Manicure Monday: Blu

OPI Nail Envy base coat, Zoya Blu (2 coats), Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip top coat

The viewers have spoken! After posting my nail polish haul, you guys said the first polish you wanted to see swatched on Manicure Monday was Zoya Blu. Good choice!

Blu is from Zoya's Lovely Spring 2013 collection. It's a light baby blue creme polish that's incredibly opaque and has a glossy finish. There's no sheer quality to this polish, which is great because the color pay off is awesome. However, as is the case with many opaque pastel polishes, the first coat can look a little streaky. But, don't worry, coat number two events out the consistency. And it's actually a very easy color to work with.

While the color itself is a soft pastel, it's anything but subtle. Sally Hansen's Breezy Blue is the same shade of baby blue, however it's much more sheer (and has some shimmer), which lends it a much softer and delicate finish. Blu, on the other hand has zero shimmer and certainly doesn't sit quietly in the background. It has more white to it than Breezy Blue, which gives it that opaque finish and stronger presence. It's amazing the difference color intensity can make in what is essentially the same shade of blue.

What do you think of Zoya's Blu? Are you a fan of pastel? And do you prefer your pastel polish to be delicate or intense?

Don't forget, you can still weigh in on which polish I swatch next week. Just watch my haul video and leave a comment telling me which color you'd like to see next.

All Zoya nail polishes are cruelty-free, vegan-friendly, and 5-free ( they contain no formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, camphor, or formaldehyde resin).

Photo Inspiration: Bold lips

We all seek inspiration in different places. Whether it's on Pinterest, magazines, your favorite shows, or just watching people on the street -- there are so many opportunities to get our creative fires burning every day. As I was perusing the internet for to spark ideas (whether new products to try or looks to attempt to recreate), I thought why not share some of the things that I find that help inspire the posts that eventually end up on this blog or YouTube. From beauty to fashion to home decor or anything else that inspires the trends we all eventually want to try, I'd like to share some photos to help inspire us all.

With that said, I wanted to start with one of my favorite looks: the bold lip. This is one that really took me a while to warm up to because it intimidated me. I felt like I couldn't pull it off. Like I was a little girl playing with her mother's makeup. But in reality, simple makeup with a bold lip can work for just about anyone. You just have to find the shade that you're most comfortable with. For me, red was the gateway. But finding the right shade of red took a while.  Once I found it and started to feel comfortable wearing it, I started to venture out and discovered just how much I love a bright, bold lip.

Photo found on Google

This is absolutely my favorite way to wear a bold lip. I just love how her lashes bring attention to her eyes without competing with that rich bold neon pink lip. 

Photo credit Glamour's The Girl's in the Beauty Department

A bold lip doesn't always have to be super bright, I love how Emma Stone rocks this softer hue and still makes it the focus of her look.

Photo credit: Milani Blog

Violet might look intimidating but it's an incredibly fun and unexpected color to wear.

Photo found on Google

Of course, we can't forget a classic red pout, and I think no one rocks a red lip quite like Gwen Stefani. I wonder just how many different shades of red lipstick are in her makeup drawer?

Photo found on Google

And don't forget that lipstick isn't the only way to achieve a bold look. If you're not a lipstick girl or you want to lighten your makeup up for summer, try a boldly colored lip gloss, stain, or tinted balm.

Photo found on Pinterest

Don't let a bold hue intimidate you. As with all makeup, it's all about wearing it with confidence and finding a color that works for you by making sure it compliments your skin tone (think cool, warm, or neutral tones). How do you feel about a brightly colored kisser? What are some of your favorite hues?

Tutorial: Brown & Rose smokey eye

Smokey eyes are such a great way to achieve a sexy look. They black smokey eye is definitely a go-to look, but it can sometimes be a little harsh. For those days when you want that sultry look without reaching for your favorite black shadow, give this brown smokey eye a try. The the brown and rose tones soften the look while still keeping that sexy vibe.

Check out the tutorial below:



Music by Dan O at danosong.com

Manicure Monday: Reagan

OPI Nail Envy base coat, Zoya Reagan (2 coats), Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip top coat. 

Have I ever told you guys how much I like fuchsia? Somehow I imagine that hasn't gone unnoticed or unmentioned. But lately, I've been neglecting it in favor of some other colors, you know, to mix things up a bit. That is, until now.

I purchased Zoya Reagan in that Earth Day sale (yes, I'm still swatching from that purchase back in April and I just made a massive polish haul while at Premiere Orlando) and I've only just gotten around to trying her on. I can't believe I waited this long! I love it!

Reagan is an opaque cool-toned fuchsia creme that's absolutely wonderful for the summer and spring (it goes really nicely with navy blue if you're into the nautical look). And because it's not neon or ultra bright, it could easily transition into fall. I love a polish that can straddle seasons. One coat is opaque, two coats are perfect, and the formula is exactly what you'd expect from Zoya -- not too thick, not too thin, smooth application, and gorgeous color pay off. Plus, with a five-free formula (no formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, camphor, or formaldehyde resin) that's cruelty free, and vegan friendly, it's a polish you can also feel good about. 

What do you think, are you as big of a fuchsia fan as I am? And would you consider adding Reagan to your collection?

P.S. - Don't forget to check out my nail polish haul and comment on which polish colors you want to see swatched first! I'll start posting those next week.