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essie

Mixed Metal Manis: Get the Party and Conversation Started with a Silver and Golden Glitter Ombre Manicure

December 20th, 2011 by Karen 39 Comments

Yes, ma’am, I’m still in a metallic mani mode, also known as a mixed metal mani state of mind. Why? Because it’s magnetic! — not literally, of course — but I think there is something bewitching about nails that look like shiny baubles shimmering in silver and gold. Perhaps it’s because they remind me of disco balls, or perhaps it’s an ancient urge more primitive and primal than that.

This particular metal mani, a silver and gold ombre affair, is a manifestation of this MAC purse from holiday 2007, and how its tweed pattern melts from silver to gold (LOVE!).

Since the look required a number layers, I grabbed two polishes that I knew would dry quickly, a silvery glitter from Essie called Set in Stones, and a golden glitter from China Glaze called Blonde Bombshell. Of course, you could substitute other silver and gold glitters from your personal stash.

After applying a base coat to prime and even out the surface of my nails, I applied three (!) coats of Essie Set in Stones to build up the glittery silver backdrop that covers the surface of each nail. To ramp up the bling even more, you could always apply four. 🙂

Next, to initiate Project Ombre Effect, I applied Blonde Bombshell, beginning at the base of each nail, and tapering as I moved toward the tip.

Then, I added one extra layer to intensify the transitional effect where the gold meets the silver, concentrating a little more glitter at the base of each nail.
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There are 39 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Makeup Tips/How To, Nails Keywords: china glaze, essie

With the Essie Luxeffects Collection, Glitter Is a Shine of the Times

December 13th, 2011 by Karen 44 Comments

Essie Luxeffects

The other day at the grocery store, I got to chatting with the cashier who was helping me. She was sporting one of the cutest sparkly manicures I’d seen in a while, and when I told her how much I liked it, she replied, “Aw, thanks! Since I have to wear a uniform every day, I like to do something to spice it up.”

Amen to that! Working for Tabs, I also have to wear a uniform of sorts — you know, sensible shoes and clothes that show I’m responsible enough to handle midnight gravy runs, and other crucial cat-assigned tasks. To spice things up this week, I plan to wear something from Essie Luxeffects.

The new collection of nail polishes launched earlier this month with five glittery shades ($8 each), and WOW! — what a surprise. I think of Essie as a pretty conservative line, so it’s neat to see them take a detour down a sparkly path.

The glitter flecks they used for these polishes, which are designed to be worn alone or layered with other lacquers, come in different shapes and sizes, from larger hexagonal flecks to tiny round ones smaller than a grain of sand, and the variety creates the illusion of depth and dimension.

The collection includes…

essie luxeffects (6)
Essie Luxeffects from the left: As Gold as it Gets, Shine of the Times, A Cut Above, Pure Pearlfection and Set in Stones

essie luxeffects (2)
Set in Stones
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There are 44 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Nails, Product Reviews Keywords: essie

Glitter on ‘Til the Break of Dawn

December 3rd, 2011 by Karen 6 Comments


They sparkle like Vampire Edward!

The Essive Luxeeffects collection for holiday 2011. Available now at salons and beauty stores.

There are 6 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Daily Photo Keywords: essie

The Essie Cocktail Bling Collection and TV’s Latest Dance Craze

October 3rd, 2011 by Karen 49 Comments

essie cocktail bling swatches

Watching The Jersey Shore is completely exhausting (but yet strangely hard to resist). And with all of the underwear flashing that’s been happening over the past few eps, it’s also been quite gross.

I want to stop, but I almost feel like I’ve already invested so much time in following these goofy characters that I can’t quit now. And, truth be told, I’m also weirdly fascinated by Ronnie’s unique outlook on dance.

He’s not the nicest boy in the world (that’s one way to put it), but I gotta give it up to the guy for taking his club moves so seriously.

Lately he’s been doing this one thing where he puts his hand in front of his face and wiggles it side to side really fast, like “Peek-a-boo!” 🙂

I started trying to work it into my own living room dance moves…but with a makeup and beauty twist. That’s Essie’s Cocktail Bling collection for winter on my nails (available in six shades; $8 each).

essie cocktail bling swatches
Essie Cocktail Bling colors from the left: School of Hard Rocks (creamy grayish green), Brooch the Subject (creamy pinkish beige with a touch of gray), Bangle Jangle (cool, creamy amethyst), Bobbing for Baubles (creamy blackish sapphire), Cocktail Bling (creamy periwinkle gray) and Size Matters (creamy ruby red)

essie cocktail bling swatches
Bobbing for Baubles
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There are 49 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Nails, Product Reviews Keywords: essie

Essie Cocktail Bling Winter 2011

October 1st, 2011 by Karen 11 Comments


A quick look at the Essie Cocktail Bling collection (new for winter 2011).

From the left: School of Hard Rocks, Brooch the Subject, Bangle Jangle, Bobbing for Baubles, Cocktail Bling and Size Matters.

Swatches/review coming soon.

There are 11 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Daily Beauty Keywords: essie

What to Wear with Fall’s Trendy Teals: 5 Mani/Pedi Pairings for Teal Fingers or Toes

September 10th, 2011 by Karen 25 Comments

It seems like everywhere I turn lately, I keep running into teal, like over at the YSL counter a few weeks ago, when I bumped into La Laque Nail Laquer Wintergreen ($20), a deep, dark creamy greenish blue from the new Midnight Garden collection (I snagged the last bottle, yay!).

And last weekend at Sephora, I spotted a bottle of shimmery green Tempted by Teal ($9.50) from about 20 feet away…

Okay, 10 feet, give or take, but I bet I would have also seen it from 20. 🙂

It hails from the new Sephora By OPI Garden of Good & Evil collection.

My latest teal crush comes all the way from outer space (by way of Southern California). It’s this kickin’ little bottle from Urban Decay’s new nail kit called Mars.

Dontcha just love the little flecks of silver glitter? They’re like stars. Mars and stars…

Of course, as much as I like teal, and other colors, for that matter, I’m a die-hard mixed mani/pedi girl at heart. I have trouble committing to any one color on all 10 fingers and toes (it’s one of my many beauty quirks), so I’ve been compiling a list of potential fall colors to pair with teal in my mani/pedi combos.

Colors like…

1. Creamy dark purple


China Glaze Nail Lacquer in Urban-Night, $5
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There are 25 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Nails Keywords: china glaze, essie, nars, urban decay

What Are You Wearing on Your Nails?

August 29th, 2011 by Karen 71 Comments


Essie Power Clutch

Fall danced onto my mani/pedi this week, with Essie Power Clutch on my fingers ($8; from the Brand New Bag collection) and YSL La Laque Nail Laquer in 43 Wintergreen on my toes ($20; from Midnight Garden).

What about you? What are you wearing on your nails today?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 71 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun, Nails Keywords: essie, yves saint laurent

Feeling Blue, Part Deux

August 28th, 2011 by Karen 7 Comments


This time with Essie!

There are 7 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Daily Photo Keywords: essie

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