Beauty of a Site Blog

* Looking for the 2010 Halloween nail polish?  Click here. OPI's Tattoo Ta-Boo Mini Halloween Nail Lacquers are quite possibly the cutest thing around our office right now.  Nothing's more fun than letting loose with nail polish a little bit, and with these bright colors- even a glow in the dark one!- this is our perfect opportunity. And let's be honest- what's more fun than glow in the dark? Oh- glow in the dark nail art- that's what. Check out OPI's suggestions for some super-fun Halloween manicures: And for those of us are beginners (come on... can YOU do that!?), here's some step by step instructions for simpler designs from OPI, right off the back of the box:

Eyes On You Design 1. Start with two coats of Glow-ink the Dark polish. 2.  Use OPI I Love Mummy to make different sized white circles all over the nail. 3.  Carefully dot each white circle with OPI Witch Arm? to make the pupils. (Or cheat, and use a sharpie!)

Tip or Treat 1. Start with two coats of Tattoo You Want Candy polish. 2. Use Witch Arm? to french tip your nails.  (Need some French Tip help? Use these nail guides.) 3. Make three small circles near the nail bed using Witch Arm?.  (Again, we might use a Sharpie).

Be Mine, Frankenstein 1. Start with two coats of Glow-ink the Dark polish. 2. Use I Love Mummy to make the stitches. Luckly, the design totally doesn't require straight lines. 3. Make a bunch of small dots using Tattoo You Want Candy? Fun!

Give them a shot and let us know what you think!

See pictures and hear our reviews about Essie's newest nail polish collection for 2009! We're really interested how you all like these, because there are some really great colors in here!

Bold, dark, mysterious, beautiful.  Can't think of too much to say about OPI's new Spain Collection (the Coleccion de Espana), other than its everything we expected it to be.  I personally have to admit that OPI's fall collections are always my favorite, because they bring out so many of the deep, vampy, classic colors that OPI is famous for.  Indian summer or no, the BOAS staff is considering shifting our wardrobes to deeper fall colors just to accommodate some of these beautiful nail polish colors! Our suspicions were correct:  Suzi Skis in the Pyrenees and Here Today, Aragon Tomorrow are truly unique and beautiful shades.  Our pre-orders already tell us that these are going to be the hot sellers.  They are definitely slightly darker than they show up in the promotional pictures and the product images on our website, but the shade shown is pretty true to form.  Just slightly deeper and darker. A surprising LOVE from the collection: Barefoot in Barcelona. This creamy neutral shade is extremely close to CND's Cocoa, which is an awesome seller and super popular right now.  Lucky Magazine said that "bisque nail polish" that uses "the perfect blend of the most recent color trends: pink, gray & beige" is hot for the season, and that's just what this is. A tad beige-ier than the France collection's "Tickle My France-y," and the perfect everyday neutral. The promo pics didn't do Can You Tapas This? any justice; this raisin-y deep reddish brownish color is GORGEOUS.  We were expecting something browner and cooler, but this shade features a deep, warm red that we didn't see coming. Several of the shades, including Ate Berries In The Canaries, Pink Flamenco and Pamplona Purple are shades we would categorize as "surprisingly bright and colorful for fall."  Don't misunderstand- we love them and they are beautiful!- but bright, to be sure.  Interesting choice, OPI. All in all, the colors are lovely and definitely shades that we're expecting OPI to keep in their classic line for awhile.  We're accepting pre-orders for them now, and will be shipping them next Wednesday, on the official release day.  Buy OPI Coleccion de Espana here!

We're always excited to see what Zoya will send us for fall.  More than any of the other nail polish brands that we carry, Zoya always makes an entire collection work together so well.  Seeing the polishes all together always helps us love each individual color that much more!  Zoya sent us two palettes for the 2009 Fall season: Zoya Truth Collection Made up of six beautiful and warm metallic colors.  Deep coppers & reds with a couple of purples to compliment fall wardrobes. Zoya Dare Collection Six vampy, dark & mysterious opaque, cream polishes.  Dark purples, violets, a blue and even an evergreen for welcoming in cool weather and winter accessorizing. We have to tell you, they're as lovely in person as they are in the photos!  We're selling them like crazy!  Snag these classy collections here! Let us know what you think of these colors, and if you've had time to try them, upload some pictures!

On rainy days, enjoying Zoya Matte polish, Rosie Jane's Leila Lou and Moroccan Oil's Hydrating Hair Mask help us survive the gloom. Today was a rough day, but with these wonderful treats (and jelly beans) we survived!

In today's industry, a flat, matte, no-luster polish is totally taking over nail polish fashion, and it seems like everyone is talking about.  And when we say matte, we mean MATTE. Three of our favorite brands are offering matte nail polish solutions, which we're totally excited about: OPI is releasing six of their classic OPI colors in a chic matte finish.  The OPI Matte Collection includes matte versions of Alpine Snow, Gargantuan Green Grape, You Don't Know Jacques!, La Paz-itively Hot, Lincoln Park After Dark & Russian Navy.  These colors will start selling everywhere in July, but we're starting pre-orders next week! Click here to purchase & for product availability updates. [caption id="attachment_356" align="alignright" width="170" caption="Zoya MatteVelvet Collection"][/caption] Zoya's matte polishes are from the Zoya MatteVelvet Collection, set to release in July.  This three polish collection offers interesting matte shimmer choices, claiming to be as matte as ever, with a subtle shimmer for an extra ounce of wearability.  These are also going to be available for ordering.  Click here to order & check product availability! (by the way, from the swatches I've seen, these are TOTALLY my favorite) [caption id="attachment_354" align="alignleft" width="154" caption="Essie Matte About You Matte Finisher"][/caption] Essie approached the matte polish trend from a totally different angle.  Instead of releasing a matte collection for the fall, in August, they are releasing the Essie Matte About You Matte Finisher.  This matte topcoat is designed to make ANY Essie polish totally matte.  We're excited about this product, because it allows you to make any of your favorite colors matte, without having to buy all new!  What a good idea!  We'll be selling this in August, at this link.

Everything!  I was reading this month's Glamour this morning and noticed that Sandra Bullock was casually dressed in a bunch of different purple-y hues.  I love how they look on her! We all knew purple was sweeping the scene this summer, but I'm totally loving it way more than I expected to. Get some purple into your routine... ... with the perfect purple polishes (like Sandra's!).  OPI has faithfully given us all of the vibrant violet shades that we can handle, and our staff favorites include OPI Miami Beet, OPI Louvre Me Louvre Me Not & OPI Bogota Blackberry.  Creme, shimmery, pearly- we love it all. ... with a dramatic eyeshadow for at night.  Our personal favorite is Tigi Bed Head's Cyberoptics Eyeshadow in Passion.  A warm purple with a subtle sparkle.  Perfect! ... with Betty Beauty's Sexy Betty hair dye kit... for the hair down there. ... with a subtle twist of eyeliner in a violet hue.  Rosie Jane's Grapevine eye define is shaped to allow for the perfect amount of control and blending, so that you can add just the right amount of purple to neutral eye make-up. ... with Beauty of a Site.  Purple's our signature color, after all. :) How are you getting your violet fix? Fill us in!

I've always been told that eating an apple will wake you up much faster than a cup of coffee. Whether that's true or not, nothing's more of a pick me up than a fresh orange in the middle of the afternoon! What is it about fruit that's so exciting? We're not quite sure about the specifics, but we know that when we're suffering from mid-afternoon laziness, fruit is the perfect summer-y pick me up. Here's some tips for getting some fruit-y wonderfulness into your routine:

• Toss a lemon in with your water.  Not only will the little citrus improve taste, but your water bottle looks so much sunnier!
• Wear a bright fruity nail polish shade on your toes.  When you slip off your heels in the afternoon, you can enjoy your OPI Banana Bandana pedicure!
• Add a cherry red accessory to classic black clothes or the perfect orange accent.  Those bright, fruity shades can be truly chic- and so fun!
• Snack on grapes at your desk.  Easy clean-up, easy to eat and necessitates no quick swallowing when the phone rings!
• Throw on some fruity lip balm.  Agatha Ruiz' Tutti Fruity is the perfect pick-me-up.
• Wear a fruity lotion on your hands that is fun enough to give your cubicle, car or bathroom a little extra flavor, but not overpowering to your coworkers, dentist or students.  We suggest California Mango Natural Lotion.  Mmmm.

Check out four brand new neons from Essie for Summer 2009! Back by popular demand this year's neons are bolder, brighter and more beautiful than ever!

Try Essie's newest collection, featuring three incredible blues!

Although my favorite way to utilize coconuts involves Margarita mix and those cute little umbrellas, I have found an even better way to celebrate and treat myself to an extra special skincare treat. Essie’s new Naturally Clean Collection Purifying Hand Wash is infused with the ultra rich and uber healthy coconut oil. Did you know?

• Coconut oil is not only an anti-bacterial, its can be used as an anti-fungal and an anti-viral solution for problem areas on your skin. This is due to is unique properties that mimic the processes used by breast milk to protect babies from infection.
• Coconut oil stimulates your metabolism and aids in weight loss. Next time you’re at the grocery store pick up some macaroons, cream soups and crackers – they all contain a good amount of lauric acid (the good stuff found in coconut oil). If you’re feeling exceptionally frisky, try some coconut milk – it’s akin to the nuttier flavored soy milks but not sold in most supermarkets.
• Researchers are studying the beneficial effects of coconut oil in treating diseases such as HIV/AIDS, herpes, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol, influenza and certain types of cancer.
• Coconut oil based products are effortlessly perfect for any skin. They serve as a great moisturizer as well as aid in the treatment of psoriasis, dermatitis, and eczema. Finally, products containing coconut oil assist in your fight against aging, wrinkles, and sagging – the things we dread the most! Ah!

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125" caption="Essie Naturally Clean Purifying Hand Wash"][/caption] Now that we know a little more about the advantages of coconut oil, it’s time to spring into action! Transitioning from winter to summer can dry skin out and cause unwanted, flaky irritations. We suggest trying Essie’s Naturally Clean Purifying Hand Wash – it’s new, it’s natural and it smells remarkable! Got any other splendid natural products made with coconut oil? Leave a comment and let us know what works for you!

Beauty of a Site is offering OPI Designer Series Colors at a discounted price for the month of March. Get them now while they're hot!