Holiday nails

“Be prepared to be overwhelmed.” That’s what I texted my sister-in-law.

She was on her way over to my place the day after the ice storm hit. The roads were clear, she told me. My niece and my mom were with her, and they were joining me for a new tradition: Hannam women’s holiday nail art.

The power went out just before 2pm, minutes before their arrival. I set us up in the kitchen, as the most light was coming in that room. I displayed the bottles and boxes in sections: remover & pads, nail art kits, tools such as files, scrapers and nippers, cuticle softeners and hand creams, and polishes that were bright, dark, pearlized, neutral and glittered, along with top coats of varying effects. (I have a serious addiction to nail products. So much so that in university friends would give me gifts from the drug store, and it would make my year.)

My nephew came too, and he joked that the spread was impressive it made him almost want to paint his own nails. He avoided the estrogen-lacquered mess in the kitchen by watching a football movie on his laptop.

My sister-in-law, knowing that she had to be in the office on the 23rd and the 24th, opted for a petal pink base, pretty snowy-white glitter ombreed tips and an accent nail of white sequins.

My mom and niece went dramatic, especially after searching “nail art for short nails,” and “holiday nail art” on Pinterest. My mom did a gilded thumb, layered glitter polishes, snowflake and candy cane pictures with the dotter tool, and a nighttime snowstorm on her pinky. My niece played with her favourite colours, like pink ombre, black glitter, holographic nail sticker, asymmetrical two-tone and a trendy blue.

Myself? I had never done texture before and I was inspired by my mom and niece to take each nail to the next level. I glitter bombed one nail, dipped another in sequins, another in metal beads, ombreed my thumb and bedazzled my pinky with faceted plastic crystals.

The next day though, I discovered that textured nails aren’t my thing. I unknowingly picked it all off. I redid them with a white glitter polish and black chevron tips inspired by some spring runway nail art.

Happy holidays from the Hannam ladies!

PS. If you want to know any of the products we used, let me know in the comments below and I’ll send them to you.

Lip service

Fall’s an exciting time for us at Glow. Mostly because we can’t wait to try all the newly-launched beauty products that land on our desks. Here’s what we’re looking forward to trying, plus anti-aging tips to help with your look.

#regram from @kelsccole about my #glutenfree story for @glowmag....

#regram from @kelsccole about my #glutenfree story for @glowmag. Thanks Kelsey! #almaylove



via Tumblr http://lisahannam.tumblr.com/post/58826506714

Behind the cover: Lisa Cant

@glowmag #regram from @owengould. #theseptemberissue #lisacant #gorgeous



via Tumblr http://lisahannam.tumblr.com/post/57648326202

Crayons!

As a kid, I loved to colour. I loved my crayons. It appears nothing has changed. Just look at the latest inclusions in my makeup bag.

And why should it? Crayons make sense. They’re easy to hold. They are injected with a beautiful ribbon of colour. Even in makeup form.

I can imagine the creative meeting in the slick boardroom of a cosmetic company. They’ve decided that makeup is fun and playful, so it makes sense to encourage shoppers (like myself) to get into that child-like mindset of playing with makeup the way we would with crayons. Clink martini glasses and back to their desks.

It’s more than eyeliner that has gotten the Crayola-treatment. Lipsticks and eye shadows have taken on this new-ish form. While I’m sure there are others, the first time I noticed it was with Clinique Chubby Sticks, about two years ago. Then came the Revlon version a bit later. But now it’s a crayonmageddon! Here are a few new colouring book-inspired cosmetics.

Stila After Glow Lip Colour, $24

Part balm, part stain, this lipstick packs on some serious colour. Here it’s shown in (L to R) Tangerine Dream, Party Pink and Rave Red. It’s a high-impact lip that’s suitable for day or night, IMHO.

Elizabeth Arden Bold Eye Pencil, $22

Generally I have better luck with liquid eyeliner pens. But this chunky pencil goes on smoothly and accurately. Here it is shown in an earthy dark brown, Terra. Winged tip, here I come!

Rimmel Scandeleyes Eye Shadow Stick, $7

You know how you sometimes look at your closet and have nothing to wear? I’ve done that with my makeup bag. These bright shadows are a cheap and chic pick-me-up. With almost no pressure, I line the top of my eye for an opaque hit of colour that’s got a bit of shine. Here are (L to R) Gossip Green, Guilty Grey (Thanks for spelling it with an E, Rimmel), Tempting Turquoise and Paranoid Purple.

This next one is not new, but it’s definitely an honourable mention:

The Body Shop Kajal Eyeliner, $??

This was a special edition that I want to come back! Some have blogged that it’s now selling in Asia and you can find it on Ebay. Here’s hoping that it’s a hint it might get relaunched on this side of the ocean. Unlike the other crayon-inspired makeup, the encasing on this one is a retractable lipstick container. With some shine, this liner goes on similarly to the eyeshadows and can be blended.

Heck, why not read more. Here are three published beauty stories of mine:

• Almay’s new launches

• New makeup launches for spring

• Hot topic

My balayage

Have you heard of balayage? Before this video I hadn’t. But when Glow needed someone to get the highlights for a video, I raised my hand like a kid in class who knew the answer. After a quick google of the term, pictures of Jessica Alba and Rachel Bilson appeared. Yes, please. I’d love to look like either. The video is featured on Glow.ca’s homepage.

Bright eyes

I’m not normally colour shy. I love bright pumps or bold statement jewelry or a vivid silk top as much as the next girl. But tinted mascaras always seemed a bit strange to me. Why would I want blue eyelashes? But thanks to a recent Almay beauty product launch event, I’m a convert! Find out what a makeup artist said to me to make me change my mind.

Werk it: #almaypretty

Blue steel / #almaypretty #stolentwitpic with @emiliedingfeld

Tonight my Glow colleague and pal Emilie Dingfeld and I went to the Almay spring launch party. We were shown the new CC Cream, the new packaging for its makeup removers (one has hair nourishing ingredients for eyelashes), and new moisturizing lip glosses. There was lots of new! We were also treated to a makeover, where my lovely makeup artist used the Intense Eye Colour shadows for my blue peepers. She actually told me my skin was phenomenal. My life is complete. A tea party with makeup, makeovers and a photo booth. That's a good time!

Ombré

Ombré is full on in beauty and fashion right now. Fashion seems obvious, with the bleached outjeans and gradual-hued sun dresses we saw last summer. I love how now we’re seeing it with more personality, more courage, and more style.

As for beauty, it makes so much sense to play with colour from the tips of your hair to your lips. While generally I wouldn’t recommend doing a trend all over, but this one is too much fun to resist. Which is why I’m wearing this Boohoo.com denim shirt with my L’Oréal Féria hair.

Here’s my Glow magazine colleague Tania Kwong demonstrating how to to do the ombré lip. Enjoy!

Heck why not read more: Three more published articles on colour.

How to colour block.

The Red Dress fashion show

Spring beauty colours

As Seen in Glow: Me!

I had such a blast on set for this runway to real-way beauty story. I got to “model” the metallic eye look. When I was told that that would be my trend, I was a bit apprehensive. Metallics can make wrinkles on lids more prominent. But I learned it’s all in where you put the shadows. Thanks to Maybelline’s Grace Lee for making me feel pretty. XO

Check it out in the April issue of Glow, and in our Spring Beauty Report.

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Holiday Polish: Sparkle and shine your pretty tips with these glitter and glam polishes.