She’s the face of Revlon’s foundation, lipstick, hair dye and Revlon Beauty Tools! She’s definitely the new Redhead in Hollywood! And she’s funny too! What? I said that already? Sure I did! But it’s the truth, isn’t it? Oh, and have you seen the video commercial? No? well, it’s after the jump!

More Emma Stone For Revlon Ad Campaign

With a little luck, they won’t be as misleading as those L’Oreal (or Rimmel) ads… Did you actually buy a certain cosmetic product because of who was advertising for it?

Jennifer Connelly Representing For Shiseido

The campaign’s photo shows a too smooth skin on Rachel’s face, with a smooth glow. Given that the visual sustains an anti – ageing cosmetic product, I think it’s a good attitude from the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority to ask the giant cosmetics brand to stop pushing this ad, at least in its current form. Baby steps, but we’re getting there! Hopefully! I can’t wrap my head around it, people! – we’re more and more enamored with reality shows but can’t stand the look of real faces in ad campaigns (and magazines)!

Rachel Weisz L’Oreal Ad Campaign Too Photoshopped

If I knew then what I know now… Here’s how you can avoid the boxing – look and get the glamorous star Smoky Eyes look instead! In just two easy steps, with tools and products that you may already have in your makeup case? (yeah – about that – remember to check the expiry date regularly and get rid of turned makeup. Not only it won’t beautify you, it may even give you allergies and serious side effects!) Back to the smoky eyes, let’s see the how to:

How To: Smoky Eyes Makeup

And Beth is back, it would appear: she’s launching a collection with M.A.C. cosmetics this upcoming June! I’m so happy she’s back – she’s like a constant explosion of positive rock energy and color! All perfect for M.A.C., isn’t it?

Beth Ditto Is Back: M.A.C. Cosmetics Beth Ditto Collection

I’m more conservative (you may say I’m not embracing change, but hear me out): I love my girly time – out when I’m doing my nails. Waiting for them to dry out is like a time – out extension. And where would I be without a crooked French tip? I live to see those white zig-zags on my nails! (every time I promise myself I’d use tape and still forget all about it – free hand French tips get really messy sometimes!) Back to why I started this (but you know me by now and you know anything nails keeps me talking and talking… and talking some more): Avril Lavigne worked out a deal with Sally Hansen to issue nail polish strips in her own design!

Hear that? Nail polish strips – you just take them, peel them and apply them on your nails and you’re good to go! Avril sounded really happy about the beauty deal and did say she’s considering adding more beauty to her fashion empire (Abbey Dawn, anyone?). Sally Hansen’s Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips kits include 16 strips each, a cuticle stick, how – to apply the strips instructions, a mini file and buffer. All for $9,99. I haven’t tried the nail polish strips yet, and there’s hardly any chance I’d be doing that in the near future, so: if you’re already familiar with this kind of product, please share (pro and cons would be highly interesting; I think I’m tirelessly, hopelessly loving the way my freshly applied nail polish goes out the window with the first diaper change). Avril Lavigne was just a friendly celebrity vessel to grease up the mechanism of landing these new products straight into the customer’s caddy. Hence, I’m not even going to try discussing Avril’s designing talents when it comes to nail polish! (anyone thinks I should?)

Nail Polish Stripes From Avril Lavigne And Sally Hansen

Lipsticks shaped like cats, face powder shaped like cats, you name it, anything reminding of a cat is in Paul & Joe’s Spring 2012 collection. Products and packaging alike, they’re so cute, I couldn’t even use them! (is it just me, or the thought of applying cat – shaped lipstick on my lips is a bit weird?)

People Who Love Cats, Love Paul & Joe’s Cats Makeup Collection Spring 2012

So I pulled myself together, did some research and this was my conclusion: Ombre is the new must! Anything you have is better in ombre! New fabulous hairdo? Biensur, it’s ombre! New gorgeous dress? Of course, it’s ombre! The curtains you found and stole your heart? Ombre aussi! The new must try cake? You guessed it right – ombre toujours!

So my daahlings, we have to ombre! Now let’s hit the jump for a closer inspection of Gradient nails! And anything else gradient!

I’m beginning to understand now – so gradient manicure can be obtain by either sponge or drop technique. What is which? Basically, you start by doing the same thing for both: applying your first coat. Which can be either mat color or your usual French base, it’s really up to you. Now, after it dries up, you can choose between the sponge or the other.

For the sponge – you can use your kitchen sponge if you have no makeup sponge at hand – damp it with a radically different (or not so much) color than what you already have put on your nail and tap lightly the tips of your nails (you can go as further up your nail as you wish). Let it dry, clean your fingers with nail polish remover if you’ve touched them with the colored sponge and now, for ze final touch – a heavy load of transparent top coat to seal the Gradient deal. Tadaaaam!

For ze other ombre thing – it’s a bit trickier than the sponge technique. I think: so after you dried out your color base, it’s time to drop a heavy load of clear top coat onto your nail. Know that you’ll be doing one nail at the time, so don’t hurry into emptying all the clear top coat bottle. So now that you poured a ton of clear coat on your nail, pick the other color you want to work for the gradient (usually a darker, very contrasting hue to what you chose as base). Drop a few drops on the clear coat (which hasn’t dried yet – that is essential and the very reason you’re doing one nail at the time!). Now it should work into the clear polish like watercolors when you were a child. Remember? Let it dry, that’s all it takes (now you can try a second nail if you don’t find it too difficult).

I don’t know about you, but Ima keep my French on, if you don’t mind! All that sponge / heavy drop thing has me head all spinning! I’m a simple girl and I like simple things. Nails. Well. You get it. Don’t you? (this short investigation wouldn’t have been possible without help from: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)

Ombre (Gradient) Nails, The New It Manicure

So if you’re in New York, try the Townhouse Spa praised by the likes of Doutzen Kroes (they have a website here), in Los Angeles try the Burke Williams loved by Eva Longoria and Hillary Duff (website here). In Las Vegas there’s Sahra Spa and Hammam at The Cosmopolitan visited by Alessandra Ambrosio (more details here) and in Miami there’s agua at Delano loved by Kate Upton (get to know them here).

Supermodels Approved Spa Resorts

The 20 – piece collection received very interesting, exotic names (“Early Bird”, “Toco Toucan”) in an effort to render Iris Apfel’s fashion. Available this January, this is one of MAC’s collections that I’d love to have, even if I’m not an assiduous makeup user. And I have Iris to “blame” for that – she seems to be such a cheerful spirit!

Loving The New Iris Apfel MAC Makeup Collection!