Look what I found in my garden this week! The hellebores have started to bloom. I wasn't expecting them with our cold snap. Then I remembered the prior week when we had two 70+ degree days. I'll bet they were fooled into blooming. They always hang their heads, but that day, I'm sure they were thinking it would help them stay warm. Plants think, right?
It was only a matter of time before someone launched a magazine dedicated to nail art. There are thousands of nail bloggers, and all of them have an audience - even if it's small. The interest in nails - from the traditional one color on each nail pained with Chanel or Dior to the fancy artwork that carries a theme across nails - has never been greater.
I learned at
WWD that on February 19, "manicure aficionados" will have another publication dedicated to all things nail-related.Is this the next
Allure?
Nail It! Magazine, from the publisher of
NailPro, will focus on trends, products, and care and will also include overall beauty and fashion elements to tie the nails to an entire look. “I’m very excited to share everything I know about nails, salons, and products with our readers,” Stephanie Lavery, Editor in Chief, told
WWD.
Nail It! will be published six times each year (if it makes it in a highly competitive print world), and the premiere issue will hit newsstands and retailers, including Barnes & Noble, Walgreens, Target, CVS, and Duane Reade. “With nails currently being such a strong classification in the beauty industry, we feel that introducing the first-ever consumer nail magazine will be well received by women of every age,” said Deborah Carver, Publisher. “There are so many conversations going on about nails; it’s not just about a bottle of color anymore.…It’s now a major fashion accessory.”
Even though I'm not into nails in a big way - probably as a result of my many years as a gardening enthusiast (what perfectionist wants nails that are different lengths due to flower and shrub farming?), I'll be on the lookout for
Nail it! Magazine.
This announcement made me wonder...are nails unique, or is it possible that a lips magazine will follow? Might we see "Eye Art" next? You never know. What do you think? Will you be subscribing?
So many fashion designers have branched into beauty - either in color or fragrance. I learned at
WWD that Alber Elbaz, the Lanvin Artistic Director, will be teaming with Lancôme to create his first makeup collection. The limited-edition color collection is due out June 15 worldwide. The L’Oréal-owned brand has long had a fashion (and celebrity) focus. In November 2010, for example, Lancôme introduced a holiday makeup collection with L’Wren Scott. I purchased - and featured - the collection. As an aside, Mr. Elbaz seems to be a total sweetheart of a guy, but he really needs to slim down. He doesn't look healthy. How can you not love a guy who put that dog in a Lanvin ad?
More recently, the company partnered with Olympia Le-Tan for a one-shot minaudière that contains some of her favorite shades of lipstick and nail polish. That collection will launch in time for Valentine’s Day. I haven't seen it yet. Have you? I saw on Facebook that it is available. Here is one of the photos from Russian Vogue.
The very limited-edition minaudière (only 100 available) holds six lipsticks and nail polishes in a range of shades from pastel pink to purple. The clutch's sides are mirrored (for use on the go, but I can't imagine carrying the box around). This set is priced at $1,500, which explains why they only made 100. Who would pay that for a per piece value of $125? Holy moly, even I won't pay $125 for a lipstick. Wisely, Lancôme will be selling the lipsticks and polishes individually - and presumably for far less than $150 per piece.
It's time for the Friday Forum. I love this part of our week. What new products did you discover this week? Did you find any deals you couldn't resist? Are you using a fabulous product and want to sing its praises? Did you find a beauty product disappointing? Do you have a question others might be able to answer? Want to talk about skin care? What's new in your life? Just use the comments. Don't be shy. Just make sure to ask any question you might have over the weekend. By early the next week, most (not all) readers will have moved on.
This week, we have two giveaway contests underway. The deadline for entering each is tomorrow, Saturday, February 9. One if for
Suave's dynamite Skin Solutions Body Lotion. The winner will receive three products, and the runners-up will receive one. If you live in the United States, please enter! The other features
Stila's Positively Pink Set and is available to residents of all countries. I have no idea why there are so few entrants this week, but that will increase your chances of winning. Please click on the links and throw your hat in the ring.
Photos courtesy of WWD, Russian Vogue, Nail It!, and by Best Things in Beauty
Hi CG,
ReplyDeleteI have loads and loads to talk this week. I haven't been actively commenting at all past few weeks. I have ordered so many thing in the last month - LMdB, EB, RBR.
Oh I am in love. I love all the things I bought, which is amazing. There is not a single product I regret.
BuT i do need to mention, I read so much about LMdB and EB that I took the quality for granted, but when I tried out my RBR products, I was totally blown away.
The pigmentation of the shadows, smell of the lipsticks and glosses, and I am not a gloss person at all, but LMdB and RBR have totally changed that ! I see a lot of spending in the future, and oh, the beauty that RBR highlighters are, I am swooning over Sea of Showers and now want Sea of Tranquility and Nectar.
I just might try and order from the actual RBR site next time though, to see how much it would cost me. For now, I am addicted to Zuneta, thank you for introducing me to that beautiful site and it's even more beautiful people. I had email exchanges with Caroline from Zuneta, she is a pleasure to work with.
My only misfortune in the last month was that my beloved Trilogy Rosehip oil broke in my purse, and that was a miracle worker for me.
Oh and CG, your reviews of xxx lip plump prompted my purchase with RBR, so thank you so much ! :) Have a great weekend.
While I'm sitting here waiting for the blizzard to start, it's nice to think about makeup and perfumes for a bit. I'm not particularly excited about a nails magazine because I constantly use my hands and invariable chip & break them. I'm not interested in gels, acrylics or whatever, just natural with some polish as long as it lasts.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious to see what Lavin produces with Lancome. I hope it will be pretty! Discoveries of the week...well I've been using up a sample of Guerlain's Orchidee Imperiale Eye & Lip Balm on my eyes and I'm afraid I really like it. My wallet's crying at the thought of $200 a pop but it does make my skin feel and look better. I need more samples! lol I did use this week my new Hourglass Ambient powder in Luminous Light which gave me a little bit of color (surprisingly) and glow. I like and I may try some of the other shades too.
That's my excitement of the week. Now to put some moisturizer on my face, this bitter cold is terrible on the skin! Even when it's oily like mine.
Hi Swatchi!
ReplyDeleteIsn't RBR wonderful? I have two products ordered that will arrive next week.
Zuneta is a model of customer service. I have never found anyone better.
Sorry to hear about your oil. That must have been a mess!
Hi Evelyn,
ReplyDeleteSorry about the blizzard. I heard how bad it is supposed to be in NJ, NY, and Boston.
Guerlain makes nice skin care. My main issue with it in the past has been the strong fragrance. Their newest cream has so much less fragrance, I can use it, but it is ultra-pricey.
Stay safe and at home during this terrible storm!
BTW, I am not a nails person for the same reason. They are seldom the same length.
Speaking of designer-Lancôme collaborations, I read that Jason Wu also has one with Lancôme coming up. Lancôme seems to be making a concerted effort to revitalize interest in their products and reach a younger, hipper audience. Perhaps they thought their brand was becoming stale--or worse--stodgy. Good for them!
ReplyDeleteWhen I heard about Nail It, I wasn't in the least bit surprised. I'm sure a lot of women will pick up a copy or two for the tips, techniques, and inspiration. Personally, when it comes to fingernails, I'm pretty low maintenance. I just keep my natural nails well shaped with clean tips and cuticles pushed back. I very seldom wear nail polish on my fingers, and when I do, it is invariably something soft like Altoum. My toes are a different matter entirely. That's where I play with color :-). In So Cal we have so much opportunity to show off our pedicures.
Ever since purchasing it, I've been enjoying my Coral Bliss palette. I've come up with a few ways to wear it that enhance my particular features. I figure I'll just keep working this palette for awhile because who knows how long the blue trend will be around. I find that a soft aqua opalescence is such a refreshing change from the beautiful berries and burnished colors we were wearing throughout the holidays.
I'm eagerly awaiting delivery of my TF Shine Lipsticks. I got a vague answer from Neiman's regarding availability, so I just went ahead and ordered from Bergdorf's. I selected the same three that Charlestongirl swatched and all I have to say for myself is that copying is the sincerest form of flattery :-) Those three colors will be perfect for me and will give me a nice selection for spring/summer when I gravitate more towards tinted balms.
I was not impressed with my sample of Nars new powder. It looks fine in real life, but in photographs it seems to lighten and flatten the appearance of facial features. Being an older woman, I love light-diffusing products, but this one gave me moon-face :-( Perhaps it will work better on other women.
Hourglass! Now that's the name that seems to be the biggest buzz right now. The Ambient Light powders are definitely on my must-see list. Perhaps I'll find time to check them out today. Based on the reviews that have been coming out, it looks like Hourglass is going to sweep all the competition to the curb.
It's a nippy 48 this morning, but I promised my Huskies a run in the hills so I had best get myself in gear. Have a wonderful weekend, everyone.
Hi Eileen,
ReplyDeleteI had heard about Jason Wu too. Not surprising. He has already partnered with Target and NEST.
I got the same type of fuzzy answer from NM. That was from someone who should have known. Sometimes, it frustrates me that I know more about the products than the product specialists know.
I had had no plans to try the NARS powder. It's hit or miss with NARS and me. They stopped sending me their press releases, so I don't need to invest in iffy products. I have been relatively unimpressed some many of their new ones.
I am trying a new By Terry powder that is VERY cool. Hope to be ready to "talk about it" next week.
Hourglass is trending, as they say.
Enjoy your weekend! I'll be thankful it's Boston getting the blizzard and not us. I don't think I could shovel that amount of snow ever again. :)
Maybe there are fewer entrants as the one contest is for US only, makes sense as shipping would be high on heavy bottles and not worth it. I so love my prize and the litle extras you threw in, much appreciated, made my week!!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, the US-only drags on entrants, but there are plenty of US women who enter for makeup contests who never enter for skin care. I've never really understood that. Free is free. :)
ReplyDeleteGlad you love your prize, angusmum1!
Hi Charlestongirl,
ReplyDeleteYou'll definitely have to let us know what you think of By Terry's powder. Are you testing the new hyularonic one? I've been slowly expanding my interest in the brand. The hurdle is the lack of easy access. Since I haven't experienced that many of the products, I'm reluctant to purchase sight unseen. The last time I was at the counter, I repurchased the gloss in Golddigger and I bought for the first time the hyularonic eye primer. So far, so good. It doesn't dry my lids out and it does a good job of preventing the shadow and liner from settling into my inner corner crinkles. I don't have issues with creasing anywhere else so I can't say how good it is overall. I can say that it is expensive! Yikes!! But the way I use it, it should last a very long time.
Hi Evelyn,
ReplyDeleteI hope you're weathering the snow storm; staying warm and cozy. Isn't that Orchidée eye/lip cream incredible? And, unlike some women, I absolutely adore the fragrance of Guerlain's products. Two years ago, at a Guerlain event, the gal who was doing my facial noticed the extreme dryness in my eye area. She recommended the Orchidée cream and told my sweet SA that she only wanted me using Orchidée and not their other eye creams. My initial thought was well, duh, of course she wants me to use the most expensive one! After my makeup application, though, the facialist presented me with three--yes, three--of those deluxe samples of the eye cream in addition to the one that was in my gift. It did a wonderful job of eradicating the waffle like crepeiness that was taking up residence in my undereye area. Now, whenever I visit the Guerlain counter, my charming SA always puts a sample of the eye cream in my bag. Bless her heart!