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May 082012
 

Summer 2012 promises to be the summer of bright nails. Pictured here (top to bottom):

  • Deborah Lippmann ‘Run the World (Girls)’ Neon Mini Nail Lacquer Set ($45/ currently at Nordstrom)
  • Essie Poppy-Razzi Collection for Summer 2012 ($8 each)
  • Thakoon for Nars ($18 each, now available on Nars website) (Lal Mirchi is only available online and at the 413 Bleecker Street Boutique)
  • Le Metier de Beaute Ressort ($18, on Neiman’s website and elsewhere)
  • China Glaze Summer Neon ($7 each retail/ available June 2012)
  • Dior Summer Mix (available Summer 2012)
  • Color Club Take Wing Collection (around $3 each, available now). Swatches on Scrangie’s blog.
  • Zoya Beach Collection ($8 each/$48 for the entire set). Available now on Zoya.com.

They all look so good–it’s going to be so hard to choose!  Will you get into the bright citrus trend?

Apr 242012
 

Butter London’s Lillibet’s Jubilee  ($14) is a limited edition release that commemerates the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s accession to the throne.

As Butter London describes, this color is a silvery, lavender metallic foil, heavily infused with holographic glitter.  This is a dramatic, fun color. A true foil with violet tones:

Here are more sites that have swatches:

  •  A Girl and Her Polish is here.
  •  Nail Notes is here.
  • Varnish Vixen is here.

Here’s a comparison of Lillibet’s Jubilee with a true silver foil, Nars Space Odyssey. I’ve also swatched this next to the more green Chanel Graphite and the deep gray Chanel Steel.

In very bright sun:

In shade:

Clearly, Butter London is not an office-friendly color. But we don’t live our entire lives in offices, now do we?

Apr 232012
 

NARS Trouville Nail ($18) is a soft, flattering pink that should look lovely on both pale and deep complexions.

It’s much softer than some of the Pepto cool pinks we’ve been seeing this summer. I found the formula good, although sheer. It took me 3-4 coats to build the color to make the nail line disappear.

Verdict:  Pretty, soft and highly wearable. One of those all-purpose shades when you want to look polished and elegant.

Nars sent Trouville to Cafe Makeup for consideration for review.

Apr 062012
 

NARS is set to release a gorgeous collection for Summer 2012. If these images are any guide, this will be a memorable and beautifully designed set with a modern edge. These are shimmering bronzes, apricots, and matte reds, anchored with a deep cool eyeshadow duo. Unbelievably beautiful. A closer look at the items in the Nars Summer 2012 collection follows…

NARS Ramatuelle Eyeshadow Trio is named for a village in southeastern France, and includes an elegant combination of two shimmers–silver and icy peach. The trio has a matte apricot for a warm-cool interpretation of a neutral palette.

NARS Eyeshadow Duo in Marie-Galante is an iridescent combination of “orchid with a regal blue,” that is soft, strong and striking. Cafe Makeup says “woah, that’s so pretty.” I can imagine that paired with the bronzes and apricots in this collection, it’s going to emphasize the eyes like almost nothing else.

NARS Calabria Soft Touch Eyeshadow Pencil is a shimmering plum. This is not a color that I’ve seen much, but I can’t wait to try it on my blue-green eyes. My guess is that it’s going to look gorgeous with brown eyes as well.

NARS Vendages Lipstick is a sheer grape, which I can picture might look like lips that have just finished some gorgeous summer fruit. I literally gasped when I saw this picture. Amazing summer color, especially for the July-August time frame when the color palette seems to deepen.

NARS Liberte blush is described as a “burnished apricot.” Seriously gorgeous summer color.

NARS Buenos Aires Velvet Lip Gloss Pencil appears to be the one thing that everyone needs in their makeup collection–a good nude pencil.  Whether as a base or alone when wearing striking eyes, nude pencils can provide a good accompaniment or a good stand alone. NARS, Cafe Makeup thanks you for this.

NARS Never Say Never Velvet Matte Lip Pencil is a lilac rose.

NARS Moscow Pure Matte Lipstick is a matte strawberry red.

Nars Trouville nail polish is a seashell pink, named for a little fishing village in northern France. I suspect that it’s been used on the model in the image below, but we’ll have to take a look when it becomes available.

Makeup genius Francois Nars designed the look, below, which exemplifies one example of how the collection can be used for a glamorous look that emphasizes one’s individual look. Here, he used NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30/PA+++ in St. Moritz. As an aside, I’ve been wearing this foundation (in Alaska) since it was released in February and I love it.  If you are looking for a summer tinted moisturizer, please try this one out if you can. It’s long lasting, has great coverage, looks luminous and lasts throughout the day. Plus, my skin looks better because it’s designed to moisturizer and eliminate hyper pigmentation and dark spots.

Nars then applied Eden Loose Powder and NARS Laguna Bronzer. He then added the new Liberte blush, and a touch of Taos blush along the hairline. This picture features the eyeshadow trio–the new Ramatuelle Eyeshadow Trio was added to the eyes. The silver and peach shades are on the lid blended up to the crease; apricot is in the crease, and silver on the lower lash line.

The upper and lower lashes are lined with Larger than Life Long Wear Eyeliner in Via Veneto.  Two coats of Larger Than Life Volumizing Mascara are on the lashes (reviewed here at The Beauty Look Book).  Based on her recommendation, I’ve just ordered this mascara from Sephora.

The lips were lined with the new Borneo Lip Liner Pencil, blended with a finger to soften the color. Then Nars applied the new Moscow Pure Matte Lipstick, and topped with Risky Business Lip Gloss for shine.

Apr 062012
 

NARS is set to release some of the most gorgeous colors that are perfectly on trend now in the Thakoon for Nars Nail Collection ($18). I beyond excited for these–each of these looks perfect for a Spring/Summer pop of color.  I cannot wait!

As you may know, Francois Nars and fashion designer Thakoon Panichgul work together during New York Fashion Week. It’s sort of perfect that Thakoon is NARS’ first collaboration with a fashion designer for a nail collection. To design this collection, Thakoon was inspirited by the vibrant colors of a typical Indian spice market. As I already love the formula of NARS polishes, I know this is going to be well worth it.

First, below is Lal Mirchi is a Mandarin red that is only available at the NARS 413 Bleecker Street Boutique:

Second, below is Anardana, an azalea pink:

Third is Ratin Jot, an orchid purple:

 

Fourth is Amchoor, a bright yellow:

Fifth is Kutki, a powder blue:

Sixth is Koliary, a cyan blue:

Here are a few images from Thakoon’s Spring 2012 runway: