The Apothecary

With the official start of Summer just days away, there's no better time than now to get into the spirit of the season — and that includes fingers and toes. In hues that evoke fiery sunsets and sun-kissed skin, Chanel's limited-edition Le Vernis nail lacquers may be just the thing. And, with names like Island (a pearly nude), Delight (a shimmering bronze), and Holiday (a superbright coral) these colors are sure to put you in a vacation-ready mood faster than most.

Click through to shop all the Chanel Summer 2012 nail shades, including the available-online-only Beige, which — despite its no-frills name — is a creamy neutral that's anything but plain.

>> Thakoon's Bollywood-goes-West Spring 2012 show was a delicious riot of print and color — and now, thanks to a just-released collaboration with Nars, the same vivid hues that made up the collection can be worn on fingertips and toes.

In keeping with Thakoon's spiced-up Spring theme, each of the new lacquers — five of which are shoppable online now at Sephora and Nordstrom for $18 apiece — is named for a traditional Indian spice or herb. Anardana, a vivid pink, takes its name from the Hindi word for wild pomegranate seeds, while Amchoor, a bright yellow, is named after dried ground mango. A sixth color, Lal Mirchi, is a hot, tamale red and is named after — what else? — chili peppers.

While Lal Mirchi is available only at the Nars Bleecker Street boutique in New York, the rest can be shopped right here, in the gallery.

>> The just-revealed Nars Summer 2012 collection features nine new products in a mix of tawny and cool hues that are sure to look just as chic on the beach as on city streets.

There's an eyeshadow palette called Ramatuelle that features three soft neutrals (matte apricot, silver, and shimmery pale gold), while an eyeshadow duo, Marie-Galante, is a dramatic combination of sparkling violet and inky, iridescent blue. Blush comes in the form of a burnished peach called Liberté, and the two new colors for lips are each bold and deep: Vendanges is a juicy grape, while Moscow is a matte red hue. "I was interested in exploring the interplay of earth tones and shimmers," creative director François Nars explained. "I think at first glance, the combination of orchid, blue, strawberry red, and seashell pink can sound and appear quite delicate and innocent, but our version of these colors and the way we combine them results in a look that's more fun and edgy."

The entire collection will be available April 15 at Narscosmetics.com —  until then, preview it all right here.

>> Marc Jacobs will debut a little sister to his fragrances Daisy and Lola this summer when he launches Dot, a new scent that Jacobs says has a "juicy, lush quality to it."

The fragrance combines berries, coconut water, jasmine, orange blossom, and vanilla, among other notes, to create what is described as a spirited and charming scent. The playful feeling the fragrance evokes is mimicked by the bottle — a red orb covered in black dots adorned with black plastic disks that look like butterflies.

"A dot is timeless and a pattern I always love, and round shapes are always beautiful," Jacobs told WWD. "I liked the idea of these hybrid butterfly-ladybugs, which suggest a sort of free spirit and femininity and playfulness. And, of course, ladybugs mean good luck."

Dot will debut in over 3,300 stores in the United States and Great Britain in July, and a Juergen Teller-shot ad campaign starring model Codie Young will pop up in magazines in September. Bottles of the perfume range in price from $48 to $89, with body lotion selling for $45 and shower gel for $40.

Jacobs's other big beauty project will be a color cosmetics collaboration with Sephora, but that's still in the preliminary stage. "It was an inspiring first meeting, and that gets me excited — when their enthusiasm matches my own," Jacobs said of the upcoming cosmetics collection.

>> Get a head start on next season with these super-chic nail looks, poached straight from the Fall 2012 runways. From the quirky polka dots on offer at Kate Spade New York to the moody "modern moons" at Antonio Berardi, there's definitely no shortage of inspiration to glean. Click through to see some of our favorites, and stay tuned for more to come from Paris and Milan.

>> Falling temperatures and dry air can wreak havoc on hair and skin — not to mention the fragile beauty psyche. Update your routine and stay fresh as Spring with these Winter-ready beauty essentials. With natural ingredients, delicate fragrances, and lush textures, these ten products — some new, some tried-and-true — are sure to keep you gorgeous even through the coldest seasonal chills.

>> Give gorgeous, keep it simple, and go classic. From sublime splurges to super-luxe stocking stuffers, these 25 beauty essentials are totally guaranteed to spread the chic — this season and beyond. Click through to shop them all, now.
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