CPNALV Exclusive: Press Conference

The wonderful ladies and gentlemen that are in charge of Cosmoprof North America - Las Vegas were in New York this week and here's a little information about what happened!

For more pictures, click here!

Celebrating the first-ever Cosmoprof press conference in New York City on June 28th. Representatives from Cosmoprof Worldwide and Professional Beauty Association gave a sneak peak of what Cosmoprof North America  will offer this year in terms of educational conferences, special events, and everything beauty.  The purpose of this event was to educate that this venue is much  more than just a B2B Trade Show, but a setting which brings beauty / trends to life  – an attribute Cosmoprof does very well, year after year. The event took place at Apella located by the East River, with over 80 guests in attendance including journalists from trade, consumer, on-line media and industry executives.

Only a month away till show time, Cosmoprof North America will take place at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center ( July 31^st- August  2^nd) in Las Vegas. 

Want to read more about what was talked about?  Here is the PDF from the event and here is another PDF that is chock full of information!  If you're attending Cosmoprof next month, you really should check it out!

deborah lippmann Holiday 2011

Please enjoy the following press release from Deborah Lippmann!

Just in time for the holiday season,

 Deborah Lippmann Gets the Party started

 Nothing says ‘Party’ like the magnetic sparkle of glitter. So for the biggest party season of the year, I’ve created shades that truly dazzle. Get This Party Started, a set of three glitters, was inspired by the overwhelming demand for my best selling Happy  Birthday, a glittery party in a bottle. The set includes Happy Birthday, along with two new variations of the sparkling shade: Forget You and Candy Shop. They’re both packed with the same unique hexagon-shaped glitter that gives Happy Birthday its magnificent glint, only Forget You has a sheer black base and Candy Shop a bubblegum pink.

I love how festive all three look and feel, whether wrapped a round a champagne glass or peeping out of a glamorous pump. But what I truly love the most: how a few coats of any shade instantly transform you into the life of the party.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: a party in a bottle (glitter)

FORGET YOU: party all night (glitter)

CANDY SHOP: bubblegum pink (glitter)

XOXO,

Deborah

deborah lippmann Stormy Weather

Please enjoy the following press release from Deborah Lippmann!

SHOW WORTHY

Deborah Lippmann’s new shade, STORMY WEATHER, is a collaboration with fashion designer Narciso Rodriguez.


Usually Narciso requests a nude nail to complement his minimalist designs, but for fall 2011 around he wanted something bolder—a color with strength and edge to offset both his collection and the softness of the hair and makeup. For the perfect custom finish, I mixed (and mixed) a new shade by hand in just 24 hours. The final product: an edgy granite that emanated power and intensity. The models who walked the show (and who rarely, if ever, comment on the nail color) gushed over the shade. And so STORMY WEATHER was born an edgy granite (crème) for a strong fall statement.

XOXO,

Deborah

 WHERE TO FIND IT: Barneys New York, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and online at www.deborahlippmann.com

deborah lippmann Fall 2011

Please enjoy the following press release from Deborah Lippmann!

WARM UP WITH DEBORAH LIPPMANN’S FALL 2011 SHADES

I have worked directly with some of the world’s top fashion designers on everything from ad campaigns to fashion shows. When I set out to select nail looks for the fall 2011 collections, I noticed a common theme among all of my collaborators: warmth. The clothes featured vivid, lush earth tones—think lush greens, rich reds and intense golds.

I wanted to capture a similar heat and earthiness in the accompanying polishes, but with an added punch. BILLIONAIRE, a moody hunter green, BRICK HOUSE, a shimmering rust, and SINGLE LADIES, a flirtatious red, all have warm undertones, which give them a beautiful intensity, but also have a jewel-like quality so they really make nails pop.

SHADE DESCRIPTIONS
Billionaire: moody hunter green (creme)
Brick House: shimmering rust (shimmer)
Single Ladies: flirtatious red (creme)

XOXO,

Deborah

 WHERE TO FIND IT: Barneys New York, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and online at www.deborahlippmann.com

Nicole by OPI "Baby" Blue

Shuffling down the line with the One Less Lonely Collection is "Baby" Blue, a lovely blue creme that is as pretty as the sky.  I used a base coat of OPI Natural Nail, 3 coats of "Baby" Blue and a top of OPI Top Coat.

I need to do something about those pesky ridges.  You can see how well this applies as well as how bright it is.

Even in the shade, it's a nice opaque blue that really pops.

Indoors with the flash and my nails are nearly glowing!  Now I have to stop singing "Baby" in my head and go stare at my nails.  Definitely a keeper for my stash.


Nicole by OPI is available beginning at ULTA, Meijer, Harmon, HEB, Sears, Wal-Mart and more for around $8 a bottle.  For more information, visit their website, follow Nicole by OPI on Twitter or become a Facebook fan.

Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.

CPNALC Exclusive: Frais™ All-Natural Towelettes

I have another Cosmoprof North America - Las Vegas exclusive here!  I look forward to testing these out since I do wear makeup (especially eye makeup) and you can use these on your hands and feet to keep them hydrated!

Frais™ All-Natural Towelettes

Eco-Practical and Luxurious Skin Revitalizer and Make-up Remover

Sydney, Australia – Luscious and aromatherapeutic, Frais™ All-Natural Towelettes are formulated with natural anti-bacterial and botanical extracts to rejuvenate tired skin and remove make-up while fending off environmental stresses. Combining the nourishing benefits of a luxurious lotion with the aromatic healing essence of a relaxing spa, this gentle, yet highly effective formula instantly cleans, calms and hydrates the skin. Infused with essential oils, these towelettes not only cleanse thoroughly, but also offer an aromatherapeutic, relaxing experience.  Frais™ All-Natural Towelettes are the purest, most natural towelettes on the market.

Frais™ All-Natural Towelettes were developed to provide a natural method for revitalizing the skin and removing makeup without exposing the skin to toxic chemicals. They have been human tested as non-irritating and non-sensitizing and are hypoallergenic, dermatologist approved, and ophthalmologist approved as safe for use around the eye and for removing all waterproof mascara.  The carefully formulated ingredients are completely natural, eco-friendly, non-toxic, and vegan, with a delightful fresh scent and smooth non-sticky feel. Formulated with Ginkgo Biloba, Vitamin E, Alpha Bisabolol from Chamomile, and Shea Butter, Frais Towelettes soften dry skin while helping to relax tension in the face as well as provide antioxidants that help maintain the appearance of young, healthy skin. Additionally, they are infused with Les Huit, Frais’ own unique blend of eight Australian essential oils including cardamom, grapefruit, niaouli, and basil delivering a soothing uplifting sensory experience.

Packaged conveniently in packs of ten and in individual sachets.  Frais Individual Towelettes are perfect for your pocket, handbag, briefcase, gym bag or car to freshen up on a whim, providing instant luxury during the day when you need a lift! Carry one ten-pack in your tote to revitalize skin, face and body throughout the day, and leave the other on the dresser to remove all make-up in the evening and restore skin cells during sleep!

Frais™ All-Natural Towelettes are infused with amazing natural botanical extracts with restorative effects:

·         Natural botanical extracts of Ginkgo Biloba and Alpha Bisabolol rejuvenate tired skin while fending off environmental stresses.

·         Pure Shea Butter is a rich emollient with superior moisturizing qualities that soften and soothe dry skin while helping to relax tension in the face.

·         Vitamin E is a revitalizing antioxidant that helps maintain the appearance of young, healthy skin.

·         Les Huit, an elegant mélange of eight Australian-blended essential oils, lifts the mind with ginger, tangerine, lemon myrtle, niaouli, orange, basil, grapefruit and cardamom.

What makes Frais™ Eco-Friendly?

·         High grade, all-natural ingredients

·         100% Vegan

·         Certified by PETA as a ‘cruelty-free cosmetic producer’

·         Packaging is 100% recyclable

·         Donates a portion of proceeds to Just A Drop – foundation bringing clean water to communities around the world

·         Frais uses carbon neutral shipping to all retailers and customers in the USA when possible.

Frais™ All-Natural Individual Towelettes (7 individual sachets) retail for $10

Frais™ All-Natural Twin Towelettes (two packs of 10 towelettes) retail for $18

Both are available at fraislux.com & dermstore.com

Nail Files "Walter's Nominated for a Grammy!" Breakdown

Image from TV Guide Network's Facebook Page

Episode 3 aired tonight, and after the premier and 2nd episode last week, I read a lot of reviews, both good and bad.  This is reality TV and while the cameras are filming a TON of footage (multiple camera angles, multiple shots, etc), they have to cut it way down to 30 minutes.  They are going to show a lot of drama filled moments and out of sequence moments.  They have to make this entertaining you know!  I don't think one person is really thinking that all nail salons in America are run this way, and likewise, not all things that Katie does are "that" over the top.  Melissa from the Daily Nail got the opportunity to meet up with Katie last week and had nothing but great things to say.  Check it out here!

Walter, Katie's fiancé starts off bringing Katie some coffee in bed.  Hello, I want one of those.  :]  So Walter is nominated for a Grammy for his work on Kenny G's album (wonder if he helped out with Uncle Kenny's cameo with Katy Perry's T.G.I.F. video).  Katie heads over to the salon and informs everyone that Becky quit before going over to get a dress made for the Grammys.

With a $12k sticker shock, Katie is able to get the designers to loan her a dress for the red carpet.  It's definitely a lot about who you know in this business, and she definitely knows some good people.

Back in the Painted Nail, no one can find anything now that Becky is gone.  Are you surprised?  I really do hate how Becky left without any kind of notice or warning... it definitely puts everyone in a sore spot.  Note to all, never leave a job that unprofessionally but especially tend to avoid it when you're on national television.

Katie ends up hiring an organizer (and randomly finding a hammer in a drawer) to help get everything in order.  I was seriously about to make a joke about Hoarders before Katie just did.  I was pretty happy about her until she mentioned LifeLock.  Now, I'm not a fan of LifeLock (you can check out some information on Wikipedia here) but hey, if it works for her, yay.  (For the record, I use Citi IdentityMonitor.)  However, Katrina (the organizer) has done a great job at labeling everything and putting everything in color coded bins, boxes and folders, so despite me not liking her choice of fraud monitoring, she's done a good job.

While Katrina was organizing her heart out, Katie went to Martin Katz, the jeweler to the stars, so Katie could borrow some jewelry.  Holy cow, can I tell you how amazingly beautiful all the items were?  Her bracelet was almost the price of my house (as she also mentioned), so yeah - kinda cra cra.

Grammy Day!  Katie apparently isn't the most timely person (and especially with an entire television crew behind you).  She gets her hair and makeup done (and another crack about being on the Jersey Shore) and then forgets her nails.   She uses a machine that prints an image ONTO her nails.  Okay, so Barbie makes a version of this for $150, but I have got to know what she has!

Katie gets her dress, puts on her shoes, gets her purse, brushes her teeth, oh yeah and the limo is honking away (and can't make it up her driveway, go figure) while Walter is calming saying "let's GO."  By the way, Walter has dropped 45 pounds - which is awesome!

I've been in a limo once in my life, but mine didn't have a bottle of champagne.  Katie's does!  A-List stars are all over (remember Gaga in that egg?) and Katie is in Heaven.  This is what she was hoping for at Sundance so I'm glad she finally got it.

By the way, did you see who was interviewing Katie and Walter for TV Guide?  Oh yes, it was runner up from the 1st American Idol - Justin Guarini.  How's that for obscure reference?  I felt like an episode of Family Guy.

So sadly, Walter didn't win, but hey he's got 2 Grammys sitting at the house - pssh.  I can totally relate to Katie's excitement.  One day, I'll get to watch myself on TV, I'm sure of it, and you better believe I'll be just as freaking excited.

Coming up - the Jersey Shores girls will be coming in, a Traditional Russian Gypsy, dogs pooing on the floor (and doing it?), more drama and problems, OSCARS!  For a reality show junkie, this is a great fit into my routine. 

Nail Files airs on the TV Guide Network Tuesdays at 10/9c.

China Glaze Platinum Pieces

It's another crackle post!  This is the year of the crackle.  I really hoped it would be the year of the holographic polish but hey, maybe next year.  This is from the upcoming Metallic Crackle collection from China Glaze - the silver Platinum Pieces crackle.  I decided to use it over my existing Redy to Runaway Love? manicure.  One coat of Platinum Pieces topped with Seche Vite.

I think the red may have been to bold to really see the silver shine through here.  I'm definitely wanting to play more and do a comparison to OPI's Silver Shatter (which is still on my shelf but has been worn a few times).  As mentioned before, China Glaze's metallics seem to be much thinner in consistency and doesn't gum up around the bottle neck like OPI's crackles do or the first batch of Crackle Glaze from China Glaze.  Granted, you can add nail polish thinner to crackle polishes to bring them back to a thin consistency, but it's nice not to have to do that.

You can see the crackle coat better in the shade - partly because the camera doesn't go crazy over all the sparkling foil of this polish.

Indoors with the flash - the bottle picture looks a lot like the China Glaze Cheers To You a bit but again - it's a crackle!  I like that they have a different logo instead of a different cap, although I like the different caps as well.

China Glaze [official website] can be found online through several etailers, including my favorite Head2Toe Beauty [official website], Sally's Beauty Supply [official website] as well asTransDesign [official website].

Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.

Nicole by OPI Redy to Runaway Love?

OPI is no stranger to having interesting twists on their polish names but I had to admit, I was confused by Redy to Runaway Love? until I realized hello - these are all takes on Justin Bieber songs and he does have one called "Runaway Love" and then this is a red polish... Ta da.


This is a very bold red creme - not necessarily unique, but very bold.  I used a base coat of OPI Natural Nail, 2 coats of Redy to Runaway Love? (the question mark is part of the name) and a top of OPI Top Coat.  The formula was nice and smooth.

No, that's not lens flare, it's actually sunlight reflecting off this shiny and smooth surface.  A very in your face red without being neon or having any other colors in the mix (like a brown red or a blue red).

I really need to work on my cuticles of my middle finger but you can see how well this color wears - totally opaque and smooth.

Finally indoors with the flash and not much else to say.  It's definitely a bold and nice color.  Eventually I'll get back to comparisons, promise!


Nicole by OPI is available beginning at ULTA, Meijer, Harmon, HEB, Sears, Wal-Mart and more for around $8 a bottle.  For more information, visit their website, follow Nicole by OPI on Twitter or become a Facebook fan.

Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.

OPI White Shatter

Hey it's time for more crackle polish! OPI White Shatter comes as part of the Serena Williams Glam Slam! Collection, currently partnered with Spark de Triomphe but I decided to check it out of my e.l.f. Black for a classic black and white look.  This is one coat of Shatter followed by a top of Seche Vite.

This crackled pretty well!  I know a lot of people had issues with China Glaze Lightning Bolt not crackling "enough" and being rather stringy (I didn't really have that problem) but this is definitely a nice bold crackling polish and a very nice white I might add!  I'm still on the search for a perfect one coat white creme - wish this was it!

Not much to say in the shade - I'm still giggling how it tends to give a horizontal crack at the smile line (not on my pinkie though).  I wonder if that has anything to do with body heat?

Indoors with the flash - I'm in love with how clean this white is!


OPI is available at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and Ulta, for $8.50 ($10.95 CAN) suggested retail for each Nail Lacquer. Please visit their website for details [official website].  

Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.

e.l.f. Black

I still haven't splurged on another bottle of CND Blackjack, which is my absolute favorite one coat black creme so today I decided to check out my bottle of e.l.f. Black, that I purchased last year off their website during a sale.  At only $1 a bottle and with constant sales including a lot of free shipping with orders of x amount (right now it's with orders over $25), this is definitely a much cheaper alternative.  But does it work as well?  I also have to mention that the bottles are slightly smaller at only 0.35 oz instead of a China Glaze bottle at 0.50 oz.


I used a base coat of Seche Natural, ONE COAT of Black and a top of Seche Vite.  I do hate that the bottle top is rectangular so it never lines up properly with the bottle.

In the sun it looks a little streaky.  If I was wearing this as its own color (and not a base for something else) I'd probably use at least 2 coats. 

In the shade however, the color looks more opaque.  As I said, I'm mainly just using this as a base for other colors (sheer ones, glitter or shatters) so it works well for me.

Indoors with the flash and again you can see that the pinkie is a little streaky but really, for a dollar?  I'm not really complaining.  Currently this and many of their other colors are sold out, but they might be restocking soon?


You can purchase e.l.f. on their website.  You can like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, be their friend on MySpace and subscribe to their YouTube videos.

Nicole by OPI Make U Smile

Another from the One Less Lonely Girl collection is Make U Smile, a silver mini glitter with larger silver glitter pieces in a clear base.  This is best worn over another color but I didn't know that the first time.  The larger glitter doesn't like being picked up well by the brush so this is three coats on each nail.  My base black is e.l.f. Black (one coat).

I really wish the larger silver glitter would pick up more.  Here's a semi-sun (mostly cloudly) pictures.

Haha please ignore the yellow near my index finger... that's mustard.  :] (yum)

Not much else to say here.  I would pass on this color just because it's hard to pick up the large silver pieces. Not my cup of tea.  Removal was easy because it's such a sparse glitter.


Nicole by OPI is available beginning at ULTA, Meijer, Harmon, HEB, Sears, Wal-Mart and more for around $8 a bottle.  For more information, visit their website, follow Nicole by OPI on Twitter or become a Facebook fan.

Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.

China Glaze Tarnished Gold

Moving on down the line with more crackle polish - here is Tarnished Gold from the Metallic Crackles that China Glaze is coming out with this summer.  I decided to try it over my existing Nicole by OPI "One Time Lime" manicure.  I was going for kind of an antique jade - Egyptian like look and I really think these two colors hit it home for me.

This color cracked pretty well for me with just one thin coat.  I like how on the middle finger, it's more broken up and the rings finger is more in shards.

This was an accidental indirect sun picture but I think it looks really lovely as well - the green really peeks out beautifully.

In the shade the gold tends to reflect more light off other items and I almost feel like I have red lobster hands but I think it's just the lighting.  

And finally indoors with the flash and you can see how foil-y this polish is.  Definitely a fan of gold crackle which is odd since I'm not a fan of gold polish.

China Glaze can be found online through several etailers, including my favorite Head2Toe Beauty, Sally's Beauty Supply, and TransDesign.

Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.

Nicole by OPI One Time Lime

Continuing with the One Less Lonely Girl additions is One Time Lime, a vibrant lime that's "worth your time."  I must say, it's definitely a bright green - not a neon, but close to it.  I found this formula to be a lot better.  I used a base of OPI Natural Nail, 2 coats of One Time Lime and a top of OPI Top Coat.

I think I need to just bite the bullet for the OPI Ridge Filler because do I ever hate my ridges.  Disregard the ridges and check out how smooth this color really is.

In the shade you can see a bit of streakiness in my index finger again.  I paint my nails from pinkie to index, so I don't know what my problem is.

Okay, now here's the weird thing.  Check out how many bald spots you see indoors with the flash?  Almost every nail!  But it photographs (and wears) so well otherwise...  It's like putting your hotel room under a blacklight or something.


So my take on this polish?  It's definitely a bright lime green (without being neon) but you may have to put on several coats for full opacity.

Nicole by OPI is available beginning at ULTA, Meijer, Harmon, HEB, Sears, Wal-Mart and more for around $8 a bottle.  For more information, visit their website, follow Nicole by OPI on Twitter or become a Facebook fan.


Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.

Nicole by OPI My Lifesaver

Going back a step to the Nicole by OPI One Less Lonely Girl additions, which was the line inspired by Justin Bieber songs, today I have My Lifesaver "a soft mint green" creme.  There is definitely a lot more blue in this than green, but compared to something like Baby Blue (also in this collection), it's definitely more green.


I used a base coat of OPI Natural Nail, 2 coats of My Lifesaver and a top of OPI Top Coat.  I found this polish to be more on the streaky side.

In the sun, it's not nearly as streaky looking and you can see it's more mint colored than the bottle picture looks.

In the shade, you can see the bald spots on the index finger and the thinness in the pinkie fingers.

Indoors with the flash shows again how the index finger is streaky.


I'm iffy on this color.  I never got into the whole mint crazy last year, despite owning several mint colors.  I think green in general is still my "yikes" color for nails but I'm easing into it!

Nicole by OPI is available beginning at ULTA, Meijer, Harmon, HEB, Sears, Wal-Mart and more for around $8 a bottle.  For more information, visit their website, follow Nicole by OPI on Twitter or become a Facebook fan.

Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.