Autism Awareness with Sally Hansen Pacific Blue

Since April is Autism Awareness Month, my fellow Central Florida Beauty Bloggers have decided to dedicate this month's beauty link up to something blue (hmmm, could be a great theme if we ever do a wedding beauty link up, no?)

I've defaulted to nails again because, I've got a lot of blue nail polish and not a lot of blue makeup. It was a toss up, my go-to blue eyeliner bit or some fun polish. I thought this design was a bit more fun.

To show some support for autism awareness, I chose one of my favorite drugstore blue hues: Sally Hansen Pacific Blue. Just look at it, does it need much justification? I love a pretty cobalt blue. I've actually read somewhere that cobalt blue actually helps lift your mood. I don't know if it's true. I mean, I probably read it on the Internet somewhere. And who knows if it was scientific or how reliable the source was? But I liked it. So I'm repeating it (try not to come after me with pitchforks for that one). Plus, cobalt blue makes me happy, so there's that.

Seche Clear base coat, Sally Hansen Pacific Blue (2 coats), Seche Vite top coat

Aside from it's questionable ability to enhance your mood (OK, now it sounds like a drug -- do not ingest your nail polish, please), this polish is absolutely fantastic. First of all, it's less than $3. In fact, I'm pretty sure I paid less than $3 with tax included back in the day when I got it (about 3 years ago). 

Second, the formula is amazing. Completely opaque after one coat. Not too watery or too thick (Goldilocks' favorite porridge). And super easy to work with. No streaks. No globs or goop (and this is a 3 year old bottle might I remind you). If you didn't know it was a drugstore cheapie, you'd never guess it on your own. 

Accent nail: Zoya Blu (base color), Sally Hansen Pacific Blue + OPI Don't Know Beets Me as the marble colors

If you'd like to learn how to recreate your own marble nail art, check out this video from Young, Wild & Polished. It's the one I used to create this look.

An InLinkz Link-up

St. Patrick's Day Retro Nail Art

Fellow Florida beauty blogger Eugenia (of Geniabeme.com) challenged some of us beauty bloggers to come up with a St. Patrick's Day themed post for her link up. We could blog about anything green. And since I've been toying around with nail art lately, I decided, why not create another green manicure to show you?

I was staring at my collection and really wanted to do something with chartreuse. Combining different shades of green I ended up with this look, which has a bit of a retro theme to me. The color combination looks like something from the wardrobe department on That 70's Show, doesn't it?

All you need are three shades of any color, tape, and a little patience. I applied two coats of a chartreuse nail polish (it was a travel bottle and the brand name has rubbed off by now), waited 20 minutes for it to dry. Then I took tape, cut a slight curve along the edge. Placed it on my nail, and painted the next color onto my nail -- removing the tape immediately while the polish is still wet for cleaner edges. Wait another 15 minutes for polish to dry. Repeat with next shade of green. Repeat on all nail (or just do an accent) and finish off with glossy top coat.

For this manicure I used Revlon Posh (middle shade of green) and Zoya Shawn (dark forest green). There's no way anyone can pinch you come Monday if you're wearing this on your nails!

My nail art still needs more practice, but I'm having fun attempting it. What kind of fun green manicure will you be wearing to celebrate on Monday?

An InLinkz Link-up

Manicure Monday: Zoya Does Radiant Orchid

Just last month, Zoya held an awesome offer. They basically had an offer code that got you three free nail polishes. All you had to do was pay for shipping.  I was almost going to pass up this offer -- trying to be all rational because my wall-o-polish is getting a bit full (some might even say out of hand, but no one is listening to them). And then Zoya posted a photo of three polishes I couldn't resist. Those slick little fairies. They got me.

Oh who am I kidding? I was looking for a reason to give in to the offer. The fairies obliged.

So, what the heck did they post that sent me into a purchasing tail spin? Suggested polishes for the pantone color of the year: radiant orchid.

I couldn't resist.

The three colors they suggested were Perrie, Dannii, and Blyss. Let's take a look.

OPI Nail Envy base coat, Zoya Perrie (2 coats), Seche Vite top coat

Let's start out with Perrie. We all know I have special place in my heart for a creme polish. Perrie had my heart fluttering the second I applied it. It's such a pretty shade -- a soft, glossy lavender hue with just the slightest hints of pink that resembles the lighter shades you'll see in a violet orchid. 

The polish has a nice formula: opaque in one coat, smooth application, and a glossy finish. It's pretty easy to work with. Overall this shade is pretty and girly and will look nice practically everywhere you wear it without being boring. I caught myself admiring it more often that I care to admit. 

OPI Nail Envy base coat, Zoya Dannii (2 coats), Seche Vite top coat

If metallic polishes are more up your alley, Zoya Dannii could satisfy your radiant orchid needs. It's a beautiful medium lavender-purple with loads of pink and champagne shimmer that give it a rosiness in certain light. It's absolutely fantastic. The super glittery, shimmery effect makes this a fun weekend polish in my book. It's not exactly buttoned up and conservative. 

The formula is also rather nice. It's super opaque with one coat. We all know I always apply two, but if you're so inclined, you can skip it. It also goes on streak free and doesn't feel goopy. I was also happy to find it's easy to remove. Sometimes when polishes have a lot of shimmer, it can be a bit more trouble to get them off, but that wasn't the case with Dannii. 

OPI Nail Envy base coat, Zoya Blyss (2 coats), Seche Vite top coat

If you prefer the pink version of radiant orchid, then don't fret. Zoya Blyss is on deck to satisfy you. This stunning magenta pink polish is bright and cheerful. It has a beautiful shimmer finish that lends it the slightest bit of a blue-purple hue in a certain light. You'll get mostly pink and bold from the polish, that little bit of blue-based sparkle isn't overpowering. While the shade is bold, the color choice isn't too wild. So you'll get a nice splash of office-friendly color that could easily translate into fun and exciting for the weekend. 

The formula is really easy to work with, but it more sheer than the previous two. You'll definitely need two coats. Other than that, it glides on smoothly and dries down to a shimmery glossy finish. 

Are you into radiant orchid as the color of the year? What polish shades have been helping you satisfy this color trend? Help me discover more colors, tell me about your favorites. 

Manicure Monday: Zoya Pasha + Preppy Color Combo ft. Zoya Natty

For the longest time, my two favorite taupe-nude nail polishes have been OPI You Don't Know Jacques and Orly's Prince Charming. Both are amazing in their own right. But my friend Rebecca may have just help me discover a new love in Zoya's Pasha when she gifted it to me over the holidays (Good friends enable polish obsessions).

I've been eyeing Pasha for a while now. She's been in and out of my cart more times than I care to admit. But I'd never purchased her because I (mistakenly) thought she'd be a bit too similar to some of the nudes I already had. I was so excited to finally add her to my collection.

Check out this pretty every day color below:

OPI Nail Envy base coat, Zoya Pasha (2 coats), Seche Vite top coat

Pasha is a pretty taupe-nude shade with subtle silver micro glitter. The subtle sheen the micro glitter imparts is what helps differentiate it from the rest of my taupe polishes, which are all creme finish. It's completely opaque on the first coat, but, as usual, I went for two for that extra polish. It dries down with a pretty glossy finish. I didn't experience any streaking and the polish was smooth and easy to apply, no overly goopy polish here.

I'm absolutely in love with this color. It's versatile and easy to wear. You can wear it alone for an office-friendly or more serious look. It also plays well with nearly every color, if you want to amp it up.

I did a preppy color combo recently by pairing it with Zoya Natty, a creme denim blue.

Do you love taupe polish as much as I do? How would you wear Pasha? Comment below, let's chat about it. 

Manicure Monday: Zoya Naturel Collection

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, spent some nice quality time with family and friends, and maybe even got a few nice gifts in the process. This holiday season was rife with fantastic beauty releases. One that I was coveting was Zoya's Naturel Collection, which was released just in time to find its way under my Christmas tree. As soon as they released it, I had to order it. (Then I wrapped it and waited to open it because I'm silly that way)

The neutral is making a massive come back guys. We can't say it was ever out, but it's certainly getting some prominent attention lately. We've had a great array of lovely neutral-themed makeup collections and nails aren't getting left behind.

Zoya's Naturel collection includes six rose-based neutral shades: Chantal, Taylor, Rue, Brigitte, Normani, and Odette. They were all so classic and pretty, I had to break my nail polish no buy. Check out the official photo of the collection that I borrowed from Zoya's site:

Photo credit: Zoya.com

Now here's my kitchen table shot:

From left to right: Chantal, Taylor, Rue, Brigitte, Normani, and Odette

Let me tell you, succumbing to this collection was worth it. I love every single polish in this set. The neutrals are elegant, though far from boring, and will take you from office to weekend with little effort.

Plus, if you were one of the many people out there who scored Urban Decay's Naked 3 palette, this collection and it's similar rose-toned theme will compliment your makeup fabulously.

Each polish retails for $9. But I ordered my collection in the Dream Box promotion that Zoya offered, so I got six polishes for $48 (that's $8 each).

Every single polish in this collection is a creme with a completely opaque finish. They all performed better than I expected. Since some of these colors are on the milky side, I thought at least the first coat my show just a hint of streaking. But something even better happened: No streaking at all. Every polish was really easy to work with, gliding on to the nail smoothly, offering excellent pigmentation (totally opaque on first coat), and drying down to a beautiful glossy finish.

Chantal

Zoya Chantal (2 coats), Seche Vite top coat

I'd describe Chantal as a vanilla hued nude polish. If this polish were an eyeshadow it would be a matte version of MAC's vanilla. It' nearly matches my skin tone. When I held it by my foundation and skin-toned powder it was practically a perfect match. As you can imagine, when I wore it, it really elongated my fingers.

Taylor

Zoya Taylor (2 coats), Seche Vite top coat

When photographed side by side in the bottle (or even in person) Taylor and Chantal look nearly identical. However, Taylor is a slightly deeper nude. I'd describe it as almost a cafe au lait color, albeit one with a generous amount of cream. Zoya describes it as a toffee cream, which I agree is quite fitting.

Rue

Zoya Rue (2 coats), Seche Vite top coat

Rue was the first color I tried on and also the first polish where the rosy undertones of this collection became obvious. It's a delicate blush nude shade that's quickly become one of my favorites in the collection. 

Brigitte

Zoya Brigitte (2 coats), Sache Vite top coat

I hesitate to call Brigitte a mauve cream polish because when someone says mauve I start to snore. But this color isn't boring.  I think Zoya describes it well by calling it a bombshell mauve, because this is definitely not your grandmother's (unless your grandma is a cool granny) nail color. 

Normani

Zoya Normani (2 coats), Seche Vite top coat

Normani is a pretty deep grey purple polish that reminds me slightly of a mauvish version of Zoya Kelly. This is possibly the vampiest color in the collection, although it's more of a dusty shade than a vampy one. 

Odette

Zoya Odette (2 coats), Seche Vite top coat

Odette is my other favorite shade in this collection. It's a pretty grayish orchid hue that actually looks a little deeper in photos than it did in person, where the pink tones are more obvious. Zoya describes it as a sultry orchid maroon cream, although I don't notice the maroon as much myself. And with orchid being the next pantone color of the year, Odette is quite on trend.

I'm particularly smitten with this collection and think the shades will compliment many people. How do you feel about the neutral trend? Are you likely to try out any of these colors for yourself? 

Manicure Monday: Zoya Caitlin and Nail Veils

*This post features a press sample from Nail Veils*

Hello everyone, I hope your weekend treated you well. It was the usual hot and muggy December weekend down here in Florida. But, on the plus side, we got a little tiny reprieve this morning in the form of what we call a cold front (and the rest of you call fall). It was 54 when I woke up today. The sliding glass door and windows are open and I'm enjoying the tiny cool off. But, in true Florida fashion, it will only last a day. Tomorrow's high is expected to be in the 70s. We lead a bit of a charmed life down here. I'm not complaining. Just glad to get to wear my boots for a day.

But you're not really here to read about the weather. You want to see the manicure I'm sharing. This week we have a purple themed mani courtesy of Zoya Caitlin and Monica (accent nails). Added to that splendor, I gave one of my nails a little suit of armor, thanks to Su Laing creator of Nail Veils. She gave me one of her nail embellishments at the Makeup Show in Orlando. You may have even seen her Nail Veils on the likes of celebs like Katy Perry.

Now that I have long nails, I thought it would be perfect to wear it, because the nail veil I received is on the larger side. But if you happen to like this heavy metal look and you're nails aren't super long, don't worry, they come in different styles and sizes. Plus, if you want to wear a large Nail Veils on your short nails, there's no rule saying you can't. It was just a personal choice on my end.

Zoya Caitlin (2 coats), Sache Vite top coat, nail veil.
Colors applied over acrylic nails.

Let's discuss this pretty color first, shall we? Caitlin is described as a smokey, purple-toned medium grey creme, which seems pretty accurate to me. It's opaque upon application and two coats gives you the perfect finish. It dries down glossy, applies without streaking, and is basically everything I've come to expect from Zoya polish. If you like dusty colors, Caitlin is sure to please. 

Zoya Caitlin close up

Monica, which you can see best on my pointer finger and peeking out from underneath the nail veil, is a dark blue-toned purple creme. Monica also has a very nice glossy finish. Interestingly, Zoya describes this color as soft, but I'd say it's more vampy. It doesn't really come across as soft and gentle to me. Like Caitlin, it's application is opaque immediately and it looks best with two coats (I think everything looks better with two coats). It also glides on streak free.  Overall, both of these colors are really easy to work with.

Now that we've discussed color, can we talk about the cool armor plating on my nail? It really reminds me of some kind of elaborate design you'd find somewhere gilded in gold. The next time around I think I'll add some rhinestones to the grooves in the middle of the flowers to add a little sparkle. 

So here's the skinny on these. They are pretty heavy duty and meant for reuse. You can decorate your nails with these as often as you wish. To apply, simply put a thick coat of good quality top coat on your nail, press it on, and let it dry. You want a good amount on there so it has something to really grab on to. I used Seche Vite and just put a big drop of it toward the bottom of my nail. 

A word to the wise, because you're using a thick coat of polish to hold it on, it will take longer for this nail to set. However, once it did, mine stayed put. No wiggling. No real fear of lifting. You can also use nail glue, if you prefer. 

In the photo below, you can see that I used a generous amount of clear polish to adhere to nail veil. You can see it poking through the holes. In person, it's not as noticeable. This photo was taken super close up. Not many people will get that close to your finger. I honestly couldn't imagine why anyone would, but I don't know your personal life nor the situations you get yourself into. For me, no one but my camera got this close. 

This particular design didn't lay flat on my nail (like I've seen some others do), which is also why I used so much top coat. I wanted to make sure the part that did sit flush with my nail was fastened securely. 

Because of the lift (pictured below), I was nervous this would get caught on things and rip off of my nail. I didn't really experience much catching. Yes, there was a little, but nothing too crazy. I made sure to keep my finger lifted when washing my hair though, I didn't want to risk it. 

If this tells you anything, I wore this on my hand for 5 days with no problems whatsoever. In fact, the only reason it came off was because I took it off when I decided to change my nail polish. 

To remove, use nail polish remover. It will melt the top coat off and release the nail veil. I used nail polish remover to clean off any extra polish left on it and it's totally good as new. These are made of metal so the polish remover won't damage them.

Clearly, Nail Veils are a statement piece. It will really depend on your personal style and preference whether these will suit you. But honestly, can't we say that for just about anything? If you like a little (or a lot of) edge or embellishment, these are for you. If you like simple, plain manicures, you might be inclined to skip this (although, why not broaden your horizons?). I'm rather smitten with it myself. You'll probably (definitely) see more Nail Veils appliances in future manicure pics.

Well, what do you think? Are you a fan of this week's colors? What about the Nail Veils? Would you wear any of this yourself? Comment below. Let's chat.

Disclosure: Product received as part of a press sample. All opinions expressed in this post are my own. Read my full disclosure information here

Manicure Monday: Zoya Yasmeen

Aaaaaand, we're back. Brief hiatus over. New week started. That can only mean it's time to check out my newest manicure.

In the spirit of holiday festivity, I'm sticking to the sparkle theme. You guys, this might be the color that sells me on metallic. Don't get me wrong. I don't dislike metallic polish. I'm just a tried a true cream girl. But Zoya Yasmeen is positively swoon-worthy. The color and dimension in this shade is so beautiful it's hard for me not to stare at it.

I added a little extra (and more prominent) sparkle in the form of glitter gradient accent nails -- easily achieved with plain ol' craft glitter and some clear polish. It makes it much easier to control the glitter placement and saturation. Just a little affordable tip for you there. You're welcome.

Zoya Yasmeen (2 coats), Sally Hansen Insta-Dri top coat
Applied on acrylic nails
Nails by Miss Natalia's Beauty

Zoya Yasmeen is  a luscious deep blue-toned purple with red-toned purple shimmer, and a little bit of gold duo chrome. The finished effect is absolutely stunning. I'd say it's a more sophisticated way to do a duo chrome polish. Yasmeen isn't an outright sparkly polish, but the combination of shimmer and duo chrome give it a pretty twinkle that's quite fetching. 

One coat gives you amazing color pay off that's totally opaque. And it has the high quality that I've come to expect from my Zoya polishes: smooth, pigmented, and durable. I didn't experience any streaking or goopiness.

Given the mix of colors (blue-toned base, red-toned shimmer, and gold), you'll get a bit of a different effect depending on the way the light hits the polish. In the photo above, the blue tones are more prominent. In the photo below the light seems to be playing more on the red shimmer. 

The gold duo chrome is apparent in each photo, although to me it seems more noticeable in the photo below. 

While this color is dark and appropriate for the winter months, I feel like it's colorful enough to transcend seasons.

Zoya nail polish formulas are 5 free and retail for $8.

How do you like Yasmeen? Are you as smitten by her as I am? Do you have any similar colors in your collection? I have a lot of polish and I can't say I have anything quite like Yasmeen.

Comment below and share your thoughts!

Manicure Monday: Zoya Rea

Alright ladies and gentlemen, it was a busy weekend. I spent it surrounded by makeup and beauty products at The Makeup Show Orlando and then it all culminated with the phenomenal series finale for Breaking Bad. Seriously, guys, did you catch it? I think it's safe to say it's the first series finale in a while that left me feeling satisfied. The writers tied everything together and didn't leave us hanging. I'm a fan of endings that don't leave me wondering what the heck just happened. I'm still upset at Lost and Sopranos. I'm sorry. As much as I loved those shows, their endings just let me down. So bravo Breaking Bad. Thanks for letting me indulge my inner villain and for wrapping things up so clearly.

And while I must bid farewell to my beloved show, I don't even get any time to mourn (this is good). The new fall show line up is starting up this week and The Makeup Show left me with a lot of new beauty goodies to swatch, review, and share with you.

But for now, let's get down to the business of manicures. After all, that's what you're here for, right? On the docket this week is Zoya Rea. Check out is's wonderful splendor below.

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

Dear readers - I'm starting to embrace fall. It's finally happening and Zoya Rea is helping me transition. What an absolutely beautiful metallic silver-grey-taupe. I love that it's different from anything else in my collection. It's got a nice neutral feel with a hint of vampy edge that keeps it from being boring.

And the pigmentation: Oh. My. God. This stuff is dreamy. One coat is totally opaque. I only use two coats to give my manicure extra mileage (that second coat grabs on to the first making it more chip resistant). Plus, the micro shimmer saturation that gives the polish it's metallic finish also lends a beautiful textured look to your nail. Unlike some metallic polishes, Zoya Rea isn't overly thick, which makes it glide on to your nail so seamlessly it doesn't create any streaks or lines.

I'm happy I discovered this polish and ignored my inner voice that kept telling me I needed to lay off polish purchases. Take that inner voice. This color was worth is. Plus, I found it at a local beauty store and it was on sale 50 percent off. Who can resist that? Not me.

What's your take on this metallic taupey-purple?

Manicure Monday: How to Transition Your Summer Polish to Fall

Hey there everyone! Welcome to another work week. I know, bummer. But we gotta pay the bills, right?

This week I wanted to share with you what I do to transition my summer nail polishes into fall. This little method helps me slowly transition into fall colors without having to go cold turkey on my summer brights. You guys know I've been having a minor melt down over this transition situation. And by minor, I mean that I won't shut up about it.

Well, here's the deal. I finally realized no one said I had to give up my brights altogether.

Once that lightbulb went off, I thought of a few fun ideas to help me mix my summer polishes with my deeper fall hues. It comes from the same basic concept most people use when mixing summer pieces with fall pieces (like mixing a summer dress with a leather jacket and boots).

Basically, all you need to do is choose at least two colors in this case a summer and fall polish that complement each other (like a bright purple with a dusty greyish purple or a deep plum) and pair them together.

If you're not a fan of nail art, do an accent nail. Paint all but one or two of your nails in the fall color and use your summer color on your accent nails. Bam! Simple. You're done.

If you happen to like a little bit of nail art, the options are infinite. Combine complimentary summer and fall colors to create any kind of design you like.  Here are just two examples of how I've done it recently. By the way, my favorite is the ombre nail because the summer nail polish is literally transitioning into my fall hue.

For the manicures you'll see below my fall hue was Zoya Jana and my summer color Orly Frolic.

A polka dot mani is a fun way to incorporate several colors into your manicure. For this manicure, I used four colors: Zoya Jana (base), Orly Frolic (purple polka dots), Sinful Colors Cool Grey, OCC Tarred (black). All you need are your favorite polishes and dotting tools. You can find nail art dotting tools on the cheap on Amazon. They'll only set you back about $1.50.

You can also choose complimentary colors and create an ombre nail look like it did. Ombre nails look difficult, but they're super easy. Just follow these steps:

1. Apply base coat
2. Apply two coats of the bottom color (in this case Frolic)
3. Wait for nails to dry
4. Take a non-latex makeup wedge and paint the top edge with your second color (in this case Zoya  Jana). 
5. Stipple second color from tip of nail backward about halfway down your nail. Start at the edge of your nail to deposit the most color there. Lighten your touch as you move down your nail to create a gradient effect. (Note: If you feel like you need to blend the edges where the two colors meet better, apply color #1 to a makeup wedge and stipple on at the edge to help blend).
6. Use a flat top eyeliner brush dipped in acetone to clean up the edge around your nails (you're going to get polish all over them with the sponge). 
7. Apply top coat.
8. You're done.

Well, that's it. That's how I'll be keeping some of my fun bright nail polishes on rotation during the fall and winter. Do you have a favorite way to transition your polishes from season to season? Or do you just rip off the Band-Aid quickly and just start rocking new colors all at once? 

Manicure Monday: Zoya GeiGei

Alright, I'll admit it. Zoya GeiGei isn't a fall color, in theory. But, since I've said it before: it doesn't feel or look like fall down here in Florida. Plus, I do what I want and I want to wear pretty baby pink polish. After all, baby pink is appropriate all year long. It's a neutral. So there you have it. Justified.

I have to admit, I've been so into Zoya GeiGei, it's bordering on obsession. I've actually made a dent in the bottle. That's huge for me seeing as I own so many blasted polishes I'll have to be buried with them. I'll be the old lady who lived in her nail polish.

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

GeiGei is a pretty, delicate cherry blossom pink saturated in silver micro-glitter that gives this polish a bit of a metallic (albeit subtle) twist. Zoya released it in its Lovely spring 2013 polish collection. It's definitely a color you'd expect for spring. Pastel, soft, gentle, and pretty. I absolutely love the effect of the micro-glitter. There's lots of it, but it still manages to remain delicate and subdued. I think this would be a perfect wedding day manicure, especially for a bride that appreciates some bling.

GeiGei is an opaque polish that still manages to remain incredibly delicate. One coat is completely opaque, but the pink it really subtle. The second coat helps deepen the pink to make it more noticeable. The abundance of micro-glitter makes this polish only slightly  more work to remove than a regular creme, but nowhere near the amount of work of removing chunky glitter polish. Put away your jackhammer. All you'll have to do is swipe your nail one or two extra times with an acetone-soaked cotton swab.

I also noticed that GeiGei has a great manicure lifespan. I wore it for 5 days before I got a minor chip.

Doesn't GeiGei just make you feel pretty? What are some of your favorite pale pinks?

Manicure Monday: Zoya Bobbi

Well everyone, summer is allegedly done. Someone please notify the weather. New York Fashion Week is in full swing and all my social media streams have been taken over by photos of upcoming trends. Meanwhile, down here in Florida, it's still as hot as a Bikram yoga class.

I gotta tell you, transitioning my polishes looks strange. My darker colors just don't seem to go well with the bright sunny days. Instead, I've found some colors in my collection that are technically summer colors, but seem to transition well into fall. Maybe some of you out there are doing the same.

Check out Exhibit A: Zoya's Bobbi, from the Irresistible collection that was released for summer 2013.

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

Bobbi is a gorgeous magenta metallic shimmer. It's generously saturated with silver micro-glitter that gives it a phenomenal sparkle and a pretty metal finish. If Dorothy had multiple bejeweled slippers, this color would make the cut. This polish is meant to be a pretty summer bright, but the color is so rich and deep that it actually looks more like a metallic fall raspberry red color than it does a bright summer magenta. It could easily blend it well with the colors of fall foliage.

Aside from being a great transition color, Bobbi also performs quite impressively. One swipe of polish on my nail and it was totally saturated with color and glitter. A second coat didn't even feel necessary, except of course for the fact that I apply two coats no matter what. The second coat just made the polish a deeper color, and of course added more micro-glitter. Removal was pretty easy as well, requiring very minimal extra work to remove all the glitter. I'd say I extra swipe or two, nothing like the normal wrestling that happens with chunkier glitter polishes.

Another notable mention: Bobbi lasted five days before I saw a chip. I'm thinking the glitter helps make the polish a little stronger and more resistant to chips. Big thumbs up in my opinion.

However, it does stain. Even after using a base coat, I had red-stained nails when I removed Bobbi. Thankfully, it did not stain my fingers. A quick swipe with a nail buffer eliminated the stain.

What do you think? Does Bobbi do well as a summer and fall hue? What are some of your favorite polishes that work well in multiple seasons?

Manicure Monday: Zoya Jacqueline

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

As promised, this week is yet another double feature manicure posting. And today seems to be a big day for Zoya on this blog. I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with nude polishes. Sometimes I get on this huge nude polish kick. Other times, I don't even want to look at it. I'm not sure what triggers this ebb and flow for me, but I'm happy to report, I'm in a loving place with Zoya Jacqueline. I think because it doesn't really look like a regular nude to me. 

Jacqueline is a pretty beige creme that to me looks like it has just the slightest bit of yellow to it. It's incredible opaque and has a milky finish. As such, it does have the slightest bit of streak action going on with the first coat, but my second coat of polish completely evened it out. Here's where it gets interesting -- when I'm pale (like in the pic above) this color has a slight pale yellow-beige look to it; when I have self tanner on it looks like a true beige. Regardless of this, I really liked this color. And I think it's chameleon-like quality made me like it even more. It keeps it from being boring, in my opinion.

What do you think? Do you like Jacqueline and the fact that it can seemingly be two polishes in one bottle? 

Manicure Monday: Zoya Micky

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

Happy Monday everyone. What better way to start off the week than with a fun and happy manicure? OK, maybe there are plenty of better ways, but a pretty manicure isn't a bad option. This week I'd like to share Zoya's Micky from the Summer 2013 Stunning collection. 

Micky is a beautiful, bright coral creme with a hint of pink to it, but for the most part it's a pretty true coral. I absolutely love it. I have a hard time resisting a coral polish during the summer. It looks so pretty against bronzed skin and it doesn't discriminate against fair complexions either. Micky is no exception. It's bright without screaming for attention like a neon would and has a beautiful shiny candy-coating-esque finish. 

The polish is really easy to work with, giving you excellent opaque color pay off in one coat. I did experience a little bit of streaking on the first coat, but it evened out on its own as it sat on my nail. I added a second coat to completely even out the finish and because two coats of polish helps your manicure last longer (not because I needed to build up the color or make it more opaque)

I wish summer could last longer, so I could have more time to wear all the pretty summer colors I have in my arsenal. Good thing summer sticks around longer down here in Florida. I love bright colorful nails. They put a pep in my step. 

What do you think of Zoya Micky? Is coral one of your favorite summer nail polish shades? 

Manicure Monday: Zoya Liberty

OPI Nail Envy base coat, Zoya Liberty (2 coats), no top coat

As you might know, I've been rather hesitant to try out the textured polish trend. I wasn't sure I was going to like it. For the most part, many of the swatches I was seeing online just looked like gritty colorful cottage cheese, with the exception of one brand, Zoya. I think the secret to their success in the textured polish department is their use of glitter. So, I went ahead and purchased a Zoya Pixie Dust polish in Liberty, which is a fun dark cobalt blue.

I think the glitter works so well in this formula because it will fall into the grooves the texture creates and because there's so much micro glitter in there, when it catches the light, it really does create a beautiful sparkle. The sparkle offsets the grit, making your polish look less like gravel and more like what I imagine fairy dust would look like, making the Pixie Dust moniker rather apropos.

I have to say I'm quite pleasantly surprised by how much I like the finish, even if it does feel like sandpaper to the touch, something I'm not crazy about. I keep wanting to reach for my top coat to smooth out the surface. But the texture, plus the sparkle seems to really work well together. The polish's matte finish really makes the glitter stand out even more.

Adding a glossy top coat will ruin the texture effect by smoothing it out a bit on top (you'll still be able to feel a little of that grit, but it will be significantly reduced). It will also give the matte texture shine, so it won't work as well. However, what I noticed when I added top coat (I just had to see what would happen) was that it gave the finish a seemingly holographic look. It didn't really pick up that well on camera, hence the lack of photo. And while I think that looks rather cool as well, I have to admit, it does look better without it. Only time will tell whether the lack of top coat will lead to a chipped manicure faster.

As for application, I was really surprised by how easily this glided on to my nail. I thought the gritty texture might make it tricky to work with, but that wasn't the case at all. The first coat pretty much covered my whole nail, leaving so sheer space. The second coat increased the glitter factor. It feels a bit like someone dropped sand into my nail polish. But I stand by this statement: It's the sparkle that really makes this work. My nails look like sparkly gum drops.

Removal wasn't too terrible -- about what you would normally expect with a glitter polish. It came off easier the more I saturated my cotton swab with acetone.

All in all I'm glad I ventured into the textured polish trend but I think I may be sticking to the Pixie Dust version as opposed to the flat creme versions that are out there or even the feather finish I've seen with other brands. They're just not peaking my interest.

What do you think of the Pixie Dust trend? Do you agree or disagree with my glitter assessment? Are you likely to try a textured polish?

Manicure Monday: Zoya Ginnessa

Sinful Colors base coat, Zoya Ginessa (2 coats), Sally Hansen Insta-Dri top coat

Happy Monday loves! We've got another brand new week to make the most of, so let's start it out with our manicured hands on point. If you've read my guest post over a Bon Bon Rose Girls, then you know one of my top picks for summer nail polish shades was crisp summer whites.

White manicures look phenomenal against bronzed summer skin. Plus, it's a neutral that's not boring. And the best part is that different finishes can give this everyday color a completely different look and feel.

Zoya's Ginessa is a soft metallic white with lots of silver glitter in it. It gives the polish a pearl-like finish that resembles the inside of a seashell, except it doesn't have that pretty mother of pearl iridescent look. Check out a closer look below.

Sinful Colors base coat, Zoya Ginessa (2 coats), Sally Hansen Insta-Dri top coat

The first coat is pretty sheer, a very light, see through, glittery silver-white. The second coat makes it opaque and gives you the color pay off you see in the bottle. It applies pretty smoothly, although it's slightly tricky to work with to get a smooth finish (but not very hard at all). The glittery metallic finish gives it almost a textured look but it's smooth to the touch. Because of all the glitter, it does take a little extra effort to remove. However, I found that if I get the cotton swab extra soaked with acetone, it made the removal process much easier.

Are you a fan of a crisp white manicure? Do you like the idea of trying different finishes to vary the shade's brightness factor? What do you think of Zoya Ginessa? 

Holiday Manicure: Patriotic Nails

Happy Fourth of July! I hope everyone is having fun and being safe. Here's a little peek at how I decided to show my celebratory mood.

OPI Nail Envy base coat, Zoya Carmen (red), Zoya Ibiza (blue), Julep Kate (white), Julep America (glitter)

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).

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.

Nail Polish Haul: OPI, China Glaze, Zoya, Orly

Manicure Monday: Shelby

Sinful Colors base coat, Zoya Shelby (2 coats), Sally Hansen Insta Dri Anti-Chip top coat

Another week, another fresh manicure. And once again I'm bringing you a Zoya polish for your perusal. After all, I did purchase seven polishes during the Earth Day sale. So, you'll simply have to indulge me as I calmly swatch each and every one for you and showcase them week after week. 

Shelby drew my eye because, as you probably know, I'm a sucker for a pretty creme pink polish. Shelby does not disappoint. It's a beautiful cherry blossom pink, but think of the darker cherry blossoms (like these) because Shelby packs enough color to keep it form being pastel. 

 

Shelby is also quite opaque, only needing two coats to deliver the color in the bottle. The first coat is actually quite pigmented (pretty much what you see in the bottle). But since I try to keep that first coat thin, it can come out just the slightest bit streaky. The second coat evens everything out, creating a smooth candy-coated pink that would turn Barbie's head. 

I love Zoya's formula. It's cruelty-free, vegan-friendly, and 5 Free (no formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, camphor, and formaldehyde resin). It also has a great consistency and a beautiful finish. It's why I keep coming back for more. 

What do you think of Shelby? Is she the right shade of pink for you?