The Most Beautiful Nail Art (Or Manicure Masterpieces).

above: Technoid Subculture nail art

Now, THIS is finger painting. CND (Creative Nail Design) is a company known better to professionals that the average consumer. The first to create a nail polish resistant to yellowing, the company has continued to innovate with science and beauty. The amazing nail polish art shown below was created with their products.

Afro Love nails:

Bridal nails:

Downtown Doll nails:

Flirt nails:

Punk Rock nails:

Global Chic nails:

Holiday Nails:


Pretty phenomenal, right? But what's even cooler is that on their site, they describe exactly which polishes you need to create each of the above designs of nail art and the steps as to how to apply them.

If the above nail art seems to daunting for you to try, CND still makes it easy to have uniquely beautiful nails by simply combining their color polishes with their effect polishes.



First you can choose from their cremes, primaries or chrome polishes:


After polishing your nails with the first color, you can add a number of effects (shimmer, pearl or sparkle) by using their 'effects' polishes:



and voila, many fab looks can be achieved, such as these below:




About CND
CND (Creative Nail Design) got it's start when Dr. Stuart Nordstrom, a practicing dentist, got the idea for a new nail enhancement product: A patient remarked that the material used to prepare temporary caps smelled like the material used to sculpt porcelain nails.

The result was SolarNail™ Liquid, the industry’s first-ever monomer formulation for greater nail strength and flexibility — and the first product to deliver natural, non-yellowing nail color..

Building on a foundation of hard work and smart chemistry, the fledgling company pursued and achieved one innovation after another—an uninterrupted succession of advances that continues, virtually unabated, to this day. With every new breakthrough came growth. Throughout the 1980s alone, the company doubled its revenues every year.

BREAKING NAIL NEWS:



The latest news from CDN (even covered here in the NY Times) is the upcoming release of their long-wearing 'shellac' polish. A special nail polish that is said to last weeks without chipping.



The SHELLAC polishes (not yet available for purchase) are dried by a UV light and when removal is desired, each nail has to be soaked for 10 minutes in the special removal gel wraps, shown below.



Visit their site to learn more and to find distributors.

CND
Special thanks to CND and NY Times for the images and info.

American Apparel Launches Nail Lacquers

It's not enough for them to dominate the t-shirt market, sell bras, panties, sweaters, leggings, dresses, bathing suits, bodysuits, hosiery, bedding, robes, pet collars and dog clothes, an expanded children's line, button down shirts, accessories and even vintage sunglasses.. now, American Apparel has entered into the beauty industry with the launch of their own nail polish.




The 18 colored Nail Lacquers are in expected trendy bright colors and sell for $6.00 a bottle or can be purchased in 3 packs for $15.00




American Apparel is a vertically integrated manufacturer, distributor and retailer, based in downtown Los Angeles, California. They currently employ approximately 10,000 people globally (about 5,000 in LA), and operate more than 260 retail stores in 19 countries.

Within their business model, knitting, dyeing, cutting, sewing, photography, marketing, distribution, and design all happen in the company's facilities in Los Angeles. The company operates the largest garment factory in the United States, at a time when most apparel production has moved offshore. With their recently opened stores in China, they are now selling Made in USA clothing in the largest consumer market in the world.



American Apparel leverages art, design and technology to advance the business process, while continuing to pioneer industry standards of social and environmental responsibility in the workplace.

Buy the new nail polishes online here. Or in one of their many retail stores.

Shu Uemura Lashes Out Again: The 2009 Tokyo Lash Bar

Last year I shared with you the beautiful collection of false eyelashes from Shu Uemura's 2008 Tokyo Lash Bar that included some very creative designs by Viktor & Rolf.


above: Viktor & Rolf lashes for Shu Uemura's 2008 Tokyo Lash Bar

Well, this year's 2009 Tokyo Lash bar has styles inspired by nature and designed by Shu Uemura's own atelier of world renowed international and national artistic directors and make up artists.

The dynamic meeting of minds, personalities, geographic locations and aesthetic approaches of Shu Uemura makeup masters Gina Brooke, Kakuyasu Uchiide, Yuji Asano and Mina Matsumura resulted in nine wearable (4 premium and 5 non premium) masterpieces.

Infused with inspiration from flowers, forests, oceans and the sky, all lashes are a perfect balance of nature, science and art. With a lash for every eye, Lashes in Nature offers bold, charming, delicate, dramatic and cheeky options in the forms extravagant premium, decorative statement and everyday accent lashes.



Below are the four styles in the 'Premium' collection:

GOLDGLAM LEAF

by KAKUYASU UCHIIDE, INTERNATIONAL ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

These glimmering lashes made from real skeleton leaves are drenched in glimmering gold. Transparent crystals sit atop this hand-crafted piece of art for a glistening, captivating look.


MARINE TIDE

by YUJI ASANO, INTERNATIONAL CHIEF MAKE-UP ARTIST

The unique curl design of this lash echoes the undulating roll of the ocean's tidal cycle. This striking lash also references Mr. Uemura's iconic "umbrella" eyelash. It is weaved with multiple shades of blue, from sea and sky blue to deep turquoise, accented with a sprinkling of white foam.


SNOW TWIST

by MINA MATSUMURA, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, EUROPE

Each lash is made from thin, milky white wires. Frosted pink teardrop crystals enhance the lower lash.


FLEUR-EVER

by GINA BROOKE, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, united states

This lash design emulates the tail of a bird whose exotic purple plumage is accented with white flecking. Petal-like forms hide inside the lashes, bringing to mind a bouquet of sweet peonies. Perfect for any extravagant or fanciful look.


The other five styles available are not considered "premium ", but they certainly are fun and cost approximately $29.00 USD each:

Buy any of Shu Uemura's new lash collection here.

all images courtesy of Shu Uemura