November 11, 2014
by Julia DiNardo
It’ll be a cinch to make sure your digits are properly decorated this holiday season with these five amazing collections. It’s hard to choose one shade, so I may be doing a mani on myself every other day in order to wear them all in 2014!
Zoya Nail Polish boasts over 300 shades, is vegan-friendly, safe for use during pregnancy, and is 5-free (of chemicals); what’s not to love? For starters, I am totally enamored with the Matte Velvet Collection (pictured at top) that includes six highly opaque hues in a versatile array of shades that work well with all skin tones. Seeing is believing, and if you’re going to try just one, I highly recommend Dovima, a matte black shade with a hint of a charcoal, silvery finish that makes it less dramatic than a full-on black glossy shades. Buy all six for $54, or individually at $9 a piece.
Pictured above is the Zoya Holiday 2014 Collection, Wishes, which takes its lead from the fall 2014 runway hues, sure to make a great match with decadent holiday fabrications such as taffeta, silk, charmeuse, and brocade. Priced from $9-$10 each or $57 for all six, there are three PixieDust options with holographic hex glitter that isn’t overly wrought amongst your other holiday sparkly possessions. Both collections are available now at Zoya.com.
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November 5, 2014
by Julia DiNardo
Iwore Maybelline lipstick (Red Revolution was my shade) on my wedding day, so you can say that the brand’s ColorSensational lipstick line holds a special place in my heart, and most importantly, never disappoints! I was excited to try out the newest addition to the lineup, The Creamy Mattes by ColorSensational, just launched this October and picks up on the trend seen on the runways of ultra dried down, matte lips. I’ve tried other matte lipsticks before with mixed results; some are so dry that it’s a task to drag them across my lips, fill in the lines, and make sure there are no cracks or creases throughout.
The beauty of Maybelline’s mattes are that they are extremely hydrating and creamy, so you get the resulting look of a matte hue without making your lips beg for moisturizing balm. Launched with a well-edited 10 shade lineup, the matte shades can be identified via a misted cap, and debut in the shades of Nude Embrace, Daringly Nude, Touch of Spice, Lust for Blush, Ravishing Rose, Faint for Fuchsia, Mesmerizing Magenta, Craving Coral (my favorite!), Siren in Scarlet, and Divine Wine.
Maybelline New York the Creamy Mattes Lipstick by ColorSensational is available for about $7.49 each at mass retailers nationwide.
P.s. – Other new Maybelline launches that you won’t want to miss include The Falsies Rebel Black Mascara, Great Lash Real Impact Mascara, and Eye Studio Brow Drama Sculpting Brow Mascara.
November 4, 2014
by Julia DiNardo
This isn’t JUST a feature about contact lenses, but the latest technology in eye enhancement that is poised to be a total game changer. Meet 1-Day ACUVUE DEFINE, a new launch with three lens options to enhance the outer ring of the eye, around the iris, known as the limbal ring, and available in three levels of intensity: NATURAL SPARKLE™, NATURAL SHIMMER™, and NATURAL SHINE™. Iris-inspired designs (see the images above) add depth and definition in a transparent format to let your eye’s unique properties and color shine right through, unlike using a colored contact that is thickly opaque to mask the color underneath.
At the US launch event I tested out a few of the lenses in my prescription strength, although for those of you lucky enough to not need a prescription, you can get the lenses without one. Either way, a visit to an approved optometrist is necessary to ensure a proper fit (also an eye exam and evaluation may be in order), currently across 15 states and growing.
In the photo above, I’m wearing a NATURAL SPARKLE™ lens on one eye, with the other being my natural eye without a lens; can you tell which one has 1-Day ACUVUE DEFINE on it? No one could tell exactly what it was that was different, and upon asking friends, I was told my eyes looked “very pretty,” or “alert” “the white around the eye was very bright,” or that “I didn’t even need any eye makeup,” my eyes looked so great. Wow! All lenses also feature LACREON®Technology (for moisture) and UV Protection, which is so so important for my usually dry, sensitive eyes. Available now, the pricing varies, but is approximately $75 per month.
What do you think; would you try the 1-Day ACUVUE DEFINE Lenses?
October 29, 2014
by Julia DiNardo
I’m certainly a sucker for good packaging, and if this soap would have been just mediocre, it still would have been enough for me to make the purchase just to glance from time to time at the gorgeous design. Instead, the Rosemary Lavender Soap from Kahina Giving Beauty did not rest on its aesthetic laurels and instead provided an exceptional formula that was both exfoliating and ultra-hydrating. Possessing four powerful oils – argan, coconut, olive, and shea, it’s a decadently moisturizing experience, while the ground rosemary helps to sloughs the skin while smelling invigorating.
For someone who washes their hands 10,000 a day like me (well not 10,000, but it’s a lot), it’s easy to skip swiping on lotion immediately afterward as the formula is non-drying to say the least. At $18, it makes a decadent gift for yourself or a friend, with the paper wrapped inspired by Moroccan tiles. Choose from three bar options (also lemongrass nettle and goat milk and honey), available for purchase through Kahina Giving Beauty’s site and boutique retailers worldwide.
