Zoya Aurora-an Oldie but a Goodie

I was going through my stash trying to decide what to wear on my nails one day and I pulled this baby out. I realized I hadn't worn it since I got it back when it first came out. So I decided that I was going to wear this on my nails.

Please excuse the tip wear in the pics because I didn't take pics until I had been wearing this for about 3 or 4 days and I type a lot at work.

This is Aurora from Zoya and I like being reminded of how much I love the holo-goodness that this one has. Aurora is a beautiful pinky purple with scattered holo. I took these pics outside in the sun so that I could catch the sparkle of the holo and I just couldn't capture it inside well enough. In fact at my work under the flourescent lighting above my desk the holo just looks like gray glitter in it.

Zoya polishes can be purchased at Ulta stores, select salons, and of course on Zoya's site. They retail for $9 for a full sized 0.5fl oz bottle. I know I can't get this shade at my Ulta but I know it's still available on Zoya's site.

ZOYA Ltd Release + Free Shipping & Color of Your Choice

Exciting News from Zoya!!! Straight from the Zoya Blog...

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The Peter Som SS14 Trio is BACK by Popular Demand - Limited Release!

3/25/2014 10:20:00 AM

The Peter Som SS14 Trio is BACK and just as beautiful as ever! Since its release on the runway during New York Fashion Week, there's been SO much buzz about these spring-summer perfect shades. From magazine editors to celebrity manicurists and consumers, everyone has been begging us to bring the set back... so here it is! For a limited time only, the must-have SS14 Peter Som Trio is now available. You know what they say... good things don't last forever - so hurry, because there's only a very limited quantity available!

It gets even BETTER! Get any shade FREE* with the purchase of a Peter Som SS14 Trio, while supplies last. Plus - trios automatically ship for free!

USE CODE: PETERSS14

How it works:

1. Add at least one Peter Som Trio Box and one Zoya Nail Polish shade of choice, plus any additional items to your shopping bag.

2. Enter Code PETERSS14 into the coupon code field in cart and press "Apply Code". One shade will be discounted automatically.

3. Complete check-out, review and submit order.

*Terms & Conditions
Valid online only at www.zoya.com, while supplies last. Not valid in conjunction with other coupons, codes or promotions. Continental US only. Art of Beauty is not responsible for incorrect addresses, credit card entry errors, web related issues or any errors associated with declined credit cards. Returns or exchanges of promotional items not permitted. Code and free Zoya Nail Polish color must be entered at time of purchase. Limit two LE Peter Som Trio set offers per account - code cannot be reinstated for canceled orders.

 

- See more at: The Zoya Blog

*** images and information from the Zoya Blog***

Zoya Sailor

This is another one I picked up during one of Zoya's last sales. I seen this when it came out and really wanted it because I just love the dark colors. I do have Natty so I wasn't sure if this was going to be really close in shade but I didn't care. I was getting it anyway. Once it arrived I immediately pulled out my bottle of Natty and put them side by side, no dupe here! Yay!!

This is Sailor, it is described as a classic dark navy cream. It truly is and it's beautiful! Sailor has Zoya's usual wonderful formula that I absolutely love! I had no issues with this one at all, no streaking and it wasn't goopy at all!

I used 2 coats over my base coat of Zoya Anchor and then added a quick dry topcoat. This has a nice shine on it's own so adding a topcoat was only for protection and to speed up the dry time for me.

I took these pics in different lighting so that you can see how the color changes a bit in different lighting but ultimately it is still a gorgeous navy cream no matter what lighting you are in.

Zoya polishes can be purchased at Ulta stores, select salons, and of course on Zoya's site. Zoya polishes retail for $9 for a full sized 0.5fl oz bottle.

Pure Ice Nail Polish Skittlette

I wanted to show you this really cute skittlette mani I did. Now, I'm still perfecting doing gradients so I was actually pleased with the way this turned out even though it still has room for improvement. Next up on the list of practicing and perfecting is water marbles. I can't wait to get those down!

I used a couple colors I picked up at WalMart. Scream! is the gorgeous teal cream that went on so smoothly with no streaking and it wasn't gloopy. The silver is called Beware and these are both from Pure Ice. I love when I can find a good formula in a bargain polish! I will be going back for more colors soon! The black is Zoya Raven which I've used many times and absolutely love this black.

I used 2 coats of both Scream! and Raven and 3 coats of Beware (the silver glitter). I wasn't sure if the teal was going to stain so I doubled up on my base coat just in case. I am actually still wearing this mani so I can't tell you if it stained or not but I'm pretty confident with 2 coats of base coat I won't have any staining.

For the really cute chevrons on my ring fingers I ordered Nail Vinyls from @teismom on Instagram. You can go to her site and order them from her, it's www.nailvinyls.com and she has a bunch of different designs. She also has cute vinyls for your phone, stash, or car in different sayings. I'm thinking of getting one of her super cute holographic ones for the back of my phone case. I also just ordered a few more nail vinyls from her to do more nail art.

These ones I used are the mini chevrons. When you use the nail vinyls you put down your base color and make sure that you let it dry completely before applying the nail vinyl. Then lay down your nail vinyl in the way you want your design. Make sure it is secure to the nail and there's now spaces because if there's spaces when you paint the next color on it will get under the vinyl. Then you paint over the entire nail and vinyl with the next color you want (I used the Beware as the base and Scream! as the over color) and remove the nail vinyl immediately. Allow to dry and top coat as usual! Easy Peasy!!

Here's a pic of my dominant or "cinderella" hand to show that I didn't do too bad on this hand either. I think I'm getting pretty good and doing art with my non-dominant hand.

Nicole by OPI Roughles-On What Grounds?

This month in my Ipsy Glam bag I got one of the new Nicole by OPI Roughles (sounds like ruffles) polishes in "On What Grounds?" I was really exctied when I found out I was going to be getting this in my bag because I really wanted to try these out.

I love the textured trend that is going on and I get so excited when a new one comes out. I rush out and try to find them as soon as I can. This one came right to my door (well, my mailbox anyway, lol).

This is On What Grounds? and it is a really pretty minty green that is perfect for spring. It applied pretty smoothly and I didn't have any issues with the formula or anything. In this minty green textured beauty is not just the texture granules but there is also some colored particles in there as well. That is what sets this one apart from most. From what I could tell the colored particles were blue and black.

The dry time on this one was a little bit longer than most of my other textures but not by much. I used 2 coats over my base coat and no top coat. I loved this one and I can't wait to get my hands on the other 3 colors in this collection!!

Nicole by OPI polishes can be purchased at a variety of stores such as WalMart, Target, Shopko, various drug stores, and Ulta stores. You can find these just about anywhere. A full sized bottle is 0.5fl oz

Butter London Cake Hole

I know I have been having a hard time posting lately but I have just been so busy with new things happening at home. I really need to get back into the swing of things on here. Especially since it's finally starting to warm up here and the snow is melting! I am so excited for spring and summer to come!

My excitment for spring and summer somewhat inspired this mani, plus it was a new one I aquired and had to try out ASAP!! This is Butter London Cake-Hole. Cake-Hole is described as a nearly neon pink cream. I don't know if I'd call it nearly neon but it sure is bright and cheery!

This of course had Butter London's fabulous formula. I have to say that I can't recall ever having any trouble with their creams streaking on me. This one was just like all the others I've used, no streaking and went on smoothly. It was a little sheer for a cream so I had to apply 3 coats to get the opacity I wanted. You can see in some of the closer up pics that you can still see the ever so slightest hint of a nail line even after 3 coats.

This dried well and wasn't shiny on it's own but wasn't matte either, it was somewhere in between. Then because I wanted to add something extra to this mani I added a clear rhinestone to my ring fingers.

Butter London lacquers can be purchased at Ulta, some fine department stores, and Butter London's site here. They retail for $15 for a full sized 0.4fl oz bottle.

Zoya London

Everyone knows I have said many times that I LOVE the Zoya Pixie Dust textured polishes. I love textured polishes in general but the Pixie Dusts are my favorite. I was finally able to get my hands on one of the ones that had been on my wish list for some time and I am happy to show it to you!

This is Zoya London. It is a beautiful darker gray textured polish with silver glitter mixed in. I love how even though these are textured, when they dry they aren't really rough, just a nice smooth sand texture. I just love them and I usually get at least 4 days wear time with almost no tip wear on these.

In these pictures I used 2 coats of London with NO base coat and I did not topcoat these but if you don't like the textured feel you can put a generous layer of topcoat to smooth it out and add shine.

Removal of these is also pretty easy, especially when I use my Zoya Remove+ remover. I love that stuff, it really removes your polishes without the harshness of acetone. Plus it smells pretty good too!!

Zoya polishes and Remove+ remover can be purchased at Ulta stores, select salons, and Zoya's site here. Zoya polishes retail for $9 for a full sized 0.5fl oz bottle and the Remove+ retails for $4.60 for a 2oz bottle, $9.99 for the 8oz Big Flipper bottle, or $25 for the big 32oz bottle. I have the 8oz Big Flipper bottle and I love the dispenser on this. I just keep filling that one up!!

Zoya Dot & Purity Chevron Mani

Today I have a cute chevron mani I did recently. I used Zoya Purity and Dot and then an accent of Butter London Fairy Cake. I love these colors together and they are just so "spring" and with all the snow we've gotten lately I could really use some "Spring"!!

So, on my thumb, pointer finger, and pinky I applied Dot. I have to say, this was the first time I was using Dot. I got it in my February Ipsy Glam Bag and was so excited because I really wanted this color! It applied amazingly, just like all of the Zoya's I've worked with!!! This is such a beautiful pale pink cream and I can't wait to use it again! I used 2 coats of Dot for this mani.

Then on my middle finger I applied 3 coats of Butter London Fairy Cake for some pretty iridescent and silver sparkle.

On my ring finger I applied 2 coats of Zoya Purity. I love this white and whenever I need a white this one is the one I reach for time and time again. I may have to pick up another bottle soon because this one is about halfway gone and I don't want to run out, lol!!

Once the ring finger with Purity was dry, and I mean totally dry, I added my new nail vinyls I ordered from @Teismom, Linda makes these amazing nail vinyls that are great for creating fun designs on your nails. Her nail vinyl store is here and she has even just added some fun little vinyls for your stash and car. You should check her out! I know I'm already planning my next order from her. Now, to get back to the nail vinyls...you have to make sure your base color is completely dry because these vinyls adhere to your nail so well. Once I had my nail vinyls in place I applied a nice thicker coat of dot over the top and immediately removed the nail vinyls to reveal my design.

I know my placement wasn't perfect but I thought it was pretty good for the first time using them and I am so pleased with the result and how easy they were to use that I am totally going to order some more nail vinyls in other designs so I can expand my nail art. Once everything was dry to the touch I applied a coat of Out The Door for added shine and protection.

Hope you all enjoy this mani as much as I did!!

Zoya Hunter

This gorgeous hunter green Zoya is one that I picked up during one of Zoya's promotions for the new year. I couldn't wait to get this because it had been on my wishlist since it came out.

This is Hunter from the fall 2013 Cashmeres and Satins Collection from Zoya. I love Zoya polishes because they have such an amazing formula to work with. They always apply so smoothly and evenly. The dry time on these is pretty good too, they aren't quick dry but they don't take forever either, an average dry time. I don't think I've really had a Zoya that I didn't like the formula or couldn't work with it.

Anyways...Hunter is a beautiful, deep hunter green cream. Shown here is 2 coats over Zoya's Anchor base coat. The one thing I was afraid of with this color is that it would stain and I can usually tell if a color is going to stain by how it goes with the clean-up after polishing. I was truly surprised that I had no issues with slight staining during clean-up and so then I was anxious to see how removal would go.

I was able to wear this baby for a full 5 days with only minor tip wear. That Zoya Anchor really does anchor your polish down. I got a mini of it in a free gift with purchase and now I see I'm going to have to purchase a full sized bottle because I love that I can have such long wear with no chipping.

Picures were taken indoors with natural sunlight and no flash (I take my pics near a window so I can use the sunlight coming in).

Zoya polishes can be purchased in store at Ulta, in select salons, and of course on Zoya's website here. They retail for $9 for a full sized 0.5fl oz bottle.