Category: Essie

Posted on

Juicy Abstract Stripes

Hello lovelies & happy Thursday. It’s almost the weekend… who else is excited?! Of course, they’re calling for (another) big Winter storm Friday night into Saturday. So that’s… fun. I’m so over Winter & snow it’s not even funny! But you know what I’m not tired of–fun, bright nails!

This time, I was feeling some colours I haven’t worn in ages. Coral used to be a go-to nail polish shade for me, & I’m not sure when that changed. So when going through my stash, I was feeling some coral-y shades, & this is what I ended up with. Also, yes, more abstract stripes because they’re just so easy to do.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Essie Millionails
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive
  • OPI I Eat Maine-ly Lobster
  • OPI Can’t Hear Myself Pink
  • Essie Blanc
  • Starrily Vantablack
  • OPI Koala Bear-y
  • NailStuff.ca 16mm Striper Brush

I actually ended up wearing these nails for 4 days, which is unheard of for me. Usually I’m changing my nails after day 2, maybe day 3. But I loved these so much I couldn’t actually bring myself to change them until they were really actually chipped.

These nails remind me of nails I did years ago, that I was equally in love with. Those were definitely the inspiration for this look. I know these kind of manis are super popular on Instagram right now, & some people might be slightly sick of them, but to me they will never get old. They’re just so easy, & funky. You have no idea how many compliments I got for this look! It definitely made my nail art loving heart happy.

What do you think about this design? Do you enjoy these abstract stripes?

Leave a comment down in the comments below, & let me know which colour combination you would love to see as an abstract stripe design like this?

Posted on

Deep & Dark Chrevron Half Moons 🌙

Hello lovelies & happy Tuesday.

I hope everyone had a lovely start to their week! I worked a crazy day at work yesterday, thanks to the holiday, so I legit feel hungover even though I didn’t have anything but coffee to drink! It’s going to be a 3 or 4 coffee kind of day.

But in the meantime, how about some fun nails? I actually did these nails back in… October, November (I think?) but for some reason didn’t get around to posting them. Which is actually a shame because look how beautiful they are! You know how much I love chevron moons, & I adore all the details on these ones.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Essie Millionails
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive
  • Sally Hansen InstaDri Cinna-Snap
  • Sally Hansen InstaDri Night Drive
  • Essie Mosaic On Down
  • Chevron nail vinyls
  • NailStuff.ca 7mm detail brush

How pretty are these with the addition of the gold lines? I remember thinking these were so, so beautiful when I wore them, which is why I still can’t understand why I never got a chance to post them. Sometimes that happens, or — even worse — I’ll do a manicure I adore, but then wreck it before I have a chance to get pictures of it! That one always breaks my heart the most.

I feel like I haven’t done my chevron moons in a while, so I think I’ve been inspired to do another one very, very soon. Maybe one featuring some very beautiful Spring shades? Feeling inspired!

What do you think of this chevron moon design? Would you wear a look like this? Do you like the combination of colours with the maroon, navy blue & gold?

Leave me a comment down below, & let me know what you think of this look!

Posted on

Red Pink & Purple Sparkly Glitter Gradient ✨

Hello lovelies & happy Tuesday! It was feeling like Spring here this weekend, but now we’re officially back in Winter mode with about 30cm of snow that fell yesterday. I’m just so over Winter. It’s cold, & slushy, & I miss wearing cute dresses. I can’t wait for us to officially defrost.

But in the meantime, I guess I’ll distract myself with some pretty nails.

It’s been a long while since I did a gradient on my nails that wasn’t just some glitter. Honestly, I find the clean up–even with liquid latex!–a pain, & I don’t have time for it. But I was really, really feeling a sparkly gradient after putting on my Swatch Sunday pick Essence Me & My Lover, so I decided to give it a try.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Essie Millionails
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive
  • Essence Me & My Lover
  • Aco by Ardene Boudoir
  • Aco by Ardene Wish
  • Latex free make up sponge

Check out those layers of glitter! It’s been a long time since my last gradient like this with lots of glittery shades, but I’m obsessed with how it turned out.

Instead of doing the classic gradient sponging where you apply all three colours onto the sponge & then apply it to the nail, I sponged each layer of glitter on the nail instead… which still gave me the same effect without having to worry about the clean up! I find it’s easier to do that with glittery shades like these, because they blend into each other easier, & you don’t have those unblended lines you might get with a cream polish. & of course, sealing it all in with top coat also helps blend things.

What do you think of these glittery gradient nails? Would you wear a super glittery gradient like this on your nails? Let me know what you think down in the comments below, & what colour combination you would wear!

Posted on

An (Early) Spring Floral

Hello lovelies & happy Thursday. Yesterday the temperatures were above freezing & it felt a bit like, dare I say it… Spring. Oh, & it was perfect since I was wearing this pretty Spring-y floral.

Originally I did this floral because I had bought this pretty new Sinful Colors shade at Walmart, & I thought it would be a great base for floral nail art. I also wanted something that was kind of, sort of Valentine’s Day-

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Essie Millionails
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive
  • Sinful Colors Wonder Mint
  • Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure One in a Melon
  • Sally Hansen CSM So Much Fawn
  • Sally Hansen CSM Berry Fancy
  • Essie Blanc
  • Essie Check My Baggage
  • Essie Off Tropic
  • Essie Cacti on the Prize
  • NailStuff.ca 7mm detail brush
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio

So I know everytime I do a new floral look, I gush endlessly about how it’s my favourite, so I’ll save you that — but I am really proud proud of how these turned out, especially the rose buds. The feel delicate & romantic, & I literally didn’t want to take these off! Plus the bright blue base is vibrant & makes me forget it’s only February.

It gives me thoughts about Spring days, & sunshine & pretty dresses. & I’m so ready for all of those things.

What do you think about this pretty Spring floral? Do you like the roses paired against this vibrant blue base? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below!

Posted on

Valentine’s Inspired Leopard Print 💗

Hello lovelies & happy Tuesday!

Less than a week until Valentine’s Day, & I feel like I haven’t really done any related manicures this year. Usually there is at least one pink/red dotticure, haha. Kind of crazy! So I thought I would share this fun Valentine’s Day inspired leopard print design that I did recently.

& yes, this is another new holographic Color Club shade I recently picked up from Walmart because I’m obsessed.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Essie Millionails
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive
  • Essie Ballet Slippers
  • Color Club Trick of the Trade
  • Sally Hansen I ❤️ Nail Art pen in Black
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio

So turns out, trying to draw heart shapes & turn them into leopard spots is not as easy as I thought it would be — or as clear as what it’s supposed to be. But I think I was semi successful? I really like the pop of holo pink on the smooth, slightly milky base of Ballet Slippers. It really makes the holo pop!

I like that this look is Valentine’s Day, but swap out your pink for basically any other colour & it’s a good everyday look too. I always forget how much I love Leopard print on my nails, until I do it again.

What do you think about this Valentine’s Day inspired nail art look? Are you a big fan of this holiday? Honestly, I’ve never really been a huge fan, but I do love cinnamon hearts, Love Hearts, & any excuse to paint a theme on my nails.

If you’re looking for some Valentine’s Day nail art inspiration, I do have this post from a few years ago: 5 Cute Valentine’s Day Designs (inspired by Pinterest).

Have a great Tuesday!