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Nail of the (Past) Week: Incoco's Mirage

Sarah Conley — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST

Frankly, I love a polish strip. There's not a week that I wear them that I don't receive an array of comments from my coworkers, including but not limited to the following:

How did you do that?!
Are those the stickers (with an accompanying motion)?
I can't seem to apply those right - is there some trick?

There's not an elaborate ritual that goes into applying any of the polish strips on the market. It's best that you take your time and apply them when you're relaxed (I prefer Sunday nights with a glass of wine). Run a cotton pad soaked in alcohol or polish remover before applying and measure carefully to make sure that you're using the right strip.

Last week I decided to use Mirage from Incoco, a great graphic print mixing black and a purple-pink. I love Incoco's choice of strips, from colors to glitters to prints, plus the tools that accompany each strip pack. The strips are always a consistent quality and come in a variety of colors and prints that you can find anywhere else.

Have you tried this new category of nail products yet? Have them become a staple for you?

And Now, For 2012

Sarah Conley — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:57:09 EST

This holiday season was a little rough (working in ecommerce + family visiting = many, many Jessie Spano moments). so I didn't get around to thinking about 2012 until...2012. I'm not typically one to make resolutions, as I believe that I am a work in progress and my evolution isn't dictated by the calendar. The more I thought about where I'd like to evolve to in 2012, including intellectually and aesthetically, I've found myself gravitating towards the following:

A Return To Pink

Last year, I fully embraced every shade of red, including abandoning some of my favorite pink lipsticks. This year, I'm making a conscious effort to bring back the pink. Some of my current faves:

MAC's Pink Pigeon lipstick
MAC's Mineralize Blush in Subtle Breeze
Old Navy's Satin 3/4 Sleeve top in Fuchsia Fusion
Marc by Marc Jacobs Memphis Colorblock Top Handle Satchel

A Different Spot

Almost every day, I will end up wearing at least one leopard item thanks to years of pure obsession. While leopard will never leave my heart, it's time to move on to - to polka dots! Here's a few pieces I've had my eyes on:

Marc by Marc Jacobs Dot Print Scarf (already purchased!)
Marc by Marc Jacobs Dotty Snake Print Shoulder Bag
Lane Bryant's Sheer Moon Top

Serious Skincare

There are so many things that I know that I should do to properly take care of my skin, but I fall short almost daily. It's time that I get serious before time catches up with me and takes my sins out on my face. I've been making great strides (though not consistently) with a little help from my friends:

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate and Midnight Recovery Eye
Philosophy Help Me
Mario Badescu Oil Free Moisturizer SPF 30
Artistry Time Defiance Cleanser

Reading Is Fundamental

Don't get me wrong - there's no way that I could begin reading Tolstoy, but it's nice to take the written experience away from blogging and back to the exploration of a story. I'm not one for serious topics, especially in my entertainment, but a few books I've enjoyed reading through lately have been:

The Hunger Games trilogy (all three only took me four days to finish)
Bringing Home The Birkin: My Life In Hot Pursuit Of The World's Most Coveted Handbag
The Secret Of Chanel No 5: The Intimate History Of The World's Most Famous Perfume

What has the arrival of 2012 inspired you to change?

Beauty Best: Shiseido Replenishing Body Cream

Sarah Conley — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST

I'll be the first to admit that I don't do all the things to my skin that I should. Most of the time I forget to take my makeup off before I crash face first into my pillow and end up with mascara and Russian Red stains all over my pillowcases, however my biggest offense? I don't use body lotion nearly enough. Trust me when I say that it's something I'm working on.

Some nights I get the itch (or rather, find the time to decompress) to kick back and moisturize the heck out of my body. When the chilly winter air sneaks in through my window air conditioner, I love to reach for Shiseido's Replenishing Body Cream first.

There is something about the smell of prestige skincare that makes me imagine I'm living the high life, wearing mules covered in marabou fur and answering a classic rotary phone. Officially, this cream's formula restores skin's resiliance and helps minimize the appearance of cellulite. I love the bouncy gel meets whipped texture and how it sinks into my skin without leaving me feeling greasy. And the smell, of course.

Use it in conjunction with Shiseido's Refining Body Exfoliator for extra soft skin.

Please tell me that I'm not the only who who likes has fantasies of boudoirs with tufted headboards, marabou mules and an old school rotary phone. Was I born in the wrong decade?

Beauty Best: Maybelline Introduces Color Tattoo - 24 Hour Cream Eyeshadow

Sarah Conley — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 20:52:52 EST

Earlier this week I had the chance to take tour through some of Maybelline's 2012 product launches and I have to say I am seriously impressed. From new products in their Super Stay lip collection to a new lengthening mascara, Maybelline certainly means business. However, the most impressive (aka the ones I immediately opened on the train ride home) are new cream eyeshadows called Color Tattoo. The formula boasts 24 hour wear and amazing color payoff with a smooth, buttery texture. They'll be arriving at drugstores near you in Spring 2012 with the jaw droppingly low price of $6.99 and 10 bold shades.

Best daytime neutral: Tough as Taupe - a matte greige (pictured above)

Best winter color: Pomegranate Punk - a reddish wine

Best spring color: Edgy Emerald - a light turquoise

Most original color: Tie! Tenacious Teal - a vibrant turquoise and Painted Purple - a purple purpal with tonal shimmer

How do you wear yourcream shadows? Do you wear them alone or do you layer them with shadow? Leave your answers in the comments below!

Nail of the (Past) Week: Sally Hansen Salon Effects in Winter Funderland

Sarah Conley — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 20:01:59 EST

I know, I know....I've been slacking. In fact, I've been so crazed that there's not currently anything on my nails at this very moment and that rarely ever happens. I guess that's what happens when you work in online retail and it's the holiday season. Absolute mania and pandemonium ensue.

But last week, when I was the shell of a functional human being, I managed to wrap my nails with Sally Hansen's Salon Effects in Winter Funderland, a delightful glittery part of the 2011 holiday collection. I haven't been shy about my love for Sally Hansen's line of polish strips, but I do want to point out that this particular style was different than the others that I have tried.

First of all, I know many are intimidated by the product and think it will be difficult to use. Pick a relaxing night, pour yourself a glass of wine, wipe your nails down one final time with polish remover and test out different sizes to pick the best size for your nail. Secondly, depending on what type of polish strip it is, they can varry in thickness. The solid color strips I've found to be a little thinner, while glitter strips tend to be a bit thicker (it makes sense, after all).

However, Winter Funderland was the thickest strip I've applied yet, and in some ways it made it much easier to apply. I will point out that the larger round piece of glitter can be a bit problematic if they are near the edge of your nail, but if you stretch the strip a bit to be strategic about the placement, you'll be just fine. Besides, who doesn't want their nails to twinkle like fresh snow at midnight?

I'd love to hear about your experience with Sally Hansen's polish strips - have you tried them? If so, what are your fave shades?

Beauty Best: Elie Saab's Le Parfum

Sarah Conley — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 21:27:04 EDT

First - I have a confession to make. I've had a sample of Elie' Saab's new fragrance, Le Parfum, since the day I went into the hospital. Then it was early August and the humidity-laden portion of the summer had just reared it's ugly head. During those days, I wear as little fragrance as possible to avoid....a catastrophic collision of odors. That can go wrong so quickly.

Towards early September - Fashion Week, to be specific - I began to play with the idea of wearing Le Parfum again. It's not that I don't enjoy the fragrance, it's just that to me, it's made for a whole lotta woman.

Allow me to demonstrate with this Beyonce dance break:

In fact, every time I smell this fragrance, Beyonce's Get Me Bodied begins to play in my head and doesn't stop all day long. I know it sounds crazy, but I double dare you to smell Le Parfum without your body beginning to involuntarily dance to the beat. The Le Parfum woman isn't using perfectly blended smokey eyes to demonstrate her prowess. This woman is powerful from the tip of her head right down to her toes.

Le Parfum was created by master perfumer Francis Kurkdjian, who has created some of the most beloved fragrances, including Narciso Rodriguez's For Her and Jean-Paul Gaultier's Le Male, as well as creations for his own boutique. This fragrance is a seductive blend of floral, solar, and woody theme, calling upon orange blossoms, jasmine, patchouli, cedar woody, and rose honey to make you feel those powerful (Beyonce-like) emotions.

Frankly, you should stop listening to me and get out from behind the computer to smell Le Parfum. Just make sure you have your iPod handy to play Get Me Bodied when it becomes stuck in your head.

Elie Saab's Le Parfum, $90 - $120 at Nordstrom

Nail of the Week: Teal It All

Sarah Conley — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EDT

Since I've reentered the land of full time employment, it's been a bit hard to snap a pic of my mani before it gets mangled in a zipper or the tips wear away as I furiously outline a plan for world domination (or Q4 of 2011, whichever comes first). After a quick trip through Duane Reade this weekend, I spotted L'Oreal's Project Runway Collection and was inspired by a gorgeous grey nail lacquer. Never being able to leave well enough alone, I applied a teal flakey glitter (inspired by my latest handbag, of course) to just add a little insanity to a classic early fall nail.

Gray coat #1: L'Oreal's Project Runway Collection Charming Cockatoo's Wisdom

Gray coat #2: Orly's Pixie Dust

Teal glitter: Forever 21's Love & Beauty Turquoise

It's refreshing that we've moved away from greige tones and brought back the classic gray. Have you given gray another chance this season?

Advertorial: Get The Look From L.A.M.B S/S 2012 Created By Charlotte Willer

Sarah Conley — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 09:45:56 EDT

“The beauty look at L.A.M.B. is inspired by a trip to India,” said Maybelline's Global Makeup Artist Charlotte Willer. “A dark, dramatically lined eye is the focal point– a modern take on kohl.” To recreate the look Charlotte created for L.A.M.B. Spring/Summer 2012, she recommends the following:

Face:

Fit Me! Powder: Charlotte eliminated shine and created natural coverage with this pressed powder. She swept a second, slightly darker shade under the cheekbones to contour and create definition. Next, she applied Fit Me! Blush in Deep Rose to the apples of the cheeks, creating a soft glow.

Eyes:

Eye Studio Master Drama Cream Pencil in Midnight Master: Charlotte created an exaggerated winged eye with this richly pigmented liner. She lined the outer half of the lid and the entire lower lash line. She extended the line out toward the edge of the temple and in toward the inner corner of the eye.

Eye Studio Color Plush Silk Eyeshadow in Pink Persuasion: To add a slight shimmer, Charlotte used a liner brush to apply the dark grey shade over the eyeliner, on the outer corner of the eye.

Define-A-Brow Eyebrow Pencil in Soft Black: A straight, strong brow framed the eye look. Charlotte filled in the area under the arch of the brow - creating a straight, dramatic shape.

Volum' Express Falsies: Charlotte finished the eyes with this extra matte, extremely black mascara.

Advertorial Series: CoverGirl Lip Perfection Fashion Week Challenge Finale

Sarah Conley — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 19:13:56 EDT

(Editor's Note: While CoverGirl is compensating me for my time to create this series, please know that all opinions and experiences are my own.)

Colors from left to right, clockwise: Hot, Delish, Tempt and Euphoria

I knew that I was a makeup whore - ie, someone who loved all different kinds of makeup, across categories and price points, but until I wore the same brand of lipsticks for 7 days straight, I never realized how fickle I am. I won't lie, it was pretty tough to stick with my Lip Perfection challenge, but I am please to announce that another lip product did not touch my lips during Fashion Week. (I chronicled most of the days on my Tumblr.)

Because of my new red hair and complexion, I chose to wear Hot, Delish, Darling, Sultry, Spellbound, Tempt and Euphoria for the challenge. These colors are from the Runway Collection, however the entire collection features 15 colors that complement a wide range of skin tones. I also paired a couple of the colors with Lip Perfection liners in Seduce and Passion.

What surprised me most about the challenge was that I didn't feel like I had to constantly reach into my bag for lip balm. With the exception of Sultry and Delish, the formula didn't need any additional moisturizers (I mixed a teensy bit of balm to keep the more nude colors from laying a bit too flat on my lips). Even more surprisingly, Hot and Tempt lasted dearly all day without needing to be reapplied. Those are some serious pigments!

After a bit of research, I learned why CoverGirl's Lip Perfection lipsticks are so different - the formula uses olive oil as an active moisturizer, plus white tea for it's anti-aging properties, a "butters complex" (ie, shea avocado and aloe) for that smooth finish and a silk protein that helps to improve the condition of your lips over time.

The Runway Collection, which I was focused on for this experiment, features 15 of Lip Perfection's expansive 44 shade collection. I know some of you ladies have had to try these lipsticks. Which shades are your favorite?

Advertorial Series: CoverGirl Lip Perfection Fashion Week Challenge

Sarah Conley — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:46:29 EDT

(Editor's Note: While CoverGirl is compensating me for my time to create this series, please know that all opinions and experiences are my own.)

When the team from CoverGirl reached out to me about wearing their LipPerfection lipsticks exclusively for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, admittedly I jumped at the chance. I've been a longtime fan of the product (and Drew Barrymore's gorgeous ads, clearly), plus I'm truly interested in seeing how the LipPerfection's silk protein can transform my lips over a period of seven days.

I'll be focusig on The Runway Collection, a series of 16 shades hand selected by Pat McGrath for not only the colors themselves but how they played an integral role in the latest looks straight from the runway. Some of my favorites are Hot (worn yesterday at Lucky Magazine's FABB conference) Delish and Divine.

Keep an eye on my Twitter timeline for more info about what shades I'm wearing daily, plus I'll circle back at the end of next week with a challenge recap. Do you think I can stick with it? And, more importantly, will my lips look (and feel) better? Only time will tell!