CND Shellac nail polish

Shellac in Tutti Frutti - Day 1

Have you heard of Shellac yet? Creative Nail Design (CND) came out with Shellac polishes, which cure under a UV light and are suppose to stay chip/smudge free for up to 2 weeks!

I've been dying to try this out. Lack of planning, had me calling around Saturday morning trying to find a salon near me that had an open appointment. I ended up at Studio 103 which is an adorable salon in Howell, MI. Nicole did my nails and they turned out flawless. Between each coat (base, 2 color coats and a top coat) my nails went under a UV light, just like gel nails, but with polish.

I was out the door dry (in 30 minutes!) and confident that I wasn't going to smudge them. Apparently the polish only comes off with acetone. No backfills, no fill ins, you just remove the polish with acetone when they grow out and you're good to go. No damage done to nails! It wasn't a full manicure, but included filing, cuticle care, buffing and polish, all for $25. This will be more than worth the price if this stays on for 2 weeks.

I mainly wanted them done for my the wedding I had the next day, on the 4th of July. The true test is if they last for 14 days. I'll keep posting pictures along the way. Let's see if it lasts!

Beauty Sales this Week

Warren-Tricomi sale at Rue La La


DaLish cosmetics sale at HauteLook


Lorac cosmetic sale at HauteLook

MAC in the Groove

MAC in the Groove captures the 70s and 80s to help you feel and look groovy!

Nine NEW Mineralize Eye Shadows, six Cremesheen Lipsticks, six Cremesheen Glass, four Mineralize Skinfinish Powders, and five NEW Mineralize Blush Duos. Shadows are matte, sans glitter and in a trio format. Creamy lips play perfectly off Mineralize satin-smooth eyes.

M·A·C In The Groove on counter starting July 8, 2010 through August 2010

9 Best Self-Tanning Tools

9 Best Self-Tanning Tools

Get your sexy, summer tan on -- the sunless way

This is a TotalBeauty.com skin care products article Total Beauty readers give these self-tanning lotions and potions a tanned thumbs up. See products

No. 9: Aveeno Continuous Radiance Moisturizing Lotion, $11.99

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8

"It adds a nice sun-kissed glow without streaks or an orange cast …"

No. 8: Bath & Body Works True Blue Spa Shade to Order, $18.50

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.1

"Best of the best tanners out there …"

No. 7: L'Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze Any Angle Self-Tanning Spray, $9.99

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.2

"It is the easiest self tanner I've ever tried …"

Want to see what other products made the list? Click here!

M·A·C Haute & Naughty Lash

Leading the double life that doesn't land you in the tabloids is easy with Haute & Naughty Lash - os smart with its two-in-one dual wiper system, you choose if you want defined lashes for day, or instantly combed volume for evening. Use the small orifice for a natural end look; the large orifice for major drama all-in-one! First at MAC, this innovative, unique, double duty development is the clever new way to customize lashes...select and shimmer brush from root to tip for desired effect. State-of-the-art conditioning and hydrating formula prevents parching, flake-outs. A one-for-all winner!


MAC Haute & Naughty Lash Available July 2010 only at www.maccosmetics.com

Holiday Weekend Sales

TINTE COSMETICS
20% Off July 1-5! Enter promo code 'Summer' at checkout.


PURMINERALS
Free full-size moisturizer (use code FREEMI) or Day Complex SPF 15 (use code FREEDC) when you spend $35. Free shipping!

Material Girl

Madonna and her daughter, Lola, to create the ultimate girly fashion line, Material Girl. Who better to create this than the original Material Girl, Madonna. I can't wait to check this line out as soon as it comes out at Macy's.

Do you think this new line will be a winner? Or a dud? Comment below with your thoughts!

Laura Geller Sale on Rue La La

Are you a fan of Laura Geller? If so, stock up on Rue La La today and tomorrow. Sign up for a free membership and save huge. The Laura Geller set above is regularly almost $60, marked down to $32...snatch it up! There are a ton of great deals.

Make a Wish with Brazilets

I love these bracelets called Brazilets. Brazilets stem from a 200 year-old tradition from mystical Bahia, Brazil, and these are bracelets are worn throughout Latin America. Wrap a Brazilet around your wrist, and tie it in three knots, making a wish with each knot. When your bracelet naturally breaks off, your wishes come true!

I passed these out to my close family members about one month ago and we all still have ours on. They are definitely a conversation piece. On the wish front, after passing the bracelets out and tying them on, we all knew we had the same wish in mind, and it had come true before we even lost our bracelets.

It's not that I fully believe that you can just wish for something and it will come true, but it was the fact that my family and I all put them on together, and we all wished the same thing. That being said, when you buy one for a friend, make sure you buy one for yourself as well, and then the bracelets will remind you of each other.

Brazilets make a great graduation gift to give to friends and family, and a great 'going away' gift to give to first year college students. A good friend of mine (and coworker) is relocating to our San Francisco office. I plan on giving her one to start her new journey off right...with 3 wishes.

You can purchase Brazilets online at their website, LiveBrazilian.com. They are $5 a piece, and 20% of all proceeds go towards 'Plant a Billion Trees' which is dedicated to planting one billion trees in the Atlantic Forest - the most endangered forest in Brazil.

MAC alice + olivia

Introducing an irreverent, nonsensical colour collection from MAC. As stated in the press release "If Alice fell down the rabbit hole and met a Makeup Artist instead of the Mad Hatter, MAC alice + olivia is the curiously gorgeous collection she'd be rocking!'

PIGMENT
Later: Deepest black with a hint of purple pearl.
If It Sparkles: Frosty white plus a touch of pink.
Partylicious: Groovy turquoise mixed with silver sparkle.

$19.50 U.S., $23.50 CDN
7.5g / 0.26 U.S. OZ

Gregory’s Tip: “Sweep Partylicious Pigment over your lids with a #252 brush.
Add loads of M·A·C Fibre Rich mascara for eyes that truly sizzle in the summer!”

DAZZLEGLASS CREME
Sparklicious: Creamy, softest pink with multidimensional pearl.
If It’s Pink: Shimmering, hot to trot pink.
I.Want.Candy: Electric yellow with a sparkling edge.

$18 U.S., $21.50 CDN
2.7ml / 0.09 U.S. OZ

Gregory’s Tip: “Transform your matte red lip by applying I.Want.Candy Dazzleglass Creme
on top. It will literally change into a chic orange red with shine and luster.”


NAIL LACQUER
Morning.After: Creamy, get-noticed turquoise.
So Rich So Pretty: A party-ready purple with a hint of frost.
Military: Black matte with silver suede.

$12, U.S., $14.50 CDN
10ml / 0.34 U.S. FL OZ