Bay Area Fashionista

Nail polish trends for summer 2011

 in Beauty / General Fashion / Nail Polish / Trends  tagged chanel / chanel nail polish / summer 2011 by

The nail polish colors from spring 2011 are moving swiftly into summer without too much of a change.Chanel’s Black Pearl continues to be the “IT” polish of the moment and is expected to continue as the alternative to beige this summer; until the fall 2011 colors hit store shelves. The change for summer 2011 that was not en vogue for spring 2011 is that fingers and toes are moving in different directions for summer; contrasting directions that is  Summer 2011 is moving away from matching fingers and toes and moving into opposite territory.

While black or beige fingers are continuing into summer from spring, toes are getting into a rebellious mode by going beige or brightly colored. 

Beige toes are appearing on the feet of Fashionistas everywhere for summer 2011 when the fingers of said Fashionista are painted in a black tone. Fashion savvy finger painters who opt for beige nails on their hands are going bold and bright on their toes by choosing bright yellow, apple green, hot pink or royal blue.

Since the bold color trend is hot for spring and summer, it is only natural that nails take on the colorful trend as well. While feet are enjoying a trendy summer, fingers are staying neutral in either vampy black shades or soft neutrals such as beige or subtle shades of gold.

Wondering where to find the right colors for summer? Chanel’s Black Pearl or Beige Petale for the fingers and Miami Peach or Mimosa for the toes can be found at Macy’s, Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus stores. For nail polish under $10, Sally Hansen and Nicole by OPI offer a rainbow of shades every season and can be found in the beauty department at Target Stores everywhere. Happy shopping, and stay fabulous 

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Link Magazine April/May issue on newsstands now!

 in Announcements  tagged collaborations / link magazine by

Link Magazine’s April/May issue has hit newsstands! This HOT magazine features amazing articles about music, entertainment, politics and fashion; as well as much more!  The April/May issue also happens to have an article by Bay Area Fashionistas’s very own Cathy!

To learn more about Link Magazine, please visit linkmagazineco.com and to pick up a copy of your own, please visit magcloud.com.

Thank you for your support and stay fabulous!

Hand creams that work in every price range

 in Beauty / General Fashion / Shopping  tagged hand cream / tips by

There are so many hand creams on the market, that when it comes to choosing one, the task can be daunting. Many hand creams claim they will absorb and not be greasy; but most of those claims fall short when the hand cream IS greasy and does nothing for dry hands. So, in the quest for the perfect hand cream, Bay Area Fashionista tested several lines in varying price ranges and picked out the best, non-greasy hand creams we could get our dry little hands on. 

Luxury Hand Cream:

It is well known that La Mer creates some of the most coveted creams on the market. The reason they are so highly coveted is not because Jennifer Lopez can attribute her glowing skin to Crème de La Mer, it is because the company’s products actually work.

La Mer The Hand Treatment comes in a slim tube which is surprisingly long lasting. A tiny little drop of hand cream moisturizes and heals dry skin. Although the hand cream is $70 for a 3.4oz tube, the high concentration makes this hand cream last longer than expected; easing the $70 price tag.

Verdict: Best healer of severely dry hands.

La Mer The Hand Treatment can be found at Nordstrom.

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Mid-Price Hand Cream:

Sometimes it is not the price that tells you how well a product can work. Laura Mercier has created a hand cream that comes in the sweet, sugary scent of Crème Brulee. Laura Mercier’s hand cream is also highly concentrated, just like La Mer’s. This helps the small; 2oz tube last longer than expected since you only need a small drop to rub into your hands.

Laura Mercier’s hand cream actually creates a barrier against daily tasks which can dry hands. Wash dishes without gloves? We found if you apply Laura Mercier’s Crème Brulee hand cream first, the drying dish soap will not be able to ruin your skin. We also found that it works well on hands before lifting, playing tennis and swimming; all activities which can dry out hands.

Verdict: Best protector against daily activities which ruin hands.

Laura Mercier Crème Brulee hand cream comes in a 2oz bottle for $15 and can be found at Nordstrom. 

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Drugstore hand cream:

Burt’s Beas Shea Butter Hand Cream is a classic drugstore find that contains the always famous Shea butter; known for retaining moisture in skin. Burt’s Bees Shea Butter Hand Cream has a nice scent and is only greasy for about three minutes after application. The hand cream eventually absorbs into the skin and provides a nice and soft barrier to the elements. At $12.99 for a 3.18oz tube, who can complain?

Verdict: Most “bang for buck” hand cream. Does the job without the grease.

Burt’s Bees Shea Butter Hand Cream can be found at Target stores.

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Do you have a favorite hand cream? Let us know by leaving a comment below! Happy shopping and stay fabulous