SWATCH SUNDAY — Sally Hansen InstaDri HoloGlow Holo-Back

Hello lovelies & happy Sunday! The last Sunday of September, which is absolutely mad!

Sorry for missing out on Swatch Sunday last week — I’ve been dealing with absolutely horrendous allergies lately, & I was full on wrote off last Sunday. I could barely think, let alone write a blog post! So I hope a brand new (still in stores) nail polish pick for this week’s Swatch Sunday will make up for my absence last week.

This is Sally Hansen InstaDri HoloGlow in Holo-back.

2 coats + top coat

I’ve been seeing these Sally Hansen InstaDri HoloGlow shades in store lately, & absolutely obsessed with them. so when I needed a new polish to cheer myself up I was immediately was drawn to this new collection. Because… you know: holo. & when you can find holographic nail polish at your local drug store, you need to try it out!

The Sally Hansen InstaDri line boasts a 60 sec dry time. For application, I did need to have 2 coats, so I feel like that adds a little time. While it did dry quicker, I’m not sure if it was only 60 seconds. I will say, I could see it drying down to a kind of textured finish (I’m assuming because of the scattered holographic glitters) but I don’t know if I would say it was only 60 seconds.

I did end up adding some top coat to smooth out (& glossy up) the finish. I’ve read online about people complaining that top coat removes the holographic finish but the top coat I used (Essie Speed Setter) didn’t cause any issues like that, as you can see.

Lots of scattered holographic glitters!

Obviously, I was drawn to this beautiful darker blue shade but the collection does boast 8 holographic shades in the line–although, I think my local Shoppers Drug Mart was sold out of a few of them. I was torn between this shade & Chrome Zone, which was a dark almost black holo. I would definitely pick of that one next!

The Sally Hansen InstaDri HoloGlow shades can be found whenever you buy your Sally Hansen polishes. I picked up this bottle at my local Shoppers Drug Mart on sale for $5.99 CAD though they’re regularly $10.99 CAD.

What do you think about this beautiful Sally Hansen InstaDri shade Holo-back? Do you love being able to find holographic nail polish in mainstream stores? Have you tried the Sally Hansen InstaDri HoloGlow shades — which one is your favourite? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below.

Happy Sunday

♥︎

GLAM NAILS CHALLENGE SEPTEMBER (2024) — Owl 🦉

Hello lovelies & happy Wednesday! Can you believe that we only have 2 more Glam Nails Challenge September prompts for this month? We’re very quickly approaching October & full blown spooky season, & I’m very excited. but we still have a few more days of September, & a couple more fun designs to share!

Today’s prompt is Owl & I decided to create this cute little owl accent nail.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Essie First Base 
  • Base Coat: LA Colors Mega Grow Treatment 
  • Top Coat: Essie Speed Setter
  • Sally Hansen Good. Kind. Pure. Beet It.
  • Sally Hansen Good. Kind. Pure. Eco Rose.
  • Sally Hansen InstaDri Burnished Wine
  • Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Let’s Snow
  • Sally Hansen InstaDri Up To Snuff
  • Sally Hansen InstaDri Ghouls Night Out
  • Nailstuff.ca Mermaid Tail 7mm liner brush
  • NailStuff.ca dotting tool from Dotting Tool Trio

I’m actually super surprised I’ve never attempted an owl accent nail before, but I think it turned out pretty cute! These colours just scream Autumn vibes too, which I’m here for. Over all, a cute easy little owl that fits the prompt perfectly! & I couldn’t be happier with it.

Sometimes all you need is just a cute little accent nail.

What do you think about my cute owl accent nail? Do you like how he turned out? Would you wear this design? Let me know what you think in the comments!

Are you following along with the other nail art designs for this month’s Glam Nails Challenge September? Don’t forget, you can check out #glamnailschallengesept24 on Instagram, & see all the other beautiful designs being shared!

Happy Wednesday!

♥︎

GLAM NAILS CHALLENGE SEPTEMBER (2024) — Autumn Harvest

Hello lovelies & happy Wednesday! Today is a balmy not-so-Autumm day here on the East Coast, not Fall-like at all. But that’s okay because we’re continuing on with our Fall inspired manicures for Glam Nails Challenge September with the next prompt which is Autumn Harvest. & I won’t lie, this one had me a bit stumped at first! So I decided to pull out some acrylic paint & get creative.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Essie First Base 
  • Base Coat: LA Colors Mega Grow Treatment 
  • Essie Expressie Cold Brew Crew
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Moonlight Top Coat
  • Acrylic Paint
  • Nailstuff.ca Mermaid Tail 7mm & 11mm liner brushes

So I don’t know if you can tell, but I handprinted some pumpkins & squash, & then filled into the space with some Fall foilage. I feel like maybe using such a dark base colour might have been a detriment to my design, but it looks very pretty up close. & the colours just scream Autumn, which I love!

& you can never go wrong with flakies.

What do you think about these Autumn Harvest nails? Are you getting the prompt from this design? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below, & how you think I did.

Are you following along with the other nail art designs for this month’s Glam Nails Challenge September? Don’t forget, you can check out #glamnailschallengesept24 on Instagram, & see all the other beautiful designs being shared!

GLAM NAILS CHALLENGE SEPTEMBER (2024) — Pumpkin

Hello lovelies & happy Wednesday! Can you believe we’re already mid-week for our first week of September. I promise, the allure of Autumn will not be all I focus on… although with these cute nail art prompts for this month, it might be hard! Today though, we have the second prompt of Glam Nails Challenge September & it is pumpkins! Now, with the exception of my beloved pumpkin spice, I tend to relate pumpkins more with October but I did a little Pinterest perusing, & came up with a cute pumpkin look that isn’t too Halloween-y.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Essie First Base 
  • Top Coat: Essie Speed Setter
  • China Glaze Instant Chemistry
  • Color Club Poppin’ Bottles
  • ‘Ard As Nails Not Your Mama’s Pumpkin Spice
  • Essie Souq Up the Sun
  • Essie Cliffhanger
  • Claire’s Matte Nail Polish 75192 (shimmery emerald green)
  • Nailstuff.ca Mermaid Tail 7mm liner brush

When I say I’m obsessed with these — I’m freaking obsessed with these! & I think the fact that my nails are a smidge shorter now actually makes this manicure look better! But these just turned out so cute, & I love the little pumpkins, & I love the shimmer & sparkle. I love everything! Considering I went into this manicure prompt not 100% sure what I was going to end up with, I’m so, so in love with the final result.

The cutest little pumpkins ever!

What do you think of my little glittery Autumn pumpkins? Do you like what I did with this prompt? Would you wear a design like this on your nails? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below!

& I always love knowing what you’re wearing on your nails right now too!

Enjoy your Wednesday

♥︎

GLAM NAILS CHALLENGE AUGUST (2024) — Cactus 🌵

Good morning lovelies & happy Wednesday! Can you believe that this is it — the last prompt of this month’s challenge! Crazy to think August is almost over, & September is (basically) here. But we’re finishing out this month’s challenge strong with a handpainted cactus design, & I’m really proud of how these turned out!

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Essie First Base 
  • Top Coat: Essie Speed Setter
  • Quo by Orly Breatheable You’re A Gem
  • Pacifica Rainbow Gloss
  • Essie Willow in the Wind
  • Essie Turquoise & Cacaos
  • Essie Chillato
  • Essie Off Tropic
  • Essie Cute as a Button
  • Essie Set in Sandstone
  • Nailtural Keep Palm, Swim On
  • Nailstuff.ca Mermaid Tail 7mm liner brush
  • NailStuff.ca dotting tool from Dotting Tool Trio

Okay, so originally I was going to use my cactus stickers from NailStuff.ca for this design, but I could not find them anywhere! So I had to pull out my freehand skills, & freehand paint some cute cacti on my nails… & you know, I think I did a pretty good job! I’m actually super proud of these & feeling pretty in love with how beautifully they turned out.

My whole reason for doing this challenge this month was the inspire me to get out of my nail art box, & feel creative again. My favourite months of the year are coming up, & I want to be in love with nail art again; feel creative again. & I am really excited to finish the rest of this year with some fun nail art looks!

What do you think about these cactus nails for Glam Nails Challenge August? Have you enjoyed taking this nail art journey with me this month? I’m not 100% sure if I’m going to do Glam Nails Challenge for September, but either way I’m pumped to get into some fun Fall designs & colours.

Have a lovely Wednesday

♥︎