Beauty Picks

Go color crazy with Chanel

MANILA, Philippines - My addiction to Chanel nail lacquer is such that the girls at the Shangri-La counter text me as soon as the new collections come in. And just because I’m a sigurista, I have their numbers in my phone’s contacts so I can text them two months in advance to reserve all the colors I want. This is why I have no money in the bank. Because I’m wearing it on my fingertips. (Right now, Black Satin.)

So you can imagine how badly I’m salivating for Chanel’s Summer 2014 color collection, Reflets D’Été de Chanel. Summertime is definitely not the time for heavy makeup and ridiculous amounts of base. I’d even advise you to steer clear of overly complicated eye makeup if you think you’re going to get sweaty; a wash of neutral shadow and some waterproof mascara should do the trick, and waterproof pencil liner if you must. (Liquid’s going to come right off; don’t even bother.) Summer is for bright pops of strategically-placed color. Key makeup spots are your lips (which don’t sweat, thank God), your nails (the ultimate accessory), and your cheeks (hello, sun-kissed), and Chanel knows this, too.

The damage this season: five shades of Le Vernis (opaque white Eastern Light, self-explanatory Sweet Lilac, and juicy orange Mirabella are my must-haves, but Pink Tonic and Tutti Frutti are gorgeous, too); Le Blush Crème de Chanel (a rose-brown that amps up your post-beach glow); five shades of yummy Lèvres Scintillantes gloss for lips (match them with your tips); violet and orange Inimitable Waterproof mascara; luminous shades of Illusion D’Ombre in bronze, copper, and lavender; and waterproof Stylo Yeux pencil in burnished gold. This is everything you’re going to need to look summer hot, and it’s out in June. (RIP, savings. I knew you but briefly. Texting my girl at Chanel Shangri-La in 3…2...)

Get Santigolden

Santi White burst onto the scene with her first album in 2008 as Santogold, until a lawsuit necessitated a name change — to Santigold, which was a confusing change for absolutely no one. Unchanged: her overall eclectic vibe and general sense of cool, whether it’s her music or her collage art.

My favorite Santigold moment used to be a video that went a little viral a few years back: people are chilling on the grass at an outdoor festival as she performs Unstoppable offscreen, when a shirtless guy suddenly gets up and starts dancing. It’s weird as hell, but then a couple of other guys join in, and then more and more people get up to get down, until this one fearless — heck, unstoppable — guy has managed to start a full-on dance party. (Be the change you want to see on the dance floor, guys.)

My new favorite Santigold moment is her upcoming Summer 2014 collection with Smashbox, The Santigolden Age, hitting our shores in June this year. It’s post-apocalyptic in theme, an exclusive and limited-edition collection inspired by an imaginary age in which the earth has become a utopia where humans, aliens, and nature co-exist in harmony. What? Whatever, it’s a gorgeous collection full of bold, vivid colors that you can mix and match for any number of fabulous looks.

The Eyeshadow Collage, laid out like Santigold’s collages, are embossed into a texture that looks like snakeskin, with Kelly green, cream, matte blue, forest green, pearlescent, and raisin shades that can be applied wet or dry. The Double-Ended Limitless Eye Liner comes in blue/gold and yellow/mint combos. But it’s the Be Legendary Lipstick Ring (lipstick in a ring!) and the Nail Polish Art Strips that really steal the show.