Smith & Cult in 1972

Brand: Smith & Cult 8 Free

Shade: 1972
(rose gold color, metallic finish)

Cost: $$$$

The Scoop:
I first noticed this beauty because of the name, since I was born the following year. I bought it because the color was pretty. And I fell in love with it because of this bottle! It's as gorgeous as your nails will be. It's my new go-to summer shade!

Essie in Watermelon

Brand: Essie Nail Lacquer

Shade: Watermelon
(bright pink color, glossy finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:
Ok, it's not quite summer yet, but watermelon is my favorite kind of melon and I can't wait to eat lots of it this summer.  Until then, I'll just look at my pretty nails.

Sally Hanson in Game of Chromes

Brand: Sally Hansen Miracle Gel

Shade: Game of Chromes
(matte gold color, metallic finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:
I don't think this is like the gel polish you'd get in a salon -- it's not nearly as thick. But it's prob better for your nails! And I do love this shade. It didn't chip, it more kind of rubbed off on the edges after a week or so. I can live with that.

Julep in Leo

Brand: Julep

Shade: Leo
(bronze brown color, metallic finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:
I'm a Leo, so of course I had to get this shade from the zodiac collection.  They call this a golden honey color for Leo's "confident and majestic" personality. Hmmm. I call this shiny baby poop. I removed it about a minute after I put it on. It's a horrible color, and I cannot throw enough shade at it.

Julep in Suzanne & India

Brand: Julep

Shade: Suzanne & India
(cherry red & royal blue colors, iridescent finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:
For July 4th, of course I had to whip out the spirit fingers as a salute to the red, white, and blue. Especially since the political scene is getting heated, it's a good reminder that at the end of the day, we're all Americans.

Essie in Roarrrrange

Brand: Essie Nail Lacquer

Shade: Roarrrrange
(reddish orange color, glossy finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:
I kinda love this one -- it's like Cinco de Mayo in a bottle. It's easy to find a good margarita.  It's hard to find a good orange. Wear this one to your next fiesta.

Ulta in Sun of a Gun

Brand: Ulta Professional Nail Lacquer

Shade: Sun of a Gun
(rich orange color, glossy finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:
I don't typically love Ulta polishes.  But we have some big meetings for work in LA this week, and our color is orange, so this shade was perfect.

Gap in Blue Lava

Brand: GAP Nail Polish

Shade: Blue Lava
(sheer turquoise blue color, iridescent finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:
This shade makes me think of summer. Man, I wish I was on vacation. Oh wait, I am! At a beach in Florida for Christmas, so I can tell you it looks great in the sand.

Butter London in Scallywag

Brand: Butter London 3 Free Nail Lacquer-Vernis

Shade: Scallywag
(turquoise blue color, matte glitter finish)

Cost: $$$

The Scoop:
I thought this was a festive shade.  And it is!  But much like the tinsel on your Christmas tree, it looks better at night than in the daytime. Use this one sparingly and keep a chisel handy when you want to remove it.  It's a stubborn one!

Essie in In the Cab-ana

Brand: Essie Nail Lacquer

Shade: In the Cab-ana
(turquoise blue shade, glossy finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:
Essie calls this In the Cab-ana but I call it Squeezing Out the Last Drops of Sum-mer. Drip, dripity, drip!

OPI in I Eat Mainely Lobster

Brand: OPI Nail Lacquer

Shade: I Eat Mainely Lobster
(coral orange color, glossy finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:
This shade is a clambake in a bottle (and is more neon IRL than it looks here). It's bright and sunny and you won't get sand in your suit. Only thing is it wasn't shiny enough for me out of the bottle so plan on a topcoat. Think of it as sunscreen!

Sally Hansen in Scarab

Brand: Sally Hansen Lustre Shine Nail Color

Shade: Scarab
(teal green color, iridescent finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:
This is a total summer shade. It looks like the ocean I wish I was dipping my toes in. Another hit for Sally!

China Glaze in Love's a Beach

Brand: China Glaze Nail Lacquer

Shade: Love's a Beach
(neon pink color, metallic finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:
There is one time of year that a shade like this works. Luckily, we're in it! This one's perfect for voyages, vacations, staycations, and summer Fridays.

10 Pinnable Manicures for Sparkling July 4th Nails

In July, one holiday comes to mind -- Independence Day. So naturally, I turned to Pinterest for nail art ideas to try this month.

But wait! I'm terrible at nail art. Even though I have this nail polish blog, my skills are basically limited to super easy stuff and stickers.

You too?

But Pinterest makes me believe I can paint fireworks, and American flags, and USA for the ultimate July 4th nails. So, here's a collection of my favorite patriotic red, white, and blue manis.

10 unique designs -- one for every finger (don't forget your toes!).

Get inspired...

Royal blue nails with a flag accent nail, by Rikiki

Red, white, & blue ombre nails with silver stars, by The TraceFace Philes

Red, white, & blue color blocks with star accent nail, by InStyle

Navy blue night sky with fireworks nail stamps, by Life in Lacquer

Blue nails with white stars and American flag accents, by Coewless

Red & white stripe nails with cupcake accent, by Rin's Nail Files

Red, blue, & silver nail art with swirls, stripes, & stars, by Sassy Shelly

Matte stars & stripes with red, silver, & blue nail art, by Celine Does Nails

Blue & white stars, red & white stripes, & a heart, by Daily Something

Matte blue nails with red & white striped stars, by Spellbound Nails

Happy Independence Day, everyone!

Michael Kors in Sensation

Brand: Michael Kors Nail Lacquer, Sexy Shades

Shade: Sensation
(tomato red shade, glossy finish)

Cost: $$$$

The Scoop:
I know this is expensive, but I just can't say no to Michael. When I go for a bright red shade, I like ones like this that lean orange. I think it looks freshest on short nails. It also goes on in two coats and is super shiny -- for this price, it had better!

Revlon in Indigo Night

Brand: Revlon Color Stay Longwear Nail Enamel

Shade: Indigo Night
(electric blue color, glossy finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:
Today's my brother's bday, so in his honor, I went with his favorite color: Blue. This is a great one because it does stay on a long time without fading or chipping. Revlon's reliable like that. Just like my bro!

Sally Hansen in Crushed

Brand: Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear Nail Color

Shade: Crushed
(traffic cone orange color, metallic finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:
Summer has unofficially started, so it's time to show those pasty fingers and toes the sun! Only a bright color will do. Though, as much as I love Sally, this might not be the one. If it wasn't metallic, it could be great. But it is. So it's just kind of...cheap.  Color me crushed.

Milani in Gems & Pool Party

Brand: Milani Nail  Lacquer

Shades: Gems & Pool Party
(multicolor glitter & turquoise blue color with metallic finish)

Cost: $

The Scoop:
It's Memorial Day, hope you're enjoying some time in the sun with family and friends!

Essie in Garden Variety

Brand: Essie Nail Lacquer

Shade: Garden Variety
(turquoise blue color, glossy finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:
This another one of Essie's Spring 2015 collection. I picked it up at CVS while I was looking for cold medicine and just looking at this happy shade made me feel better.

Sally Hansen in Fiery Island

Brand: Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure

Shade: Fiery Island
(coral orange color, glossy finish)

Cost: $$

The Scoop:
This is a great shade to celebrate the last days of summer.  It went on my fingers AND toes.