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Gorgeous Hair in 3 Easy Steps

I’m LOVING Keri Russell’s look at the NYC premiere of her latest film, Austenland…so much in fact that I’ll definitely be wearing my hair this way quite often come fall! If your hair is shoulder-length or longer you’ll want to give it a go.

Celebrity hairstylist Brian Magallones gave Russell her super-shiny glam waves using René Furterer styling products. Here’s how you can do it too:

  1. Beginning with clean, dry hair, part hair deeply on the side.
  2. Wrap 2-inch-wide sections around the barrel of a 1 ¼-inch curling iron.
  3. Flat iron sections along the bottom few inches of hair to make it modern.

Rub a little René Furterer MODELING PASTE between your fingers and smooth out flyaways around the hairline. Follow up with a quick hit of  René Furterer VEGETAL FINISHING SPRAY for natural control with just enough movement. Finish with a light misting of René Furterer GLOSSING SPRAY for mega shine. Gorgeous!

All products available at www.dermstore.com.

Out Damn Spot!!!

Product Review: Osmia Organics Spot Treatment, $20 at osmiaorganics.com

A few weeks ago I received a box of Osmia Organics products and have been waiting for the perfect opportunity to start testing them. Unfortunately for me I had a huge reason to review the Spot Treatment. Fortunately for me Spot Treatment does the trick!

This tiny bottle with the rollerball applicator is chock full of antibacterial essential oils. Lavender, cajeput, lemon, parsley, thyme, cypress and rosemary CO2 immediately go to work and get the healing started. I wish I’d started it a day or two earlier because in one night my pimple was greatly diminished and it didn’t dry out my skin. The next time a spot rears its ugly head, I know what I’ll be reaching for.

(photo courtesy of Osmia Organics)

In Good Hands!

If you knew you could have a gorgeous manicure that would look as great on day 20 as it looked on day 1 wouldn’t you jump at the chance? Sounds like what we all did with gel manicures, that is until we discovered the potential consequences of lengthy exposure to the dangerous UV light that these required. I’m not willing to risk my health for a manicure and there’s no reason you should either.

Lucky for us then that SPANAIL just opened their first overseas shop of Japan’s prestigious salon Nail Quick where their safe Parfait Gel Manicure starts at $50. The process is similar to the usual gel manicure, a base coat followed by two color gel coats, optional sparkles, gems or other art and a topcoat, but each coat of gel is followed by up to only 5 seconds under the touch activated safe LED light instead of way more time under a UV light. I’m ecstatic with my Swarovski crystal studded, super-super-shiny, extra-durable, safe and chip-free-for-close-to-a-month results! Feel free to choose neutral tones (like I did) or get “notice me” nails in bright, fun, extra-creative colors and designs. Make an appointment at SPANAIL, 120 Sullivan Street, NYC. 646-476-3271, www.spanail.net.

If you’re not in the NYC area or are more the do-it-yourself type who’s just looking for beautiful colors with incredible shine I highly recommend SinfulColors’ SinfulShine with Gel Tech. It’s a self-curing polymer formula that’s five times glossier than patent leather! At only $2.99 with 32 shades to choose from you’ll want to snap them all up. Connect with their facebook page or purchase SinfulColors’ SinfulShine with Gel Tech exclusively at Walgreens and walgreens.com.

 

The Hottest Color under the Sun?

Yellow of course!

This bright mini makes standing out from the crowd a fait accompli! Pair it with nude flats and a cotton tee right now and when those crisp fall days roll around it’ll look great with boots and a comfy boyfriend sweater.

Madewell Meadowlace Mini in Jester Yellow, $88 at madewell.com.

 

 

 

Work those Curls Girls!!!

Believe it or not…Wednesday, August 14th is Wear Your Hair Curly Day! You have less than a week to pledge to go curly (click here) for Garnier Fructis Style to make a donation to Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls on your behalf.

Give it a shot…celeb stylist Tommy Buckett of Serge Normant Salon in NYC shares his tips so your curls will never be less than perfect.

  1. Use a wide-tooth comb to avoid knots, tangles and damage. Start at the ends working upwards.
  2. Sleep on a silk pillow or wrap your hair in a silk headscarf before bedtime.
  3. Switch up your hair products seasonally. Warmer months call for lighter products that won’t weigh down curls.
  4. Before hitting the beach, saturate wet hair with a conditioning and protective oil treatment.
  5. After washing, gently squeeze excess water from hair and immediately massage an anti-frizz cream through hair before allowing to air-dry without touching.
  6. If hair is color-treated, indulge in a weekly conditioning treatment for added nourishment.

Buckett’s Product Picks: Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Miracle Dry Oil, Garnier Fructis Style Curl Shaping Spray Gel, Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Moroccan Sleek Oil Treatment, Garnier Fructis Style Curl Calm Down Anti-Frizz Cream, Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition 3-Minute Undo Dryness Reversal Treatment

Looking to go curly but not sure where to start? Click here for style how-to’s. For more info. visit garnierusa.com.

(photo courtesy of sweetlemonmag.com)

 

Classic with a Twist!

Review: Maybelline New York, Great Lash Limited Edition Collection, $6.40 at mass retailers nationwide.

I (like almost every makeup artist and model I’ve worked with) love Maybelline Great Lash! The narrow wand makes it a cinch to apply this clump-free formula plus it conditions, colors, thickens and washes off easily. And now there’s six more reasons to love Great Lash! For the month of August only, Maybelline has launched 6 new limited edition bold shades in the same classic formula everyone loves, “Green with Envy”, “I See Blue”, “So Very Berry”, “Teal Appeal”, “Vision in Violet” and “Wink of Pink”.

To make colored mascara work for you, choose the color that best complements your eyes: purple hues work best for those with green or brown eyes, blue mascara is ideal for those with brown or blue eyes and green mascara plays up hazel eyes. For major impact, opt for the teal or pink.

3 Ways to wear it:

  1. Wear it on top and bottom lashes with neutral-toned eyeshadow.
  2. Try it layered over black mascara on the tips of lashes only.
  3. Apply black mascara on the top lashes and coat the lower lashes with your colorful mascara.

Giveaway: 10 Lucky Readers Will Win Asap Super B Complex!!!

Product Review: ASAP Super B Complex, $89 at SkinStore.com.

For the past few weeks I’ve been using Asap Super B Complex, a hydrating serum containing a high concentration of Niacinamide and other B Vitamins known to boost hydration, give you a more even-toned complexion, reduce redness and even strengthen your skin’s outer protective barrier. It’s great for everyone but ideal if you have dry, sensitive or rosacea prone skin like I do. I’ve been applying one pump of this silky smooth serum twice a day–in the morning on bare, cleansed skin and in the evening with my retinol product (for extra anti-aging benefits). My complexion is softer, smoother and more moisturized with a healthy and radiant glow. You’ll love it!

Get Lucky & Win it!

Asap Skin Products is giving away their Super B Complex to 10 lucky thebeautywall.com readers. Don’t miss out!

To enter:

  1. You must be a subscriber to this blog, thebeautywall.com to win. If you’re not already one, simply enter your e-mail address on the home page and click the aqua subscribe button.
  2. Leave a comment for this story with your name and e-mail address so I can contact you for details if you win. ***Earn an additional entry by forwarding this post to a friend or sharing it on your facebook wall. Let me know you’ve done that in your comment.
  3. Ten (10) winners will be randomly selected by end of day Sunday, 8/11/13 and notified via e-mail.

GOOD LUCK! xoxoNancy

 

 

The Style Cure!

Nothing motivates me more than having a deadline. For example, when Emma and Sam were at camp (they’re home again, yay!) my husband Eric and I decided to surprise them and make over their rooms. We had less than a month to pull it all together and it was no small accomplishment since we’d barely done anything to their rooms since they were little. We asked them a question or two to make sure we’d get it right. Emma’s one wish was white walls. Eric painted three walls white but what really pulled her room together was this beautiful wallpaper I found on sale at Anthropologie. Sam was less particular but he really wanted some orange in his room. I liked the idea of that (hey, I’m a Syracuse University grad) but I thought too much orange might make my high energy boy a bit too energetic. Orange chevron pillows were just the touch this room needed, though my favorite element in his room is the bright green yogibo couch where he can curl up to read or play his guitar. See photos of their rooms below.

I bring all this up because without that deadline there’s no way I would have been able to pull together both of their rooms in such a short amount of time. Which brings me to…The Apartment Therapy Style Cure! I’m using this as a guide to help re-do another room in my home. Since it starts today (August 1st) don’t delay…click here to sign up and every day for this month-long project you’ll receive an e-mail with just a small task to complete on whichever room you choose in your home. If you follow it you’re sure to have a room to show off by Labor Day. I hope you’ll do this with me… xoxoNancy

blogshot-emma'sroomblogshot-emma'sroom1blogshot-sam'sroom

Nancy Answers: Am I too old for colorful eye shadow and liner?

Dear Nancy, I love experimenting with bright eye shadow and liner but I’m on the other side of 40. Do you have any tips or tricks to help me look more age appropriate but still embrace my love of color? Sincerely, T

Dear T, If you love the way you look and your confidence cup run-eth over I say who cares! But, the fact that you’re asking the question leads me to believe you’re aware that this look isn’t exactly working for you any more. No one wants to be the girl who looks like she’s trying too hard to be young and trendy and it sounds like that’s the direction you’re headed if you don’t make some changes pronto.

You’ll quickly find out that age-appropriate doesn’t have to equal boring and you don’t need to stick to neutrals like brown, grey and black if you choose toned-down versions of the colors you already love.  If bright blue is your go-to, opt for navy or smokey blue instead. Love emerald, swipe on hunter green. A bold purple might be too bright but an eggplant or plum shade just might do the trick. Try: Tarte SmolderEYES Amazonian Clay Waterproof Liner in Plum, Fig, Olive, Moss or Navy, $22 at sephora.com. xoxoNancy

(photography courtesy of www.sephora.com)

 

My Favorite Scent!

I’m not a very perfume-y sort of girl. Unless it’s a very special occasion, I prefer to smell fresh and clean like I just stepped out of the shower. My favorite fragrance, Bobbi Brown’s Bath Eau de Toilette helps me do just that…even if said shower was yesterday! This light, crisp eau de toilette blends notes of water hyacinth, neroli, orange flower, white lily, sage and more, but all you’ll notice is the lovely scent that lingers. Bath by Bobbi Brown, $70 at www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com.

Another fragrance along the lines of the same philosophy is Demeter’s Pure Soap Cologne Spray, $20 at demeterfragrance.com. After its dry-down, it leaves behind a faint scent reminiscent of Ivory Soap.

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