Peep my polish. It's OPI Austin-tatious Turquoise from the Texas Collection. This photo was taken on Sunday, as the polish was drying. Craziest thing is that it's now Friday and my mani looks EXACTLY the same. Not a chip, smudge or imperfection in sight - which is extremely rare for me. I'm kind of rough on my nails and I do dishes like it's my J-O-B, so I'm lucky if a manicure survives two days without a ding.
I did this manicure myself, so I'm feeling pretty proud of my paint job. I think the recipe is why it's held up so well. Here's are the deets:
1) Apply Zoya Get Even Ridge Filling Base Coat. 2) Apply Zoya Anchor Base Coat. 3) Apply two or three coats of OPI Austin-tatious Turquoise - it goes on very sheer, so layer to achieve desired opacity. 4) Apply Zoya Armor Top Coat. You're supposed to re-apply every two days for "for extended color wear" - but to be honest, I didn't and my manicure still looks perfect.
What shade are you currently rocking? I'm always looking for my next nail polish color - so share in the comments section below!
I’m a buff nail buff, for many reasons. First, like a pair of nude pumps, nude nails elongate and slims the fingers. And if you’re prone to chips, they’re less obvious than if you’re wearing a more pigmented polish. But one issue I have with most nudes is their transparency. It irks me to no end when I have to paint on layer after layer to achieve an opaque finish. Usually, the finished product ends up looking thick, if you know what I mean. Or all of those layers take eons to dry which increases, tenfold, the probability of me smudging my polish.
Either this is a common dilemma or my friends at Zoya somehow read my mind – because they just launched a collection of full-coverage nude polishes designed to coordinate with every skin tone based on yellow, red or blue undertones and kissed with a hint of metallic to make them ultra wearable.
Minka - latte beige cream with a metallic kiss Shay - desert rose sand beige cream with a metallic kiss Pandora - mauve beige cream with a metallic kiss (I'm wearing a Pandora pedi right this sec)
Like Zoya’s other 300 shades, the Touch Collection polishes are also formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and camphor free, and vegan-friendly.
The polishes can be purchased separately for $8 or as a trio for $24 at zoya.com.
It makes me so mad when I lose my photos! I took a lot of photos of my April Birchbox package. I remember editing and storing them in my Picasa, but now I can't find them anywhere O_o Anyway, I took new photos and here they are.
This month's Birchbox is honoring Earth Day which was last Friday (I know I'm so late). To celebrate, they included Eco friendly products that helps the environment and will make us look good at the same time. This is pretty exciting because I will get to try a lot of organic, eco-friendly products that I've never heard before.
1. Extra: Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Repair Eye Treatment- I was happy to see Juice Beauty included in this month's Birchbox. I tried one of their face wash a long time ago and I remember loving it. Hopefully, this eye repair will be a good one.
2. Zoya nail polish in Caitlin- I'm not a nail polish person at all, but this shade is soo pretty. It's a purple gray with a glossy finish.
3. LIV GRN-Earth Eau de Parfum- According to Birchbox, it has hints of Jasmine and Sandalwood. I'm so bad at describing scents, but I can say that it smells really nice (sorry I suck!).
4.Weleda Wild Rose Smoothing Facial lotion- Organic lotion rich in anti-oxidants and vitamin A and E, which soften and protect the skin.
5. Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel- An organic peel consist of natural fruit acids which gives a brighter and smoother complexion.
6.Extra: Bloomin Seed Paper- I've never seen a seed paper before. I didn't even know it existed lol. Plant this paper in soil, give it a little bit of water and watch it grows into wildflowers. Now that's cool!
Zoya nail polish in Caitlyn. I tired it on my niece's nails and it's sooo pretty! I think I'm just gonna give it to her lol.
I'm so happy with all the products I got. I'm not big on the whole organic and Eco-friendly products, but I'm sure glad I was able to help the environment even just a little bit by purchasing this month's Birchbox.
Check out my past Birchbox packages: March 2011- Dr. Denis Gross, Pangea Organics, Alchimie Forever and Marvis, February 2011 Be Fine, Bare Minerals, Nars, Pomega5 and Sweetriot Chocolate January 2011- Ahava, Oscar Blandi, Ernie Laszio, MyFaceWorks and Coconut Chai December 2011-Stila, Serge Lutens, Jouer and Blow November 2011- Cargo, Too Faced, Perricone MD, Laura Mercier andThe Face Shop
In honor of New York Fashion Week, Zoya wants to give a "Fashion Reward" to all of their followers and fans. Place any Zoya or Qtica order of $10 (on zoya.com, qtica.com or artofbeauty.com) and get any 2 Zoya Nail Polish shades (0.5 oz bottles) of your choice as a free gift!
Simply add all the items that you want to purchase online to your shopping cart. Enter the code NYFW in the "code" field and press the "update" button. A $14 discount will appear in the shopping cart for the value of the 2 Zoya Nail Polishes.
Offer valid from Wednesday, 2/17/2010 - Friday, 2/19/2010, at 5PM EST. Standard shipping charges apply. Offer valid for consumer online orders only. Free ground shipping for orders over $55 in Continental USA only.
This morning, I appeared on the NBC 10! Show, to share my absolute favorite holiday beauty gift picks...
Godiva Home Fragrance Collection: Godiva Chocolatier unveils a new way to indulge in the sensorial decadence of its chocolate – the Godiva Home Fragrance Collection. These scented candles of deep chocolate-colored wax infused with cocoa butter are the brand’s first foray into the home fragrance category in its over 80 year history. These ready-to-gift candles are available in both travel and full sizes and the sumptuous scents are sure to please each and every chocolate connoisseur. The collection includes the following fragrances: Milk Chocolate Truffle, Raspberry Ganache, White Chocolate Magnolia, Peppermint Bark, Black Almond Truffle. The candles retail for $22.50 (Regular Candle 7 oz) and $12.50 (Travel Candle 4.4 oz) and are available at Neiman Marcus and Bath & Body Works.
Clarisonic Mia Skin Cleansing System: From the creators of the Sonicare toothbrush comes the Clarisonic Mia Skin Cleaning System, featuring a handy to-go sized version of the original, groundbreaking skin care Clarisonic Brush. The sonic frequency moves Clarisonic's soft, gentle brush back and forth at more than 300 times per second, thoroughly clearing pores and skin surface. The Clarisonic Mia removes makeup six times better than traditional methods, clears pores and reduces the appearance of pore size, cleanses so thoroughly that skincare products absorb better, creates noticeably healthier looking skin. The Clarisonic Mia Skin Cleansing System includes: Clarisonic Mia One Speed Brush, international charger for worldwide use, sensitive brush head, 1 oz Gentle Hydro Cleanser. The Clarisonic Mia costs $149 and is sold at Sephora and clarisonic.com.
Sephora Fragrance Samplers for Him and Her: These boxed ensembles are the perfect gift of fragrance when you're not sure which one to choose. The sets include samples of Sephora’s top-selling fragrances to try, a gift voucher that can be redeemed at any Sephora store for a full-sized bottle of any one of the samples included, and a fragrance guide. The Collector’s Edition Samplers are $75 and the Deluxe Samplers are $50.
Zoya Holiday Minicure Gift Set: This kit contains essentials for the perfect manicure, in the perfect miniature gift set: Zoya Remove+ (polish remover), Armor Top Coat, Anchor Base Coat, and Hurry Up Speed Dry Drops. This incredible value set ($15) is a perfect stocking stuffer, office gift or a personal treat.
Felix Rey Cosmetics Cases: How many makeup bags are so gorgeous that you could carry them as an evening clutch and be the chicest gal in the room? Not many…and I would wager that most of them come courtesy of Felix Rey, a sophisticated and ultra-feminine luxury brand of accessories founded by Lily Rafii Band and Sulaika Zarrouk. The cosmetics cases run the gamut in terms of size, style, print and price ($24-120) – so you’re sure to find the perfect present for that makeup-loving gal on your gift list. Leighton Meester, Hayden Panetierre, Hilary Duff, Penelope Cruz and Fergie are all fans of Felix Rey.
Bath & Body Works Lounge Shea Socks: These super-soft, ultra-pampering socks contain enough moisturizing shea butter to last up to 25 washes. The Lounge Shea Socks are available in 20 different colors/prints.
Members of the studio audience received a pair of the Bath & Body Works Lounge Shea Socks and nail polish from Zoya's Ultra Glitter winter collection. For faithful Spoiled Pretty readers, like you, I'm upping the beauty booty.
One lucky winner will receive: candles from the Godiva Home Fragrance Collection, Sephora Fragrance Samples for Him and Her, a Zoya Holiday Minicure Gift Set, Felix Rey Leopard Nylon Cosmetics Case (large), and Bath & Body Works shea socks!
To enter the giveaway, send an email to spoiledprettycontests@gmail.com. Be sure to include your full name and mailing address. The subject line should read "NBC 10 Holiday Beauty Giveaway." The contest ends at midnight (EST) on Monday, December 14th. One winner will be chosen at random from among the entrants. On Tuesday, December 15th, I'll announce the winner's name. Please, only one entry per person; duplicate entries will not increase your chances of winning. Contest is open to U.S. and Canadian residents.
Spend $20 or more at zoya.com and receive six of Zoya's favorite green nail polishes...for FREE!
Zoya Tangy: unexpected metallic yellow/green Zoya Envy: gleaming jade green with subtle shimmer Zoya Midori: medium green shimmer Zoya Irene: sparkling mossy green metallic with subtle sparkle finish Zoya Suvi: rich emerald city metallic Zoya Veruschka: matte gunmetal evergreen with shimmer
Code will activate on Thanksgiving (11/26/09) at 5 p.m. EST. So you will have plenty of time to gobble your turkey and then gobble up Zoya's great greens too (who needs football anyway). Code will expire on Friday (11/27/09) at 5 p.m. EST. Use promo code GREENFRIDAY at checkout.
*Promo code valid online at zoya.com only. Offer valid in continental US only. Consumer orders only. Offer not valid in conjunction with other promotions, discounts or offers. One code per order. Allow 2 weeks for order processing.
Can't go on television with busted looking nails, so I sharpened my self-manicure skillz using Zoya nail polish in Ki. This best-selling shade (can't you see why?) is a super unique, duochrome plum with blue and green metallic hightlights.
I love that Ki has split personalities. In the light, it's the irridescent purple described above. Otherwise, it's this plummy gray that demands a second glance. Ki has taken its place among my polish faves.
My nails usually take a fortnight to dry, so I sped up the process with Qtica Half Time Polish Drying Accelorator. This product is a godsend! For some reason, I always wait 'til 11pm to paint my nails...and usually end up having to fall asleep on my back, with my hands carefully perched on my chest. Thanks to Qtica, my polish was dry and smudge-proof way before lights out.
For the second consecutive year, my Philadelphia Phillies have made it to the World Series. So to mark the occasion, Amber from Beauty Blogging Junkie - a native Philadelphian, who happens to live in the land of the Yankees – and I have teamed up for a baseball-inspired, beauty double header.
We’re shining a spotlight on big league beauty products that step up to the plate and knock the cover off the ball. Since there are nine dudes on a baseball field, Amber and I have chosen nine categories – and we're giving shout-outs to products that hit it out of the park.
So get your head in the game and read on for some phantastic product recommendations…
Face: Back in September at the Lela Rose Spring 2010 New York Fashion Week show, I asked Sarah Lucero (Key Makeup Artist for Stila) to recommend one Stila product that every woman should buy. She quickly answered Stila's One Step Makeup Foundation, and now I know why. Stila just launched their Makeup Player – and right now, it’s the only way to get your hands on this miraculous product. One Step Makeup Foundation is a primer, foundation, concealer and powder all in one – to cover all of your proverbial bases. The consistency is kind of surprising; it almost looks/feels like colored foundation primer...that's the texture. But it looks fantastic on…not too sheer, not too opaque. Plus, when my sebaceous glands try to throw me a curve ball and sabotage my makeup, One Step makeup Foundation keeps my combination skin from getting shiny – so my face looks as flawless in the homestretch as it did at the beginning of the day/night. Pick up this switch hitter at stilacosmetics.com.
Eyes: The old adage goes, "Keep your eyes on the ball." So what should you keep on your eyes? Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils, of course. I've said it before and I’ll say it again: Urban Decay's main ingredient must be crack, or some other controlled substance…because that’s the only explanation I can find to rationalize my addiction to their products – particularly their eye pencils. Velvety-soft, the formula stays soft and creamy for blending (about 30 seconds), then dries down to a long-lasting finish that WILL NOT budge. If, at this stage of the game, you don’t own at least one of these pencils – well, you have seriously dropped the ball. Lucky for you, Urban Decay just released Super Stash - a set of nine mini-sized 24/7 pencils, including four new, limited-edition shades. Buy this immediately. It's a good call.
Lips: My new lipgloss love is Phiff!, a new Dazzleglass from MAC's Magic, Mirth, & Mischief holiday collection. Alone, it imparts a peachy shimmer to lips. But it's also a team player; layer it on top of your favorite lipstick and it's a whole nother ball game.
Nails: When it comes to nail polishes, Zoya is in a league of their own. They are the longest lasting polishes I've ever used; expect knockout nails that go into extra innings (two weeks – with minimal upkeep). And they're free of harmful industrial chemicals like toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate (DBP) that are known to cause cancer and birth defects. Just when I thought Zoya couldn’t get any better, they hit it out of the ballpark with their limited-edition ULTRAGLITTER collection for winter 2009/2010. Luna (silver glitter), Astra (rose glitter) and Nova (magenta glitter) provide full coverage in just two coats for ultra-intense, ultra-gorgeous, glitterrific color. Astra (on my nails in the above pic) is the Dottie Hinson of the collection – but, honestly, this trio is so amazingly beautiful that, in comparison, they make most of my other polishes look like Marla Hooch.
Hair: Before I wash my hair, I like to indulge in a pre-shampoo conditioning treatment. But I don’t always have 15-30 minutes to let that mess marinate…which is why I am so thankful for Ojon's Restorative Pre-Cleansing Treatment. It’s that pinch hitter I need when what I want is immediate gratification. Perfect for gals on the go - in just 5 minutes, this intensive daily treatment prepares hair to absorb the ingredients of your shampoo, conditioner and products. If you want homerun hair, I suggest you run your behind to Sephora or ojon.com and pick up a tube.
Skin Care: I used to be very dismissive of natural and organic beauty products - particularly skin care. I thought that I needed to patronize products with harsh chemicals to get my problem skin to act like it had some sense. In fact, I would often joke that I didn't care what damage a product did to my insides, as long as my outsides were looking good. But I've done a complete 180 since discovering Amala, a luxurious collection of skin care and body care products with 100% natural formulas. Since April, I've been using their Purify line - a collection of products formulated for oily and acnegenic skin types – which help control excess oil and shine, clear clogged pores, and prevent and heal blemishes and blackheads with treatments inspired by the healing plants and flowers of Eastern Asia. And just when I thought Amala couldn't get any better, their new Purifying Blemish Treatment came outta left field . Using Blue Lotus, Tea Tree and ginger, it gently treats blemishes while playing hardball with acne-causing excess sebum. If your battle with breakouts has you ready to throw in the towel, I highly recommend you add Amala’s Purifying Blemish Treatment to your anti-acne lineup. Seeing that it's all-natural, I'd call it the Roy Hobbs of skin care.
Bath and Body: I'd be way off-base if I failed to include DERMAdoctor's KP Duty Body Scrub on this list. It has got to be the best body scrub ever. KP Duty is a dual-action chemical and physical exfoliator that blends the best of a chemical peel and microdermabrasion into a single, easy-to-use treatment. Dermatologist-recommended chemical exfoliants dissolve the glue that cements epidermal cells together, while non-abrasive synthetic beads lift away dead skin cells without inflicting trauma to the epidermis. So, in layman's terms, this product runs circles around that scrub you've got sitting on the edge of your tub. DERMAdoctor KP Duty Body Scrub is a game changer.
Fragrance: Forget Jack. All I need is Jil, the newest fragrance from Jil Sander. "An elegantly structured floral amber composition, Jil reflects the true spirit of Jil Sander. A clear focus and a subtle fusion, to define a totally contemporary simplicity and sensuality." With notes of Pink Pepper, Lavender, fresh tangerine, Lily-of-the-Valley, Heliotrope, musk, and warm vanilla bean, this perfume scored points with me – right off the bat. Starting this month, Jil will be available exclusively at Dillard's.
Beauty Tool: I'm not quite sure how I lived without MAC's 219 Pencil Brush. I am an eyelining fool, so I absolutely adore how this brush allows me to turn any of my powder shadows into a smoky eyeliner; so, considering my eyeshadow stash, my smoky eye options are endless. The 219 Pencil Brush is also perfect for smudging pencil eyeliners, without erasing the line. The pencil retails for $23…but if I had to give you a ballpark figure for its actual value, I’d say it's priceless.
Get all of the color, none of shine with MATTEVELVET, Zoya’s exclusive blend of matte base and subtle shimmer resulting in utterly wearable and truly stylish nail polish. Zoya nail lacquers are free of harmful industrial chemicals like toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate (DBP) that are known to cause cancer and birth defects.
MATTEVELVET nail color by Zoya is not intended to be worn with a base coat, top coat or speed dryer of any kind. Due to the unique matte formulation, color is not as long-wearing as traditional nail color. A completely clean, dry nail surface yields the best results for matte nail color wear.
MATTEVELVET will be available September 15, 2009. Pre-order now and polishes are only $6 per bottle. In October, the price increases to $7.
Congrats to Emily Meade, Marian Reed and Jackie Villano - winners of the Truth and Dare Nail Polish Giveaway, sponsored by Zoya. These ladies have won Zoya's fabulous fall collections.
Many thanks to Zoya for sponsoring the giveaway. Stay tuned for your next chance to get spoiled pretty.
You know how Oprah gives away her favorite things? Well, of course you do - unless you've been living under a boulder. Anyway, this week, I'm giving away one of my favorite things...the Stamps ladies' favorite things, actually (my maiden name is Stamps, by the by).
My sister, Lauren, is a huge fan of Zoya's Color Lock System Kit. And as I write this, Mama Spoiled Pretty is sporting Zoya's Renee on her tips and I'm rocking Paz on my toes. So without further ado, I present this week's contest, sponsored by Zoya.
Three winners will receive Zoya's TruthandDare Collections.
Truth Collection(above): classic, bright and straightforward Penny - copper gold metallic Kalmia - rose copper metallic Salma - scarlet red metallic Isla - venetian red metallic Anaka - fuchsia metallic glimmer Drew - mauve rose metallic
Dare Collection: edgy, dark and mysterious Vanessa - blue red cream Ciara - burgundy plum cream Demi - purple mauve cream Pinta - inky violet cream Envy - gleaming Jade green Ibiza - gleaming Sapphire blue (with a little shimmer too)
To enter the giveaway, send an email to spoiledprettycontests@gmail.com. Be sure to include your full name and mailing address. The subject line should read "Zoya Truth and Dare Giveaway." The contest ends at midnight (EST) on Sunday, August 16th. Three winners will be chosen at random from among the entrants. On Monday, August 17th, I'll announce the winners' names. Please, only one entry per person; duplicate entries will not increase your chances of winning. Contest is open to U.S. residents.
Follow Zoya on Twitter - and if they hit their goal of 5,000 followers by August 3rd, you'll receive a promo code redeemable for 3 polishes: America, Ali and Paz!
Offer valid in Continental U.S. only. Offer is not valid in conjunction with other promotions, discounts or offers. No purchase necessary.
The Color Lock System also includes one of my favorite nail products of all time: Remove+ Nail Polish Remover. The ingenious bottle prevents the spillage that typically accompanies traditional nail polish removers. Plus the formula is lavender-scented and purple, which is pretty. And you know I love me some pretty.
When it comes to getting manicures, my mom and sister are like the US Postal Service…through rain, snow, sleet or hail, the nails must get done. So, being the benevolent beauty blogger that I am, I recently gifted them both with this kit. And of the plethora of products I’ve given them this year, Zoya’s Color Lock System is the one they rave about most.
Zoya's fall 2009 collections, Truth and Dare, will be available on July 15th.
Truth Collection: classic, bright and straightforward Penny - copper gold metallic Kalmia - rose copper metallic Salma - scarlet red metallic Isla - venetian red metallic Anaka - fuchsia metallic glimmer Drew - mauve rose metallic
Dare Collection: edgy, dark and mysterious Vanessa - blue red cream Ciara - burgundy plum cream Demi - purple mauve cream Pinta - inky violet cream Envy - gleaming Jade green Ibiza - gleaming Sapphire blue (with a little shimmer too)
