Thursday, December 11, 2014

Autumn Nail Art Challenge--Gold

Two more weeks are left in autumn! Autumn is definitely my favorite season and what better way to celebrate the end of autumn than with some rich metallics. This week's color fits the bill and is more autumnal to me than the last couple manicure challenge colors. Here is this week's challenge in...
Gold
Just a good, classic, glitter gradient. I should have sponged the last layer of Brooklyn to avoid brush strokes and also mattified it. Then this would have been stunning. (I used a leaf ornament instead of a snowflake this time too!)
Polishes used: Zoya Brooklyn and Bar



Take a look at the other gilded manicures:
http://new.inlinkz.com/luwpview.php?id=448841

Monday, December 8, 2014

SinfulColors Holiday 2014

This year's holiday collection from SinfulColors, reintroduces some stunning classics, brings back some hard-to-finds, and adds some newbies to create a gigantic dazzling array of holiday polishes.





Ice Dream, a "cerulean glitter with a translucent silver base," shown in one and two coats. This might achieve opacity in 3 coats. This clear base filled with the tiniest silver glitters and small turquoise glitters, is very "Elsa" from Frozen.




Twilight Twinkles is packed with "brilliant flakes of gold." This gold assorted glitter contains mostly irregular gold pieces in a clear base. Shown above in one and two coats.




Out of this World is a "perfect silver with swirls of glimmer." This frosty, whitened silver glistens in the sunlight. Truly lovely for those of you who are drawn to this glowing finish. Shown above in three thin coats.




Endless Blue is a "deep wave of cobalt." This blue is bright and deep all at the same time. This mesmerizing blue is shown in two smooth, very pigmented coats.


The Verdict:
I adore the bright cobalt blue of Endless Blue. Ice Dream is a fun icy topper. I like that many of these are rereleases, like Cinderella (not shown). I also like that they kept the original names of many rather than renaming solely for a holiday collection. I wish Out of this World was less streaky and more opaque.
$1.99 each exclusively at Walgreens for Holiday 2014

Friday, December 5, 2014

Autumn Nail Art Challenge--Black

Technically it is still autumn...but as soon as Thanksgiving is over I go into Christmas mode. It makes focusing on fall for the remainder of this nail art challenge a tad difficult, as seen with my silver manicure. Without further ado this week's manicure for...
Black
Just some skittles in black polishes:) Simple and fun. (Sorry about the snowflake ornament, I couldn't help it!)
Polishes used: Zoya Dahlia, Willa, Imogen, and Dovima
Take a look at the other black manicures:
http://new.inlinkz.com/luwpview.php?id=448838

Friday, November 28, 2014

Autumn Nail Art Challenge--Silver

This week the challenge was difficult because I usually associate warm colors with autumn, not cool metallics. I tried to create a unique design without it looking too wintery and was rather unsuccessful. It looks like an icy winter manicure. But that's what you get when the challenge is...
Silver
I kind of took some liberties with this one and used more of a grey/pewter/silver approach. I tried to do the design on the ring finger on all of my nails but was wildly unsuccessful so I created a different look instead.
Polishes used: Zoya Loredana and Seraphina

Take a look at the other silver autumn manicures:
http://new.inlinkz.com/luwpview.php?id=448837

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Autumn Nail Art Challenge--Brown

More autumn nail art, in a very appropriate autumn color...
Brown
I must admit that I got in a little over my head with this one. As I sat there staring at my browns, I couldn't decide what to do. I created a brown tribal print last November, if I did leaves they'd look dead, I was searching for any fall inspiration that might be brown. Then I somehow landed on turkey feathers. Strange, I know. So this was my attempt at a brown turkey feather manicure.

Polishes used: Zoya Louise, Nyssa, Godiva, and Jacqueline

Take a look at the other fabulous brown manicures:
http://new.inlinkz.com/luwpview.php?id=448833

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Are you the next Influenster?

Many of you have already become part of Influenster. This is a great site where you can answer some questions that will earn you badges and determine whether or not you qualify for a VoxBox. VoxBoxes are full of free products for you to try and review. There are many different boxes throughout the year and each box corresponds a theme or lifestyle. I have been fortunate enough to receive some VoxBoxes, and I would encourage you to  sign up and try this out.

Here is the website so you can get started: https://www.influenster.com/

Also, if you're already part of Influenster you can now unlock the new BlogSTAR badge so hop on over and update your profile!

Past Influenster posts: (check out some of the stuff you get to try for FREE)


Monday, November 17, 2014

Zoya Wishes

The holiday collection from Zoya features color-coordinated polishes in a variety of finishes including three Magical PixieDust polishes. I know that I was excited to see that Zoya mixed some PixieDust polishes into this collection.
At first glance, this collection appears to have a little bit of something for everyone.

Willa is a "full-coverage, densely pigmented onyx black cream." Willa was originally released as 'Black Swan' during Zang Toi's NYFW SS15 show. This standard black was gloriously opaque and uber glossy. Its super buttery smooth formula took 1-2 coats depending on how much of a polish rock star you are. I did two coats above.




Prim, described as a " velvet blue metallic," and is shown in two coats above. This metallic periwinkle was smooth but streaky in its application. I'm (not so) secretly wishing it was a MatteVelvet polish. I love the color and will probably figure out how to apply without visible brush strokes (they weren't THAT bad though). Someone mentioned sponging on the final layer? Must try...




Haven is "true holiday plum liquid metal with a thin vein of orchid to ensure brilliance." This shimmery plum glows. I loved its smooth application which only required 2 coats for full opacity.




The following polishes are considered Magical PixieDust polishes. Zoya used more of a jelly base on these three polishes so that the glitter would reflect more light and also shine through when layered. Due to the jelly formula, they are not as matte or textured as the original Magical PixieDust polishes.


Imogen is "black crystal Magical PixieDust with holographic hex glitter." Three coats were used in the above swatches as the formula was thin with lots of glitter.




Nori is a "sapphire blue Magical PixieDust with holographic hex glitter." This was the thinnest of the three Magical PixieDust polishes and required three coats, as shown above.




Thea, described as a "deep amethyst Magical PixieDust with an orchid flash, packed full of party-ready holographic hex glitter," shown in two coats. Looking at the swatches, I think I could have used one more coat but in person the nail line was not as visible.



The Verdict:
The type A, perfectionist in me LOVES that this collection coordinates. I really enjoy that Zoya included a cream, shimmer, metallic, and PixieDust finishes. They're a brand that usually has a pretty good variety in their winter/holiday collections. Application was smooth and easy with all of the above polishes. Favorites of the collection are Haven and Imogen. Prim would be my favorite if it was a MatteVelvet finish...




Wishes Collection $57
$9 (US) Standard Colors
$10 (US) - PixieDust Colors
Available in top salons, spas and on zoya.com

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Autumn Nail Art Challenge--Pink

I think I'm on a floral kick, which is odd considering it's autumn! That being said I went for a more subdued, neutral palette much more appropriate for fall than brights and neons. And here is your manicure for...
Pink
This entire manicure hovers in the nude, pink, purple realm and is not distinctly one or the other. I think that is what I like so much about it.
Polishes used: Zoya Harley, Rue, Brigitte, Harlow, Veruschka


Take a look at the other fabulous autumn manicures:
http://new.inlinkz.com/luwpview.php?id=448832

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Autumn Nail Art Challenge--Purple

Another week, another colorful autumn manicure. My posting has been limited as my infant son has thrown sleeping out the window. I've been focusing on being a mom versus a blogger for the past two weeks, I apologize but that will happen at times as my family is a priority. Thank you for sticking with me through everything so far, you guys are the best.

Until this week, I was unaware of how many different purple-toned polishes I own. I really love purples, but find them hard to pair together in nail art because of their varied tones. Purples can be so complex, I love it! Without further ado, this week's autumn manicure in...
Purple
This was supposed to look like mums. It kind of looks like brocade, but still seems autumnal:)
Polishes used: Zoya Hudson, Savita, Belinda, Sansa

Take a look at the other fabulous autumn manicures:
http://new.inlinkz.com/luwpview.php?id=448828

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Autumn Nail Art Challenge--Blue

This week's Autumn Nail Art Challenge ended up forming in a very similar manner as last week's green manicure. I took out all of my blues, played around with different combinations and then just decided to go crazy with a bunch of colors. Say 'hello' to this week's manicure for the Autumn Nail Art Challenge...
Blue

 Polishes used: Zoya Rocky, Rebel, Mosheen, Liberty, Song, Remy, Ryan
Not super autumnal, but still beautiful in its own right. :)



Take a look at the other fabulous autumn manicures:
http://new.inlinkz.com/luwpview.php?id=448823
Feel free to join in at any time!