My mum called the other day and asked what I wanted for my birthday. I said I wanted a pair of nude shoes, to which she replied, “Why would you wear shoes while you’re naked?”
[INSERT LONG PAUSE]
As much as I love her, the woman is not a fashionista. After I explained how I’d been looking for a perfect pair of pink, beige or nude ballet sandals for summer, the conversation resumed on a slightly less awkward path, LOL! 🙂
NOMS!
I blame my most recent bout of nude shoe lust on the new Zoya Touch Collection Sampler Trio ($24) and its three dainty pink, peach and beige polishes. The very sight of it sends my mind racing with pedi possibilities.
Although Zoya didn’t market this as a bridal collection, they probably could have. I think Touch’s Pandora (a pinkish mauve with silver pearl), Shay (a peachy pink with silver pearl) and Minka (a beige with silver pearl) would look right at home against a backdrop of Here Comes the Bride…or Huey Lewis and the News.
Do you believe in love?
Sheer pastel creams (remember Essie’s Wedding Collection?) get lavish love from brides, but ladies looking for similar, albeit less sheer, mani/pedi shades might also consider Touch. I think it delivers a similarly pretty, pastel bridal look, but with noticeably fuller coverage.
From left: Pandora, Shay and Minka
Pandora
Shay
Minka
Even so, I would still say these polishes are on the thinner side, and for opaque nails, I’ve been using two coats of each shade. All three of them apply smoothly, but I do notice their colors fading near the tips of my nails. Since they’re able to paint what appears to be a solid block of color from the base of each nail to the tip, I’m a little perplexed. I’m guessing the thinning might be due to the brush and/or the lightweight formula settling. Whichever the case, it’s easy to rectify with some extra polish painted along the edges and beneath the tips. It makes a mani take a little extra time, but I think it’s worth it if you like the colors.
When I finally find that perfect pair of dreamy nude pumps, these shades are definitely going on my toes…along with the Zoya Color Lock System (BOMB!). With Color Lock, I bet these polishes (as well as most others) would last for a good 10-14 days without chipping.
PRICE: $24 for three 0.05-oz. bottles
AVAILABILITY: Available now at select salons and also online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A
Cheesy Crack!
Unless you’re comfortable becoming absolutely addicted to another snack, stay far, FAR away from Trader Joe’s Reduced Fat Cheese Puffs. They’re the consumate cheesy crack! I opened a bag yesterday thinking I’d only eat a few… Later, after I’d finished the bag, I realized the error of my ways.
Unlike TJ’s comparably addictive Mango Bars, which are a seasonal thing, these puffs are available all year long.
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Chris25 says
Shay looks mighty nice to my eyes. And I was at TJs earlier today eyeing those cheese puffs. I ended up buying the healthier Roasted Seaweed Snacks, but don’t think those cheese puffs weren’t looking back at me all seductive like. I may go back tomorrow and have a secret rendevous…salty snacks are my greatest weakness.
Karen says
I’ve never had the Roasted Seaweed Snacks before! Sounds mighty tasty. 🙂
If you like salty snacks you might want to try their whole wheat pretzel sticks. They’re fab, too.
Mayra says
Hi Karen! That shoe on the top left has my name all over it!!!! Do you know where I can find it?
Karen says
Hi Mayra,
Cute choice! That shoe’s by Pelle Moda:
Pelle Moda Griffin Sandal
It also comes in brown and black!
Mayra says
Thank you! They don’t have my size, I’m 6.5. I’m gonna try to get them in store when I go to NJ next month. We have no Nordstrom here in Jacksonville.
Karen says
You’re welcome! Bummer they don’t have your size. Have you tried Zappos or Endless? Sometimes they carry the same brands as Nordstrom.
Nina says
these shades are my go to for the summer — i love nude toes! 🙂
ps — trader joe’s is making its way to texas – dallas first. then eventually houston and other areas. 😀
Karen says
YES!!! Cheesy crack for everyone! 😀
Nina says
i.cannot.wait. 😛
mn says
‘why would you wear shoes naked?’ – that was too funny.
I love Pandora, I’m such a big fan of the ‘nude’ shades, they look like foundation. When I was painting my place I gravitated to these shades then realized there was no way that I could live in a room that looked like it was covered in foundation. Thanks for the swatches. : )
Karen says
You’re welcome. And LOL re: living in a room the color of foundation!
What color did you end up going with?
Grace says
Interesting shades…I’m a bright/bold nail polish lover so I’m going for a really intense red on my nails for my wedding and considering a shade like Shay on my toes. I’ll definitely have to check out the color lock system!
Love the shoes!!!
Karen says
Hi Grace,
I like Color Lock a lot. It’s really fab with the Zoyas! 🙂
Have you decided on which red to wear on your nails? When’s the big day?
productdoctor says
Love all 3 of those colors!!! Especially the pink!
Karen says
So pretty, right?
Makeup Morsels says
LOL your mom’s hilarious 🙂 I like how Minka and Shay look, can’t quite make up my mind between them. And OMG snacks from Trader Joes are so addictive. I always start eating and think “well this is from TJs, so it must be wholesome. I can eat a little more.” And then next thing you know, the entire bag has disappeared!
Have you tried their chocolate croissants? Best ones I’ve ever had in my life! They’re in the freezer aisle.
Karen says
I haven’t! They sound really delicious, though. Do they sell them individually, or in a pack? Because if they’re in a pack then it’s over, LOL!
Christy says
I have the darndest time trying to find a cute pair of nude shoes! I found really cute peep-toes at Bakers though that I ADORE! I love to wear RBL Iconoclast on my toes with these for contrast 🙂
Karen says
Me too! If you find any cute ones online let me know! I’m still looking.
Heidi says
Those polishes are really lovely, and a nice change from my usual penchant for off the wall colors. I’m currently wearing Stranger Tides from OPI a really unusual sage green that I’m loving.
The Trader Joe’s snack aisle is a very dangerous place. My current fave is the peanut butter filled pretzel bites. We won’t discuss how quickly I can go through a bag of those.
Karen says
I saw a pic of that color in a magazine and have been curious to see it in person!
Isn’t crazy how for a really long time — like most of the 80s and 90s — how nail polish colors were pretty tame? I remember the first time seeing a dark, gunmetal gray in 1999 and being so enamored with it because it was so different. Now it’s like an everyday kinda thing.
Those peanut butter pretzels sound dangerously good!
Heidi says
I really love this polish I’m wearing, it’s sage green with a grey tinge to it, so it worked really well with the grey sweater I wore today.
Years ago I worked with a woman who got really into Urban Decay products when the company was just starting out, and she would come in with all these amazing nail polish shades on her fingers with the most bizarre names, and I thought it was the coolest thing.
I got addicted to the peanut butter pretzel bites when we were bagging them up for a charity event I was working on. The other people on the committee and I kept munching on them, stating we needed to perform “quality control.” Yes, we did end up having to go back to Trader Joe’s to get more for the event, because we, uh, ran out!
Radhika says
I love these kind of colours, but some of them look really strange when I try them on 😐 Nude shoes 😀
Karen says
What colors do you usually wear?
Radhika says
Peaches and pinks more than the browns..
Jen in Va says
Pandora is a perfect rosy nude! Must.Buy….
Karen says
So pretty, right? I love how it’s so opaque and has a bit o’ shimmer. 🙂
Dovey says
Pandora is my favorite (and partially because of the name). LOL on your mom’s comment; I really want a good pair of nude shoes too!
larie says
Those sandals are so cute! My favorite is the top left, too. And nude toe nails are my favorite, peeping out from summer sandals – so fresh!
Fabienne says
I LOVE Huey Lewis and the News!! San Francisco pride incarnate! So nostalgic–my dad would play this stuff when I was a kid. SUCH GOOD MOOD MUSIC!! <3
Karen, your blog is always the highlight of my day, thank you for your many awesome posts <3
Camille says
So I love bows. Where is that shoe on the lower left from? I don’t have anything nude for that matter, even on a nail polish. Minka is pretty, It looks like it can brighten up my fingers.
Kim says
I like my nude/pink polishes to be on the sheer side, but these are really pretty. I especially like Pandora. 🙂
My shoe vote is for the bottom left – because, you know, the heel looks thickest. HAHA!
Darn those cheesy poofs! It took all my willpower to avoid looking at yesterday’s photo of the day. Sweet puffs of cheese-powdery goodness. I did resist hitting the vending machine, though. Yay! 🙂
mill says
i dont care if they’re similar… i want them all!
Beautiful Canvas says
Ohh…Pandora is gorgeous, especially for your skintone!
Janna says
Shay is definitely your color. I think Minka might be mine =]
luv2smilexo says
minka looks really lovely. I recently got my first pair of nude shoes, patent leather sam edelman pumps from bloomies brown bag sale. They are love 🙂
Lily says
I’m dying for the shoes on the bottom left with the bows! Please tell me where I can find them?!
Joyce says
Yeah, I’m dying to know too! The shoes look perfect. The heels are not too short or too high and it has a cute bow.