“Women, in particular, spend a lot of money on pedicures and manicures. If you just simply buffed your nails, you wouldn’t have to get a manicure more than once a month, because the only reason you go back to get manicures all the time is because your nail polish is chipped. And I’m an extremely wealthy woman and you don’t see me ever having nail polish on, because it’s such a waste of time and money.”

Ok.  I understand that mani pedis fall a bit lower than food and shelter on the basic human needs hierarchy, however, I think they are a reasonable indulgence.  Since the economic downturn, I have certainly pared back my purchases of expensive clothes, extravagant vacations, and sushi.  However, at some point, being frugal is exhausting and a girl’s gotta indulge.  It seems to me that a mani/pedi, when compared to a new dress, haircut and highlights (Suze!), or a trip to St Barts, getting my nails did is an excellent use of my time and money.

That’s just my opinion.  I could be wrong.  It’s happened before.

Video Source: Rappler.com

Click here to watch Suze on YouTube.

What do you think?  Are manis a waste of time and money or a reasonable indulgence?

Just a little laugh for your Monday morning.  At least I think it’s a joke…

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I first came across Tanee last year when they were featured at a health and beauty conference as an up-and-coming brand to watch.  It is one of those products that you can’t believe you ever lived with out – and you question why no one came up with it sooner!  Tanee is a pen loaded with self tanner that helps correct unwanted tan lines or, in my case, self tanner mishaps!

We are giving away FIVE Tanee tan line corrector pens this week!*  Click here to enter!  Then, share the love – you can earn an extra 5 entries for each pal who enters!

Want to see Tanee in action?  Check out their video:

Krystal
Polish Guru at PolishGalore

Over the past year, Krystal has become our gloss48 polish guru.  She is our go-to for the hottest new and cult nail polish lines!  Her blog, Polish Galore, is a playground for polish lovers – chock full of color swatches. She was actually third person within the span of a week to rave to me about vegan, 5-free, long-lasting, haute lacquer line LVX!

Meet Krystal and shop the 2013 Summer Collection from LVX through Monday, June 17th on gloss48!  LVX lacquers usually retail for $16 each , but you can snap up duos from the current collection for 30% off at gloss48!

Haute Lacquer: LVX colors straight from the runway

Q.  What is your favorite color from the Summer 2013 LVX collection?

A.  The PolishGalore pick from the Summer 2013 LVX collection is Celeste. A beautiful powder blue crème that has white undertones gives you the crisp feeling of a fresh color without the starkness of a pure white.

LVX Celeste
Source: PolishGalore

Q.  What is the one nail trend you will never follow?

A.  One nail trend I will never follow is the flared out “duck tailed” sculpted nail shape. It’s not functional and does not look visually appealing on my hands.

Q.  Any advice for those of us who are DIY/home manicure challenged?

A.  My advice for the “home manicured challenged” is

1. Always protect your nails by wearing a base coat. Even if you don’t add color, a base coat will give your nails shine while protecting them from breaks, bumps and scratches.
2. Go slow! Don’t be afraid to make mistakes and have messy fingers. Take your time and clean up using a small brush (like the e.l.f. concealer brush for only $1!) dipped in nail polish remover to get the excess polish from your cuticles. Always apply thin coats of polish so they will dry faster and fully.
3. Find a top coat that works for you and wrap your tips. While holding your brush vertically next to the free edge of your nail, coat the tip to “wrap” the polish over the top and down the inside of your nail. This helps keep your polish from tip wear and chipping at the edge.

Check out the rest of Krystal’s LVX swatches and then shop the Summer Collection 2013 on gloss48.com:

LVX Modena
Source: PolishGalore

LVX Rive
Source: PolishGalore

LVX Deco
Source: PolishGalore

LVX Mynt
Source: PolishGalore

LVX Chambord
Source: PolishGalore

As a GLOSS BOSS winner, Krystal was offered complimentary product from LVX.  Too bad she already owns the ENTIRE COLLECTION (I kid you not).  She was also granted early access to the gloss48 LVX sale for her and her friends, and, of course, endless fame! Click here to apply to be our next GLOSS BOSS!

Source: inhabitots.com

“…Laura Mercier uses Octyl Methoxycinnamate and Menthyl Anthranilate in this moisturizer. Octyl Methoxycinnamate absorbs only UVB rays (280-320 nm) and Menthyl Anthranilate absorbs in the UVA region but only in the near UV-A (also known as UV II.) Ideally you want broad spectrum protection that includes the far end of the UVA spectrum (known as UVA-I) and for that you need an ingredient like Avobenzone or a blocker like zinc oxide.”

Click here to read the full post by The Beauty Brains.

If you are looking for solid UVA protection, go for products with Avobenzone or zinc oxide.

Class dismissed!

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• Baking Beauty: Baking Beauty reviews MAC’s Pure Decoration Lipstick.

Watch makeup artist Jessica Berndt and Fashion/Lifestyle Blogger Noelani Zervas teach us how to achieve the perfect, Gatsby Glam red lip and then shop Bésame – our favorite red lipstick – on gloss48:

If you are having trouble viewing the video, click here to get the Perfect Red Lip on YouTube!

Michelle R.
GLOSS BOSS

Team gloss48 is excited to announce our next GLOSS BOSS, Michelle R.!  Michelle is a lover of all things beauty, particularly her dramatic, yet reliable red lipstick from Bésame.  As you know, we are also big fans of this vintage-inspired cosmetics line!  Meet Michelle and shop her GLOSS BOSS sale featuring Bésame lipsticks from now through Wednesday, June 12th on gloss48!

Q: Including everything in your bathroom from toothpaste to hair dryer, how many beauty products and tools do you use before you leave the house in the morning?

A: I’m a stay-at-home mom so my usual makeup routine is really simple: Skin79 BB cream because it has a good sunblock, my beloved sormeh eyeliner, a little blush, mascara and e.l.f.’s eyelash curler, and my Bésame Red lipstick. That’s right; I rock the red lipstick when I’ve got nothing more to do than pick up my kids at school. If I’ve got a special night planned, I’ll add eyeshadow to the mix but my hot weather look usually goes without it.

Q: We know you love Bésame lipstick, what is your favorite color?

A: Bésame Red is it for me. I get compliments on it every single time I wear it! I’ve had women pull out a piece of paper and jot down the name of the company so they can go find it for themselves.

Bésame Red Lipstick

Q: Some women find red lips intimidating. Do you have any advice for the ladies who are dying to try it?

A: A lot of women feel red lips are too bold or that they can’t find the right shade or it feathers so badly, they don’t want to bother with having to check their lipstick all day. No one has time for that. That’s where Bésame can help. Their website shows their various lipstick colors on different skin tones so you’re able to see what the shade will look like with your coloring. It doesn’t feather the way so many other lipsticks do and you won’t have to keep applying it ten times a day because Bésame’s lipsticks are really long-lasting. If you can nail the color and feel confident that your lipstick is on your lips, where it should be, you can wear it confidently. And if you’re still not sure red is for you, keep wearing it. Give it time! Sometimes, you need to get used to seeing yourself with a new look. After a few days, you won’t recognize yourself without your new signature color. And if you decide pink is really your signature color instead of red, Bésame has some really lovely, vintage shades to try!

Bésame Red Lipstick Swatches
Source: BésameCosmetics.com

As a GLOSS BOSS winner, Michelle received complimentary product from Bésame, early access to the gloss48 Bésame sale for her and her friends, and endless fame! Click here to apply to be our next GLOSS BOSS!

Someday, I will brazenly sport my electric blue lashes – probably in concert with my electric blue hat and suit – but not today.

Are you daring enough for blue, teal, or yellow mascara?  Send your pics to info@gloss48.com and we will post them!