Rescue Beauty Lounge Italian Summer Collection

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Good morning!

We moved into our house last week but unfortunately our ISP won't be able to connect us for a while. So today I'm blogging from my neighborhood Starbucks. It's time for a new Rescue Beauty Lounge collection - Italian Summer, inspired by Ji's travels abroad. Without further ado, here's Ji thoughts on the collection.

The whiff of cool ocean breezes tickling your hair and the gleaming sun kissing and embracing your skin as you deeply breathe in the fragrances of flowers in full bloom, this, to me, had always symbolized summer.

My husband and I, we’re earnest creatures of habit, but last summer we decided to abandon the norm (St Barth’s) and head to Venice and Sorrento, Italy. Venice is beautiful, however, it is THE tourists’ destination. Although my husband and I areusually failures when it comes to crowds, monuments and activities, we dove right in.

We got lost in narrow twisted streets surrounded by beautiful ancient buildings, we listened to the flapping of laundry hanging from the windows above, they wavedcheerfully like flags of pride and welcome. I’ve broken out in toothy smiles, despite my seasickness, while watching the gondoliers in their red and white striped shirts. They appear in their hats and guitars serenading everyone, making amours—I could not believe that they still existed outside of those old Tom & Jerry cartoons (YUP, I’m that old—do kids today still watch that show?). It is so hard to describe the water—in certain
lights it appears to be a sea green, and then it can change to look more like green tea.

We walked endlessly, navigating the crowds, taking selfies and drinking gallons of effervescent Prosecco. Afterwards, it was time for our annual vitamin D intake by the sea and to bake ourselves dark—Sorrento here we come!

When we arrived at Naples, three gel-slicked-haired Italian boys were huddled by their scooters smoking cigarettes. They were dressed to kill, dark sunglasses and all whiledrinking Fanta (Fanta?). On our way to the hotel, the traffic was bumper to bumper due to all the locals driving to the Amalfi Coast. We finally arrived at the hotel, which sat atop a cliff. As we looked at our majestic view, the combination of rosemary and blooming Jasmine intoxicated my senses. Italy just smells different in an “I want to bottle this” kind of way. I love their honest, no-frills delicious food and the warm people who are quick to laugh loudly. What impressed me the most is that Italians love their
bodies no matter what shape and size, they don’t wear cover ups, and even 70-year-old men walked around in tiny Speedos, strutting around with their arms around their women. Italians are perfectly seasoned life enjoyers. Below our hotel by the ocean, we dined at restaurants sitting on intimate tight chairs on small decks. We baked ourselvesin the sun and read our books under umbrellas. We ate and drank with gusto, and the next thing you know, just as in every vacation, the time flew. We had to say our goodbyes to all the people who had been feeding and caring for us, but when I got home, I couldn’t stop thinking about that Italian summer. Here are some of the colors
which captivated me.

Gelato Al Cioccolato: I promise I will stop my obsession with anything that has to do

with a taupe-brown goodness, but what can I say? When I tried the gelato from Venice

(and it had been about a decade since my last Chocolate Gelato—I know, not a huge

chocolate fan, and yes, I’m human) I was mesmerized by its taste and color. When I was

mixing this color, there were definitely times it looked good enough to eat. (Two coats)

Bicicletta: In Sorrento, while strolling by the sea, I saw a precious, dark-haired little girl
in a bikini riding a bike with training wheels. The bike was pale pink and it sparkled and
twinkled in the sun, the matching streamers flying along with the girl’s confident
peddling. I was reminded of my own six-year-old self; this was the exact color I had
longed for instead of my own lime-green bike! This pale pink polish has micro glitters
that will make you think of sugar and summertime. (Three coats)

Gondoliere: Yes, I do adore those red and white stripe-shirted gondoliers floatingaround the canals in Venice. Gondoliere is the most vibrant orange-based opaque glossy
red nail polish I’ve ever mixed. It’s so sexy, yet classic at the same time. This has more of
an orange base than Bangin, trust me, I tripped over myself endlessly comparing the two. This color is hot, like dreamy, steamy summer nights. (One coat)

Oliveto: Did you know that Italian men climb ladders to carefully handpick olives for extra virgin olive oil? And that the olives that have the misfortune to be dropped on the
floor are destined to become just plain olive oil? The smell of olive groves was something I want to smuggle back home. A wonderful multifaceted fading sun drenches those dancing, rustling olive trees. Oliveto is the perfect olive green that reflects the of rainbow and purple and periwinkle shimmers. It is a shimmery, yet less yellow version of No More War. (Two coats)

Motorini: If I ever learn how to drive a scooter, this would be the custom color I would

mix for mine. A moodier, darker sister of our famed and playful Aqua Lily,

this medium base of blue/aqua has a flash of surging fuchsia shimmer. (Two coats)

Meow Meow: During our nightly strolls you could smell the day’s catch on the shores,

and out of every corner, bright green eyes flash at you from the cats protecting their

food bank. This dark hunter green shows off a finely milled glitter. It’s almost like Burn

The Evidence (hyperlink) but with a black glitter that casts shadows, the way a dark cat’s

fur might look in the moonlight. (Two coats over Oliveto)

Melanzane: I love eggplants. In the markets, in pastas, roasted, and I can stare at them

all day just looking at their lush colors. I always see the various tones of purples, vivid

green stems, and sometimes there is almost a hint of a bluish tint on their skins. This

glitter polish is just like that, you’re going to stare at your nails all day long— wait —

make that all week. (Two coats over Motorini)

I really like this collection. The formulas may be some of the best RBL to date. In particular, Gondonliere is the most exquisite red crème I have ever used and instantly jumps to the top of my favorite red polishes. All of the polishes practically applied themselves and were incredibly glossy and leveled like a dream.

I also really love Oliveto and Bicicletta, they are unique in my collection. Aqua Lily fans will of course swoon at the sight of Motorini, and rightly so - what a beauty! When I first saw this collection, it seemed eclectic but upon reading Ji's thoughts, the colors tell a vibrant and vivid story. I can practically taste the gelato, hear the bustle of the tourists and feel the warm sun on my skin.

Rescue Beauty Lounge Italian Summer will be available for pre-order on Monday, August 11th on the website.

What shades captivate you this most?