Category: Essie

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SWATCH SUNDAY — Essie Gel Couture Rock The Runway

*contains PR

Hello beauties & happy Sunday.

I hope everyone has had a lovely week so far. Mine has been non-stop between my two jobs, hence the lack of posting on my part. I’m really hoping I can figure out a better schedule for posting, as I miss sharing my nails with you! Today, though, I thought I would grab one of the beautiful polishes I was gifted courtesy of Essie & L’Oreal — especially since it’s the perfect Valentine’s Day red. This is Essie Gel Couture Rock The Runway.

2 coats + top coat

Okay, we know… we know. I love red nail polish. So whenever I add a new red to my vast collection, I get excited. This one, which is part of the Gel Couture Line, is a smooth to apply bright red, which actually has very nice coverage in two coats. It has a bit of an orange undertone, which kind of brings out the yellow in my skin tone — depending on the lighting you’re looking at the polish in. This is a red that I think would be very complimentary on many different skin tones — which is kind of the beauty of a red nail. It truly looks good on everyone!

Essie Gel Couture Rock The Runway was one of the original shades released as part of the Gel Couture line, & it remains part of the core collection. I actually really love this line; it took me a while to introduce myself to it, but I’ve been impressed with every shade from the line that I’ve tried. The top coat is also great, & I know a lot of nail bloggers consider it the GOAT.

Essie Gel Couture Rock The Runway can be purchased wherever Essie nail polishes are found. In Canada, they tend to retail for around $11 – $17 CAD depending on where you’re shopping.

What do you think about Essie Gel Couture Rock The Runway? Are you a fan of this shade, & this line? Which colour is your favourite? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below!

Happy Sunday

♥︎

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SWATCH SUNDAY — Essie Starry Starry Night (2016 Re-release) 🌌🌠

Hello loves & happy Sunday. It’s a rainy, miserable Sunday here but I guess it beats snow. Today I decided to take a little trip to the past… all the way back to early 2016 when life was just simpler & all the crazy in the world seemed manageable.

Today’s Swatch Sunday pick is Essie Starry Starry Night from the 2016 Retro Revival Collection.

2 coats + 2 coats top coat

I’ll start off with this shade has definitely had a hard go since I bought it in 2016. While I have lots of shades over a decade old that apply perfectly, this was took some trick & finese to get a good looking application (& top coat… lots of top coat.) A little polish thinner, & I feel like she will be back to normal again.

The polish itself is a dark navy jelly base, with small silver glitters layered inside. The coats are thin enough that the glitter still peaks through, even with multiple coats.

I really like this colour & layered glitter look, which was why I originally bought it. I had no experience with the previous (original) version of this shade, but saw later people were upset about how different it was. Here is a great comparison post of the two different shades. While I love the revival version, I can see why lovers of the original could be upset, especially with change in colour & glitter size.

Do you remember this Essie shade? I kind of wish they had kept this one around rather than making it a limited edition release, but I suppose that’s how they build hype. I just find it so much more fun than a lot of the shades you see in the core collection.

What do you think? Should Essie bring this shade back (again)? Let me know what you think down in the comments below.

Happy Sunday

🖤

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Moody January Stripes

Hello lovelies & happy Tuesday! A busy Tuesday at that! Even though January can sometimes be the worst month, this one is definitely turning out to be a crazy one for me.

So my nail art is tending to fall on the easy side of things. As you could probably tell from my previous post, I did a big chop on my nails. Not only do I like to start a new clean with a fresh canvas, I also started a second job working at a cafe as a barista, so I wanted to trim back my nails as I get used to that (after 2 years being away!)

But just because I have short nails doesn’t mean I can’t have cute nail art!

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: NailStuff Essentials Base Coat *
  • Top Coat: Essence Colour Shield Top Coat (I ran out of my NailStuff one & need to make an order!)
  • Essie Expressie Take The Espresso
  • Essie Skirting the Issue
  • Essie Sable Collar
  • Londontown USA Opal
  • Quo by Orly Black Striper
  • NailStuff 4mm Micro Detail Brush  

**pr/gifted

How cute are these short little stripe-y nails? The colours are also kind of dark & gloomy, great for these gloomy days. & I do love a dark nail. The combination of Essie Skirting the Issue over Expressie Take The Espresso makes for such a dark Ox blood red. I adore it.

What do you think of these moody stripes on my new shorties? Do you like these darker manicures? We’re a month away from Valentine’s Day, so I’ll have to start thinking up some designs for that now!

Have an amazing Tuesday.

🖤

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Neon & Neutral Drag Marble

Hello loves & happy Thursday.

My posting is sporadic this week, as I started a new (second) part time job this week, so I’m trying my best to juggle everything as I get used to it. It’s a busy week for me! But I wanted to make sure I had another manicure to share, & I just love these neon drag marble nails that I did recently.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: NailStuff Essentials Base Coat *
  • Top Coat: Nail Stuff Essentials Quick Dry Top Coat *
  • Essie Gel Couture Gossamer Garments *
  • Essie Throw in the Towel *
  • Essie Expressie Feel the Hype *
  • NailStuff.ca dotting tool from Dotting Tool Trio (tiniest one)

**PR/gifted

My idea was to do a sheer-ish base, with a neon drag marble. But then I decided to go with a little navy blue & sort of neon. It wasn’t originally the planned design, but I think it turned out nice. Drag marbles are just some of my favourite easy designs, & they look good on any nail length (which I love).

What do you think about these drag marble nails? A little break up from the dark & gloomy nail shades I’ve been feeling lately!

Also, I did a big chop on my nails for beginning my new part time job (as a barista), so look forward to seeing lots of short nail designs in the near future!

Happy Thursday loves

🖤

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January Monochrome Chevron Moons

Hello beauties & happy Tuesday. It’s a chilly, chilly here which is feeling very January. & January can be just so blah. So I thought I would make things more fun, with some monochromatic half moons with a little glittery twist.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: NailStuff Essentials Base Coat *
  • Top Coat: Nail Stuff Essentials Quick Dry Top Coat *
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Hue There? layered over CND Vinylux Dark Dahlia
  • Essie Expressie Feel The Hype*
  • Essie Play Date
  • Quo by Orly Black Striper
  • NailStuff 4mm Micro Detail Brush  
    **pr/gifted

I love a good half moon look, & I think this design turned out very cool. I went into it not sure what I was doing — just knowing what colours I wanted to paint over my base — but what I created is a great look. Also, freehand painting these lines of chevrons was not as difficult as I thought it was going to be which I’m happy about.

What do you think about these monochromatic half moons, with a little glittery twist. I feel like I’m not quite ready to let go of my glitter, but I definitely am feeling drawn to darker colours right now.

What do you think of this design? Are you loving dark shades right now? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below.

Have a lovely Tuesday.

🖤