Mardi Gras Manis

Let the fun and frivolity begin. Today's Fat Tuesday, which means it's all about the Big Easy, Bourbon Street, beads--and maybe a few brews.


Fat Tuesday, also known as Mardi Gras, falls on the day before Ash Wednesday on the Catholic calendar. In the 12 days leading up to it, dozens of celebrations take place in the French Quarter of New Orleans with parades of fancy floats, and face-painted revelers wearing elaborate masks, wild costumes and tons of colorful beads. Call it Halloween on steroids with lots of sparkle. 


In honor of Fat Tuesday, we've created four shimmering Mardi Gras Manis. The traditional colors of the festivities--gold, purple and green--serve as the inspiration. 

SHINE: Dazzle Dry Grape Lollipop (purple), Sahara (yellow) and Emerald (green jewel effect). BEAUTY: Parade around in a purple mani featuring two accent nails of yellow (ring finger) and green (pinky).

BEACON: Vegan, and contains no formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate or nitrocellulose. 

Mani model/nail artist: Natalie J. Wilson

SHINE: Milani Nail Lacquer High Speed Fast Dry Yellow Whiz (warm canary cream) and Milani Nail Art Purple Outline (purple glitter). BEAUTY: Unmask the glory of yellow digits with shimmery purple tips.

BEACON: Free of dibutyl phthalate, toluene and formaldehyde.

SHINE: SpaRitual Disco Inferno Shimmer (iridescent purple), Enlightened Soul Creme (bright yellow) and Earth Matters (green glitter). BEAUTY: The party never ends with this color block mani. Begin with a top coat and then paint each nail with two coats of yellow. Next, apply two layers of green to the top two-thirds of each digit. Finish with two coats of a wide purple bar down the center of the yellow block and a top coat. 

BEACON: Vegan, and contains no synthetic dyes, dibutyl phthalate, toluene or formaldehyde.

Mani model/nail artist: Natalie J. Wilson

SHINE: Zoya Nail Polish Holly (gem-toned, metallic green), Charisma (neon magenta/purple cream) and Creamy (bright yet soft banana peel shade of yellow). BEAUTY: Enhance the fun and festivities of Fat Tuesday--or any other day of the week--with a sparkling green mani accented by a purple/magenta ring finger nail with a yellow tip.

BEACON: No animal testing. Also contains no toluene, camphor, formaldehyde or dibutyl phthalate.

Grammy Hair Look: Adele's Honey Blonde Long Bob

Adele emerged as the belle of the ball at the Grammy Awards last Sunday. The 23-year-old British soul singer went six-for-six in a clean sweep, including trophy take-homes in the top three categories: Album, Record and Song of the Year.

The cockney crooner looked stunning in a black Alexander McQueen long-sleeved gown. Her hair also hit a high note. She traded in her usual '60s backcombed bouffant for a bouncy, lighter-than-usual honey blonde long bob. The look worked well with her flawless complexion, and pinup-inspired red lips and extra long lashes.

It's easy to rock the same hot hair look. You just need the right products for color-treated locks, and tools that create fullness and volume. Check out the following fab finds. 

SHINE: Bio Supplements Mocha Cappuccino Shampoo and Conditioner (For Dry, Chemically-Treated Hair). BEAUTY: Cocoa and coffee extracts help hydrate and provide anti-fade protection. BEACON: No animal testing. 

 SHINE: Infiniti PRO by Conair Volume Boost Hair Dryer. BEAUTY: 1875-watt AC motor, volume-boost styling tool attachment, ionic ceramic technology and three heat/two speed switches for temperature and air-flow control promote fullness and minimize frizz. BEACON: Supports The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

SHINE: Jason Color Protect Henna Pure Natural Shampoo and Conditioner. BEAUTY: Henna extract fights fading, while wheat protein maximizes luster. BEACON: No animal testing. Also free of petrolatum, parabens, SLS and phthalates.

SHINE: John Frieda JFC 10 Volume Curls 1.5-Inch Barrel. BEAUTY: Ceramic titanium coated barrel, advanced ionic conditioning, 30-second instant heat and LCD temperature control enhance manageability, definition and curl. BEACON: Kao Brands, the parent company, supports United Way and Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières.

SHINE: Nature Pure Labs Rejuvahair Volumizing VitaBotanical Shampoo and Rejuvahair Hippophae Restoring Hair Conditioner. BEAUTY: Formulated with jojoba seed oil and vitamins A and E to enhance softness and fullness. BEACON: No animal testing. Contains no parabens.  

 SHINE: Pureology Serious Colour Care Hydrate Shampoo and Hydrate Condition. BEAUTY: The shampoo features wheat, soy and oat proteins, and sunflower seed oil and aloe vera leaf extract, while the conditioner utilizes jojoba and shea butters, and peppermint, sage and rosemary leaf extracts, to aid in moisture and color retention. BEACON: Vegan, and free of sulfates and salt. Also supports Global Green USA.

SHINE: TouchBack Plus Instant Color Renewal Leave-In Conditioner (Ash Blonde, Light Brown and Dark Auburn). BEAUTY: Wheat protein, wild rose extract and lemon peel oil promote shine, fade protection and manageability. BEACON: Vegan and no animal testing. Free of ammonia, peroxide and sulfates.

Sexy Lip Gloss Shades For Valentine's Day

Photo by Shazeen Samad

Looking for the perfect pout on Valentine's Day? Well, pucker up!

Lip gloss adds shine, sparkle and style to any smile. Even better, many manufacturers now offer formulas containing unique blends of botanicals, peptides and antioxidants to not only plump your pout but protect it against environmental irritants. Ultimately, your lips appear more voluptuous for an alluring look.

Have a happy Valentine's Day--and get kissable close with the following sexy shades.

SHINE: Babor Cosmetics Ultra Shine Lip Gloss ("Crystal Pink," a sparkling sheer hot pink). BEAUTY: Sea fennel, lupine oil and vitamin E protect the lips from loss of moisture. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports Dolphin Aid.

SHINE: Elf Studio Minty Lip Gloss ("New York City," a reddish-pink shade with silver shimmer). BEAUTY: Peppermint and spearmint oils condition lips and freshen breath. BEACON: Cruelty free.

SHINE: Essence Stay With Me Longstanding Lipgloss ("Berry Me!," a raspberry/magenta hue). BEAUTY: Creamy yet durable texture leaves no sticky feeling. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Milani Haute Flash Full Coverage Shimmer Lipgloss ("In A Flash," a violet shade with purple and blush shimmer). BEAUTY: A flexible soft sponge tip provides easy application of this non-tacky, anti-feathering formula. BEACON: Cruelty free.

SHINE: Smashbox Limitless Long Wear Lip Gloss SPF 15 ("Forever," a barely there pink hue). BEAUTY: Vitamins A, C and E, and sea kale revitalize and nourish lips with a silky texture. BEACON: Cruelty free.

SHINE: Sormé Treatment Cosmetics Lip Thick Super Plumping Lip Gloss ("Empress," a mandarin orange sorbet shade). BEAUTY: Aloe vera prevents cracking, while peptides stimulate natural collagen to increase fullness. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports Look Good...Feel Better.

SHINE: Sue Devitt Lip Enhancing Gloss ("Costa Del Sol," a rich mocha hue). BEAUTY: Hyaluronic filling spheres smooth fine lines and wrinkles. BEACON: No animal testing. Paraben free.

SHINE: Vapour Organic Beauty Elixir Plumping Lip Gloss ("Vivid," a sheer fuchsia shade with a silver accent). BEAUTY: Jojoba seed oil, and acai and goji fruit extracts help hydrate for fuller lips. BEACON: Supports the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute.

Read in the Bathtub Day: Nourishing Body Care

If you haven't played hooky from work or school yet this year, today might be the time to do it. It's National Read in the Bathtub Day.

R&R stands for read and relax--with no guilt attached. So feel free to act like you don't have a care in the world as you curl up with a good book and soak in the tub with no time restrictions.

In your pursuit of peacefulness, consider the following bath and body products--and enjoy your home spa day.  

 SHINE: Babor Vitamin A-C-E Body Cream (Body Line Thermal). BEAUTY: Sweet almond oil and vitamins A, C and E protect against environmental stress and strengthen skin's elasticity. BEACON: Supports Dolphin Aid.

SHINE: Burt's Bees Naturally Nourishing Milk & Shea Butter Body Wash. BEAUTY: Replenishes moisture with non-fat dry milk and shea butter. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates and petrochemicals.

SHINE: Elemis Tranquil Touch Creamy Body Wash and Quiet Mind Relaxing Bath Elixir. BEAUTY: The body wash utilizes sweet almond, cedarwood and patchouli oils, while the bath elixir uses eucalyptus leaf, lemon peel and patchouli oils to promote tranquility and skin conditioning. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of animal-derived collagen, synthetic perfumes and coloring, mineral oil, alcohol and silicones.

SHINE: Lather Yuzu Bergamot Body Wash and Manuka Body Butter with Grapefruit & Juniper. BEAUTY: The body wash features yuzu peel and bergamot fruit oils, as well as cucumber, green tea and rosemary extracts, while the body butter utilizes grapefruit peel and juniper berry fruit oils to cleanse and moisturize the skin, and uplift the senses. BEACON: Contains no sulfates or parabens.

SHINE: Malie Organics Body Cream. BEAUTY: Hydrates and soothes the skin with coconut, kukui and macadamia nut oils, and aloe vera leaf juice. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, sulfates and petroleum.

SHINE: Shea Terra Organics Ultimate Moisturizing Body Creme (Rubi Rose Hips). BEAUTY: Softens skin and reduces scaling with rose hips seed oil and shea butter. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Weleda Pomegranate Regenerating Body Oil and Pomegranate Creamy Body Wash. BEAUTY: The body oil utilizes pomegranate and jojoba seed oils, while the body wash features pomegranate, sesame and macadamia nut seed oils to promote skin renewal. BEACON: Free of synthetic fragrances, colorants, preservatives and raw materials derived from mineral oils. 

SHINE: Whish Body Wash and Body Butter. BEAUTY: The body wash uses aloe vera leaf juice, pomegranate oil and cucumber fruit extract, while the body butter features shea butter, raspberry juice and lavender oil to purify, firm and moisturize. BEACON: Free of parabens, sulfates and petrochemicals.

Get Madonna's Age-Defying Super Bowl Look

Did you catch Madge Madness at Sunday's Super Bowl? Madonna brought down the house during her comeback halftime show by performing classic hits, such as "Vogue" and "Like A Prayer," alongside her new release "Give Me All Your Luvin'." 

Fans say the 53-year-old pop icon looks better in 2012 than she did in 1982. She's fit, fabulous and, most of all, firm. No wrinkle would dare strike a pose on that face.

Madonna denies plastic surgery rumors. Instead, she credits her youthful radiance to anti-aging creams and a macrobiotic diet. This old school Material Girl appears to keep things fresh with the three Rs of skin care--repair, restore and renew. 

You can get the same look with the following serums, moisturizers and cleansers for the face, neck and bust. They're super smoothing and softening.

SHINE: VB Cosmetics Abrioné Face Lifting Serum. BEAUTY: Reduces puffiness, inflammation, sagging and wrinkles with Tibetan goji berry extracts and orange oil. BEACON: No animal testing. 

SHINE: Dermelect Self-Esteem Neck Firming Lift. BEAUTY: Avocado oil, green tea extract and shea butter hydrate, firm and tighten sensitive areas of the neck and jawline. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Elemis Pro-Collagen Lifting Treatment Neck and Bust. BEAUTY: Utilizes shea butter, and sunflower and macadamia nut seed oils to reduce skin crepiness by up to 33%, according to manufacturer. BEACON: No animal testing. Contains no synthetic perfumes or coloring, mineral oil, alcohol, silicones or genetically modified crops.

SHINE: Fleur's Intensive Wrinkle Firming Serum and First Wrinkle Cream. BEAUTY: Shea butter and linseed extract help preserve skin's youthfulness by smoothing expression lines. BEACON: No animal testing.  

SHINE: Kate Somerville Deep Tissue Repair. BEAUTY: Designed to reduce depth, density and volume of wrinkles with macadamia nut seed oil, peptides and grapefruit peel oil. BEACON: No animal testing. 

SHINE: Refineé Age Recovery Cream and Line Stop. BEAUTY: Utilizes peptides, green tea leaf extract and aloe vera to relax and diminish the look of expression lines, crows feet, furrows and folds. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Sanítas PeptiDerm Moisturizing Cream. BEAUTY: Peptides, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and shea butter help restore skin’s natural elasticity. BEACON: Supports the Cinderella Foundation.  

SHINE: Stages of Beauty Harmony Daily Cleanser and Exfoliating Scrub. BEAUTY: Designed to combat free radical damage and encourage a balanced and glowing complexion with sugar cane extract, and orange and lemon fruit extracts. BEACON: No animal testing. Also free of sulfates, parabens, petrochemicals, GMOs, phthalates, fragrance and synthetic dyes.

Wear Red Day Nail Lacquers

Katrina Bowden

Red catches people's attention. Perhaps it's because this bold and beautiful color symbolizes everything good in life--courage, loyalty, honor, success, fortune, fertility, happiness and passion.

It has also become an effective tool to raise awareness for women's heart health. The first Friday of February has been designated as Wear Red Day to kick off National Heart Month and recognize worthy efforts such as the Go Red For Women movement by the American Heart Association. So if you're not sporting a red dress, blouse, sweater, shoes, lips or nails today, you might get pinched a la St. Patrick's Day. 

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women. More die from it than from all forms of cancer combined. Plus, experts estimate that 90 percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease.

Today's an ideal opportunity to have a heart-to-heart with your health--and nails. Consider the following luxurious lacquers to honor Wear Red Day. 

 SHINE: Babor Ultra Performance Nail Color Baccarat. BEAUTY: Formula designed to provide quick-drying and long-lasting benefits. BEACON: Contains no methylbenzene or formaldehyde. Also supports Dolphin Aid. 

SHINE: Dazzle Dry Garnet. BEAUTY: Part of the Jewel Effects collection, which also includes Ruby. BEACON: Vegan, and contains no formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate or nitrocellulose. 

SHINE: Milani Techno Red Neon. BEAUTY: Top your tips with a pop of brilliance. BEACON: Free of dibutyl phthalate, toluene and formaldehyde.

SHINE: Sally Hansen Right Said Red. BEAUTY: Micro-encapsulated time-release technology infuses nails with advanced wear and shine ingredients. BEACON: Contains no dibutyl phthalate, toluene or formaldehyde.

SHINE: Scotch Naturals To Hell With Swords & Garter. BEAUTY: Water-based formula serves as an alternative to solvent-based polishes. BEACON: Hypoallergenic, 100% biodegradable, vegan and cruelty free. Also contains no formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate, acetone or heavy metals.

SHINE: SpaRitual Stiletto Shimmer. BEAUTY: Formula blended for better shine, dry time and coverage. BEACON: Vegan, and contains no synthetic dyes, dibutyl phthalate, toluene or formaldehyde.

SHINE: Sumbody It's My Party. BEAUTY: Become the life of the party with this confetti shimmer look. BEACON: Contains no animal oils, artificial preservatives or synthetic chemicals.