Happy Passover!

Hi Everyone! :)

I don't have a new manicure to show you today because I'm still wearing the fun neon marble that I posted about a few days ago, but with Passover starting tonight, I was reminiscing about these yummy matzah nails from a few years back. Not sure how many of you remember this, so I figured it might be fun to do a quick throw back post. The matzah mani was inspired by the talented 10 Blank Canvases. I loved this manicure so much and I'm still proud of that attempt at freehand nail art. If I get a chance, I might try to recreate them again this year...

Zoya Wishes Collection Swatches and Review

Hello Lovelies! I'm super late in reviewing the Zoya Wishes collection for Winter 2014, but at least it is still Winter and that has to count for something, right? Hopefully you will forgive me because I'm really excited to show you this beautiful collection. It consists of three textured PixieDust shades and three cream/shimmer shades in coordinating colors...

Basket Weave

Hi Lovelies! Today I'm going to show you my feeble attempt at a free hand basket weave pattern. I was inspired by a seemingly simple tutorial by @yagala on Instagram. She made it look so easy that I thew my inhibitions to the wind and decided to try it out. Now although her manicure is gorgeous from any distance, mine is best viewed from far, far away. In other words, back away from your computer now or you might get scared. Yes, that means you too! Take your coffee cup and back away, then come back and tell me what you think of this...

Tutorial: Aged Bamboo

Hi Lovelies! It is time for a tutorial again. After I posted my art inspired bamboo manicure last month, I got a few comments from readers who said that this type of manicure is too complicated and not something that they can do for themselves. I wanted to show that if you already know how to stamp, this is actually a really simple manicure that only looks like it takes a lot of work, but is actually rather simple. So let's get started...

Supplies:

• 2-3 neutral shades for the background. I used Zoya Jacqueline, Taylor and Flynn
• Brown polish for stamping. I used Zoya Emilia
• Sea sponge
• Stamping plate (I used Bundle Monster plate BM-424) and stamping supplies

Steps:

Instructions:

1. Apply the lightest color for a base and allow it to dry completely. Shown here is Zoya Jacqueline.
2. Put a few drops of the beige lacquer(s) on your palate and dip the sponge into it. I used a little bit of Zoya Taylor and Flynn. Dab the sponge onto a clean area of the palate to work the polish into the sponge and remove excess. Finally gently dab the sponge onto random sections of the nail, leaving portions of the base still visible.
3. Apply stamping polish onto the stamping plate, scrape and pick up the image as usual
4. Stamp the image onto your nail
5. Seal with a top coat and enjoy!

See? That was easy, right? I even struggled to make a full tutorial out of this because there are so few steps when you really think about it.

Please don't hesitate to ask questions if you have any!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial!

Thanks for looking!
Anutka :)

** Polishes were provided to me for review by the manufacturer or their PR. **

** For more information please see the disclosure policy **

31DC2013 Day 31 - Honor Nails You Love

Today is the final day of the 31 Day Nail Challenge. The challenge for today is to honor nail you love. I chose to create a manicure inspired by Christina of Let Them Have Polish. It was a while back that she posted a photo of her thumb nail on Instagram with this design. It reminded me of bubble chocolate and I knew that I would have to recreate it some day...

31DC2013 Day 27 - Inspired by Artwork

Hi Lovelies! Up next in the 31 Day Nail Challenge is Day 27, Inspired by Artwork. I'm always drawn to Asian inspired art featuring bamboo so after a quick search online (this is literally the 3rd image that comes up in Google when I search for "bamboo art"), I knew what I wanted to do.

Zoya Naturel Deux (2) Collection Swatches and Review

Happy Friday Everyone! Today I am excited to finally share with you my swatches of the Zoya Nautrel Deux (2) collection. This collection is a follow-up to the popular Naturel collection which came out early this year. Although the Deux collection has been available for a few months now, the Fall colors just begged me to delay swatching until the weather started to turn. I think now is the perfect time to show these beauties off to you...

Press Release: Zoya Ultra PixieDust for Fall 2014

Meet the next generation of our best-selling textured, matte and sparkling Zoya PixieDust formula ­ Zoya Ultra PixieDust! Three shades featuring both fine micro glitter and mega hex particles for tone on tone 3D effects. This easy glam nail is available in 3 shades in a gradient of red, wine and plum hues. No base or top coat required.

Tutorial: Dotticure

Hi Lovelies! I thought I would share another tutorial today with you today. This is for a dotticure that I showed you a few months ago. I have been going through my mani archives and discovered a few tutorials that I never got around to putting together until now. I had even forgotten that I took photos for this dotticure tutorial so stumbling across it was a fun surprise.

Supplies Used:

• Polishes: Zoya Dot (pink base), Dillon (minty green), Hudson (lavender) and Rebel (sky blue)
• White nail polish or acrylic paint
• Dotting tool (don't have a dotting tool? Try some dotting tool alternatives)

Steps:

Instructions:

1. Start out by painting your nail using a base color. I used Zoya Dot for this look
2. Using white nail polish or acrylic paint and a dotting tool, place dots down the center of the nail starting near the cuticles and working down toward the tip. 
• You can make all the dots the same size or alternate between larger and slightly smaller dots as I attempted.
3. Add another row of dots on each side of the first row as show above. 
• If you chose to alternate the size of the dots in your first row then create your 2nd and 3rd row by starting opposite to the first one to ensure that each large dot is surrounded by small ones and vise versa.
4. Using your first color, add a smaller dot inside each of the white dots of the first row (that was created in step #2). I used Zoya Hudson for the lavender dots.
5. Repeat step #4 with a second color in one of the 'empty' white rows. I used the minty green Zoya Dillon here.
6. Repeat step #4 with the final color in the last white row. I used the sky blue Zoya Rebel
7. Using a small dotting tool or toothpick and white nail polish or acrylic paint, add a zig-zag of dots in between 2 rows of larger dots.
8. Repeat #7 to create a zig-zag of dots between the remaining rows.
9. Seal with a top coat and enjoy!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! Please don't hesitate to ask questions if you have any! 

As always, I would love to know what you think of this tutorial.

Thanks for looking!
Anutka :)

** Polishes were provided to me for review by the manufacturer or their PR. **

** For more information please see the disclosure policy **

Tutorial: Abstract Stained Glass Nail Art

Hi Everyone! I apologize in the delay of putting this tutorial together. I've been in a bit of a funk lately and I'm hoping it will pass soon. A few of you requested that I share a tutorial for this abstract stained glass manicure that I showed you a couple of months ago and I have not forgotten! I had actually created the tutorial at the time of the manicure, but have just now sorted through the photos and can finally share it with you...

Supplies Used:

• Polishes: Zoya Dillon (minty green), Hudson (lavender) and Rebel (sky blue), and Brooklyn (gold)
• Small detail brush

Steps:

Press Release: Zoya Entice & Ignite Fall 2014

ENTICE & IGNITE

FALL 2014-COLOR SEDUCTION

Inspired by the classic wools, textured brocades and metallic accents of the season, Zoya's new ENTICE & IGNITE collections create a palette of lush, deep color including wines, browns, navies and greys.


Zoya ENTICE delivers six new, glossy, intensely pigmented, full-coverage cream colors.

• ZP748 ­ Nyssa: Milk Chocolate Brown, Full-Coverage Formula. 
• ZP749 ­ Claire: Rich Burgundy, Full-Coverage Formula. 
• ZP750 ­ Veronica: Brilliant Wine, Full-Coverage Formula. 
• ZP751 ­ Margo: Red Plum, Full-Coverage Formula. 
• ZP752 ­ Ryan: Classic Indigo, Full-Coverage Formula. 
• ZP753 ­ Genevieve: Leather Grey, Full-Coverage Formula.

Zoya IGNITE offers a six shimmering red, gold, copper and purple liquid metal metallics.

• ZP754 ­ Autumn: Varnished Copper Liquid Metal. 
• ZP755 ­ India: Deep Red Gold Liquid Metal. 
• ZP756 ­ Teigen: Violet Plum with Copper Liquid Metal. 
• ZP757 ­ Sansa: Deepest Eggplant with Gold Liquid Metal. 
• ZP758 ­ Remy: Indigo with Copper & Gold Liquid Metal. 
• ZP759­  Yuna: Grey with Copper & Gold Liquid Metal.

COLLECTION PRE-ORDER STARTS August 12, 2014

ZOYA IS THE HEALTHY COLOR OF FASHION!
$9 (US) Available on Zoya.com and at finer salons and spas.

*BIG5FREE: Formula contains no formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, dibutyl phthalate, toluene or camphor.

** Press Release provided by the manufacturer or their PR. **

** For more information please see the disclosure policy **

Dotty Dots...

Today I would like to show you a manicure inspired once again by the polish name. I seem to do that a lot. And Ok and I'll confess, the pattern was also inspired by a pair of umm... panties that I have. That's right, in my 30s and I still occasionally sport polka dot panties. LOL! Sorry! I know, TMI! I'm probably going to regret writing this later so let's get back to the mani...

Zoya Magical Pixie Swatches and Review...

For this Summer, Zoya released three Magical PixieDust shades with the same type of textured finish as the Spring shades earlier this year. Magical PixieDust shades are highly textured and extremely sparkly containing loads of holographic glitter (which my camera insisted on suppressing).

Zoya Tickled and Bubbly Swatches and Review

Hi Everyone! Today I would like to share with you my review of the Zoya Tickled and Bubbly collections which were recently released for the Summer season. The tickled collection features six bright full coverage creams while the Bubbly collection is made up of six glittery beauties.

Since the two collection seems to have matching cream and glitter shades, I chose to test the Bubbly shades as toppers over their (in most cases) matching Tickled shades. Although I would usually split the two collections into separate posts, I wanted to make it easier to compare how the topper changed the base color. For that reason prepare yourselves for a photo heavy post...

Zoya Awaken and Monet Swatches and Review!

I'm finally back to swatching post my nail break and I would like to start out by showing you the Zoya Awaken Spring collection and a special topper named Monet. The Awaken collection includes six shades which are perfect for the season and remind me of Easter candy shades that invade the stores this time of year...

Press Release: Zoya Magical Pixie - Summer 2014

Zoya Magical Pixie - a new PixieDust formulation, amped up with spectacular sparkle creating the most magical, Zoya PixieDust ever! Three new never before imagined textured, holographic beauties...

NEW SUMMER 2014 ZOYA MAGICAL PIXIE
Three new hues in Zoya’s BEST-SELLING ultra textured, matte, holographic Magical Pixie formula to love!

• ZP761 - Bar: Nude Topaz Magical Pixie.
• ZP762 - Ginni: Pink Tourmaline Magical Pixie.
• ZP763 - Arlo: Violet Amethyst Magical Pixie.

Zoya PixieDust Application:
For BEST RESULTS apply 2-3 thin coats of polish for full coverage to a clean oil free nail surface. Allow product to dry completely for full effect. Do not use a base coat or top coat. Top coat can be applied for additional glossy effects.

AVAILABILE MAY 15, 2014 | $10.00 ea. (US)
Zoya.com

BIG5FREE: formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, toluene, camphor & dibutyl phthalate free, vegan friendly nail color.

** Press release images and information provided by the manufacturer or their PR. **

** For more information please see the disclosure policy **

Press Release: Zoya Tickled and Bubbly - Summer 2014

Laugh, Giggle, Chuckle and Smile! Welcome to  a happy Summer season of long-wearing, feel good BIG5FREE* nail color by Zoya featuring two new collections destined to bring out your inner Glee!

"Color inspired by the fashion, sun, jewelry and culture of South Beach!" Rebecca Isa  Zoya Creative Director

AVAILABILE MAY 15, 2014 | $9.00 ea. (US)
Zoya.com

BIG5FREE: formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, toluene, camphor & dibutyl phthalate free, vegan friendly nail color.

** Press release images and information provided by the manufacturer or their PR. **

** For more information please see the disclosure policy **

Press Release: 2014 Zoya Earth Day Nail Polish Exchange!

Give the earth a helping hand by joining the healthy nail polish movement! Since its inception, ZOYA has been the pioneer of toxin-free nail polish, releasing the most beautiful colors in the healthiest formula available each season. With Zoya Nail Polish, you don't have to compromise a healthier lifestyle for a glamorous one. go worry-free with a formula that is BIG5FREE**

Now you can join smart, eco-chic women who are changing their world, one gorgeous Zoya Nail Polish bottle at a time! To help kick start your "color cleanse", the Zoya Earth Day Nail Polish Exchange is BACK for 2014. Not only is ZOYA making it easy to swap out old, unwanted color for the world's healthiest and longest wearing natural nail polish formula on the market, we will dispose of your old shades in an eco-friendly manner!

This offer is only good for 1 week - so hurry - Don't Wait! 
Valid 4/21/14 - 4/28/14 (11:59pm EST)
___

PLEASE VISIT THE ZOYA BLOG FOR COMPLETE PROGRAM DETAILS! or visit zoya.com

** Information provided by the manufacturer or their PR. **

** For more information please see the disclosure policy **

Zoya Magical Pixie Abstract Nail Art

Hi Everyone! Today I would like to show you some abstract nail art that I created with the three Zoya Magical Pixie shades. I love how these colors look together and thought it would be fun to have them all in one manicure...

Zoya Magical Pixie Collection Swatches and Review

Hi there! Today I would like to share with you my swatches of the Zoya Magical Pixie collection. Similarly to previous PixieDust shades, these are matte textured beauties, however, unlike the PixieDust shades before them, they feature larger holographic glitter for even more magical sparkle. If you are like me and a fan of the textured trend, then these are an absolute treat...