pretty in pinks.
There is something classic about monochromatic makeup, and a pretty palette of nail polish is the easiest way to create a chic tone-on-tone look for summer without sweating in a full application of cosmetics. Trying to think of a color scheme that would compliment a touch of a tan I’d earned over the weekend but still look cute when it fades a bit throughout the week, I settled on two beauties from my favorite brand, Zoya to make a monochromatic mani that felt elegant but effortless to start the summer.
Originally created as a custom runway shade for fashion designer Zang Toi, soft pink “GeiGei” is a shimmery baby pink that I used for the base, which made it into my eager little mitts via the May Ipsy beauty bag. I’d dismissed this pink as pretty much entirely not for me and planned on sharing the sweet but slightly young shade with my little neices (because remember, Zoya is both five-free and vegan). But I laid down a base coat and ridge filler for a few test strokes and saw that gentle GeiGei went on quite a bit lighter than in the bottle and is actually very appealingly subtle. The bottle looks like a true pastel pink, if not almost pale lilac, but the application is nearly nude with a hint of iredescent silver. The light hue really pops against sun-kissed summer skin.
For cheeky color that wasn’t too brash, I designated a darker pink, the punchy Zoya “Kimber”, for my toes and tips. A throwback from Zoya’s Summer 2012 collection that I’ve been eager to revist, cool Kimber is a hot, hot pink with a pinch of golden sparkle. The way a a few swipes of bronzer really bring your makeup look into the hotter months, those flecks of sunny shimmer make Kimber’s flawless formula perfectly fit the definition of what summer fashion should be: bright, unexpected, and effortless.
Topped off with a few strokes of a shiny fast dry, top coat, a cute color-blocked mani might be my go to nail look for summer. What’s your favorite way to style your nails for summertime? — Casandra Armour
