LYRA MAG.

ROOTS STUDIO NYC A K Beauty company (before it was trendy)-KISS Products-once again sponsored the 'fun-set' NYFW  shows---including  Alice and Olive by Stacy Bendet. The models were perfectly made up-nail-wise, in a glittery take on the French manicure...with sparkling tips on a soft almond shape nail. A semi shiny matte-deep pink-flattering for all skin tones was also a highlight.  PICTURED ABOVE: custom made press on nails- by GINA EDWARDS -a editorial fav manicurist... LOVE: these nails=subtle with impact-an exclamation point (nail wise) for women who like to be noticed but in a subtle way. KISS NAILS are widely available..ULTA and KISS.com are exclusively featuring the KISS Salon Acrylic French Nude Nails $7.99 (a seamless cuticle line makes these look like the real deal-with nails, 2 g glue, manicure stick and mini file ), Other styles (new GLAM Fantasy SpecialFX Nails ($7.99 28 nails, 2 g glue, manicure stick and mini file and Mega adhesive tab...

AT that tweener time in life where it's all about what everyone else has-those middle school years are tough to live in- and maybe with. HELP: Holiday gift ideas that'll get a smile from a gal that maybe rarely does these days… Numero UNO idea- a gift card…packaging is everything---this adorable snow globe-and other porcelain selections double as a clever gift card holders ($7.99-$9.99)…from Improvements Catalogue . Stocking stuffers-for nails… KISS Nail Tattoos (so easy), Design Perfection (stencils) and thematic Nail Art kits - the latest thematically tied to Disney's Good and Evil  (complete with artistic sparkling trims, brush tools, polishes/top coat-and fake stick-on neutral nail tabs if needed…) are FUN and affordable-widely available (Walgreens, Drugstore.com…etc) and top out. price-wise at $9.99 KISS Nails Manicure sets-from Rowallan ® of Scotland-are keepers-$55-$65 By now every suburban dwelling female under a certain age...

 NYC  It's a fast paced world --- temporary stick on nails, and skin art tattoos are on trend, easy and perfectly timely-a cinch to apply and offers style with no commitment. We saw plenty of this past week backstage during NYFW S/S 2015.  IMO: the best= BLACK LACE SKIN JEWELRY …hypoallergenic, waterproof and gorgeous-several collections are available including Black Matte, Black Sparkle, Metallic, and Bridal.  If you have daughters-get ready to buy in bulk. Officially obsessed. At the STYLE 360 LOUNGE-over on West 46th Street, Shimmer Jewelry Tattoos found many customers for their silver of gold foil metallic designs-afterwards-we saw loads of gals sporting these. HINT---want them to last, don't wear under a watch---and no body scrubs.   At Edwing D'Angelo 's show-guys and gals got scripted-with liners….  Manis…made of pre-shaped nails (mostly long, tapering almond shaped)…often with artful embell...

PART ONE SUNSCREEN--- Duh . As the  number of skin cancer occurrences dwarf the next bunch of C.s combined, using sunscreen as an athlete outdoors is a must. And we can tell by the skin quality (or lack there of) who amongst our female competitors, Age-Group wise- uses sunscreen/sunblock- and who doesn't. It is that obvious. IMO physical blocks that are applied and hang out on the surface (not absorbed into the skin) made of - Titanium Dioxide and/or - Zinc Oxide  are the best…and the only thing we use on our face….and most of the time-on the neck down skin too. The longest lasting, physical block sunblocks are tough to wash off- we find it survives multi-hour races- so that is the point. Plus, when we sweat up a storm, physical non-micronized sunblocks don't sting our eyes…for real vs. chemical sunscreen claims of being non-irritating. Not so for us and we have tried about 4 big name sunscreens made of chemical ingredients that penetrate the skin ---that not only annoy...

ORLANE, NARS, FABFITFUN, LE TOTE, LAQA+Co., Q&A Nails, KISS Nail Art, PERFECT FORMULA, ESSIE  Festive packaging and limited editions-companies who plan this stuff in a year in advance…(at least)---have easy stocking stuffer options for those glam gals on any one's list. And that includes oneself… We go to enough biz trade shows ---and read enough science press to know that there is some serious 'chemistry' behind those often costly ingredients --- Whether formulated with other ingredients- to deliver results as billed-is the BIG question. A newly launched present to oneself-to keep one's looks present, so-to-speak is the latest anti-ager by a cult-fav skincare line,  Orlane ,  B21 Extraordinaire. -made with an ingredient derived from organic irises. Previewed to media last week, the presentation showed off several rather impressive before/after pics of product testers--- that are not on the company website (but should be). Timing is every...