When I first found out that OPI would be collaborating with Nicki Minaj to create a collection I admit that squealed with excitement. I find Nicki Minaj to be such wonderful eye candy when it comes to her fashion and beauty choices. The colors, patterns, and trends she wears and creates are always inspiring, and I thought it would translate beautifully into a nail polish collection.

“OPI is so excited to work with Nicki in releasing these six new nail lacquers,” said Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director.  “Nicki has taken the hip hop world by storm, but her music is only part of the equation. She’s also become a fashion inspiration, noted for her daring costumes and hair color both on and off the stage.”

I really could not have said it better myself. Whether you love or hate her music, she really is like a real-life Barbie, displaying intricate, crazy costumes, hair, and makeup. The six colors in this collection are simply gorgeous and perfectly reminiscent of Nicki Minaj. To see photographs and swatches of the entire collection, read more…

I’m so, so excited to bring details of this sweepstakes to you all! Have you ever dreamed of being a VIP at New York Fashion Week? Well, Kohls and Rock & Republic are offering you a chance of a lifetime! When I want to feel like a total rockstar, this is my go-to look. I pile on the eyeliner, the false lashes, and add some glitter to it. Want to have the time of your life in NYC? To enter, read more…

This lipstick is so insanely adorable that I just couldn’t pass it up when I saw it in the drugstore. Physician’s Formula Happy Booster Lipstick is a new addition to their “Happy Booster” cosmetics line, which includes blushes and bronzers already. The lipstick has a triple layer design, with three different shades of rose pink creating the perfect shade. The triple layer design is that of a heart, and it’s so pretty to look at! The overall packaging of this lipstick is also extremely pretty and festive for this time of year with Valentine’s Day coming up. To see photographs, swatches, and my overall review, read more…

Happy Friday the 13th! Did you know that 2012 will have three Friday the 13ths? This month, April, and July!

I recently swatched the NYC City Duet 2-in-1 Lip Color in The Rock A Fellas and I heard how many of you loved these! I picked up two other duo’s and “The Vintage Pinks” is one of them. This dual-sided lipstick contains two lip colors in one, which you can wear alone or layered. To see photographs and swatches, read more…

Since I don’t believe in monthly favorites, I decided I would do a “current favorites” video, showing you the products I’ve been using and loving for the past few months. Feel free to leave a comment below!

I recently stumbled across these gems in my local K-mart, which I sometimes visit because they have makeup and beauty products I can’t find elsewhere. NYC City Duet 2-in-1 Lip Color is a really cool spin on the classic lipstick, containing two shades instead of just one, by splitting the lipstick bullet in two. Both shades coordinate with one another, and can be layered and worn together or separately. As soon as I saw this display I wanted to go crazy and purchase all ten of them, but then I thought to myself, “Rebecca, do you really need TEN more lipsticks in your collection?” Right. Self-control. I ended up buying 3 lipsticks from this collection, and here is the first, The Rock A Fellas. To see photographs and swatches, read more…

My favorite way to wear my hair is “bombshell style.” Think Marilyn Monroe, or modern day, the Victoria’s Secret Angels. The hair is effortlessly sexy and chic, moveable, simple to achieve, yet undeniably glamorous. The Sultra Bombshell Curling Iron is the be-all-end-all curling tool for me. Clampless, you can wrap sections of your hair around the ceramic plated rod and create gorgeous waves and curls.

I decided to demonstrate this product live via a video review and tutorial above. I hope you enjoy the tutorial, and if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below!

**Purchase the Sultra Bombshell Curling Iron here.**

[This article contains a sample product sent by PR. Beauty Gala's opinions are our own, and we commit ourselves to honesty in our reviews and descriptions at all times. Sample products are not guaranteed a review. For consideration of your product, please send all PR requests to Rebecca@beautygala.com, or by using our Press Inquiry Form.]

MAC Cosmetics has released a collection inspired by Iris Apfel, who is known for interior design and quirky, bright fashion statements. After seeing the lipsticks from this collection swatched on a beauty blog, I knew I had to have “Party Parrot.” I don’t have anything quite like it in my collection, and even the photographs make it hard to capture the essence of just how bright and beautiful this color is. I have a lot of blue-based bright pink lipsticks (think: Nicki Minaj’s signature lips), but none that are red-based pinks, and certainly none that are so bright that they are almost neon. This color somehow manages to be extremely flattering, and really brings out your eye color. It’s safe to say that this is one of my favorite lipsticks that I have purchased in many months. To see photographs and swatches, read more…

Trop50 has inspired me to get REAL in 2012, and come up with a strong action plan to list my resolutions/goals, organize them, and keep them. I am here to motivate and inspire you to do the same and make 2012 your best year ever! I’d love to hear your resolutions and goals for the New Year, so please leave them below in the comments! read more…

As the new year is now upon us, I always spend time reflecting on what some of my resolutions and goals are for the year of 2012. I was able to write down three specific resolutions that I have for the new year, and I have an inspirational video coming up later today with some tips and tricks on how to come up with resolutions and stick to them.

Beauty Gala often focuses on the external…what lip colors we can put on our lips, what foundations covers our imperfections, and how we can tidy up our outer appearance. However, the inside is just as if not more important, and often reflects on the outside of us. As someone who tries to be health conscious the majority of the time, I often struggle to find beverages other than water that not only taste delicious, but don’t pack a ton of calories, sugar, or artificial sweeteners. Trop50, a juice beverage brought to you by Tropicana, delivers 50% less calories and sugar and absolutely no artificial sweeteners. I gave this juice beverage a try, and I really love it and think it’s a wonderful way to start my morning off. To see additional photographs and my review, read more…