SWATCH SUNDAY — Nicole by OPI Scarlett || Happy 12th Birthday Coffee & Nail Polish 🎂

Hello lovelies & happy Easter Sunday! I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend, celebrating however they celebrate. But it’s not just Easter Sunday — 12 years ago today I made my very first post on Coffee & Nail Polish! So I thought it would be fun, & for this week’s Swatch Sunday I would share the first very nail polish I ever used for a manicure: Nicole by OPI (RIP) Scarlett from the Selena Gomez collection.

2 coats + top coat

This beautiful metallic pink was originally released as part of the Nicole by OPI Spring Collection which was Selena Gomez themed. I picked up this beauty at my local Lawton’s Drugs (which was one of my favourite places for clearance nail polish) for the stellar price of $2.50.

The formula on this one was slightly thin, but not too thin it made it hard to apply. 2 coats built to this perfect opacity. The finish though — the finish is my favourite. It’s this gorgeous glass fleck finish. Also I love that it sort of looks pink, but also sort of looks red.

Stunning.

Close up of this beautiful finish. I love the shimmer, the pinkish glow; all of it. It really does glow on the nail which just adds to the beauty.

& obviously, since today is the anniversary of my very first blog post, I had to do a recreation of my very first design — a red on red leopard print. Base is Scarlett & my spots were done using Nicole by OPI Basking in Gloria (from the Modern Family collection).

Unfortunately I did forget to matte-ify my design & didn’t realize until after the fact, but I still love my recreation.

What do you think about this throwback shade! I feel like the NOPI shades were definitely ahead of their time for drugstore brands. I really miss them, & cherish the shades I still have.

Happy Sunday!

Happy Easter!

🖤

Purple-y Leopard Print

Hello lovelies & happy Tuesday! It’s hot hot hot out there — feeling close to 40 degrees C today with humidity — so going to need to keep well hydrated!

Today I’m sharing an old classic when it comes to nail art: leopard print. It’s been a while since I wore any leopard on my nails (last September) so I thought I was due!

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Essie Here to Stay
  • Top Coat: Essie Gel Setter
  • Olive & June House of O&J *Gifted
  • Olive & June How Do You Spell Bougainvillea? *Gifted
  • Olive & June Starshower *Gifted
  • Sally Hansen InstaDri Ghouls Night Out *Gifted
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio (tiniest size) *gifted
  • Nailstuff.ca Mermaid Tail 7mm liner brush *gifted

How cute is this leopard design? I love the colours together, the added sparkle from Starshower in the middle of my leopard spots — just everything. Plus leopard nails are so easy to do, I really should do them more often. I’ve always loved a good spotted pattern; the amount of leopard print clothing I have owned over the years is impressive.

What do you think about this leopard design? Are you a fan of patterned designs like this? As always, leave a comment down below! I love hearing what you think!

🖤

Purple & Gold Leopard Print (Recreation from 2014)

Hello lovelies & happy Wednesday! We’re officially mid-week, which means we’re just days away from October… how crazy is that? Wasn’t it just January?

I’m super excited though, because October is one of my all time favourite months for nail art, so I’m excited to get started on all sorts of spooky season nails. In the meantime, though, I have a fun nail art look which is a recreation of a nail art look I did all the way back in 2014. You know me, I love a good nail art recreation.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Colour Grip Primer Base Coat 
  • Top Coat: Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat
  • Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Belle of the Ball
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Ski Bunny
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Five Golden Blings
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio
  • NailStuff.ca 4mm Micro Detail Brush

I’ve actually been planning on recreating this nail art look (which was originally inspired by perfectlynailedUK) for a while, but I was just waiting for the right moment. This colour scheme is very much an Autumn colour scheme. Also, I switched things up slightly for my recreation, but I think I’ve captured the overall essence of my original manicure quite well! & I love being able to look back on old designs & see how far my nails have come.

Leopard print is just such a fun design to wear, no matter the season. But the combination of gold & purple is perfect for this late September, pre-Halloween nail art season. & now that I’m (more or less) feeling back to myself, I’m excited to get back into all the fun nail art designs I love to wear this time of year! & plan for those spooky season manicures to come.

What do you think about this nail art recreation? Do you like how I updated this old design? Do you ever recreate nail art looks from the past to see how your nails have improved? Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below!

Happy Wednesday! ♥︎

Blue Matte Leopard Print

Hello lovelies & happy Wednesday! We are half way to the weekend, woo-hoo!

Today I’m sharing another fun look that I’m kind of obsessed with. I saw this manicure on Pinterest, & knew immediately I needed to recreate it! I love a good leopard print, & it’s been a while since I had done one, & the bright matte blue was just too good.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Colour Grip Primer Base Coat 
  • Top Coat: Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Glossy Top Coat
  • Matte Top Coat: Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Matte Top Coat
  • Essie All The Wave
  • Essie Mosaic On Down
  • Sally Hansen I ❤️ Nail Art Pen in Black (Round)
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio

I love the gold over the bright cobalt blue. It looks so good!

I’ve always been a fan of leopard print nails, even in the early days of this blog. I don’t do them nearly as often as I should, but they’re definitely in my top five favourite nail art styles. There are endless colour options, pattern options — plus it’s an easy nail art style I feel like even the most beginner nail artist can do.

What do you think about this funky bright blue leopard print? Are you a fan of leopard designs? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below!

Pink & Purple Leopard Print

Hello lovelies & happy end of May!

Can you believe this month is officially on its way out? Summer is here — & I’ve been living for these warm Summer dress worthy days. Today I’m showing off a fun, bright look to perfectly compliment the weather: a pink & purple leopard print.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Essie Hard To Resist Glow & Shine
  • Top Coat: Essence Extreme GEL Top
  • LA Girl Extreme
  • Essence Lilac Vibes
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Blacky-O
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio
  • NailStuff.ca 4mm Micro Detail Brush

I love how this pink pops against this grey-ed out purple. It makes it look really vibrant. I featured this purple base for Swatch Sunday a few weeks back, & I’m glad I decided to do some nail art with it! It was the perfect base for this leopard print. This colour scheme is great!

What do you think of this leopard print look? Are you a fan of the pink against the purple base? What are you wearing to celebrate Summer days? Let me know in the comments below!