It's sandal season, which means your toes are your best accent to your favorite Summer footwear. Whether you're rocking espadrilles, T-straps, or flip-flops, we're rounding up the best polish hues to show off your sandals. Click through for some nail inspiration.
Amp up your striking white nail polish look with gold studs at the base for a simple but impactful touch. Opaque white nail polish packs quite the punch, but it also tends to show mistakes a lot more than other polish hues. So to make sure it looks its best, first file your nails for a perfect shape and trim your cuticles to ensure clean lines around the edges.
To create the look, I started off with Butter London Nail Fertilizer ($18) as a nutrient-rich base coat. Then, I painted on two coats of Chanel Le Vernis in Eastern Light ($30) for pure white coverage. While the polish was still wet, I added a gold stud from The New Black Rock and Roll Royalty Set ($24), which comes with various polish hues and a bottle of edgy accents, including gold studs and black and clear rhinestones. To finish, I topped this look with Essie Good to Go ($8) to seal in the stud and give my nails a glossy finish. If you have any messy edges, go back with a brush dipped in polish remover to clean up any stray polish.
It's our job to pick the brains of the top professionals in the beauty industry, so we think it's high time to share the best tips we've heard over the years. From runway makeup artists to celebrity hairstylists, we've picked out the best of the best when it comes to tricks of the trade. Get all the beauty secrets you never knew after the jump
Ciaté is known for taking the nail-art trend from the streets to the comfort of your own home with its easy DIY kits, like this Very Colourfoil Manicure Set ($25). The end result is a colorful and intricate design that looks far more complicated than it really is. To see how to use this genius kit, just keep reading.
Although Summer is the season of bright colorful nails, it seems some manicures are sticking to vampy neutrals — at least that's what it looked like in Hollywood this week. Katharine McPhee (top) adorned her nails with a shiny black lacquer, while Katie Holmes (bottom left) reached for a similar shade. And Anna Paquin (bottom right) opted for a midnight blue hue. These colors are usually kept to cooler temperatures, but whose dark Summer polish did you like best?
The best accent to a Summer glow is a metallic manicure, and there are plenty of new lacquers with sparkling metallic finishes. From holographic and chunky glitters to glistening metals, we're rounding up the best new metallic shades you'll want to try on your toes and fingertips.
From movie premieres to party appearances, celebrities have perfected their looks down to the last detail: their nails. With the most exclusive access to top nail artists and not-yet-released polish shades, stars know how to create plenty of polish trends. So take note from these tastemakers on everything from pastel colors to intricate designs. Plus, our close-ups show you how to coordinate your fingertips with clutches and jewelry, too. Click through to see our favorite star nails of 2013!
— Additional reporting by Kaitlyn Dreyling and Maria Del Russo
'Tis the beginning of sun and sandals, which means it's time to book your pedicures, and we have the best new color options to take your fingers and toes into Summer. What are you waiting for? Find out our favorite new lacquers for June, when you keep clicking!
There is nothing like a flawless manicure to excite any woman, but OPI wants to do you one better. The polish giant is launching a series of six smartphone cases featuring signature OPI shades: I'm Not Really a Waitress, Big Apple Red, You Don't Know Jacques, Dating a Royal, Pink Flamenco, and Need Sunglasses? Each polish hue is energetically splayed across the crisp white covers for an eye-catching design. The best part about the release? Each case comes with a matching mini bottle of OPI Nail Lacquer.
"We wanted to create the ultimate accessory for our tech-savvy fans," Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI executive VP and artistic director, said. The cases, which retail for $40 each, are available for iPhone 4, 4S, and 5. There is also a set of screen protectors, which come with a bottle of OPI RapiDry Top Coat.
Ready for some more eye candy? See the rest of the collection.
I was over the moon when Essie first released its Sleek Stick nail wraps, and now there's a new Summer 2013 collection with six fresh designs. The hot-pink Small Pleasures ($10) design caught my eye. I love the vibrant color, but it was the textured 3D design and the unique take on floral nail art that won me over. Plus, they're a breeze to apply! Be sure to start off with clean hands and nails to ensure the adhesive sticks. Then find the right size appliqué for each nail. Just peel off and apply to your nail, and use the included tool to help smooth out each wrap and get rid of air bubbles for a tight fit. Use the included file to remove the excess, and you're good to go. Which one is your favorite?
