Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure "Under The Sea Shade Collection": Sea-Worthy Shades for Spring/Summer (Photos & Swatches)

Last month, the Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure "Under the Sea" collection started popping up in stores. The nail brand has been around for years and this particular line of polishes boasts 7 benefits in just 1 bottle. The lacquer includes a base coat, strengthener, growth treatment, salon-inspired colour and top coat as well as being chip resistant and offering a gel shine. One of the things I like about this line of polishes is the wide brush, which makes applying polish for me much easier. The line also dries quickly and lasts!

If you are a fan of blue/green polishes, then this collection will definitely be one worth checking out. It can be found in special displays in your local drugstore, however I do believe that these colours have now been made permanent as well. 

Sally Hansen Under the Sea Collection for Spring 2013
$8.95 CDN/$6.49 USD - 14.7ml

Here are the details:

Jaded (540) - Medium mint cream

Please See Me (530) - Medium teal cream

Jungle Gem (520) - Dark teal cream

Water Color (570) - Bright sky blue cream 

Blue My Mind (550) - Cobalt blue shimmer

Black and Blue (580) - Navy/green/black duo-chrome

Mermaids's Tale (560) - Deep blue jelly base with teal and green hexagonal glitter (can anyone confirm whether this is a dupe for Across the Universe by Deborah Lippmann?)

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure: Jaded, Please See Me & Jungle Gem 

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure:
Water Color, Blue my Mind, Black and Blue & Mermaid's Tale

"Under the Sea" Swatches L to R:
Jaded, Please See Me, Jungle Gem, Water Color, Blue my Mind, Black and Blue
& Mermaid's Tale

Additional swatches can be found on my friend Angie's site here. 

Nail Art Photos Courtesy of Sally Hansen's Website - Search "Nail Art" 

Which of these Sea inspired polishes are you most interested in? 

Do you have a favourite Sally Hansen shade?

Bold Statement Lipstick: Fashion Magazine Beauty Panel Tips

This week, our Fashion Magazine Beauty Panel question was about the best lipstick looks for summer and how to perfect the bright statement lip. For my response, keep reading below. To check out the other panelists and see how they responded click here.

Bold lips are popping up everywhere and as much as I wanted to jump on the statement lip bandwagon straight away, it did take me a bit of time to get used to this prominent trend. Whether you opt for something classic like red or decide on something trendy like tangerine or fuchsia, statement lips can be such confidence boosters and are also a reflection of your mood and personality.

For this look, I chose a medium-dark pink with blue undertones and a natural sheen. Before applying a bold lipstick, I exfoliate my lips with a lip scrub. (I usually use this lip scrub by LUSH) If you don’t happen to have a lip scrub, try applying a thick layer of lip balm, and gently scrubbing your lips using a soft toothbrush to slough away any dead skin. This step ensures that you are working on a smooth and even surface. I then line my lips with a lip liner to prevent any “bleeding” outside the lip line. If you don’t have a matching lip liner, you can use a colourless one like I did to extend the wear of your lipstick and prevent feathering. For the rest of my makeup, I decided to keep it pretty neutral, skipping blush, bronzer and eye shadow in the crease, and adding only a light shade of shadow to my lids, a touch of mascara and bit of liner.

Tip: Storing bright lipstick in the fridge makes it easier to apply! The cold temperature actually makes it sharper and easier to manipulate, thus preventing an uneven application.

A couple of other things to consider when wearing a bold, intense or bright lip colour:

1) Make sure to pair the lipstick with “less intense” eye makeup since heavy eye makeup will only distract from your lip look.

2) Remember the following when selecting a bold shade: Blue-based colours suit most complexions but look especially good on brunettes, while pinks & oranges are great for blondes.

3) If you aren’t feeling comfortable, just ease into it…. start off with a brighter gloss and slowly work your way to applying a bolder shade of lipstick with a light hand. You’ll be surprised just how much wearing a bold shade will brighten your day!

Maybelline Vivids in Vivid Rose & No Bleeding Lips Secret Lip Liner

Lip Products Used: Maybelline ColorSensational Vivids Lipstick in “Vivid Rose,” & No Bleeding Lips Secret Lip Liner.

Montagne Jeunesse Introduces New Line of Clay Spa Masks!

Montagne Jeunesse is a range of natural skin and body care products with 27 years of skin care experience. The brand, available in 85 countries around the world uses pure & natural ingredients derived from plant and mineral sources. Ingredients are all paraben-free, farmer-friendly and dermatologically tested. I've been using Montagne Jeunesse masks for decades because they are super affordable but also because I love that they are all-natural and come individually packaged for one-time use.  

Montagne Jeunesse Products (stay tuned to this site for more details)

The newest from Montagne Jeunesse is a revolutionary new line of specially sourced clay masques infused into natural bamboo fabric. These new ground-breaking face masques offer great results, little mess and deeply-cleansed skin in 10-15 minutes! 

Glacial Clay Spa - Infused with Glacial Clay from Canada's Northwest Coast. This mask cools the skin and cleanses pores to the core. Arctic Cloudberry and Red Grape protect the skin from damaging free radicals and rehydrate the skin. 

Dead Sea Mud Spa - The minerals in this mask draw out impurities and open blocked pores. Seaweed and kelp restore moisture levels and firm, hydrate and regenerate skin while Dead Sea Salt combats stress and offers detoxifying & therapeutic effects.

Red Earth Clay Spa - Mediterranean Clay detoxes the skin by deeply penetrating it to draw out impurities. Anti-oxidant, Pomegranate targets dryness and age spots and anti-bacterial Cinnamon provides a warm spicy aroma.

Regardless of which of these new masks you choose, your skin will definitely reap the benefits. In just minutes, your skin will feel invigorated, soothed, relaxed and hydrated. Use these masks weekly to maintain healthy skin and a radiant complexion.

Montagne Jeunesse Mud/Clay Masks - $2.49 CDN/USD for 1 Mask

Montagne Jeunesse masks can be purchased at most drugstores and mass retailers across the USA/Canada. (i.e. Walmart, London Drugs, Guardian, IDA, Ulta Beauty) as well as online here.

Have you tried this affordable line of masks before?

If so, which do you recommend?

New from Nivea: FREE TIME Shower Cream & FRANGIPANI Shower Gel

I had always heard that Nivea's range of hydrating shower gels and creams were great but for some reason I never got around to ever trying one. The shower gel range includes scents in a "touch of" blueberry, cranberry, honeydew and waterlily. Their newest fragrance smells exotic and leaves my skin feeling and smelling fantastic! The gel combines the enchanting tropical scent of Hawaiian Frangipani flower and moisturizing sunflower oil pearls. You can actually feel the pampering oil pearls as you rub the product into your skin. 

Nivea also has an assortment of shower creams and the one I've been especially loving is Free Time, their silky new cream with Aloe Vera and fragranced with the citrus-y scent of Star Fruit. 

I really like both of these bath products but I think I prefer the shower gel. It doesn't dry out my skin like other "exfoliating washes" and does a great job of gently cleansing away dead skin. It has a relaxing and appealing scent, feels silky on the skin (even when rinsed off) and is affordable! 

Whether you choose the shower creams or the shower gels, Nivea has you covered in the bath or shower. Available at major retailers and drugstores, as well as online at Well.ca.
very shower.

Nivea Shower Gels & Shower Creams - $6.49 CDN / 500ml