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After years of suffering under the delusion that el cheapo brands are just as good as high-priced fare, we've given in to Chanel nail polish. Not only are Chanel's colors more fashion-forward than what's lining the shelves at your average nail place—hey, they invented Vamp, so don't mess with them—they last longer on your nails (less chipping) and in the bottle (less glopping). Our favorite of the season's colors is Boa, a vibrant, violet-tinged fuchsia that complements skin tones across the warm-cool and light-dark spectra. $16.50 at www.gloss.com |
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Hot on the heels of new-look versions of Poison, Nu, Eternity, et al, the mellowing of the Big Perfumes continues with Opium Eau d'Ete, a peppery, citrusy takedown of the original slutty scent by Yves Saint Laurent. It's just in time for the hotter months, when a dousing of Opium proper is a bit bordelloish even to cover the smell of New York City garbage. Summer-friendlier still is Opium Eau d'Ete Voile de Fraicheur Ppour le Corps, a non-sticky body lotion with a very low-key hint of gold shimmer and a less-low-key dose of juice. It's limited edition for the season, so get on the stick. $44 for 3.3 fl oz of Eau de Toilette; $30 for 6.6 fl oz of lotion, at www.sephora.com.
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Should you prefer body shimmer that's even more ready-for-your-close-up, Prescriptives Sunsheen is a must-buy. Designed with miniskirt season (o cruelest months!) and its attendant now-on-view varicose veins and cellulite in mind, the creamy, bronzy shimmer foundation promises to set to non-transfer after five minutes. The absolute truth? Not quite. We advise a little post-application buffing lest hems, collars and cuffs also get that J.Lo glow. $25 at www.gloss.com
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We like it with our hot dogs, and we like it on our face. Papaya has been a storied source of glycolic acid almost since the start of the exfoliation craze of the early nineties, and Pacifica's Green Papaya Smoothing & Exfoliation Treatment is a mask so full of it you might be tempted to ask someone to pass the mustard. (Other active ingredients include pineapple juice and apple pectin—hey wait, pass the rum.) Apply the tangy slime to your face and then rub with moderate vigor "to activate the enzymes." You'll feel it working after a few minutes, but leave it on as long as 40 for maximum brightening if your skin isn't too sensitive (or someone really did pass the rum). $29 at www.pacificanaturalskincare.com
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Japanese cosmetics giant Kanebo is known as the purveyor of La Creme, a moisturizer that retails for $500 a jar—so when you think about it, you're hitting the bargain basement for paying $30 for a bottle of their new haircare line. Kanebo's rich, old-lady-smelling goops—three shampoos and three conditioners—contain protein essence that purportedly comes from pearls. Whether or not semi-precious stones have anything to do with how well the stuff works, it does so beautifully: the lather is rich and the conditioners penetrate without leaving a film. $30, $45 for Intensive Hair Mask at kanebo-international.com
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