"The Manizer Sisters" Palette Review

"The Manizer Sisters" Palette Review

It is no secret that beauty lovers around the world love the Balm Cosmetics luminizing products. We all know (or if you don't know) that three of the most requested products from the Balm are Mary-Lou Manizer, Cindy-Lou Manizer, and Betty-Lou Manizer. Mary, Cindy, and Betty are three gorgeous highlighters that range from light, medium, and dark for all different skin tones. These illuminators are sold individually but as I recently discovered (where have I been???), they are also available in a trio. The amount of product that you get in the Manizer trio is less than you would if you bought them all separately, but I think its well worth it if you want to try all three of them like I did.

The Balm created beautiful and silky highlights that are just enough pigment to pack a punch on your cheeks without making you look like a disco ball. These illuminators are so creamy and smooth that they are super easy to apply and blend out in the skin. The other great thing about these products are that they are buildable. When you purchase some highlighters, you either get a very natural looking glow or you are so illuminated that you can be seen from space. With the Manizer Sisters, you can achieve both looks depending on your preference. Applying the highlighter lightly or with a fluffy brush, you can get a slight sheen that looks like you are glowing from within. On the other hand, if you are looking for a more intense highlight, you can apply the product with a more heavy hand or use a more dense brush.

The first illuminator in the palette is Mary-Lou Manizer. This highlight is a light champagne beige color. It has a beautiful pearl like texture when applied to the skin. This is a stunning highlight for people who have fair to medium skin tones. This color would not work as well on darker skin tones however.

The second illuminator in the palette is Cindy-Lou Manizer. This highlight is a light dusty rose color. This highlight also has a pearl like texture when it is applied to the skin. This highlight is great for people who have medium to darker skin tones. It shows up on the skin as a beautiful pinky colored highlight. However, if you have more fair skin, this would be more of a blush topper than a highlight due to it being more of a rosy tone. I have worn this on top of a matte blush or just on its own on my cheeks instead of a blush and it is absolutely gorgeous!

The third and last highlight in this palette is Betty-Lou Manizer. This highlight is a golden bronze color. Like the first two highlighters, this product has a pearl like texture when applied to the skin. This illuminator is perfect for those who have a darker skin tone. This would not work as a highlighters for people who have fair to medium skin, but it looks gorgeous on a darker skinned person. (This is a great product because there is not a lot of highlighters out there for people who are on the darker side of the spectrum, so this would also be a great product to add to a makeup artist's kit because it has a color for everyone!) This illuminator can also be used as a glowing bronzer for people who have fair to medium skin tones.

The Balm Cosmetics "The Manizer Sisters" Palette
Price: $15.99 - $30.00
Where you can buy it: thebalm.com and select beauty supply stores

All photos by Becky Schutten.

Daily Moisturizer Guide

My Guide to Your Daily Moisturizers

Taking care of your skin is one of the most important things you can do in your beauty routine, and equally as important is adding a great moisturizer to your skincare routine. Some people are hesitant to adding a moisturizer to their regiment because they have oily skin or they don't like the feeling of a thick moisturizer on their skin, etc. However, in the beauty industry today, there are moisturizers for everyone with every different skin type and skin concerns. You just have to find the one that works best for you!

Winter/Heavy Moisturizers

Depending on where you live or what climate you are in, the cold or dry weather can take a big toll on your skin. The cold and dry weather can really strip your skin of its natural oils or dehydrate  it to the point of making it look dull and unhealthy. When this happens (or more importantly before this happens), you want to make sure that you add a moisturizer that can combat the effects of your environment. When it comes to a more harsh climate, you want to add a moisturizer that is going to pack more of a punch when it comes to the hydration department regardless of your skin type.

For people with normal to dry skin, it is a great option to go with a moisturizer that is on the thicker side of the spectrum but still soaks into your skin quickly so that you can apply a flawless makeup application without causing any disruption. This is an awesome combination because you would be getting the hydration that you need yet it wouldn't sit on top of the skin which I know some people hate the feeling of.

When it comes to people with oily to combination skin, a great option to go with is a moisturizer that is a little heavier than a light weight moisturizer but doesn't create any oily residue that is left on the skin. A huge misconception regarding people with oily to combination skin is that they shouldn't use a moisturizer because that it going to make them more oily or that it's going to make them look more oily. However, it's actually the opposite that ends up happening. When someone who's skin overproduces oil puts a moisturizer on their skin, it reduces the amount of oil that the skin is going to naturally produce. This happens because the skin does not have to overcompensate when producing oil because you are adding hydration to the skin. Even if your skin tends to be oily, it can still become dehydrated in the dry or cold weather so by using a moisturizer that adds more moisture than usual, you can reverse the effects of your skin producing too much oil.

First Aid Beauty Ulta Repair Cream
Price: $30.00
Where you can buy it: Sephora, Ulta, firstaidbeauty.com

Summer/Light Moisturizers

When it comes to the summer months or just plain hot and humid weather, it's a good idea to lighten up on the thickness of the moisturizer that you are using. Regardless on whether you have dry, normal, oily, or combination skin, you can find a moisturizer that is light weight yet hydrating at the same time. When the weather is hot and sticky the last thing that you want is for your moisturizer to be heavy and make  you feel even more hot than you already are. A great alternative in this situation is to use a gel (or light weight) moisturize. Gel moisturizers are an awesome option because they can still be very moisturizing but they absorb into the skin very quickly. Even better, gel moisturizers are almost undetectable on the skin when it comes to how heavy they feel. This is great for people who hate the feeling of moisturizer just sitting on their face like an extra layer since you can barely feel it after it has absorbs. The gel formula is good for all skin types during the day even if you have dry skin because you can add your extra moisture with a night cream.

Origins GinZing Energy Boosting Moisturizer
Price: $27.50
Where you can buy it: Sephora, Macy's, Nordstrom

Overnight/Night Creams

Your overnight moisturizer or night cream is probably the most important moisturizer that you use in your skincare routine. Why? It's so important because when you are sleeping your skin is restoring and rejuvenating itself like the rest of your body. This is why picking an amazing night cream should be a top priority. There are a ton of great overnight moisturizers that can work for all skin types. When looking for a night cream, you want to make sure that it has repairing or rejuvenating ingredients in it. Like I said before since the nighttime is the time of day that your skin is restoring itself, you want your moisturizer to work the best it can for you while you are catching some zzz's. Usually repairing or restoring overnight creams are going to be on the thicker side of the spectrum but that's okay because no matter your skin type, this is the time to pack on the hydration since you will be waking up and washing your face in the morning anyway. You don't have to worry about looking a little dewy when you are sleeping.

Origins High-Potency Night-A-Mins
Price: $43.00
Where you can buy it: Sephora, Macy's, Nordstrom

Remember that moisturizing your skin (no matter what your skin type) is very important! Feel free to ask from samples of moisturizers at beauty counters at your local department stores. There is no harm in testing out and sampling skincare products.

All photos are by Becky Schutten.

Favorite Nude Lipsticks

Favorite Nude Lipsticks

If I had to choose only one lipstick color to wear for the rest of my life, it would definitely be nude!When I look through my extensive lipstick collection, it is clear that I have a nude lipstick obession. I have double the amount of nude lipsticks than any other lipstick color in my collection. Nude lipsticks are my favorite because they can go perfectly with any makeup look. A smoky eye to a neutral eye, a nude lip will go with anything.

When I think of a nude lipstick, I don't have a limited view on what a nude color is. When some people think of a nude lipstick, they think that it looks like the color of skin. However, I feel that a nude lipstick is any color that ranges from the natural color of lips all the way to flesh toned lipsticks. The advantages to wearing a nude lip is that you can create many different looks with the many colors of nudes that you have. For instance, you can apply just the nude lipstick and blur out the edges to create a soft focused lip look, or you can use a corresponding lip liner to make the nude lip crisp and defined.

I have choosen my top 15 nude lipstick colors that range from light to dark, sheer to opaque, and glossy to matte. I think that in this selection of lipsticks, anyone can find a lipstick that would look great on them. As a reference, I am a NC30/NC35 in MAC foundation right now as I just self-tanned a few days ago.

Too Faced Melted Lipstick in Melted Nude
Price: $21.00
You can buy this at: Ulta, Sephora, and Macy's

Milani Lipstick in Naturally Chic
Price: $5.99
You can buy this at: Milani.com, Mejer, and CVS

MAC Lipstick in Japanese Maple
Price: $17.00
You can buy this at: MAC stores, Macy's, and Nordstrom

Bobbi Brown Lipstick in Baby Pink
Price: $27.00
You can buy this at: bobbibrown.com, Macy's, and Nordstrom

Lime Crime Lipstick in Coquette
Price: $8.00
You can buy this at: limecrime.com

Bite Beauty Lipstick in Caramel
Price: $26.00
You can buy this at: bitebeauty.com and Sephora

NYX Lipstick in Athens
Price: $5.99
You can buy this at: Ulta, Target, and nyxcosmetics.com

Kardashian Beauty En-Joystick in Modern Mauve
Price: $ 8.99
You can buy this at: Ulta and kbeauty.com

YSL Lipstick in #8
Price: $37.00
You can buy this at: Sephora, Nordstrom, and Saks Fifth Avenue

Urban Decay Lipstick in Naked
Price: $22.00
You can buy this at: Ulta, Sephora, and Macy's

MAC Lipstick in Shy Shine
Price: $17.00
You can buy this at: MAC stores, Macy's, and Nordstrom

Estee Lauder Lipstick in Desirable
Price: $30.00
You can buy this at: Sephora, Macy's, and Nordstrom

Chanel Lipstick in Boy
Price: $37.00
You can buy this at: Macy's, Nordstrom, and Saks Fifth Avenue

L'Oreal Lipstick in Jennifer's Nude
Price: $5.99
You can buy this at: Walgreens, Walmart, and Target

YSL Lipstick in #9
Price: $37.00
You can buy this at: Sephora, Nordstrom, and Saks Fifth Avenue

All Photos by Becky Schutten

Favorite MAC Blushes

Favorite MAC Cosmetic Blushes

Price: $17.00 - $27.00
You can buy this at: MAC Cosmetics, Macy's, and Nordstrom
www.maccosmetics.com

Having worked at MAC Cosmetics for a few years, I have tried every blush color and formula that they make on every skin type and every skin tone. MAC has a great selection of colors and textures of blushes that can meet anyone and everyone's needs and desires. They have a couple different types of blushes which include: the powder blushes, pro long wear blushes, mineralize blushes, and cream blushes. The powder blushes are the standard MAC blushes that they have the most color selection to choose from. The powder blushes have good staying power on the skin and can be blended easily for a smooth-looking application. The pro long wear blushes are a long wearing formula that is also easy to blend on the skin, but they are a little more dry in texture. There is less options in the pro long wear blushes than the powder blushes. The mineralize blushes are very pigmented and all of these blushes have a shimmer running through them that gives a glow to the skin. This formula has a smaller selection than most of the other formulas that are offered by MAC. Lastly, the cream blushes are creamy and glowing on the skin, and last very well. They are probably the most forgotten about formula when it comes to MAC blushes, but they are extremely beautiful and great to use under a powder blush for a more long-wearing effect. Most of these blushes are available in a pan form besides the mineralize blushes, so you can create your own custom blush palette.

Some of my favorite blushes from MAC can be used on any skin tone or skin type, but for reference I am a NC20 in MAC foundations.

Note: You can always go to a MAC store or counter to swatch these colors on your skin or have a MAC artist try them on you before you purchase.

Margin (Powder Blush): A neutral soft peach with gold shimmer.

Blushbaby (Powder Blush): A soft rosy pink with a beige undertone.

Pinch Me (Powder Blush): A deeper rosy coral.

Peaches (Powder Blush): A true peach.

Springsheen (Powder Blush): A peach with gold shimmer.

Ambering Rose (Powder Blush): A deeper rose with gold shimmer.

Pinch O' Peach (Powder Blush): A satin peachy pink.

Rhubarb (Powder Blush): A deep magenta.

Apple Red (Powder Blush): A true red.

All Photos By: Becky Schutten

Favorite Foundations

Favorite Foundations

Choosing the right foundation for your skin is super important so you want to consider what you are looking for in a foundation. A natural look? Full coverage? Dewy? Matte? Liquid? Powder? Cream? After you figure out what you want in a foundation, you want to look at the undertone of your skin. Are you a cool, neutral, or warm? To determine what skin tone you have you can look at your vein color on your inner wrist. If you have a bluish vein, you are more likely a cool tone. If you have a greenish vein, you are most likely a warm tone. And if you have can't tell or if it looks like a mixture of the two, you probably have a neutral tone. With most foundations, the cooler toned foundations are on the pinker side while the warmer toned foundations are on the yellower side. Neutral foundations land in the middle of the spectrum. After you determine the tone of your skin, you want to figure out the depth. This means matching how light or dark your skin is compared to the foundation you are looking to buy. If you are an experienced foundation consumer, you may be able to look at a foundation and be able to guess what depth and color you are. If you are not, you should always have someone color match your foundation to your skin (if you have this option.) However, if you are shopping at the drugstore, you don't always have this option. In that case, you will want to hold up the foundation container to your chest and try to pick the color or depth that looks the closest to your skin. You do not want to match the foundation to your face especially if you tan or self-tan. The reason you do not want to match foundation to your face is because we tend to wash or exfloiate our faces more than the rest of our bodies so the face tends to be lighter. If you matched the foundation to your face only, you may end up having a lighter face than the rest of your body which can make you look a little sickly. I highly suggest doing research on the foundation you are considering buying, so to help you with your search, I am going to list and tell you about my favorite foundations for different skin types and preferences.

One of my favorite sheer foundations is the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer. This is a moisturizer with foundation added to it to create a light coverage to make your skin look extra healthy. I love that this tinted moisturizer has an SPF of 20 because I don't have to add another step to my morning routine by applying a seperate sunscreen. This has a sheer coverage that can be built up to medium coverage if desired. This foundation is great for someone who is looking for a natural dewy look to their skin. If you have even the slightest amount of oil to your skin, I suggest that you set the foundation with a powder to prevent it from moving around throughout the day.

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer: $44.00
You can buy this from: Macy's, Nordstrom
http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/laura-mercier-tinted-moisturizer-broad-spectrum-spf-20-sunscreen-1.7-oz?ID=328985&CategoryID=30077#fn=sp%3D1%26spc%3D7%26slotId%3D2%26kws%3Dlaura%20mercier%20tinted%20moisturizer%26searchType%3Dac%26ackws%3Dlaura+mercier+

The next sheer foundation that I love is MAC Cosmetics Face and Body. Face and Body is a a water-based liquid foundation that has a sheer but buildable coverage. Before applying this foundation, you want to shake the bottle since the base of it is water. This means that the pigment and the liquid in the foundation bottle can seperate. This is a great foundation for building up coverage because you can continue to add layer upon layer and it will never become too heavy on the face. You can apply this with your hands or a brush for desired coverage. If you are a makeup artist or do any kind of photography, Face and Body should definitely be in your kit because you can not only use it on the face but also can be used on the body for a nautral yet flawless finish. This foundation does set by itself after a few mintues but for a long lasting effect or if you are on the more oily side, you can always set it with a powder.

MAC Face and Body: $27.00
You can buy this from: MAC Cosmetics, Macy's, Nordstrom
http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/mac-studio-face-body-foundation?ID=731659&CategoryID=30077#fn=sp%3D1%26spc%3D4%26slotId%3D1%26kws%3Dmac%20face%20and%20body

The next foundation is a beautiful medium coverage foundation called Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation with SPF 15. Again, it is great that this foundation has an SPF already in the formula to cut out a step that you would have to take in your morning routine. Skin Foundation is one of the most beautiful foundations that provides a decent coverage while allowing your skin to look like skin. This foundation has a natural matte finish in my opinion. It does not look dewy but it also is not too matte. It literally looks your skin but better. This is by far one of my favorite foundations for everyday use as well as for events because it pictures so well. Skin Foundation also has last a good amount of hours without having to touch up or creating an separation.

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation: $50.00
You can buy this from: Macy's, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue
http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/bobbi-brown-skin-foundation-spf-15-1-oz?ID=393197&CategoryID=30077#fn=sp%3D1%26spc%3D5%26slotId%3D4%26kws%3Dbobbi%20brown%20skin%20foundation

The next medium coverage foundation that I constantly use is the L'Oreal True Match Lumi foundation. This is a dewy medium coverage foundation that is great for people who want their skin to look dewy and glowing. I would not recommend this foundation for someone who is super oily, but if you are normal or combination this would look very nice, and could be set with a powder to increase the longevity. This foundation is on the medium to fuller coverage depending on how much product you use. Since this foundation is on the dewy side, it can break up when the face becomes
oily throughout the day. My favorite way to wear the True Match Lumi is to mix it with a pump or two of the MAC Cosmetics Pro Longwear Concealer and blend it in with a Beauty Blender. This ensures that the foundation will last all day and create a beautiful finish to the skin.

L'Oreal True Match Lumi: $12.99
You can buy this from: Walmart, Walgreens, Target, Ulta
http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod4480167&skuId=2246798&CPMID=CSBING&CAWELAID=330000200000021389

A great drugstore natural matte foundation is NYX HD Foundation. This foundation has a natural matte finish which means that it is a natural looking foundation with a slighty more matte look to it. This is a great foundation for talking pictures because covers imperfections while  still appearing to look natural and fresh. NYX HD Foundation is long lasting and stays looking good after a couple hours. When I wear this foundation, I barely even need to touch up and I have never experience it seperating or becoming blotchy on the face. I would reccommend this foundation for people who are looking for a drugstore priced foundation that creates a flawless semi-matte finish.

NYX HD Foundation: $17.99
You can buy this from: Ulta, Target (Note: They have changed the packaging to a black container.)
http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod12011169

A beautiful full coverage foundation that has long wearing properties is the Chanel Perfection Lumiere. This is one of my all time favorite foundations hands down! Yes, it is on the more pricey side, but it is worth it! The Perfection Lumiere gives you a full coverage without looking heavy. It literally creates a flawless canvas to your makeup look. This foundation is slightly matte without appearing to be powdery or heavy looking. It is one of the longest lasting foundations that I have ever tried, and I have never had a problem with it seperating or creasing. I have normal to dry skin so I don't even have to set this foundation with a powder. The only people that would have to set this foundation with a powder is someone who is super oily. If you have acne prone skin, the Perfection Lumiere would be a great choice because the coverage is so good and it does not sit on the skin so it will not emphasize any texture on the face which I know can be a concern of people with any kind of texture.

Chanel Perfection Lumiere: $58.00
You can buy this from: Macy's, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue
http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/chanel-perfection-lumiere-long-wear-flawless-fluid-sunscreen-makeup-broad-spectrum-spf-10?ID=606372&CategoryID=62588#fn=sp%3D1%26spc%3D25%26ruleId%3D%26slotId%3D%26kws%3Dchanel%20perfection%20lumiere

Another foundation that I would recommend that is on the matte end of the spectrum is L'Oreal True Match. This is the original formula of the L'Oreal True Match. This is a heavier coverage foundation that is good for people who have oily skin. You can definitely get away with wearing this foundation if you have normal to dry skin, I would just suggest adding a moisturizer or hydrating primer to it to make it look less matte on drier skin. I have found that this foundation can tend to crease and seperate throughout the day so using a primer is a good idea to help avoid this problem. Touching up this foundation during the day is going to help it from seperating as well. I would suggest this foundation to a person who has oily skin that is looking for something that is going to mattify them.

L'Oreal True Match: $9.99
You can buy this from: Walmart, Walgreens, Target, Ulta
http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=fs1017872#reviews

If you do not like liquid foundations, a great cream foundation is the MAC Cosmetics Pro Longwear Cream Foundation with SPF 20. Again, this foundation is great because you already have the SPF inside it. I like to apply cream foundation with a flat foundation brush or a beauty sponge. I feel that this method is the best way to apply an even and good coverage application. This foundation's name speaks for itself! It is very long wearing! The Pro Longwear Foudation is a great choice if you plan on having a long day and don't have much time to touch up throughout the day. It is a natural matte
finish that provides a good amount of coverage without using too much product. I would recommend this foundation for a person who is looking for a foundation that is going to be on the low maintenence side and is going to look good all day long.


MAC Pro Longwear Cream: $33.00
You can buy this at: MAC Cosmetics, Macy's, Nordstrom
http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/mac-pro-longwear-spf-20-compact-foundation?ID=1419348&CategoryID=30077#fn=sp%3D1%26spc%3D2%26slotId%3D1%26kws%3Dmac%20pro%20longwear%20cream%20foundation

If neither a liquid nor a cream foundation is what you are looking for, you can always go for a powder founation. You can also use a powder foundation to set your liquid or cream foundation to add more coverage. A powder foundation that I love is the Kat Von Dee Lock It Tattoo Powder Foundation. This powder foundation is a full coverage powder that does not have a heavy apperance. The texture is almost a creamy powder if that makes sense. This is a pressed powder so it is easy to throw in your bag and take with you for touch ups. I would reccommend this foundation for people who are looking for something that is going to give a good coverage but is low maintenance.

Kat Von Dee Lock It Tattoo Powder Foundation: $35.00
You can buy this at: Sephora
http://www.sephora.com/lock-it-powder-foundation-P380835?skuId=1710938

Another great powder foundation is the Bare Minerals Original Foundation with SPF 15. I think it is really great that they added a SPF to this powder foundation because powder foundations can tend to stick to a sunscreen and become patchy. However, this does not happen since the SPF is built into the
foundation. The Bare Minerals Original Powder Foundation is a loose powder so if you are looking for convinence or something that you can take with you, I would suggest going with a different powder. However, if you are looking for a powder that is extremely natural looking while giving you coverage, this is the foundation for you. The great thing about this powder foundation is that it does not look powdery at all on the skin. It is very natural and creates a beautiful looking texture to the skin.

Bare Minerals Original Loose Powder Foundation: $28.50
You can find this at: Ulta, Sephora
http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=VP11362

All photos by Becky Schutten.

Winter Nail Polish

Winter Nail Polish

Nail polish is a great accessory that you can use to express your individuality. People like to use specific colors during particular times of the year. For example, people like to use pastels for the spring/summer or red for the holidays. Personally, I paint my nails whatever color I feel like wearing
during any time of the year. To me, beauty is another way to express yourself and set yourself apart from everyone else. After going thru my nail polish collection, I have selected eight nail polishes that are my favorite for this winter season.

When applying nail polish, you want to make sure that you use two thin coats of polish to avoid early breakage. When you apply thicker coats or too many coats of polish, the chances of your nails chipping increase. A good way to tell if you have purchased a good quality nail polish is to see how
many coats of polish it takes you to achieve a flawless nail application. Again, the average amount of coats you want to use is around two. Using a bottom and top coat will help the longevity of your nail polish as well. The best bottom and top coats I have found are the OPI bottom and top coat as well as the Sally Hansen Gel Shine 3D Top Coat. The only drawback I have found with the Sally Hansen top coat is that it can take a little longer to dry. To help with this, I love using the OPI Rapidry Nail Polish Dryer Spray. After painting your nails and applying a top coat, you can spray your nails with the OPI Rapidry spray and it will help speed up the drying process.

The first nail polish I want to talk about is Essie Blanc (10). This is an opaque white nail polish. It has a bit of shine to it without it being shimmery or glittery. Essie Blanc takes about two coats of polish for it to be a nice finish. If you add any more layers than two or three, Essie polishes tend to chip more easily than others so I would be consious for this when applying. White nail polish is a great color to wear because it does with every outfit and every look. I would consider white more of a neutral color, but it is still gives you a pop against your skin especially if you have any kind of tan.

Essie Blanc: $8.50
Where can you buy this: Ulta, Target, essie.com
http://www.essie.com/Colors/Sheers/blanc.aspx

The next nail polish I want to talk about is Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Sweet Talker (340). Sweet Talker is a beautiful peachy nude polish that is slightly on the sheer side. It definitely gives enough color pay off but is not too opaque. I absolutely love the Sally Hansen Complete Salon
Manicure nail polishes. The longevity of the nail polish is amazing and the color pay off is always great. They are a little expensive for a drug store nail polish, but Ulta usually has some kind of deal or a $3.50 off coupon you can use. A nude nail polish is always a great choice and one of my favorite
colors for all year because like the white color, it goes with eveything. The trick is finding the nude color that suits your skintone the best.

Sally Hansen Sweet Talker: $7.99
Where can you buy this: CVS, Ulta, Walgreens, Walmart
http://www.cvs.com/shop/beauty/makeup/nails/sally-hansen-complete-salon-manicure-nail-color-sweet-talker-skuid-901518

The next polish I am loving right now is MAC Cosmetic Quick Million. This is a gorgeous glittery gold polish with baby pink sparkles in it. MAC Cosmetic nail polishes can tend to chip quickly so using a good top coat is super important when wearing a MAC polish. However, I think this color is well worth the chipping just for the color. It is so unique and can even be used as a nail polish topper with one thin coat over another polish. This is one of the few nail polishes I would recommend using three coat (but no more than that.) Since the formula is so sheer, you will need to use about three coats to get a good color payoff. Glittery nail polish is usually a big trend during the holidays, but I love glitter all year because who doesn't want a little sparkle in your life.

MAC Cosmetic Quick Million: $12.00
Where can you buy this: MAC Cosmetics, Macy's, Nordstom
http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/13855/31461/Products/Makeup/Nails/Lacquer/MAC-Studio-Nail-Lacquer#/shade/Quick_Million

Another MAC Cosmetics nail polish that I have really been enjoying lately is Girl Trouble. Girl Trouble is an extremely light lilac color with shimmer running through it. Again, MAC nail polishes tend to chip more easily so you will want to top it off with your favorite top coat. This nail polish is
a great color when you are looking for a shimmery nail polish that does not have chunks of glitter in it. Also, I have been loving the light lilac color because it gives you some color without drawing too much attention to your nails.

MAC Cosmetics Girl Trouble: $12.00
Where can you find this: MAC Cosmetics, Macy's, Nordstrom
http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/13855/31461/Products/Makeup/Nails/Lacquer/MAC-Studio-Nail-Lacquer#/shade/Girl_Trouble

If you don't mind drawing some attention to your nails, L'Oreal Violet Vixen (500) would be a great color choice. I would consider Violet Vixen to be a deep violet/magenta shade. This is such a beautiful deep nail polish for winter while still adding a bit of brightness. I am in love with the L'Oreal nail polishes! They are so well made and are not too expensive. This is one of the few nail polish brands (especially in the drugstore) that barely ever chip. I have applied two thin coats of the L'Oreal nail polish and it has lasted a week and a half without chipping. That's amazing! The formula is consistent with almost all of the colors.

L'Oreal Violet Vixen: $5.99
Where can you buy this at: Walmart, Walgreens, Target
http://www.lorealparisusa.com/en/products/makeup/nail-color/nail-polish/colour-riche-nail.aspx?shade=AfterHours

You can never go wrong with a classic red. One of my favorite reds is OPI I'm Not Really A Waitress. This is a classic deep red with shimmer. The color red always reminds me of the winter, but wearing a red nail is so classic and feminine that you can never go wrong. When I can't figure out a good nail polish to wear, I usually go from a red or a nude. Red adds a pop of color, yet has become a staple nail polish color for most people so it doesn't come off as too much. OPI is also one of my favorite nail polish brands. Being on the more expensive side, you are paying for what you get. OPI polishes tend to be one of the few brands that last a long time without chipping. Again, you can find OPI at Ulta and use one of their coupons to get money off your purchase. Even with the price, I think they are well worth it!

OPI I'm Not Really A Waitress: $9.50
Where can you buy this: Ulta, OPI.com
http://opi.com/color/im-not-really-waitress-2#JlxgX3sYSkrCKpqF.97

If you want to add a true pop of color to your collection, I suggest getting Julie G nail polish in Kickin' It. This is a metallic electric blue color. It is truly a vibrant pop of color that goes with all skintones. You cannot go wrong with purchasing Julie G nail polish because they are so cheap! You can buy multiple polishes for the price of one top nail polish brand. I have a bunch of the Julie G polishes and I have found that they are very pigmented and a good quality formula. Blue is one of my favorite pops of color to wear on my nails because it is so unusual, so if you are looking for a metallic blue, you should definitley check out Kickin' It by Jule G.

Julie G Kickin' It: $3.99
Where can you buy it: jessiegirlcosmetics.com
https://www.jessesgirlcosmetics.com/product/julieg-nail-color-2012/kickin-it-341

Lastly, I love going for dark colors during the winter time. One of my favorite dark colors is L'Oreal Stroke of Midnight. Again, L'Oreal is one of my favorite nail polish brands and this color in particular is one of my favorite from the brand. It is such a beautiful deep gunmetal grey with a slight shimmer. If you do not like to wear black nail polish, but you want the same effect, you should try this polish out. It gives the vibe of a dark blackish grey but it has the shimmer running through it so it doesn't appear flat like some blacks can.

L'Oreal Storke of Midnight: $5.99
Where can you buy this: Walmart, Walgreens, Target
http://www.lorealparisusa.com/en/products/makeup/nail-color/nail-polish/colour-riche-nail.aspx?shade=AfterHours

All Photo Credits to: Becky Schutten