Mischo Beauty Extra: Zoya's Intimate Collection Spring 2011

Remember how much I loved Zoya's "Robyn" last summer? Well, I'm on the hunt for what will be my "can't live without" nail shade for spring. I just received Zoya's Intimate Collection (Dannii, Caitlin, Marley, Dove, Gemma & Jules) and the colors are so pretty! Right now I'm in love with "Marley", "Dove" and "Caitlin". Your picks?

Disclosure: Products in this post were provided for consideration by the company. For more information, please see my disclosure.

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Mischo Beauty Loves The Emerald Door

I had sparkly nails for Christmas (Zoya's Diana, layered with Delilah), compliments of The Emerald Door, and guess what? I loved them! My visit to the new eco-chic natural nail spa included a manicure and pedicure I'll never forget. Not only were the services thoroughly performed (remember I'm a licensed cosmetologist, so I'm super picky!), but all products are toxin-free, and sanitation/disinfection and overall cleanliness were excellent. The decor of this cozy nail spa is GORGEOUS, and because my appointment was on a Sunday, I was treated to a mimosa. I enjoyed my visit and can't wait to go back!

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Mischo Beauty Extra: Zoya's Flash & Sparkle Summer 2010 Nail Polish Collections

How HOT is Zoya's new collection for summer 2010? Seriously, I thought there was no topping last summer's collection of sexy cream and metallic shades, but clearly I was wrong! This new collection again includes six metallics (top row, left to right):

- Ivanka (mermaid green)
- Charla (tropical blue)
- Mimi (royal purple)
- Alegra (fuchsia pink)
- Nidhi (rich red)
- Gilda (fashion pink)

Six new cream shades:

- Robyn (perfect turquoise)
- Perrie (soft lavender)
- Dana (american rose)
- Jolene (summer pink)
- Maura (electric crimson)
- Jancyn (soft tangerine)

And since we're celebrating Earth Month (but, we really celebrate Earth Day everyday, right!), please know that Zoya Nail Polish is free of formaldehyde, toluene, DBP & camphor, and is vegan friendly.

So I must know your picks- do tell!

Disclosure: Products in this post were provided for consideration by the company. For more information, please see my disclosure.

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Mischo Beauty Extra: Zoya's Reverie Spring Collection

As I write this post I'm seriously reminiscing about my recent trip to St. Lucia- probably because I wore a combination of Zoya's "Gwin" and "Lana" (last two nail colors above- far right) while lying on the beach- remember this Twitpic...

The nail collection above is Zoya's Reverie Spring Collection which includes:

- Laney
- Charity (not included in this collection, but perfect for spring!)
- Adina
- Happi
- Reece
- Gwin
- Lana

Described as "dreamy metallic oil slick looking" nail colors, they're all available now- here! So what's your favorite shade?

Disclosure: Products in this post were provided for consideration by the company. For more information, please see my disclosure.

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Mischo Beauty Covers Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week: Zoya Nail Polish & Peter Som Fall 2010 Ready-to-Wear Collection

I can't begin to tell you how much I love Zoya Nail Polish and so covering nails backstage at Peter Som was like a dream come true! And so after arriving at Milk Studios last Saturday, I learnd that Som was inspired by the film Taking Woodstock by Ang Lee, and therefore created a collection of texture, prints, florals, beading, checks, tweeds and knits.

The nail color of choice was "Charity" (pictured on the model's hands above) which is described as a "metallic dusty purple with magical gilded highlights". Erin Giddings of Zoya stated, "they wanted to go with a neutral, but with tone to it- they didn't want to go with a nude. They selected Charity, which has a gold shimmer underneath..."

Lead manicurist Jackie Saulsbery prepped the nails using the Lemon Dream Home Spa collection followed by the Zoya Color Lock System. The nail look perfectly complemented the fall 2010 collection, which can be viewed in full here.

Love the nail color? Would you wear it?

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Mischo's Mistletoe Beauty Guide

I enjoy sharing beauty tips, beauty education and product reviews with you all, but now it's time for some fun! It's my favorite time of the year- and so the theme of this guide is all about achieving that "kiss me under the mistletoe" look with gorgeous makeup, hair, skin and nails. And so, let's begin!

The foundation for beautiful skin, is healthy skin. My recommendation is to start with a cleansing and nourishing facial. We all know the benefits of facials, right? And so my suggestion is a visit to Christine Chin Spa, owned by celebrity esthetician, Christine Chin. She has over 20 years of experience in the skincare business, and her clients include Gisele Bundchen, Kimora Lee Simmons and Kate Moss.

I don't know about you, but I want to keep my skin healthy and glowing after an investment in a facial. I suggest investing in a Clarisonic skincare brush. You can use it in conjunction with a cleanser and also with an exfoliant for an even deeper cleansing. I always use mine during the mini-facials I give myself at home. The removal of dead skin cells, not only helps with cell turnover, but also keeps skin looking young and fresh.

There's not much I need to say about La Mer, that you don't already know! It is luxury skincare at it's best. What I will say though is, if you don't have a consistent skincare regimen- GET STARTED NOW! I'm recommending The Connoisseur Collection.

Baths are both relaxing and pampering- and you should pamper yourself daily, not just on special occasions. I fell in love with the Bath Oil Collection, Deluxe Soap Collection and Pamper Kit- all holiday gift sets by Jo Malone. Sorry- I couldn't pick just one!

I stopped in Bergdorf's this past summer and fell in love with Serge Lutens Parfum. I know fragrance scents are individual, but there are enough scents in this collection of fragrances that you'll definitely fall in love with one of them. When I wear Nuit De Cellophane or Datura Noir- I'm always complemented. Wearing one of these scents will definitely secure a kiss!

I'm partial to a sexy, sultry eye look- especially for under the mistletoe, and so my pick is the Les 4 Ombres De Chanel eye shadow quad in "Smoky Eyes" by Chanel.

You all know how much I love celebrity makeup artist, Sam Fine. Whatever he's using, I'm rushing out to try! He loves blushes by NARS, and my suggestion to you is to visit a NARS counter near you and find a shade that makes you glow! One of my favorites is "Orgasm".

So this is really about achieving the most kissable lips, right! So I'm recommending both the Rouge Volupte and Fard A Levres Rouge Pur lipsticks by Yves Saint Laurent. The texture, range of shades, and wearability make both lipsticks so worth it! And kissable lips are worth it, right?

I don't know about you, but when I look at a person, most times my eyes are drawn to their hair first. And so, healthy hair is key! A beautifully executed cut and color, doesn't hurt! If you happen to be near New York City, then you need to see Carlina Munoz for color (you won't be disappointed!) and she's at the John Barrett Salon. My recommendation for a haircut would be an amazing hairstylist by the name of Mahogany, at the Oscar Blandi Salon. Mahogany also specializes in extensions, Brazilian relaxing treatments and thermal straightening treatments.

For home maintenance- yes, you must properly care for your investments- I'm recommending Kerastase. I love this line of products because there's a product for every hair type/need/issue. So if you've colored your hair, be sure to check out the Reflection collection. If you're having issues with dryness, possibly due to the change in seasons, then check out the Nutritive collection of products.

I'm personally dying to visit Jin Soon Hand And Foot Spa. It's owned by manicurist to the stars, Jin Soon. Remember her collaboration with MAC Cosmetics earlier this year, and the nail colors you couldn't live without? Well, not only is Jin about creating chic nail colors and pampering her clients, she also educates her clients on the health and care of their nails. She's even included a downloadable nail handbook on her website (I love it!). There's no doubt that after an appointment with her, you'll have perfectly manicured hands and feet.

And finally, we know manicures/pedicures only last for so long (especially depending on your lifestyle, etc.) and so I love Zoya Nail Polish for home use. It's free of harmful chemicals, and you WILL find a shade you'll fall in love with! Remember how much I loved "Layla" this summer? Right now I'm wearing "Envy" and yes, I love it too!

I hope you all loved my picks, suggestions and recommendations. I had fun compiling this list- and really, it go could on forever! What I really want for the holidays- besides all the kisses I can get under the mistletoe- is love, peace and happiness for all!

So, which of the above are you planning to try for yourself?

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Mischo Beauty Extra: Zoya's MatteVelvet Winter Limited Edition Collection

A few months ago I introduced you to Zoya's MatteVelvet collection for fall and I've just received the limited edition collection for winter. I'm interested in knowing what your thoughts are on the "matte" nail polish trend- so please let me know! Do you think it's here for just a season, or are you expecting more of it for spring/summer?

So, Zoya's MatteVelvet Winter collection includes three shimmering mattes:

- Harlow (left)
- Savita (center)
- Veruschka (right)

Without a doubt, Veruschka is my absolute favorite! Oh, and remember that the look is supposed to be a "matte" finish, so this nail polish formula doesn't require a base coat, top coat, or a speed dryer.

Love it?

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Mischo Beauty Extra: Zoya's Ultra Glitter Winter 2009 Collection

It's no secret that I'm a "glitter/sequins girl"- remember my favorite makeup bag here and here? Well, Zoya sent me their newest collection, Ultra Glitter Winter 2009, and you know it has my name written all over it! The collection includes Astra, Nova and Luna and is available now.

So which is your favorite?

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Mischo Beauty Extra: Zoya's MatteVelvet Collection

I've got to give it up to Zoya, because they never let us down! I'm still in love with the "Truth" & "Dare" fall 2009 collection and it's the reason that I'm late with telling you all about the MatteVelvet collection. This new collection includes three "shimmering mattes":

- Loredana (left)
- Dovima (center)
- Posh (right)

And what makes this collection unique is that it's not meant to be worn without a base or top coat, or a speed dryer. The finish should be "matte"! I apologize for not having swatches- I've been beyond busy lately- but trust me on this one, you'll love it!

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Mischo Beauty Covers Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week: CUTLER & Toni Maticevski Spring 2010

Since I barely made it backstage for Toni Maticevski, I was only able to cover the nails by Zoya. Well lucky for me, it just so happened that I was given a front row seat for the show! Woot-woot! And of course in my excitement I couldn't decide whether to photograph the clothes, shoes or hair!

Well I fell in love with the hair and the decision was made! Rodney Cutler of CUTLER Salon was the creative director for hair, which was a modern interpretation of the classic french roll, adorned with jeweled barrettes and flowers. The look perfectly complemented the collection.

You may view the entire look for Toni Maticevski here.

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Mischo Beauty Covers Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week: Zoya Nail Polish & Toni Maticevski Spring 2010

The nail look for Toni Maticevski's Spring 2010 Ready-To-Wear collection was created by celebrity manicurist Skyy Hadley, using Zoya Nail Polish's "Midori" layered with a thin coat of "Bekka". The combination of the cool metallic green layered with a "lemon yellow-lime" was a pleasant surprise!

The final nail look complemented the collection perfectly by giving it a tiny accent of beautiful, shimmery color. "Bekka" is described as a "multi-dimensional metallic lemon yellow-lime with a gilded sparkle finish".

Zoya's "Armor" was used as a top coat to provide a glossy, flawless finish. You may view the entire look for Toni Maticevski here.

- Did you miss Zoya Nail Polish's "Ooh-La-La" collection? If so, view it here.
- Click here to see how Zoya Nail Polish partnered with Rachel Roy for her Fall 2009 Ready-to-Wear Collection.

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Mischo Beauty Extra: Zoya's Truth & Dare Fall 2009 Nail Polish Collections

Zoya has done it again! They've just released two beautiful collections for the fall called Truth and Dare. Each collection consists of six shades- basically every shade you'd probably need for the fall.

The Dare collection includes Ibiza, Envy, Pinta (my favorite!), Vanessa, Ciara and Demi.

The Truth collection includes Penny, Kalmia, Salma, Isla, Anaka and Drew. Now I'll admit that I'm a tad bit in denial about the onset of fall next month and am still wearing Zoya's Layla (which I LOVE!). So, I'll be back in a few weeks with swatches. In the meantime, learn more about both collections here.

Which shades are your favorites? Do share!

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Mischo Beauty: Zoya's "Layla" Nail Polish & Bikini Brunch at the Hotel Gansevoort

I mentioned on Twitter this morning that I refreshed my manicure/pedicure using Zoya's "Layla" (which I happened to win by following Zoya on Twitter!) and a few of you requested photos. You can see the color on my nails in the photo above, which was taken this afternoon while I was having brunch at the Hotel Gansevoort.

Zoya describes the nail color as a "hot bright deep pink cream", and I must tell you that I've been receiving compliments all week!

I enjoyed brunch, and the view of the city was amazing. I also toured the Gansevoort Exhale Spa (which I recommended to everyone about a year ago) and I can't wait to try the services.

Oh, and while I was in the Meatpacking District, I also toured Edris Salon (which I've also recommended several times. You might remember my mentioning, in the past, that Edris is Creative Director for hair for Tracy Reese every Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

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Mischo Beauty: Qtica Smart Spa Cherry Bing Collection

If you're in need of a "pick-me-up" then I suggest checking out Qtica Smart Spa's new collection of Cherry Bing bath and body products. Qtica is most widely known for their assortment of nail treatments, but most recently launched the Smart Spa collection of products, meant to be used not only for manicures/pedicures, but all over the body as well.

The Cherry Bing scent smells amazingly good - and I think it's perfect for summer. The products I tried were the Sugar Scrub, Shower Gel and Luxury Lotion. The stand-out product for me was the Sugar Scrub (you all probably remember that I'm an exfoliant addict) because I loved how gentle it felt on my skin, and also the fact that it left it soft and smooth- along with the amazing scent!

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Mischo Beauty: Zoya Hot Lips Lip Gloss

I'm sure you all know by now how much I love Zoya nail polish- remember the fabulous Spring 2009 and Summer 2009 collections? Well, I thought I'd let you all know about their fun collection of lip glosses, called Hot Lips.

The selection of colors perfectly compliment a variety of their nail polish collections. Pictured above are: KissKiss, Starlet and Resolution.

For an understated look check out- Blog, Meow and Luvie. To view the entire collection please visit www.artofbeauty.com.

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Mischo Beauty Extra: Zoya's La-Di-Da & Ooh-La-La Summer 2009 Nail Polish Collections

I thought I had every possible nail color imaginable for summer until I discoved Zoya's Summer 2009 Collections: Ooh-La-La and La-Di-Da! Ok, aren't you just loving the names of the collections! How can you not???!!!

The Ooh-La-La collection includes six metallic shades (left to right): Katy, Tallulah, Midori, Goldie, Emme & Ginessa.

The La-Di-Da collection includes six cream shades (left to right): America, Dita, Renee, Paz, Ali & Pippa.

It was hard for me to pick a color to swatch because they all called my name, but Paz won! It's a rich, bright creamy orange that looks almost fluorescent in dim lighting (as shown above). Zoya describes it as an "ultra bright neon orange".

I used two coats, although one would have worked and yes, I've fallen in love with it. This color reminds me of nothing but long, warm, fun and carefree summer days. I'm so glad summer is here!

Zoya Nail Polish is free of formaldehyde, toluene, DBP & camphor, and is only available at salons, spas and zoya.com.

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Mischo Beauty Extra: Zoya's Twist Spring 2009 Nail Polish Collection

My friend, Shalon (an expert manicurist at Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa) has always had great things to say about Zoya Nail Polish. I trust what she says because not only does she use Zoya day-in and day-out on her clients, but she's been doing nails for 7 years and has used just about every brand out there.

Now I'd posted Zoya's "Manhattan" without trying it, because I loved the color. My interested was further inspired after following Zoya on the runways during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Well, lucky for me, I was finally able to check out Zoya's Twist collection for Spring 2009.

The colors from left to right are: Moxie (vibrant red plum cream), Cassi (shimmering soft peach), Barbie (shimmering soft pink), Malia (violet cream), Jo (shimmering silver blue metallic) and Harley (soft shimmering gray).

I loved all of the colors, but my color of choice for this post was "Malia"- such a pretty color! My nails reminded me of the Easter candy I'm starting to see on the shelves of just about every store right now!

In general, I found the nail polish formulations to be highly pigmented; and very rich and creamy. No watered-down formulations, and the brush was the perfect width for a 3-stroke application. A perfect finish required two coats.

I found the "wear" of the nail polish to be long-lasting, though I know that varies with each individual's day-to-day activities. So after testing the collection out, I now know why it was used on the runways of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, and why it's currently used in Red Door Spas throughout the nation!

You should also know that the formulations are free of formaldehyde, toluene, DBP and camphor. Zoya is only available at salons, spas and zoya.com.

So what do you think of the collection? Have you tried Zoya?

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