new: color wow brass banned mousse for dark hair.

{color protect like whoa}

gail federici, co-founder of john frieda, has a new haircare line, and it's called color wow.  the line is especially created to address the concerns that go along with having color treated hair.  color wow offers solutions to color crises from roots to fading color.

i had the chance to visit with some insiders from the brand and see their products in action at an event a few weeks back and was especially captivated by the mousse.  color wow brass banned mousse for dark hair looks like an ordinary mousse but with a teal hue.  the brand's celebrity colorist explained to me that teal is opposite orange in the color wheel, meaning it's color that corrects the brassiness that brunettes can get from sun and chlorine exposure.  plus, it's the first product of it's kind for dark hair.  

they also make one for blondes - color wow brass banned mousse for blonde hair - which has a bewitching violet hue.  each mousse is $28 at colorwowhair.com.

{violet and teal clouds}

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bling it on! with hpnotiq: submit your nail art for a chance to win!

{my glitter experiment}

my favorite things are together at last -- liquor and nail art and prizes! 

from now until july 28th 2013, hpnotiq wants to know how you like to get glam.  during week 2 (which is now) of their GLAM LOUDER campaign, you can submit photos of your favorite glam nail looks for a chance to win awesome prizes.  best yet, it doesn't necessarily need to be a glam look that you've created, just a submit a favorite picture! 

bling it on! for a chance to win:

• one year of manis/pedis worth up to $1,200
• a $1,000 gift card to Sephora or Ulta 
• AND a chance to win the grand prize trip for you and three friends to go shopping with a celebrity in los angeles! even better - the grand prize winner will star in a professional photo shoot for the chance to be in a real hpnotiq ad!

ready to enter? hpnotiq’s glammest nails challenge is going on RIGHT NOW - but hurry – the entry period for the glammest nails ends at 11:59:59 a.m. EST on june 30th 2013.

for this challenge hpnotiq wants you to show them the glammest nails, nail art or nail finish that you’ve ever seen or done. think you can nail it? snap a picture of your own creation, or find an image online.  you can enter as many times as you want! for this round, they’re choosing 4 lucky winners to receive free mani/pedis for a year valued up to $1,200!  i could use that prize!

what are you going to submit?  i love seeing a unique manicure.  most of my favorite nail looks draw their inspiration from fashion.  this summer i also love anything in the green family - from teal to lizard - for manicures or pedicures.

to enter visit http://9nl.it/irby/, or visit hpnotiq’s facebook page OR follow @Hpnotiq on twitter and tweet them your picture using the hashtag #GLAMLOUDER. see full contest rules here.

editor's note:  this post is part of sponsored collaboration with hpnotiq, but all thoughts are my own.  i truly love nail art and liquor.

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new: RiRi hearts MAC summer.

{good girl gone bad}

after rihanna's first collaboration with MAC cosmetics (RiRi woo lipstick) sold out in less 24 hours, the two have decided to pair up again for a 5 piece collection called RiRi hearts MAC summer.

• hibiscus kiss powder blush duo cool coral blush and matte neutral bronzer duo
• barbados girl lustre drops rose gold bronzer
• RiRi woo lipstick matte cool red
• RiRi boy lipstick matte vivid lavender
• heaux lipstick matte berry

{barbados girl, RiRi boy, RiRi woo, heaux, and hibiscus kiss}

this collection is intoxicatingly summery -- it makes me want to toss all 5 pieces into my beach bag and rush off to someplace with sun, sand, and coconut-flavored drinks.

the colors would look best on rihanna herself, but the collection has something for everyone:  fans who missed RiRi woo the first time around will have another chance to snap up the coveted shade.  heaux lipstick looks just like crushed raspberries, a very sexy lip hue.   i've always loved lustre drops sprinkled judiciously across cheekbones and barbados girl offers a delicate and universally flattering option.  

i put swatches of all three lipsticks on my instagram - makeuplovesme - visit for a peek.

the collection is available online only at maccosmetics.com starting tomorrow, 6/18/13, at noon.

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five things to try this june.

1. skyn iceland hydro cool firming eye gels- these pads take only 10 minutes to work their magic.  they're like an instant makeover for the under eye area, perfect after a long day and before an evening out.  in the hot, humid weather i especially love their cooling effect.  for my full review from last summer click here.  $30.

2. vaseline spray +  go moisturizer aloe fresh - this lightweight spritz is the ideal way to end a day of sun - aloe instantly calms skin.  i'm packing this in all my weekend beach bags this summer.  SRP $5.99.

3. pellegrino with rosewater and kumquat - i recently concocted this refreshing summer drink because i get so bored of drinking plain water that i can easily dehydrate in warmer weather.  i pour a big glass of pellegrino, squeeze in a fresh kumquat and add just a couple drops of rosewater.  the end result is a little tangy and very mediterranean.

4. tone ocean therapy body wash - i like to change the body washes in my shower to match the season, and in the summer i like all things ocean.  this wash captures my favorite things about seawater, complete with mineral enrichment and pearl essence.  SRP $3.99.

5.  MAKE aether palette - this new 8 color palette is truly for the artist.  created by british designer faye toogood, who drew inspiration from zen spiritualism.  the kit offers a gorgeous mix of whites - from salt to quartz - with bold sulfur and cement as the accents.  the possibilities in this otherworldly little box.  $25.

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