Zoya

If you missed out on the "flaky" nail polish trend the first time around, this is your chance to try it out. Zoya's new Fleck Effect topcoats ($8 each) are full of Mylar "flecks" that create a pretty holographic effect on nails. They're all transparent and pretty versatile, but if we had to choose one we'd take the pink shade, Chloe. The orange, gold, and red tones in the flecks will go well with any warm-toned nail polish, and the shade reminds us of the fire inside an opal. The other two shades, Maisie (blue) and Opal (green) are also really fun to wear, but Maisie looks better over cool-toned polishes, and Opal is prettiest over black, navy, and green, making it a little more edgy. Get them now and you'll be able to wear them all year long.

Like Zoya on Facebook? Well, perhaps you should, because they're awesomely giving away three free bottles of nail polish to all their fans in celebration of reaching 20,000 likes. From now until Jan. 7, just visit Zoya's site and enter code FB2011 at checkout, and you've got yourself three free hues.

It's always interesting to hear the stories about the people behind the brands, and Zoya nail polish founder Zoya Reyzis's is a good one. Zoya, who came to the US from Ukraine in 1978, operated Zoya salon in a suburb of Cleveland from 1986 to 1996. A classically trained pianist, Zoya likened the client-to-nail-technician relationship as an intimate musical experience.

"I related each phase of the service to a part of a musical composition: Exposition (the removal of old polish); development (nail shaping, filing and cuticle care); recapitulation (applying new polish). Everything is music to me," she explained to Cleveland's The Plain Dealer.

While Zoya encountered some tricky times during her stint as a salon owner (the locals at one time got the wrong idea about what a massage actually entailed), she eventually found her big break: Zoom Dry, a nail-drying invention made by her husband. With him, Zoya started The Art of Beauty Co. in 1996, with products like Zoya nail polish and Qtica body, nail, and hand treatments under the brand's umbrella. And even with all the responsibilities Zoya takes on, she still makes time to give piano lessons.

Photo courtesy of Zoya

If you're trying to choose one nail polish over another, or the thought of buying a polish without trying it first makes you distressed, look no further than Zoya's new Color Spoons. (Available today on Zoya.com.)

The spoons are made up of a clear plastic handle, with the actual shade painted on the nail-shaped tip at the end. Just hold the spoon up to your nail to see how it will look on you. While I'm not totally in love with the idea of having these little plastic pieces all over the place, they are essentially free.

Here's how it works: you're charged $.50 per spoon with complimentary shipping. Then, you'll receive a promo code for a credit equal to the amount you spent on said spoons. You can then use that discount toward your next Zoya purchase. What do you think of the idea?

Have you visited the BellaSugar Community lately? It's filled with all sorts of beauty tips, like this great Earth Month-inspired program mentioned by both Beautopia and BlaqVixenBeauty.

If you have old nail polish that's collecting dust, it's earth-friendly Zoya to the rescue. From now until June 30, Zoya will take your unwanted polishes in its popular Nail Polish Exchange. All you have to do is send in six or more bottles of polish (except for Zoya brand, Qtica, or Nocti) and pick from over 300 shades in the brand's selection as replacements. Better yet, Zoya will dispose of your old polishes in accordance with EPA guidelines.

Note: Zoya polishes regularly cost $7, and as part of the deal, they're requesting $3.50 per bottle for shipping and processing. Find out more about the details at the link directly above, and be sure to check out the OnSugar blogs for other great beauty tidbits, too.