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.

Halloween Candy Manis

Photo by Evan Swigart

Do you know what you're wearing for Halloween yet? I recently attended a Happy Hour Friday Party at Dtox Day Spa in Los Angeles, where guests were encouraged to come in costume. Some dressed as a butterfly, black cat, swamp monster, pirate and witch, while others arrived as Little Bo Peep and Richard Simmons. 

Many shared their favorite childhood Halloween candies during the evening. Most remembered savoring the delights of candy corn, lollipops and licorice when they returned home from trick-or-treating. However, I've always been a chocoholic, so I usually ate the Hershey's Kisses first.

The discussion inspired us to create several colorful Halloween Candy Manis. So whether you choose to be a mummy, ghost or zombie, your tips will still be drop dead gorgeous.

What's your most beloved Halloween treat? Please tell us in the comments section below.

DAZZLE DRY

SHINE: Have a hoot and a howl while enjoying Tootsie Pops, and orange, purple and red tips. BEAUTY: Citrus Streak (orange), Grape Lollipop (grape) and Rapid Red (cherry).

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

DEBORAH LIPPMANN

SHINE: Unmask the pleasures of candy corn, and yellow, white and orange digits. BEAUTY: Like a Virgin (white), Lara's Theme (orange) and Yellow Brick Road (yellow).

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

ESSENCE

SHINE: R.I.P. stands for Reese's In Pieces, and serves as the inspiration for an orange, a brown and a yellow mani. BEAUTY: Wake Up! (orange), Date With the Night (brown) and Mellow Yellow (yellow).

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

ESSIE

SHINE: Have a devilishly good time with Good & Plenty Licorice Candy, and pink and white tips. BEAUTY: Marshmallow (white) and Splash of Grenadine (pink).

BEACON: Contains no dibutyl phthalate, toluene or formaldehyde.

OPI PRODUCTS

 SHINE: Cross over to the dark side with Hershey's Kisses, and shimmery purple and silver digits. BEAUTY: Grape...Set...Match (dark chocolate purple foil) and Your Royal Shineness (milk chocolate silver foil).   

BEACON: Supports Gilda's Club Worldwide through the Schaeffer Family Foundation.

SPARITUAL

SHINE: You'll always be in high spirits with some scary good Skittles and a rainbow mani. BEAUTY: Disco Inferno Shimmer (grape), Hot Blooded Creme (strawberry), Moss (lime), Revere Shimmer (orange) and Enlightened Soul Creme (lemon).

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

ZOYA NAIL POLISH

 SHINE: Trick and treat yourself to Starbursts, and red, yellow, orange and pink tips. BEAUTY: Sooki (cherry), Pippa (lemon), Jancyn (orange) and Sweet (strawberry).

BEACON: Contains no toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin or dibutyl phthalate.

Monday Morning Blues Buster Manis

I live near the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. The landmark stadium not only attracts major sports events, but it also serves as a gathering ground for local fitness enthusiasts who like to jog, cycle or speed walk around its perimeter and an adjacent golf course.

During a recent Monday morning workout, I met a woman exercising with her dog. She introduced me to Sonny, whose energetic canine personality instantly won me over. Sonny also impressed me with her style sense by sporting a cobalt blue pedicure (paw-dicure in this case). It lifted my spirits and gave new meaning to banishing the Monday morning blues. 

Sonny's tips inspired me to create several cheerful blue manis. Here's hoping they brighten your Monday morning--and week. Enjoy!

ESSIE

SHINE: Sparkle from the inside out with this gorgeous gradient. BEAUTY: After applying a base coat, start from the center with the middle finger by painting two layers of Mesmerize (medium blue creme). Then work your way out to the index and ring fingers with two coats of Lapis of Luxury (ocean blue), and pinky and thumb with two layers of Borrowed & Blue (pastel blue). Finish with a top coat.

BEACON: Contains no dibutyl phthalate, toluene or formaldehyde.

OPI PRODUCTS

SHINE: Put this mani together in a snap, and watch it crackle and pop. BEAUTY: Apply a base coat, two layers of Road House Blues (indigo creme) and one coat of Blue Shatter (cobalt) over each nail. Complete the look with a top coat.

BEACON: Supports the Leukemia Research Foundation through the Schaeffer Family Foundation.

SPARITUAL

SHINE: Checkmate--you win! BEAUTY: Create a checkerboard look by applying a base coat on each nail and two layers of Circle of Life (electric blue) on the index and ring fingers. Then paint two coats of It's Raining Men (sky blue shimmer) on the thumb, and middle and pinky fingers. Finish with a top coat.

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

ZOYA NAIL POLISH

SHINE: Fade to matte. BEAUTY: Show your style spectrum by applying a base coat, two layers of Tart (blue metallic shimmer) on the thumb, Tallulah (aqua shimmer) on the index finger, Breezi (cerulean blue creme) on the middle finger, Yummy (sky blue creme) on the ring finger and Phoebe Matte (electric blue with violet shimmer) on the pinky. Complete the look with a top coat (use a matte top coat for the pinky finger). 

BEACON: Contains no toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin or dibutyl phthalate.

Color Blocking Nail Art

Has color blocking jumped the shark? The retro fashion trend of mixing large chunks of pastels or bold color wheel shades may have recently crashed and burned. Katy Perry took the concept a little too literal at the VMAs by sporting a huge golden cube crown, prompting many style critics to dub her a cheese head. 

Inspired by the contemporary art world (hellooooo Mondrian), the trend first appeared on runways last spring. Marc Jacobs, Etro, Gucci and Diane von Furstenberg rocked the block in eye-popping palates of turquoise, purple and green; wine, purple and orange; and black, turquoise and green.

We're still working our way around the color wheel, so we're not ready to retire the trend. As summer gradually turns to fall, check out the following color blocking nail art combos.

ESSIE

Mani model: Rachael Maria Simon

BEAUTY: Apply two layers of Vermillionaire (orange) on top of a base coat. Using a flat watercolor brush, paint two coats of Pretty Edgy (green) over the top half of each nail. Clean the brush and then apply two layers of Velvet Voyeur (purple) to create a color block in the top right half corner. Complete the look with a top coat.  

BEACON: Contains no dibutyl phthalate, toluene or formaldehyde.

OPI PRODUCTS

BEAUTY: Over a base coat, apply two layers of Need Sunglasses? (yellow). Paint two coats of Y'all Come Back Ya Hear? (orange) over the top half of each nail using a flat watercolor brush. Clean the brush and then apply two layers of Pamplona (purple) to create a color block in the top left half corner. Finish with a top coat. 

BEACON: Contains no formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate or toluene. Also supports the American Heart Association and Gilda’s Club Worldwide. 

SPARITUAL

BEAUTY: Apply two layers of Twig (sandstone) on top of a base coat. Using a flat watercolor brush, paint two coats of Knowledge Is Power (neon pink) over the top half of each nail. Clean the brush and then apply two layers of Street Smart (black) to create a color block in the top right half corner. Complete the look with a top coat.  

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

ZOYA NAIL PRODUCTS

Mani model: Rachael Maria Simon

BEAUTY: Over a base coat, apply two layers of Raven (black) on the pinky finger, Tangy (apple green shimmer) on the ring finger, Creamy (yellow) on the middle finger, Sweet (pink) on the index finger and Purity (white) on the thumb. Finish with a top coat.

BEACON: Contains no toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin or dibutyl phthalate.

Kim Kardashian Bridal Manis

© Glenn Francis, www.PacificProDigital.com

If you're a fan of epic I dos, the wedding day countdown begins. In T-minus 24 hours, Kim Kardashian plans to walk down the aisle with New Jersey Nets basketball player Kris Humphries in Montecito, Calif.

The Saturday shindig has style watchers on high alert. What will the reality TV star have or have not, as she exchanges vows and wows at the altar? A tiara or train, or both? Based on her 20.5-carat, $2 million engagement ring, fans expect to see lots of bridal bling. 


Let's hope she nails it with her mani choice. We offer the following suggestions as Humphries takes her hand in marriage.

ESSIE

BEAUTY: Here's hoping the memories of the wedding won't fade, but perhaps the mani should. Design a radiant gradient with Show Me the Ring (pinky), Rock Candy (ring finger), Petal Pink (middle finger), No Prenup (index finger) and Eternal Optimist (thumb). 

BEACON: Contains no dibutyl phthalate, toluene or formaldehyde.

OPI PRODUCTS

BEAUTY: After the ring bearer delivers the goods, all that's left is a band of gold and the dreams they hold. Apply a top coat and two layers of Pearl of Wisdom (pink opalescent). Next, paint a band of Bring On the Bling (gold glitter) around the edges of the entire nail. Finish with a top coat.  

BEACON: Contains no dibutyl phthalate, toluene or formaldehyde.


SPARITUAL

BEAUTY: The groom proposed by spelling out "Will You Marry Me?" in red rose petals. Create more flower power with It's Raining Men (pearlescent blue), Love Is In the Air (pink) and Water Lily (pinkish-white). Design petals by using a dotting tool, toothpick tip or the end of a bobby pin to place five small drops of polish in a circle. Before they dry, pull a clean toothpick tip through each dot to the center of the petal. Place a fresh drop of polish in the center of each petal to complete the look.

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

ZOYA NAIL POLISH

BEAUTY: The black and white wedding invitations hint that the bride might create a similarly themed mani. Apply a base coat and two layers of Christinna (grayish off-white). Next, paint two coats of Raven (black) on each tip. Then apply a thin strand of Luna (silver glitter) on the seam, and finish with a top coat.

BEACON: Contains no toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin or dibutyl phthalate.