OPI

OPI “Oz The Great and Powerful” Limited Edition Nail Lacquers

March 1, 2013

When I was a little girl, The Wizard of Oz was my favorite childhood movie. And even to this day, I can still watch Dorothy skip down the yellow brick road over and over. I watched The Wizard of Oz faithfully each and everything Thanksgiving; that movie just brings about so many good memories.

So when I saw the modern day version, Oz The Great and Powerful, I was very curious to see what it would be like – and of course all of the product branding that goes along with it. The beauty industry has always been in on the game of marketing whatever is new and hot and the remake is no exception. But since this movie is a favorite of mine, I had a to take a peak at all the beauty options that pay homage to the wizard!

OPI has created a gorgeous limited edition nail lacquer line in tribute to this move, take a look at all the sparkly goodness:

Lights of Emerald City
White confetti adds city girl flair and style to nails.

Don’t Burst My Bubble
Don’t wake me…I’m dreaming about puffy clouds of white.

When Monkeys Fly!
I’m simply bananas for this gold confetti.

Glints of Glinda
Only a good witch could turn beige from meek to chic.

Which is Witch?
Is this silver glitter with iridescent sparkle or the other way around?

I Theodora You
This adorable, sheer pink is bewitching on you.

“OPI is very excited to take this fantastical journey with Disney,” explains Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director. “Inspired by the magic of Oz The Great and Powerful, this SoftShades collection captures the whimsy seen in the film, from glittery shades packed with white, gold and silvery iridescent confetti – Lights of Emerald City, When Monkeys Fly! and Which is Witch? – to soft neutrals in white, beige and pink – Don’t Burst My Bubble, Glints of Glinda and I Theodora You.

I might pick up a bottle of When Monkeys Fly!, I do love gold glitter! Do you have any favorites?

5 Wearable Late-Spring Green Shadows, Pigments and Polish

April 22, 2011

It’s only two days until Easter, and store shelves are brimming with an abundance of green things. Mother Nature has a lot of green going on, too, as skittish plants and flowers finally make an appearance after a long, dreary winter. (Crocuses, I don’t blame you- I’d have stayed underground until mid-April too, if I didn’t need to replenish my eyeliner stocks.)

Green is one of those shades that may seem a bit scary and potentially unflattering in the pan, but many shades of the color really do complement all skin tones. Whether you have brown, blue or green eyes, the hue has a magical ability to look amazing on anyone. That’s not to say greens are foolproof- it’s a fine line between “fresh, springy look” and “extra on the set of Wicked.” Here are five vibrant but wearable greens for every skin tone.

1.) Sephora by OPI in Gleek Out: An amendment to the “not foolproof” rule is fingernails, which are relatively easy to rock in any color for anyone, ever. Sephora by OPI’s limited edition green in honor of Glee makes up for not being minty-green with a wealth of subtle gold shimmer. It’s not “Ballet Slippers” or “Fiji,” but as far as green polishes go, it’s very demure and feminine.

2.) Urban Decay Eyeshadow in URB: My very first makeup gig was freelancing for Urban Decay at the Sephora in Times Square, and I quickly discovered how universally flattering this shade could be. Ethereal paired with pink lips and cheeks and bold and retro with a red lip, Urban Decay’s URB couples well with basic neutral shimmers and looks fantastic set off with a thin touch of sharp black liner.

3.) Shiro Cosmetics Loose Vegan Eyeshadow in Acid: Indie makeup brands are a little controversial in the beauty blogosphere- some cosmetic junkies swear by their favorite little Etsy shop, while others are only into product that comes from a coast-to-coast name brand shop like Sephora or Bloomie’s. I’ve found most indie beauty sellers fantastic to deal with, and the minor variations and customized nature of some of the products can be huge selling points. Shiro Cosmetics’ Acid pigment is loose, so it’s more suited for an all over green look. This little pot of pure color and the “Series of Tubes” (win!) gloss-stain hybrids are on my buy-very-soon list.

4.) MAC Eyeshadow in Swimming: Another assertive shimmer shade, MAC’s Swimming is hugely popular among the brand’s artists as well as their fanbase for its strong pigmentation but not-overwhelming hue. A little tiny pop of Swimming with Dubonnet and clear Lipglass is one of my favorite more intense night looks.

5.) NARS Liner in Patmos: If you’d like a tiny hint of green but not a full on shimmery eye extravaganza, NARS’ Patmos liner, described as a “khaki” green, is subtle enough to work for a conservative office environment while still lending that not-entirely-neutral green mojo. This eminently wearable shade is excellent for redheads.

Do you have a favorite grassy green color for warm weather? What’s your go-to green strategy?

Six Super-Wearable Bright Makeup Shades for Spring 2011

February 24, 2011

One of the biggest cosmetic trends for Spring 2011 is vivid, colorful makeup. You know, intense shades you fall in love with when they’re in the pan- the ones that often become intimidating when they land on your vanity table. Quite often, even the most shocking hues can be wearable even for work or to brunch with a light hand and some balance. Here are six gorgeous, vibrant shades for Spring 2011.

1.) Benefit Bella Bamba: I’ve been a fan of this Benefit mini-line since it hit shelves (gasp!) over eight years ago in Dandelion. The generous size, the adorable mini brush, the mirror- these little powders are always so much fun to open. 70s glam packaging encases a vibrant shade described as “watermelon” and interlaced with gold shimmer. This blush would pair beautifully with bronzer or work well alone on fairer skin tones.

2.) Hourglass Aura Sheer Cheek Stain in Flush: If you’re not feeling powders for an intense cheek shade, or you’re trying to cultivate a dewier complexion, Hourglass has these saturated, sheer stains for cheeks. Described as providing a “subtle lit-from-within glow,” Aura Sheer Cheek Stain clicks up to dispense product, and is buildable for more color.

3.) MAC Eye Shadow in Zingy: Although it seems eyes are an area in which you can be a bit more creative with color, bright eye shadows can make even the deftest shadow users apprehensive. Zingy is a pure, matte sea blue, and there’s a trick that makes a shade like this eminently wearable. Brush a neutral shimmer shade over lids, and at the outer corner, touch in three dots of your selected bright shade very close together with a medium, flat-ish brush. Tap the brush in to diffuse the shadow- the small, unadulterated pop of color at the edges looks a little edgy without too much intensity. Finish with a coat of mascara, and an optional super-thin application of black kohl at the lashline only.

4.) Sephora by OPI Glee Collection in Slushied: An opaque, true turquoise- all the shades are springy, but this is a very bold option for a clean and bright nail look.

5.) Laura Mercier Lip Stain in Classic Red: Red popsicle stains are a bit of a perennial, and though a matte red lip is always chic, a sheerer gloss feels somewhat more appropriate as warmer weather rolls in. This glossy, balmy red stain adjusts to most skin tones and is longer lasting than a simple gloss.

6.) Givenchy Printed Lips Tinted Look Lip Stainer: Felt tip products can be hit or miss- some go on watery and meek, leaving too little color that settles awkwardly. This “richly pigmented” formulation in Rose Impression is both realistic and enduring. The color goes on matte, and you can finish with a thin coat of moisturizing balm to set off the color.

Do you have any super-colorful secret weapons? What’s your most vibrant go-to shade?