Fine Wine Nail Colors

Bottoms up! Today's National Wine Day. 

Whether you prefer white, red or sparklng wine, life's a cabernet. Now's the time to kick off your shoes, fill up your glass and treat yourself to a mani/pedi.

As you toast and treasure this special day, enjoy these vine-inspired lacquers. Cheers!

CND

BEAUTY: Copper Chrome (Chardonnay), Fireberry (Sangria) and Muddy Rose (Rosé). BEACON: Three free (contains no toluene, formaldehyde or dibutyl phthalate).

Essie

BEAUTY: In Stitches (Rosé) and Limited Addiction (Grenache). BEACON: Three free (contains no dibutyl phthalate, toluene or formaldehyde).

OPI Products

BEAUTY: Barefoot in Barcelona (White Zinfandel), Glove You So Much! (Cabernet) and DS Glow (Sparkling Wine). BEACON: OPI donates to the American Heart Association, Gilda’s Club Worldwide and the Leukemia Research Foundation through the Schaeffer Family Foundation. 

SpaRitual

BEAUTY: Savoir Faire (White Zinfandel) and Spread Your Wings (Pinot Noir). BEACON: Vegan, and contains no synthetic dyes, dibutyl phthalate, toluene or formaldehyde.

Zoya Nail Polish

BEAUTY: Tiffany (Rosé), Dakota (Syrah) and Richelle (Sparkling Wine). BEACON: Contains no toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin or dibutyl phthalate.

Sun Kissed or Sun Dissed?

Gold and silver trump bronze at the Olympics, but not in Hollywood when it comes to tanned bodies. Many celebrities use their sun-kissed skin as a status symbol. 

Charlize Theron

Audrina Patridge

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes

However, as we learn more about the damaging effects of the sun, bronze bodies no longer represent health and wellness. Overexposure to ultraviolet rays often leads to premature aging and hyperpigmentation, or even worse--skin cancer. In fact, about 65 percent of melanoma cases can be attributed to ultraviolet radiation from the sun, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.

As we celebrate National Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month, check out the latest sun protection factor (SPF) products.

BEAUTY: Eminence Organic Skin Care Caramel Latte Tinted Moisturizer SPF 25 contains shea butter and aloe vera to moisturize, and coenzyme Q10 and alpha lipoic acid to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles. BEACON: The company's ingredient farm in Hungary is powered by solar and wind energy. 

BEAUTY: First Aid Beauty 5 in 1 Face Cream SPF 30 utilizes antioxidants such as licorice root, feverfew and white tea to help combat free radicals. BEACON: Contains no parabens, phthalates, alcohol, fragrances or artificial dyes.

BEAUTY: HydroPeptide SPF 30 features acai berry, which is said to have 10 times more antioxidants than red grapes and 10 to 30 times more anthocyanins than red wine. BEACON: No animal testing, and paraben, synthetic fragrance and phthalate free.

BEAUTY: Innovative Skincare SPF 25 Treatment Sunscreen hydrates, smoothes and softens skin with aloe vera, olive leaf extract and vitamin E. BEACON: Supports Stars for Stripes and National Breast Cancer Coalition. 

BEAUTY: SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50 utilizes artemia salina, a plankton extract, to protect skin from free radical damage. BEACON: Paraben free.

BEAUTY: True Natural Cosmetics Active Sunscreen SPF 40 boosts collagen with cocoa butter and jojoba oil, while aloe vera helps shield the skin against environmental factors. BEACON: No animal testing and certified by the Natural Products Association.

Sleeping Beauty Creams

Getting adequate sleep prevents premature aging. Perhaps that's why so many high-profile politicians have been spotted practicing this beauty ritual.

Vice president Joe Biden dozes during a recent budget speech.

It's lights out for former President Bill Clinton during a Martin Luther King Day speech.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney catches up on his beauty sleep during a meeting with former President George W. Bush.

Sen. John McCain counts a few sheep during a State of the Union address.

Night creams can also turn back the harsh hands of time--sans public humiliation. In honor of National Better Sleep Month, check out the latest multitasking formulations.

BEAUTY: B. Kamins, Chemist Night Cream contains vitamins A and E, and apricot oil, to repair and restore the skin's moisture balance. BEACON: No animal testing. Also supports PJs For the Cure and the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation. 

BEAUTY: Burt's Bees Radiance Night Creme utilizes almond oil and Royal Jelly, which is made of nectar, pollen, flower parts, vitamins and minerals, to replenish and refresh the skin. BEACON: Supports The Greater Good Foundation and Habitat for Humanity.

BEAUTY: Murad Age Reform Sleep Reform Serum contains peptides and algae extracts to help increase collagen production and firm the texture of the skin. BEACON: No animal testing. Also supports and sponsors animal rescue groups and oceanographic teaching institutions. 

BEAUTY: H2O Plus Sea Results Deep Sleep Recovery Serum utilizes peptides, retinol and marine extracts to hydrate the skin and soften the appearance of expression lines. BEACON: No animal testing.

Fruit Cocktail Nail Colors

Listen up beauty foodies. Today's National Fruit Cocktail Day!

What better way to celebrate the colorful combination of diced pears, grapes, peaches, pineapples and cherries than with a mani or pedi? We like to call it cafeteria couture, since that's where the classic concoction originally became a staple.

Take a look-see at our favorite fruity lacquers.


Essie

BEAUTY (L to R): Red Nouveau (Cherry), Tart Deco (Peach) and Show Me the Ring (Pear). BEACON: Contains no dibutyl phthalate, toluene or formaldehyde.


OPI Products

BEAUTY (L to R): Girls Just Want to Play (Cherry), Stranger Tides (White Grape), Need Sunglasses? (Pineapple) and Pearl of Wisdom (Pear). BEACON: Through the Schaeffer Family Foundation, OPI donates to the American Heart Association, Gilda’s Club Worldwide and the Leukemia Research Foundation. 


SpaRitual

BEAUTY (L to R): Enlightened Soul (Pineapple), Revere (Peach), Eye of the Beholder (White Grape) and Paradigm Shift (Pear). BEACON: Vegan, and contains no synthetic dyes, dibutyl phthalate, toluene or formaldehyde.

Zoya Nail Polish

BEAUTY (L to R): Jancyn (Peach), Pippa (Pineapple), Maura (Cherry) and Mitzi Matte (White Grape). BEACON: Contains no toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin or dibutyl phthalate.

Kate Middleton Hair Apparent

Like Jennifer Aniston and Farrah Fawcett, the long shimmering locks of Prince William's bride-to-be Kate Middleton have nearly reached cult status. When the couple's engagement was announced last year, sales of shine booster hair products skyrocketed.

Dubbed the "unofficial hair to the throne," the princess-to-be has opted against a stuffy up-do for the Royal Wedding tomorrow. Instead, Middleton's chosen to wear her sleek, chestnut-colored hair down for a more contemporary look, according to her London hairstylist Richard Ward. With the ceremony taking place at Westminster Abbey before an estimated audience of 2 billion viewers, we'll soon see what her famed flowing locks look like underneath a tiara and veil.

To achieve her high-gloss style, you need high-quality shampoos, conditioners and masques. Check out the following innovations from hair product pros.

BEAUTY: Cali Cosmetics Oliva Capelli Hair Cleanser and Oliva Crema Hair Masque add moisture and shine with olive oil. BEACON: Cruelty free, and contains no parabens or SLS.

BEAUTY: Head Organics 2-in-1 Shampoo & Conditioner provides residue-free hydration with cranberry fruit and rosemary leaf extracts, and jojoba seed oil. BEACON: No animal testing and packaged in recyclable containers. Also contains no sulfates, parabens, glycol, colorants or gluten.

BEAUTY: Iden Cosmetics Plant Omega 3 Shampoo restores elasticity with nutrients from flax seed, black currant and perilla, and Botanical Energy Conditioner maximizes fullness with ginseng, hemp seed and aloe extracts. BEACON: Contains no sulfates.

BEAUTY: Joico Re:Nu Age Defy Fullness & Body Shampoo gently energizes the scalp for fuller, thicker hair, and Softness & Manageability Conditioner replenishes lost moisture with rice oil. BEACON: Supports City of Hope and Beauty For a Cure.

BEAUTY: Liz Earle Botanical Shine Shampoo (For All Hair Types) repairs and restores luminosity with vitamin E, aloe vera, West African shea butter, and apple and orange extracts. BEACON: Contains no animal extracts, synthetic fragrance or SLS.

BEAUTY: Peter Lamas Avocado & Olive Ultra Smoothing Shampoo and Conditioner (For Frizzy, Unruly and Coarse Hair) repairs and restores shine with vitamins A, B and E. BEACON: Vegan and cruelty free, and contains no parabens, petrochemicals or SLS.

Face and Body Spring Cleaning

The devoted pursuit of personal cleanliness can be traced as far back as ancient civilization. In fact, the Romans elevated it to a fine art. Their rituals included disrobing, bathing, sweating, receiving a massage and resting--procedures most American spas follow today. 

Fast forward several hundred centuries, and our faces and bodies now contend with an assortment of undesirable factors. Dirt and debris from our environment, hair, clothing, bedding and even oils from our own skin wreak havoc. Plus, makeup, moisturizers and sunscreens produce added contaminants.


The latest facial and body cleansers purify and protect. They provide multiple benefits to minimize premature aging, clogged pores, inflammation, sagging skin and pigmentation issues.

BEAUTY: 100% Pure Pink Grapefruit Hydrating Body Wash nourishes with vitamins and antioxidants, and brightens with pink grapefruit, pomegranate and goji berry. BEACON: Vegan, and gluten and cruelty free.

BEAUTY: Eminence Organic Skin Care Lime Cleansing Masque repairs with antioxidant-rich green, white and rooibos teas, and revitalizes with lime juice. BEACON: The company's ingredient farm in Hungary is powered by solar and wind energy. 

BEAUTY: Goldfaden Daily Cleanser increases radiance and antiaging protection with red tea, and moisturizes with hyaluronic acid and seaweed extract. BEACON: Vegan, no animal testing, and free of parabens, colorants, alcohol, mineral oils, petrochemicals and silicones. 

BEAUTY: iS CLINICAL Cream Cleanser softens skin with safflower seed and coconut oils, and doesn't need to be rinsed with water. BEACON: An active duty female soldier inspired the company to create this product, so she and other military personnel could use it in the field where water isn't readily available.

BEAUTY: Luzern Laboratories Pure Cleansing Créme purifies and hydrates with lemon peel and cucumber fruit extracts. BEACON: Free of parabens, fragrance, glycols, colorants, mineral oil, petrolatum, alcohol, nitrates, dyes and formaldehyde releasers.

BEAUTY: MAYAWATER Facial Mist revitalizes and cleanses dry, tired skin with Norwegian thermal spa water. BEACON: For every bottle purchased, the company donates 1% to charitable organizations that support clean water projects.

BEAUTY: One Love Organics Foaming Cleanser softens skin with glycerin, organic quillaja bark extract and apple seed oil. BEACON: Cruelty free, and supports Care and Children’s Scholarship Fund.

BEAUTY: Saian Perle Replenishing Cleanser hydrates and calms with aloe vera, chamomile and azulene. BEACON: Vegan and cruelty free, and contains no parabens, artificial fragrance, colorants or propylene glycol. 

Earth Day Mineral Makeup

One of the best cosmetics products for your skin comes directly from the earth. 


Used in foundations, blushes, mascaras, shadows and liners, mineral makeup contains a unique composition of natural ingredients. Mica creates color and luminosity, while bismuth oxychloride provides pearlescent pigment. Zinc oxide contains anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, and titanium dioxide offers protection from environmental factors, including UVA rays and wind.


Known for their pureness and ability to calm the skin, these finely ground minerals appeal to acne and rosacea sufferers--as well as eco-conscious consumers. The ingredients contain no fragrances, binders, synthetic dyes, talc or preservatives.


Many mineral makeup formulations also include anti-aging antioxidants such as green tea and pomegranate extracts, and vitamins A, C and E. In honor of Earth Day, take a look at the latest product innovations.

BEAUTY: Advanced Mineral Makeup Perfecting Concealer (Beige Cream) covers dark circles and Loose Mineral Foundation (Angelina) serves as an all-on-one concealer, SPF 30 and foundation. BEACON: Vegan and non-comedogenic.

BEAUTY: gloMinerals gloEye Shadow Trio (Champagne Rose) sports shades of pink, warm brown and cream as contour, highlighter and liner. BEACON: Non-comedogenic.

BEAUTY: Jane Iredale My Steppes (Cool and Warm) contains two lips glosses (featuring mint and ginger extracts), and blush and bronzer (featuring pine bark and pomegranate extracts). BEACON: Supports Global Green USA (the American arm of Green Cross International), which promotes sustainability.

BEAUTY: Sormé Treatment Cosmetics Mineral Blush (Confidence) employs amino acids, which hydrate the skin and allow color to apply evenly. BEACON: Contains no talc or dyes.

BEAUTY: Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics Mineral Radiance Moisture Tint (Natural) hydrates and shields skin from environmental damage, and Mineral Radiance Creme Powder Foundation (Barely Beige) helps moisturize and soothe redness. BEACON: No animal testing, and contains no oils or alcohol.