Zoya Dream Boxes are back!

press release

Zoya Dream Boxes have everything you need for a stress-free holiday season. 

Just add a bow and they’re ready to go! Choose from 9 specially curated trio sets, pre-packaged in a white luxury gift box – or customize your own. All Dream Boxes include FREE Standard Ground Shipping and a decorative  silver bow for just $20! Valid Friday, November 28th – Monday, December 1st (11:59pm EST). Exclusively on zoya.com

Special Black Friday – Cyber Monday Dream Box Deal*!
Valid Friday, November 28th – Monday, December 1st (11:59pm EST)

$20 - Pre-packaged Dream Box Trios: Free shipping & bow included!
$20 - Build Your Own Dream Box: Free shipping & bow included!

Use Code: DREAMS

*Terms & Conditions
Valid online at www.zoya.com 11/28/14 - 12/1/14 (11:59pm EST) or while supplies last. US Only. Not valid in conjunction with other coupons, codes or promotions.Art of Beauty is not responsible for incorrect addresses, credit card entry errors, web related issues or any errors associated with declined credit cards. Returns or exchanges of promotional items not permitted. Code must be entered at time of purchase. One code per account - code cannot be reinstated for canceled orders.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Since my nail art skills are about on a par with a kindergarndner's, here's a hand turkey I made for you all:

I used all Zoya polishes.  Left to right:

Creamy, Jancyn, Rocha, Livingston and Louise

KB Shimmer: Leaf of Faith

purchased by me

By now I'm sure everyone has seen KB Shimmer's Fall 2014 collection, including the beautiful Leaf of Faith.  But I just got my hands on it, and I wanted to show you how I wound up wearing it.  Leaf is a gorgeous red jelly filled with red, gold, orange and holographic glitter.  The glitter spread is good, and the polish is thick enough to hold all that goodness but not so thick it clumps.

Two coats, indoors with flash:

And the way I wore it, one coat of Leaf of Faith over one coat of Orly Rage:

I love the way the copper base shimmers and simmers just under the surface of the red jelly!

Whether you wear it alone or with shimmery underwear, you can find Leaf of Faith on the KB Shimmer website for $8.75 + shipping

Glam It Up with Zoya Minis

press release

The ZOYA Mini Glam nail polishes are here. Our favorite holiday colors in mini Zoya bottles inside glossy black and silver gift boxes.  Each Zoya Mini Glam bottle is $5 ea or Get any 5 for $20 w/Free Shipping Through Wednesday 11:59 PM ET.  Exclusively at ZOYA.com. Use Code: GLAM. Click here to see all color options and holiday gift sets.

How it works:
1. Add as many Zoya Mini Glams to your cart that you like
2. Apply code and discount will be applied in quantities of 5 bottles

*Terms and Conditions
Valid online only at www.zoya.com through 11/26/14, 11:59pm EST. Not valid in conjunction with other coupons, codes or promotions. Shipping & Handling fees apply. Continental US only. Valid on open stock mini glam nail polish bottles only. Excludes Zoya Nail Treatments and Color Spoons. Valid Art of Beauty account required for purchase. Art of Beauty is not responsible for incorrect addresses, credit card entry errors, web related issues or any errors associated with declined credit cards. Returns or exchanges of promotional items not permitted. Code must be entered at time of purchase. One code per account. Code cannot be reinstated for canceled orders. Please allow up to 4 weeks for processing if volume warrants it.

Darling Diva Polish: Queen of the Night

purchased by me

Happy Blue Monday!  If you're feeling blue, I have a polish that will both express your mood and elevate it at the same time--Queen of the Night from Darling Diva.  It's a linear holographic navy blue with an exceptional formula that's smooth, well-behaved, opaque in two coats and dries shiny even before top coat.

Indoors with flash:

Indoors without flash:

In the sun:

If you've been looking for a navy blue holo at a reasonable price, look no further, just get to Darling Diva and get Queen of the Night for $11.00 + shipping!

eos and Rachel Roy

purchased by me

eos (evolution of smooth) and Rachel Roy teamed up to create a limited edition collection of lip balms.  From the eos website:

Inspired by travel and the warm sun, this limited edition eos Smooth Sphere lip balm flavor trio was inspired by fashion designer Rachel Roy. Each pack includes brand-new, limited edition flavors Indian Summer, Orange Blossom, Aloha Hawaii Strawberry Kiwi, and St. Barth's Sunrise Pink Grapefruit. USDA-certified organic and 100% natural with a special design on each lip balm, this collection is sure to keep you smiling all season long. Makes a great holiday gift or stocking stuffer.

 The three-pack of lip balms can be found at Ulta and other retailers, but there's a four-pack that can be found at BJ's Wholesale stores and at their website.  The three-pack retails for $7.99 and the four-pack for $9.99, so you're saving quite a bit over the regular price ($3.49) for a single lip balm and getting a flavor that's not available in the three-pack.  I was so thrilled to see these at BJ's that I grabbed one first thing!

The three-pack contains Indian Summer (Orange Blossom), Aloha Hawaii (Strawberry Kiwi), and St. Barth's Sunrise (Pink Grapefruit) and the four-pack has those three plus Barbados Heat (Wildberry).  I'm very pleased with the purchase and I recommend grabbing it if you see it.

OPI Nordic collection: Do You Have This Color In Stock-holm?

purchased by me

Do You Have This Color In Stock-holm? is a pretty, vibrant purple crème.  The formula was smooth, easy to work with and opaque in two coats, plus it dries shiny even before top coat.  It's a good basic purple to add to any stash.

Indoors with flash:

Indoors without flash:

You can find the Nordic collection at Ulta and Sally Beauty as well as at salons.

Darling Diva: The Alchemist

purchased by me

The Alchemist was my first purchase from Darling Diva, but it won't be my last.  I first saw this beauty on The Crumpet's nail blog and I swear violins were playing. :D  I've been trying to find a red holographic nail polish to love ever since Nubar Brilliant let me down, and finally, I have!

The Alchemist is a blue-toned red with a strong linear holo, and the formula is smooth, perfect and opaque in two coats.  This is love in a bottle, people.

Indoors with flash:

Indoors without flash:

As you can see, it's still gorgeous in low lighting, and what are you waiting for?  Get thee to Darling Diva and buy a bottle for $11.00 plus shipping!

Incoco Fall 2014: Royal Flush

purchased by me

Royal Flush is part of Incoco's Fall 2014 collection, and it got me a ton of compliments.  With a black lace pattern on a red background, these polish strips are simple but stunning.  Application was a typical Incoco dream.

Indoors with flash:

Indoors without flash:

Royal Flush and the rest of the fall collection are available at Incoco for $8.99 each plus shipping.

November Ipsy bag

purchased by me

This month's Ipsy bag is another slight improvement, but I wish Ipsy would ask what colors I like, because the eye pencil is intriguing but completely the wrong color for me!

My November bag included:

be Delectable from Cake Beauty Lemon & Cream Mini Hand Cream ($5.50)

Temptu S/B Highlighter pink pearl sample

J. Cat Beauty Wonder Lip Paint ($4.99)

clariSEA Sea Salt Solutions Instant Glow Powder Exfoliant sample

Starlooks Gem Eye Pencil Ultra Olive ($17.00)

The hand cream is very nice, moisturizing but non-greasy.  The scent is very sweet with only a tiny pop of lemon.

The facial exfoliant is one I'm excited to try, probably in tonight's shower.

The eye pencil is much too yellow of a green for me, so it will find a new home.

The Temptu sample is meant for an airbrush system, so I have to wonder WTF Ipsy was thinking.

I'm most excited about the Wonder Lip Paint, because it's been all over the beauty blogosphere of late, plus I've been meaning to see if I can rock a red lip!

Incoco Holiday 2014 has arrived!

press release

Butter London Steampunk Ball

purchased by me

This fall, Butter London has an entire steampunk-themed collection.  Of course I had to get something, so I chose the Steampunk Ball set because 5 of the 6 polishes are only available in this set.  The polishes are all minis, which works for me because I can't remember the last time I used up a whole bottle, and with the exception of the glitter, all polishes were opaque in two effortless, perfectly-behaved coats.

Bric-A-Brac is red glitter in a warm red base.  It's more brick-colored in low light, and it's the only polish that is not exclusive to this set.

Indoors with flash:

Indoors without flash:

Barkers is a dark grey with multi-colored micro glitter, very pretty and steampunk-y.

Indoors with flash:

Indoors without flash:

Baroness is a rosy bronze shimmer and very prone to brush strokes, which means you can see how careless my application was on this one. *blush*

Indoors with flash:

Indoors without flash:

Brass Goggles is a clear glitter base with black and gold glitter.  It's not quite opaque at two coats, but could easy be opaque with three.

Indoors with flash:

Indoors without flash:

Full Steam Ahead is a dark grey crème which leans green in low light.

Indoors with flash:

Indoors without flash:

Pinkies Up is a peach shimmer with a frost finish and visible brush strokes.

Indoors with flash:

Indoors without flash:

If you're interested in the Steampunk Ball collection, you can find it at Butter London and at Ulta for $39.00 + any applicable tax and shipping.

I Love Nail Polish: Homecoming

purchased by me

Homecoming is a blackened purple linear holo.  It's dark enough that in low light, it looks like black, but in brighter light you can see it's a deep purple.  The holo is not quite as bendy as Champagne Blush or Black Orchid, but the formula is great, and it was opaque in two coats at conversational distance.  The brighter light in my flash and sun swatches shows some bald spots I never saw on my nails.

Indoors with flash:

Indoors without flash:

In the sun:

If you like dark, dark, darkest purple holo polish, get thee to ILNP and grab a bottle of Homecoming.

I Love Nail Polish: Champagne Blush

purchased by me

Champagne Blush is as good a name for this color as any other, because it's hard to pin down.  It's a blend of faded salmon pink and faded coppery gold, and the holo is fiercely bendy.  It's a very well-behaved polish as well, opaque in two coats that don't drip, pool, drag or bubble.

Indoors with flash:

Indoors without flash:

In the sun:

You can find Champagne Blush for $10 at the ILNP website.