cultureofcute

Archive for February, 2011|Monthly archive page

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All Lacquered Up

In Beauty on February 28, 2011 at 11:16 am

Are you tired of getting a manicure only to have it start chipping and peeling 2 days later? Or do you hate getting a manicure and then being rendered useless for the next hour while your nails dry. Forget about reaching into your purse to get your keys or credit cards; that would spell manicure disaster.

The only way to keep your polish perfect and your manicure lasting weeks is with Gel Polish. Unlike a traditional nail polish, gel polish is painted on with a brush and each layer is “cured” under a UV light to dry. Once dried (it only takes a minute or two), the polish is there to stay. These gels come in a wide array of colors and finishes and the gel lasts from 2-3 weeks with no chipping.
If you are a fan of gel nail extensions or acrylics, give gel polish a whirl. Its less damaging because unlike traditional enhancements you don’t have to fear the drills or filing down of your nails. Also, if you can’t commit to 3 weeks of the same color mani, you can layer polish on top – paint right over the gel with regular nail polish and remove it with non-acetone remover.

Here are some of the brands that offer Gel Polish: Akzentz, Bio Sculpture Color Gel, CalGel, Dashing Diva Gelife, IBD, Gelish, and OPI Axxium. Akzentz, Bio Sculpture, CalGel and IBD come in a range of colors and finishes including glitter. Gelife is currently offering sheer, natural shades to enhance the nail’s natural beauty but I hear they intend to offer additional colors. Axxium comes in 26 colors based on existing OPI polish shades!

Ask your manicurist about gel polishes — You can even get gel polish on your pedicure!


Lacy Lulu

In Fashion, Health & Fitness on February 24, 2011 at 4:58 pm

One of my favorite athletic gear designers, Lululemon, has expanded their offering beyond fabulous yoga pants and sports bras, and is now designing underwear! Imagine having the perfect underwear to wear while doing yoga and tossing all the cotton, ill fitted undergarments you own! This is now a reality that you and I can really sink our tushes into. These frilly little pieces are made from soft, breathable Modal and organic cotton fabric, come in 13 different colors and are the perfect sexy yet comfortable every day underwear.

Buy It: Lululemon
Cost: $12.00

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2011: Year of the Hair Transformation

In Beauty on February 23, 2011 at 10:57 am

As you may have all heard by now, Jennifer Aniston and Justin Bieber have gotten themselves a new do and the media world and blogosphere is going crazy with chatter as to why!

Jen chopped her locks for the Madrid premiere of her rom com, ‘Just Go With It.’ Now Jen is sporting a sassy little bob (vaguely reminiscent of a look she had on the last season of ‘Friends’), which the experts agree makes her look more mature and put together. And Bieber going from, well, the “Bieber” to what looks like a shaggy pixie. Did hair icons get a discount at the salon this week?

Maybe 2011 is the year for a hair transformation!

Hair today– gone tomorrow!


Pretty Pucker

In Beauty on February 22, 2011 at 6:09 pm

An Orange Pucker is all the rage right now (again)– and we’re not talking about the kind that you get after eating a popsicle. At New York Fashion Week, bright orange lipstick literally popped off the runway. Paired with everything from minimalistic blacks to jolly floral prints, it made a statement that was fun, flirty and fresh, and it’s a trend you can easily wear this fall to be ahead of the fashion curve.

This bold statement will make you throw away your red and pink lipsticks and sport the daring lip look immediately.

Check out these fresh, flirty lip colors:

MAC Hot Sass Lipstick $14.50

Dior Addict Lipstick in Diorissime $28.00

Josie Maran Magic Marker Lip & Cheek Stain in Jive $19.00


Be a Star in Stripes

In Fashion on February 18, 2011 at 12:45 pm

Stripes are everywhere this Spring! Skinny, bold, thick, colored–stripes are covering the runways and now they can be covering you too! Mix up your look with a black and white striped mini dress or a billowing white striped blouse. Either way you look at it, you’ll be fashionably in and feeling hot!

Here are some great striped looks:

Diane von Furstenberg Striped Balloon Top $285

L’Agence Striped Strapless Bandeau Dress $320

Banana Republic Striped Ruffle Scoopneck $69.50

Top Shop Black Stripe Triangle Bikini $55

Hello Pretty

In Beauty on February 17, 2011 at 10:39 am

She’s iconic. She’s adored. She’s known around the world. Now, Hello Kitty is bringing her playful spirit to a new beauty line at Sephora! The collection combines the essence of Hello Kitty with a ton of style and fun. For beauty addicts and Hello Kitty fans alike, this is the collection to have.

Hello Pretty. Hello Kitty.

Buy It: Sephora
Cost: $9+

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Buxom Beauty

In Beauty on February 16, 2011 at 12:23 pm

Buxom’s Waterproof Smoky Eye Stick is your secret weapon for sexy, smoky eyes. Sultry and smoldering, it shadows, lines and smokes for easy killer eye looks. The waterproof, smudge proof formula stays put, so your eye look will stay fierce as long as you do.

Bare Escentuals BUXOM will bring us the 3-in-1 Smoky Eye Stick in an array of 8 shades:

Smokin’ Pistol — smoky coal
Ice Pick — smoky grey
Silver Sword — smoky silver
Nunchucks — smoky royal blue
Bow & Arrow — smoky moss
5″ Stiletto — smoky plum
Brass Knuckles — smoky bronze
Two By Four — smoky black-brown

Buy It: Sephora
Cost: $18

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Vintage Vixen

In Accessories, Entertainment on February 15, 2011 at 11:36 am

Be a vintage vixen in Retrosun’s oversized red acetate Gucci sunglasses! As seen on Kate Beckinsale, these hot glasses will add vintage flair to your outfit and instant drama to any situation you are in. Bring them on vacation or in the city to take shade in style!

Buy It: Net-a-Porter
Cost: $300

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Cuff Your Love

In Accessories, Entertainment on February 11, 2011 at 10:45 am

Demi Moore and husband, Ashton Kutcher have teamed up with jeweler Jack Vartanian to create a line of handcuff necklaces for Valentine’s Day. The necklaces, featuring interlocking handcuffs are made of 18k white gold and tiny, shiny diamonds. In fact, Moore gave us a sneak peak of the handcuff necklace, which she wore to the Sundance Film Festival last month.

Jack Vartanian shows off his sophisticated sense of style by creating luxury jewelery for the woman who likes to embody femininity, attitude and sensuality. Vartanian boasts a star-studded clientele, including the likes of red carpet regulars Eva Mendes, Drew Barrymore, Catherine Zeta Jones and catwalk queen, Gisele Bündchen, who has named Vartanian as one of her favorite designers.

Cuff your love this Vday and win their heart! It’s for a good cause.

Buy It: Jack Vartanian
Cost: $710 – $2,200


Style it Spring

In Fashion on February 10, 2011 at 10:10 am

Open Weave Sweaters are calling my name this spring! The open texture of this look is dynamic, refreshing and casually cool. Pair these open weaves sweaters with a long, slim skirt or white slim pants and a jeweled sandal.

Here are some of my favorite open weaves sweaters for spring:

ALC Crochet Cropped Sweater $395

Helmut Lang Crochet Cotton Irregular Sweater $275

Forever21 Crochet Knit SS Top $27.80

Free People Slot Canyon Sweater $118

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