Retail therapy: Staying power

Axxium Soak-Off Gel Lacquers. Photo / Supplied

New O.P.I colours have been added to the range of Axxium Soak-Off Gel Lacquers, giving more selection for long-lasting nail shades. Axxium now comes in 36 colours, including adventurous options, such as violet, blue and pewter. It is applied similarly to regular polish, but UV-cured and then removed with an acetone soak. Competing product Shellac, promoted as a hybrid gel-polish, also requires curing, but wipes off, rather than soaks off. It is limited to a dozen colours, with more expected in the New Year. Both services cost a little more than a regular polish and are applied and removed in-salon only. They are excellent options for a chip-free result for a special occasion or a trip away, and free of the damaging removal required for some nail enhancements. Some people do report, however, that nails feel a little brittle with continual reapplication.

Celebrate Christmas

Get into the festive spirit with a Christmas street party in Newmarket this Saturday. The Teed and Osborne St Christmas Party will kick off at 10am and go until 3pm, with over 30 retailers taking part. Stores involved include some of the best local and international fashion and design, like Taylor, Moochi, Kate Sylvester, Zambesi, Storm, Ruby, Isabel Harris, Wallace Cotton, Starfish, Tigerlily, Poi Room, Kid Republic, Jennifer Johns, Micheal Holmes eyewear, Teed St Larder, Altezzano, Kartel, Repertoire, Rodd and Gunn, Robyn Matheison, Area 51, Muse, Angela Lewis, Rialto Centre and the PJ Company. There will be instore entertainment, promotions, refreshments, goodies and give-aways, with each store running their own special promotion - like tastings of chocolate brownies and Christmas treats at Wallace Cotton, free gifts of Cosobella lingerie at Muse, face painting for the kids at Kid-Republic and complimentary mini manicures at Taylor. A fun excuse to shop.

Fashion for Quake

Annah Stretton, Frank Casey, Michelle Yvette, Andrea Moore, Brave and Augustine International are taking part in a charity fashion event for the Canterbury Earthquake Appeal, called Fashion For Quake through the Salvation Army. The fashion show will be held at The Bluestone Room next Tuesday, November 30, at 7.30pm, with tickets from iticket.co.nz. Prices start at $35 for general admission , $35 for silver-seated and $45 for VIP gold-seated. Support the cause and have a great night too.

Shoes online

Footwear boutique Scarpa has just launched a new online store - get shopping at scarpa.co.nz.

The best Christmas gift

Christmas is the time for giving, so why not give to those less fortunate this year? We love an annual initiative run by the Salvation Army that has been dubbed "Adopt a Family", where you buy gifts for each member as well as a Christmas food hamper for the family to enjoy on Christmas day. The Salvation Army provides first names, gender and ages of the family for present-buying guidance, and delivers the items to the family before the big day. Giving back will help you remember the true spirit of Christmas. To take part, contact project co-ordinator Raewyn Heke on (09) 261 1074.

Kicking up their heels

No. 1 Shoe Warehouse is no more, with the discount footwear chain rebranding as Number One Shoes and promising designer glamour without the scary price tag. Look out for new-style advertising and check out a fast fashion fix for the feet.

Going straight

Salon hair straightening is a popular, but pricey service which now has an at-home alternative in the Str8Forward permanent hair straightening system from English hairdresser Scott Cornwall. Cornwall's Bringing the Salon Home product has a following in Britain and he has already launched two colour products here - Colour B4, which removes unwanted colour quickly and B4 U Colour, a clarifying treatment to remove product build-up before colouring. The straightening system costs $39.95 and claims to last up to three months and help hair's condition due to the application of keratin protein complex. The three-step process does not suit very fine hair, but can be used on frizzy, unruly hair for a smooth finish. (To get maximum benefit it may pay to get the help of a friend as part of the process is to thoroughly apply heat irons through the hair once it is coated in product). Str8Forward is stocked in selected pharmacies and supermarkets, see colourb4.co.nz for details.

Expanding

Mecca Cosmetica is opening its second Auckland store in Newmarket, in the Broadway site formerly occupied by Toni & Guy. The Australian-owned beauty emporium shop has a Ponsonby Rd store and a section in Kirkcaldies, Wellington. The Newmarket store, with a similar eclectic range of brands, is expected to be open around the end of this month, with some great gift ideas. meccacosmetica.co.nz

Beautify the sidewalk

We like the new initiative from Heart of the City and the Auckland Council, the Beautify Your City campaign, which launched last week. The campaign, for the 10 months leading up to the Rugby World Cup, aims to encourage businesses to keep the inner city clean and rubbish free. Inner city hotspots will be decorated with colourful flowerbeds and signs reminding not to dump rubbish illegally.