Last modified: Thursday, July 2, 2009 1:56 AM EDT
Sally Hansen's new Insta-Dri nail color shades are bright, bold and perfect for summer. (MCT)

HYPE: Flash a bit of color this summer

NAIL BRIGHT

Summer is all about bright, cheerful colors - but whether you're looking to coordinate with your retro 80s-style fluorescent get-up, or just add some spice to a more subdued look, we have found our favorite new product for the summer: Sally Hansen's new summer shades of Insta-Dri nail polish.

The shades are a bit blinding, but that's what we love about them. There are electric shades of yellow, orange, blue, green, an iridescent purple-ish pink (our fave) and three shades of pink.

Advertising doesn't lie with these either - they dry very rapidly, and have great coverage in just one coat. Our favorite part of the polishes is the wide, flat brushes, which help coat the nail in just a couple of strokes.

To buy them at a store near you, check out SallyHansen.com's "Where to Buy" section.

GLOW

Many have one goal for the summer: Get a tan. But if you're staying away from the sun for whatever reason, N.Y.C. New York Color can help you get a more artificial glow.

The drugstore makeup brand has an affordable new Golden Girl Summer Collection, including our favorite, Color Wheel Mosaic Bronzing Powder ($4.99). The colors are nude and bronze tones, which when blended together create a nice balanced color. The line also has two sets of four eyeshadows (Golden Touch or Golden Girl - $3.99) that have browns and muted colors to create a smoky or natural eye. Moving down, you can shimmer your lips with the Lippin' Large Lip Plumper ($3.99), which has a great shine, and only feels tingly while it plumps up the lips (we could see a bit of a difference).

If you want a golden glow away from the face, grab the Fast Dry Nail Enamel ($1.99) in Sun Goddess or Bronze Goddess for a shade made to shine in the sun.

Sally Dadisman writes Hype for McClatchy-Tribune News Service. You can write to her at sdadisman@mctinfoservices.com.