Beach Beauty: Matte & Shiny Dotted Mani

Matte nails. Love ‘em, everything about ‘em. Pair it with some strategically placed shiny topcoat and you have some nails that look like they’ve been pecked by a rain shower.

Here’s the how to. It’s simple.

1. Paint nails as you normally would. Opaque, non shimmery colors work the best.

2. Using a matte topcoat (I used Essie Matte About You) apply a layer to each nail and watch that gloss go buh buy. Alas, nails that look like velvet. Pretty sweet.

3. Using a homemade dotting tool (my favorite is a push pin stuck into a pencil eraser) place random dots of a super glossy top coat all over nails.

4. Let polish dry

Enjoy your velvety yet glosstastic nails.

Beach Beauty: Supa Dupa Butterfly Toes

As the great Poet, Missy Elliott, once said: “Me I’m supa fly (uh-huh), Supa dupa fly (uh-huh), Supa dupa fly.”

Ok well, I’m not supa fly at all, but my toes are. They look like Monarch butterfly wings, which served as great inspiration for an easy and impressive DIY Pedicure.

Here’s how to get some Supa Dupa Fly toes, in the Monarch sense.

1: Paint toes with a basecoat

2: Paint toes with 2 coats of a very fun, almost onoxiously bright color.

3: Using black nail art polish brush, paint a swipe across the upper inner corner of each toe. Then fill that corner in, this will make a black triangle tip on each nail corner.

4: Still using the black nail art polish, draw 3 lines (big toe) or 2 lines (other toes) that connect the other side of your toe to the black triangle corner.

5: Still using the black nail art polish, curve the area where the line and the black corner intersect, so there now are no straight edges. This makes the black look like the curve pattern of the wings instead of straight edges.

6: Using either white nail art or white polish and a homemade dotting tool, paint dots randomly in the black tip area.

7: Let polish dry then apply a top coat.

8: Watch the video tutorial because I most likely made no sense.

9: Move your toes around as fast as you can and see if they flutter.

Polish used: Illamasqua: Jo’Mina  Milani nail art laquer

Time spent. About 8 minutes, no joke. (not including drying time)

Beach Beauty: Reverse French Striped nails

I honestly have no clue what to call this manicure, but it looks rad. Really, it should be called the - I tried three different manicures and messed them up then somehow came across this color combo, did a reverse french manicure, and added a stripe, and it came out rather sweet - nail art.

So here you go. If anyone comes up with a name for it, shoot it my way.

Step 1: Apply base coat

Step 2: Paint nails some obnoxiously fun & bright color

Step 3: Paint the TOP 3/4 of your nail a less fun, but very opaque color. (keep the line smooth) You should have what looks like a reverse french manicure now.

Step 4: Using a nail art brush or pen, paint a thin stripe where the two colors intersect.

Step 5: Let polish dry, and apply a top coat.

Step 6: Think to yourself, wow, this was way easier that a simple French manicure, but is much, much cooler.

Bikini top from: Dkoko

Beach Beauty: Buh Bye Sun Spots

A splattering of sunspots is pretty much inevitable unless you’ve spent your entire life indoors or avoiding the sun. Yeah, not me. I’ve got a plethora. But thankfully they are fading off into the sunset solely by pledging allegiance to sunscreen, a clarisonic skin brush, and a few easy, all natural homemade DIY sun spot erasers.

So never fear, the spot faders are here. Below are three home remedies to help diminish those spots without any expensive lasers or light sabres.

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Beach Beauty: Neon & Neutral Nails

I seriously adore the oh-so-luscious neon & neutral color combo. It’s natural with a little touch of BAM! So, I had to translate it into a subtle yet fantastic easy-peasy manicure. All you need is the right buttery nude polish (ahem, Essie Sand Tropez por favor) and my favorite miracle worker for those of us who don’t have a steady hand, Sally Hansen nail polish strips.

How to get the look:

1. Paint your nails with a nude, opaque polish.

2. Let polish dry.

3. Cut a nail polish strip in half, and place the straight edge in a 45 degree angle from one side of your nail tip to the inside of your finger.

4: Press and seal the strip firmly on your nail, and remove the excess with a file. Repeat on the rest of your nails.

5. Apply top coat to entire nail.

6. Sit, stare, and pat yourself on the back (after the polish dries of course) for a killer manicure that really didn’t take that much skill at all.

Pictured above: Essie Sand Tropez, Sally Hansen salon effects: Electric Shock, and Salt Swimwear Bidget Bottoms.

Beach Beauty: DIY Homemade bronzer

I love being bronze, I love looking bronze, but I don’t like little bronze specks known as sun spots. Enter the wonder product, bronzer. Problem, I also am wierded out by all the unpronounceable ingredients in a lot of bronzing powders. So I was rather giddy when I I found this intriguing recipe on crunchybetty.com for homemade bronzer. It works, is customizable to your desired lever of bronzification, looks natural, and if you have a craving for something cinnamon-y, you just figure out a way to lick your face.

Here is the how-to, try it out and let me know how it works:

Homemade Bronzer. Save Money and your face.

Ingredients:

1 tbsp cinnamon powder
1 tsp cocoa powder
1 tsp nutmeg powder
2 tsp cornstarch
15 drops rose otto, lavender, or rosemary essential oil

A few tips on the color: Cinnamon = glow, cocoa = depth and darkness, and nutmeg = a sunkissed brown. Cornstarch spreads it all out and lightens it. Essential oil keeps it together and thickens. If you want just a loose powder, leave out the essential oil.

Adjust the levels of ingredients to your shade and mix well in a small bowl, and break up any clumps until it’s smooth. Place the powder in a clean, empty compact and pack it in firmly

Try it out, but don’t go overboard, or you’ll look like this.

Photo via sun-believable.

Free Spa Day

*Also a guest blog post on foammagazine.com…

Whenever I set foot on Lanikai beach, I don’t know if I am walking on sand or baby powder. The sand is soft, white, and makes me instantly want to roll around in it like a dog. I once read about some Brazilian supermodel who said she kept her skin super smooth by scrubbing her skin with sand whenever she was at the beach. So, in an attempt to one day perhaps look like a Brazilian supermodel (ok, more like embark on the impossible quest), whenever I go to Lanikai, I treat myself to a free spa treatment. The only thing missing is cucumber mint water.

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Amy Grace Jewelry: Stunning beach bling.

She’s a surfer, traveler, sailor, diver, and something else we all can benefit from…jewelry designer & maker. Meet Amy Grace, and her jewelry, which just so happens to be unbelievably stunning.

From long layering necklaces topped off with a Tahitian or Fijian pearl she hand picked, to the obsession-worthy Sunrise Shell on a hand beaded chain, Amy Grace Jewelry is not your ordinary beach bling. Each piece is hand made, one of a kind, and makes you feel like you just traveled to the destination where she found the materials to make it. As far as I know, this necklace might be as close as I will ever get to making it to Tavarua. Which is a great runner up.

No two pieces are exactly alike, and each one is hip, perfect for layering or stacking, and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue & Red Carpet worthy at the same time.

I am also convinced Amy might be one of the more inspiring and cool jewelers out there. She traveled around the South Pacific in a sail boat, is an avid surfer, an adventure-seeking traveler…and dives with sharks. Beat that Harry Winston.

Make sure to become a fan on facebook to see Amy’s latest & greatest creations, and maybe a shark diving picture or two. Then grab that Visa & seek out one of her retailers. Once you see how much each piece whisks you off to the South Pacific, you’ll want a one of a kind creation of your own.

amygracejewelry.com

Beach Beauty: Cow Print Toes

When it comes to toes, we always go exotic: Cheetah, Snake, Zebra, Tiger, Himalayan Snow Leopard. Now it’s time we show Old MacDonald and his farm some love with some Cow print toes. Hey, if D&G and Michael Kors use it, I think this print is e-i-e-i-oh-so pedicure worthy. The best part, it’s insanely easy to do and turns out rather chic yet adorable.

So mooooooove on over Bessie, it’s time for some beach bums to have some udderly cool l’il piggies.

How to have cow print toes:

1. Paint a base coat.

2. Paint 2 coats of white or really light opaque pink nail polish.

3. Using a black nail art brush/pen (or a toothpick with black polish), paint on the cow print. Hint it’s just a bunch of asymmetrical blobs with maybe a little small dot on the big toe. (Watch how this gal does it on her nails at :32)

4. Let polish completely dry, then apply topcoat.

5. Go grab a partner and do the cotton-eyed-joe. Barefoot.

Polish I used: Essie: Fiji & Milani Nail Art: Black Sketch

Beach Beauty: Easy Bright Pink Matte Lips

There’s just something about a matte bright pink pout that makes you feel like a bond girl. Pair that pucker with a golden glow & some sun-kissed locks, and it has a knee weakening effect. Guess what…you’re in luck. There are a few easy ways to achieve this look.

1: Grab a Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Roman Holiday for $24

2: Snatch up some Illamasqua Lipstick in Fable for $22

3: Just DIY it. Boo ya! Simply grab a lipstick brush, then take any pink lipstick you have (the brighter the better) and mix it with a little good ‘ol white zinc oxide (face stick or lip balm) until you achieve the color you like. Bonus: Your lips will not only be beautiful, but also protected from the sun and getting a non-invited lip plumping in the form of a lip sunburn. If you’ve had one, you know what I mean.

Pucker up pinkies.

Photo by: Simon Lekias • Model: Anja Konstantinova

Sunburned? Go butter you buns.
Somehow, I don’t know how, but I got a wee bit crispy surfing this past holiday weekend. Ok, actually I know why. I had a blast and stayed out an extra hour…or three. It was too fun to go in. So let’s just say, I resembled a cute little 5’9” red giraffe with blonde hair and green eyes.
But, I have not peeled, and woke up looking bronze instead of broiled all thanks to a little miraculous wonder product I want to hug: Malie Organics Mango Butter Bun. Somehow it’s combo of 100% certified organic ingredients cures sunburn overnight. No joke. All you do is take this bun in the shower with you, and rub it all over your body just like a bar of soap. But, instead of being zest fully clean, you are left smelling like a mango, soft, and with a hydrated sheen.
If only I had one of these on my spring break in Maui back in 6th grade where I fell asleep on my stomach on day 1 wearing spf 8, and couldn’t lay on my back for a week…
Available at Malie.com and anywhere else you find it on google.

Sunburned? Go butter you buns.

Somehow, I don’t know how, but I got a wee bit crispy surfing this past holiday weekend. Ok, actually I know why. I had a blast and stayed out an extra hour…or three. It was too fun to go in. So let’s just say, I resembled a cute little 5’9” red giraffe with blonde hair and green eyes.

But, I have not peeled, and woke up looking bronze instead of broiled all thanks to a little miraculous wonder product I want to hug: Malie Organics Mango Butter Bun. Somehow it’s combo of 100% certified organic ingredients cures sunburn overnight. No joke. All you do is take this bun in the shower with you, and rub it all over your body just like a bar of soap. But, instead of being zest fully clean, you are left smelling like a mango, soft, and with a hydrated sheen.

If only I had one of these on my spring break in Maui back in 6th grade where I fell asleep on my stomach on day 1 wearing spf 8, and couldn’t lay on my back for a week…

Available at Malie.com and anywhere else you find it on google.

Beach Beauty: Cool & easy manicure in a box

One product, one little box of fun. Sally Hansen Salon Effects. These are sweet little nail polish strips that take about 10 minutes to apply and give you the liveliest nails of your life for less than 10 bucks. Best part. No dry time. What lured me in is the extremely cool designs to choose from: Lace, fishnet, neons, metallics, flowers, camo, butterflies. It’s like Lisa Frank for your nails, but with no unicorns.

I used the “girl flower” strips. All you do is apply nail polish remover to clean your nails, then peel, pull and stick the strip to fit on each nail. File off the excess and voila, you are ready. Ok one more perk, they supposedly last 10 days and do not chip.

Available at pretty much every drug store where Sally Hansen is sold, so go spice up your nails. Bam!

Beach Beauty: Bright Eyes

I have a confession to make. I rarely leave the house without mascara on. Maybe it’s because my lashes are one of my favorite body parts, but I love the stuff. Yes, I do wear mascara to the beach, and yes it is always waterproof.

So, I was rather giddy when I discovered the new Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Mascara Duo. Sheesh, that’s a long product name. But, it’s a fun, beachy swap to the typical black that also it enhances whatever eye color you’ve been blessed with. Use green for green eyes, blue for blue, hot pink for hazel, or purple for brown. You can use the color alone, or put on a coat of black, then do the color just on the tips (as pictured above- actually is a little lighter/opaque than it looks). The best part, it really does enhance your eye color (yhatzee!) and is subtle, so you don’t have to worry about looking like David Bowie.

It’s summer. Sport some color. Even on your lashes.

Available online & at practically every drugstore.

Beach Beuty: Watermelon Toes

Watermelon. I love it so much I could eat it every day of the summer. Yet I have never been in a watermelon eating contest. If it happens one day, I will win. Anyways, I was thrilled to find a quick and easy way to bring this summertime staple to my toes which were in dire need of some cuteness. If I might say so myself, they turned out rather adorable (without being over the top). Plus, I have received not one, but four compliments from ladies in the past 48 hours, one of which was a lady next to me in yoga class, so she had 90 minutes to get aquatinted with my toes…so I had to share.

Easy DIY Watermelon Pedicure

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