beauty banter: pastel perfect

It's just around the corner, or depending on where you are, it's already here. Some refer to it as the dog days of summer, while I think of it as my favourite time of year. Hot summer days, and sultry summer nights. Dawning light and breezy outfits, sunshine, gelato and soft pastel hues are everything that this time of year is about and everything I dream of on cold winter days.

While pastels are synonymous with summer, they are also a trend this year. I have a naturally fair complexion and even if I tried to tan I wouldn't be much darker, anyway. Fair skin generally doesn't work well with pastel shades, at least in my experience. Layering a pastel top with a contrasting shade can often address this problem, but it still doesn't help the fact that I don't feel I can wear a pastel hue on its own against my fair skin tone.

Even though I don't feel I can wear pastels well, I decided to give them a chance this season the best way I know how: a pedicure! After being introduced to Essie's new summer collection I chose Cascade Cool, an adorable shade of pink, and purchased the polish with some skepticism. I should mention that while Cascade Cool is a pretty pastel shade, the other colours in Essie's summer collection are quite the opposite.

So, I tried it out. The result? I was pleasantly surprised with the first application! And after a second coat, I was in love. It was different from the bold, heavily pigmented colours I usually opt for, but it was nice; in a pretty, summery way! It's a very feminine shade, and it looks beautiful with peep-toe shoes or sandals this season!

Get on your neon!

It's back! One of the memories I suppressed from the '80s along with slouch socks and jelly shoes: neon. Really, neon never did go away for good. It just lost its mass appeal well before the Fresh Prince of Bel Air's series finale. While I don't envision myself wearing neon pink bicycle shorts anytime soon, I've found there are some great ways to incorporate this trend into your wardrobe this season. 

If you aren't already rocking something bright, try accessorizing in neon with a playful handbag, bracelet or necklace. Or if that's still a little too bold, try a neon mani or pedi (like me) to add a fun splash of colour to your style! Will you wear neon this summer? Leave a comment and tell me how you'll wear neon, or if you have any other ideas about how to add neon to your wardrobe! 

Neon pink (tour de finance) polish by Essie