When I initially wore China Glaze Texture nail polish is was brief and had to be kept a secret.  It was tight-lipped secret I managed to keep for months.  This time *psssshh*. The secret is out! What I wasn’t prepared for was the public’s response.  Frequent hand-grabbing polish chatter is my norm but this was completely different.  People have been grabbing my hand left and right and rubbing my nail polish, often perplexed by the stucco-like texture.

Texture polish is definitely a conversation starter and unlike the hassle of most “sand” texture polishes on the market, you won’t have to worry about removing glitter.  China Glaze Texture is your regular cream opaque formula that dries into its finish.

So a few things:

• People will examine, ask questions, and be baffled.
• They will rub and tilt
• It’s fun to wear because it’s pretty unique
• No chipping, no topcoat

A few more things:

• If you hate people touching walls, this won’t help.  It’s like stucco and picks up every dirt, food, and best of all….makeup.
• You may want to keep your nail brush handy to clean those nooks & crannies
• After a week you just can’t get your nails clean but a top coat may aid in this

Ohhhh look at what we have here VS frgrance lovers!  If you love “Love Spell” and “Pure Seduction”, I have a special place in my heart for you.

Inspired by a warm, lushly fragrant garden, this irresistibly feminine scent hypnotizes with a trio of Boysenberry, Lavender Flower and Pamplewood. Bright fruity top notes move into a heart of fresh honeysuckle florals and a touch of lavender oil. A soft blend of sexy musks and warm amber lingers enticingly, like sunshine on skin.

THE COLLECTION
Eau de Parfum, 1.7 oz./$52 & 3.4 oz./ $68
Body Lotion, 6.7 oz./$20
Body Mist, 8.4 oz./$25

TOP
Boysenberry, Raspberry Leaves, Williams Pear, Juicy Orange

MIDDLE
Lavender Flower, Honeysuckle, Water Lily, Airy Jasmine Petals

DRY-DOWN
Skin Musks, Tree Moss, Pamplewood, Touch of Vanilla

Available starting May 2013, exclusively at Victoria’s Secret and VictoriasSecret.com.

I’ve been a fan of Dr. Teal’s as long as I can remember; not to age myself but at least 15 years.  Lately they’ve been expanding their product line beyond just epsom salts.  My latest Dr. Teal’s collection additions is the Ultra Moisturizing Body Wash (with Lavender) and Olive Oil Bath & Body Treatment.  To be completely honest here, I’ve secretly been testing countless brands of body washes and shower gels over the past few weeks but none have been blog-worthy.

Just like with most of the products I test I skip over directions and product descriptions and jump right in, not knowing what to expect and in for surprises.

Dr. Teal’s Ultra Moisturizing Body Wash (Soothe & Sleep with Lavender) $5.99/ 24 fl. oz – I love a big girthie bottle of body wash with a dispensing pump.  I’m a clutz in the shower and I’m not a fan of those small slender bottles and flip tops.  Most can get away using a single pump but I use 2-3.  The formula is low-foaming and the lavender truly does give a spa-like experience while in the shower.  I didn’t find the formula to be ultra moisturizing but my skin wasn’t tight by a long shot.  Since I really wanted to take in the calming fragrance I extended this shower longer than usual.  That night I noticed my sleep pattern to be deeper than usual but didn’t pay it any attention until I read the details of this body wash.  It has epsom salt to relieve and soothe achy muscles and provides stress relief.  Yasssss!  I am here for it!  Lavender as the only formula I was able to find, I’m hoping they release other fragrances as well.

Dr. Teal’s Olive Oil Bath & Body Treatment $6.97/ 10.75 fl oz – Stans won’t like what I’m about to say but Neutrogena Body Oil has some serious competition.  This oil is the oil of all oils!  It has this really light creamy coco nutty fragrance (that last) which is so addicting, words, simply cannot explain.  But best of all it works!  Apply a thin layer on damp fresh out the shower skin and luxuriate.  I sleep on cotton jersey knit sheets (don’t judge me, I love them) and woke up in the morning with soft well moisturized skin.  I didn’t have to reapply and my dry eczema patches are looking better.  My elbows no longer look like winter skin struggle and I’m hooked.  You can even add a few drops in your bath water.  I usually find soybean oil to be heavy (even on my dry skin) but this blend of soybean, shea butter, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, and safflower oil has shown my skin nothing but love.

Rihanna loves M∙A∙C. The global superstar with style-blazing looks as diverse as her musical hits needs no introduction. Now, get ready for RiRi Woo – our cult classic shade Ruby Woo remixed by Rihanna herself. Exclusively online.

RiRi Woo matte cool red (retro matte)
Suggested Retail Price $15.00 US/$18.00 CDN

Available North America May 2, 2013 at www.maccosmetics.com
International May 2013 at www.maccosmetics.com

Gelish MINI Presents Six New Eye-Catching Colors for the 2013 Summer Season

BREA, Calif. – (April 2013) –Gelish MINI® is preparing to launch what will be the “brightest collection, yet.” Bold words, for bold colors, now known as the Gelish® MINI All About the Glow Collection.  All About the Glow is expected to be available starting May 2013.

Originally sparked by the idea of big city lights and party glow sticks, the idea was to capture those same bright colors you would see at night, on a summer day.

Women with tan skin, wearing brightly colored swimsuits on the beach gives that excitement of summer, and with this collection, the Gelish® MINI team wanted to bring that same feeling to anyone, any time of year. And besides, what woman doesn’t want to glow?

All About the Glow features six new colors, each appropriately named to match the theme for the collection:

·         Sometimes A Girl’s Gotta Glow: Brilliant lime green
·         Radiance Is My Middle Name: Vibrant teal
·         You Glare, I Glow: Electric purple
·         Brights Have More Fun: Hot pink
·         Make You Blink Pink: Light pink
·         I’m Brighter Than You: Vivid coral

Gelish® MINI products are available exclusively at Sally Beauty Supply stores nationwide and online at sallybeauty.com. Follow Gelish® MINI on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and on Instagram (@GelishMINI).

Gelish® MINI comes in an array of colors, applies like polish, with a twist cap and applicator, but are cured in an LED lamp for 30 seconds or in two minutes with a traditional UV lamps, just like gels. Gelish® MINI stays on the nail for up to three weeks of beautiful wear, with no chipping or peeling. Gelish MINI® soaks off completely in only 15 minutes. For more information, please visit www.gelishminis.com.

The Honey Crush Hair preview launch is finally live! From now until May 1, 2013, use coupon code KR15SY at checkout for 15% off your order.

China Glaze Texture Bump & Grind Nail Polish (prior to drying)

China Glaze Texture Bump & Grind Nail Polish (2 coats, completely dry)

I’ve been keeping a secret (or two) since ISSE and I can finally blab about it!
I was able to get some nice details about China Glaze Texture Collection and you guys will love it.  I know at first glance it looks like it looks a little reminiscent of OPI Liquid Sand but this formula is very unique and completely different.  Instead of a matte jelly with matte glitter, the China Glaze Texture formula is just like your everyday cream polish and as it dries it develops the micro bumpy texture, still maintaining a shiny finish.  You can skip the topcoat with these but if you insist you will not have to worry about losing the texture.  The pigmentation of the formula is great, I’d even say that they are single-coaters, but to enhance the texture you will want to go with 2 and let it dry a little longer between coats.
I don’t have the entire collection yet, but I’ll be keeping everyone posted.

China Glaze® introduces Texture, a unique new lacquer that

applies as a crème but dries with a 3D texture effect. Unlike traditional nail art techniques that

require multiple steps, Texture only requires one step—painting the nail. Texture dries matte,

but can be combined with China Glaze® Fast Forward Top Coat for a glossy effect. With a finish

similar to that of a sugared rim, Texture is the perfect accessory for a beach day, night-on-the-

town, or special rendezvous.

The 6-piece Texture Collection includes:

Unrefined
Bump & Grind
Itty, Bitty, & Gritty
Toe-tally Textured
In The Rough
Of Coarse!

Where to purchase:
Price:
Rating:

It seems as though brands are using the more exotic name for the spring flower to entice us, and it’s working. I’ve been using Nivea’s “Touch of Frangipani” Hydrating Body Wash lately and love it. Personally, I love plumeria scented products but I still remember when I hated it as a child. So when you see the new exotic name, don’t get too pumped up…it’s just plumeria:-). We always get these waves of floral fragrances that gain popularity then they roll in a new one. Let’s not forget the Tahitian tiare gardenia trend.

Pantene has made some major changes with the Relaxed & Natural lineup by breaking it into 2 separate collections; Relaxed and Natural. I’m fresh out of hair extensions and now was a great time to try a few of the products.

Truly Natural Clarifying Shampoo definitely gets the job done. I don’t have horrible build-up after removing my install because I wash weekly but after wearing them for a couple of months, my hair needs to be “re-set” and clarified. I was a tad concerned during the first use because it has a creamy formula and most of the time I find these to be too gentle. This one was able to snatch away buildup and gunk but gentle enough not to strip my hair. Since I didn’t want to overdo it, I stuck with only 1 clarifying wash which worked just fine.
Truly Natural Deep Conditioner – OMG! OMG! I’m hooked! I was in love with the previous formula but it was starting to feel too heavy for my fine hair. I assumed (and we all know what happens when you assume) the new deep conditioner would be entirely too heavy. I was wrong! My hair feels silky, well hydrated, and light as air. I cannot remember the last time my hair felt this way. Most conditioner just make my hair feel coated and limp. Even days later I still noticed the difference in my hair.
Truly Natural Shine Serum with Argan Oil – This serum can be used for so much more than just shine. Well for shine but not just over styled hair. You can add a few pumps in the Truly Natural Deep Conditioner to kick it up a notch (not like its needed) and you can even use some in a custom pre-poo mixture. I love to use mine over damp hair followed by a leave-in conditioner. This is one of the few serums that I didn’t find to be heavy or too ‘cone-ie. I was also pleased with the fragrance which was really light. Overall, all the the products had a lighter fragrance than the original formulas.

Truly Relaxed and Truly Natural – Two collections From Pantene for
healthier hair* no matter what your style.
*Vs. non-conditioning shampoo

“Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Pantene via Glam Media.
The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not
indicative of the opinions or positions of Pantene.”

Available North America April 4, 2013 at all M·A·C locations, 1.800.588.0070 and www.maccosmetics.com. International May 2013 at all M·A·C locations, 1.800.588.0070 and www.maccosmetics.com

Available North America April 4, 2013 at all M·A·C locations, 1.800.588.0070 and www.maccosmetics.com. International May 2013 at all M·A·C locations, 1.800.588.0070 and www.maccosmetics.com

EYESHADOW (Suggested Retail Price $15.00 US/$18.00 CDN)
Heroine Bright cobalt blue (matte)
Ablaze Mid-tone coral (matte)
Silly Clean blue pink (frost)
Embrace Me Soft pink (satin)

LIPSTICK (Suggested Retail Price $15.00 US/$18.00 CDN)
Heroine Bright violet/purple (matte)
Ablaze Bright apricot cream (matte)
Silly Bright pink cream (matte)
Embrace Me Bright fuchsia cream (matte)

LIPGLASS (Suggested Retail Price $15.00 US/$18.00 CDN)
Heroine Bright purple (cream)
Ablaze Bright orange (cream)
Silly Bright pink (cream)
Embrace Me Bright fuchsia (cream)

LIP PENCIL (Suggested Retail Price $15.00 US/$18.00 CDN)
Heroine Bright purple
Ablaze Bright apricot
Silly Bright pink
Embrace Me Vivid pinkish fuchsia

NAIL LACQUER (Suggested Retail Price $16.00 US/$19.00 CDN)
Heroine Bright violet cream
Ablaze Bright orange cream
Silly Bright pink cream
Embrace Me Bright fuchsia cream

Available North America April 11, 2013 at all M·A·C locations, 1.800.588.0070 and www.maccosmetics.com. International May 2013 at all M·A·C locations, 1.800.588.0070 and www.maccosmetics.com

EXTRA DIMENSION EYESHADOW (Suggested Retail Price $21.00 US/$25.00 CDN)
Extra Silver – true silver
Opalesse – opalescent white with pink pearl
Zestful – pale iridescent lime
Triple Impact – opalescent lavender with violet pearl
Dimensional – blue frosty blue Smoky Mauve – mid-tone cool mauve

EXTRA DIMENSION BLUSH (Suggested Retail Price $25.00 US/$29.50 CDN) Bareness – rosy beige
Blazing Haute – dirty peach
Flaming Chic – bright blue pink
At Dusk – mid-tone rose
Fiery Impact – burnt red bronze

EXTRA DIMENSION SKINFINISH (Suggested Retail Price $30.00 US/$35.00 CDN)
Definitely Defined Silvery pink/soft rose with shimmer
Shape The Future Pastel pink with iridescence/soft brick with light shimmer
Double Definition Soft shimmery gold/patina bronze

BRUSH
235 Split Fibre All Over Eye (Suggested Retail Price $31.00 US/$37.50 CDN)
128 Split Fibre Cheek (Suggested Retail Price $35.00 US/$42.00 CDN)

Lavender Whip is back!  I was do for a new tube; a couple of new tubes.  I guess this time I can top it off with “Sweet Tooth”.  Either way, I am here for it again.

M·A·C loves everything about a cupcake. Face Powder arrives in exclusively designed cupcake patterns, and Lustre Drops create a luminous finish. Pro Longwear Paint Pots add a touch of dazzle. Haute & Naughty Lash delivers two-in-one coverage. Lipstick lays it on soft and tempting in tones including Devil’s Food and Raspberry Swirl. Mineralize Tinted Lip Balm provides nutrient-rich moisture. Nail Lacquer decorates in glittering Bleu Velvet and Pistachio Crème. And for professional results, two limited-edition brushes with pastel accents. Hello, cupcake!

Available North America April 18, 2013 at all M·A·C locations, 1.800.588.0070 and www.maccosmetics.com. International May 2013 at all M·A·C locations, 1.800.588.0070

LIPSTICK (SRP $15.00 US/$18.00 CDN)
Pure Decoration – light white peach (cremesheen)
Raspberry Swirl – light white blue pink (cremesheen)
Lavender Whip – light cool lavender (cremesheen)
Devil’s Food – glossy deep plum (frost)

MINERALIZE TINTED LIP BALM (SRP $19.50 US/$22.50 CDN)
Baking Beauty – creamy light peach
Cheery Cheery – creamy mid-tone blue pink
Sweet Tooth – creamy lilac
Glacé – creamy pale baby blue

MASCARA (SRP $20.00 US/$23.50 CDN)
Haute & Naughty Black black

PROLONG PAINT POT (SRP $18.50 US/$22.00 CDN)
Fancy Frosting – frosted white
Let’s Skate – pale pink with pearl
Mooncake – warm beige
Éclair – light chocolate with gold pearl
Dangerous Cuvée – frosted cool grey

PEARLMATTE FACE POWDER (SRP $29.00 US/$34.00 CDN)
In for a Treat – champagne base with matte (coral flower and mint leaves)
Pink Buttercream – light silvery pink base (with dark pink flowers and periwinkle leaves)

NAIL LACQUER (SRP $16.00 US/$19.00 CDN)
Confectionary – light blue pink (cream)
Pistachio Crème – light teal mint (cream)
Bleu Velvet – light periwinkle blue (cream)

LUSTRE DROPS (SRP $21.00 US/$25.00 CDN)
Pink Rebel blue pink with gold pearl

GLITTER (SRP $21.00 US/$25.00 CDN)
Reflects Transparent Teal – sparkling white with turquoise
Pink-  bright pink

BRUSH
252SE Large Shader (SRP $31.00 US/$37.50 CDN)
129SE Powder/Blush (SRP $35.00 US/$42.00 CDN)

This collection invites the pro artist to explore the lush potential of the monochromatic while offering chic contrasts. The Nude palette is defined by the cool, rich and warm tones of creamy Amplified Lipstick, while the Metallic palette satisfies the fashionable demand for decadently frosted plums. For lip, eye and cheek, both collections offer a selection of four Lipsticks with matching shades of Veluxe Pearl or Satin Eye Shadow and a Powder Blush.

Available North America April 18, 2013 at M·A·C Pro stores and Pro online only, 1.800.588.0070
International May 2013 at M·A·C Pro stores and Pro online only, 1.800.588.0070

MAC Nude Collection

“Nude” Collection

LIPSTICK (Suggested Retail Price $15.00 US/$18.00 CDN)
Angel’s Kiss sheer soft pinky nude with pearl (amplified)
Nearly Nude sheer warm pink nude (amplified)
Wholesome sheer warm mid-tone nude (amplified)
Restrained sheer neutral mid-tone nude (amplified)

EYE SHADOW (Suggested Retail Price $15.00 US/$18.00 CDN)
Bare Minimum – sheer soft pinky nude with pearl (satin)
Glimpse of Flesh – sheer warm pink nude (satin)
Body Conscious – sheer warm mid-tone nude (satin)
Exposed – sheer neutral mid-tone nude (satin)

POWDER BLUSH (Suggested Retail Price $21.00 US/$24.00 CDN)
Barefaced – mid-tone warm nude (satin)

Wholesome

Restrained

Nearly Nude

Angel’s Kiss

Glimpse Of Flesh

Exposed

Body Conscious

Bare Minimum

Barefaced

“Metallic” Collection

Metallic

LIPSTICK (Suggested Retail Price $15.00 US/$18.00 CDN)
Show-All -heavily metallic deep red (frost)
Subverted – metallic brown (frost)
Pre-Raphaelite – deep metallic dirty berry (frost)
Dominate – deep metallic purple (frost)

EYE SHADOW (Suggested Retail Price $15.00 US/$18.00 CDN)
Love’s Lure – heavily metallic deep red (veluxe pearl)
Deep Fixation – metallic brown (veluxe pearl)
Crimson Tryst – deep metallic dirty berry (veluxe pearl)
Brazenly – deep metallic purple (veluxe pearl)

POWDER BLUSH (Suggested Retail Price $21.00 US/$24.00 CDN)
Stylish Me deep dirty mauve (satin)

Dominate

Pre-Raphaelite

Show-All

Subverted

Brazenly

Crimson Tryst

Deep Fixation

Love’s Lure

Stylish Me

Ixora Botanical Beauty “Ash Today, Gone Tomorrow” Butter ($16.00/ 4oz.), is described as a butter that “contains a mixture of butters and oils that are geared towards moisturizing and sealing that moisture into your skin as well as those suffering from eczema. It is kid friendly and can be used in your hair as a moisturizer and give shine to your hair.”

You know a product is wonderful when your first thought is ‘this stuff belongs in stores and not just any store but speciality stores.’ I know you guys are probably tired of my eczema & dry skin woes but “Ash Today, Gone Tomorrow” Butter is heaven sent. I wish I would have taken photos prior to indulging but I couldn’t resist. Unlike other brands this butter is made with a Nilotica Shea Butter which is smoother in texture and a tad more fragrant. Along with cupuca butter that aids in skin elasticity, soothing aloe oil, sweet almond oil that moisturizes and smoothes skin, avocado oil, and jojoba oil, and vitamin E this buttery oil blend is everything. I find myself only needing to use it once a day immediately after showing. I keep this jar in my bag to reuse after hand-washing. It doesn’t cause any flare ups and is actually one of the better moisturizers I’ve used. The unscented version has a naturally mild creamy cocoa/ shea scent that doesn’t linger all day or interfere with my perfumes for the most part. If you’re a lover of fragrances and unscented just isn’t your thing, don’t worry, Mercedes has dozens to choose from. Honestly, I have no complaints and truly feel that this is one of the few indie body and skin care brands I would love to see make it in stores. I would like to see some changes to the labeling; the visuals and wording are just fine but the wording tends to rub off because of the oil and random stuff in my bag attaches to the sticker.

(Via Press Release) OPI announces the launch of Bond Girls, a collection of six new Liquid Sand™ nail lacquers featuring a textured, matte finish infused with reflective sparkle fitting the allure surrounding the Bond Girls.  In hues of white, pink, blue, purple, gold and coral, Bond Girls offers a range of shimmering shades with the distinctive Liquid Sand finish.

“OPI is extremely excited to partner again with EON Productions,” says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI co-founder & Artistic Director. “Following the success of the holiday promotion with the latest James Bond film, Skyfall, it’s been a thrill to create colors for the women who’ve captured Bond’s attention over the last five decades.

“The six shades are named after some of the most iconic – and my favorite – Bond girls, including: Solitaire,Pussy Galore, Tiffany Case, Vesper, Honey Ryder and Jinx,” adds Weiss-Fischmann. “Worn without top coat, these Liquid Sand lacquers give nails a pebbled, matte finish worthy of the captivating ‘Bond Girls’ name.”

Bond Girls by OPI features six Liquid Sand nail lacquers:

• Solitaire - This diamond-sparkling white is totally engaging. (“Live and Let Die”)
• Pussy Galore - This light feminine pink has the purrrfect amount of shimmer. (“Gold Finger”)
• Tiffany Case - A classic light blue worth investigating. (“Diamonds Are Forever”)
• Vesper - A mysterious and intriguing deep purple. (“Casino Royale”)
•  Honey Ryder - Take a ryde on the wild side in this shimmery gold. (“Dr. No”) 
•  Jinx - This mesmerizing matte coral has lucky sparkle. (“Die Another Day”)

OPI Liquid Sand lacquers should always be worn without top coat.

Bond Girls by OPI nail lacquers feature OPI’s exclusive ProWide^™ Brush for the ultimate in application. These six new shades will be available beginning May 2013 at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Chatters, JCP Salons, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and ULTA, for $9.00 ($10.95 CAN) suggested retail for each nail lacquer.

For more information, please call 800-341-9999 or visit www.opi.com. Follow OPI on Twitter@OPI_PRODUCTS and become a Facebook fan!

Cosmic Dust – silver chrome holo

Strap On Your Moonboots – dark blue holo

Sci-Fly By – light blue chromatic holo

OMG A UFO – olive green chromatic holo

Astro-Hot – pink chromatic holo

When Stars Collide – warm maroon chromatic holo

Lovers of China Glaze ”OMG” may find themselves slightly underwhelmed but for what it is, the “Hologlam” collection is not a bad one at all.  Overall, I found the formulas to be really nice but had major issues with bald spots with “OMG A UFO” and needed 3 thin coats with “Cosmic Dust”.  I did notice that they dry quickly and evenly and thin coats work best to avoid those pesky frost lines.  I think you guys will really like these if you’re looking for a way to wear holos without all that jazz & flash.  Not all the colors are wildly unique but they do have something here for everyone.

The China Glaze Hologlam collection features 12 shades:

• Get Outta My Space: powdered violet

• Astro-Hot: soft, baby pink

• Infra-Red: warm, magenta pink

• When Stars Collide: warm maroon

• Not In This Galaxy: bright, warm coral

• OMG A UFO: warm, moss green

• Don’t Be A Luna-Tic: turquoise aqua

• Sci-Fly By: light, silver blue

• Take A Trek: cool, denim blue

• Strap On Your Moonboots: midnight sky blue

• Galactic Gray: warm, gunmetal

• Cosmic Dust: silver metal

Available in April 2013 at fine salons and beauty supply stores (try Sally’s Beauty and Ulta) nationwide with an SRP of $14 each (because of the cost of materials to produce these gems).

Nice to see you again; I feel like its been ages since we’ve last seen each other but I’m glad you’re back. To kick off the first day of Spring we’re giving away 1 (one) 16 oz. bottle of Wen Cleansing Conditioner Spring Gardenia Green Tea Giveaway!

If you are unable to view the entry form below, please access this page from a computer

a Rafflecopter giveaway