Nail Art: mastering the ombré

As far as nail polish goes, lately I have been in the “been there, done that” mood.

I did the sophisticated nude, the pops of bubble gum pink and turquoise, the glitter, the chic French tip. I want to try new things that make people do a double-take after they glimpse my hands--something really wild!

So this weekend I went for the latest to hit YouTube and Pinterest—the marbled nail.

Supposedly this is as simple as dropping a mixture of complimentary nail polish colors on the surface of a bowl of water, swirling for a moment, and resting your nail in it. In theory, the pretty design adheres to the nail as you draw it out of the water, you clean up the edges, and voile! Instant nail art with an inimitable look.

Unfortunately, life doesn’t work that way.

At least, mine doesn't! Perhaps it was the nail polish I used (although I tried 4 different brands, each with unique textures) or that I didn't work quickly enough (it gobbed up instantly on me) but I ended up looking like I played in colored wet cement--all the way down to my knuckles! It was not a pretty sight. And definitely not as easy as the YouTube videos make it look.

I'm going to need some intense ambition, extra nail polish remover, and glass of wine before I attempt that again...

So I decided to do the ombre nail, ombre being all the fad and looking so pretty and interesting.  Ombre is the fade-out that originated in light silks and scarves and things (as you see on the left) and then moved into other arenas--including beauty. It hit hair first (my hair has a slight ombre melt right now, matter of fact, though not as pretty and natural looking as the one seen above) and then into nails. It is so fun!

This is what I came up with:

The flash went off in this one--you can see the colors better but they are not that bright in normal daylight.

How I did it:

2 nail polish colors (one light, the other darker), and a wedged makeup sponge.

I did a heavy nude coat on all of my nails, focusing the most polish at the base (where it is really going to show) and waited for it to dry. Then I took a navy blue polish, painted the narrow tip of a sponge, and dabbed a small amount (the less polish you use, the lighter the color) in the center of my nail and worked outward. I then gradually added more polish near the tip, so it got darker and darker as it faded out.

And hello, top coat!

The blue is gorgeous and even looks suitable at work--I've received several compliments on it today!

I've seen others do ombre with different accents, including glitter (which would have a starry night effect on navy blue nails like I did)

and also doing the set of fingernails as ombre--so your thumb is lightest and it darkens out to your pinkie (see below).

This is an artistic way to make your nails unique, and isn't as demanding as water-dipped marbling. Yay for lazy(ish) beauty!

A non-nauseating strawberry

Spring is in the air (in between the bursts of snow we are getting here in Salt Lake)
and with it comes all of the fruity delicious lip products, hatching out of their hibernation like the eggs the Easter bunny (supposedly) lays. I never understood that...a creepy, oversized bunny pooping out colorful hen's eggs.
Anyhow... the time has come to store your serious, dark (perhaps unscented) fall and winter lip products, and bust out the cheerful, colorful (perhaps immaturely so) lippies!!
Pretty lippies that are low-maintenance and smell edible are my specialty.

Yes, I still carry a Lip Smacker or two on me...
These are the winners for ultimate spring glosses (that will carry you into summer)

Anything Beauty Rush from Victoria's Secret (on right)--
these babies slip into your shorts or sundress pocket and won't get sticky (if screwed on tightly) or cause a meltdown (as they are already a liquid). They have just the right pop of color and shimmer and won't make you look tacky even in full sun (as some tinted glosses will). The selection is marvelous and yes, they taste pretty damn delectable.

Maybelline's Shinesensational (above, left) is the drugstore version and has the exact same packaging, though I've noticed they don't taste as good as VS's.

I tend to stick to balms or glosses for the warmer weather, but if you are a lipstick girl or are doing a look that strays away from the shine of a gloss, try Revlon ColorBurst.
It is moisturizing and an easy shade--not one that requires an exfoliation, moisturizer, primer, and 5 minute precise application to look right. I feel comfortable slicking this baby on and taking off--and would even risk doing such without a mirror. I find the nude to be flattering across the board.


If you're wondering what to avoid... my advice: anything sticky.
Anything you would hesitate to kiss someone with, for fear of shimmering strings of goop sticking to them.
These include most of the plumping glosses, heavy ones (like Elizabeth Arden High Shine Gloss), and, namely, MAC Lipglass.  Lipglass is pretty and lovely for certain events, but just know what you are getting into! I wore it outside in Las Vegas once during a summer trip and after 10 minutes it was working its way onto my chin. Seriously.

My #1 fave rave must-have summer lippie is Smith's Rosebud Lip Salve in the Strawberry flavor.
I love strawberries and strawberry scented products (even though, obviously, they smell entirely different than the fruit itself.). But strawberry is one that can easily go wrong and be so sickly sweet you feel like someone smacked you in the nose with it.

I've even used a strawberry lippie once that packed such an overpowering wallop it made me dry heave (I am highly sensitive to scents).
This stuff makes me smile (that heavenly smile that you imagine standing in a sunshine-y meadow would impart on your face) and I can even wear it to sleep--it is that light. It lasts, both scent-and-moisturizing wise and you can use it elsewhere safely (not just for the lips--I've even used it on my eyelids for a sexy sheen when I wanted to lighten up on the eyeshadow).

It is my baby, my favorite of all the Rosebud products, and it is my goal to have one in my nightstand, purse, desk, etc....
Happy Spring Lippy-ing!