Summer Vacay Tip Trends: Sun, Sand & Surf Nail Art Manis

Photo by Shabnam Mogharabi
The coast of Nice, France.

Why do most summer vacations involve a big, beautiful body of water? Lakes, oceans and rivers bring out the best in us. Just the mere sight and sound of colorful calm seas, waves crashing against a shoreline or waterfalls soothe the soul. Plus, when we splash or swim around in them, our bodies feel refreshed and revitalized.

My friend Shabnam recently returned from a family vacation in Europe. She and her siblings visited Greece, France, Spain and Ireland. The trip has now become known as "Four Sisters Tour Four Countries in Two Weeks." 

Photo by Shabnam Mogharabi
Mykonos, Greece

The photos from the beaches of Mykonos, Greece and Nice, France took my breath away. The hues of the waters look better than any Instagram color effect. In fact, they inspired me to create quick and easy Sun, Sand & Surf Nail Art Manis in honor of summer vacay season. The shades represent each element of the beach--yellow (sun), blue (surf) and toast/light brown (sand). 

For the first mani, apply two coats of blue polish to your thumb, and index, middle and pinky fingers. Next, brush on two layers of yellow lacquer over the ring finger. Then apply two coats of blue polish over two-thirds of the nail. Complete the mani by using the tip of the brush to paint large beach ball-like polka dots of sand. 

For the next mani, apply two coats of blue polish to each tip. Next, brush on two layers of sand lacquer over half of the ring finger nail. Complete the look by using the tip of the brush to place a large, solar-powered yellow dot on top of the design. As always, don't forget to use base and top coats to prolong the longevity of the lacquers for each mani. 

If you have more time, feel free to apply the ring finger nail art to each tip. You could also play around with the colors of the backgrounds and dots. The options seem endless--just like summer under the best possible circumstances.  

SHINE: Butter London Cheeky Chops (sun), Yummy Mummy (sand) and Slapper (surf). BEAUTY: These pretty polishes have "beauty and the beach" written all over them. BEACON: Formulated without formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate and parabens.

SHINE: Dazzle Dry Nail Lacquer Sahara (sun), Sentimental (sand) and Forget Me Not (blue). BEAUTY: It's smooth sailing with these sizzling shades. BEACON: Vegan, and contains no formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate, camphor or nitrocellulose.

SHINE: Milani Nail Lacquer Yellow Whiz (sun), Teddy Brown (sand) and Dude Blue Neon (surf). BEAUTY: Make a splash with these lively lacquers. BEACON: Free of dibutyl phthalate, toluene and formaldehyde.

SHINE: Zoya Nail Polish Darcy (sun), Shay (sand) and Rocky (surf). BEAUTY: Take the plunge into beachy chic. BEACON: No animal testing. Contains no toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin or dibutyl phthalate.

Pot of Gold Nail & Eye Looks for St. Patrick's Day

 Lucky lacquers: Create two-tone tips using OPI Nail Lacquer 
Mermaid's Tears and Bring on the Bling. Start with a top coat. Next, apply two layers of green polish over two-thirds of your nail. Fill in the bottom portion (near your cuticle) with the tip of the glitter gold lacquer brush, and then finish with a top coat. 

Calling all lovely lasses. St. Patrick's Day arrives on Sunday, which means it's time to release your inner green goddess.

You may need to share the spotlight with a few leprechauns during this national observance. Irish lore says these mischievous mythical creatures possess magical powers. For instance, if they get captured by a human, they have the ability to grant three wishes in exchange for their release.

Many believe that they also store coins in a hidden pot of gold. So, in honor of St. Patrick's Day lore, leprechauns and loot, we've compiled lots of luxurious green and gold nail lacquers, eye shadows, liners and pencils. Some of the shadows contain lighter pigmentation with gold undertones. 

Lucky you! You've just hit the jackpot. 

SHINE: VB Cosmetics Dazzle Dry Polar Jade and Jazzy Gold. BEAUTY: Shamrockin' style for your tips. BEACON: Vegan, and contains no formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate, camphor or nitrocellulose. 

SHINE: Sormé Treatment Cosmetics Mineral Botanicals Eye Colors in Suspence 640 and Status 646. BEAUTY: Go from demure to daring depending on your mood with these sassy shades. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, talc and fragrances. Supports Look Good...Feel Better.

SHINE: Milani Nail Lacquer Mint Candy and Jewel FX Gold. BEAUTY: Irish-sistible shades. BEACON: Free of dibutyl phthalate, toluene and formaldehyde.

SHINE: Milani Infinite Liquid Eye Liners in Eternal and Forever. BEAUTY: Glam up your glance with these long-lasting liners. BEACON: Cruelty free.

SHINE: OPI Nail Lacquer Mermaid's Tears and Bring on the Bling. BEAUTY: Create your own clover couture. BEACON: Contains no formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate or toluene. 

SHINE: Beauty Without Cruelty Mineral Duo Pressed Eyeshadow in Everglade and Ultimate Natural Soft Kohl Pencil in Cedar Green. BEAUTY: Eye-popping pigmentation for your peepers. BEACON: Vegan and no animal testing. 

SHINE: SpaRitual Earth Matters Glitter and Aurum Shimmer. BEAUTY: Start your own green and gold party. BEACON: Vegan, and free of synthetic dyes, dibutyl phthalate, toluene and formaldehyde.

SHINE: Emani Mineral Color Dusts in Tree Hugger and Gold Digger. BEAUTY: Apply dry for a sheer look or wet with a brush for an intense finish. BEACON: Vegan and no animal testing. Contains no parabens, petrochemicals, phthalates, GMOs, nano-particles, glutens or talc.

SHINE: Zoya Nail Polish Apple and Goldie. BEAUTY: Change your luck with these lively lacquers. BEACON: No animal testing. Contains no toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin or dibutyl phthalate.


SHINE: Smashbox Photo Op Eye Shadow Trio Develop (Oyster, Zoom and Royal). BEAUTY: Playful pigments in one palette. BEACON: Cruelty free. Recyclable packaging made using Sustainable Forestry Initiative certified paper and soy ink.

Halloween Nails: Candy Corn-Colored Polishes

Boo!-hoo... Too bad Halloween only comes once each year. Be that as it may, we're gonna supersize our sweet tooth craving with one of the most iconic treats of the annual celebration--candy corn. This classic confection not only screams Halloween, but also bursts with bold colors of the season (pumpkin orange, leaf changing yellow and ghostly white). 

Candy corn serves as a drop-dead template for a scary good mani. The devil's in the details, so begin with a base coat and two layers of yellow polish. Next, apply two coats of orange lacquer over two-thirds of the nail starting from slightly lower than mid-range to the top. Then, layer two coats of white polish on the tip of the nail. Finish with a top coat.

No matter "witch" polish you select, the following lacquers make your nails look more delightful than frightful. They may not raise the spirits, but they're guaranteed to lift yours. 

Happy Halloween Eve!

SHINE: Butter London. BEAUTY: Cream Tea (white), Cheeky Chops (yellow) and Jaffa (orange). BEACON: Free of formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate and parabens.

SHINE: Dazzle Dry Nail Lacquer. BEAUTY: Sheer Elegance (almond), Frozen Lemonade (pale yellow) and Orange Sorbet (orange). BEACON: Vegan, and contains no formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate, camphor or nitrocellulose.

SHINE: Milani Nail Lacquer High Speed Fast Dry and NEON (right). BEAUTY: White on the Spot (white), Yellow Whiz (yellow) and Awesome Orange (orange). BEACON: Free of dibutyl phthalate, toluene and formaldehyde. 

SHINE: Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Color (middle) and Complete Salon Manicure. BEAUTY: 120 Polar Bare (white), 360 Mellow Yellow and 560 Kook-A-Mango (orange). BEACON: Contains no dibutyl phthalate, toluene or formaldehyde.

SHINE: Zoya Nail Polish. BEAUTY: Christinna (white), Pippa (yellow) and Pia (orange). BEACON: No animal testing. Free of toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin and dibutyl phthalate.

Summer Giveaway: Red, White & Blue Nail Polishes

Photo by Sxenko 

Fireworks, flags and followers! We're kicking off our next giveaway with a bang. In celebration of the Summer Olympic Games, which begin in London on July 27, and Team USA, we've put together three crazy colorful nail polish prize packages valued at almost $300.

Our latest swag bag showcases red, white and blue lacquers from Milani Nail Lacquer, OPI and Zoya Nail Polish. They sparkle, shimmer and shine, which is exactly what our athletes will be doing when they bring home the gold. 

The deadline to enter is the same day as the Summer Olympic Games Closing Ceremony--Sunday, August 12, 2012, at 9 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time). Good luck, and go Team USA! 

UPDATE: Congrats to followers Kathy Pease (Prize #1), April Gevedon (Prize #2) and pinkyjolie (Prize #3). They're the lucky winners of our Red, White & Blue Nail Polish Giveaway! 

THE PRIZES

(PRIZE #1) SHINE: Milani Nail Lacquer Neon Dude Blue, Jewel FX Red, Red To Tango, Nail Art White Canvas, One Coat Glitter Blue Flash, Nail Art Blue Print, Neon Techno Red, One Coat Glitter Red Sparkle, White and High Speed Fast Dry Rapid Cherry. BEAUTY: Patriotic pulchritude. BEACON: Free of dibutyl phthalate, toluene and formaldehyde. RETAIL VALUE: About $50.

(PRIZE #2) SHINE: OPI Red Hot Gift, Suzi Says Feng Shui, Nicole By OPI Red Texture, Turquoise Shatter, Rosy Mistletoes-sies, She's Golden, Ali's Big Break, Nicole By OPI Turquoise Texture, Nicole By OPI I Love You Cherry Much, Red Shatter, Gone Gonzo!, Nicole By OPI It's All About The Glam, Red My Fortune Cookie, Gettin' Miss Piggy With It and Dear Santa. BEAUTY: Stars and stripes inspired style. BEACON: Contains no formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate or toluene. Supports the Leukemia Research Foundation. RETAIL VALUE: Approximately $130.

(PRIZE #3) SHINE: Zoya Nail Polish Crystal, America, Asia, Nidhi, Tart, Noel, Andi, Jade, Robyn, Carrie Ann, Twila and Snow White. BEAUTY: All American allure. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin and dibutyl phthalate. RETAIL VALUE: About $100. 

THE RULES

Three Steps To Enter:
1. If you're a legal resident of the continental USA, become a follower of SHINE Beauty Beacon via Google Friend Connect (GFC).
2. In the "Post a Comment" section below, tell us your email address and which prize or prizes you're interested in winning (i.e., Prize #1; Prizes #1 and #3; or Prizes #1, #2 and #3). NOTE: You'll be disqualified if you comment more than once.
3. Finally, please let us know which social media platforms you posted this giveaway (see "Entry Key" below). 

Entry Key (please provide appropriate links for verification purposes):
--One entry: Become a GFC follower of SHINE Beauty Beacon.
--Two extra entries: Post this giveaway on Facebook.
--Three extra entries: Follow SHINE Beauty Beacon on Twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/shinebeautybcn and tweet (or retweet) a link to this giveaway.
--Four extra entries: Follow SHINE Beauty Beacon on Pinterest at http://pinterest.com/shinebeautybcn/ and pin a photo from this giveaway.
--Five extra entries: Post this giveaway on your blog (must include our URL).

THE FINE PRINT
This giveaway is open only to legal residents of the continental USA. Winners must be able to supply a residential address, as merchandise cannot be delivered to a P.O Box. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. The giveaway will end on Sunday, August 12, 2012, at 9 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time). Winners will be chosen by Random.org and notified via the email address provided in the "Post a Comment" section of this post. Odds of winning depend upon the number of entries received (see The Rules above). No cash substitutions allowed. The winner must respond within 48 hours of being notified or a new one will be selected. Void where prohibited by law. Any tax, international or otherwise, is the sole responsibility of the winner. By entering the giveaway, you release SHINE Beauty Beacon from any liability whatsoever, and waive any and all causes of action, related to any claims, costs, injuries, losses or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the giveaway or delivery, misdelivery or acceptance of any prize (including, without limitation, claims, costs, injuries, losses and damages related to personal injuries, death, damage to or destruction of property, rights of publicity or privacy, defamation or portrayal in a false light, whether intentional or unintentional), whether under a theory of contract, tort (including negligence), warranty or other theory. SHINE Beauty Beacon isn't affiliated with Milani Nail Lacquer, OPI or Zoya Nail Polish, but we purchased or received complimentary samples for review purposes.  

We look forward to your participation. If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at shinebeautybeacon(at)gmail(dot)com.

Mardi Gras Manis

Let the fun and frivolity begin. Today's Fat Tuesday, which means it's all about the Big Easy, Bourbon Street, beads--and maybe a few brews.


Fat Tuesday, also known as Mardi Gras, falls on the day before Ash Wednesday on the Catholic calendar. In the 12 days leading up to it, dozens of celebrations take place in the French Quarter of New Orleans with parades of fancy floats, and face-painted revelers wearing elaborate masks, wild costumes and tons of colorful beads. Call it Halloween on steroids with lots of sparkle. 


In honor of Fat Tuesday, we've created four shimmering Mardi Gras Manis. The traditional colors of the festivities--gold, purple and green--serve as the inspiration. 

SHINE: Dazzle Dry Grape Lollipop (purple), Sahara (yellow) and Emerald (green jewel effect). BEAUTY: Parade around in a purple mani featuring two accent nails of yellow (ring finger) and green (pinky).

BEACON: Vegan, and contains no formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate or nitrocellulose. 

Mani model/nail artist: Natalie J. Wilson

SHINE: Milani Nail Lacquer High Speed Fast Dry Yellow Whiz (warm canary cream) and Milani Nail Art Purple Outline (purple glitter). BEAUTY: Unmask the glory of yellow digits with shimmery purple tips.

BEACON: Free of dibutyl phthalate, toluene and formaldehyde.

SHINE: SpaRitual Disco Inferno Shimmer (iridescent purple), Enlightened Soul Creme (bright yellow) and Earth Matters (green glitter). BEAUTY: The party never ends with this color block mani. Begin with a top coat and then paint each nail with two coats of yellow. Next, apply two layers of green to the top two-thirds of each digit. Finish with two coats of a wide purple bar down the center of the yellow block and a top coat. 

BEACON: Vegan, and contains no synthetic dyes, dibutyl phthalate, toluene or formaldehyde.

Mani model/nail artist: Natalie J. Wilson

SHINE: Zoya Nail Polish Holly (gem-toned, metallic green), Charisma (neon magenta/purple cream) and Creamy (bright yet soft banana peel shade of yellow). BEAUTY: Enhance the fun and festivities of Fat Tuesday--or any other day of the week--with a sparkling green mani accented by a purple/magenta ring finger nail with a yellow tip.

BEACON: No animal testing. Also contains no toluene, camphor, formaldehyde or dibutyl phthalate.

New Year's Eve Sparkle Manis

Ten, nine, eight, seven, six ... The countdown soon begins to 2012. 

New Year's Eve brings out the best in all of us. We look forward to the possibility of having new prospects, people and places in our lives. The celebration also allows us to shimmer in our finest sequined, beaded or metallic cocktail dresses.

Your tips should sparkle too. So when the clock strikes midnight, be prepared to reflect, renew and radiate with the following manis (apply a base coat, two layers of color and finish with a top coat). 

Here's hoping for a healthy and happy 2012!

DAZZLE DRY

SHINE: Sapphire and Tanzanite (pinky finger). BEAUTY: Precious jewels for your tips.

BEACON: Vegan, and contains no formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate, camphor or nitrocellulose. 

MILANI NAIL LACQUER

Mani model: Natalie J. Wilson

SHINE: Disco Lights and Red Sparkle (ring finger). BEAUTY: Pretty in pink with a pop of red.

BEACON: Free of dibutyl phthalate, toluene and formaldehyde.

OPI PRODUCTS

Mani model: Natalie J. Wilson

SHINE: Divine Shine. BEAUTY: Strike a pose in purple.

BEACON: Contains no formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate or toluene. Also supports Leukemia Research Foundation through the Schaeffer Family Foundation.

ZOYA NAIL PRODUCTS

SHINE: Luna and Richelle (index and ring fingers). BEAUTY: Turn your tips into timeless treasures with gold and silver. 

BEACON: Free of toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin and dibutyl phthalate.