SWATCH SUNDAY — Layla Cosmetics Hologram Effect 08 Flash Black

Hello lovelies & happy Sunday. & happy Father’s Day to those who are celebrating those Dad figures in their lives.

Today’s Swatch Sunday post is another beauty pulled straight from my stash. Years ago, my local Lawton’s Drugs used to have a crazy selection when it came to their clearance nail polish. Honestly, it was my favourite place to shop because you could always find something new & different to you (it’s one of the first places I ever found Color Club). They also used to sell a ton of shades by the brand Layla Cosmetics, which is a European brand.

Today’s polish is from the height of the initial holographic craze, circa 2014/2015 or so — although I found blog posts dating back to 2012. This is Layla Cosmetics Hologram Effect 08 Flash Back.

2 coats + Top Coat

This beautiful liner holographic nail polish is a stunning dark grey (I wouldn’t quite call it black) with a very strong & beautiful liner holograph effect. The formula was smooth & easy to apply — especially for a nail polish that is over a decade old.

The trick with holographic shades like this, is you really have to make sure your first coat is dry-dry before attempting a second coat, other wise it can drag up your first coat. But other than that, I have 0 negatives about this shade. I have 3 or 4 others from this collection, & I just love them all. They were my first real introduction to liner holographic nail polish.

Sunny days were just meant for holographic nail polishes. Look at those rainbows! 🌈

Do you remember this line of nail polishes by Layla Cosmetics — or any of their interesting polishes. I loved finding them in the clearance because they were usually $3-$4 & they had so many cool ones — thermals, spotted, etc.

What do you think about this holographic shade? Do you think it’s as fun as I do? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below!

🖤

GLAM NAILS CHALLENGE DECEMBER (2024) — Party Ready ✨🥂

Hello lovelies & happy last Monday of 2024! How is everyone surviving this in-between week that exists between Christmas & New Years? I’ve been surviving on coffee, crackers & hope at this point. BUT! I did manage to get one more manicure done for the last prompt of Glam Nails Challenge December: Party Ready!

& if these nails don’t scream party ready, I’m not sure what else could.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: NailStuff Essentials Base Coat *
  • Top Coat: Nail Stuff Essentials Quick Dry Top Coat *
  • NailStuff Essentials Raven
  • Joe Fresh Gold Rush
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Feeling N-Ice
  • Essie Making Spirits Bright
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Goldie Rocks
  • Starrily Space Debris (c/o: NailStuff.ca)
  • NailStuff.ca dotting tool from Dotting Tool Trio
  • Latex Free Make Up Sponge

*PR/Gifted

Is it even a New Years Eve party if you don’t go all out on the glitter, silver & gold? My New Years Eve celebrations are much tamer nowadays than in my 20s, & usually at home, but I still always have to make such there is some sparkle on my nails. & this nail art look is absolutely perfect for ringing in 2025, no matter what you have planned.

& they were so easy to do! Started with my glitter gradient, then added some dots of more sparkly polish on top until it looks like glitter in exploding from your cuticles.

& that is a wrap on Glam Nails Challenge for another month… & another year! This has been an up & down year for nail polish for me, but I feel really good about what 2025 has to come!

I hope everyone has a lovely & safe New Years Eve… & I will see you next year!

♥︎

SWATCH SUNDAY— OPI Infinite Shine Hot & Coaled (2023 Terribly Nice Collection)

Happy second Sunday of December lovelies! Can you believe it? Christmas is quickly approaching, & that just seems like madness.

Today I’m sharing another shade from the OPI Infinite Shine Terribly Nice collection from last Christmas. My husband had gifted me 6 (?) these beauties as my Christmas gift, & if I remember correctly, this was the one my son picked out. So I thought this would be a fun shade to share this week. This is OPI Infinite Shine Hot & Coaled.

2 coats over a black cream base (NailStuff Essentials Raven ) + top coat

The beautiful sparkly black has a sheer almost metallic black base & an abundance of multi-sized coloured glitters — including holographic & iridescent.

As soon as I saw how sheer the base was, I knew I was going to need to apply this over some undies. You obviously can build the opacity, but I just wasn’t feeling 3+ coats. for me, this is just a shade that I feel looks better in a coat (or 2) over a dark base. GingerlyPolished has swatches of the collection from last year, including Hot & Coaled in case you’re looking for swatches of built to opacity on its own.

Close up to really see that fantastic glitter. You can’t really see the but if shimmer in the base, but I think it’s stunning worn like this. The glitter is a lot of fun — I’d also be curious to try it in a glitter gradient. You’d probably want to stick to a darker colour — black, navy blue, dark burgundy— but I think it’s would look stunning.

What do you think of OPI Infinite Shine Hot & Coaled? Are you a fan of this glittery beauty? Do you think you’d wearing it as a topper or on its own? Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below.

Also for anyone looking, I have seen a few of the Terribly Nice collection shades available at my local Marshalls including a mini set of all the shades. So I would definitely hit yours up if you want to try & get your hands on it!

Enjoy your Sunday

🖤

SWATCH SUNDAY — NEW NailStuff Essentials Nail Polish – White Dove, Raven & Cardinal

*PR/paid

Good morning darlings & happy Sunday! & happy December 1st! I hope you’re having a beautiful start to the month. & happy belated Thanksgiving to my American friends.

Today I’m so excited because Victoria at NailStuff.ca has once again released some new beauties as part of her NailStuff Essentials line. This time, we have 3 beautiful cream shades; White Dove, Raven & Cardinal. & I’m lucky enough to be able to share swatches of all three with you today!

Continue reading “SWATCH SUNDAY — NEW NailStuff Essentials Nail Polish – White Dove, Raven & Cardinal”

Spooky Season Holo Skull & Crossbones ☠️🖤

*contains PR

Hello lovelies & happy Friday. I hope everyone’s had a great week so far.

The weekend is almost here & it’s Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada so I expect to be in a full food coma by Sunday night. I thought it would be fun, though, so start my Spooky Season nails with a fun little skull & cross bones design.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

How fun as these?! Again, I got to use another one of those beautiful Essie shades I was recently gifted which is very exciting. Sadly, I wore these on a day when it was cloudy & rainy so the fun holo effect was not showing up very well.

What do you think of this fun holo skull look? Just a little dip into the Halloween nails to come. ☠️ You know me, Halloween is my favourite season for nail art, so I’m excited to share lots of fun designs with you.

Enjoy your Friday!

🖤