Monthly Archives: February 2014

Le Angelique Curling Star 3 in 1 Set review

February 5, 2014 in Beauty / Hair Care tagged curling irons / hair tools / le angelique / reviews by Bay Area Fashionista

Photo: Curling iron: c/o Le Angelique “Curling Star 3 in 1 Set.”

Photo: 32mm barrel used to curl ends under.

Photo: 25mm barrel used to create wavy hair.

I have dry hair, so using a curling iron is not always my first choice when I decide to style my hair. So, I was thrilled when Le Angelque contacted me to test out one of their products. The “Curling Star 3 in 1” curling iron set is fabulous because it contains three different sized, clipless barrels which use Ceramic technology. The curling iron itself also has two heat settings which is perfect for creating a loose or tight curl.

I tested out Le Angelique’s “Curling Star 3 in 1” curling iron set on the low heat setting. The curling iron was gentle and did not dry out my hair. The Ceramic technology kept the heat soft and gave me the exact curl I was looking for. I used the largest barrel which is 32mm, so that I could curl my ends under for a clean hairstyle. The heating process was extremely quick and easy. Normally when I use a curling iron with a clip, it can take ten minutes to get my ends curled under and perfect. With Le Angelique’s “Curling Star 3 in 1” set I was able to curl all my ends in three minutes! The curl also stayed without falling which is always a plus.

Next, I wanted to create soft waves. I used the medium sized , 25mm barrel holding each wrap for about six seconds before releasing. This gave my hair a wavy look which offers subtle movement. The waves also lasted without falling! Love that! I was able to make my whole head wavy in about five minutes. That is a record!

This was my first time using a clipless curling iron and I have to admit I was a little scared. Without the clip, the whole process looks like a burn accident waiting to happen! Thankfully Le Angelique makes it easy to use a clipless curling iron by providing a thermal protection glove. You can grab the curling iron with the glove and feel a little bit of heat, but you will not burn yourself.

Unlike a curling iron with a clip, in order to make a ringlet or tight curl you start wrapping the hair close to your head and wrap your hair around the curling iron out to the ends. Then, when you let go of your ends, your hair falls out of the curling iron without needing to be unwrapped. This leaves the curls tight.

I am really excited to have Le Angelique’s “Curling Star 3 in 1” curling iron set. I know the clipless style will help me do more with my hair than I was able to do with a clipped curling iron. This set is incredibly handy too since it has three sizes.

Le Angelque’s “Curling Star 3 in 1” set is on sale for $99.99 and can be found online at LeAngelque.com

Dolce & Gabbana Fuchsia nail polish review

February 4, 2014 in Beauty / Nail Polish tagged dolce and gabbana / reviews / spring 2014 by Bay Area Fashionista

Photo: Nail Polish c/o Dolce & Gabbana “Fuchsia” / two coats of color, one base coat, no top coat. Photo taken in overcast weather.

Dolce & Gabbana’s 1960’s and Sicilian influenced spring 2014 collection offered bright colors, mixed prints and bold accessories. To blend into the collection’s theme, Dolce & Gabbana’s beauty collection has been designed to match with warm hues and classic tones. “Fuchsia” from Dolce & Gabbana is a playful, orange-pink nail polish hue which works perfectly with the designing duo’s spring/summer 2014 color palette from the runway while offering a bright yet classic hue which is easy to wear on a daily basis.

Dolce & Gabbaba “Fuchsia” nail polish is a beautiful, slightly sheer nail polish hue with tinges of pink and orange blended together. The polish offers dimension and looks bright pink outside and inside; at night, the polish appears to be a medium, soft orange. The soft sparkle sheen within the nail polish offers dimension and a playful attitude. Love that!

I tested Dolce & Gabbana’s “Fuchsia” nail polish with one base coat and two coats of color; no top coat. The nail polish application is more sheer than a tranditional cream polish, thus leaving three of my fingers needing a third coat of polish. The end result is a beautiful, multi-dimentional color which changes from pink to orange in varying light sources. I also love how the light catches the subtle sparkles within the nail polish. As with all of Dolce & Gabbana’s nail polish colors, “Fuchsia” is long-lasting. The nail polish lasted a full seven days before one small chip appeared. The edges showed slight wear at six days. Love it!

I am looking forward to wearing Dolce & Gabbana’s “Fuchsia” nail polish as the weather warms up this season. The color will look amazing with the season’s pinks, yellows and blues.

Dolce & Gabbana’s “Fuchsia” nail polish is priced at $24 and can be found online here or here.

Valentine’s Day gift ideas at Santana Row

February 3, 2014 in Bay Area Fashion / Beauty / Fragrance / Jewelry / Swimwear tagged 100% pure / beau bijou / c wonder / chocolatier blue parlor / cocola / flying lizard / holiday gift ideas / holidays 2014 / jest jewels / paper source / santana row / valentines day by Bay Area Fashionista

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and that means it is time to start thinking about what to buy that special someone! If you happen to live in the San Francisco Bay Area, look no further than Santana Row in San Jose to find the perfect Valentine’s Day gift!

I love Santana Row for gift shopping because all of the best gift shops in the Bay Area are in one place! Plus, you can enjoy a hot cocoa or cup of coffee from “Cocola,” my favorite coffee/pastry shop in the Bay Area, before or during your shopping trip! Not to mention the long list of amazing restaurants Santana Row has to offer! I recommend “Maggiano’s” for a family meal, “Veggie Grill” for lunch and “Blowfish Sushi” or “Sino” for dinner.

So, without further adieu, here are my picks for the perfect Valentine’s Day gifts at Santana Row!

Valentine’s Day gift ideas from the “Paper Source“

The “Paper Source” is an amazing stationary store which offers the most beautiful wrapping paper, cards and gift items you can imagine. They have a huge selection of Valentine’s Day gifts for both children and adults. This is the perfect place to find gifts for your children or children in your life on Valentine’s Day! In addition, they have everything from romantic gifts to gifts for friends. It is a one-stop-shop for Valentine’s Day!

My gift picks featured in these photos are available in-store. For more information please call 1-408-241-9000.

Gourmet Chocolate from “Chocolatier Blue Parlor“

Want to make a big impression on someone you love this Valentine’s Day? Look no further than Santana Row’s “Chocolatier Blue Parlor!” They have the most beautiful chocolates which not only look like fine works of ceramic art, they taste like the finest chocolate on Earth! Plus, the ingredients are locally sourced and organic. Love that!

All of their chocolate is available in-store. For more information please call 1-408-244-8300.

Unique and Stylish Jewelry at “Beau Bijou“

“Beau Bijou” has been my all-time favorite store at Santana Row since the Row opened over ten years ago. The shop is filled with unique silver jewelry using semi-precious and precious stones. Many of the pieces are designed by “Beau Bijou’s” owner and can only be found in-store! This is the perfect shop to find a gift for Valentine’s Day for your loved one who appreciates unique jewelry and works of art.

My gift picks can be found in-store. For more information call 1-408-261-3434.

Valentine’s Day gift ideas for the beauty fan on your list from “100% Pure“

From top: Nail Polish / Organic Rose Hydrosol / Sun Damage Corrective Cream / Eye Cream

From the moment you set foot in “100% Pure” you will notice the most beautiful aroma at Santana Row. The fragrant bath and body products will lure you into the store and you will find yourself having trouble trying to decide which fragrance to purchase because they all smell so amazing! Well, let me help you out here 🙂 My favorite scent at “100% Pure” is the “Coffee Cherry” scent. Of course, if “Coffee Cherry” is not the scent you think your loved one will prefer, there are plenty of other scents to choose from in-store! Plus, everything at “100% Pure” is 100% vegan and natural! Love that!

For more product information, please visit 100% Pure online or call 1-408-244-7873

Valentine Day gifts from “C Wonder“

From top: Pillows / Bowls / Plates / Jewelry Boxes / Bike

As you may already know, “C Wonder” is one of the most fabulous gift shops online; and last fall they opened an amazing shop right here in the Bay Area at Santana Row! The store is filled with gift ideas which are perfect for friends and family, as well as special loved ones, for Valentine’s Day. In fact, there are several gift options on sale from 25%-50% off! Love that!

For more information about “C Wonder,” please click here or call 1-408-246-1754

Sparkles and Baubles from “Jest Jewels“

“Jest Jewels” is the perfect place to find Valentine’s Day gifts for that special someone who has flair and loves a little bit of fun. The shop is filled with on-trend jewelry, clutches and amazing gift ideas. They even have a Valentine’s Day Hello Kitty!

All of my gift picks featured in these photos are available in-store only. Please call 1-408-249-4800 for more information.

Valentine’s Day gifts for getting that red carpet look at “Flying Lizard“

The jewelry at “Flying Lizard” has been spotted on countless celebrities both on the red carpet and the streets of Southern California. Celebrities such as Brooke Shields, Felicity Huffman, Meg Ryan, Hillary Duff, Vivica Fox, Penelope Cruz and fashion’s darling Sarah Jessica Parker have all been spotted wearing designs from Flying Lizard. The store at Santana Row is filled with hundreds of fabulous jewelry designs which are also owned by Hollywood’s brightest stars. My picks from in-store are featured in the photos above.

For more information about Flying Lizard, please call 1-408-244-8950.

And there you have it! The above photos from select stores at Santana Row are my picks for making Valentine’s Day special and absolutely fabulous! If you are local to the Bay Area, make sure you visit Santana Row to find the perfect gift for that special someone this Valentine’s Day. Everyone on my list will be receiving gifts from the Row!

Happy shopping, and have a fabulous Valentine’s Day! 😉

*This post has been brought to you by Santana Row

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