PopSugar

Holiday Makeup: The Golden Girl

BellaSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:00:31 -0800

When it comes to holiday makeup, all that glitters truly is gold. There are few shades more universally flattering, and the light-diffusing properties of metallics make skin look soft, warm, and undeniably inviting. There's no better time of year to deck yourself out in a little royal glitter, whether you want to glow in soft candlelight or correct the harshness of fluorescent office lighting. I've put together a complete gold color palette, from lip gloss to eye liner and mascara, to help you have a little fun with the original precious metal. Click through and stay golden, Pony Girl.

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Trend Alert: Opaque Gold Nails

BellaSugarUK — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 07:30:00 -0700

Metallic nail varnish has been widely popular for the past couple of years, and it looks like the trend is sticking around for at least the rest of Summer. Celebrities like Fergie, painted her digits a rich gold at a Black Eyed Peas event last night in Los Angeles, whilst Lily Allen gallivanted around London on Tuesday evening with gilded nails. This look is fun, funky and definitely for those who aren't afraid of being noticed. Shop a range of gold nail polish below and let me know what you think of this Midas touch.

butter LONDON 3 Free Nail Lacquer, The Full Monty - $14.00	So Easy Stripe Rite Paint, Metals and Glitter - $3.99
USLU AIRLINES - Nailpolish Bernhard Willhelm KNO - £22.00	Urban Decay Nail Polish Burnout - £3.49
Estee Lauder Pure Color Nail Lacquer - $18.00	SpaRitual Nail Lacquer Gold Digger - $10.00
Ulta Nail Lacquer - $5.00

BigPicturesPhoto.com and WireImage

Trend Alert: Gold Nail Polish

BellaSugar — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 08:00:29 -0800

I've always seen a range of gold polishes available in stores, but I never knew anyone who actually wore them. However, in the past two episodes of The Hills, I've spied pale gold digits on Heidi Montag. They match her newly lightened hair well and since we know that metallics aren't going anywhere, it's only natural that this gilded trend has trickled down to the fingertips. Here are a couple of wearable gold polishes to help liven up your holiday look!

MAC Gold Veneer Nail Lacquer ($10) is part of their Holiday Antiquitease Collection. It is a frosty gold, almost tarnished yellow shade that contains UV protection as well as new technology to make it extra extra glossy. One coat adds a nice pale touch to your fingers, while two coats is darker and a little bit more dramatic.

For one more gorgeous gold nail polish, read more

OPI 18k Ginza Gold Nail Polish ($6) is a glittering slightly deeper gold that also contains a bit of an orangey hue. This light-catching color sparkles like the moon and is part of the very popular Japanese Collection. Would you dare to wear gold nail lacquer?

Are You Into The Gold Nail Polish Trend?

BellaSugar — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 06:11:22 -0700

As you may already know, the French clothing company Paul & Joe has branched out into developing beauty products. I couldn't resist writing about their ultra chic metallic nail polish color called, Etoile Scintillante, $12.

We've already acknowledged that silver polish is a super hot trend for Spring, but how do you feel about going for the gold? Is it something that you'll be sporting on your nails, toes, or both?

What Are Your Favorite Makeup "Dupes?"

BellaSugar — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 04:00:04 -0700

The economy might (might) be on its way to recovery, but that doesn't mean I'll stop saving my pennies as much as possible. I'm always in the pursuit of looks for less, and over the weekend, I picked up Milani Blush Compact in Luminous ($3.50) - a pretty decent lookalike of the classic gold-toned peachy pink Nars blush in Orgasm ($25). While Milani's Luminous is not an exact replica of the famous afterglow shade, as it's not quite as pigmented, since it's about $20 less, I'm a happy lady.

Now I need your help. Whether it's a trendy new nail polish shade or an old-school lipstick favorite, share your favorite affordable alternative in the Beauty Dupes group.

The Look For Less: Nars' Hot Fall Nail Polish

BellaSugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:00:18 -0700

Every time I hit Sephora, I gaze longingly at Nars Tokaido Express nail polish ($16). It's a deep, sophisticated purple with subtle gold flecks that a cool girl like Kim Gordon might wear if she were invited to a fancy-pants brunch. If you're looking for a similar shade at a smaller price, you're in luck. I've found a drugstore dupe that's pretty close to this shade. To hop aboard that train, just keep reading.

Fab Tip: Lacquer Those Jewels

FabSugar — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 09:15:22 -0700

Nail polish is created to color nails - we all know this. But that's not its sole purpose. Have you ever considered using nail polish to liven up your jewels? I have a friend who uses it to spice up her earrings - like these Mini Hearts Studs ($14) - and the result is pretty fabulous. If you're interested, the process is rather painless.

To learn how to use nail polish to jazz up your jewels, read more.

Start with smooth-surfaced jewelry (earrings work best but rings, bangles, and necklaces are doable too) to work with. Make sure your item doesn't have rhinestones or a rocky surface.
If you're going to paint with a light nail polish color, it's preferable to use silver or white jewelry. Dark polishes like red and hot yellow work fine on gold.
Now it's time to start painting your earrings with the nail polish of your choice. Apply evenly and use two to three coats to avoid chipping.
Allow to dry for about 30 minutes.
Though not required, you can add a coat of clear polish for extra shine or glitter polish for pizzazz.

All Aboard! The Nars 2009 Autumn Colour Collection Is Here

BellaSugarUK — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 07:36:00 -0700

Not only does this year mark the 15th anniversary for Nars Cosmetics, but last Monday was the highly anticipated launch of the brand new six-item Autumn 2009 Colour Collection. The inspiration behind the goodies came from none other than the young and precocious icon, Lolita. François Nars was "looking for a model who could represent the modern, independent woman, but who also had a girlish, innocence about her."

It's funny, because I thought the ad campaign doll looking model was Lily Donaldson, but it's actually a Canadian beauty named Heather Marks whose career began in 2003 with Givenchy. The photographs were taken in New York City by François Nars himself, and Heather is wearing the products from the '09 line whose names incidentally were influenced by Nars' pursuits and interests, yet they don't necessarily have any direct correlation to Lolita.

My favourite product is a nail varnish called Tokaido Express (£12.50). From a distance it looks black, but up close it's a purple shade with gold flecks that look rich, exciting and ridiculously chic. Wearing this polish is akin to wearing a fabulous cuff or statement piece.

For individual images, plus a description and the cost of each of the products, just, read more.

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Fast Ride Lipstick: (£17) is an edgy, dark mulberry (and totally intimidating lipstick) that falls somewhere between an intense stain, and a gothy purple. What I love is its that the sheen keeps it looking fashion forward and seductive.
Mekong Single Eyeshadow: (£15) is a must for those with green or hazel eyes. The black-brown shadow contains rose gold flecks that make green eyes pop!
Silk Road Duo Eyeshadow: (£23) is a new pair of powder shadows that were influenced from traditional damask fabrics. One side houses a frosty pink whilst the other side is a rosey gold with golden shimmer.
Brumes Duo Eyeshadow: (£23) is another new powder shadow duo that has a matte charcoal shade one side (great as a liner or for the ultimate smoky eye) and the other side is a sparkly sky blue hue.
Indian Summer Duo Eyeshadow: (£23) is the most fashion forward of the eyeshadow pairs. Inside there's a frosted khaki shade beside a bold, matte, mustardy colour.
Tokaido Express Nail Polish: (£12.50) is black-plum varnish enhanced with finely milled gold sparkles and is named after Japan’s famed high-speed railway. From afar you'd think it's black, if you look a little bit closer, it's far more interesting!

Illamasqua's New Spring/Summer Sirens Collection is Here!

BellaSugarUK — Thu, 07 May 2009 07:30:00 -0700

A few months ago I told you about a new brand in the UK called Illamasqua that I've totally fallen in love with. The pigments are the richest I've ever encountered, the assortment of jaw-dropping colours rival MAC (no, I'm not kidding) and the textures are so creamy, velvety and luxurious that time stands still when you're at the counter. Can't you just feel my excitement!

I can't speak highly enough about this new discovery and it just keeps getting better. Last week they launched their Spring/Summer Sirens Collection and I was lucky enough to get a tour (and an incredible makeover) at their London counter at Selfridges. There before me stood a hunky young male mode getting bronzed and brightened from head to toe with the new goodies - and let me tell you, it was hot! The range was inspired by the enchanting beauty and divine appeal of the Sirens and includes corals, blues a scope of serious metallics (the star product being the liquid metals) for your eyes, face, lips, body and nails.

For morel photos of the collection, the ad campaign and a description of each of the exciting new products, read more.

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Nails

Muse (£12.50) is an opaque, bright teal nail varnish that you can see on the model in the photo.
Lament (£12.50) is a flirty, opaque neon coral nail polish that looks especially gorgeous on bronzed skin.

Face

Bronzing Duo (£18) is available in two shades: Glint/Burnish is a darker combo, whilst, Glint/Writhe is a little bit lighter for those with fairer skin. The Glint side is a powder highlighter and the other sides is shimmery powder bronzer.
Liquid Metal in Enrapture and Solstice (£16) are metallic cream pots that can be used on the face or body. The colours are seriously intense, so they should be used sparingly and then layered until you get your desired result. Solstice is a rich gold and Enrapture is a hearty bronze.
Fat Pencils in Fickle, Wilful and Peverse (£12.72) are fabulous multi-use products as they can be used on the eyes, lips and body.

Eyes

4-Colour Powder Eye Shadow Palette (£33.28) contains four differing blendable yet bold powder shadows in bronze, teal, blue and gold.
Shimmer Cream in Eternal (£14) is a grey and creamy eye gloss that creates a wet-look finish. Tip: It can be used all over the body not just on the eyes.

Lips

Fable Lipstick and Resist Lipstick (£14 each). Fable is a pale pink that looks great paired with a smoky eye and Resist is a deep, matte raspberry shade.
Soul Sheer Lipgloss (£12.50) is a shimmery pinky gold colour that looks gorgeous alone or blended over Fable and Resist.

Three Tips For Going Glittery

BellaSugar — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 09:00:02 -0700

I'm dazzled by these new sparkly shades from rescue beauty lounge . . . and smiling at the clever names. Locavore blends earth-friendly hues of green and blue with metallics, Frugalista blasts out with gunmetal specks in a rich purple, and Look Rich, Be Cheap is a gold polish with purple flecks.
As posh as the products are, applying glittery polish can be tough. Check out my tips for a smooth sparkle when you read more.

Polish prep. Start with a layer of clear (or complementary colored) polish on top of a base coat. This additional layer keeps nails smooth and helps hold glitter in place.
Seal the sparkle. If you find fault with the gritty feel, seal in the glitter with a powerful top coat like Seche Vite that allows the top coat to penetrate to the base and lock it all in.
Clean and clear off. Use swabs to take off polish, as glitter is typically harder to remove – it can scrape your nails if you're not careful. Cotton helps pick up the bits while the color rubs off smoothly.