Chanel Coco Blue and OPI Crown Me Already!

After weeks of sporting a chipped-up, raggedy-ass-looking mani because I was too busy to get my nails did, I finally found some time to do them myself. Peep my new polish...

I started with a coat of Zoya Get Even (to create a smooth surface) and a coat of Zoya Anchor base coat. Then I applied two coats of Coco Blue, from the Les Jeans De CHANEL collection. Once Coco Blue dried, I layered OPI's Crown Me Already! (from the Miss Universe collection) - a mix of sparkly microglitter and larger glitter pieces. Finally, I sealed the deal with Zoya Armor topcoat.

Glitterrific, no?

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Before we get started

Let me tell you a little bit about me, what kind of beauty products I like generally, and what is important to me.

I am:
Slightly over 30 years old.
Married.
Someone who lives in a warm, humid climate.
Someone who does not have a lot of time, so I like products that do not require a lot of time.
A fanatic when it comes to skin care.

I think:
Natural and organic beauty products are awesome, so I look for them all the time.
Everything looks better when it's applied on great skin, so we should all care for our skin properly before looking at anything else.
Makeup can be fun, but should never be a chore.
Makeup for special occasions is even more fun.
The best products are not always the most expensive ones, but sometimes you do get what you pay for.
The right perfume and scent can make a huge difference.
Sometimes you need to feel girly and glamorous, and beauty products can help us do just that.

Some of my favorite brands are:
L'Occitane
MAC
Clarins
Dior
Chanel
Neutrogena
Lancome (especially their mascaras)
Lumene (a brand made for Scandinavian skin)
But I still have tons of other brands to try, and I also use products from tons of other brands as well on a regular basis.

(pic from Face Fitness Center)

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Les Khakis De Chanel Nail Polish

This summer, I was a little late jumping on the Chanel Nouvelle Vague nail polish bandwagon. By the time I discovered the rockin' robin's egg blue lacquer at a local salon, I could only get a manicure. Buying a bottle there - or anywhere else - was out of the question, as the shade was sold out everywhere. Well, except for eBay, where a single bottle had a price tag of $75.

After missing out on Nouvelle Vague, I swore I would never again be tardy to a Chanel LE VERNIS party. And I don't want you to be singing the shoulda woulda coulda’s either. Which is why I beseech you to buy Les Khakis De Chanel, a collection of three nail polishes developed in celebration of Vogue’s Fashion’s Night Out.

Three limited-editions hues (Khaki Rose, a dusky pink-beige; Khaki Vert, a mossy foam green; and Khaki Brun, a pale stony taupe) are must-haves for any beauty lover's polish collection…especially if you’re like me and appreciate an edgy, neutral nail. The shades can be worn alone, but I've been told they can be particularly edgy when all three are painted in an alternating, camouflage-y pattern.

Considering I've got my hands full with a 3 week old baby, I'm gonna stick to a minimal mani and leave the artistry to you nail philes out there.

Les Khakis De Chanel are now available at Chanel boutiques, Chanel.com and select department stores.

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Get The Look: Bryce Dallas Howard at Eclipse Premiere

CHANEL Celebrity Makeup Artist Kate Lee worked with Bryce Dallas Howard at the Los Angeles premiere of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse on Thursday, June 24th. Follow Kate's tips below to steal Bryce's modern classic Hollywood look.

"Bryce's skin is milky perfection and her hair a deep auburn, so I wanted to avoid doing the expected, and decided to go for a bold lip. Her skin was prepped with CHANEL Hydramax + Active Serum, and then I applied a mineral foundation. Her cheeks were CHANEL Powder Blush in Imprévu, which is a great mix of rose and bronze. I lined the eyes with the new CHANEL Intense Eye Pencil in Clair, and then went over the top with a pale pearlescent peach shadow from the new CHANEL Quadra Eye Shadow in Enigma to reflect the light. I then applied two coats of CHANEL Inimitable Intense Mascara in Noir. On her lips I used CHANEL Rouge Coco Lip Colour in Cambon which I matted down into a stain. I used the clear CHANEL Brow Shaper to set her brows in place, and then off she went to the craziest premiere of the year! The fans had been camping out for a few nights already!"

For her winning red carpet coiff, star stylist David Babaii created a relaxed, Bridget Bardot inspired look. Luminous waves highlighted her luxurious titian-colored hair as it was pulled back on each side, accented with a subtle beehive with shiny, healthy beautiful hair cascading sensually down her back. Babaii released several strands to strategically fall forward and frame Bryce's face for a modern 60's effect.

David Babaii Explains How To Get The Look:

"I prepared Bryce's hair by applying a small amount of argan oil-infused original Moroccanoil Treatment on damp hair before blow-drying to condition, strengthen and protect strands from the heat of the curling iron as well as to eliminate any sign of frizz or static. It absorbs instantly and speeds my blow-drying time so I can concentrate on styling. I love using Moroccanoil Treatment with flat or curling irons when I work because the hair becomes even better conditioned and healthier.

"Once the hair was dry, I applied Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream to the palm of my hands then randomly finger-combed sections of the hair for natural looking hold. After making a center part, I used a curling iron to form loose, flowing waves that were easy to work and to tuck behind the ears. I then gently teased the hair at the crown to create a suggestion of a Bardot bee-hive, pinned the sides, and left a soft cascade of gorgeous hair flowing down her back. Next, I lightly misted Bryce's hair using Moroccanoil Glimmer Shine Spray for an extra boost of natural-looking shine to reflect her beautiful color, especially in the bright lights on the red carpet. It was important to me to give the hair a luminous, ethereal look, and perfect condition and lustre was essential.

"To hold the hair in place without compromising on shine or movement, I finished the style with new Moroccanoil Luminous Hair Spray, which is blended with Moroccanoil's exclusive argan oil-infused formula. It sprays on in a soft, diffused mist and I love how touchable the hair feels, as well as so moveable with long-lasting hold that lasts all night long."

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Pretty in Particulière

Peep my polish. This week's mani comes courtesy of Chanel. Le Vernis in Particulière (from the spring makeup collection) is a putty/mushroomy shade that resembles one of my all-time faves, OPI's You Don't Know Jacques.

While they appear almost identical in the bottle, the subtle differences become more obvious during application. First, Particulière is lighter than its OPI counterpart. It is also more brown than YDKJ, which is more gray. Finally, the Chanel formula is more opaque and creamier - so the coverage is better than OPI.

If taupe-y nail polishes are a once in a while kind of thing for you, there's no reason you need both. But if you're like me and can't get enough of an offbeat yet neutral nail, I would recommend picking this up - even if you already have YDKJ.

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Oscars 2010 Beauty: Carey Mulligan

Oscar nominee Carey Mulligan was beautified by makeup artist Georgie Eisdell using the following products:

"This was Carey's first Oscars so I wanted to make sure she looked age appropriate but still embrace the glamour of the night. Carey's dress was edgy and elegant so I wanted to keep her makeup looking fresh and youthful. I wanted to enhance the natural beauty of her skin so I used La Mer foundation lightly powdered with La Mer's translucent powder over that. For her eyes, I used Chanel soft beige and pink shadows from their spice palette. I used MAC's blacktrack eye liner followed by YSL's Faux Cils mascara in black. To finish off her eyes I sharpened up her eyebrows with Laura Mercier's soft blonde brow powder duo. For her cheeks, I wanted to give them a pinched cheek look with Dior's glowing color powder blush in fruit de la passion. For the finishing touch on her skin, I used Bobbi Brown bronzing powder in medium. And finally on her lips I used Dior addict lip polish 004. I used La Mer body creme on the way out the door to give her body the same glow."

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