The typical fake nails/french manicure look has been changed up a bit on Jennifer Love Hewitt. The typically white part of her French manicure is bright yellow instead.

I like the colored tips look on less obviously fake/long nails myself, but what you you think?

Love it or Leave it?

I love MAC and I love Alice + Olivia, so I am totally excited about the Limited Edition MAC Alice + Olivia Collection! The line is available in North America July 8, 2010 and internationally (Japan & Korea only) in August.

The line includes Dazzleglass Creme lip gloss for $18.00 each. I.Want.Candy. is a hot yellow shade with soft multi-dimensional pearlized pigments and If it’s Pink… is a hot pink with soft multi-dimensional pearlized pigments. I got to test out Sparklicious, which is a creamy pale pinky/white with soft multi-dimensional pearlized pigments. This is a great neutral lippie to pair with a bold eye or the perfectly sprakly gloss to punch up a bright lipstick.

MAC Alice + Olivia Collection also includes Pigments for $19.50 each. Partylicious Turquoise is a silver with pearlized pigments and If It Sparkles… is a white with transforming pink pearlized pigments. I got to test out Later., which is a black shade with transforming purple pearlized pigments. It’s an amazing shade and I used it with a stiff eyeliner brush and a drop of water to create a sharp cat eye line, which totally stayed put until I took it off. I have been very into this look lately with an otherwise simple face. Very chic!

I am kinda new to MAC Pigments but I’m totally hooked now. You can use them for so many things: eyeliner, eyeshadow, blush, lip gloss–it’s endless. You can even make nail polish colors with them! You just mix a small amount of pigment with a clear nail polish together on a paper plate and voila! A new colored nail polish. Plus, you can create your own shades by mixing + matching various Pigments.

But if you don’t feel like doing extra work, there are always MAC Alice + Olivia Nail Lacquers for $12.00 each. The line includes Morning.After., a creamy turquoise; So Rich So Pretty, a bright purple with pearlized pigments; and Military Black, a matte with silver suede pearl.

An editorial sample was provided by the company so I could review this product. Please see my About page for further information on disclosure policies.

Funky Donkey (a dark purple), What’s with the Cattitude? (a moody light blue), Rumple’s Wiggin’ (a nice lavender), Who the Shrek Are You? (a brilliant green), Ogre-the-Top Blue (bright blue), and Fiercely Fiona (light green).

My favorites are Funky Donkey, Ogre-the-Top Blue, and What’s with the Cattitude?. I am loving the blues lately!

It’s fun to do something different on your nails. I love changing it up! And polish changes are cheap. I’ve  been really impressed with the OPI Hong Kong collection. In particular, I’ve gone back for seconds on Red My Fortune Cookie, Suzi Says Feng Shui, and Jade Is The New Black.

And yes, I get my nails done a lot. Why do you ask?  ;)

To find out where to buy or to virtually try on any of these nail lacquers, go to OPI.com.

Have you guys seen this iPhone app from OPI? It’s called OPI Nail Studio and it lets you try polish on your nails and toes before you buy–for free. You customize your iHand (hee) to your skin tone, and then you can try out over 200 OPI polishes. You can also search by polish name, so if you’re in the salon you can figure out if a shade will look good. In the next few months, OPI will be adding a salon locator, and a “drawer” feature to store your favorite shade for future reference. Oh, and it’s free! I love this idea so much. Now if only I had an iPhone… But for those of us who don’t–when are they going to come out on other phone services already?–you can go to opi.com and use the feature on your computer instead.

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As I have talked about at length on HOTB, I love all things nails. I’ve heard about the Paint Shop in Beverly Hills for a long time now. It’s garnered a cult-like following by celebs and non-celebs alike. Owned by Julie Serquinia, the Paint Shop is known as the destination for people to shed their fake nail addiction and get into the swing of all natural nails, but it’s also well-loved by LA girls as the spot to get a perfectly applied, perfectly clean (so important) mani/pedi.

And now Paint Shop is celebrating a new location! They just moved east into larger quarters at 7938 W. 3rd Street, right by The Grove/Farmer’s Market. And they have even more big news: They have expanded their services to include hair care! The new salon includes a sleek, seven-station hair styling area run by former Juan Juan Artistic Director Domingo Serquinia along with Jonathan Gale, color guru Shanice Felix (formerly of Christophe), straightening expert Miwa Kato (check out my interview with Miwa on Japanese straightening!), and ethnic hair specialist Kayce T. to offer clients head-to-toe care.

“We believe it’s happy-hour all the time, and not just someplace else, but right here, right now,” says Serquinia. The new W.3rd Street location has a Moroccan-inspired interior, relaxing outdoor patio, and welcoming lounge area. Classic cocktail-inspired treatments include the Rita’s & Rocks or Limoncello signature pedi’s, and the Shaken, Not Stirred mani-“tini.”

Sounds amazing! LA girls, you must check this place out… I am dying to, so I will keep you posted on what I think. :)

Paint Shop
7938 W. 3rd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 658-1930

Last summer I was obsessed with Essie’s neon nail polish line. There is just something about bright nails that just seem perfect during the summer. Celebrity manicurist Kimmie Kyees, who has worked with everyone from Lady Gaga to Britney Spears, agrees. She says, “neon nails make a statement,” says Kimmie. “They can be worn anytime you really want to accessorize with your nails. They are eye catching and definitely noticeable!” I recently tried out Milani’s New Neon Nail Lacquer, and it’s awesome! The line has great neon colors at super affordable prices ($4.99 each). And best of all, you can find them at your local drugstore.

Kimmie has some great neon nail polish tips. “The best way to wear  neon colors is to apply one coat of a solid white polish, like Milani White Nail Lacquer, first,” she advises. “This creates a base for the neon that allows the color to almost glow on the nails once it is applied. But be sure to allow the white to dry a little before applying the neon colors so that it doesn’t streak. The Milani neon colors dry to a matte finish on their own, which is cool if you like that look, but you can also apply a shiny top coat, like Milani Quick Dry Top Coat for a high gloss shine.

By the way, I really love the Milani products I’ve tried so far. The lip gloss I reviewed 3D Glamor Gloss in Starshine has totally become my favorite gloss. And it was only $6.99–not bad!

An editorial sample of the primer was provided by the company so I could review this product. Please see my About page for further information on Disclosure policies.

Speaking of Alexander Wang (and winning free clothes!) check out this gorgeous Alexander Wang-inspired side braid on the lovely & amazing blogger, Fashion Chalet. Also, she’s wearing an Alexander Wang tank. How perfect.  ;)

Worth noting too, her nails are OPI Vodka & Caviar–one of my all-time favs.

I posted about the gorgeous Katherine Heigl, her run-ins with the paparazzi at Fancy Nails in Los Feliz, and her prime piece of real estate over at Take Sunset today. Check it out!

Have you ever wondered what was in Leigh Lezark’s makeup bag? I have but I am super nosy like that! But apparently a lot of other people are too because I found a plethora of information about it! Leigh told Elle UK that she doesn’t always have the best skin care regime and sometimes even sleeps with her makeup on. (Yet, she still wakes up with flawless skin. Damn her.) She tries to make up for it by using an exfoliator and cleansing masks once or twice a week. She uses Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque by Kiehl’s. On those nights when Leigh is good about removing her makeup, she uses a moisturizer to do the job. “I’ve been using Beauty Fluid by Olay for years,” she says.

Leigh’s sleek black asymmetrical bob is strikingly gorgeous, but she’s actually a natural blonde and has to dye her roots every three weeks. She says she hates when the roots come out because “it looks as if I’m going bald.” Leigh’s favorite hair styling trick is to blow dry her hair upside down to increase volume. She’s also a propionate of natural eyebrows: “I really think people need to comb their brows,” she says, “but don’t over tweeze them. You’ll be a slave to a shape that’s not your own.” Check out some of Leigh’s other top beauty picks…

Chanel Eye Gloss Luminous Cream Quadra Eye Shadow - Leigh loves the way this gives a glossy finish, unlike powder eyeshadow, which can look dry and glittery. The texture also means the colors are easy to apply and blend with fingertips when you’re rushing out the door. (This stuff was limited edition and it’s not longer available for purchase. Annoying.)

Essie Matte About You Matte Finisher – This topcoat makes any nail varnish matte. “I’m really not keen on glittery or shiny things, so this is ideal when I like the color of something, but not the finish,” says Leigh. You can buy this at Essieshop.com or Amazon.  Price: $10.00

MAC Technakohl Liner in Graphblack - I was most curious about Leigh’s black eyeliner of choice because she always has such a perfectly lined waterline. How does she get it to stay put? It’s nearly impossible for mere mortals. Leigh says she wears this MAC black eyeliner every day, and that it’s her favorite for a smoky look that stays on all day long. Hmm! Available at maccosmetics.com.  Price: $14.00

More of Leigh’s favorites after the break.

Charles Worthington Front Row High Gloss Serum - Leigh says, “When I wear my hair in a sleek, straight bob, I depend on this serum to give a great shine and keep away any frizz or flyaway hairs.” This is a UK product that’s sold at Boots. The Charles Worthington line that’s sold in the US doesn’t carry the Front Row line, but we do have a Charles Worthington London Results Brilliant Shine Gloss Polish, which might be comparable?

Optrex Eye Brightening Drops - Leigh says eye drops are a trick of her trade. “They help make you feel brighter and more awake in the morning, and provide an alternative to dark glasses.” This is another UK product, but US readers, don’t fret. We have great eye drops here too! Just plain old Visine Eye Drops work super well and you can pick them up anywhere.

Leigh names blush as her favorite beauty product. “I always wear blush to lift my complexion,” she says. “At the moment, I’m using Les Tissages de Chanel in Tweed Sienna by Chanel along my cheekbones, then adding a pop of Powder Blush in Narcisse, also by Chanel.”

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A while back when I was getting my nails done at Gloss, I overheard two women discussing OPI’s new Axxium Soak-Off Gel Lacquers. It piqued my interest and I went home and immediate did some research. Here is the deal, according to Allure, “OPI’s new salon-only treatment deposits a thin coat of color that is as close to the strength of acrylics as a lacquer can get and still be removable with soaking. The process of applying the polish is the same as a regular manicure–a basecoat, two coats of color, and a clear topcoat. Then each coat is dried under UV light for two minutes, which activates this resilient formula. The treatment is about twice as much as a traditional manicure, and comes off with a special acetone-based remover. It can stay chip-free for two weeks, the company says.”

According to Allure’s tester, the manicure took about 45 minutes and did not chip after three weeks. Since I spend about $12-$15 on my manicure every week, it seems like a great deal to pay $30-$35 to get them done every three weeks! Plus, you can get OPI Axxium in over 25 top OPI shades, like You Don’t Know Jacques, Lincoln Park After Dark and Big Apple Red. If the polish loses its shine, regular polish can be applied on top of the soft gel. You can also get “fills,” or color touch-ups to shade in the area of new growth to extend the life of the Axxium manicure.

However, I have still not tried OPI’s new Axxium Soak-Off Gel Lacquers because my nail salon doesn’t offer them, and I have heard very mixed reviews. Some people swear it is totally safe for your nails. Other people say it is way too harsh on nails, since you have to soak them in a strong acetone-based solvent for 15 to 20 minutes since to dissolve the gel formula. Also, my to-be sister-in-law had it on her nails while she was visiting LA, and it chipped just like regular polish. Hmm…

Have you guys tried OPI’s Axxium Soak-Off Gel Lacquers? What has your experience been?