Style Play Polish: Suit & Tie

Ladies, there is no need to limit yourselves. We can be just as dapper as the handsome suited gentlemen out there. Once again our favorite childhood boy band beaux never fails to leave an imprint of adolescent memories on our hearts or in this case on our nails.

This week's Style Play Polish was inspired by none other than Justin Timberlake's "Suit & Tie", but this wouldn't be LBS if we didn't put a little feminine spin on it. Don't panic! The 8 steps to achieving this look are simpler than they look.

What you'll need:

• A white or cream polish (Essie's Sand Tropez)
• Any metallic polish (preferably blue or green) (Essie's Trophy Wife or Essie's Aruba Blue)
• Black polish or Black Nail Art Pen
• Dotting tool
• Scissors
• Tape

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Step 1: After prepping your nails, polish on 2 coats of your preferred white or cream colored polish.

Step 2: Using small pieces of tape, place them at angles from your cuticles creating an upside down triangle.

Step 3: Apply 2 coats of your metallic color and allow the nail polish to dry.

Step 4: Use your black polish/nail art pen to outline the metallic color on your nails.

Step 5: Create 2 black lines parallel to the metallic outlines forming a smaller triangle. You can leave the design as is, but if you're feeling a bit more on the creative side, continue to steps 6-8.

Step 6: Paint a horizontal X on your nail as a guide for your bow-tie.

Step 7: Use your dotting tool to fill in both sides of the X with your metallic color. Also add 2-3 dots going down your nail vertically.

Step 8: To clean up the design, go over the X once more with the black polish and close off the sides. Create black dots on top of the previous metallic dots for buttons.

Before you know it, you'll be creating nail art like the pros. Stay tuned for next week's Style Play Polish, and don't forget to tag us on Instagram @LoveBrownSugar with your Suit & Tie inspired looks!

- Gracie J

Style Play Polish: Kenzo-Inspired Nails

Screw diamonds - fashion is a girl's best friend! Some of us will go without necessities just to look and feel good in the clothes that we buy. Since most of us don't have the funds to get our hands on all our favorite celeb designs, we can definitely improvise and rock the look on our nails by using what we already have lying around the house.

This designer's leopard prints have been spotted (no pun intended) on some of our favorite celebrity crushes, from Solange Knowles to Beyonce to Brandy & Rita Ora:

We're gonna show you how to get the look in 4 easy steps!

What you will need:

• Yellow Polish (Zoya's Pippa)
• Ginger Colored Polish (Spoiled Designated Driver)
• Dark Blue or Dark Violet Colored Polish (Honk if You Love OPI)
• Lilac Colored Polish (Sally Hansen's Lacey Lilac)
• A pen with a round clicker top 
• A piece of a make-up sponge 

Step 1: After you have applied your base coat, color your nails with 2 coats of yellow polish.

Step 2: Using the ginger colored polish, paint one or two strokes across your nails in which ever direction you choose.

Step 3: Using the clicker part of the pen as a dotting tool, create polka dots on your nails using the lilac colored polish.

Step 4: To create the textured fuzz like spots, use your make-up sponge to create comma shapes around the polka dots. Seal with a top coat and you've got Kenzo!

Expensive taste on a budget? No problem - we got you!

Keep it sassy, classy, and creative. Get a little busy and switch up the colors, tag us on Instagram @LoveBrownSugar with your Kenzo inspired looks.

- Gracie J

Style Play Polish: Great Gatsby-Inspired Nails

A lady should always treat her nails as she does her hair, never get caught slippin'. We know a thing or two about nail DIYs and looking extravagant without extravagant pockets. Speaking of extravagance, the week's Style Play Polish nail design is inspired by raved-about blockbuster film, "The Great Gatsby." Here are 4 easy steps to achieving the perfect Gatsby inspired nails:

What you will need:

• Royal Blue Polish (Sinful Colors' Midnight Blue)
• Gold Polish (Butter London's MARBS)
• Black Polish (Essie's Licorice)
• Silver Polish (Essie's loophole)
• Detailing Brush (MASH Nail Art Kit)

Step 1: Paint your nails 2 coats of the royal blue polish to assure a darker opacity. (Remember! Always apply a base coat before applying your base color).

Step 2: Using the black polish, freehand a V-shaped stroke pointed towards the tips of your nails.

Step 3: Using your detailing brush, trace along the line where the black meets the blue polish. Paint 2 other lines parallel to the original lines. Don't worry about the lines overlapping, we will fill that in later.

Step 4: Use the silver polish to create a half moon design near your cuticles, as well as filling in the sides and top of your nails where the black polish is exposed.

Gatsby is known for his expensive taste and bringing his wild imagination to life. If you have a Gatsby nail inspiration you'd like to share with us, tag us on Instagram @LoveBrownSugar.

- Gracie J

3 Ways to Add Vibrancy to Your Beauty Look

When I first started experimenting with makeup in high school, I was totally a lipgloss & mascara kind of girl. For me, it was easy, neutral and didn’t require much work. Now, as a beauty junkie, my daily look is far from neutral. I love experimenting with color, and beauty is a super easy way to add vibrancy to your overall style.

The folks over at Crystal Light have recently launched a collection of Crystal Light Liquids in fun flavors like Pomtini, Peach Bellini, Mango Passionfruit and more. Inspired by some of the fun vibrant colors in the collection, I’ve compiled three super simple ways to add vibrancy to your beauty look:

So here I’m starting with a fresh face or a “blank canvas”. I’m a fan of adding color to your beauty look but in moderation and making sure that all the elements look good together. What does that mean? If you’re opting for a bold lip look, hold off on the bright-colored eyeshadow! Instead, substitute subtle blush and a nice bright nail look to compliment. So that’s exactly what I did here:

1. Bright Red Lipstick (Inspired by Pomtini)

You guys know that red lipstick is my absolute favorite. I was inspired by the Pomtini flavor and chose a bright and bold red. The key to pulling off a red lip look is to find a shade that compliments your complexion. You’ll also want to line your lips with either a neutral lip liner or a red liner that matched the lipstick you’re applying. Liner will help you color inside the lines.

2. Peachy-Pink Blush (Inspired by Peach Bellini)

I used to be one of those girls who just didn’t understand what the point of blush was. Especially as a woman of color, considering it takes a lot to actually “see” me blush. BUT! One day a makeup artist swiped a peachy-pink blush over my cheeks, and I saw the light! Anyway, since then peachy pink has been my go-to for highlighting my cheeks.  Inspired by the Peach Bellini flavor, I went with a peachy-pink blush and then coral nails below.

3. Coral Nails (Inspired by Peach Bellini)

Coral is a nice punchy color to add to your fingertips for the spring season. This color I’m wearing from NCLA called “I’m With The Band” is the same color Beyonce wore during her inauguration performance. I love how bright and opaque it is.

So there you have it folks! Here’s my before & after:

What inspires you to add color to your beauty look? Comment below for a chance to win a $100 VISA gift card!

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This sweepstakes runs from 5/14 - 6/4. Be sure to visit the Crystal Light page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!

Style Play Polish: Summer Festival-Inspired Nails

LBS is going to Coachella (she's actually on her way now)! YAY x100! For those of you who have no idea what that is, no biggie. It's only the biggest art and music festival on the West-Coast! One of the first things that comes to mind when someone says Coachella are bright & vibrant colors, from stage set ups to spectator's sense of fashion. For this week's Style Play Polish segment I decided to paint a little ode to Coachella 2013 in 5 easy steps:

What you will need:

- Base coat (Butter London Nail Foundation)
- 3 bright, pastel, or neon colors of your choice (Sephora's "I Want Candy" 3-piece set)
- A round tip pencil or pen
- Top coat (Butter London Hardware Quick Topcoat)

 Step 1: You can choose to paint your nails different colors, or use the same uniform pattern.

Step 2: Using one of the colors, polish 3 free hand strokes over the first color creating a ruffle like pattern on your nail.

Step 3: After each layer dries, continue with step 2 until you are satisfied with your design.

Step 4: If you want to take your nail design a step further, use the tip of your pen or pencil (or a dotting tool) to create a lace like effect on each ruffle corresponding with the color underneath.

Step 5: As always, let dry, and apply your top coat to seal it in seal it in!

Stay tuned for next week's post! Music video inspiration anyone? Don't forget to share with us your Coachella inspired nail looks @LoveBrownSugar on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook!

And speaking of festivals, click HERE for a chance to win the ultimate LBS Summer Festival Survival Kit. 

- Gracie J

Style Play Polish: Mondrian-Inspired Nail Art

We can all derive some pretty cool nail inspirations from all over, but what better inspiration than traditional art itself? Spring is already here and just as we switch up our wardrobe to coincide with the warmer seasons, our nails need the same love. With this Style Play Polish segment, we were inspired by Piet Mondrian's Composition pieces, with a LoveBrownSugar twist of course:

What you will need:

• A white polish (Essie in Blanc)
• 3-4 spring colors of your choice (Pure Ice Home Run, After Hours, Butter London Cheeky Chops)
• Black liner (Sally Hansen Nail Art Pen)
• Base Coat (Butter London Nail Foundation)
• Top Coat (Butter London Quickdry Topcoat)

Step 1: Always apply a base coat first. Applying a base coat not only makes your polish last longer, but it also protects your nails from discoloration and keeps them healthy.

Step 2: You're going to start out by painting all your nails white. The white nail polish will help the colors stand out by revealing their true color.

We used Essie in Blanc ($8.00). It gives a great opaque finish.

Step 3: Using your selected colors, create box like designs of different sizes. We started with Pure Ice in Home Run ($1.99)

For the second box, we used Butter London Cheeky Chops. Don't worry about mistakes or overlapping, the black polish in the next step will cancel out any errors.

Here we are at 3 colors. We're adding one more in for good measure.

We finished up the look with Pure Ice in After Hours.

Step 4: After you have created your boxes, use the black detail polish brush to separate or "box out" the colors where they meet.

It should look something like this. The lines don't have to be perfect but they should line the outsides of each box completely.

Step 5: After you have done lining the boxes and the paint is slightly dried, apply a top coat to seal in your design.

These 5 simple steps literally take less than 15 minutes altogether.

Try this cute spring look and don't forget to share it with us @LoveBrownSugar on Instagram or on the LoveBrownSugar Facebook page.

- Gracie J