Four for the Fourth #4

Today's manicure is my Fourth of July manicure for this year. This design was inspired by a geometric ikat print. While today's manicure was more involved and meticulous than yesterdays, it is still easy and can be done with a dotting tool (pin head, bobby pin, etc.).

Easy peasy. Just dot a design and call it a day. I know this isn't super amazing up close, but I love it. I've actually been "stopped" because of it already. 

What will your nails look like on the 4th? Need any inspiration? Check back later;)

Polishes used: Zoya Sailor, Song, Rocky, Purity, Aphrodite, and Demetria

Four for the Fourth #3

Today's manicure is simple but stunning. The colors, all of which are from the Paradise Sun and Island Fun collections this season, are what make this one shine.

Polishes used: Zoya Genesis, Aphrodite, Oceane, Demetria, and Talia

Four for the Fourth #2

Happy Canada Day to my Canadian friends!

Today's manicure was requested by a friend. She said that she loves fun manicures but feels too childish when they're bright or sparkly. Here is my faded manicure channeling Old Glory.

 This could work for polishes of any tone, vibrancy, or finish.

Polishes used: Zoya Genesis, Purity, Kristen, and Brigitte

Four for the Fourth #1

Red, white, & blue?

Yes, please!

I have 4 new 4th of July manicures here for you this week. I apologize in advance to my non-American readers for these posts. Truth be told, many can be adapted to ANY country's flag's colors. Some are rather "stars and stripes" while others are more abstract bringing in the colors only.

Today's manicure was actually a "fail" but isn't unwearable. I was inspired by a colorful, summery chevron print I saw and I thought it would look pretty cool as a tricolor patriotic manicure.

 

This ended up being very sloppy in its execution. I was rushed due to the constraints of naptime. I'm sorry that I skipped clean up (it's rather embarassing actually). I like the idea though, maybe sometime I'll have to redo this.

Polishes used: Zoya Genesis (base), Sailor, Oceane, Demetria, and Aphrodite

LOVE-ly Manicure #5

A little less traditional  approach to the Valentine's Day manicure today. No pink, red, or hearts today! It's all black and lace today! You can take this as an "anti-Valentine's Day" or as a darker, more sultry manicure.

I might add a rhinestone or stud next time. What do you think?
Polishes used: Zoya Willa, Imogen, and Purity

LOVE-ly Manicure #4

This Valentine's Day manicure is inspired by current manicure and color trends. I used the Pantone color-of-the-year for 2015, marsala, and the negative space (aka. bare nail) trend.

 

I love this look!

Polishes used: Zoya Pepper

LOVE-ly Manicure #3

I adore the new Naturel Satins collection by Zoya, so naturally I had to use them for a soft, delicate Valentine's Day manicure. I painted free-hand hearts over Brittany and added a rhinestone accent nail. (My apologies for my dry hands...I didn't realize how awful they looked until these photos.)

 

Polishes used: Zoya Brittany with hearts in Ana, Rowan, and Leah

LOVE-ly Manicure #2

Zoya's contemporary color block from their trend guide turned into a Valentine's Day manicure. I'm still loving this feature on their website. I think it offers great ideas and suggestions. I still need to practice on those half moons. Mine are curved the wrong way...oops!

I don't even like pink. I'm not sure I'm a huge fan of it in this manicure, but I tried;)
Polishes used: Zoya Eden, Arianna, and Veronica

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

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

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

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

Zoya Wishes

Press Samples

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

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