Category: Essie

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A Blast from the past with Saran Wrap Nails.

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Do you ever try a new nail art technique, really like it, and then just never try it again–instead falling back on them same old designs? No? Just me then….

Last Summer I tried out the saran wrap technique for nails, and really liked how it looked. Then completely forgot about that cool technique. The other day I was trying to think of something different I could do on my nails when it hit me! Saran Wrap Nails! I’d already painted my nails using Essie’s We’re in this Together. So I grab a dark pink (Bourjois Paris 2013 Bon Anniversaire), painted over the lighter pink, then dabbed with pieces of a plastic bag I had around. And tada! Pretty saran wrap nails. I applied top coat, then finished them off with some glitters from OPI’s I Snow You Love Me (which I’m actually obsessed with) and then applied Seche Vite to seal everything in. Quick and pretty nail art!

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Seriously, why have I not done saran wrap nails in over a year?! What a travesty!  It’s such a neat look!

Also, I’ll apologize for the poor lighting in my pictures–I took them out the back door of work, on a particularly cloudy day so the lighting ended up really funky.

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Chasing Waterfalls… again.

Today’s manicure is almost kind of aredo to one I did a few months back. I really love the look of waterfall manicures, and so the other night when I was struggling with nail art ideas I decided why not create another one. I had already painted my nails using Revlon’s I’m Electro, which is a beautiful blue duocrome from the Amazing Spiderman 2 collection, so I grab a bunch of my blue polishes and went to work.

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The polishes I used for this manicure were:

  • Revlon I’m Electro — base color.
  • Revlon Superpowered.
  • Icing Starlight.
  • Sinful Colors Hip to Be Square.
  • Art Club Nail Art Duo in Baby Blue
  • Quo by ORLY Falling Star.
  • Essie Good to Go Top Coat.

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Pretty, aren’t they. I wasn’t quite happy with my waterfall nails the last time I attempted them–and with a couple tweeks I think I’ve made a vast improvement. It doesn’t hurt my nails have quite a bit more length to them now, as opposed to last time. I think using a darker base color (but not too dark) also helped make them pop as well.  =)

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So is anyone else as excited as me about Starbucks releasing their Pumpkin Spice Latte’s today. You apparently need a special code to unlock the drink, so I’ve got mine already to go. I have a Halifax Adventure day planned with my best friend, which always means COFFEE! We’re going to soak in the last of Summer before he goes back to finish his degree and it gets too chilly for our adventuring.

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Grey and Silver and all taped up.

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Finally! I’m feeling nail art again after a good short while of being uninspired. Does anyone else ever get like that? You want to paint your nails with something pretty, but every time you try you just hate everything? (I hope it’s not just me… I’ll feel silly!) Today’s nails were just me really, really wanting to do some nail taping, as I don’t often do it. I also really, really wanted to wear Cashmere Bathrobe by Essie, as I adore it for Fall and I don’t think I’ve worn it since last fall.

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The polishes I used for this manicure were:

  • Essie Cashmere Bathrobe.
  • Maybelline Color Show Lavender Luster.
  • Mariposa Striping Polish in Pink.
  • Seche Vite Quick Dry Top Coat.

As you can see, I managed to do semi straight taping. I think I’ve figured out it’s the tape I’ve been using that’s made me not want to do tape manicure. I have a roll of very thin painters tape, which I bought because I thought it would be perfect. Unfortunately, for some reason, it just doesn’t like sticking to my nails well enough and–because it’s green–I can’t see if I’ve made my lines straight enough. Oops. I think I’ll be switching back to just regular old scotch tape for manicures like this from now on.

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So what do you think of this manicure? I must say–I really, really like how it turned out. I’ve been feeling so blah nail art wise for a while, but now that I’ve broken out of that funk I’m hoping I can get back to playing with my polish as it makes me so happy. =)  Hopefully I’ll have a fun new manicure to share with you coming up.

 

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Sometimes you just need to go simple.

Okay, so I’ve been really obsessed with polka dots lately. They’re just so easy, fun and pretty. I tried doing my nails about 15 times the other day, and just didn’t like anything I came up with. Finally, I went with some more polka dots and was very happy with the outcome. I still haven’t figured out how I want to do my own nails for the wedding (which.. oh my… is tomorrow), but I’ve figured out what I’m doing for everyone else’s nails. In fact, my other best friend will be rocking a manicure very similar to the one below since she was so in love with what I had done.

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The polishes I used for this manicure were:

  • Revlon Dreamer.
  • Maybelline Sapphire Siren.
  • ACO by Ardene Kiss by a Ross.
  • OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls.
  • Essie Good to Go top coat.

I found Revlon Dreamer in my stash, which I picked up a little while ago and only used once. I forgot what a pretty blue it is. I’m a huge fan of a soft blue polish… which is probably why I own so many!

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Tomorrow’s going to be a busy day, so I won’t be able to make any updates. But on Saturday (or… depending on how much we party Friday night… Sunday) I will have all the wedding manicure’s I’m creating to share with you. I’m doing the Bride’s, the maid of honor, our other best friend (and of course my own) nails for the wedding! You think doing that many manicures would be stressful, but I’m so excited for our girlie pre-wedding sleepover.

Now I’m going to go get ready. We’ve got the rehearsal this morning, and then I’ve got a TON of running around to do. I am going to need a coffee the size of my head, that’s for sure.

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Nautical themed Bridal Shower Nails.

So I totally misjudged being on vacation. I am a lot busier than I thought I would be, but I guess that goes a long with being a bridesmaid. But I’m still managing to get some nail art time in! I decided to do something fun and nautical themed for my besties Bridal Shower (using her wedding colors, obviously), and this is what I ended up coming with.

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The polishes I used for this manicure were:

  • Maybelline Sapphire Siren.
  • ACO by Ardene Kiss by a Rose.
  • China Glaze Metro Pollen-tin.
  • ACO by Ardene Golden Luxery.
  • Mariposa Nail Design Striper in White.
  • Essie Good to Go Top Coat.

I’ve been browsing a lot of nautical themed nails on Pinterest, so I wanted to give it a quick try. I created my lines freehand, (and on the go) which is why some of them aren’t as straight as I hoped they would be. But they’re not so bad, and they went great with the dress I wore to the bridal shower!

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I can’t believe my best friend is getting married in 2 days! We used to make Spice Girl videos in my backyard way, way back in the day, and now she’s going to walk down the isle. If I don’t cry, I will be absolutely shocked.

Now, time to go play with some polish. I’m feeling some swatching today. I bought a bunch of new polishes in July I haven’t yet had time to share with you, so I figured now is a good time. With the exception of a little bridal lingerie shopping tonight with the bride to be, I’ve got the whole day to myself. And my stash is calling my name!

Have a great day lovelies!