’s all mixed together.

FPD: To do seven drops of polish against a base, what other color combos, besides black on yellow, should work? Is it always better to pair a darker color on top with a lighter on the bottom, or what would you say is the key to mixing and matching so that it looks distinct and not like you had a ‘nail accident’?

WR: Adding a few drops of black to any color will tone it down. We did this to create ombre nails at Jen Kao’s Spring 2012 shows as well. If you want to take a nearly neon color and make it a little less bright, add between 5 – 10 drops of black polish directly into the bottle and shake.
Thanks for the tips Wanda, and we can’t wait to start shaking up our current nail polish assortment with some new custom-mixed hues!

-Julia DiNardo


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