Tag: manicure

Metallic and Navy Graphic Nails and ManiCure Pinterest Sweepstakes with Suave and Q-tips!

So here is that exciting news I’ve been dying to share with you! I have teamed up with Suave^® and Q-tips^® for the ManiCure Pinterest Sweepstakes which just launched this week. Over the next four weeks, I will be sharing six nail art designs created by myself. This week’s inspiration is Fashion; perfect as we are in the throes of fashion month and I just returned from NYFW. Not only will I be sharing how to get these nail art looks, but I will also be sharing tips on keeping skin hydrated and nails looking clean and healthy.

So, a little detail about the ManiCure Pinterest Sweepstakes– make sure to head over to the Suave Beauty Pinterest page and pin one of my featured looks (or any other looks by my fellow influencers) and copy the pin URL to the Suave Beauty Facebook page to enter for the chance to win Suave^® Skin Solutions Body Lotions and Q-tips^® Precision Tips^™ cotton swabs or $500 for the ultimate day of beauty and style!

And now back to the nail art. I had the chance to be backstage at a couple spring 2014 shows and I kept seeing graphic lines and bold colors. While these were naturally inspired by spring colors, I wanted to translate into a look for our current season. Metallic on navy is what I am rocking, and here is my step-by-step guide to get the look:

Start off with moisturized and soft hands. I’ve been loving the Suave^® Skin Solutions Smoothing Body Lotion with Cocoa Butter & Shea with cocoa butter and shea. My hands were so dry from all those hours on an airplane. They already appear softer and are smoother after a couple days of slathering this on. Not to mention I love the tropical soothing scent.

I use a little alcohol on a Q-tips® Precision Tips™ cotton swab to make sure my nail beds are oil-free. While this can dry out nails, I’ve found mine run on the oilier side and to ensure the longest lasting manicure, especially when doing time consuming nail art, I like to be better safe than sorry.

Next, I apply a nail strengthening base coat and allow to dry for a good five minutes. For bold gemstone colors like navy, I like to apply two to three coats for a glossy and opaque base. Make sure to let your navy base dry thoroughly before you head in on your nail art. I like to use Q-tips^® Precision Tips^™ cotton swabs with a little nail polish remover to clean up around the nail and on the cuticles.

Lastly, use a very thin nail art brush to draw lines either horizontally or vertically across the nail. I like to vary the direction of the lines for an imperfect but still graphic look. Use the Q-tips^® Precision Tips^™ cotton swabs again to clean up any mistakes. And Voila!

This post was created in connection with my appointment as an Influencer for Suave® and Q-tips^®. Visit www.facebook.com/SuaveBeauty for the chance to win Suave^® Skin Solutions Body Lotions and Q-tips^® Precision Tips^™ cotton swabs or $500 for the ultimate day of beauty and style.

Five Late Summer Favorites

So, today marks the official back to school here in my city. Time to face the music and start thinking about prep for those cooler months ahead. I’m focusing on stretching out this tan, staying safe in the sun, repairing sun damage and nourishing my dried out hair. Among other things! Here are five favorites that I keep reaching for to do just that:

RéVive ‘Sensitif’ Oil-Free Lotion SPF 15 is the most gentle SPF I have come across and the oil-free formula finishes matte and won’t clog pores. Plus, it works fabulously under makeup.

Kate Somerville ‘Somerville 360°’ Tan Maximizer is helping me milk this summer glow for all that it is worth. I love the smell and how nourishing it is on my skin. Natural oils add so much hydration that this might be my go-to lotion all year long!

Herbal Essences Body Envy Volumizing Shampoo basically transports me back to high school with its fruity scent (how appropriate this time of year!). But what really impressed me was the effect – I use this at night and sleep in a wet braid – the next morning I have full and bouncy waves!

Coola TotalBody Organic Moisturizing Suncare with SPF 30 is keeping me sun safe these last couple of pool days. The scents can’t be beat (my favorite is Plumeria). And I feel even better staying safe in the sun using an organic product.

Essie for the twill of it from their fall collection was high on my wish list. But now that I have it in (or on) my hot little hands I’m swooning so hard I almost fell over. The opaque shade is as nuanced and special as any luxury polish. Fall signature mani sold!

AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE MAY HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.

Happy Fourth of July!

How does this beauty junkie celebrate? Naturally with a patriotic manicure! Hope you all enjoy the holiday and God Bless America!

L’Oreal Jet Set to Paris with accent nail in Essie Geranium. I can’t remember the white my manicurist used for the heart, but isn’t it cute?!

Essie Grow Stronger Base Coat

I feel like I am on a epic, never ending adventure to find a great base coat to make my nails long and strong. Well, I am taking a little break from that adventure because I have fallen hard for Essie’s grow strong. So much so that I’ve been rocking bare nails since last week.

The slight pinkish tint and matte finish the base coat gives on its own is actually quite pretty. Vitamin E, Gingko Biloba, And Mineral Strengtheners improve the look and fortitude of nails. My nails are growing like a weed!

I can’t seem to find it anywhere online, but if you spot it, highly recommend snagging a bottle! I found mine at CVS.

Spring Nail Trends on Fox23

This morning, I’ll be over on Fox 23′s Great Day Green Country to talk beauty again – this time it is all about Spring Nail Trends. Can you believe it is already March and we are so close to Spring? If you are in the Tulsa area, tune in. If not, I’ll post a link to my segment later today. Enjoy!

images here, here, here, here and here.

NARS Spring Color 2013

Today marks the day! NARS Spring Color Collection is available now on shelves. I have been wearing three peices of the collection for a week or so. All three have a sort of subtle punk glamour. However, the whole collection is more assertive:

Fresh and fierce, strong and sexy; the Spring 2013 Color Collection introduces a vibrant, ‘90s-esquepalette that sets the tone for a season of audaciously feminine looks.

Cythère Velvet Lip Gloss is a soft, metallic rose. I’m a long time fan of these pencils (see review here) which are glossy and hydrating while still uncannily long-wearing. The rose slants slightly more brown than pink, making it an almost nude and really feminine – a great shade to balance so many of the bolder shades in the collection. It does have that suggestion of frost a la 90’s but not in a cliche way.

I was new to the Soft Touchshadow Pencils. They are a relatively new product designed for smooth, long wear color. I’d like to note: these shades look really brillant in the package. I was slightly intimidated to wear these. (I still hadn’t worn Aigle Noir, part of the holiday collection). So, I grabbed Corcavado, a true 24 karat gold and part of Spring 2013 Color, and Aigle Noir and started playing.

These pencils give just a wash of color making them so much more wearable than I expected. I suppose you could layer for a full, opaque color, but I love using Corcavado for a wash of gold. Aigle Noir is perfect for the lower last line when you have a smokier, sultry eye. The shimmer is a festive level, but not adolescent I’m treasuring these for priming or layering under other looks to add some oomph.

Lastly, I’ve been rocking Disco Inferno Nail Polish. I was hoping this would be slightly more opaque. But I am so smitten with the shade, I’ll let it slide. This is three coats and I am almost tempted to add a fourth. That was the case with Desperado and Space Odyssey, reviewed here and here. It has the perfect iridescence reminiscent of holograms seen all over the runways, like this clutch from Proenza Schouler.

Shop the post here:

AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE WAS PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.