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Nails & Hand Care
CHANEL Robertson Boulevard Collection Nail Polish in L.A. Sunset * Limited Edition
Tester: Asian (Japanese) about Lisa Ling’s complexion with short nails.
“I was so happy to try one of these in-demand Robertson Boulevard limited edition colors from CHANEL. Out of the four shades in the collection, this is one of the less “edgy” shades, but really pretty and flattering nonetheless.
L.A. sunset really is reminiscent of the shades in sunset! It’s a warm, medium coral color with a touch of salmon pink (note: it appears more red in the photo). It’s bright but not neon. It’s such a happy summer color. I loved wearing this when I got a pedicure. It looked even better when I got a tan. The formula is smooth and easy to apply, and looked great with either one coat for more of a salmon stain, or with two for the brighter effect. It’s shiny with no shimmer and as I’ve found many of the CHANEL formulas, has great lasting power with no chipping.
I think this is one of the most versatile colors in the collection and should be added to their permanent collection. This is perfect those women are out of their teens and 20’s that still want to be fashion forward yet still have a flattering color that will work with their clothing, lifestyle, work etc. This color will work best up to a Queen Latifah shade.” T.N.
Available online in July
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CHANEL Le Vernis Nail Polish in Antilope
Tester: Hispanic (Cuban) about Eva Mendes’ complexion with medium length nails.
“This is a perfect nude shade for summer that’s also a little bit glam at the same time. It’s a gorgeous metallic (no shimmer) light sandy shade. I got the best look when two coats were applied. It was still somewhat sheer, but the beautiful metallic effect was just a tad sharper. The lasting power, as I have found with most CHANEL polishes, was fantastic, especially with a quick coat of top coat applied each day. This will look great on all skin tones as well. It’s another limited edition shade, so get it while you can!” G.H.
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CHANEL Blue Satin Nail Color
Tester: African-American, about Gabrielle Union’s complexion with short oval nails.
“I was so excited to try this new CHANEL nail color! I love experimenting with darker shades, and this was right up my ally.
Just one coat of CHANEL Blue Satin gave me a metallic navy blue – which was actually very nice and I did wear the color that way on occasion. Two coats created a deep indigo with a very slight amount of shimmer, which I really loved (the shimmer isn't as noticeable on the nail as it is in the bottle). It’s a fun-yet-sophisticated and a little offbeat look.
Note: Another fantastic combination is one coat of CHANEL’s Blue Satin with One coat of CHANEL Azur's (review below) twinkly sky blue on top. The iridescent sparkle brings out the best in Blue Satin. The Azur color added much more shimmer for a different look and made the blue satin look more blue instead of a dark indigo/almost black shade. I received many compliments on this combination!
The texture of CHANEL polishes are thicker than most, the application was amazing and the staying power is incredible. It covers almost completely in one coat. It's also unbelievably glossy, which I love.
This will give a dramatic look to fair skins and will really complement darker brown skin tones for a sexy and sophisticated look.” S.D.
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CHANEL Azur Nail Color
Tester: Hispanic (Puerto Rican) about Eva Mendes’ complexion with medium length oval nails.
“I love this color. However, it’s important to note that it is not as blue as it appears in the bottle. When I applied one coat my nails had looked like a beautiful light blue moonstone with iridescent shimmer.
Azur is very sheer limited edition polish from Chanel's Spring 2008 collection, and looks positively gorgeous in the bottle. The "shimmer" is a shade of blue, along with a purple-pink accent, depending on the lighting. When I applied two coats, Azur was definitely more obvious on the nail. Two coats gives a lot more shine and shimmer, but subtle. I also loved wearing this with a white tip (French manicure).
Azur has a bit of a frosty base and the shimmer is much more micro shimmer than sparkle. The best way to approach using this color is for the shimmer more than the base color in the bottle. This is the perfect little luxury item to layer over Blue Satin (see review above) or for a modern spin on the French manicure. This color will also look great on most skin tones because of it’s flexibility as a top coat or for a subtle nude look.” L.D.
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(Heat Wave, pictured on the top)
CHANEL Le Vernis Nail Color in Heatwave
Tester: African-American, about Iman’s complexion.
“This is THE color for summer for me now! I used this color with both a manicure and pedicure and absolutely loved it! It looks orangey/red upon first glance in the bottle, but upon application I could see that it really had orange, pink and red in it – and it works!
With two coats, this gave me a perfect streak-free finish and the wear was excellent and super shiny.
I usually keep my nails pale or a deep pink/fuschia color in the summer, so I wasn't sure if this shade would work for me, but I loved it and was very happy with how radiant it made the skin on my hands seem. For those who like to keep a bright shade on their toes only, this gives a fun, cheerful pop of color to a pedicure. I loved staring at my toes in my open toed pumps and sandals!
This is another fantastic summer time color for women with all shades of brown skin and will also work up to an Alex Wek complexion!” L.D.
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(Orange Blossom, pictured on the bottom)
CHANEL Le Vernis Nail Color in Orange Blossom
Tester: Haitian/French about Jada Pinkett’s complexion with a tan.
“This color is so gorgeous and happy! I now have a tan and it really brings out my skin tone very nicely.
What I love about this (aside from it being a CHANEL nail polish which is always the height of nail luxury for me!) is that it isn't too bright and there is just enough color to be really attractive. The polish lasts for ages and is super shiny to boot.
It's a creamy, orange-peach with a slight coral tone and a tad bit of shimmer that is really only noticeable in the bottle. I love orange/coral/peachy pink shades! It applies evenly and smoothly, with the very high quality that you'd expect from CHANEL. In general I love Chanel nail lacquers for their great shades and overall quality - product, packaging, etc. Orange Blossom is fabulous on tanned toes and would look great up to a Gabrielle Union shade!” L.T.
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Peter Thomas Roth Palacinka Product Rating Guide
Tester: African-American with dry skin on hands and occasional dry cuticles.
“Could a hand cream that is blue instead of the usual white really be enough to make it one of my favorites? Well, I really did like the blue touch, but what makes this cream exceptional is really the performance. It felt so lightweight on my hands and absorbed in seconds. Even better, it smells like lemons (yeah!) and after frequent use, I really did see a very nice improvement in the overall smoothness and tone of the skin on my hands. It’s also got SPF 15 which is great. My cuticles and nails even looked better after using it regularly. It’s the perfect little (and slightly flat) size to keep or carry anywhere…this is my new favorite little beauty secret!” S.G.
This product gets 4 "Palacinka Points" *
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Tester: Hispanic (Dominican) with very dry skin on hands.
“I must say this was a pleasant surprise. Aveeno is one of the brands I always notice in the store, but had not gotten around to trying before. Most hand creams make my hands feel great for a few minutes and then either they are dry again or it feels like I have a film on them. However, this hand cream really did absorb into my skin more easily, last longer and really hydrate my skin. It doesn't have fragrance, isn't oily or sticky, and worked like a charm. It's also a great price.
After frequent use I found that it made my hands very soft and smooth. It’s the perfect hand cream for daytime use. I wash my hands a lot during the day, and while I did reapply a few times, overall, I think this does a nice job standing up to at least a few hand washings.
Tip: If you mix it with a pea-sized amount of Vaseline at night this will keep the moisture in even more and you will wake up with super soft and supple hands!” E.V.
This product gets 3 "Palacinka Points" *
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Olay Palacinka Product Rating Guide
Olay Body Thermal Pedicure Foot Treatment
Tester: African-American with very dry skin on feet. Gets a pedicure 1x month on average.
“At the end of every winter my feet are always in the same state – definitely not sandal wearing ready. I was eager to try an at home treatment and have always had very good luck with Olay.
The scrub heats up quickly (feels nice!) and gives a has a nice grit to it without feeling painful. I concentrated it on my heels and the pads of my feet. I used it during every morning shower for a week straight to begin. I have to say I was very impressed with the texture and softness of my feet. They also looked A LOT better. After the first week I switched to 3 x week and by the end of the second week my feet were, in fact, SANDAL READY. It’s a quicker and less intense pampered feeling than getting a pedicure in a salon, but this is an excellent alternative if you are low on time/money or just want to maintain your salon results in-between pedicures!” S.D.
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This product gets 4 "Palacinka Points" *
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Crabtree & Evelyn Palacinka Product Rating Guide
Crabtree & Evelyn Goatmilk Hand Therapy
Tester: African-American with very dry skin on hands. Washes hands often during the day at work.
“I love this hand cream. I am very particular when it comes to hand creams. This one absorbs very well. At first I was worried that it would be greasy but cream absorbed in a few seconds. It moisturizes extremely well and throughout the day. I reviewed the larger size, but it also comes in a very handy small size that is perfect for any purse! This lotion makes the skin on my hands/fingers feel very soft and healthy. The lotion evenly spreads across my skin and absorbs quickly, making it a treat to apply. This also has a delicious, comforting alpine-lavender fragrance. I also kept it on my bed stand and used on hands and feet at the end of the day. There was a subtle layer of fragrance still clinging to me in the morning which was lovely! This is a treat that everyone should have in their beauty arsenal.” S.D.
Note: You can also get a metal tube “key” at their stores: The key makes it a lot easier to handle the metal tube once it's partly empty.
This product gets 4 "Palacinka Points" *
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Erno Laszlo Palacinka Product Rating Guide
Erno Laszlo - Intensive Hand Cream SPF 25
Tester: African (Nigerian) with very dry skin on hands with some hyper pigmentation.
“I’ve tried a lot of hand creams in my never ending quest to find the perfect one that moisturizes, yet is not greasy, and can do more (SPF, etc). Well Laszlo had created one of the best hand creams I have ever used. This is truly a great hand cream. The formula is not at all greasy. It has SPF 25, protects, lightens and firms your hands. The cream sank right into my skin, leaving no residue or greasy feeling. I used it at least twice a day, and in between if my hands need it. The smell is subtle and not at all offensive. After about 3 weeks of consistent use, I also noticed the overall skin tone of my hands improving and little dark spots fading with no irritation. The added SPF of 25 is a nice extra and a must when keeping the hyper- pigmentation at bay. Fantastic product!” N.O.
Note: This is also great on feet, especially when it is dry in the cold weather!
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This product gets 4 "Palacinka Points" *
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AHAVA Palacinka Product Rating Guide
AHAVA Dermud Intensive Nourishing Hand Cream for Dry Skin
Tester: Asian (Filipino) with very dry skin on hands and occasional eczema.
“This hand cream is perfection. When I first use this cream I couldn't believe how smooth and silky my hands are. The fragrance is different than other hand creams-intensive, and slightly marine like, but I really like it-I like to smell my hands after some time and feel the cream and this fragrance stays for long. In the wintertime my hands can get so cracked they sometimes bleed. This cream soaked in instantly and made my hands VERY soft. The texture is heavy, but completely non-oily. The absorbance is absolute and it provides the perfect shield to winter weather. This will always be part of my daily winter weather daily routine” G.H.
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This product gets 4 "Palacinka Points" *
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Tester: African-American with very dry skin on hands. Get manicures about 1x month.
"I'm always searching for a product to moisturize my cuticles, which get so dry and cracked. This cream from AHAVA is as close to perfection as I've seen. It's a nice slim tube and the cream itself is very concentrated (so putting just a pin sized amount on each nail bed is enough). The cream sinks in immediately, leaves the skin around the nail nicely hydrated, and leaves a nice sheen on a clear nail. I used this on extra cold/dry days about 2x day and after just a week saw a huge improvement in my overall nail and cuticle appearance after about a week. The cream also contains the legendary Dead Sea minerals from Israel which AHAVA is famous for. This is now a must have product in my nail/hand care routine and I found myself carrying this little tube everywhere I went!" RLB
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This product gets 4 "Palacinka Points" *
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CHI Palacinka Product Rating Guide
CHI Mango Melon Hand Soap and Hand Lotion
Tester: African-American with combination skin *Special guest reviewer!
"This hand soap and lotion combination was definitely made for the home cook. I enjoy creating a great meal and garlic is a staple along with great taste. The problem with garlic and onion is the smell can infiltrate your hands and send you to bed smelling not so pleasant.