September 26, 2013 10:00AM
By Bobby Walsh Special to the Weekender 

If you haven’t noticed already when shopping in Sephora that the Sephora by OPI nail polish has been clearanced and the selection dwindled down to nothing but the colors no one wants.  Now there is a blank display unit with a lot of room and with “X’s” on it; that my friend is the new home to Formula X for Sephora.

The new shades and effects portion of the collection will cost $10.50 to $12.50 each, and the treatments retail for $10.50 to $14.00.  Formula X has never-before-seen ingredients from all over the world, amazingly fast drying time, safe neon pigments.  These high gloss precision, super opaque lacquers will last up to two weeks.  I’m also a sucker for packaging and these bottles are the perfect size and shape for cataloging, storing & stacking your polishes.

Sephora's Formula X is a colossal collection of exciting, heart pumping, beautifully vibrant colors, effects, and treatments for everyone! The collection consists of 90+ standard colors and 50+ special effects polishes in an abundance of categories (12 to be precise.) Nail art devotees everywhere will be able to choose from: The Celestials (matte metallic’s), The Chromes (liquid metallic’s), The Electrics (neon pearl and shimmers), The Brilliants (Multidimensional sparkling multi-glitters), The Holograms (holographic dimensional colors), The Translucents (shiny sheers),The Shifters (shade-shifting duo-chromes), The Sparklers (3-D metallic shimmers), The Superwatts (jelly glitters), The Lusters (multi-sized glitter),  The Transformers (illusionary topcoats) and The Xplosives which are the most impactful of the whole collection (matte confetti glitter and white confetti glitter!)

As part of the launch as well as a staple product in the line they created - The System, which consists of a nail cleanser, basecoat, topcoat, and color of your choice for just $32.00, you can’t get any better than that especially when other basic polish lines nail colors start at around $9.00 already for just your average run of the mill polish that you can hope and pray will last through the next few days.  If you love higher end polishes like Deborah Lippmann you will love this!

This new polish line; Formula X is launching now at Sephora nationwide. 

Tip: Prepping your nails are important, make sure you use a base and top coat (never use the combination ones) and before you begin the process remove excess oils on your nails with a swipe of acetone.

Trick: Keep your manicure newer longer by applying a horizontal strip of nail color across the tip of your nail, this will round out the edge of the polish making it harder for it to lift and chip.

September 11. 2013 1:14AM
By Bobby Walsh Special to the Weekender 

Eyeliner has been a staple in makeup ever since ancient Egyptian times. Back then makeup played a crucial role in one’s existence, and even in the afterlife. Liner had become part of a ritual and it was believed that it could bring one’s soul closer to the god once deceased. Eyeliner was a must-have both for women and men alike, not only for beauty but also to deflect light (like how football players wear black paint on their cheeks) and for antibacterial purposes.


It wasn’t until the 1920s that women began to express themselves in a more abstract, feminine and glamorous light that eyeliner became more popular. Today, liners have advanced so greatly, with the invention of water-proof smudge-proof formulas, liquid or pencil, and an overabundance of colors to choose from.


Some of my favorite liners include: Stila Stay All Day water-proof liquidliner in black and cobalt (for those with super light crystal blue eyes); Tarte Light Camera Lashes inner rim brightener liner in nude, to help open up the eye and help conceal any redness, giving a well-rested appearance; Too Faced three-way lash lining tool, which has a three-prong felt tip that you can sweep across the lid for your traditional black liquid liner look or you can press along your lash line, leaving a trail of dots that give the appearance of fuller lashes. You can also tight line with this product, which means taking the liner and running it under your lashes on your upper lid, creating the look of fuller lashes and a more eye-defining effect.


A great way to utilize liner every day is to find a sheer wash of eyeshadow color that compliments your iris, then follow with a colored liner that also compliments your eye color. Remember to apply the liner in a way to maximize your eye shape and really help to create the perfect almond shape; it’s the most flattering of eye shapes and gives people that dreamy, sultry, more attractive quality.


Tip: Follow the eye liner chart to help find the best way to apply your liner to best suit your eye shape and help get you to the perfect almond shape.


Trick: 90 percent of eye shadows can be used wet or dry. Take a little eye drop solution on a fine tip or angled brush and swipe across your favorite shadow for a long-wearing custom liner.