follow your dreams: June 2012

Saturday, June 30, 2012

Crayola Colors for Your Nails!

Remember the easy days of being a kid, when you played in the dirt and colored with Crayola crayons? If you’re anything like us, (and suffer from Peter Pan syndrome) you’ll want to get your hands on the brand’s new line of miniature nail polishes. The set features eight shades, including some obviously necessary sparkles. We love that it comes in a jumbo-sized crayon box, yet each lacquer is small enough to fit into your purse—it’s time to play!
Crayola Mini Nail Polish Set, $12, available on fredflare.com

Beauty Notes: Dior’s New Fragrance Volume

Fashion houses were among the first mainstream fragrance creators, developing scents for customers to wear with their couture. The legendary house of Dior is at the top of the list, with iconic perfumes such as Miss Dior, Poison, and J’Adore to its name. In celebration of the brand, a trio of volumes has been released about the evolution of Dior’s couture, jewels, and fragrance. While the images alone are enough to entice hours of your time, each book reveals delicious tidbits of information from Dior’s history and inspiration. We're obsessed with the details it divulges, such as how Monsieur Dior came up with the name ‘Miss Dior’ (thought up as his younger sister entered a room) and intricate drawings of how the perfume flacons were created. It even describes how the founder insisted on spraying his atelier with over a liter of his first ever fragrance in the weeks preceding his acclaimed "New Look' couture show! Here's a visual treat of some favorite shots.

The volumes are available now in Assouline boutiques and at Assouline.com

Nail it! The Best Top and Base Coats

Unless you’ve coated your nails with acrylic or gel-based formulations, your manicure will eventually chip. But that doesn’t mean it should only last a day or two. With the right top and base coat, (and proper maintenance) your mani can still look good after a week!

Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

Many manicurist have proclaimed this to be the fastest-drying, longest-lasting product in their kit—and they’re not lying. With a staying power of five to seven days, the only way your polish is coming off is if you remove it yourself. The only downside? It smells a little like house paint.

Deborah Lippmann Ridge Filler Base Coat

Got ridges? Uneven Nails? Want your polish to stick? This beige-colored base coat fills in the ridges on your nail bed like spackle, so you have a smooth canvas to work with.

OPI ChipSkip

Ensure your polish doesn’t go anywhere with this unique product, which provides a sticky base for any lacquer to cling to. The clear formula may seem light as air, but when your color lasts a whole week without chipping, you’ll fall in love too!

Maintenance Tips:

Never EVER wash the dishes without gloves. Harsh detergents will chip and wreck your nails. Same goes for any household cleaning detergents.
Apply cuticle oil every day or evening. That’s right, on top of your polish! The oils will keep your tips hydrated and stop polishing from flaking off. Massage a drop or two into your cuticles and over your nail bed.
If—gasp—you do get a chip, simply paint over it with the same color polish. You’ll get a few extra days of wear without swapping in a brand new shade.

From Bronze to Burn: How to Deal With Sun-Damaged Skin

What happens if you do get a little too sun-kissed at the beach or pool? Luckily, there are just as many skin soothers available as sunscreens, and plenty of DIY tricks you can do at home to relieve some of the pain.
First things first: Moisturize and hydrate! You’ve literally baked your skin dry, and you need to replenish the moisture. We love Korres Yogurt Instant Soothing Gel, made from real edible yogurt, aloe vera, and willowherb and oat extracts—all of which help soothe skin immediately and remove most of the redness overnight. Another tip for salvaging tomato-red complexions? Break open a vitamin E capsule and smooth the oil all over your face before bedtime. You’ll wake up with new skin!
The next step? Relieve some of the ouch! Save for rubbing an ice cube over the affected areas, slather on Jason’s new Purifying Tea Tree First Aid Soothing Gel. Tea tree is combined with aloe vera and calendula (a known natural soother), providing long-lasting relief to tender skin.
And if you get burned on a coastal road trip? Pack some Atopalm’s Moisturizing Cleansing Wipes. These easy-to-tote wipes contain vitamin E and olive, grape, and jojoba oils for deep hydration and moisture.
Consider sunburn sorted!

Oily Skin Myths Solved!

There are many myths surrounding oily skin. Stop moisturizing, only use oil-free products, always use a toner, carry around blotting papers—the list goes on! And while most imagine that they have oily skin, quite often it’s not actually the case. The first question you should ask yourself: Do you really have oily skin, or just a little shine in the summer time? “You can label your skin ‘oily’ if it becomes an oil-slick within an hour of washing your face,” says Washington D.C.-based dermatologist Elizabeth Tanzi, M.D. “Otherwise, it’s more than likely you have combination skin.”

MYTH NO. 1: Don’t moisturize oily skin.

Many people with slightly oily skin think that they need to dry it out, and forego any extra moisture. This isn’t the case. By using a harsh cleanser and not applying moisturizer, your skin will start to produce more oil, perpetuating and even worsening the vicious cycle of sebum production. “Stay away from heavy moisturizers that contain shea butter and petrolatum,” says Dr. Tanzi. “They can cause excess sebum production on oily skin types.”

MYTH NO. 2: Only use oil-free products.

It is purely a myth that girls with oily skin should use oil-free products. Although they may say oil-free on the label, most of the ingredients will contain some sort of oil. “Look for shine control products to combat oil instead, such as blotting papers or skin primers,” explains Dr. Tanzi. “They don’t have to say oil-free specifically.”

MYTH NO. 3: You must use a toner or astringent to balance skin.

All skin types can follow their cleanser with a toner or astringent, but it’s not a must-do for oily complexions. If you enjoy the tightening benefits of a toner, “look for a formula that contains glycolic acid to cut through the grease—and only use it on your T-zone,” advises Dr. Tanzi.

Oily Skin Tips

“If you truly have oily skin, use a cleanser that contains salicylic acid,” suggests Dr. Tanzi. It will help minimize excess oil production.
Most combination skin experiences some shine, especially in the summertime! “Summer humidity triggers oil production like crazy,” exclaims Dr. Tanzi. Carry blotting papers to minimize shine throughout the day.
Always, always, always moisturize! By moisturizing daily, you will regulate your oil production so it doesn’t overproduce sebum. Try different moisturizers to see which formula your skin prefers, but don’t skimp!

A Stroke Further: Shiseido Showcases Graphic History in Paris

What a weekend to jet-set to France. If the resort runways weren't enough to make you drool, how about an exhibit dedicated to vintage makeup ads?
Le Palais de Tokyo, the Parisian center for contemporary Japanese art, recently celebrated Shiseido's 140-year anniversary with a two-day pop-up show, displaying some of its finest advertisements. Entitled "Un Trait Plus Loin," the exhibition loosely translates to "a line or streak further," and presented the Japanese beauty brand’s century-and-a-half graphic design evolution.
Suspended from lanterns, the vast collection of prints gave viewers a glimpse into Shiseido’s visual history, pulling from over a century's-worth of graphic references. From sinuous, Aubrey Beardsley-esque strokes of Art Nouveau to classic Ginza florals, the Shiseido woman has always been modern, intercontinental, and feminine in print. And who could forget their signature crimson packaging? Serge Lutens' anniversary-edition bottle of Eudermine, the iconic softening lotion originally introduced in 1897, was also on display. Although it was fleeting, the exhibit provided fascinating artistic insights into a brand with an incredibly complex, prevailing history. Browse through some of the pieces below.

The Prettiest Pastels for Tanned Toes

While we still love a bright, tutti-frutti pedicure during summer, pastel polishes can actually make you look more tan! A vivid coral or neon pink will certainly make a statement, but a flamingo pink or baby blue creates the illusion of tanner skin on paler complexions. Same goes for your bikini. Opt for a lemon yellow rather than a chartreuse, and those limbs will look like they’ve spent a few summers in St. Tropez. Try out some of favorite summer pastels below for your next pedicure.

NARS Lacquer in Trouville

Quite possibly the prettiest pink we’ve applied in a long time, the opaque formula is a soft salmon hue, great for all complexions.

YSL La Lacque in Beige Leger

This beige/cement hybrid may seem boring in the bottle, but the neutral tone gives your skin a moment to shine. Plus, how can you resist that gorgeous packaging?

Essie Nail Polish in Bikini So Teeny

Mimic the sky with this baby blue shade! Blue and orange are color-wheel complements, so a blue hue amps up any tan/red tones in the skin. We imagine wearing it with caramel-colored sandals and a fuschia pink bikini!

RGB Nail Polish in Vellum

Imagine yourself in a field of buttercups. That’s how you’ll feel every time you look down at your tootsies with this hue. Formulated with a slight olive undertone, this muted varnish suits golden/olive skin tones best.

Scrub a Dub

Finding more pimples, blackheads, and skin perfections than usual? Sweat, pollution, and even days at the beach can wreck havoc on your skin, which means it’s time to exfoliation.

nails done

Love doing my nails.

Monday, June 25, 2012

The Thrird death anniversary of King of Pop Michael Jackson

The third death anniversary of King of Pop Michael Jackson was observed on Monday.
His contribution to music‚ dance‚ and fashion made him a global figure for over four decades.

Jackson's 1982 album Thriller is the best-selling album of all time. His other records‚ including Off the Wall‚ Bad and Dangerous also rank among the world's best-selling.

Jackson is one of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice.
Jackson won hundreds of awards‚ which made him the most-awarded recording artist in the history of popular music.

Michael Jackson’s 3rd Death Anniversary

Remembering The King of Pop Three Years Later.

June 25 marks the three year anniversary of Michael Jackson‘s sudden death, and the world is still missing the King of Pop. While many questions surround his mysterious passing, Jackson’s iconic music lives on forever. Big name musicians such as Justin Bieber, Justin Timberlake and Bruno Mars still hail the singer as one of their biggest inspirations to this day.

Tributes, Fans Mark Third Anniversary of Jackson’s Death

Today marks the third anniversary of Michael Jackson's death.
MJ, a.k.a. The King of Pop died on June 25, 2009, of an overdose of the anaesthetic propofol. He was 50 years old. His personal physician, Conrad Murray, was convicted in November 2011 of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to four years in prison.

MJ's career was extraordinary. He was awarded an amazing 23 times by the Guinness Book of World Records. Among his records: most successful entertainer of all time, most charities supported by a pop star, highest-earning deceased artist (wonder what he'd think of the incredible amount of cashing in that has been done on his death, albums, tours, auctions), and longest span of U.S. top 40 singles. "Michael Jackson," "RIP Michael Jackson" and "RIPMJ" are trending on Twitter today.
Jackson's daughter, Paris, tweeted in memory of her father, "RIP Michael Jackson. Dad you will forever be in my heart. I love you."

“RIP Michael Jackson” is one of the top trending topics on Twitter today, as his fans remember his pop legacy. Usher tweeted: “RIP Michael Jackson — you will never die in our hearts, your legacy will live on forever!” Rapper Wiz Khalifa tweeted: “3 years ago today the world lost a legend. RIP Michael Jackson. Your music lives on for you. Thank you for everything!”
Fans are also gathering today at MJ’s California ranch as well as his birthplace of Gary, Indiana. Additionally, another wax figure of the star was unveiled at Madame Tussauds in Hong Kong this weekend to coincide with the anniversary.
Meanwhile, the King of Pop’s brothers – Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon – are set to return to the stage as The Jacksons this week. Earlier this month, they announced their 16-city “Unity” tour, which will feature slight updates to the “oldies” as well as a tribute with slideshow to the set’s final song “Gone Too Soon.”
The shows mark the first time all of the remaining brothers have toured together since the 1980s “Victory” outing. As previously reported, Jermaine said rehearsals have been tough.
“The brothers don’t know this, but I’ve broken down several times and cried during rehearsals,” he told the AP. “I’m so used to Michael being on the right and then Marlon, Jackie, on and on. It’s just something we never get used to.”
Marlon added: “For me, this cycle that comes around every year – this day, that day – that doesn’t affect me because it affects me every day. When that day comes around, it’s the same. You learn to live with it. I still wake up sometimes and go, ‘Jeez. I can’t believe my brother’s not here.’”

Love This Song

Tory Burch

Tory Burch (born June 17, 1966; nee Robinson) is an American fashion designer, business woman and philanthropist who was born, raised and educated in the Philadelphia metropolitan area.
She attended the Agnes Irwin School in Rosemont, PA, and the University of Pennsyvania, where she was a member of the sorority Kappa Alpha Theta. After graduation, she moved to New York City, where she began a career working with fashion designers, including Zoran, a Yugoslavian designer. She worked at Harper's Bazaar magazine. She was a copywriter for Polo Ralph Lauren and worked for Vera Wang.
She began a fashion label in February 2004. The label was an immediate success and was endorsed by Oprah Winfrey the following year. The label has stores in several large American cities and has lines that are sold in several upscale specialty department stores. Burch has won several fashion awards for her designs. The company has since grown to 36 stores, four of which are outlet stores in Woodbury Commons, NY; San Marcos, TX; Camarillo, CA; and Orlando, FL Premium Outlets. Her fashion label known as "TRB by Tory Burch"—later as "Tory Burch"—began as a business operation in her Upper East Side apartment and quickly blossomed into free-standing boutiques, now numbering 68. In February 2004, Tory Burch opened a flagship store in the NoLIta neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. The store was almost completely sold out on the first day. Stories about her and her fashion line have been in a broad spectrum of magazines and newspapers, and in April 2005, Winfrey endorsed her line on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
And guess what where Tory Burch is going to open soon in BAHRAIN, i just cant wait to buy everything.