SWATCH SUNDAY — Essie Sable Collar

Hello & happy Sunday!

We finally have some nice Winter sun today which is nice after a week of not the greatest weather. Today, I’m pulling out an oldie Essie shade I’ve own for a long time: Sable Collar. I actually picked up this shade at my local Dollarama circa 2015 & I remember being so excited to find this shade.

2 coats + top coat

Sable Collar was originally released as part of the 2013 Essie Winter Shearling Darling collection. It is this beautiful smokey reddish brown, with an irresistible shimmer. It’s been so. long since I put this shade on, I totally forgot how gorgeous it is. The epitome of a winter shade (in my opinion). These are exactly the kind of shades that make me think of January.

The formula was pretty easy to apply on this one — two coats needed for full opacity. The first coat was definitely streaky, but upon the second we got the beautiful finish you see in my swatches. I did apply Essie Speed Setter top coat over my swatches, mostly because this ended up being my manicure for the last few days.

A nice close up of the finish.

Below you can really see the reddish brown shimmer in the bottle. I’m kind of obsessed — which is funny, because I’ve owned this bottle of polish almost a decade, but this is. the first real time I’ve worn it all on its own. & it’s giving me the cosiest vibes.

What do you think about Essie Sable Collar? Do you remember this shade from its original release? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below & if this shade is giving you the same Winter vibes I’m feeling.

Happy Sunday! ♥︎

Instagram Coffee Nail Art Collab ☕️🤎

Hello lovelies & happy Friday! This has been quite a week, so I’m a little happy it’s over — even if it does mean saying goodbye to spooky season. But I did join the monthly nail art collab hosted by @essieyall & @petitenailslover again this month, & I’m super excited to share my design… especially because the prompt is COFFEE!

& if there is one thing I love as much as nail polish , it’s coffee.

The polishes I used for this manicure are:

  • Base Coat: Essence Colour Grip Base Coat 
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive
  • Matte Top Coat: Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Matte Top Coat
  • Essie Expressie Cold Brew Crew
  • Wet n Wild 2% Milk
  • Acrylic Paint
  • NailStuff.ca 9mm Mermaid Tail Liner Brush

I was going for a latte art design, so I used acrylic paint because I knew that I was going to need to be able to erase any mistakes — & I was right! This look took longer than expected to do, but I think it turned out just like the coffee art I used to do when I was a barista.

& I hope when you look at it, you can totally see what it’s supposed to be!

Don’t forget, you can check out the other designs through the hashtag #coffeenailartmanicollab2023 on Instagram. & down below, you can check out all the fun coffee themed designs collaged together. Everyone did such an awesome job!

What do you think of my coffee design? Does it totally scream latte to you? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below!

& let me know what your favourite holiday coffee drink is!

🖤

SWATCH SUNDAY — OPI My Private Jet (new version)

Hello lovelies & happy Sunday! I hope everyone had a lovely week. It’s officially Fall, which means I’m fully embracing all things knit sweaters, over the knee socks & knee high boots. 🍂🍁 My favourite time of year by far.

Today I have a fun nail polish to share with you that I actually can’t believe I haven’t shared before as it’s a favourite of mine this time of year. This is OPI My Private Jet.

2 coats + top coat

This shade actually has a really cool, albeit controversial, history. It was originally released as part of the Night Brights Spring 2007 as more of a liner holographic polish. Then, the re-released it in 2010 & people noticed it was a bit different. Okay, very different. Then, in 2018, they also released the shade in the Infinite Shine line with the new version of the polish — xoxo, Jen has swatches of that.

I’m not exactly sure when I picked up my bottle of My Private Jet, but it’s definitely the new scattered holo of the polish. The base is a beautiful dark brown, & it’s packed full of those tiny scattered holographic glitters. It also has a fun copper shimmer that comes through in certain lighting for a nice glow.

For a shade that is at least 6+ years old, the formula on this one is holding up very well. The polish applied smoothly in 2 coats. For my photos, I photographed it under my daylight bulb, with flash, so really get the holographic glitter to show. In my above macro shot, you can see how densely packed the holographic glitters truly are. Sadly, it doesn’t have the beautiful liner holo effect of the original, & I’m envious of anyone who has their hands on the original finish. But, as someone who didn’t know the original existed until after she fell in love with this version, I can appreciate both for what they are.

If you’re looking to get your hands on this beautiful shade, you can find the Infinite Shine version of this polish right on the OPI website — as well, as a few other places online. I also saw a few listings for the regular formula OPI My Private Jet with a quick Google search, although it has been discontinued out of regular rotation.

What do you think of OPI My Private Jet? Do you have this polish in your stash — either the original 2007 version, or the updated version? What are you thoughts on brands changing the formulas of polishes, but keeping the same name? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below!

Autumn Colour Blocking

Hello lovelies & happy Thursday! Switching up my posting schedule a smidge this week, just as I get back into regularly doing my nails. I’m still feeling the post-covid fatigue, so nail art is a little bit more difficult.

But I’m really excited to share today’s nail art look, because I really, really love the colour combination for this one! While I’m still sticking to easier nail designs, like this colour block design, I think this one turned out absolutely perfect! It was also done completely freehand, without any other nail art brushes or tools.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Colour Grip Primer Base Coat 
  • Top Coat: Quo by ORLY Color Amp’d Top Coat
  • OPI My Address is Hollywood
  • OPI My Private Jet
  • OPI Icelanded A Bottle of OPI

I wish it had been a bit sunnier so I could have captured the scattered holographic glitter of My Private Jet, but I think these three colours compliment each other really well. & give off all the Fall vibes, to match the cooler Fall days we’ve been having. I’m really hoping I’ll be feeling a bit more like getting back into more complicated nail art soon, but in the meantime I’m okay with this simpler design.

So if you have any simple nail art suggestions, send them my way! I could use all the inspiration I can get.

What do you think of this nail art design? Do you love this colour combination as much as I do? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below!

Autumn Abstract Stripes🍂🍁

Hello lovelies & happy Monday. & happy Labour Day! I hope everyone is enjoying this last long weekend of Summer. I’m getting excited because back-to-school is just a few days away, & I’m pumped that my days off during the week will actually feel like days off!

Today I’m showing off all the Fall vibes, with some abstract stripes featuring some China Glaze autumn shades from collections past.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Colour Grip Primer Base Coat 
  • Top Coat: Quo by ORLY Color Amp’d Top Coat
  • China Glaze Prairie Tale Ending
  • China Glaze Spice To Meet You
  • China Glaze Modern Auburn
  • China Glaze Loves ‘Em & Leaves ‘Em
  • NailStuff.ca Mermaid Tail Brush Trio (11mm liner brush)

Look at these colours together — if this doesn’t scream Autumn vibes, I don’t know what does! The colours blend beautifully together. & this is what I always mean when I say this abstract stripe design is my favourite because of the endless colour possibilities; there are infinite combinations. & it’s so easy. This design probably took me maybe 30 minutes from start to finish, not including dry time.

What do you think of these Autumn Abstract stripes? Do you have big Labour Day plans? Drop a comment below, & let me know how you celebrate the end of Summer. My big plans for today? Laundry… lots of laundry.

Have a beautiful day!