Polka Dots and Chevron Nails with Zoya "Island Fun"

During the 4th of July weekend, Zoya ran a buy-3-get-3-free + free shipping promo. Add the salon discount and boom, I got 6 new shiny polishes for $13. I had been swooning over the Island Fun and Paradise Sun summer collections since before they were released, so I picked up some of my favorites from each collection. I'll get some swatches up soon, but for today I have a mani using three of the Island Fun colors I bought. 

I used my right angle nail vinyls to make the chevrons on my middle and ring fingers, and then polka dotted the rest of my nails with "Talia", "Serenity", and "Nana" over a white base. 

Silver Holo + Ombré Zig-Zag Nails

Since I have been slacking SO hard on here, I decided that this week I really needed to step up my nail art game. 

I had placed two separate orders from Nail Vinyls about a month ago and still hadn't used ANY of the vinyls I ordered! I busted out an old favorite of mine: skinny chevrons. 

First, I painted on OPI "Coronation" and let it dry. Then, I placed my chevron vinyls and used a makeup sponge to dab on Orly's "On The Edge" and Zoya's "Charisma" and "Ali" to my desired opacity. 

I forgot that doing chevron on EVERY nail eats up a lot of nail vinyls, and definitely looks a little busy. But it turned out so beautifully I was even inspired to match my eyeshadow to it using one of my favorite YouTube tutorials by Jaclyn Hill. 

In natural light 

You can't see the pink as much, but it's there! 

I'm sad that this mani is already chipping, but if it had to happen, it couldn't have come at a better time. Zoya had a buy 3 get 3 free + free shipping promo that I totally took advantage of, and those babies just came in the mail yesterday :) nothing to spark inspiration than new pretties! 

June Ipsy Review: Swim Into Beauty

Hey there, everyone!

Firstly, I want to (sort of) apologize for my absence on here. Two weeks ago I was on the water for work and last week I was on vacation and just didn't feel like doing a damn thing, so I didn't. I'm going to try to get back into the swing of things, but right now I'm really focused on just enjoying my summer. 

I am belated on my June Ipsy review, so here we go. The theme was Swim Into Beauty and the bag itself was made out of a really cute, black, neoprene material (basically, what wetsuits are made out of. I see you, Ipsy). 

Overall Rating: 3.8 stars. There were a couple of powerhouse products, and a couple that pulled the rating down.

Best Product: It Cosmetics Brow Power Universal Eyebrow Pencil

Worst Product: tre'StiQue Mini Shadow Crayon (not really fair of me, but I'll get to that later)

Most Expensive Product: Also the Brow Power Universal Eyebrow Pencil

Glam Bag Total Value: $50.07, 5 times the paid amount. 

It Cosmetics Brow Power Universal Eyebrow Pencil in "Universal Taupe"

The all-star product this month was by far this brow pencil. One end has a spoolie for brushing out your brows, and the other end has a universally flattering shade of brow pencil that glides on smoothly and looks super natural. The harder you press, the darker the shade will turn out. Previously, I had been using a sample of Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade and an angle brush to do my brows, but this is so much faster and easier to use. My sister visited from Buffalo and used it, and put it on her list of things to pick up at Ulta. You should, too. Full size product is worth $24, but my sample was worth $12. 5 stars. 

This was not my first rodeo with this primer. I adore Smashbox's Photo Finish Foundation Primer, so I was really excited to get a sample in my bag this month. Recently I have been using NYX's face primer, which is still really nice at a fraction of the cost, but nothing beats this stuff. A small amount goes a long way toward cutting shine and giving your face a flawless base for your foundation. Products go on so much smoother when applied over this face primer. A full sized bottle retails for $36, but I promise it is worth every penny, and it definitely lasts a while. 5 stars. 

BioRepublic Revitalizing Fiber Masks in "Aloe Resuce", "Green Tea Detox", and "Cucumber Breeze"

Next up was this trio of face masks from BioRepublic. These were definitely fun to use, although my husband was freaked out by the fact it looked like I had loose skin hanging from my face. While I noticed no drastic improvements to my face after using any of these masks, they did leave my skin feeling refreshed, and, at only $5 a pop, why not #treatyoself? 3 stars for me. 

Formula X Nail Color in "Power Surge"

I'm no stranger to nail polish, but this was my first bottle of Formula X and I was pleased with it. The formula went on very smoothly, and the color was right up my alley. I kept complimenting my own nails the entire time I was wearing it. A full-sized bottle retails for $10.50. 4 stars. 

trèStiQue Mini Shadow Crayon in "Marimoto Pink Pearl"

Followers, I have a confession. 

I haven't even used this product yet. 

I know, I know, "how can I give a review of something I haven't used?" And I guess I can't, but here's the thing: this is easily the 3rd or 4th shadow I've gotten from Ipsy in a color like this. What is there to say? "Color is nice, also works as a highlighter". I was just so completely underwhelmed by this product that I didn't even try it. It is worth $10.66, and I'll give it 2 stars, which isn't really fair of me, but there you have it. 

I've waited so long to write this post that I did get early access to my July glam bag, which looks a little underwhelming as well, but I'm hoping some of these new unknown brands will prove me wrong! Check back in a couple weeks to find out! 

Zoya Earth Day Exchange Haul

Every year, Zoya hosts a program called Earth Day Exchange. The idea behind this program is that you buy 5-Free, non-toxic Zoya brand polishes for a discounted rate, and in return you send them back any of your nail polishes that are not 5-Free, (meaning, free of the 5 major chemicals commonly used in nail polishes), so that they can be properly disposed of. 

I cashed in on this deal this year, and here are the polishes I picked up! 

Tamsen in light box

Tamsen in natural light 

Tamsen is described by Zoya as a "medium warm brick red with strong orange tones." I admit, this polish looked a lot brighter and redder on the website so I was a little disappointed when I saw it in person. But after I swatched it, it's really a lovely color; just one I would likely wear more in the fall than now. 

Arizona in light box

Arizona in natural light 

Arizona is a great mac-and-cheese color that Zoya describes as a "softened bright citrus orange with a muted cream finish." The formula is smooth, and the color is fun. Definitely a good buy. 

Breezi in light box

Breezi in natural light 

Breezi is described as a "soft, dusty, dirty medium cerulean blue" on Zoya's website. This was another color that looked brighter on the website, and it looks very similar to their color "Ling", which I already own. The colors are different enough that I'm not upset about owning them both, and the formula is great. 

Paz in light box

Paz in natural light 

The rest of the polishes I got are neons, so they needed a white base coat and a clear coat on top. Most neons need a white base coat to make the color pop, and the clear top coat is to offset the matte finish that most neons leave on the nail.

The first neon I grabbed was Paz, which is an eye-searing, traffic cone orange. It's an awesome color for summer! It's also unlike any other color I have. It's gonna look great against a tan. 

Charisma in light box

Charisma in natural light 

Charisma is a neon, Barney the dinosaur, red-toned purple cream. I don't have a lot of variety in my purple polishes, but this one really brought something different to the mix. It's a gorgeous color, but unfortunately it goes on a little streaky. 

Ali in light box

Ali in natural light 

Ali is an "ultra-bright, warm medium neon pink." This fluorescent shade screams for attention! Definitely one of the best pinks I own. 

Earth Day Exchange is an awesome program designed to reduce the number of toxic polishes on our planet. You get awesome 5-free polishes at 50% off, the earth is a greener place, everybody wins! This promotion happens annually, so make sure to keep your eyes out for this awesome exchange program next year. 

Romper Inspired Dry Brush Mani

This past weekend, I celebrated my husband's 29th birthday with a big pool party. I wanted to find something cute to wear to the party, so I took to the mall to hunt.

I've been on the look out for a romper. It's all I wanted in my summer wardrobe. All the ones I had found were unflattering, ugly, or ill-fitting (something that happens a lot when your top is a size small and your ass is a size large). 

Finally, I found one at Charlotte Russe, of all places, for $15. 

When I took a look at the pattern on the dress, I was hit with inspiration for nail art. 

For this design, I started with a white base coat. Then, I sponged Maybelline Bleached Neon polishes in "Day Glow Teal", "Lime Accent", and "Pink Punch" over top. When that dried, I dry brushed Zoya's "Ryan" on top. 

Dry brushing is a technique where you brush almost all the polish off your brush before dragging it across your nails in different directions. With this technique, I was able to replicate the look of neons peeking through the navy palm branches that was on my romper. 

I had so much fun with this manicure. It was quick, easy, and was a great example of pure inspiration. Usually I have a hard time thinking of original designs, but I really loved this. 

Sun Safety: My Favorite SPF Beauty Products

Summer has unofficially begun, which means you'll likely be spending a lot more time outside and getting a lot more sun exposure. 

A couple months ago, my favorite blogger Vampy Varnish asked her followers what their biggest beauty regret was. She admitted that while she took great care of her face over the years, she neglected her chest, neck, and hands and that those areas were now showing signs of aging. 

Her blog really resonated with me. I'm only 25 years old; old enough to know better about taking care of my skin, but young enough to start making changes now that will keep me looking younger as I age. 

I went out and purchased a bunch of beauty products that contain SPF, and have been using them for a month or two to get a feel for them. I figured, what better time than now to do a blog post about them? 

Lubriderm Daily Motisture Lotion with Broad Spectrum SPF 15

One of the first things I bought was a daily lotion that has an SPF 15 in it. You are supposed to wear SPF every day. Even during winter months, the sun emits UV rays that can harm your skin over time. Wearing a plain body lotion with SPF is the easiest way to take good care of your skin. 

I picked up this one by Lubriderm. It absorbs relatively quickly, has no scent, and leaves my skin moisturized. I apply it as soon as I get out of the shower. I got this 13.5 oz bottle at Walmart for about $7, which is a spectacular value. 

Hawaiian Tropic Island Sport with Broad Spectrum SPF 30

For days when you plan on having direct/prolonged sun exposure, you're going to want sunscreen. Hawaiian Tropic is my absolute favorite. I consider it my summertime "luxury" item. I could easily spend less money on a drugstore brand, but you just can't beat the smell of HT. 

This year, I found a sport version of it, so I decided to try that out. I LOVE it. It is SO lightweight and absorbs super fast, so you won't be trying to rub in stubborn white streaks of sunscreen all over your body. It is water and sweat resistant for 80 minutes, and comes in SPF 15 and 30. I personally prefer SPF 30, since I am on the fair side and I like more protection. This retails for about $7-9 at most drug stores. 

Olay Fresh Effects Soak Up the Sun Protection! Lightweight Moisturizing Sunscreen (SPF 15) and Aveeno Positively Ageless Youth Perfecting Moisturizer (SPF 30)

I have very touchy skin that breaks out easily, so I don't like using the same sunscreen on my face as I do on my body. I have two different SPF moisturizers that I rotate between. 

The first is Aveeno's Positively Ageless Youth Perfecting Moisturizer which, in addition to having an SPF of 30, has anti-aging benefits that brighten and firm your skin. It also reduces the appearance of wrinkles and slows future aging. My only complaint with this one is that it is a little heavy and leaves my face looking a little greasy after I apply it, but this is easily fixed by putting on some face primer after. This is on the pricy side, retailing for around $14 for 2.5oz, but worth it if you are looking for an anti-aging moisturizer that is gentle on your skin. 

The second moisturizer I've been using is Olay's Fresh Effects Soak Up the Sun Protection. I found this at Walmart on clearance for a little under $4 for 2.5oz. It usually retails for about $13, but you can get it on Amazon as an add-on item for $4.88! You can't beat that! I LOVE this moisturizer. It is lightweight, doesn't leave my skin looking too greasy, and has SPF 15. It also has a lovely, light honeysuckle and white tea scent. It doesn't make me break out which is an awesome bonus. It would be perfect if it had anti-aging benefits like the Aveeno!

Hawaiian Tropic Lip Balm (SPF 45), ChapStick 8 Hour Moisture in Green Apple (SPF 12), Aquaphor Lip Repair + Protect (SPF 30)

Did you know that there were lip balms that have SPF? The skin on your lips is very delicate and susceptible to burning. I originally picked up the Hawaiian Tropic lip balm ($2, Walmart) because it smells great and has SPF 45, which is a HUGE amount of protection! However, I noticed that when I wore it, it leaves a weird aftertaste in my mouth. I assume this is from the sunscreen in it, but there's no point in having a high SPF if you aren't going to wear it. 

On my next trip to Walmart, I discovered this Chapstick in green apple ($1.50) and Aquaphor lip protectant ($3.80).

I am actually super impressed with the Chapstick. The green apple smell is amazing, it boasts 8 hours of moisture for your lips, and has SPF 12 with NO funky aftertaste. I use it every day now.

The Aquaphor Lip Protectant heals very dry lips, which is extremely beneficial to me right now, as I am on a medication that makes my lips dry and peel. It is fragrance free and has SPF 30. I use this whenever my lips are really dry and peeling, and it works better than the steroid cream my dermatologist prescribed me for my lips. 

Sun Bum Beach Formula 3 in 1 Leave In

Yes, the sun can do a lot of damage to your hair, especially if it has been color treated. Prolonged sun exposure can cause your hair color to fade and your hair to become dry and brittle. To combat that, I picked up Sun Bum's Beach Formula 3 in 1 Treatment. Spray this into your hair to condition, de-tangle, and protect your color against UV damage. It also protects your hair against heat appliances, chemical damage, color fading, split ends, sun and wind damage, and tames frizz. That's a lot of power in one bottle! It also smells incredible, which will make you want to apply and reapply it (have you figured out yet that I like to smell like a giant coconut all summer long?). This goes for $15 for 4oz at Ulta. 

Jergens BBHand Perfecting Hand Cream with SPF 20

Despite our best efforts to keep our faces looking young, we often forget about our hands, which are the first things to give away our age when we get older. Think about it: your hands get a lot of indirect sun exposure just when you drive. 

Jergens has a wonderful BB hand cream, which has a broad spectrum SPF 20. Since it's a BB cream, it also hydrates your hands and smooths uneven texture; after two weeks, it is supposed to even skin tone and diminish the appearance of dark spots. I usually suck at applying lotion to my hands, but this smells so nice I've been pretty good at applying it daily (the bottle recommends you apply ever two hours. Small steps.). Basically, this lotion will whip your hands into shape and keep them looking youthful with regular use. $7 for 3oz at Ulta. 

Zoya Armor Top Coat & UV Blocker

By now, you probably think I'm a crazy person. While there is no sunscreen for your nails, per se, Zoya's Armor Top Coat & UV Blocker does prevent your nail polish color from fading and getting dull from sun exposure. Keep your mani fresh during your entire beach vacation! This retails for $10 at zoya.com. 

Hawaiian Tropic After Sun Moisturizer in Lime Coolada 

Finally, we've talked a lot about products to help protect your skin from the sun, but what about taking care of your skin after being in the rays all day? For all of my SPF touting, I still forgot to reapply my sunscreen last week and got a little burned (d'oh!). It happens to the best of us from time to time. I picked up a bottle of Hawaiian Tropic After Sun Moisturizing Lotion in Lime Coolada. This works exactly like an aloe gel, without the cruel application of icy-cold gel to your burning hot skin. You apply it just like you would a regular lotion. I was skeptical at first, since I've only ever used aloe gels, but WOW. This gave me some relief from my burned back, smelled amazing, and left my skin incredibly silky, thanks to the Shea and cocoa butters in the formula. I read some other reviews of this lotion, and there are people that swear by this as a daily lotion. It's definitely a more sophisticated after sun option; another little luxury that your skin will thank you for. You can get a 16oz bottle at Walmart for $7. 

That is everything, my friends! I hope that this post has given you a few new ideas on how to protect yourself during the summer and beyond. These are the products I like best, but search around for whatever works for your body and your budget. As I said before, there's no point in buying something you won't use! So find stuff you love, and keep yourself protected from head to toe so that one day, nobody will be able to tell your real age ;) 

Simple Mani Monday

Hello, readers! 

So I've been slacking a bit. I haven't swatched my Zoya Earth Day Exchange yet, and I've been pretty busy so I haven't had the chance to do any crazy nail art. Luckily, Nail Vinyls make simple manicures look like I put in a lot of effort ;) 

This week I did a lightning bolt manicure using two colors from Orly's Summer 2015 "Adrenaline Rush" collection. 

Orly in "On the Edge" and "Thrill Seeker"

Full disclosure, I actually only kept this mani for blog post photos. After that, I removed the design off my index and pinky fingers and just wore that lime green "Thrill Seeker" color all week. That tennis ball color got me several compliments throughout the week! 

Sometimes I get so wrapped in trying to do interesting designs for the blog that I don't ever get to wear my polishes as-is; just one color on all ten fingers. It's something I may try to work on in the future. 

Next week, be sure to check back because I will be doing an entire post on my favorite SPF beauty products!