For Fall 2008, designer Tracy Reese was inspired by nature and weather. To bring that power, the forces of nature, to her models she pulled together an expert beauty team including the team at Sally Hansen, makeup artist Mally Roncal and hair stylist Edris Nicholls.

In her fifth collaboration with the Sally Hansen Salon Line, Reese created a collection of ten lacquers to be released next fall. The hot pink shimmer, Torrid Bloom, was used to create the “Veiled Nail” effect on the models’ nails. The Veiled Nail is a technique designed by Tracy where the lacquer is stretched from the base of the nail to the tip going from opaque to sheer. Think of it as watercolor for nails.

The look is achieved by applying a base of Age Correct Growth Treatment, a milky pink, then painting half the nail with Torrid Bloom and using Age Correct to stretch it out to the tip.
Bill Boraczek, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Sally Hansen, explains the Veiled Nail. Included are clips of the nail artists executing the technique.

When Tracy described her weather concept to Mally Roncal, she imagined a “stormy” eye, not smokey. The difference being many different layers for a multi-dimensional look. Just as weather has many layers (wind, rain, thunder) she wanted to reflect that in the makeup. Mally achieved the look with layers of plum and black shimmers on the eye. She created a windburn effect with berry stain along cheekbone and above the brow and hot pink shimmer on the apples. She used the same berry stain on lip so it wasn’t a nude lip but also not all about the lips. The overall effect being strong, powerful and not for the makeup shy.I attempted my own version of the Veiled Nail using Zoya Sari, a sheer pink, and Zoya Trinity as the hot pink wash of color. What do you think of the look? Is this something you’d try at home?images: All Lacquered Up and Elle.com