Enamel Diction: What your polish says about you

Ever wondered what your choice on nail polish says about you? The creative studio The Initiative takes a look at what your nail polish reveals about your personality in Enamel Diction.

Felt indecisive when choosing a color at your last nail appointment? Then you most likely gossip with baby pink. Know your color selection before you even walk in the door? Then you most likely declare with Scarlett.

With over 50 pages of eye popping color, Enamel Diction explores the different facades we present to the world and questions is our choice of shiny polish a true reflection of ourselves? 

And for pop culture buffs, it's also full of iconic quotes and references – and really any book that begins with a quote by Jason Stackhouse is one that’s going to make us laugh!

BUY NOW!  For $12.95. 

Winter dryness? Moisturizing is key.

With my recent move to Colorado, the air composition of 18% less oxygen has been the least of my concerns.  Although, I must admit, one of the first days I hit the gym I was huffing and puffing and could definitely tell there is a difference from my accustomed home in flat sea-level Florida.  No wonder they send Olympic athletes here to train!

Besides the oxygen composition difference in the air, living out West comes with the combination of extremely dry weather, with essentially no humidity.  This on one-hand is fabulous, given I'm a gal with curly hair that prefers her long locks to be straightened, but on-the-other, my poor skin has been having a more difficult time transitioning.  I've been lathering on lots of lotion after each shower, but I still felt like it wasn't getting the job done.

After a few different lotion trials, I've found my winter remedy that seems to be working fabulously; Barr-co Lotion.  It's available in a plethora of stores across the USA, from your local Anthropologie, to most health-beauty stores that carry a variety of lotions and soaps.

I wanted to feature this product because it's one I truly feel makes a difference in the winter dry months. Plus, it's an all-natural product and who doesn't love a product that when you're putting it on, you aren't taking the risk of harming yourself with unnatural chemicals?

This Barr-Co. Oatmeal and Shea Butter Lotion is more than 98% natural that contains no parabens or petrochemicals, as well as being a vegan product.

The key ingredients are aloe, purified water, glycerin, safflower oil, oat kernal flour, shea butter, jojoba seed oil, avocado oil, & vitamin E.  It is scented with milk, oatmeal, vanilla and vetiver.

Barr-Co. also offers an entire beauty line, including bath salts, candles, soap, & liquid bubble bath to name a few.  

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Tighten & Firm-up with Copper

Vogue recently released it's top 2013 beauty-health items to look out for in the coming year. After reading about one particular product, it has shot straight up to the top of my list as an item to purchase this coming week. 

Skin care's latest star..... Copper. Frequently used to help skin heal post-treatment, it has long been linked to improving elastin—those cross-hatched fibers that give skin its structure and allow it to literally bounce back. 

Thanks to a tiny new molecule in Kiehl’s Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Cream, copper can now penetrate the skin’s layers more deeply, to get the job done faster. Did I mention it’s an antioxidant, too?

This item is a no-brainer for me & my next trip to the mall will include it.  From my great aunts, grandmother, mother, sister, to me, I've been told by multiple family generations to start protecting and treating my skin while I'm young.  It's never too early to start, as I started using Lancome's RENERGIE Anti-Wrinkle Cream in my early 20's and still use it daily.  I think my new found plan, is to continue using my preferred Lancome product (above) in the morning prior to putting on my make-up (like I've done for years) and use the Kiehl's product nightly. 

Benefits from the Kiehl's Website: 

• This skin fortifying anti-wrinkle cream, with a powerful combination of micronutrients, Copper PCA and Calcium PCA
• Significantly reduces wrinkles, smoothes skin texture and minimizes pores
• Clinically shown to improve elasticity by 32%
• High level broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection. SPF 30.

   

Winter Purse Essentials

Purse dump! Oh' no... every girls worst nightmare!  Or maybe just mine...  I seem to keep way too many items in my purse as a 'just in case', from receipts, to coupons I may need, to invitations/cards with event info, to name a few. I have decided in 2013, I'm going to stick with the basics and my absolute essentials that I can't live without.  I'm sure other things will end up inside my handbag as well, but I wanted to share my 'top 5'.  

My top 5 items this Winter:

1. Earmuffs: Why waste your time you spent styling your hair with a winter toboggan that will ruin it in minutes? Earmuffs prevent that scenario, while keeping you warm.  Similar style Nordstrom Black Ear Muffs

2. Lip Balm: Seal & protect your lips with SUGAR by Fresh 

3. Wallet: The favorite wallet I own is Louis Vuitton Zippy Wallet.    On a budget & don't want to splurge, but you like the chocolate leather & the all around zip? Check out Fossil Explorer Wallet

4. Perfume: So handy to have a fresh fragrance touch-up available at all times of the day. Marc Jacobs Daisy Rollerball Perfume 

5. House Key: Something you use at least once a day, should be feminine, fun, & practical! A key that isn't the 'standard shape, color, size' is surely to speed things up when you're getting in the house & also allow for a bit of fun flare to your key ring.  Home Depot House Key 

(Kate Spade purse shown above. Similar Style Grove Court Thea in Black/White 

or Grove Court Large Maise in Green/Black )

Malaga Wine

Looking for a new nail color? My new winter obsession over the Holidays was OPI's Malaga Wine... a gorgeous cool toned jelly red. It looks great with fair complexions too, which is key as we all lose our summer tan with this winter weather.  The great thing about this color? It shows up a deep wine in lower lighting & a more vibrant red in brighter lighting; the best of both worlds! 

Beauty Tip: Don't forget to apply OPI's base coat & top coat layer (as seen below) for a stained-free-nail after polish removal & a seal to allow it to last longer. 

(I purchased mine at my local ULTA Beauty Store. Can be purchased online as well)