I received my Earth Day promo from Zoya today! I am so excited. I love the colors even more not that they're with me. Below are quick swatches. I plan on doing decent ones later, I mainly wanted to try them all out on one finger. Some of the colors have bubbles in the swatches, I'm assuming it's from travel, and them being shaken up. Either way it's hardly noticeable when they're applied.

Adina
Opaque Level: 3
Coats: 2

Meg
Opaque Level: 5
Coats: 1

Myrta
Opaque Level: 4
Coats: 2

Zuza
Opaque Level: 5
Coats: 1

Valerie
Opaque Level: 4
Coats: 2

Phoebe
Top- no top coat
Bottom- top coat
Opaque Level: 3
Coats: 3

Skylar

Opaque Level: 3

Coats: 2

Opaque Level Key: 1- Completely sheer/color not visible, 2- Semi-sheer but color visible, 3- Requires at least 2 coats to be completely opaque, 4- Could use two coats but can get away with one, 5- Completely opaque no second coat necessary.

OPI Skull and Glossbones

OPI Sparrow Me The Drama

Acne Systems- Why don't they work (opinion)

This is something that I've been thinking about. Why don't systems work? Are they a gimic? No, I don't think so. I think the companies are legit in their attempts to tackle the age old issue of acne. Maybe they're not strong enough? Closer. While they are considered fairly tough, they can't be too strong or  one would need to go to a dermatologist, and get a prescription. Perhaps it just didn't fit my actual issue? There we go! These systems don't always tackle the users personal issue.

I'll be honest, it took me a while to figure this simple concept out. I've used most of the systems listed above throughout my teen years. My experience: I can tell if something is going to work after one day of use. Everything just looks nicer. These are what I used when I was in high school: Proactive only kind of worked, it slowed it down, but didn't eliminate anything. Clinique did the same, but better. Too expensive for my little high school self. Clearasil did nothing. I repeat, NOTHING. Same with Clean and Clear. Now, that leaves skiniD. I think this one would work. Why? Because it tackles your individual issues. I've never tried it, so don't take my word on that. This doesn't mean these systems don't work. They have worked for some people, but not everyone reacts to the same products in the same way. Only way you'll know is if you try it.

If you've exhausted your options, or don't want to use any of the 3 step systems, you can customize your own. First step is to figure out what is causing your acne. For me, it's excess oil. What do you do? Tackle the oil! Here is what I use:

Almost all Avon... Hmm... My mom is an Avon rep, explains that one! Use what you have access to. It may seem like a lot, but they all have a specific purpose.

My issue: Excessive Oil!!

First off; I use mark. Shine Fighter. It's in the back. It's an Oil-Control Mask. This one is the key in my personal system. I use it 3 times a week, and it somehow keeps the oil at bay without drying my face out. Really important to me. 

Second: Clearskin Blemish Clearing. I rub it into my skin until it foams, and wash it off. It's a simple cleanser, and it's meant to target acne. 

Third: Boots Cleansing Milk (found at Target for American folk like me). This is a second cleanser I use, and it feels so nice!  I apply it all over my face with my fingers, leave it on for a minute or how ever long it takes me to get a cotton pad, wipe almost all of it off, and then I rub the rest into my skin.  I like to use a second cleanser to clean my skin even more, and a milk cleanser doesn't have all the harsh chemicals and soaps that a foaming cleanser does, so it isn't as harsh as using a stronger one. So much better for my skin!

Fourth: mark. Get Treatment. This targets blemishes, and dries them out. 

Fifth: Either Aveeno Positively Radiant or mark. Matte Chance. Aveeno during the day, mark. at night. Aveeno has an spf, and moisturizes my skin. mark. controls the oil on my face while I sleep, which also helps (container is sooo bad!!!!!).

These are the products I have tried and what works for me. So, my tips:

1. Target your problem, and what is causing your acne; Stress, oil, diet, etc.
2. Find products that target your specific problem. Oil; remove products that have oil in it from your skin care/make up routine! Or as much as you can. Strees; meditate? Definitely try to relieve some stress. Diet; eat good food, to put it bluntly. Check this site for more info: Click Me!
3. Keep up with the routine! Even when it seems that you are healed and free, don't stop! It will return if you stop.
4. Love your face. Ance or not, love it.

These are my tips. Tips on skin care from a nail blogger.. Take is as you will, but this is what I know, and I thought I would share it with you. Hope it helps someone, and toodles!

OPI Steady As She Rose

Totally realized I never swatched this color! Anywho, here it is. Not quite sure if it's pink or purple, I labeled it under both just in case!

Zoya Earth Day - My exchanges

Zoya Earth Day promo 2012! YAY!!! Below is what I bought, and what I am getting rid of.

My ew nail polish:

1. This my mom's. Apparently she doesn't like it. It's Avon Smooth Beginning base coat.
2. I love this color. It's an unnamed brand, given to me by my grandmother. This booger takes 6 coats to become opaque. 6!!! That's ridiculous!
3. Another Avon from my mom. Blaze Ardent. The color is beautiful, she just doesn't like it on her.
4. Seche Vite, love it, but it's goopy. I was going to buy thinner, but at this point I wont bother.
5. Ulta Noel... Hate it! The streakiest nail polish I own, there is no working with it. Time to go.
6. Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Model Behavior. I used this in a previous blog post.  That's how I found out how much it stains the nails blue. It looked like I had no oxygen going to my nails. As you can imagine, that looks really bad.

I was thinking about getting rid of this Revlon, but I will wait and see how it compares to Adina (quality wise). If I like it after I compare them, I'll keep it. This shade is Silver Switch. It's an older color from Revlon, at least 3 years old. I really like it, and I could part with it even when I got rid of all my polish a over year ago.


Colors I bought:

I tried to stick with colors that I didn't have, and were unique (Skylar isn't unique, I figured it was cheaper than the OPI Holland color that's like it), and weren't cremes. I'm so excited!

Adina

Meg

Myrta

Phoebe

Skylar

Valerie

Zuzu

Dots and such

I really wanted to use this color combination, but I didn't really want to put them on different nails. I decided to play with dots. Like me, you don't need to go out and buy an expensive dotting tool, use what you have at home. I use dull pencils. This on is a Ticonderoga, you know one of those big ones? The smaller the pencil, the smaller the dot, BUT you can kind of control the size of the dot with the big one, as you can see with my pinky. Light taps is all it takes.

Here is how I did it:

1. I put 3 coats of OPI What's With the Cattitude? on all my fingers
2. Then I poured a glob of China Glaze Peachy Keen onto a piece of paper
3. Take a pencil, and carefully started dotting
4. Wait about 5 minutes for the dots to dry before adding a top coat so they don't smear.

I wanted the design to be different, so I took my time to figure out what I wanted to do. I tested a few on a nail wheel to double check thickness of the dots. This is what I came up with:

The pinky is so small, I didn't want a lot of dots, so I went with a subtle tip design.

That's my manicure for the weekend! Toodles =)

Modern French Manicure

You can use any black. I just used what I have, which if the $1 tiny bottle from Sally Beauty Supply.

Color Blocking Combinations. Yay!

This is a pretty popular trend that I've been noticing. I don't like the name "color blocking". That's probably because I am unsure about what it actually means. Besides that little hiccup, I decided to put together a few color combinations in hopes to find my favorite one. All are colors that are out now (with the exception of three, but I'll mention them when I get there)

My advice is to try colors that are opposite of each other, but compliment each other well. Hold the bottles next to each other, that will show you how well they work. You don't have to use these exact colors, this is just for an idea, and the combinations I found in my own stash.

Hope you enjoy!

One my pointer and middle finger I have China Glaze Peachy Keen. My ring and pinky finger are currently being occupied by OPI What's With the Cattitude, which is one of the polishes that are not in production anymore. It was part of the Shrek collection release I believe in 2010, or 2009. Not quite sure.

I really like this combo. Probably my favorite of the bunch.


Wallet is Vera Bradley, if you're wondering.

Thumb/Pointer/Middle: Essie Play Date

Ring/Pinky: Julep Eva






I really liked this one. Play Date is a weird color though. Weird to apply, but pretty in the end!

One my pointer (not shown) and middle fingers is Essie Raise Awareness, which is the other polish that isn't in production anymore. To be honest, it's just a pink. If you saw my Raise Awareness/French Affair by Essie post, you know they are almost identical. Either way, it's a pink =).

For my ring and pinky I have Essie Mint Candy Apple. I feel like my bottle has turned to more of a bluish tint, so yours may not look exactly like mine.

Wallet is by American Eagle that was given to me by a friend a loooong time ago, so it's kind of old.

First two fingers are OPI Dutch Ya Just Love OPI, and the last two are OPI Teal the Cows Come Home. I got it for Christmas, and it sounds like a Texas one, so probably not in the regular collection either.

Last buy not least is the last combination of the post, and the one that stayed on my hands.

Thumb, pointer, and middle fingers: Julep Hayden

Ring and pinky fingers: China Glaze Wicked Style

Too be honest these are two of the colors that scare me the most, and what better than to wear them together!

Hope this inspired you. Toodles!