Nailene – A Darker French Tip

Nailene French Tip PenEverytime I used a Nailene product, my nails have looked great and super well groomed for a long time.

I find that nail art polishes are sometimes hard to use when trying to achieve a french manicure. The brushes are super thin, and running them in a straight line multiple times so that you have the perfect tip is practically impossible. One extra swipe will make it crooked or globby (an appropriate non word, no?) and will make a hard worked mani end. It’s the worst when you work hard on both hands only to have the tenth finger sully up the plans. Then you may need to use remover (q-tips are best) and heaven forbid you use a cotton ball, because, well, then you can just say farewell to the whole mani idea. Using a q-tip foils these monstrous disasters, but still, isn’t a guarantee of success.

I had the pleasure of reviewing the Black French Tip Pen from Nailene. Using the pen makes it so much easier to apply polish, and quite honestly, whatever formula they have for the product makes it dry practically instantaneously.
Nailene French Tip Pen
Nailene French Tip Pen
The kit comes with a black french tip pen and a top coat. This top coat dries magically fast and has lots of shine to it. It’s a top coat for polish though, as through experience I’ve learned that on bare nails it doesn’t last as long. On bare nails, you will most definitely need more than a single coat for long lasting care.
Nailene French Tip Pen
When you get the pen, remove the cap and press it into a piece of paper or tissue. Don’t press it onto your hand or clothing, and please no furniture! You might need to press a couple of times until the whole pen is full of polish. As you see from the above image, these are the four stages. The one on the bottom left seems to be full of polish, but is still lacking a bit on the tip. Sadly, the last image is a bit unfocused where I’d want it to be, but is how the pen should look when it’s really ready for use.
Nailene French Tip Pen
The way I applied it wasn’t necessarily the neatest, but the blame goes to my shaky hand and not the product. It goes on smoothly and doesn’t need double coverage, although you may want to apply some to keep the tips of your nails from rubbing off when doing everyday activities with your hands.

These pens come in white, pearl white, and black. I will get back to you about that last part, because at the time of posting, I found difficulty getting an online store with this pen in stock. They are available at all major drugstores, though.

How do you do your french tips?

Disclaimer: This product was sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on MOJ remain unbiased and unpaid. For more info, feel free to contact the author.

tweetmeme_url = ''; http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js Sharehttp://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share http://www.google.com/buzz/api/button.js

Search & Win

Kim Kardashian has a bit of a Blond streak

Kim Kardashian Prestige CoverKim Kardashian has been gracing cover after cover and getting product deals left and right. Before you confuse the introduction for jealousy, understand this – I admire the gal y’all. Each and every day she graces the advertisements and mailboxes I think that her marketing team is flawless and that she is a hell of a business. Let me get some of that Kardashian stock!

Her latest cover of Prestige magazine in Hong Kong has her smoldering looks front and center between two nekked gentlemen. Her outfit caught my attention. I didn’t need to get the details of the photo shoot (check out the post on her blog). I realized the fab bodice with plenty attitude was from The Blonds. A fashion show I had the privilege of attending last season. The styles were beyond gorgeous and I’m ashamed to say I didn’t do an adequate post on MOJ about it. What better time to exhibit them than as a warm up to a new Fashion Week season?

Magazine Cover Image Credit: Hollywood Life

The Blonds A/W 2010

The Blonds A/W 2010

The Blonds A/W 2010
The hair styles were beyond fabulous! They had braided backs and blond flips at the top. I was in love!

The Blonds A/W 2010
Fierce fashion calls for fierce makeup.

The Blonds A/W 2010
The model – resting.

The Blonds A/W 2010

The Blonds A/W 2010

The Blonds A/W 2010
As gorgeous as these are – they weigh a lot!

The Blonds A/W 2010

The Blonds A/W 2010

The Blonds A/W 2010

The Blonds A/W 2010

The Blonds A/W 2010

The Blonds A/W 2010

Like it? Love it?

tweetmeme_url = ''; http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js Sharehttp://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share http://www.google.com/buzz/api/button.js

Search & Win

Korres Body Milk Does You Good

Korres Body Milk
I’m trying to catch up with everything in my inbox. The hardest part is trying to manage how I will get to everywhere I want to do while retaining my sanity and getting sleep. I feel like I need a stunt double to assist!

In the meantime, I’m doing short posts about long posts to come, especially about products getting me through this time of where I don’t always have time for myself. For example: the Korres Body Milk in Basil Lemon is my new savior. I have been having some seriously dry skin lately. The smartest hypothesis to why this happens I can create so far, is that from sweating, cooling down, and rubbing against clothing, the skin is irritated far more than usual and is moisturized far less. Not all the lotions in my drawers seem to work their magic on my unhappy skin. It comes as no surprise though, that Korres doesn’t disappoint.

The scent isn’t too much, but the sensation is just right. The lotion isn’t thick, nor watery. It applies pretty smooth and cools the skin with appropriate moisture for a good period of time. I have a sweating problem so I usually sweat out my lotion rather than run out of moisture (if that makes sense!), so I can’t judge how long the lotion keeps you moisturized for until winter comes around.

Have you tried any Korres Body Milks?

tweetmeme_url = ''; http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js Sharehttp://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share http://www.google.com/buzz/api/button.js

Search & Win

Garden Gone!

Coach Popppy Project
Just a quick thank you to everyone who helped MOJ stay in the running for the Coach Poppy Project. I didn’t make it to first place but I did get to 31 out of 400 (check out the leaderboard). That’s pretty darn spiffy! And it was all thanks to all your support!

Stay tuned for bigger and better things!

tweetmeme_url = ''; http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js Sharehttp://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share http://www.google.com/buzz/api/button.js

Search & Win

Ports 1961 Sneak Peek

Ports 1961 SS2010 Preview

A favorite of mine, Ports 1961 (check out my past coverage here) shared a sneak peek of what’s to come during Fashion Week with us. The label’s designer, Fiona Cibani, “draws inspiration from the magic allure of the desert.”

I’m expecting vibrant colors and magical drapery. I’m keeping my mind open for the beauty and hair though, it’s like a blackjack table – hit me!

You excited yet?

tweetmeme_url = ''; http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js Sharehttp://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share http://www.google.com/buzz/api/button.js

Search & Win

Never Too Early for a Nailtini

NailtiniI’m on a roll of picking up brands new to my closets and drawers. The newest addition to my collection is Nailtini. They have similar lip gloss products, but it’s that nailtini title that got me.

I’ve seen several photos online of manis and pedis with the polish, so when I saw these babies in a store, I knew it was time for us to be formally introduced. I love the outside packaging, and I feel like I picked the best colors for my last hurrah with summer this year.

A girl can never have too many lilac shades, now can she?

Nailtini
Have you ever gotten a Nailtini?

tweetmeme_url = ''; http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js Sharehttp://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share http://www.google.com/buzz/api/button.js

Search & Win

Alessandra Ambrosio Koton Beachwear Fashion Show – Istanbul

Fashion shows are known for bringing some creativity from designers to runways to realways. Some concoctions are unrealistic and feed more into the aesthetic creation and mood of the show. This swimwear line sported some serious fembot/fashionable Star Trek dos. The style elicited a serious whoah! from me. It’s interesting, and reminds me of something my mirror shows me some mornings. With less neatness.

Alessandra’s abs are tres magnifique on the other hand…

Koton Fashion Show Istanbul

What do you think?


Image Courtesy of HotCelebsHome and Celeb Utopia

tweetmeme_url = ''; http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js Sharehttp://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share http://www.google.com/buzz/api/button.js

Search & Win

Where Will You be September 10, 2010?

Fashion’s Night Out in 2009 was a blast. As I ran from one event to the other (see me scurrying around here), the party mood was not lost on any store. Each store had shoppers fancier and happier than the last, everyone enjoying life in the name of fashion, so who wouldn’t want an encore?


Fashion’s Night Out 2010 PSA from Fashion’s Night Out on Vimeo.

Visit the website to make your plans for FNO. This year, after the success of yesteryear, many more stores are jumping on the wagon, and in plenty more locations. The websites says “from Brooklyn to Brazil to Boston” – loving that my ‘hood is named first!

When you visit the site (www.fashionsnightout.com), you’ll be able to see events based on categories, from freebies to discounts, and more. Another plus? You can set up your itinerary and see it mapped out.

I’m hoping my night will be a bit less hectic than last year, but that’s becoming more and more impossible as I hear about new events.

Have any events you want covered? Which ones are you going to in your hometown?

tweetmeme_url = ''; http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js Sharehttp://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share http://www.google.com/buzz/api/button.js

Search & Win

100% Pure Cosmetics

100 Percent Pure BronzerThe worst part of wandering drugstore cosmetic aisles is the inevitable money you will spend or debt you will force upon yourself (ok maybe that’s just me). Why?

It’s like a Murphy’s Law of Cosmetics, whatever new and interesting product you can find that will be irresistible and beg to come home with you, will be found and will have to come home with you. Such was the case with the 100% Pure Cosmetics counter at Duane Reade (yes them again – I told you – they’re taking over!!).

At first, just the title was enough to tempt me to take the bronzer home and dissect it.

The product testers piqued my interest twice as much after the super duper smooth application one swipe provided. It was a little pricey though for a beauty junkie like me, so rather than gamble on which color would suit my face, I settled on a bronzer. Who goes wrong with another bronzer in their powdery tan arsenal?

100 Percent Pure Bronzer
I had a fab photo shoot with the product. The little bird on my cardstock (my secret to the fab backgrounds! shhh!) made me think of Twitter and landing on a branch to nibble on my new bronzing fave.

When I opened the tin, I found that the cap can be used as a mirror – extra useful for on the go application.

100 Percent Pure Bronzer

100 Percent Pure Bronzer
Alright mad scientists. From what I’m reading, I’m pretty impressed with the ingredient list. You? Let me know!

See that little compact with the 12M towards the bottom? That’s the product life of the pan after you open your product. Neat, huh?

100 Percent Pure Bronzer
Learn more about the bronzer:

COCOA PIGMENTED BRONZER

100% Natural, 100% Vegan, Gluten free

100% Natural bronzer will give you a warm, beautiful, sun kissed glow instantly from pigments of cocoa, coffee, tomato and berries. Luminescent, light reflective pigments will give you a subtle shimmer. Concentrated with anti-aging vitamins, antioxidants and skin nourishing ingredients. Use all over your face and body whenever you desire a sun kissed look

Colors:
Honey – lightly sun kissed
Brown Sugar- golden sun kissed
Cinnamon – richly sun kissed

100% Natural Ingredients: Cocoa Powder, Cocoa Butter, Powdered Pigments of Cacao, Apricot, Peach, Pomegranate, Blackberry, Raspberry, Coffee, Papaya, Tomato, Black Tea and Acai, Vitamin E (a-tocopherol), Lavender Flower Powder, Rosehip Oil, Avocado Butter, Mica (natural mineral shimmer), Vitamin A (a-palmitate), Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)

Net wt. 9 g/ .32 oz

US $25.00 (source: site)

 Have you ever tried 100% Pure? 

tweetmeme_url = ''; http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js Sharehttp://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share http://www.google.com/buzz/api/button.js

Search & Win

Get the Look: Lo Bosworth at the Emmys

As I mentioned earlier, I was in love with the Madmen makeovers E! Entertainment whipped up for the ladies from The Hills, Lo Bosworth and Stephanie Pratt. Lo’s makeover was a tight fit green with envy dress by Karen Caldwell, a design that would undoubtedly fit right into the plot of next week’s show, and Stephanie’s frock was a mini from Guess by Marciano with a peekaboo lace at the top, sporting some fab Bardot inspired hair.

I was thinking to myself, it would be great to create a similar look like Lo but at an affordable rate. The look is quite simply, with the dress being the attention grabber, some natural peep toe pumps (you can try booties for some extra ‘tude!), a two finger flower ring and some seriously twisted gold bangles. Being that Stila makeup artist Sarah Lucero was on board with the makeover team, I had to find a pretty Stila pink and those bright nails had me thinking of China Glaze. I can’t tell y’all which shade gloss or polish to get from each brand though, as their selection has plenty to fit each madwoman (or man!). I got most of the items for the look for less than $50, but the shoes required more work.

Is this an Emmy look you’ll try to recreate? Which one inspired you most?

tweetmeme_url = ''; http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js Sharehttp://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share http://www.google.com/buzz/api/button.js

Search & Win