NAIL FILES: Pretty in Pink

Good evening, my sweet readers! I’m catching up as fast as I can with my posts and my articles and today, after more than a month without them, the Nail Files are back. Some people say Emerald is the color of the season (ok, Pantone said it), but I dare to disagree. This season, it’s all about pink. It doesn’t matter if you go for hot pink, baby or salmon, the important thing is taking advantage of the prettiest color from the bunch. That’s why I made a selection of the best shades of pink polish you can find right now. Keep those nails girly and pretty, keep ’em pink!

TUTU PINK

1. Ballerina, Chanel Le Vernis
2. Skin to Skin, ANNY
3. East Hampton Cottage, Essie
4. Rose Milk, Kure
5. Before he cheats, Deborah Lippmann

PEONY PINK

1. It’s a Girl, OPI
2. Poppy Art Pink, Essie
3. Dear Diary, Sephora by OPI
4. Wishful Pinking, Loreal
5. Less is More, ANNY

SALMON PINK

1. Princess, Dior Vernis
2. A Crewed Interest, Essie
3. Rose Abstrait, YSL
4. Frisson, Chanel le Vernis
5. Kensington Place Gardens, Nails INC

ROSEY PINK

1. Ballerina Pink, Estee Lauder
2. Pink Crush, Tom Ford
3. Mad Men, Estee Lauder
4. Sakura, Kure
5. Spaghetti Strap, Essie

MACARON PINK

1. May, Chanel Le Vernis
2. Seeing Pink Elephants, Sephora by OPI
3. Chack-up, Essie
4. Macaron, Kure
5. Rosy Bow, Dior Vernis

BARBIE PINK

1. Saint Germain, MAC
2. Cascade Cool, Essie
3. Harem, Illamasqua
4. Pink of Hearts, OPI
5. Brompton Place, Nails INC

RASPBERRY PINK

1. Rose Exuberant, Chanel Le Vernis
2. Fuchsia Irresistible, Givenchy
3. Anardana, Nars
4. Fabulous, Kure
5. Arm Candy, Sephora by OPI

FUCHSIA

1. Obsess, Illamasqua
2. Paisley Martini, Scotch Minerals
3. Secret Stash, Essie
4. Passione, Dolce & Gabbana
5. Ate Berries, OPI

BLOODY PINK

1. Graphic Berry, Dior Vernis
2. Rose Boudoir, Lancome
3. Keys to my Hybrid, Sephora by OPI
4. Big Spender, Essie
5. Fuchsia Cubiste, YSL

That’s a wrap for today’s post! And remeber, a girl can never have too many bottles of pink nail polish!

Sweet kisses…

Illustrations: Ana Sofia Alanis

Image sources:  Selfridges, Chanel, Sephora, Essie, Asos

All texts, illustrations and collages are made by me, it’s forbidden to re-post without previous request (sweetnrawme@gmail.com) and images must link back to this site

NAIL FILES: The Milkshake Parlour

Happy Friday, my sweet readers! Why not welcome March and kick-off this weekend with a fun and really, really sweet post! The nail files are back and cuter than ever. The weather is finally starting to change and mi mind is definitely on Spring mode, why not get those nails in warmer temperature mode too. For this edition, I got my inspiration from one of my all-time favorite drinks: the milkshake. One of my biggest pleasures in life? Having a supersize, frothy, vanilla milkshake. What’s your favorite flavor?

CHOCOLATE

1. Beige Nude, Dior Vernis
2. Smoky Canvas, Revlon
3. Beige Leger, YSL
4. Fashion, Deborah Lippmann
5. Glamour Purse, Essie

MINT

1. Fiver, Butter London
2. Valley, Topshop
3. Minty, RGB
4. Minta Candy Apple, Essie
5. Minted, Revlon

STRAWBERRY

1. Dear Diary, Sephora by OPI
2. Rose Petal, Dolce & Gabbana
3. Teddy Girl, Butter London
4. Penelope, Julep Maven
5. Ballerina, Chanel Le Vernis

CAPPUCCINO

1. I Need Space, Sephora by OPI
2. Undercover Nude, MAC
3. Did you Ear about Van Gogh, OPI
4. Sand Tropez, Essie
5. Frenzy, Chanel Le Vernis

VANILLA

1. Load, Illamasqua
2. Instant Hot, Essie
3. Reflection, OPI
4. Pall Mall, Nails Inc.
5. Flo Naked, Tom Ford

CARAMEL

1. Nonfat Soy Half Caff, Sephora by OPI
2. Muscle Tone, MAC
3. Tigress, Paul & Joe
4. Toasted Sugar, Tom Ford
5. Safari Beige, Dior Vernis

BANANA

1. Bees Knees, Topshop
2. 15 Minutes, Nars
3. Sunshine Sparkle, Revlon
4. Lemon Meringue, Models Own
5. Why Yellow There, Sephora by OPI

BERRIES

1. Powder Lilac, Anny
2. Lilac, Dolce & Gabbana
3. Charming, Revlon
4. Pilates Hottie, Essie
5. Speckle, Illamasqua

Strawberry, Vanilla or Caramel? What’s your favorite?

Wishing you a great weekend, sweet kisses…

Illustrations: Ana Sofia Alanis

Image sources:  Selfridges, Chanel, Sephora, Essie, Asos

All texts, illustrations and collages are made by me, it’s forbidden to re-post without previous request (sweetnrawme@gmail.com) and images must link back to this site

NAIL FILES: I’ll take you to the candy shop…

Hello, hello, my sweet readers! It’s that time of the month, Nail Files time! Once a month, for those of you who are new kids on this block, I like to put a together a themed nail polish selection. It has nothing to do with beauty novelties or trends, it’s just fun to put together and fun for you to read. A little break or detour from all the fashion overdose I’m always giving you. For this Nail Files edition I wanted to do something cheery and colorful, the snow and the terrible weather we’ve been having these days call for some serious pick-me-ups. What’s more colorful than candy? In a very “Willy Wonka gone cute” kind of way, I have put together a sweet, sweet selection of nail enamel, guaranteed to give you a sugar high. Let’s start!

PEPPERMINT CANDY

1. Alpine Snow, OPI
2. Rouge Pop Art 1, YSL
3. Highland Mist, Scotch
4. Snap Happy, Essie
5. Attraction, Chanel

CANDY CORN

1. IM Beauty, Sephora by OPI
2. Distraction, Chanel
3. Ivory 108, Dior
4. Meet me at Sunset, Essie
5. Lemon Highlander, Scotch

COTTON CANDY

1. Tutu, Dior
2. Havana Dreams, Sephora by OPI
3. Strawberry Milkshake, Ciaté
4. Bikini so Teeny, Essie
5. Tendresse, Chanel

BUBBLEGUM

1. May, Chanel
2. Rosy Bow, Dior
3. Groove is in the Heart, Deborah Lippmann
4. Jolie Rosalie, Lancome
5. Seashell Pink, Nars

CANDY HEARTS

1. Fiver, Butter London
2. Morning Glory Fizz, Scotch
3. Blanc Symboliste 26, YSL
4. Check-up, Essie
5. Mimosa, Chanel

LICORICE

1. Licorice, Essie
2. Dragon, Chanel
3. Dark Side of the Moon, Deborah Lippmann
4. Jungle Red, Nars
5. Noir Primitif 27, YSL

CHOCOLATE (dark,milk & white)

1. Chocolate, Dolce & Gabbana
2. Dune 715, Dior
3. Load, Illamasqua
4. Glamour Purse, Essie
5. Vertigo, Chanel

RUNTS

1. Tentation, Chanel
2. Rose Romantique 25, YSL
3. Yellow Brick Road, Deborah Lippmann
4. It’s totally Karma, Sephora by OPI
5. Action, Essie

That’s it for the day! The countdown for NYFW has officially begun and we couldn’t be more excited. As always, we are gonna be holding a very special coverage, but this year, it’s gonna be a little different from what I’ve been doing for the past seasons. Are you ready for fashion month?

Sweet kisses…

Illustrations: Ana Sofia Alanis

Image sources: Selfridges, Sephora.com, Essie, Chanel, YSL Beauty

All texts, illustrations and collages are made by me, it’s forbidden to re-post without previous request (sweetnrawme@gmail.com) and images must link back to this site

SWEET TROUBLE: Pink gets me high as a kite…

When it comes to pink nail polish, I admit it, I am a compulsive shopper. But I am not the cheese who stands alone in this one, I know that for sure (my sister is to nail polish, what Berlusconi is to Viagra).

How many times have you had to explain le boyfriend that the pink Dior is creamier than the Chanel one (even though they look almost the same) and that’s why you need them both.

How many times have you stood before the impressive nail polish line-up at drugstore aisle, trying to decide between barbie pink, candy pink or mauve. After a 30 minute deliberation (the security guard walking around you, eyeing you suspiciously, as a potential shoplifter means you’ve been in there for too long) you decide to take them all along with that neon pink that just caught your eye (even though you promised you would only buy one).

You feel the need to gift yourself Tom Ford’s Private Blend Nail Lacquer set this Christmas (click HERE if you wish to see it, at the risk of feeling greedier than Gollum). You are willing to pay 400 pounds for the box, only if the sales lady agrees to substitute the 16 shades inside with 16 bottles of Indian Pink.

You get your Essie parcel at home, only to discover you bought 15 shades of pink and one coral.

Your Instagram account could easily be mistaken for an OPI catalogue (the pinks and roses section, of course).

Does pink get you high as a kite? Is pink your favorite crayon? Yes, I’m kinda quoting Aerosmith.

If the answer’s yes, I rest my case.

A girl can never have too many bottles of pink nail polish.

Sweet kisses…

Illustration: Ana Sofia Alanis

All texts, illustrations and collages are made by me, it’s forbidden to re-post without previous request (sweetnrawme@gmail.com) and images must link back to this site.

SUMMER GETAWAYS 2012: The Jet-set Junkie (beachwear)

Greetings from Mexico City, my sweet readers! Summer is sizzlin’ and what better way to kick off our Getaways series than with the beachwear round (if you still have no clue what the Summer Getaways series is all about, please click HERE). We are starting this one with our lovely and snobbish Pearl, the Jet-set Junkie. So if you are the kind of girl that needs some outfit ideas for a day at the beach club, sipping some Dom, I whipped this up just for you!

This beach babe is all about the glitz and glamour. Nothing’s more glamourous and glitzy than mixing white with metallic shades and textures. An embellished kaftan or kimono can be the perfect item to make you stand out from the crowd.

• Look for white bikinis with golden trim or with a silver detail (beware, white swimwear can betray you when wet).
• Kimonos are great beach companions, you get to wear a cover-up and still show your bikini.
• Detailed sandals are the way to go: chained, studded, embellished (just choose a delicate pair)
• Keep your mani/pedi as neutral as possible.
• For the glamour touch, square or round frame sunnies

WHAT PEARL’S WEARING

• Bikini set, CHLOE
• White running shorts, ZARA
• Kimono, ASOS
• Sandals, ASOS
• Studded shoulder tote, VALENTINO
• Bangle set, FOREVER 21
• Plate bracelet, MADE
• White bracelet, DOROTHY PERKINS
• Sunnies, VICTORIA BECKHAM
• New York City Ballet nail polish collection, OPI

That’s it for our glam beach girl, tomorrow we will visit Jaime, the Party Girl! Be sure to check back!

Sweet kisses…

PS: NYC is two weeks away!

Illustrations: Ana Sofia Alanis

Image sources: Net-a-porter, OPI, ASOS, Zara, Farfetch

 

All texts, illustrations and collages are made by me, it’s forbidden to re-post without previous request (sweetnrawme@gmail.com) and images must link back to this site

NAIL FILES: Le Macaron

Happy and relaxing Sunday, my sweet readers! Today we are taking a break from our Shopping Guide because we are focusing on beauty trends. Our always fun and themed Nail Files are back and this time looking lovelier and tastier than ever. Who doesn’t love macarons? Even looking at them is always pleasant and since the fashion world is going crazy with pastel hues, a macaron inspired, nail polish post is all we need! Ready for a strong dose of sugar and a taste of sweet?

LAVANDE-BLUET

• Lilac, Dolce & Gabbana Bouquet
• L Esprit, American Apparel
• Parma Violet, TOPSHOP
• Lilacism, Essie

PETÁLE DE ROSE

• Pink Crush, Tom Ford
• Muchi Muchi, Essie
• Pink-ing of you, OPI
• Rose, Dolce & Gabbana Bouquet

VANILLE

• Butter, American Apparel
• Lemon, Dolce & Gabbana Bouquet
• Load, Illamasqua
• LA Confidential, Ciaté

MUGUET

• Office, American Apparel
• Nudge, Illamasqua
• Jaded, Revlon
• OSM, USLU Airlines x Bernard Whillhelm

FLEUR D’ORANGER

• June, Chanel Le Vernis
• Sugared Almonds, Ciaté
• A crewed interest, Essie
• Peach Sherbet, Models Own

CHOCOLAT AMER

• Smokin’ Hot, Essie
• Chocolately Brown, YSL La Laque
• Chocolate, Dolce & Gabbana Intense
• Unnatural, Illamasqua

CRÉME DE MENTHE

• ZRH Headman, USLU Airlines
• Caress, Illamasqua
• Forget me not, TOPSHOP
• Blooboo, Models Own

What’s your favorite macaron flavor? I’m a sucker for Laduree’s Vanilla one!

Have a lovely Sunday, sweet kisses…

Illustration: Ana Sofia Alanis (minus the sofa, anyupholstery.com)

All texts and collages are made by me, it’s forbidden to re-post them without previous request (sweetnrawme@gmail.com) and images must link back to this site.

NAIL FILES: Chiquita Banana

And after a week of no posts, we meet again my sweet readers! Going back to Europe after a month in my beloved Mexico always means chaos. Between the jet lag, the cold and harsh Winter, a month’s worth of dust inside my apartment, cleaning, unpacking, school and yes, spending time with my gentle giant, I’ve only begun to adjust to my daily life (hence the lack of posts). But I am back, and since our last NAIL FILES post was all about X-mas and we are so over it right now, another one is in order. I’m craving Spring more than ever, not only because I am a S/S kind of gal, but also because I have returned to frozen hell (Italy) after many days in my warm heaven I like to call Mexico. So, while we long for the most beautiful season of them all, why not get our nails ready for it. What better way to do so, than with a little inspiration from the queen of bright and samba, Miss Carmen Miranda and her fruits!

Peaches & Cream

1. Ivoire, Dior Vernis
2. Peach Nacreè, Chanel Le Vernis
3. Purity, Illamasqua
4. Virgin Orchid, Essie

Come Mister Tally Man, tally me banana

1. Mimosa, Chanel Le Vernis
2. Big Yellow Taxi, Ciaté
3. Yellow Brick Road, Deborah Lippmann
4. Wayward, Illamasqua

Sweet Kiwi, your juice is dripping down my chin

1. Mojito, Ciaté
2. Crescent Heights, American Apparel
3. Did it on’em, OPI
4. Radium, Illamasqua

Tangerine trees and marmalade skies

1. Meet me at Sunset, Essie
2. Gamma, Illamasqua
3. Speed Dial, Ciaté
4. On the same paige, OPI

Got any grapes?

1. Late Show, Topshop
2. Poke, Illamasqua
3. African Violet, American Apparel
4. Sexy Divide, Essie

Do you remember lying on a grapefruit?

1. Mango Bango, Essie
2. Daytripper, Deborah Lippmann
3. May, Chanel Le Vernis
4. Rose Bowl, American Apparel

There you go! Some fruit and some color to cheer up the spirit and our hands on this cold January days!

Sweet kisses…

Illustrations: Ana Sofia Alanis (fruits from google)

All texts are written by me, PLAGIARISM is not cool

NAIL FILES: Berrylicious baby!

With only one post waiting in the oven about PFW, a non-runway one is just what the doctor ordered! It’s been a while since I gave you some nail files, I hope it is as fun to read for you as it is for me to prepare it. Since my color obsession du jour is red (all shades of red) and those “Frutti di Bosco” hues look smashing with all fall clothes and tonalities, it’s all about the berry nail polishes. 5 wild fruit inspired categories, one crust inspired one (when thinking about berries you can’t help but think about pastry) and 24 different nail polish shades from the top nail companies: Deborah Lippmann, Essie, OPI, Nails INC and more! Let’s start!

RASPBERRY SCONES

• Rouge Carat (Winter Collection), Chanel
• Do you think I’m texy, OPI
• Sweet Pea, Estee Lauder’s Pure Color
• Size Matters, Essie

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE

• Animal-istic (Muppets Collection), OPI
• 5th Avenue, Essie
• Timeless Parisian Red, Deborah Lippmann
• Ruthless, Illamasqua

SWEET CHERRY PIE

• Wocka Wocka (Muppets Collection), OPI
• Aspen, Nails INC
• Lady is a Tramp, Deborah Lippmann
• A-list, Essie

BLACKBERRY MUFFIN

• Good Girl Gone Bad, Deborah Lippmann
• Carry-on, Essie
• Lincoln Park Minight, OPI
• Endless Night, NARS

BLUEBERRY PANCAKES

• Bobbing for Baubles, ESSIE
• Blue Denim, Dior Vernis
• 44 La Laque, YSL
• I know what boys like, Deborah Lippmann

CRUNCHY CRUST

• Quiet Time, MAC
• Satin Doll, Deborah Lippmann
• Case Study, Essie
• Cadogan Square, Nails INC

Are your nails hungry for berries? Mine certainly are! Time for some very, berry delicious paws!

Tomorrow’s post, the last from PFW and then Sweet’n’Raw has in store a big Halloween surprise! Check back with us!

Sweet kisses…

PS: LIKE US ON FACEBOOK! Pretty please?

Illustrations: Ana Sofia Alanis

Photos: Internet

All texts are written by me, PLAGIARISM is not cool

NAIL FILES: It’s Getting Hot in Here…

Summer is on and hotter than ever. The beach is the place to be right now. Picture yourself in a stunning and flashy bikini, your best sandals, a sheer and chic coverup, your classic Ray Ban aviators, holding a giant Mojito. What could be missing in this fabulous equation? The perfect mani-pedi. And since Summer is a synonym for fun, let your paws look like a beach ball! Bright colors and a killer tan are a match made in heaven. Wearing a hot pink tank top over your perfectly roasted skin (alway wear sunscreen) will always make you pop, and will make a lot of heads turn. So with your nails, same effect. Plus, bright hues are always much more fun and happy than a classic beige (leave that for a wedding) or the too serious crimson (leave that for a work meeting). Here at Sweet’n’Raw, we took the task upon ourselves to find the best nail colors of the Summer. So here they are:

WANNA BE MY FLAMINGO?

• Come to Poppy, OPI
• Collide, Ilamasqua
• Super Bossa Nova, Essie
• Steamy, MAC

TEQUILA SUNRISE

• Rare, Ilamasqua
• Lightening, Sally Hansen
• Yellow Brick Road, Deborah Lippman
• La Laque Surreal Yellow, YSL

ORANGE CRUSH

• Braziliant, Essie
• A Good Man-darin is Hard to Find, OPI
• Gamma, Ilamasqua
• Lara’s Theme, Deborah Lippman (with Lara Stone)

ELECTRIC WAVE

• La Laque in Utopian Turquoise, YSL
• Sephora by OPI
• Bermuda, Forever 21
• Neon Blue, American Apparel

COLOR ME GREEN

• Lickety-split Lime, Sally Hansen
• Radium, Ilamasqua
• Gargantuan Green Grape, OPI
• Neon Green, American Apparel

Sexy, fun and flirty fingers & toes, for a sexy, fun and flirty kind of girl!

From the lovely beach and hoping you are having a Summer blast,

Sweet kisses…

Illustration: Ana Sofia Alanis Background: unknown

NAIL FILES: The Treasure Chest

No I did not take inspiration from Pirates of the Caribbean now that the movie is out (though I am in love with OPI’s limited edition for the film and probably will keep praising it again and again). Instead, since jewel tones were huge last season and still stick around for this current one, why not? Also, metallics are a huge trend right now. If you don’t believe me, check out Lanvin’s Resort 2012 and see for yourself. And since I have probably driven you crazy by now with my pastels and my brights, it’s time for me to sober up. At least with my nails. So here you are, as if hidden under the ocean in a wooden chest, five nail polish hues so precious that will make you want to take a dive!

RUBY OVER DIAMONDS

• Illamasqua’s Untold, $22.50
• MAC Vintage Vamp, $14.95
• Deborah Lippman’s Razzle Dazzle, $16.00
• OPI’s Chick-Flick Cherry, $8.00

SAPPHIRE SKIES OF BLUE

• Deborah Lippman’s Lady Sings the Blues, $16.00
• OPI’s Yoga-ta Get ThisBlue,$8.00
• Illamasqua Phallic,$22.50
• Essie’s Aruba Blue, $8.00

TAKE ME TO THE EMERALD CITY

• Essie’s Pretty Edgy, $8.00
• Revlon’s Emerald City, $5.99
• NARS Zulu, $22.00
• OPI’s Don’t mess with, $8.00

SHE SMOKES LIKE AN AMETHYST

• Deborah Lippman’s Wicked Game, $16.00
• Essie’s Sexy Divide, $8.00
• Pupa 501, $7.50
• OPI’s Plugged in Plum, $8.00

GOLD TO ME

• Illamasqua’s Spartan,$22.50
• Deborah Lippman’s Nefertiti,$16.00
• OPI’s Spark de Triomphe, $8.00
• YSL La Laque 139-OR, $20.00

SILVER STAR

• YSL La Laque 141 OR-BLANC, $20.00
• OPI’s DS Radiance, $8.00
• Deborah Lippman’s StardustSilver, $16.00
• OPI fo Sephora in MashUp, $9.50

Gemstones are a girl’s best friend, and while we wait for the real ones, we can have them on our nails!

Sweet kisses…

Cover illustration by Ana Sofia Alanis, background source unknown