CHANEL Goes Grellow

By Melanie Parker

I’ve been on a break from my typical dark nails this autumn. There’s a bevy of beautiful new colors out by OPI, Orly, and China Glaze, but I’ve been playing it demure with pale pinks and and occasional mid-toned plum. I got engaged last month and it’s been all about the diamond ring. I’ve named her Juliette. My beau bought her for me and bought himself a Chromebook at the same time, so we named his purchases Chromeo and Juliette. We are dorks like that. This is just further proof that there really is someone out there for everyone, girls! And, yes, I’m pretty sure my Juliette is French, so I tarted up the spelling. But it wouldn’t be Halloween without a fun and flashy color like Chanel Peridot, no matter how much her golden metallic clashes with Juliette.

I have to admit that when I hear CHANEL is doing a duochrome or a green, I have to snap it up — sight unseen. They become so rare and hard to find, and I like to encourage the company to keep producing avant-garde colors.

Despite the name, this color isn’t the traditional lime green of the August birthstone. It’s got that iridescence that makes it flash yellow, green, and blue depending on the way the light hits it. Nail lacquer lovers refer to these flashy colors as duochromes. The metallic finish is always tricky to apply without showing brushstrokes, but this formula was easy for me to apply in thin coats. It is a big formula improvements from the Chanel polishes released last year, which were thicker and left drag marks along my cuticle line.

In the bottle, Peridot shows an acid green hue, which is why I think it is a good choice for Halloween. However, on the nail, it goes on more grellow (a golden yellow with just a hint of green). Disappointing. I wanted a heavier blue flash with Peridot to soothe my cool-toned skin. But if you have a dark, olive, or warm golden skin tone, I think you cold totally rock this with black or olive clothes and the green would really pop in the most fabulous of ways.

Chanel already has a chameleon polish with Kaleidoscope, which transitions from a golden beige to green, and I think it is better suited to my coloring. Here are some comparison pictures of the two polishes together.

What’s your go-to color for Halloween? I lean toward greens and black creme, but OPI Music Hall Curtain Call is a lovely pumpkin foil finished polish.

Disclaimer: This product was purchased for the reviewer
Photos by Melanie Parker

Wishful Thinking

By Melanie Parker

When the MAC Bloggers’ Obsession Collection launched this month, I was excited. It is always good when a company embraces the opinions of those who truly love products, colors, and are tuned into what is missing from the market place. We've already seen great things when bloggers partner with nail polish manufacturers like Zoya, Rescue Beauty Lounge, and Barielle.

None of the Lipglass shades grabbed me, but I had high hopes for a couple of the shadows. Jealousy Wakes is a fantastic green that I am going to covet and use sparingly. It’s like the biggest, clearest, sparkliest emerald that could possibly be captured in a pot. Kudos to Christine Mielke of Temptalia for developing a true green shadow that isn’t too gold or too blue. It should work well on all skin types. It is the shadow that will eclipse Parrot for makeup collectors.

But I was even more excited about the possibilities of Hocus Pocus. Billed as a sooty charcoal gray, I had heard some buzz that it had a khaki cast and the sparkle in the early swatches gave me high hopes that Hocus Pocus was going to be Lancome’s Erika F. coming stateside after all of these years.

I am lucky to have a Lancome Erika F. shadow that little Miss Blogdorf brought me back from Paris. I wore it every day for a month straight, which is unheard of for me because I often like to keep it simple with a light vanilla shadow for work. But Erika F. has a smokey, sagey wisdom to it paired with the fun of a antique golden microglitter.

So, my hopes that the new MAC Hocus Pocus would wow me like Erika F. weren’t dashed when I opened the box. I thought it had potential. But when I put it on, and it is darker, grayer, and it loses its sparkle. It was wishful thinking on my part that the greatness of Erika F could be duplicated. I like the Lancome formula better, and the color is really something special. I'm going to have to continue to use it sparingly. Damn it!

That said, Hocus Pocus is probably a more wearable shadow because it doesn’t have as much shimmer and sparkle to it. It’s dark and smokey, and when used wet it makes a great liner. And no offense to Ms. F., but I like the bewitching name better. Thank you to Lianne Farbes of The Makeup Girl for providing us with the most versatile shadow in the MAC Bloggers' Obsession collection.

Disclaimer: These products were purchased by the reviewer online @ http://www.maccosmetics.com/whats_new/6311/index.tmpl
All Photos by Melanie Parker
The photos feature Lancome's Erika F eyeshadow and MAC Hocus Pocus only.
Lancome's Erika F is not available in the United States.  It can be found at Lancome Boutiques across Europe and Asia. Just look at the most used eye shadow in the tester unit.....that will be Erika F!!!!!!!!!!!

40 days and 40 Nights of Fragrance Notes: Leather

Hide and Seek: Leather Note

By Melanie Parker

Leather is a traditional note that evokes instant thoughts of luxury. To me, leather scents are reminiscent of the best quality handbags, shoes, riding boots, and that intoxicating new car smell. Cuir, which is French for leather, is the base for many unisex scents.
Leather’s best friends are oud, which is a resin from the Aqui­laria tree, oakmoss, citrus, and tobacco. It also pairs well with heady florals.

The mother of leather scents is Chanel’s Cuir de Russie, which marries iris, jasmine and ylang-ylang with buttery leather. The father of leather scents is probably the luxurious Hermès, which began life as a French saddlery in 1837, and has many fine leathers in its stable, including Equipage, Bel Ami, Calèche, and Kelly Calèche. Somehow, Hermès manages to bottle a Birkin and for that, it belongs in the fragrance Hall of Fame.

One interesting leather scent story comes from the origin of Creed’s Royal English Leather. As Creed’s first fragrance, Royal English Leather was ordered by King George III in 1781. Creed was the king's glove maker and he scented the king's gloves. The king enjoyed the scented gloves so much he commissioned the house of Creed to make it into a body fragrance.

Another interesting phenomenon was the popularity of Tom Ford’s Tuscan Leather, which had a bad boy reputation because it smells like blow. It’s some kind of mind trick that the scent smells like cocaine, because Tuscan Leather is “an original take on a classic leather scent. Saffron, raspberry, and thyme, open to olibanum and night-blooming jasmine,” while “leather, black suede, and amber wood add an intricate richness” according to Katherine Holmes, a spokesperson for Private Blend, Ford’s fragrance line.

Some leather scents worth sniffing:

Bernard Chant’s Aramis
Bulgari Black
Caron’s Tabac Blond
Chanel Cuir de Russie
Christian Dior Diorling
Christian Dior Leather Oud
Creed Royal English Leather
Estee Lauder Azuree
Eyody’s Cuir Blanc (White Leather)
Tom Ford’s Tuscan Leather
Guerlain Habit Rouge EDC
Hermès Bel-Ami
Knize Ten
L’Artisan Dzing!
Le Labo Patchouli 24
Montale Oud Cuir d'Arabie
Odori Cuoio
Parfums de Histoires 1740
Robert Piguet Bandit EDP
Serge Lutens Sarrasins
S Perfumes S-eX
Van Cleef & Arpels Midnight in Paris
Liz Zorn's Cordovan Rose

Sources:
Hide in Plain View by Denise Hamilton: http://www.latimesmagazine.com/2011/01/image-uncommon-scents-hide-in-plain-view.html
Sniff Test by Geoffrey Gray: http://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/35827/
http://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Creed/Royal-English-Leather-7508.html
Reviewer: Melanie Parker
Graphic Credit: Melanie Parker

A Tribute To Elizabeth Taylor

By Melanie Parker

"I adore wearing gems, but not because they are mine. You can't possess radiance, you can only admire it." -Elizabeth Taylor

The British-American actress Elizabeth Taylor passed away on March 23, 2011 due to congestive heart failure. In her youth, her striking violet eyes and raven hair thrust her into stardom in such roles as National Velvet and Lassie.

She went on to become a style icon and personified glamour in the 1950s with her fair skin, short dark hair, red lips, bewitching eyes, and hourglass figure. In a sea of blondes, she stood out from the crowd. And she garnered serious acting roles in epic movies such as Giant, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and tipped the scales earning $1 million to star in Cleopatra.


By the 1970s, her love affairs made her the subject of tabloid fodder. She battled addictions and struggled with her weight. In 1988, Taylor had regained control of her weight and self image, and wrote a book about it called Elizabeth Takes Off: On Weight Gain, Weight Loss, Self-Image, and Self-Esteem. This was the first diet and lifestyle book that I had ever read. I went from thinking of her as the fat drunk that comedians like Joan Rivers liked to rip on, to a wonderfully insightful and compassionate woman, who was simply bored with her life as a senator’s wife and had let herself go. She shared her struggles with honesty and, more importantly, focused on how eating fruits and vegetables and staying active was vital to being healthy. She served as an inspiration to women who had real weight problems in the wake of Jane Fonda’s aerobic videos.

Another book of hers that provides some amazing eye candy and a glimpse into her life is 2002’s My Love Affair with Jewelry, in which Elizabeth shares actual sized photos of her extensive jewelry collection and anecdotes about how she came to possess some of the loveliest jewels in the world.

Elizabeth was also one of the first celebrities to have their own scent available to the masses. Her White Diamonds fragrance, which was launched in 1991, is still the best-selling celebrity endorsed perfume. White Diamonds, and her spin-off scents including Black Pearl and Passion, brought in $76.9 million globally in 2010. Known by the iconic golden egg of sweet-smelling juice with the pave crystal bow, a bottle of White Diamonds was the go-to gift for women in the 1990s with its lovely floral chypre and powdery, sweet dry down. Many of those original fans have made it their signature scent over the past 20 years and it continues to sustain its customer base.

In recent years, she proved to be a fighter who set out to get things accomplished—especially in regard to providing quality of life to those suffering from HIV/AIDS. Although her bios are flanked with all of the elaborate gifts she had received in her lifetime and the roles she won and lost, her true legacy is in the giving that she did at a time when the gay community didn’t have much of a voice. She was a staunch advocate and blazed a trail to provide funding for research that really did save millions of lives. She never stopped giving, and her businesses and books will continue to raise money for her very worthwhile cause, the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.

Some things to remember about Elizabeth:

She was active on Twitter (as DameElizabeth) in her late 70s, embracing the technology of an iPad and social networking to raise awareness for her causes. She wrote, “You are who you are. All you can do in this world is help others to be who they are and better themselves and those around them.”

She fought for her friends. Long after friends like Rock Hudson and Michael Jackson were gone, she showed her unconditional love and acceptance for who they were without reservation.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Elizabeth sought ways to reach out to the AIDS community in that area. She then partnered with Macy’s to donate a 37 foot "CareVan," which was deployed to provide vital care to the HIV/AIDS community in the Gulf Coast. The NO/AIDS Task Force was also gifted with a check for $40,000 from Elizabeth Taylor and the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.

Her family has asked that memorial contributions be made to her foundation.

Written by Melanie Parker

Photo Credits: Unknown/Blogdorf Goodman

40 Days & 40 Nights of Fragrance Notes: Clove

A Little Spice is Nice
By Melanie Parker
Day 2

Clove buds look like a regal little crown on a perch, and it is one of my favorite spicy, natural fragrances. Every time I smell pomanders made from oranges or lemons studded with cloves around the holidays, it makes me feel warm and happy.

The clove, or clou de girofle in French, can be strong. Clove notes in a fragrance are pungent, so clove is a scent best paired with other spices and citrus notes. I’d say its best friends are orange, vanilla, nutmeg, and cinnamon. This scent is warm and stimulating, and it is thought to be an aphrodisiac.

Clove essential oil is used for medicinal purposes as an antiseptic and anesthetic and you will frequently find it in toothpastes and other astringent products, so you don’t want to be heavy handed with a clove fragrance or you might end up smelling like aftershave. When clove is used in a fragrance correctly, for example, Donna Karan Black Cashmere, it is sensual and revitalizing.
To me, the faint smell of clove is delightful in the Fall and winter. It evokes memories of my grandmother’s house. She was fond of clove gum, which was a little less sweet and sugary than the Big Red cinnamon gum that I liked. But most of all the smell reminds me of family dinners at her house. It was my job to stud the ham with clove buds after she scored the top of the meat in a diamond pattern with a carving knife on Sunday mornings before we went to church when I was visiting. I’d sniff the buds, and occasionally, I’d even pop one in my mouth and chew on it while preparing the ham. It tasted woody, like I imagine tree bark would taste, so I lean toward describing some heavy clove scents as “woody” even though it is actually a spice. That’s just because it triggers a “bark” memory for me. The mind plays tricks on the nose like that.
Clove cigarettes were outlawed in the USA in 2009, but some smokers opted for clove cigarettes for the spicy scent and taste. As such, some scents like Ava Luxe’s Kretek are popular because they are reminiscent of the clove cigarettes without the stale stench of the smoke.

Aveda has a Clove shampoo and conditioner. In addition to the great scent, they deposit brown hair color.

Cloves are harvested from trees. The clove tree is an evergreen with bright green leaves. Clove has been cultivated as a spice for more than 2000 years. The clove tree grows to 30 feet tall, but it is the tiny buds that hold the value. The flower buds are at first of a pale color and turn a bright red when they are ready for harvest. As such, you may see “red clove” as a note to indicate the essential oil was extracted from a ready bud.
Until recent times, cloves were a rare spice. In the 17th and 18th centuries, cloves were literally worth their weight in gold in Britain due to the high price of importing them.

Some clove scents worth trying are:

Washington Tremlett Clove Absolute
Artemisia Perfumes Lavender and Clove
Ava Luxe’s Queen Bess
Chanel Coco
Comme des Garcons Carnation
Estee Lauder Cinnabar
Estee Lauder Sensuous
Kenzo Jungle L’Elephant
Serge Lutens Féminité du Bois
Yves Saint Laurent Opium

Men’s:
Thierry Mugler Ice*Men
Calvin Klein Obsession
Van Cleef & Arpels Van Cleef

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clove
http://www.makeupalley.com/
Kathy Padecky : http://www.ipsbmassagetherapy.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Essential-Oil-Clove.pdf

Image: Elizabeth Blackwell, “The Clove, Carophyllus aromaticus.” Plate 338 from volume 2 of Blackwell’s A Curious Herbal, Containing Five Hundred Cuts, of the Most Useful Plants, Which Are Now Used in the Practice of Physic: . . . To Which Is Added a Short Description of Ye Plants; and Their Common Uses in Physic (London, 1739). [Rare Books Division]

Review: Melanie Parker
Graphic Credit: Melanie Parker
Disclosure: All items featured in this review were purchased or sniffed by the reviewer

The Wait is Over. I Do!

butter London's No More Waity, Katie
Review by Melanie Parker

When butter London announced a new nail lacquer named No More Waity, Katie that looked to be a demure princess pink base with lots of sparkle, I had to order. I say “had” with a little reluctance because I think butter London is hard to find locally, they have high shipping costs (which is ridiculous considering they actually ship from Washington state and not London as the name would imply), and in the past I have had problems securing the square caps that has caused the polish to get thick.

But, I’m happy to say that No More Waity, Katie, which started shipping at the beginning of March 2011, has exceeded my expectations. It’s actually not pink at all. It’s a smokey lilac that delivers an abundance of lavender glitter. The square cap now lifts off to reveal a cylindrical knob, which is much easier to take off, paint with, and put back on than the previous generation’s square cap. In fact, the packaging now aligns with how the high-end benchmark, Chanel nail lacquer, has the removable square cap.

Also, I prefer darker colors, as you can see in the Tramp Stamp and British Racing Green colors that completed my order. So, the fact that No More Waity, Katie is darker than the promotional shots on the Web site looked is fine with me.




The color was named after Kate Middleton, who is betrothed to England’s beloved Prince William. The purple hue fits with this royal theme, but it is not a color that I associate with her. It’s a little edgier. At first, I was ready to declare it Sephora by OPI Metro Chic’s sassy sister. But in comparing the two, Metro Chic is a dim bulb — just gray and beige. No More Waity, Katie is vibrant, but the smokiness gives it sophistication. The glitter gives it sparkle and a slight texture. I find filing the free edge of my nails lightly when the polish dries is necessary to smooth the glitter down, which is especially important if you wear contact lenses.

For those who are on the “one and done” bandwagon, you will not be satisfied with one coat of this color. It’s sheer and streaky. It looks like gray smoke with lavender sparkles. I built it up to opaque with 3 coats, which is what I expect to do with any polish I wear to be streak free on medium-length nails.

This polish was purchased directly from butter London’s Web site. Shipping price for 3 bottles from Seattle to Chicago was $8.50.

Disclosure: The nail polish was purchased by the reviewer
Credit: Melanie Parker

Neon Bible

By Melanie Parker

A trip to the local CVS on the way home from work the other night yielded me with some surprisingly fresh picks this week. The Milani Neon polish is going to get panned, but the sparkle in the upper-left corner of these Wet n Wild COLORICON quads more than makes up for the polish disappointment.

First up is Milani Nail Lacquer Neon in Fresh Teal. I wanted to love this color. After all, it looks like a great teal creme in the bottle. I carried it around the store for awhile debating if I really needed another teal creme. Then, I slipped off my shoe a little bit and looked at my China Glaze Four Leaf Clover neon green pedicure and thought it was magnificent, and decided another neon would be nice. I even compared bottles with my beloved Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure lacquer in Fairy Teal. The Milani was darker and greener...MUST HAVE. However, despite all that debating and the bottle comparison, it wasn't until I got home and did a polish change that I noticed that the color on the brush was bright blue and not teal like the bottle. DRATS! The dreaded bottle wrapper, which deceives a girl not only in color, but the amount of product left in the bottle. I hate wrappers! So, now I have this neon blue polish that went on great in two coats and is quite fun, but it's not teal and I will have no way to know when I'm running out or it gets separated. Product packaging FAIL.

But love is in bloom with these new Wet n Wild COLORICON Eyeshadow Highlighter quads. In the Opulence palette, there are 3 buttery, creamy shadows in peachy nude, meadow green, and orchid hues. They have a slight shimmer in the pan, but look more like a soft, glowing creme on the skin. It's that white opal highlighter in the corner that has me hooked. It provides a faint holographic glitter wash that is fantastic. I use a Q-tip for the highlighter because it is more of a gel than the others and I don't want to mess up my brush. Therefore, I worry about squandering more product. I wish I could get a big pan of just this highlighter. I'd wash my lids with it every day. It gives me the same rush as the Lancome Erika F, but is light enough for day time even at the office. Since I used so much of it and this is a limited edition where I stumbled on the last two palettes in the display, I'm probably going to go into hoarding mode with it and it will rarely see the light of day. Damn these drug store manufacturers and their one and done displays!

The Majestic quad was reminding me of Blogdorfgoodman's Annieytown and I knew I had to get it for the smokey blue shadows and the scintillating, glittery blue highlighter that looks like a night sky twinkling with stars. It's glorious. It's the Zoya Indigo of eye highlighters. Ha ha. This one is a little trickier than the white to wash with and can look a little streaky. It will require some more experimenting with the application techniques.

If you see these Wet n Wild COLORICON quads at your local drug store, I think they are a terrific value for $4.99.

Disclaimer: All products were purchased by the reviewer.
Title from Arcade Fire

Cherry Bomb

Day 37: Busting Cherries By Melanie Parker

One of the most unfortunate affects that age has brought on to my skin is cherry angiomas. These cherries are made up of clusters of dilated capillaries on the surface of the skin, which accounts for a cherry red or beet purple color. No one knows exactly what causes them and they will not go away on their own. These little red tumors started popping up in my 20s. By age 38, I found myself "digitally erasing" a trifecta of hideousness from my forehead in any pictures before sharing them. Although technically correct, "cherries" sounds too cute for these growths. Igenerally referred to them as "cluster f*cks" or "blood blisters."

I relied heavily on Perscriptives Camouflage Cream to hide these three red "blisters" on my forehead and three others cropping up on my cheeks and chin. Then, I heard the dreaded news that Perscriptives products were being discontinued, and I decided to seek treatment for the little buggers. My dermatologist recommended treating them with laser. So, I set up a 20-minute procedure for an Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatment. Although this treatment is for cosmetic reasons, and is therefore not covered by insurance, I found it well worth the $250 cost.

I was warned before the procedure that because some of the cherries were so large, they may require 3 or 4 "zaps" from the laser, and that each one would feel like a rubber band snapping. It was not comfortable, but it didn't hurt either. The sound of the machine and the puff reminded me of a glaucoma test at the optometrist, which is one of my biggest fears. But when she got through zapping the trifecta of hideousness and 3 other smaller ones on my face, she asked if I had any more to do. I had them all over my chest and happily let her zap away at as many as she could find. In total, there were 43 pulses during the 15-minute session. But, as I noted, some of the bigger blisters did require multiple pulses.

I was told by the doctor that the cherries would turn bright blue and then gradually fade away like a bruise. My mother had had some removed, and had warned me to cancel all plans and be prepared for them to get much worse and turn black before they got better. I'm glad she warned me, because I looked like I had huge purple welts all over my face and chest. This photo was taken of the "trifecta of hideousness" about 2hours after the IPL treatment and they got much worse looking the next day.

The areas raised up and stung. I had so many on my chest, that I actually was unable to sleep comfortably on my side like I normally do for 2 days. I felt slightly feverish and uncomfortable--almost as if I had sun burn. It took 10 days for the bruising to fade away, but now there was never any scabbing and there is no trace of where the cherry angiomas once were. In fact, I still want to dot some Camouflage Cream on them, but I can't even remember where they were. Even with a 10x magnification mirror, there is not a trace. It's really quite amazing considering they were raised up and discolored and now they are completely flat. I wish I would have had the ones on my arms done at the same time.

The only negatives to this treatment is the 10 days of downtime required before they look better instead of worse and that the area becomes photosensitive, so you really have to avoid the sun. If your cherries are small, flat, and cute, like red freckles, you may not want to try this treatment. But I think it is amazing and was very happy with the end result.

Disclosure: This procedure was paid for by the reviewer
Credits: Melanie Parker for Blogdorf Goodman and Melanie Parker/I Married A Witch

Little Darlings

Day 15: Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion
By Melanie Parker

Cetaphil® Moisturizing Lotion is a non-comedogenic and non-greasy moisturizer that I use because it mild and non-irritating to my sensitive skin. This gentle moisturizer is the darling of every dermatologist I have ever been to see for my acne-prone skin. I like that it really doesn't clog my pore or contain any fragrance. There are no lanolins or parabens to irritate sensitive skin. I've always felt the cleanser leaves a little bit of a residue, but I have had success with the moisturizing lotion.

When I began using Tazorac (which is similar to Retin-A and Differin), my sensitive skin required this lotion. I applied a thin coat of Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion, wait 5 minutes, and then apply the Tazorac over areas of my cheeks and chin where I have acne scaring that I am trying to refine. In the beginning, I could only use the Tazorac twice a week and I always used the Cetaphil with it. Now, I can use Tazorac nightly without the moisturizer underneath because I have been using the retinoid for about a year and my skin has built up a tolerance. I still get peeling and flaking, but I use my Shiseido Pureness moisturizer that compliments my other skincare regime.

If you are considering using a retinoids for fine lines, wrinkles, or scaring, try using the Cetaphil "buffer" when you are starting out. I hope that you will have good results, too. Cetaphil® Moisturizing Lotion is available without a prescription at pharmacy and drug stores for around $16.

Disclaimer: Product purchased by reviewer based on dermatologist recommendation.
Credit: Cetaphil
Credit: Melanie Parker/Veronica Lake in I Married A Witch

The New Black Gets Shamrocked By Dell, But Does Not Wow

Review By Melanie Parker

Timed with the release of the new 2010 Hong Kong Collection by OPI, the Dell Design Studio now offers six of the collection’s shades. The OPI by Dell line was originally launched in November 2009, and the Dell Design Studio is replacing the initial Holiday Collection selections with the new Hong Kong Collection options. There are also 20 classic OPI colors in the permanent collection of color choices for Mini, Inspiron and Studio laptops. The Hong Kong Collection features fun shades in deep orange, jade green, red, berry, purple, and blue.



Just hearing that Jade is the New Black was one of the OPI by Dell colors had me thinking that now was the time to buy a Studio 17 notebook. I imagined getting it for my birthday at the end of March, which coincides with when I usually get a Federal tax refund. However, Mercury being in retrograde and all, my printer broke on a Saturday and my 8-year old Dell tower refused to boot up the following Monday. The time was right to order the new laptop and printer now.

I momentarily thought about ordering the shell in I'm Not Really a Waitress because it is such a fun and classic shade of red. I love the shimmer. But, I went with Jade Is the New Black sight unseen. I'd seen some swatches of the nail lacquer online, and it really did look like a kelly green jade stone or a green onyx. That would make a lovely laptop color. I'd already named my new techno-baby "The Green Machine" and committed to painting my nails with the lucky looking OPI's Jade Is the New Black until my new computer arrived.

Unfortunately, it took a long time for my new techno-baby to get here. The gestation period amounted to about 3 weeks, which is an eternity when you are sans home computer. And then I was at the office during the first delivery attempt and it pained me to have to wait another day. I am not sure what I was more excited about, switching to one of my new Alice In Wonderland holographic OPIs once I got the laptop or the laptop itself. Three weeks is much longer than I like to go with any one nail color, despite how much I do love this shade of green and that it looks good with about 70% of my wardrobe being kelly green, navy, or black.

So, imagine my surprise when I cracked open the box for my new techno-baby and saw what essentially looked like a Shamrock shake swirl on the top. It's much lighter than the polish, and it's a very grainy image. In fact, in the upper-left corner, there is "OPI by Dell Jade is the New Black" in print, and the font looks grainy too. BIG LET DOWN.

The more I look at it, the more it reminds me of that faux green marble finish that was so popular to paint on the walls in the 1990s. I can't even say that it looks like malachite instead of jade. It looks like a vanilla shake getting mixed with some horrid green mint gel at the local malt shop. It's that white veining that makes my stomach churn.

This designer shell was a total waste of $85. I still love the machine with it backlit keyboard, web cam, and extra RAM. It's the "designer" OPI by Dell shell that I could have lived without. I don't even think a vinyl design from etsy.com could save this shell. It would just be contributing to the wrongness to add another layer. It's a good thing I don't have to look at the shell when I am actually using the notebook.

When I posted my disappointment about the color of the shell on Facebook, I got a comment from a friend who said she was disappointed with the Princesses Rule! one that she got. For those who aren't familiar with that color, it's a pink microglitter. Instead of having a glittery or metallic sheen, she said there are white blobs where the glitter is supposed to be. WTF? The flinish of these shades is what makes them unique to OPI. Merely putting a "wet paint" look of a small swatch magnified to 400% and drowning down these glorious hues dismays this nailphile.

If you are interested in ordering a designer shell for your new computer, I suggest trying to find photos or video of the actual product online first. QVC.com has some of the classic colors. The Hong Kong Collection color options are available now for $85 per device. All customizable colors for Dell Mini, Inspiron and Studio laptops are available at www.dell.com/DesignStudio. The newest additions will be retailed first in the U.S. and later in other countries. Select OPI colors will also be available at select Dell retailers nationwide.

Disclaimer: This product was purchased by the reviewer.

Credit: Melanie Parker for Blogdorf Goodman

Into The Deep

Day 11: Isolaz Deep Pore Laser Therapy

By Melanie Parker

In my ongoing battle to prevent cystic acne and refine the texture of my skin, I opted for some home chemical peels and Isolaz thrapy. In this review, I will be talking about the Isolaz treatments I receive at a local medspa, and in a future review I will discuss the merits of a lactic acid chemical peel.

First, let me just say that in my early 20s I did take Accutane for 5 or 6 months. It was hell. I cracked and bled from every joint and orifice and felt like a leper while I was taking it. However, I had clear skin for 10 long years after the experience. If you have acne, good insurance, and don't have a job working directly with customers, Accutane probably is the best treatment. However, if you are of child bearing years and do not have two forms of birth control, it can get tricky due to the high risk of birth defects associated with this medication. Doctors and drug manufacturers just don't want to take any chances and you have to register and take a "pledge" to use a non-barrier contraceptive. I did not want to go back on oral contraceptives due to another problem I had with Yaz several years ago, in addition to the reason I was having bad skin was from stress and depression as a result of several deaths in my family in a short period of time. I did not want to try another round. Accutane can really do a number on your self-esteem while you are on it and this treatment is all about making me feel better about my appearance, so I found a combination of oral antibiotics (spirolactone) and Isolaz therapy a great alternative to the considerable side effects of Accutane.

The Aesthera Isolaz therapy is an amazing technique that combines vacuum suction to clean pores and broadband light that destroys acne-causing bacteria while the pores are open from the suction. This extraction process immediately cleans pores, reduces redness, and flattens any active pimples. The device is a handheld tool with a custom tip that is purchased separately and is registered for your use only. The machine keeps track of how many pulses each tip has had, and will turn off when a new tip is needed to maintain proper suction. You wear protective goggles during treatment due to the laser light, and the technician cleanses your face of oil before beginningand lightly mists it with water throughout the treatment. The misting and suction process is not painful, but it is a little weird to have someone doing this when you can't see because your eyes are taped shut from the googles. Therefore, it is imperative that the technician is friendly and talks you through the process to let you know what they are doing before they touch your face. The light feels warm, just as you feel warm from sunbathing. But the suction is not painful. It feels like little pucker kisses. I really only minded it around my lips and nose where it is hard to get good suction.




On each area being treated, the technican does three passes to ensure they cover the entire area thoroughly. This goes by quickly. I had my back done from the bra strap up to my shoulder blades as well as my face, and three passes took less than a half an hour. You are sun sensitive after treatment, so you always get slathered in oil-free sunscreen before leaving and are told to avoid the sun.

It's truly amazing to see the immediate difference. My skin feels so soft and clean, that it had an interesting effect. I drank more water and didn't eat anything greasy, salty, or sweet that sometimes makes my skin feel blah. I wanted to maintain the purity. I feel much healthier for this treatment.

The pros of Isolaz are plentiful. It can be done by a technician and not a doctor, so you can book appointments easier. You can go right back to work after a treatment with no redness or irritation. You have immediate results-- pores are so clean they are practically invisible and active breakouts are flattened on on their way to being healed. Also, when referred by your dermatologist, insurance usually covers the extraction part of the procedure. For me this was a savings of $125 per session. After 5 sessions (1 treatment every 2 weeks), I was able to go to a 3-month maintenance. Also, the special tip that you must buy for the procedure comes in an "Echo" tip, so you can do twice as many treatments before needing a new one, which can save you $100. I felt a major improvement in my skin after 3 treatments. There was improvement immediately after the first treatment, but by the third, I was really singing the praises of this technology. My skin was softer, clearer, smoother--everything I wanted it to be without feeling burnt or tortured like I do after a chemical peel.

The primary con is the expensive. The cost averaged about $390 per treatment (including laser device tip) and insurance covered $125 of that. So, the initial 5 treatments at $265 was $1325 out of pocket. Keep in mind I did my face and upper back (I get clogged pores from shampoo and conditioner, laundry soap sensitivity, etc.) The other big negative is that the tip does not fit well on the nose, and I think I actually have broken capillaries from the technicians repeatedly trying to get suction. For many people, the nose is the main sourse of oil production and blackheads, so this is a big concern. My nose is not that small, and every single time, it was an ordeal to get suction on all three passes. I also had some experience with my hairline and eyebrows getting singed from the technician placing the device too close. It does not singe light hairs, but anywhere hair is darker, it gets burnt if the tip is placed over it. Another con is that literature said it can help remove red/brown spots, broken capillaries, veins, and unwanted hair, but I did not experience this. I have unwanted white hair that it had no effect on, and I think the device actually made a broken capillary around my nose. I also had some cherry angiomas that I had hoped the Isolaz would lighten so I could cover them easier, but I ended up having a different type of laser therapy to remove them. I'll review that process in another post for this skincare series.

You can see videos of the Isolaz procedure here: http://www.aesthera.com/go/aesthera/news-events/broadcast/And you can see some impressive before and after photos here: http://www.isolaz.com/go/isolaz/photo-video-gallery/acne-pore-purification/

Disclaimer: Reviewer purchased this treatment under recommendation and referral by dermatologist.

Review based on Melanie's treatment at Belleza Skincare Institute in Wheaton, Illinois.

Photo: http://www.isolaz.com/
Credit: Melanie Parker via Veronica Lake in I Married A Witch

Blessed Are The Pure of Skin

Day 3: Shiseido Pureness Products
By Melanie Parker

There are a few ways that stress manifests itself in me physically--through my skin texture and hair loss. Both are equally alarming. I made 2009 my year to do some serious damage repair to my skin after experiencing five deaths in my family in less than a year in 2008. So, when Annie decided to do a skincare project for the 40 days of lent in 2010, I am glad that my research and experiences in trying to restore my skin can be shared. I will be focusing on readily available products that work for my aging yet acne prone skin, as well as two types laser therapy treatments I used through the recommendation of my dermatologist.

I first learned about the Shiseido Pureness line years ago and have been using it inconsistently. Whenever I begin getting cystic acne, I always go back to it. This begs the question of why I always opt for the cheap route and stray away from it after it turns my skin around. Not any more. I have learned my lesson and four of these Shiseido Pureness products are my holy grail. If you have oily or combination skin that is prone to breakouts, I recommend trying this line of products for 2 months. I think you will be very pleased with the results.

I use the Shiseido Pureness Deep Cleansing Foam every morning and evening. A little goes a long way. You really don't need more than a pea-sized amount. I like to give the cleanser time to foam up and really do its work, so I sing the alphabet song to myself while lightly massaging the cleanser in a circular motion, making sure to concentrate around my nose and on my chin where I am most prone to acne.

The Shiseido Pureness Matifying Moisturizer is the only moisturizer that I can wear under makeup and trust that it will not clog my pores or make my mineral makeup look chalky. It's especially important in my under eye/cheekbone area where my skin does actually get dry. My T-zone is oily enough that I don't really need additional moisture.

The Shiseido Pureness Balancing Softener Alcohol-Free is a refreshing fluid that leaves my skin feeling soft and hydrated. Although it looks like a toner, I can't really call it a toner since it isn't stripping oil or trying to balance. Instead, it works with the deep cleansing foam to clean and calm my skin. I use about 4 pumps on a cotton pad and swipe my face and chest every night. I do not use it in the morning under makeup, but if my skin was dry and flaky from the winter air, I probably would. My pores look so clean and my skin is so soft and radiant after cleanising using these two products.

After applying the softner in the evening, I use a perscription Tazorac cream on my cheeks and chin where I am trying to refine the texture of my skin. I find the Tazorac works well with the Shiseido Pureness Blemish Clearing Gel applied to active pimples. With these products, active outbreaks are very rare. I make sure to use fresh pillow cases (one day per side, then in the laundry basket they go) and hold the phone away from my chin to prevent irritation. I also try to drink 8 glasses/bottles of water per day. If I eat salty foods, I increase my water intake more to compensate.

Shiseido Pureness products are found at most department stores. There are several other products in the Pureness line that I have not had the opportunity to try. If you have, please leave a comment and let us know your results.

Disclosure: This product was purchased by the reviewer.
Graphic Credit: melanie Parker/Veronica Lake in I Married A Witch
Photo Credit: Blogdorf Goodman

Formula Perfection That's Easily Found

By Melanie Parker

Several years ago, I relegated myself to only salon brand polishes. I stocked up on Essie, OPI, China Glaze, and Misa. I let my Orly, Sally Hansen, and Finger Paints polishes linger unused in their bottles for years. I don't know why. Before the color obsession, I was quite happy with my Sally Hansen Pure Putty and Calming Cocoa colors. Both were neutral crèmes that looks elegant with my long nails. I'm happy to report that their new salon formulas are actually outlasting the salon brands. You really can get the best finish and wear at the drugstores thanks to Rimmel London and Sally Hansen raising the bar.

After getting burned by several lackluster collections and a whole lot of wasted money on Chanel polishes that take too may coats to achieve bottle color and chip easily, I stopped buying polish for awhile. Now, I've started up again and I'm going back to my roots. Well, back to my nail lacquer roots. I'm still going to cover the gray in my hair.

So, I experimented with two new polish formulas easily found on display at the local Walgreen's. First up is Rimmel London's new Lasting Finish Pro formula. Despite there being a lovely peacock blue shimmer, I opted for a traditional blue-based red crème. I wasn't sure if it would be a jelly finish like Sally Hansen Salon's Cocktail Party or not. Luckily, it is not a duplicate. The Rimmel has a wide flat brush that covers the nail thoroughly. Because I like vampy nails, I did three coats of color. The bottle promises that it will last "Up to 10 Days." I took this picture on day 8. There was no chipping and minimal tip wear. I'm impressed. I can't remember if this was $7 or 8, but it was definitely worth it. I will be buying this formula again.

Next up was Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure line. As you can tell from the pictures, the bottle shape is different than the Sally Hansen Salon formula polishes is the rectangular bottles. I like this new cap. It has a rubber ridge that you can rest your bent finger on while painting the opposite hand. It also has a wide, flat brush that cover a pinky nail in one stroke. I really like everything about this polish. I love the two dusty crème hues I chose and that they covered thoroughly and completely in two coats. For less than $8 a bottle, this formula is the best I have ever used. Yes, it's better than OPI, China Glaze, and even Misa. I'm hooked!

Commander in Chic is the color I spotted across the aisle that drew me to the display. It looked a little like the Sephora for OPI Metro Chic, but it's a few shades lighter. OPI's You Don't Know Jacques is another mushroom/gray/beige crème polish that it might get compared to, but Commander in Chic is at least 2 shades lighter on the nail and almost has a lavender base color. The closest color that I could find is the Rimmel London Steel Gray, but that was just a tad darker and more taupe, which is ironic since the name would indicate it was gray. I really debated between the two colors in the store, but I am happy I choose Sally Hansen's Commander in Chic because I really love this formula. It's so thick and glossy, even before I added a coat of Poshe topcoat.

Plum's the Word is another interesting shade from this collection. I am quite satisfied that this will quench my thirst for the new Chanel Particuliere. Muted plum crèmes are strong on the fashion scene right now. I like this formula better than Essie Mink Muffs and the Chanel, but I also think it is a few shades lighter. When Walgreen's has a sale on these, I'm going back for Fairy Teal and a few other bright colors.

Disclaimer: These polishes were purchased at the drugstore by the reviewer.

Project Runway: The Polish and the Finale

By Melanie Parker

This week is the finale of Project Runway. In celebration for the end of the sixth season of this design show, I'm featuring a fantastic limited edition Sally Hansen Salon lacquer called Project Runway. This color is believed to be exclusive to Canada. The Runway Collection of polishes are in a cute display that features a center catwalk, and so far I have yet to see any making an appearance at a drug store in the USA. I don't know what it is about these LE Sally Hansen Salon colors, but they don't seem to have a sound distribution channel. This color is reallly quite fabulous and I hope that it comes to a store near you one day.

Project Runway is a jelly green with lots of green and gold shimmer. It almost reminds me of a snakeskin in the bottle. On the nail, it is rich and shimmery. I really have to say in a sea of green nail polishes available now, this one is unique and captivating.

In other limited edition news from Sally Hansen, the Hi-Definition Nail Color in Opulent Cloud is another special snowflake. This color always seems to photograph with a lavender hue, but it is actually an interesting gray with gold flashing. There were reports that it flashed green, but I don't get that on the nail. I get a strong gold flashing, which is a complete contrast to the silvery gray base.

The closest color I could think to compare Opulent Cloud to in the silver and gold category is CHANEL Kaliedescope, but as you can see in the bottle shots, Kaleidescope is quite brassy by comparison. Opulent Cloud is a great color to wear as a pedicure with silver shoes around the holidays and New Year's Eve. The Sally Hansen Hi-Definition colors are available at select drugstores like Walgreen's and CVS thoughout the USA and retail for about $7 a bottle.

Back to the Project Runway finale... Are you watching the show since it switched over to the Lifetime channel from Bravo? It has Tim Gunn, Heidi Klum, and some great guest judges, but it still seems to be missing something. I'm not as impressed with the designers this season, but I think I miss the marathon format of Bravo the most. The Models of the Runway show that is on after it is interesting. But again, I'm not keen on the casting of any of these models, so it just seems a little lacking. If you want to get caught up on episodes before the finale on Thursday, you can watch them on http://www.mylifetime.com/on-tv/shows/project-runway.

I think I'm rooting for Irina. Yes, she's a little like a Kardashian, but I would wear her designs. Who are you cheering for this season?

Disclaimer: All products featured in the review were purchased.

Nail Tricks and Treats

By Melanie Parker

This Halloween there are quite a few nail polish options out there for a fun and festive look. Black nail polish crossed over from witchy to posh around the time CHANEL released Black Satin. Since then, vampy dark hues have been on the forefront of color trends for nails, but they seem especially fitting in October, as does orange lacquers.

I have a few seasonal tricks in my bag, the first of which involves the delightful pumpkin spice foil-finished OPI Music Hall Curtain Call, which was released as part of the Holiday 2006 collection. It is my go-to harvest hue because I just can't get enough of that foil finish. This year, I decided to pair it with a stark black crème polish. I used the Konad stamping technique with an all over paisley pattern from the M60 plate. Konad stamping is easy and fun. This particular pattern got a lot of compliments because it almost looks like a detailed henna decoration.

The next trick is something OPI whipped up all on its own. The OPI Suede collection, released this Fall, takes popular colors from its existing collection and gave them a suede finish. The suede finish is a cross between a foil and a matte finish in its native state. The instructions warn that it will not last as long as a the original salon formula, and that you should not wear it with top coat, drying products, or lotions. I choose the sueded version of Lincoln Park After Dark. It's a ghost of the original dark plum crème polish. In fact, it reminds me of a frosty purple eye shadow. You know, the one that looks intriguing in the pan, but is a little too light and shiny on your lids, so then you wet your brush, re-apply it, and like magic it transforms into a deeper,sexier version of itself and you have a smokey eye? It's exactly like that. Use this suede to give yourself some smokey nails.

Although I should note that the suede polishes take longer to remove. The plum lifted off like an original color, but then I was left with a silver foil finish on my nails that I really had to work at and saturate with remover to thoroughly clean my nails of any traces of this tricky polish. And like the matte polishes reviewed recently, these colors do double duty and you can transform the suedes into a dazzling, brighter, shimmering nail polish with a top coat.

Another polish that reminds me of Halloween is Nicole's Black Cat-cha Later. It's a deep black base with red shimmer. It's sleek and sexy.

China Glaze gives us quite a treat with the limited edition Fortune Teller this year. This color became hard to find pretty quickly due to seasonal production and the fact that the black glaze uniquely suspends a variety of sizes of orange glitter. The glitter ranges from micro specks to larger hexagon-shapes. Because I don't like a bumpy texture on my nails when I am putting in my contacts, I used this sparingly over the previous Nicole manicure. Just one coat of Fortune Teller gave me great coverage. Up close, the cluster of glitter reminded me of a star field. When I was using my hands later, I noticed that the glitter glowed and faded in the light like the embers of a bonfire as it moved. I LOVE the dancing light quality that the various sizes of glitter provide. One can only hope that one day China Glaze will come out with various sizes of pink glitter suspended in black glaze like this. I don't need a crystal ball to predict that it would be an immediate sell out!

Disclaimer: All products featured in the review were purchased.
Review by Melanie Parker

Soft and Velvety or Sparkling Jewels - You Decide

By Melanie Parker

Zoya's Winter Matte collection does double duty as soft and velvety matte finished shades or as shiny and sparkly jewel-toned nail lacquers.

Veruschka is a evergreen velvet that covers well in two coats. Named after the legendary 6’3” glamazon model from the 60s and 70s, it is the star of the collection. This shade is lovely with a matte finish and really does remind me of a green velvet ribbon. Even if the matte finish is not your thing, you can use a top coat to make this polish shine and sparkle.

With one coat of Poshe top coat, Veruschka transforms into a brighter, shinier emerald microglittler polish that is just perfect for Fall and the upcoming holiday season. It’s shown here with my new favorite nail treatment by Palladio. I use the Palladio Moisture Surge Nail Repair in place of a base coat in the winter months. Even though my nails do not peel or split, they can use all the moisture they can get in the colder months. I bought this at Sally’s Beauty Supply and although it looks mint green in the bottle, it dries clear enough to wear under sheers. I am a big fan of Palladio herbal lipglosses, too. If you like sheer with a little sparkle, try Pink Candy.

Harlow is a raspberry shade that covers in one coat with the matte formula. Whereas, Savita is a darker purple and needs 2 coats to provide even coverage. They appear muted and chalky in their native matte finish.

It’s no surprise that I like Harlow and Savita much better with a top coat of Poshe, as well. Harlow’s fuchsia microglitter makes it interesting and unique. It reminds me of an amped up China Glaze Secrets. Truth be told, I do not like Barney purple polishes in crème or shimmer finishes, but if you do, Savita is quite a vivid hue. Purples and blues are hard to photograph and display on a monitor. In real life, Savita has no obvious blue tones. It’s a bright grape base with violet microglitter.

Zoya polishes are available at select nail salons and artofbeauty.com. Palladio products are available at Sally's Beauty Supply, head2tobeauty.com, and select nail salons.

Photos: Melanie Parker.

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this review were individually purchased.

Jaded

By Melanie Parker

The Chanel Jades are in, and after a week of testing, I'm ready to carve my opinion in stone. Or at least this blog... I wanted to love and praise Chanel for being a risk taker and coming out with a green polish with green shimmer, but no can do. At $25 a bottle, I want to be able to preserve the preciousness of this liquid, and as you will see in the swatches, three coats was not enough to provide even coverage.

Like the Fire-King Jadeite of the 1940s before it, the hue used for Chanel Jade evokes a whimsical sophistication. In the bottle, Chanel Jade polish reminds me of a grandmother's retro kitchen or sharing a lime daiquiri with Ernest Hemingway. It's not very often that Chanel serves up such a confection--there is a slight glow of green microshimmer in certain light. However, the color looks a little too yellow on me. I lean toward blue-based greens and this one went the opposite way. It happens, and I can blame it on my ruddy pink skin tone. But I can't blame myself for the fact that you can see streaks and sheerness after THREE coats of color. That's just not acceptable.

Jade's partner in this release is a demure Jade Rose. This soft pink polish reminds me of the inside of a sea shell. I am sure I will get plenty of use out of Jade Rose. She's lovely and has just a whisper of tonal shimmer. Enough to keep it interesting in the sunlight, but subdued for the office. This photo shows FOUR coats for opaque coverage.

Overall, this color story is distinctly Spring in Key West to me, and yet here I am in the Midwest on the cusp of Fall. I want nails the color of the actual jade gemstones used in the Chanel runway show and that Kate Moss has been frosted with at a recent Chanel party.

So, considering the coverage problems and the chipping nature of Chanel lacquers in general, if you aren't a slave to the house of Chanel, I would pass on these. One reasonable alternative to Jade is Pa's A86. Pa polish bottles are small, but when you get unusual colors like this mint, you will have enough to do at least a dozen manicures, and that seems like it is enough for any beauty addict's lifetime. I've reviewed Pa polishes on here before and I have to confess that the tag line "for the cutie girls who want to become lovely" has me hooked. The LE Chanel polishes are available at chanel.com and Chanel boutiques for $25. Pa polishes are available at orangelighthouse.com for $4.40. Other comparable colors that skip the slight shimmer are MAC's Peppermint Patty and OPI Hey! Get in Lime!

Photos: Melanie Parker and Splash/Dailymail.co.uk

Disclaimer: Melanie purchased Jade and Jade Rose polish.