Cult of Pretty

This is a fine, fine example of the power of packaging. Want them all.

Does this: Look good on your nails AND your dresser, also 3-free.
Is this: Michael Marcus Nail Polish
Get this: Above
Price: $15

Fuchsia + yellow … I wouldn’t have thought of it myself.

Via: Little Plastic Horses

You know greige (grey + beige)?  We broke up.  I’ve moved on. I’m all about preige now (purple + … you guessed it).

I love this color because my skin has kind of pink/purple dawn of the dead undertones, so as far as darker colors go, it’s very flattering.  I just can’t do a brown or a dark red - it makes me look unwell.

From top to bottom nail in the image above:

1. Sally Hansen Commander in Chic ($6.99) | 2. Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro Steel Grey ($3.78) | 3. Essie Glamour Purse ($8.00)

The Essie is a little browner than the others, which are extremely similar (possibly the exact same - it happens).

What’s your favorite new nail color for Fall?

I love this idea of color matching. Doesn’t it make you inspired for Fall?  All those scarves and hats + a lip to match.  It’s old school but I like it.

Would you/do you ever match your lipstick to your outfit/accessories?

via

Fall is going to be SO all about red, don’t you think? It’s kind of the lazy girl’s cult beauty secret, because a red lip needs nothing else.

Image: Vogue Russia by Emma Tempest via

Public announcement: if you have your hair professionally colored, talk to your financial adviser about protecting your assets.  Don’t have a financial adviser? I just put on some loafers and got an MBA online. So:

I had my hair colored recently at the Sally Hershberger salon in Chelsea, NYC by the brilliant Nikki Ferrara.  She took a bleached out, orange-y mess and without a photo turned it into literally a carbon copy of my 2-year-old son’s blond hair, with all the dimension that comes with natural color.  She added highlights, lowlights, and finished with a toner.  It was just beyond the beyond; it would have been financially irresponsible to let sun/city/pool/harsh shampoo ruin it. 

So I developed my own little system for hair protection, in the form of this triumvirate of goodies.  

1. Tone: To maintain the toning effect, which keeps the blond looking fresh and in my opinion keeps the lowlights looking darker, I shampoo with Clairol Shimmer Lights shampoo for old ladies.  I recommend this over the conditioner, and very much recommend it over other toning shampoos.  ~$19.00 here.

2. Wrap: If I’m swimming or out on the water/at the beach, I put my hair in a bun and spray it with Kérastase Huile Céleste Shimmering Protective Mist.  It’s a sparkling conditioning spray with UVA/UVB protection - so gorgeous.  $39.00 here.

3. Protect: At the end of the day, the absolute best you can do is cover your hair to protect it against UV light and heat that will bleach out your color. Besides, it looks chic. Example: this is a really nice hat (check the two-tone version too) and it’s only $12.99. Times that by about THIRTY and that’s about how much it would cost to have Nikki fix the fading.  Duh.  Here.  

Here’s more GPOY for you.  James did the cut.  Instagram’s not the best for capturing color but you get the gist.

Image: Lindsey Ellingson, Allure via, hair c/o Sally Hershberger Salon

Homeslices, if you’re looking to upgrade your nail polish wardrobe, now’s the time.

Refinery29 has a 50% off reserve deal with Priti, plus an exclusive color kit.  Spend $25 -> get $50, spend $50 -> get $100 in their online store here.

Also, if you’ve been freaking about how dangerous nail polish is, throw your old stuff out and replace with these safe ones.  Priti nail polishes have no Formaldehyde, Dibutyl Phathalate (DBP), Toluene or Camphor and they’re Cruelty Free and 100% Vegan.