Nothing But Nails

Hi:

Tao by Zoya (main color)
Over the Top by Essie (accent nail)

Penny here! As many of you know I have a 'thing' for nail polish. I've gotten lots of questions lately about the polishes I've been wearing so I just thought I'd share some of my finds. So far I stick to a few of my favorite brands. The apple of my eye right now are Zoya's 4-Free polishes ($8). As mentioned in my July 25th post, Zoya is a great long wear, polish with over 300 colors to choose from (www.zoya.com). As a 4-Free polish Zoya's polishes are free of toluene, formaldehyde, DBP (phthalates) and camphor.  Back in July I reported that the only down side was that these polishes were not widely available. Well since then I have now found Zoya in my local ULTA Beauty stores. According to their Customer Service department, these polishes are only sold at spas and salons. You can plug in your zip code on their website to see where the polishes are sold near you, or call: (800) 659-6909, Customer Service.

Marina, by Zoya

I also still love OPI ($9.50), and Essie. I also have a couple by China Glaze and my splurge buys are from Rescue Beauty Louge (www.rescuebeauty.com, $18; usually buy on sale). I have a new Sephora by OPI color I haven't tried yet as well. I try to keep my personal collection to 45 bottles or less. LOL! I gave away about 5 bottles last week. I just prefer to buy my polish and take it with me to the nail salon every two weeks. That way I'm sure to get the look I want and not have to worry about whether they have my colors.

I'm currently wearing Tao by Zoya (see pic above)...from their Fall Collection called Smoke & Mirrors. I bought 6 colors from this collection but didn't keep them all. I get so many compliments on Tao when I wear it. There is also a similar color in the same line with a hint more blue than gray, called Marina. Check them out! I love to change my colors with the seasons so I've been doing lots of dark to medium tone colors...lots of grays, wines, purples and rich hues. I don't go ga ga for sparkles around the holidays but I may pull out something dark with a gold or bronze shimmer like Jem by Zoya. (read full story...)

Jem, by Zoya

There are a couple of brands I've been reading about but never tried; I definitely plan to sample them. For example, Sephora.com now sells a brand called Nails, Inc. ($9.50) that has some cool colors. Penny is also curious about Nars, Illamasqua, Nubar, MAC, Deborah Lippman, Finger Paints, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics (OCC), Inglot Cosmetics, and SpaRitual polishes too.

I have not been into the "blue"craze like many who scooped up Chanel's Limited Edition Les Jeans de Chanel collection (Blue Rebel, Coco Blue & Blue Boy; $25 ea) and all the knock-offs that followed like Nubar's Jeans collection ($19.99 for set). But look for Essie's new collection coming out called Cocktail Bling...there is a pretty deep sapphire called Bobbing for Baubles, that I'd like to try.

Bobbing for Baubles
by Essie

One of my favorite blogs (All Lacquered Up) has a great write up on this Fall's blue craze.
http://www.alllacqueredup.com/2011/10/fall-2011-nail-polish-trend-electric-sapphire-blues.html

Dirty Platinum, by MAC

She has a good post on gray polishes as well:
http://www.alllacqueredup.com/2011/10/fall-2011-nail-polish-trend-real-gray-nail-polish.html#more-6730

What are your favorites?

Be blessed. Be beautiful.
Penny