OPI on the Set of How I Met Your Mother

The chic and trendy shades of OPI can now be seen on CBS' How I Met Your Mother!  With OPI’s 200+ shades, the show’s key makeup artist Jennifer Turchi declares, “we will have just the right color for any look.”

Alyson Hannigan, who plays Lily Aldrin, especially loves the shade Ski Teal We Drop from the latest Fall/Winter Swiss collection, as well as the classic color Siberian Nights.

I am obsessed with Ski Teal We Drop, a blue-based teal with grey undertones. I don't know when I got on this blue nail kick, but I think it started sometime last spring. Some people immediately think OMFG blue nails? But the right blue - a la Ski Teal We Drop - looks chic, fashion-forward and is just more fun than the usual deep plums/wines/chocolates that we see every fall and winter. Word to the wise though; keep nails short and square when wearing this shade.

Essie Fall 2010 Collection

Essie is my favorite nail polish brand because the formulas tend to be user friendly and the seasonal color collections are always spot-on. The new fall roundup of shades is no exception. I love that there's some unexpected pops of color mixed in with the blackened wines and browns we've come to expect. 

Here's the rundown of shades:

In Stitches (cheeky blush pink)

Limited Addiction (racy garnet red)

Sew Psyched (cashmere-soft sage pewter)

Merino Cool (sensuous autumn mulberry)

Velvet Voyeur (intense chocolate amethyst)

Little Brown Dress (beguiling black coffee)

 

My faves are Sew Psyched (I've been having a major green moment lately), In Stitches (love seeing a nice dusty pink shade appropriate for fall) and Velvet Voyear (I'm always a sucker for a deep rich shade in the purple family). One thing to note about Merino Cool: if you own Sephora by OPI in Metro Chic, you may want to skip this since they look really similar in my opinion. (Side note: were you one of those psychos like me who trolled every Sephora in a 100 mile radius just waiting till they got Metro Chic back in stock and then scooped up like five at a time? The things we do for beauty).

Each polish retails for $8 each, or you can grab the four piece mini collection which includes Sew Psyched, Merino Cool, Limited Addiction and Little Brown Dress for $17.

New from Chanel: Soho Story

Chanel is reopening its Soho boutique location and to celebrate the brand created Soho Story, a limited edition collection of eye, lip and nail products that marry feminine pink and roses with industrial metallics. 

The collection officially launches September 10th at the Soho boutique, but you can scoop it up now on Chanel.com. This collection is near and dear to my heart because I actually lived in Soho for a bit and still adore the nabe. This collection definitely captures the edgy, cool, yet chic downtime vibe. 

Chanel Soho Story:

• SoHo de Chanel ($65.00)
• Stupendous Quadra Eye Shadow ($56.00)
• Stunning Rouge Coco ($30.00)
• Stunt Rouge Allure Laque ($32.00)
• Star Glossimer ($27.00)
• Steel and Strong Le Vernis ($23.00)

The Stupendous eye shadow quad is definitely my must-have of the collection, and I'm also in love with the Steel nail color. Will you be buying Chanel's Soho Story?

New: Les Khakis de Chanel

In honor of Vogue's Fashion's Night Out on September 10th during NY Fashion Week, Chanel created three new shades of Les Vernis Nail Colours, Les Khakis de Chanel. I'm really loving this trio of polishes - Khaki Brun, Khaki Rose, Khaki Vert - because they're the perfect fall transition shades for when you're over the corals, blues and brights for summer but not quite on board yet with the superdark plums and navys for winter. Click here to see swatches on nails via Sophy Robson's blog. 

Which is your fave? Pick them up beginning September 10th for $25 each.

Fall 2010 Collections: Clinique Bigger, Brighter Eyes

Clinique's new fall collection, available now, centers around brightening and defining eyes, a concept near and dear to my heart since I feel like my eye area is always a little lackluster. The two limited edition newbies are Quickliner for Eyes Intense, a silky smooth liner with rich pigment, and High Impact Mascara in Brightening Black, a rich black that looks like it's spiked with a hint of navy.  

Bigger, Brighter Eyes is broken down into three looks: Fresh, Fun and Flirty and all product recos can be found on the Clinique site. That's the Fresh look to the left. 

Clinique's fall collection is definitely a step away from the typical deep wines and grays we see for the season. I'm feeling the lightened up look. What do you think?

Fall 2010 Collections: Smashbox Masquerade

I'm completely in love with the Fall 2010 collection from Smashbox, dubbed Masquerade. Does anything say fall better than rich metallic shades of plum, forest green and navy? Some standouts include the Liquid Liner and Lash Overlay, which can be used as a liquid liner, then added to tips of lashes post-mascara application for an extra little pop.

Masquerade fall 2010 collection:

• Masquerade Eye Shadow Palette ($35) is one of my favorite new fall palettes because it contains rich jewel tones with lighter neutrals. Plus, this palette is arranged horizontally in trios so you never have to wonder which goes with what.

• Masquerade Baked Fusion Soft Lights Palette ($32) in Illusion. I can't get enough Soft Lights; they give the most warm, subtle sheen to cheekbones. 

• Masquerade Liquid Liner & Lash Overlay ($19) in Teal and Bronze

• Masquerade Creamy Cheek Color & Brush ($29) in Warm Pink, with a built-in blending brush so color goes on soft and diffused.
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• Masquerade Lip Enhancing Gloss ($19) in Reveal (golden nude) and Disguise (golden pink)

 Everything is currently available at Sephora.

Fall Preview: NARS

I have got to talk about fall collections; it's the only thing keeping my mind off of this heat! If you're in the NYC area wasn't today just the worst? I barely had one foot out of my building when I started breaking a sweat. It had to have been at least 90% humidity today, no? 

Moving on. NARS is one of those iconic brands that can do no wrong in my eyes. I would buy every product, every shade and I absolutely love seeing what seasonal collections they come out with. Fall 2010 definitely doesn't disappoint. 

What I love so much about the collection is that it definitely feels fall, but isn't all dark and grey; there's some major color going on here. Check out the promo ad with the absolutely gorge Daphne Guinness and all the upcoming products, then man your computer July 15th to order online. 

NARS Fall 2010 Collection:

Douceur Blush ($26.00)

This is definitely my new fall blush. A soft pink-brown hue perfect for all skin tones embossed with the NARS logo.

Daphne Eyeshadow ($23.00) (Limited Edition)
Major pigment alert. A matte, deep violet single shadow that delivers major color payoff and spices up fall's neutrals.(Limited Edition)

Mangrove Eyeshadow ($23.00) (Limited Edition)
Richly pigmented yellow to highlight the inner corner of eye, use as a base shade or diffuse with a deeper shade.

Coconut Grove Eyeshadow ($23.00)
Dark chocolate that makes a perfect liner (use it wet for impact, dry for a soft finish) or to define the crease.

Rouge Basque Lipstick ($24.00) (Limited Edition)
This red, wine, brownish hybrid leaves a luminous satin finish perfect for when you're tired of sheer glosses and want a real fall pigmented lip moment. 

Strawberry Fields Lip Gloss ($24.00) (Limited Edition)
NARS lipglosses have major color payoff and this juicy strawberry shade provides a beautiful glossy finish. Definitely a fall lip staple.

Palladium Soft Touch Shadow Pencil ($24.00) (Limited Edition)
Gives a bright turquoise unexpected pop of color to eyes. Rim upper and lower lash lines for a defined effect, or smudge out to soften for a sheer wash.

Tzarine Eyeshadow Duo ($32.00)
I love the juxtaposition of the platinum gold with the steel grey. So many different looks can be created with just this duo.

Rajasthan Eyeshadow Duo ($32.00) (Limited Edition)

Similar to the Tzarine duo, but these colors are softer and warmer with a peachy almond and a cool charcoal. 

What do you think of the NARS Fall Collection?