Deco Nails

We stumbled upon a great new nail product from Dashing Diva, it is a non-damaging peel away adhesive. It is so so awesome. Simple and no heat application, unlike Minx.

Check out the variations we tried at the salon.





Marble Nails

Happy New Year.

Our client Paige sent us this awesome picture of her nails marbled. We had been obsessing over this technique, and so happy she shared this with us.

There are a lot of youtube tutorials on this technique. We especially like this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9A_9FH7e-A

Do you have photos of your own nail art? We would love to share them. Email them to info@sundropsnailspot.com, Subject: nail art submission

Prismatic Fusion

We have such a talented staff at Sundrops Nail Spot. Besides creating beautiful nails or running the store, many of our employees are doing great things outside of work. As you may or may not know, Melissa our lovely store manager is pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Fashion Marketing at the Art Institute of Phoenix. She along with her team at AI produced an incredible fashion show. Below is a sampling of the fashion show. Enjoy!

All the Goodness without the coffee smell

I just found my newest addiction! LaLicious Coffee Bean Sugar Soufflé is a dream come true. This unscented phenomenon has the undeniable moisturizing qualities I have come to love from a LaLicious scrub with the added benefit of caffeine. I have to admit I was skeptical at first. When I opened the container I could clearly see the coffee grounds and I smelled a hint of coffee mixed with vanilla, so I thought for sure I was going to smell like coffee all day. However I was willing to give it a try, since everything I had read and heard about it said it was scent-free and that I would not smell like fresh brewed coffee. I am so happy I gave it a try. This scrub not only made my skin as soft and smooth as a baby’s bum, but I had absolutely no scent of coffee on me. Now, it could just be wishful thinking on my part, but I honestly feel like the caffeine in this scrub helped the appearance of my skin. I can’t believe that I waited so long to try this.

Rich Girl

With this change of weather, my skin feels like sandpaper. Especially my hands. I feel like I am always moisturizing my hands and they just stay dry. This morning I was desperate while working in the store, I have used our body butters, lotions, and nothing is breaking through to end my dry spell.

While merchandising the store, I noticed a new product. Rich Girl, by Deborah Lippman. It is a product that was heavily pushed by the sales rep. for Lippman. We kept brushing it off and he kept telling us how great it was, how it is such a great seller, award winning, etc, etc., etc. After relentless selling skills we caved and now it is in the store.

This is an amazing cream. It has so many benefits. Not only are my hands soft but they are moisturized.

Benefits:

• SPF 25 provides UVA and UVB protection
•  Intensely hydrating formula works instantly to moisturize and soften
• Botanical brightening complex evens skin pigmentation without any irritation, this is my favorite benefit
• Best of Health Magazine award for "Healthiest Hand Cream"
• The cream contains Shea butter, jojoba oil, and avocado

The size of the bottle is great, small enough for your handbag. I now see why this a great seller, my hands feel great...actually amazing. I am a rich girl, rich in moisture. 

Pocket Sized Polish

Love to see that the magazines are finally catching on to the mini nail polish trend. Why we love them? They are small enough for travel, and you can actually use it up before it dries out, not to mention they are easy handling when polishing.

Sundrops Style Watch

>>THE FURRY CROP

The November issue of Lucky Magazine, features a how-to section on winter coats. We were smitten to see the Furry Crop. It is so cute and actually perfect for the cool Arizona winters and to top it off we received our newest shipment of Velvet. In our shipment is a darling little furry crop jacket (see picture below). Stop in an try this oh so cute item on.



Lucky Magazine, lucky how-to "The Furry Crop", November 2010



Velvet Collection, Faux Fur Leopard Crop Jacket $228.00

"Greige" Nails?

I know it is a little early to be talking about fall (gulp it is 115 degrees out) but we saw something in Glamour that caught our eye. Greige nails (beige and gray) for fall. We get a ton of questions about this color palate at Sundrops. The colors are a tad hard on the eye but once on your nails, you will love. Promise.

Stop in and try these new "it" colors before fall, so you can step into fall with style.

Photo courtesy of Glamour Magazine August 2010

What is This White Spot?

What is this white spot? This is a common question at Sundrops.  It is Leukonychia.  Say it with me (loo-ko-NIK-ee-ah)

Leukonychia is a condition where white spots appear on the nail. It is caused by air bubbles, a bruise, or other injury to the nail. It is found more commonly in nail biters and people who tap their nails on hard surfaces.

If you do have multiple spots on your nails, there could be a more serious medical condition brewing that you need to speak to a Physician about.

Otherwise, a spot here or there is normal and will grow out. Remember, it takes eight, yes eight weeks for complete nail re-growth. So be patient and soon enough it will be gone.


Reference, Milady's Standard Nail Technology 4th edition 2004

Happy Monday!

Here is a great postcard that I got when I purchased some Bobbi Brown cosmetics. I keep it on my bathroom mirror, on days like today (dreaded Monday), it makes me smile. Happy Monday!

It's not a promise, it's a GUARANTEE continued

It has been a month and half longer than I had originally promised for my follow up. I began using the Duri Rejuvacote in November. The week of Thanksgiving to be exact.

To be honest I have seen a major improvement in my nails. My nails are a lot stronger, and most of the damage that was on my nails has grown out (except my poor poor pinkies, they are almost there). After the first week, my nails were visibly stronger and physically stronger. Before, I could lightly push on the corner of my nail and the whole corner would easily bend-not any more. I can definitely say, that the claims listed on the side of the box are true.

The first seven days, I applied the strengthener every night before bed. My husband did not appreciate the smell. This is a con of the product. The odor is very strong, and a few times my eyes watered and it felt like it burned the hairs in my nose. Note to self: do not inhale while applying to nails.

After the first seven days, my nails did feel stronger. I wasn't completely satisfied with the results, so I did the exact same regime for the next seven days. After day fourteen I took my polish off and begin again. This time I used it every other night. I have been doing this since. I actually prefer to use the product instead of my OPI top and base coat at home.

I also really like that it is almost three products in one, base, top, and nail strengthener. It makes it easy for travel. And also helps the price of $15-$17 depending on where you purchase it.

Some cons, the liquid does get thick. The first two weeks when I was putting it on every day, my nails looked a tad thicker than desired. I have also noticed that if you apply to much it will leave your polish looking bubbly, also annoying. If you put it on at night before bed-make sure you give yourself at least thirty minutes to dry. Many times I woke up with sheet imprints on my nails.

Overall, I would highly recommend this product for anyone looking to improve the quality of their nails. It is a very easy regime and you can basically tailor it to your needs. I have included pictures so you can see the changes in my nails. (These pictures were taken a month ago)

It's not a promise, It's a GUARANTEE...

This is the tag line that caught my eye. Duri Cosmetics created a nail strenghing product that is supposed to work wonders.

On the side on the box they state "Rejuvacote the nail doctor will heal and cure your split, cracked and acrylic eaten nails. In a matter of weeks you will enjoy the look and fell of strong, vital, natural nails. It's not a promise, It's a guarantee."

I'll be honest my nails are trashed. I work at a nail salon and my nails have been through the ringer. I try every new product that we get into the store. I'll admit I have eaten off acrylics, picked at gels, and have re-polished my nails more times in one day than I can count. So needless to say, I'm not shocked that my nails look like crap.

This leads me to why I am suddenly so interested in this product. It is a very popular product at Sundrops. We order them, and they FLY out of the store. Clients swear by it. So now I will be taking it for a test drive of my own. Not only do clients swear by it, Duri guarantee's it, Allure Magazine has backed it as one of the best products, and this past spring InStyle Magazine named Duri Rejuvacote in their Best Beauty Buys 2009. This must be good!

I am committing to this product for one month. I am hoping that by the end of one month the damaged parts of my nail have grown out and my nails do gain some strength.

Here is my Regime-

Day 1: Apply Rejuvacote as a base, polish with desired nail color, and use Rejuvacote as a top coat.

Daily: Apply Rejuvacote nightly

Day 7: Remove and apply every other day depending on improvement.

Here are some pictures of my dying nails. As you can see, the free edge of my nails are really damaged (the white part of your nail). These pictures are really forgiving.

I will update pictures on a weekly basis so you can see the improvements for yourself.

Halloween

Halloween is a fun day for us at Sundrops. This year we had an employee costume contest. Clients voted for their favorite costume and Kelly was our big winner.

She dressed as her co-worker Connie. It was pretty amazing the transformation she did on herself. Many people were shocked to say the least. Many times throughout the day I was fooled by the Connie look alike.

The pictures from the day are posted below.

Pictured above L-R: Melissa (dressed as Marilyn Monroe) and Erin (dressed as Ugly Betty)

Pictured above L-R: Katherine (dressed as a zombie), Kelly ( dressed as Connie), Connie (dressed as a pumpkin), and Pam (dressed as a doctor) Is it not freaky how much they look alike?

Pictured above L-R: Stephanie (dressed as a flower child), Melissa, and Carissa (dressed as a Pink Lady)

Pictured above L-R: Cande (dressed as Raggedy Ann) and Stephanie

The only person I didn't have a picture of was Senthia, she was dressed as a hippie.

Beauty Recycling Program

Sundrops Nail Spot is proud to introduce our Beauty Recycling Program

Green has never been so chic! Our new Beauty Recycling Program will help you stay looking great while helping the environment. Here’s how it works, you bring in your empty container of scrub, body butter, or body wash and we will refill them with our featured scent. Each month we will feature different products ranging from hand to foot care. These featured products will be available to purchase per ounce when you bring in your empty container. So what are you waiting for? Join Sundrops Nail Spot’s Beauty Recycling Program and let’s beautify our plant and ourselves.

Let's Review:

1. Bring in your empty scrub,lotion, or body wash container

2. Sundrops staff fills it up with a deliciously scented lotion, scrub, or body wash

3. Pay for the product by ounce

4. Leave happy and helping the enviornoment

Spooky Movie Night

Yesterday, we hosted our movie night (a la Jamiee Rose). Guests enjoyed treats and the classic movie Bride of Frankenstein while getting their hands and toes done. Below are some pictures from yesterday. Join us Sunday, October 25th for our last showing.

Above: Treats above, popcorn balls, candy bars, and coca-cola in the bottles. All classic treats to compliment the movie.

Above: Erin and Senthia setting up.

Above: A close-up of our cute admission tickets we made on the computer and tied with ribbon to the candy.

Such a fun night and we look forward to seeing you on the 25th!

Sweet Time of The Year

I was cruising through the latest Lucky issue and got a glimpse of the Essie Winter 2009 collection. Sweet Time of The Year is a small collection of only three colors. Lollipop (candy colored red), Rock Candy (soft pink), and Mint Candy Apple (minty green).

I am really ecstatic to see the minty green. I was so sad to see Greenport discontinued especially with the love of jade colored nails continuing into the Fall and Winter. The collection will be launching in store November 1st.

photos courtesy of http://www.body-soulbeauty.com

Do You Believe in Magic?

My sister and I are always searching for great skin products. So I was ecstatic when she called me at work, telling me she found a great cream. Egyptian Magic. I thought to myself hmm, it is called Egyptian Magic? It sounded hookey and weird. So as soon as I got off the phone I began my research. I entered Egyptian Magic into the search engine and hundreds of reviews came up.

Now I am thinking to myself, why have I never heard of this cream? It is sold at Whole Foods and other retailers that I frequent. It has been featured on The View, Vanity Fair magazine, US, People, the list goes on and on. So now I am obsessed and I haven't even tried it. My sister was so kind to purchase a jar for myself ($36) and literally all I could think of was getting home washing my face and trying the cream for the first time.

The first night was great. The cream is more like a petroleum jelly. It is rock hard in the jar and then you have to warm it up in your hands by rubbing your fingers together. At that point it just melts almost into an oil. It is 100% natural and can be used all over the body.

It has been almost a week now and I really like it. My skin in the morning is dewier and I feel like my skin looks a bit brighter. I have rubbed it on my elbows, which worked wonders and my dry spots on my feet. It really softened calluses on my heels and toes. All in all I would definitely recommend it. Try it, if not for the face for the body, especially the feet.

Autumn Begins

September 22, 2009 marks the first day of the Autumn season and the fall equinox. An equinox only occurs twice a year with sunlight and night being equal parts. Today is a day of perfect balance. So with the beginning of a new season, I bring you my favorite things of Autumn.

1. Halloween decorating. With the new season brings fall holidays, my favorite Halloween. Martha Stewart never disappoints with her holiday decor. I thought this looked like a great project for this Halloween. Seems simple, I'll let you know.

2. Hot Cocoa. It seems like the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice latte is on every one's fall list this year. Don't get me wrong it is delicious, but fall is not fall without some great hot cocoa. Williams Sonoma has a great recipe called Old-Fashioned Hot Cocoa. It is so good and as you can see by the recipe below it is intended for a child to make, so you know it is kid approved. Also, I suggest the whipped cream topping.

Ingredients:
1 1/3 cups whole milk
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon sugar
1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
Mini marshmallows or whipped cream for serving

Directions:
-Warm the milk. Before you start, be sure an adult is nearby to help.

-In a small saucepan over low heat, warm the milk until tiny bubbles appear around the edges of the pan. Remove from the heat.

-Blend the cocoa

-Put the cocoa, sugar and vanilla in a mug and stir to combine. Add 1 tablespoon of the hot milk to the cocoa mixture and stir until it is smooth with no visible lumps.

-Pour the remaining hot milk into the mug.

-Stir well, top with the marshmallows or whipped cream, and serve immediately. Serves 1. Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Sweet Treats, by Carolyn Beth Weil (Simon & Schuster, 2006).

3. Cozy Blankets. The change of weather equals some great snuggle time on the couch. I found this perfect snugly blanket from Pottery Barn. The Sweater Knit throw. A sweater and a blanket rolled into one? What sounds more perfect?

4. Fall Shoes. There are some amazing shoes this season. What I love best about fall shoes are boots. I particularly love the riding boot look. I found some Frye boots that are gorgeous (and waaayyy out of my price range). They would be the perfect addition to any fall wardrobe and the Bordeaux color is beautiful. Nordstrom online has a great lookbook on Frye boots, check it out; if only to dream.

5. Change of weather. For many Phoenicians the fall means 80 degree days and chilly nights. For me, the change of weather means being outside. Enjoying my backyard again, drinking coffee in the morning on my patio and hitting the mountain trails. My favorite trail is the summit at Piestewa Peak. It is the best work out and the best view. Try it, if you haven't. It very difficult but very rewarding.

I wish you all a wonderful new season full of balance and new challenges. What are your favorite things to do for Autumn?

Anniversary

September 14, 2009 marked our second year anniversary. It is mind blowing to me that one crazy thought sparked a new career path in my life. The two years has definitely flown by and challenged me in ways I never thought possible. There are days when I wanted to walk away and cry and then there are days when I just wanted to jump for joy.

I am happy to have created something that other people enjoy and feel good when they leave Sundrops. It is rewarding when I am out to dinner and hear the next table talking about the cutest pedicure place. It makes me smile to give 10 people jobs in a struggling economy. The best part is having a staff who put their heart and soul into making this the best place. Thanks to everyone who have supported us, gave us incredible feedback, and gave us a second chance. Cheers to two years!

August Nights

August means the start of Fall for many people across the country. For us it means 100 degrees instead of 114 degrees (hopefully). We have put together a few looks for that back to school shopping itch.

Look 1: Hanging poolside

Fish and Archer headband $60.00, we show the handmade piece as a necklace but it can be worn in the hair or draped over the wrist. Colcci Tunic $75.00, this tunic is a transitional piece. Wear it in the summer with shorts and transition to the Fall with skinny jeans and boots.

Look 2: Errand Running

The dreaded errand running. I am always in a pickle of what to wear to run errands, what if I see someone and I am dressed in Juicy pants and a tank? I never want to seem over dressed but always want to be in that cool in between, "Oh, this? Just something I found in the back of my closet." This Colcci denim dress $122.00, does just that. Accessories small tri-color circle necklace, $32.00. Long necklace $120.00

Look 3: Casual Friday

Most offices in AZ observe summer hours. This ensemble is the perfect look for those casual Fridays followed by drinks at The Vig. Splendid Lilac Halter dress, $77.50. MK2K Cardigan, $68.40. Nolan LA Gemstone necklace, $52.00

Look 4: Weekend Dinner

This Amanda Uprichard dress, $124.60 makes dressing for dinner easy. The fuchsia color is so striking and the ruffles add a simple texture to the dress. Pair this dress with gold sandals or a nude pump. The accessories: "Cartier" Long necklace, $80.00 and "Yurman" small necklace $21.60.