ZOYA Pink-Red Ombre

Good evening all. I was in the mood to be colorful today so I decided to try for my first ombre manicure. I chose to use only Zoya polishes. Although I have more Zoya than any other brand, I guess I don't quite have enough for a 5-shade ombre manicure. Well, I DO, but it's a bit of a jump. Jessica suggested I could have simply mixed white with one or more of the shades for an in between color, but this gal didn't consider that when I was painting.

Sooki, Tosca, Kate, Poppy & Melanie

Zoya ombre mani

I really like ombre manicures, I'm not sure this one hit the mark for me, but I would try it again. I might need to get into my sister's stash to make it work. Also, that photo is a prime example of why I always take my pictures outside, the lighting in my house is terrible! Kate (middle finger) is not that red at all. Although, I dig the shot of my bottles on the black glass.

I love all of these colors though so I'm not completely bummed with how it turned out. Have you tried out an ombre mani? I feel like it's harder than it seems to make it flow cohesively.

I'm debating participating in my first nail challenge for Halloween. What do you all think? Could this come and go blogger pull it off? Maybe it's the kick in the butt I need to dedicate myself to my blog more. Thanks for popping in!

Red, White & Blue Stringy Mani

Hello my lovely readers. I am keeping with my Memorial Day Weekend theme and went with a patriotic Red, White & Blue manicure. I tried out a technique that is new to me and I really don't know what it's properly called. I am going to refer to it as a stringy mani, but I have also seen it called the "sugar spun technique" and simply a "slim line" mani. I came across this tutorial video through another blog, though I cannot recall whose. Manicurator's April Showers Brings May Flowers - Rainbowl is probably my favorite stringy manicure.

Colors used:
   ● ZOYA Tosca
   ● ZOYA Robyn
   ● FINGER PAINTS Papier Mâché

This was no quick and easy mani. It took a long time and I will let you in on a little secret - my right hand looks nothing like my left! Don't you hate when that happens? It looks more like a splatter mani. However, now that I've done it I can perfect on it! I love the look of stringy manis and I plan on using this technique again.

Thanks for popping in!

Studio East

Today I went to Studio East to get my hair cut. Jill worked with me and helped give my hair back some shape and I now have some cute long side-swept bangs. :-) I also picked up a new can of dry shampoo (J Beverly Hills Platinum) to try and I also received a small gift from the salon (they are celebrating their anniversary all month long). I also painted Tosca, which I LOVE, on my toes while I watched some TV.

showing off my hair to my husband when he got home from work

wearing my Stila smudge stick in peacock from my January Birchbox

my Studio East goodies: dry shampoo, lavender soap stick, Sparitual lotion, mini Wella shampoo and conditioner, & dermalogica face sunscreen

ZOYA Tosca and my baby boy Dpow

The shirt I'm wearing was on clearance for $6 from Old Navy! SCORE! I have a green T.J. Maxx tank underneath over some skinny jeans from Khols.

I hope you all have a wonderful Friday night! The husband and I are going out to a karaoke bar with some friends later. Thanks for popping in!

ZOYA Tosca

Hello, ladies! It has been WAY too long since my last post. My own sister has been hounding me about how much I have been slacking. To get myself back in the groove, I indulged in Zoya's Valentines Day promo and got myself two gorgeous new shades, Tanzy and Tosca.

Tanzy & Tosca

While today's post is about Tosca, I thought I would show you Zoya's picture of Tanzy so you can get a better idea of the lovely color in that sparkly orange bottle. (from the Sunshine Collection)

                          

   

"Zoya Nail Polish in Tanzy can be best described as: Light, bright tangerine orange with yellow gold metallic sparkle.  A sunny orange that's easy to wear year-round." - as described on Zoya's website

I chose Tosca because I couldn't resist the golden shimmer that shines through like crazy from the bottle. I have read some posts where the ladies said once on their nails, Tosca's shimmer just seemed to blend into the color and didn't really shine through like in the bottle. I have to disagree. I can see the shimmer in this strawberry red and love it! I will admit it's much more apparent outdoors in direct sunlight, but it's has an elegantly understated shimmer indoors as well. Zoya labeled this one a metallic, but I think it barely passes because it's just looks so juicy in some of these pics. This is 2 coats sans top coat for once.

Look at the golden shimmer shining through the bottle

direct sunlight totally brings out the gold  shimmer

shade - can you believe this is without a topcoat?! 

uber juicy 

Don't you just love it? It applied amazing and was opaque in 1 coat. I added a second, but it really didn't change or add anything extra special. You could most certainly do a 1 coater of this shade. After taking these photos, I added a top coat to extend the wear of the polish.

As if I haven't spammed enough pictures today, I have another tidbit to share with you. I ran out to Target last night to replace my clean-up brush. I thought I would show you my favorite inexpensive brush.

I like the angle of an eyeliner brush the best. I feel it gives me a more precise end result along my cuticle.

So, do you love Tosca? Do you already own it? Are you a fan of the clean-up method or were you graced with a steady hand. I'd love to hear from you! See you next time.