SWATCH SUNDAY — Orly Buried Alive (2012 Dark Shadows Collection)

Hello lovelies & happy Sunday! A sunny, but chilly, Sunday. The roofs are all frosted over this morning, & it’s definitely feeling like Winter lately. However, I’m just not quite feeling that holiday nail spirit yet. Usually by this time, I’m already planning Christmas manicures — but I haven’t been feeling any Christmas vibes yet this year unfortunately.

It’s Swatch Sunday, though, & I was going through my stash & found a beauty from 2012 that I don’t think I’ve ever worn! This is Orly Buried Alive from the 2012 Dark Shadows Collection.

2 coats + top coat

This beautiful shimmery chocolate brown polish is packed full of golden flakie shimmer. I am actually so sad it’s taken me this long to wear this polish, because it’s absolutely stunning! It’s the most perfect Autumn brown. It’s shimmery on its own, but then you add in that golden shimmer & it just adds the whole other dimension to it.

The formula on this one was actually really easy to use considering it’s a 10+ year old nail polish. Maybe it’s because I haven’t cracked the bottle since I bought it.

Wow! Look at that close up!

I’m actually really sad I have dropped the ball on this shade. I guess I thought “brown polish, not going to like it” but oh boy was I wrong! I love it! The application was flawless, the colour is stunning, & it’s just such a lovely Autumn shade I wouldn’t think to reach for.

What do you think about Orly Buried Alive? Do you remember this shade, or this collection? Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below — I’d love to know what you think.

& if you have any tips for getting me in the holiday spirit, I will take all the ones I can get!

Happy Sunday

♥︎

Gold Swirlie Freehand

Hey lovelies!

I know you what you’re thinking — girlie where have you been this week?!

This has been a jam packed week full of blood work & regular work, so I haven’t had time to get super creative with my nails. I also had a couple breaks, so my nails are now considerably shorter. But I did do this pretty freehand swirly nail art look last week, before everything, so I’m excited to finally share them!

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Top Coat: Sally Hansen InstaDri Top Coat (red bottle) 
  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Miracle Cure
  • Essence Good Girl Bad Girl Leather Effect Caught In The Middle (2015)
  • Sally Hansen Good As Good (Holiday 2019)
  • NailStuff 7mm Mermaid Tail liner brush

I used to do swirly looks like a lot circa 2015/2016, & I’m not sure why I stopped. I like how this looks like some fancy wallpaper or wrapping paper. & Good As Gold as some holographic glitters in it, which catch the light every so often & makes it look even prettier.

What do you think of my swirlie golden freehand nails? Do you like designs like this? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below. Personally these feel very glamourous to me!

Happy Friday & (almost) weekend!

🖤

Jewel Toned Autumn Abstract Stripes 💎💙

Good morning lovelies & happy Monday! It’s a chilly morning here on the East Coast — I actually broke out my winter jacket. Brrrrrrr.

With Halloween now over, we’re in that inbetween nail art stage where I’m never quite sure what to paint on my nails. But I was inspired by yesterday’s Swatch Sunday post to create a beautiful jewel toned design & I’m absolutely infatuated with how they turned out.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Top Coat: Sally Hansen InstaDri Top Coat (red bottle) 
  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Miracle Cure
  • China Glaze Emerald Fitzgerald
  • China Glaze December to Remember
  • China Glaze Up All Night
  • China Glaze Glamcore
  • China Glaze Cast A Spell
  • NailStuff 11mm Mermaid Tail brush

I won’t lie — this design was kind of time consuming. But when you look at the end result, it was totally worth it! From far away, the whole design is kind of dark, but when you look at them up close you see the details of the abstract stripes & it’s such a beautiful combination.

The colours all compliment each other really nicely, & the whole design—to me—just screams November vibes.

What do you think about this jewel toned abstract stripe design? Do you love the complexity of it, & the beautiful colours? What designs call to you during the month of November?

Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below!

🖤

Pink Holo Half Moons 🌙

Hello lovelies & happy Wednesday.

Trying to post all the designs I did during my hiatus from posting, & I thought this was a fun & easy design. You know I adore half moons, & I love how this one turned out.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Essie Hard to Resist Advanced
  • Top Coat: Essence Colour Shield Top Coat
  • Wrenn Polish Ruby Slippers
  • Essie No More Film
  • Essie Leggy Legend
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio (smallest size)
  • Paper Hole Reinforcements

Half moons are such an easy look. I added my little gold dots to make it a bit more exciting, & I really like how they turned out. Mostly I’ve been leaning into the Spring shades in my collection, but every so often I reach for something darker.

What do you think about these half moons? Do you like this combination of colours?

Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below. I always love to hear what you think!

Cutesy Valentines Nail Art (Using Nail Stickers) 💗💘

Good morning loves & happy Thursday. I know, I know. It’s been a while. Remember when I said February was going to hopefully be an easier month? Well… not so much. Just not in the way I was expecting.

Anyways though — let’s not worry about that & instead focus on my nails! Because that’s why everyone is here, isn’t it? & it’s almost Valentine’s Day, which means I get to show off some V-Day inspired nails. 💅 💘 & I have lots more love inspired looks to come.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: NailStuff Essentials Base Coat *
  • Top Coat: Essence Colour Shield Top Coat 
  • Essie Gel Couture Rock the Runway *
  • Ellen Tracy Gold Glitter Topper (no name, my mum got it for me in a set from Winners)
  • Valentine’s Day Nail Art Stickers (I don’t remember the brand, but I bought them at Indigo on clearance for like $5)
  • Kiss Products rainbow & heart stickers

You would not believe the amount of nail art stickers & decals I have at my disposal that I onlh get to bring out a few times of years. But I do get excited when I have an excuse to use them! Stickers are such a great option when you’re short on time, or tired, or just feeling uninspired or lazy.

That’s why they’re one of my favourite nail art tools!

What do you think of these quick & easy Valentine’s Day nails using these cute graphic stickers? Do you love them as much as I do? Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below, & share your favourite brands of nail art stickers in the comments below.

Happy Thursday

🖤