Spring Has Sprung with China Glaze's Up & Away

The sun is shining brighter and the birds are chirping. It must be Springtime! China Glaze has a new collection called Up & Away. These colors will have you floating with glee because they're so bright and represent the season so well; all while leaving your nails looking candy coated.

"Happy Go Lucky" is a sunny yellow with a hint of warmth. This color is ideal for a girl who wants to leave a luminous impression on everyone she meets. The polish applies well and requires only two coats. The first coat is thick but will leave behind transparent specs.

Conversely, the second coat will complete the look - making the polish appear solid, shiny and bright. The polish is thick, so there's no need to worry about having a runny nail polish application.


If you have ever been curious about wearing turquoise on your nails, then "Flyin' High" is great for first timers. It is bold, yet not too flashy. You're sure to represent spring time on your nails with this color.

I've always been a fan of China Glaze's nail brushes because they apply so well. This allows you to make an even coat the first time. Though the golden rule of nail polish application is to apply two coats, you could really apply just one coat if need be. The wide brushes and thick color makes this a possibility. A bottle usually retails at $5.99 and up, but from now until the end of March, you'll be able to get 2 polishes for only $10 - on sale at SallyBeauty.com!

Product Reviews"Fashion Is Foremost Inspiration"

Shesingslovely

Product Review: Korres Shea Butter & Vitamins Hair Mask

My first impression of Korres Shea Butter & Vitamins Hair Mask was "love at first smell". I instantly fell in love with this product from its wonderful essential scents that are imposed throughtout the ingredients. I followed the directions which states to shampoo and towel dry hair and apply the mask from roots to hair ends and massage gently. I left the mask on for 3-5 minutes and rinsed thoroughly. The directions also states for very dry hair, leave the Shea butter and vitamins nourishing mask on the hair for 30 to 60 minutes but I did the 3-5 minutes. After I rinsed my hair thoroughly, my hair was completely nourished and felt very silky and smooth.

Korres Shea Butter & Vitamins Hair Mask does exactly what is supposed to do. This product nourishes, hydrates and protects both the hair and scalp.

Shea butter has excellent softening properties, while provitamin B5 easily penetrates the hair shaft, providing long-lasting hydration. Vitamins A, E and H (biotin) moisturize the scalp and enhance cell respiration, thus strengthening the hair roots.


Here are a few benefits of Korres Shea Butter & Vitamins Hair Mask:

• Ideal for chemically treated as well as long or dull hair


• Dermatologically Tested


• Silicone Free


• Ethanolamine Free


• Enriched with Active Plant Extracts


• Mineral Oil Free

Korres Shea Butter & Vitamins Hair Mask retails for $23.00 for 5.07 oz. bottle at Tobi.com. P.S. - it is worth every penny.

"Fashion Is Foremost Inspiration"

Philly Diva

Going Green Is More Than A Fashionable Trend

Going green has become quite the fad these days—and one that I hope is going to stick! Environmentally conscious consumer products are literally everywhere, making it easier than ever to green-proof your life. But one woman’s dedication to creating a recycled jewelry collection while leaving the smallest carbon footprint possible is unparalleled.

Meet Ann Skydell Harmon, owner and creator of Ann-Made jewelry, wearable art that is handcrafted out of recycled can tabs. Each recycled can tab is scrubbed clean and polished smooth by Ann’s own devoted husband, dubbed the “Tab King,” before they are used to make earrings, bracelets and pendants. The chunky, unusual pieces are each adorned with beads and natural gem stones for a look that blends man-made and natural materials.

The idea for the collection first came to her when she was an art instructor for emotionally disturbed children. Wanting to teach her students the importance of being environmentally conscious, Harmon introduced the recycled can tabs as an art project.

“The last thing on their minds was recycling. But this was a great way to teach creative problem solving, which these kids needed,” she says.

Harmon ended up creating bracelets out of the can tabs herself and handed them out to the other teachers as gifts. It was her co-workers’ enthusiasm that made her realize she had started something special. “The teachers couldn’t get enough,” she says.

That was two years ago. Now, Harmon’s business has grown exponentially, with her jewelry being sold in stores along the east coast and even as far as Chicago. She has also launched her own website where customers can order pieces from her collection. Harmon travels to about 35 art shows a year and says she is always fascinated by people’s reactions. “I come in contact with thousands of people and it is like a religious fervor,” she says.

But her dedication to the environment is just as impressive as her success. Harmon purchases her can tabs from a nonprofit group in New Jersey that collects tabs from local area schools and sells them to aluminum recyclers. She generously buys the tabs for more than double their retail value in an effort to help this struggling non-profit in their recycling efforts.

Harmon donates a portion of every sale to The Alliance for Climate Protection and its affiliate, The Climate Project. And, to take her endeavors one step further, Harmon even packages her jewelry with clean, reused cardboard and ships her products with left-over, unprinted newspaper—a trick her father taught her, she says. “He has that Depression era mentality.” Something we can all benefit from in today’s economy!

“I wanted to be as socially and environmentally conscious as possible with the company,” says Harmon.

Her company, which is based near her home on the New Jersey shore, is a family-run affair. Her two daughters provide website maintenance, assist at art shows, and help with non-artistic production while her husband helps with packaging. As her business has continued to grow, she has also brought on three assistants to help her family handle the overwhelming demand for her jewelry.

Ann-Made was awarded the Green America Seal of Approval this past June for its green efforts. Harmon’s business underwent a lengthy screening process by Green America, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting environmental sustainability. Being recognized for her commitment to social and environmental responsibility is something that Harmon is very proud of.

“All along the way this has been such a positive experience,” says Harmon.

To check out more of Harmon’s jewelry or learn more about her environmental efforts, visit Annmadeart.com.

"Fashion Is Foremost Inspiration"

Erin Simpson

FACE atelier Lets You Release Your Inner Beauty Maven

FACE atelier is a cosmetic company that strives to uphold the idea that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Instead of illustrating how women should look, they emphasize the importance of women finding their own cosmetic perfection. A quick visit to their website will not yield the typical photos of models demonstrating the makeup, but features the products themselves, allowing women to find the perfect shade for themselves.

I tried out three lip products by FACE atelier and want to share my findings with all of you.

I always have a slew of lip-glosses in my bag at any given moment and love when I can grab a gloss and get great coverage in one quick swipe. FACE atelier’s Lip Glaze is a smooth gloss that goes on so easily and stays put without being too sticky or messy. The color, ‘Flamingo’, was a bit too frosty for my taste, but there are many color choices to suit everyone’s tastes.

Lipsticks add a level of sophistication that lip glosses can’t quite achieve, and FACE atelier’s collection gives great coverage and come in a variety of colors and finishes, from plum to pink, matte to frost. I sampled ‘Candy Floss’ and found the light, frosted pink color washed out my pale complexion.

FACE atelier also makes ‘Lip Putty,’ a great product that can be used under your lipstick to smooth out fine lines that can become exaggerated by lip color. In addition, ‘Lip Putty’ is packed with vitamins and essential oils to add moisture and hydration to your lips, making this dual action product a wise investment. My lips felt smoother and softer and I’ll never apply lipstick without it again!

Each tube is $20.00 and is available on their website, www.faceatelier.com.

"Fashion Is Foremost Inspiration"

Erin Simpson

"Wen" by Chaz Dean in Sweet Almond Mint

So I was approached last week by Guthy-Renker and I was asked to try one of their products. I was flattered because in the past, I have seen infomercials related to these items by Wen, and I was tempted to try them then. I got my package today and I was impressed because they sent me a full sized 12 oz. bottle of the Wen by Chaz Dean Cleansing Conditioner in Sweet Almond Mint.

The directions are to rinse hair thoroughly and completely with cool water for at least 1 minute. Cleansing Conditioner should be applied in four sections: the crown of your head, the nape/back of head, ends to the left side of your hair and ends to the right side of your hair.

*For hair above your shoulders, use a minimum of 24 pumps, (6 pumps per section).
*For hair down to your shoulders, use a minimum of 32 pumps, (8 pumps per section).
*For hair past your shoulders use a minimum of 40 pumps, (10 per section).
*For hair to your mid-back use a minimum of 48 pumps, (12 per section).

Add a splash of water to help evenly distribute through the ends and massage vigorously into scalp for 2-3 minutes. Comb through with a wide-tooth comb and clip hair up for the remainder of the shower. Leave on for at least 3-5 minutes. The longer you leave it on the better for maximum results. Rinse with cool water thoroughly for 1-2 minutes by massaging your scalp and running your fingers through to the ends. While hair is soaking wet, apply 1-3 pumps of the Cleansing Conditioner as a leave-in conditioner starting from the back of the head through to the ends.

For thicker/coarser hair increase amount of pumps in order to thoroughly hydrate and cleanse the scalp and ends.

If you choose to rinse and repeat, use half the amount of suggested pumps for each cleansing.

Water (aqua), glycerin, cetyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol, chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower extract, prunus serotina (wild cherry) bark extract, , rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, ptunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond) oil, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, hydrolyzed wheat protein, panthenol, butylene glycol, behentrimonium methosulfate, stearamidoproply dimethylamine, polysorbate 60, PEG-60 almond glycerides, amodimethicone, citric acid, menthol, methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone, fragrance limonene...(whew)...

you can find products at www.wenhaircare.com

I am gonna try it today and let you guys know how I like it later. I don't know if I am willing to use it alone. I may add it along with my other products, not sure yet.

"Fashion Is Foremost Inspiration"

Product Review Chanda

Heartbreaker - You've Got the Best of Me

Paraben-free mineral makeup always makes my day, any day. This is the reason why I’m presenting to you Heartbreaker Cosmetics.

The shades are really awesome and the quality is unbeatable, but my spotlight goes to their amazing customer service. You can tell they take time to read your emails and answer to the best of their ability. They’re always nice and super fast answering any of your queries and they’re very professional - just the way it always should be.

Because their eyeshadows are silica free, they may seem a bit difficult to work with at first; especially if you’re not accustomed to using mineral makeup. However, because these eyeshadows are so insanely pigmented (in the best possible way, of course), you’ll quickly get used to working with them and they’ll deliver awesome results. All the collections and shade names have the funniest love-related names. Samples are sold at $1. When I received my 21 samples, I first thought there wasn’t much in the little bag. However, due to the pigmentation with most shades, you barely need to touch them to get enough color for both eyes (or cheeks) - so they’ll last you a long time.

Now, onto the good stuff: my favorite shades!

French Kiss is a butter cream shimmery shade that’s the best highlighter ever. It will flatter any eye color, skin color, and makeup shade. A light wash of this eyeshadow, brown, black or navy eyeliner and mascara and you’re out the door if you need to. Use it only in the inner corner and your eyes will look wide and alive.

Intrigue is a color best described as a “soft black/blue/green.” I admire anyone who can describe this color in one word, because I know I can’t. When used dry, it gives a wash of blue green, but when wet, it will appear intensely blue and green. An awesome lid color for a smoky eye with a twist or even a rocker-chick look.

If you have light or hazel eyes you should absolutely never pass on Better Off, a lovely matte shade. Heartbreaker Cosmetics says it’s a plum color and it is; however, I’d describe it as a red based purple that will ransform into a really intriguing and flattering color when applied wet or dry. I love it and it’s an absolute must have.

Seductris is supposed to be a liner but seriously, it’s the prettiest blue eyeshadow ever! The photo doesn’t do it any justice. When used dry, it is a very pretty medium blue with a hint of silver. When used wet it’s the most awesome metallic steel blue. I’m really impressed with this color - not to mention that I received a lot of compliments when I wore it.

Charmers are “glows”, which are highly shimery powders that you use all over. It will most definitely make you look like you're glowing from within. My favorite is Afterglow, which is a pinkish gold that will flatter most skin tones. Use it as a cheekbone highlighter, collar bone highlighter or mixed with your blush.


Use the eyeshadows with a nice creamy base and a super light hand and I’m absolutely sure you’ll love Heartbreaker's products as much as I do. Remember, you can purchase small samples if you'd like try them out first. A kit of 20 eyeshadows will run you $18 which isn't bad considering the quality.

"Fashion Is Foremost Inspiration"
Micky

My Nail Obsession with OCC

I’m very particular when it comes to a lot of things in my life: guys, food, hair care products and most importantly nail polish. Yes ladies – nail polish! I’m the type of woman who’ll walk into a nail salon carrying a bag filled with nail lacquers because I'm never satisfied with what the salons have to offer. It’s either their polishes are too dull, thick & gooey, thin, or just plain ugly. Recently, I was introduced to David Klasfeld's Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics and wanted to share my new found obsession with his nail lacquers.


I'll admit; the colors of the lacquers make a favorable first impression, but that is only the beginning. I'd like to test the shine, durability and application to see whether or not these lacquers are deserving of the name "OCC".


The first color I'll test is Wasabi, which is a beautiful light green with a yellowish tinge. I'm deeply impressed by how the polish remains true to its color. Isn't it ironic how we're accustomed to paying for one thing and receiving another that on the rare occasions when we do happen to get what we've paid for, we're shocked? Well, this is one of those rare occasions! Unlike many inefficient nail lacquers, two coats will do the trick (which saves on time and money). Each satin coat is accompanied by a quick-drying effect. This seemed too good to be true; I'll sample another polish to help formulate my opinion.


Traffic, which is best described as a bright vivid yellow, is my next choice. Similar to Wasabi, the overall quality is excellent: no clumping, not too thick or thin - exhibiting a vibrant, satin finish. At this point I'm fixated by the lacquers, which so far are proven worthy of the OCC name; despite the fact that I haven't review Grandma yet.


Let's save the best for last. Grandma exudes a bright coral hue - one of the best corals I have ever seen for a nail polish. Although Wasabi is my favorite, Grandma best compliments my brown complexion. The colors are fun, perfect for summer and remind me of my favorite bite size snack - skittles. I can't stop playing around with these nail lacquers; I'm totally obsessed!


OCC's lacquers come in 20 different shades. And at $8 a (0.5 fl oz) bottle, they're well worth it. Regardless of your skin tone, OCC's lacquers will definitely do the trick. "David Klasfeld (CEO and Creative Director of Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics) knows a thing or two about beauty. "When it comes to creating lustrous, quality polish - he nails it!"

"Fashion Is Foremost Inspiration"

- Celeste

Sebamed Derma Hydrating Body Gel With Aloe Review

If I were on a desert island and could only take a small suitcase (no, no, I wouldn’t go if I could only take one or two things), this would be on my “to pack” list. Last year it saved my life and I keep swearing by it to any one who asks what a good product is. It’s great for sunburns, razor bumps, sweat rashes, kitchen burns, wax burns, as an after sun, smells good and is one of the best body moisturizers I have come across. My little miracle is the Sebamed Derma Hydrating Gel W/ Aloe.

It refreshes and calms the skin, regenerating every skin cell. It’s an oil free gel, and I have to admit it can be a little sticky before it’s fully absorbed. The vitamins A, C, D and E are all great for your skin but the vitamin E will restore the damaged skin and the vitamin C will deeply moisturize it. Your skin will feel fresh, and that’s why it is an awesome relief for burnt skin and some itchiness and irritation.

Last year I got an accidental wax burn on my bikini line and you can imagine how much that hurts. Within two days this product solved my problem. After that sad episode, I still had tons and tons of product left so I decided to use it as an after sun. It’s been over a year, I shower everyday and exfoliate 2 times a week and I still have a hint of the tan I got during my last vacation.

This product is also good for men. I’ve been told it is a very good aftershave for summer and because it’s alcohol free it will feel fresh but won’t leave your manly man in tears should he unintentionally cut himself while shaving.

Unfortunately, this product doesn’t seem to be sold in the US right now but it is available all over Europe and in Canada. If you are in the US, periodically check where SebaMed is sold or use the Sebamed Sebamed Face Cream.

"Fashion Is Foremost Inspiration "
Micky