Press Release - Sally Hansen ManiMatch App

THE NEW AUGMENTED-REALITY NAIL POLISH TRY-ON APP

FROM SALLY HANSEN: LIVE, 3D AND FIRST TO MARKET

ManiMatchTM DELIGHTS USERS WITH NEW INSTANT-SCAN TECHNOLOGY, 3D AUGMENTED REALITY TRY-ON OVER 200 SALLY HANSEN SHADES AND PERSONALIZED RECOMMENDATIONS IN REAL TIME

NEW YORK, NEW YORK. Building on next-generation augmented reality technology, Sally Hansen the #1-selling nail color and nail care brand in the US is transforming the shopping experience with the new ManiMatchTM mobile app. Users can try on the rainbow of over 200 Sally Hansen nail polish shades in real time, on their nails, before they buy. A simple scan of the user’s hand from any smartphone enables the user to instantly consider and curate her own color choices. There’s no uploading, picture-taking or manual data entry, as the app works in real time. It also generates personalized-for-her-skin-tone color suggestions on demand; using cutting-edge, proprietary technology, the app senses and analyzes the pigments in each user’s hand, then matches its polish-shade suggestions to the ones optimally flattering to her skin.

Choosing the perfect shade is traditionally both the most fun and the most difficult aspect of shopping for nail color; consumers surreptitiously dab color onto a single or several nails to approximate how given shades might look on their hands in relation to skin tones, mood or outfit. ManiMatchTM flips the trial-on- ly-post-purchase shopping experience that has always frustrated nail color shoppers, transforming the process into a moment of discovery, excitement and pleasure. “The app is addictive; everyone who tries it can’t stop herself from checking out more options,” says Jeremy Lowenstein, Sally Hansen Global Marketing Vice President. “The fact that you see exactly how a color will look on your own hands is just pure fun—and incredibly useful. People end up experimenting with shades they’d never normally try.”

“The innovative technology uses bespoke skin tone analysis and an algorithm to map the hand.” – says Kristen D’Arcy, Global Digital Vice President. “It tracks the individual nuances of the user’s hands, analyzes skin tone, finds the nail beds, and photo-realistically simulates our nail polish shades, with shine: the finished manicure appears instantly on the user’s hand. ManiMatchTM generates shade suggestions across all Sally Hansen’s product lines, including Miracle Gel, Complete Salon Manicure, Insta-Dri and Xtreme Wear, so users can easily navigate and experience every color they desire.”

The launch of this app coincides with the release of the new Miracle Gel® Top Coat and new fashionable shades. Available for download for free on iOS platforms when it launches September 2015 (and select Android devices later in fall), ManiMatchTM is poised to revolutionize nail color shopping, both in store and ecommerce. Sally Hansen will host a kick-off consumer event in NYC to introduce the app. The first users to share the experience with a friend will have a chance to become the next Sally Hansen hand model for Sally Hansen social media 

Check out this fun shot of Julianne Hough trying out the new app, courtesy of the folks at Sally Hansen!

Press Release - Zoya MatteVelvet

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!!!
ZOYA MATTEVELVET
Six new MATTEVELVET Nail Colors to slip into this WINTER/HOLIDAY season.

The best-selling, MATTEVELVET finish returns this holiday season with six new shades. Each nail polish perfectly opaque, matte color with that extra special ZOYA MATTEVELVET fleck finish everyone loves.

·         Aspen (ZP814) - a sparkling artic white with a micronized diamond pearl fleck.

·         Sue (ZP815) - a soft champagne gold with a multi-hued oyster shell pearl fleck.

·         Amal (ZP816) – a classic crimson red with a ruby red pearl fleck.

·         Iris (ZP817) - a deep amethyst with a fuchsia pearl fleck.

·         Yves (ZP818) - a deep sapphire that's midway in between indigo and royal blue with a blue pearl fleck.

·         Honor (ZP819) - a true emerald green with a tone on tone emerald pearl fleck.

NOTE: MATTEVELVET nail color by Zoya is not intended to be worn with a base coat, glossy top coat or speed dryer. Due to the unique matte formulation, color is not as long-wearing as traditional nail color. A completely clean, dry surface yields the best results for matte nail color wear. To extend wear, apply one coat of the Zoya Matte Velvet Topcoat over your favorite matte shades after polish is completely dry.

AVAILABLE NOW!
ZOYA IS THE HEALTHY COLOR OF FASHION!Zoya MATTEVELVET Colors, 0.5 oz. -  $10 (US) ea.
Zoya MATTEVELVET Color Sampler, 6 – 0.5 oz. bottles -  $60 (US)

Available in top salons, spas and on zoya.com

* **BIG5FREE, TOXIN FREE: Zoya Nail Polish Formula contains no formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, dibutyl phthalate, toluene or camphor.

Hi, I'm Kari and I Like Lip Balm...a Lot.

Hello, friends! This is a post that has been requested several times and I'm finally ready to share it with you. Let me preface this by saying, yes, I have an extraordinary amount of lip balm. With very few exceptions, it was all purchased by me, traded for or gifted to me by friends and family. Will I use it all in my lifetime?  Probably not. Is it a relatively inexpensive thing that I really enjoy collecting? You're darn tootin'! And, therefore, in spite of the Judgey McJudgersons who will find it necessary to comment negatively while collecting their Hummels or Precious Moments or pencil erasers or stickers or toenail clippings or whatever it is that floats their collecting boats, I am now prepared to share with you, in its entirety, my lip balm collection.  Feast your eyes!

This bin contains my Lotta Luv brand lip balms.

 Here are my Chap Stick, Soft Lips, Nivea and other miscellaneous brands as well as "novelty-shaped" lip balms.

This bin contains most of my Lip Smacker lip balms.

More Lip Smackers and a few randoms.

This dish contains my Revos (including one I blinged out with Dollar Tree stickers)

And finally, my eos collection.

Yup. Here it is. My very large lip balm collection. I'm not sure exactly why I love it so much. It's useful, of course. It smells wonderful and, ideally, tastes wonderful, too. But why on earth would someone need 350+? I can't answer that. I know that part of it stems from my childhood. As is the case with most little girls (and some little boys, too), lip balm is the first thing I was allowed to wear on my face related to makeup. To this day, it makes me happy (even though, for the most part, I've lost interest in makeup). It also reminds me of my beloved Grandma Blum, sadly, no longer with us. Rarely did I see that woman without a Bonne Bell Lip Smacker nearby. There was usually one on her kitchen table when we'd share talks over cookies and milk (or, later, tea). The sight, feel, smell and taste of a Lip Smacker in particular takes me right back to those wonderful times. And that is more than worth the small price I pay for them. 

I feel like I am justifying myself when I realize that I really don't have to. Lip balm makes me happy, pure and simple, and that is reason enough to collect. I know that many of you (if not all) will understand. And if not, you feel free to keep on enjoying those toenail clippings behind closed doors. I promise not to judge you.  

xo,

K

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel - Random Reviews

*PRESS SAMPLES*

Hello again, friends! Today I have some gorgeous Miracle Gel polishes from Sally Hansen to share with you. I'll be featuring five shades and I'll get right to the pics:

Bottle shots! From left to right: Boho a Go-Go, Blue Hue, Rhythm & Blue, Fish-teal Braid and Buffalo Nickel

From thumb to pinky, two coats each of Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Buffalo Nickel, Fish-teal Braid, Rhythm & Blue, Blue Hue and Boho a Go-Go

The Miracle Gel line from Sally Hansen is designed to be worn with the accompanying Miracle Gel top coat in order to get gel mani-like durability and wear. However, for the sake of these swatches, I did not use top coat. Yes, they are this shiny on their own! I was very happy with each of these. They come with the wide Sally Hansen brush I adore, making application a breeze. My one fault with these is that Fish-teal Braid is a BAD stainer. Always a bummer but sometimes, it's the price you pay for a great color. Overall, I'm very happy with these polishes.

*The polishes featured in this post were provided for my honest review and consideration. As always, all statements are my own unbiased opinions.

Zoya Fall 2015 Focus Collection

*PRESS SAMPLES* 

Hello friends! Today I'd like to share Zoya's other Fall 2015 collection. It is called Focus and consists of six cream shades. First up, the pics:

From thumb to pinky, two coats each of Zoya Janel, Sia, Lidia, Desiree and Charli

From thumb to pinky, two coats each of Zoya Hannah, Sia, Lidia, Desiree and Charli

I probably sound like a broken record but honestly, I rarely encounter a Zoya polish without an easy-to-apply formula and this collection is no exception. While these shades might not be the most original, it's a solid collection of creams just perfect for the fall. Not surprisingly, the standout for me is the pretty blue Sia. 

If you pick these up, I'd love to hear your favorite(s).

*The products featured in this post were provided for my honest review and consideration. As always, all statements expressed are completely my own unbiased opinions.

Zoya Flair Collection for Fall 2015

*PRESS SAMPLES*

Hello, friends! Today I'd like to share the new Flair collection for fall 2015 from Zoya. First up, the pics.

From thumb to pinky: two coats each of Zoya Ember, Estelle, Giada, Tris and Cinnamon

From thumb to pinky: two coats each of Zoya Ember, Estelle, Giada, Tris and Aggie

This is a fabulous collection! I love the metallic shimmery look of all six of these shades. The formula was fabulous and they applied like a dream. In my opinion, the stand-outs are Estelle (hello, BLUE), Tris and Cinnamon. Cinnamon in particular is a fave because the world needs more gorgeous shimmery metallic browns, especially ones that are suitable for cooler skin tones.

Stay tuned for my thoughts on the Zoya Focus collection, coming soon!

*The products used in this post were provided for my honest review and consideration. All opinions expressed are strictly my own.