SWATCH SUNDAY — B01 Pistache Royale

Hello lovelies & happy Sunday! I hope everyone is having a lovely start to their day so far. I definitely need an extra coffee today! But at least my nails are pretty!

Today I’m channeling & calling for Spring with my Swatch Sunday pick from L’Oréal: Pistache Royale. It’s been way too chilly & Winter-y, so we need some serious Spring vibes happening (& some warmer temperatures would also be lovely.) I found this beauty at my local Lawton’s in the clearance, along with a few other Spring-y shades I might have to go back for!

2 coats + Essie Good to Go Top Coat

The L’Oréal Colour Riche line touts that it is “a unique formula infused with 4 precious oils for mirror shine and rich colour with an easy, one-stroke application.” The brush is nice & wide, so it does go on pretty easier. The formula is also quite buttery, which I love because it makes for very smooth application.

The colour is very beautiful, a stunning minty pastel green that is perfect for Spring. I was also happy that it was beautiful coverage in 2 coats, because I think we all know that pastels aren’t the greatest ones for full coverage, & can sometimes be chalky, but Pistache Royale had neither problem. It was downright perfect!

Look at that shade — is it giving anyone else mini chocolate chip ice cream vibes? My husband said it reminded me of Mini Eggs, so I’ll definitely have to add it to me yearly mini egg inspired manicure come Easter time.

What do you think of L’Oréal Pistache Royale? Is it giving you the same Spring vibes it’s giving me? Let me know in the comments below!

#GlamNailsChallengeFeb — Bears 🐻

Hello lovelies & happy Thursday. I’m another day late on posting this prompt for #GlamNailsChallengeFeb, so I apologize. It’s been one of those busy kind of weeks!

The latest prompt for #GlamNailsChallenge is Bears. I don’t think I’ve ever done a “bear” design before, but I had this cute panda image on a stamping plate I bought from Essence a few years ago, so I decided it would be perfect for this design!

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Nailgrowth Miracle
  • Top Coat: Essie Good to Go
  • L’Oréal Color Riche Blanc De Lune
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Malibu Peach
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Orchid-ing Aside
  • Zoya Daisy
  • L’Oréal Color Riche Pistache Royal
  • Starrily Vantablack
  • NailStuff.ca Clear Stamper (COFFEE10 saves you 10%)
  • Essence Stamp It Stampy Design Plate (no longer available)

I started off with my tie dye base & then decided to stamp the panda over top. I figured pastel was more fun than simple black & white! I thought it was a fun look. The image was so teeny it was a bit difficult picking up completely, but it turned out cute over all!

What do you think about this bear design for #glamnailschallengeFeb? Are you a fan of my pastel tie dye background? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below!

#GlamNailsChallengeFeb — Mandala

Hello lovelies & happy Wednesday! Hope everyone’s week is off to a good start. We had another stormy day here in Halifax yesterday—lots of freezing rain. Seriously ready for it to be Spring already!

Today I have another new design for #GlamNailsChallengeFeb! Today’s prompt is Mandala. & I’ll be honest—this was not an easy prompt for me. Originally I tried stamping because I have a plate that has a few mandala patterns, but that did not work out, so then I tried free handing a pattern, which was also a fail. But when I typed “mandala nails” into Pinterest, I saw a few beautiful looks using dots, so I decided that would probably be my easiest (& least frustrating) option!

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Nailgrowth Miracle
  • Top Coat: Essie Good to Go
  • L’Oréal Vintage Vinyl
  • Sally Hansen CSM So Much Fawn
  • Sally Hansen Good.Kind.Pure. Almond Tan
  • Essie Mosaic on Down
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio (COFFEE10 saves you 10%!)

As you can see from my close up, this isn’t the most perfect mandala pattern, but I’m still happy with how it turned out. I was originally inspired by this Pinterest post, but obviously I need more practice (& maybe not to start at 11pm) to get mine to look as beautiful as that! But you know, doing this challenge is all about testing myself, & that means even those manicures I’m not 100% comfortable with!

What do you think about this “Mandala” look? Is this dotticure version something that you would try yourself? Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below!

#GlamNailsChallengeFeb — Hearts 💕

Hello lovelies & happy day after Valentine’s Day (aka 50% off Chocolate Day!).

Today I’m sharing my design for yesterday’s prompt for GlamNailsChaengeFeb: Hearts! Which is a very fitting prompt for February 14th. 💗 This look was one of those ones that kind of just came to me as I was doing it, which are definitely the best kind. & I just adore the end result.

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Nailgrowth Miracle
  • Top Coat: Essie Good to Go
  • L’Oréal Jardin Des Roses
  • OPI Koala Bear-y
  • L’Oréal Royalty Reinvented
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Get Mod
  • Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Cherry Delightful
  • NailStuff.ca 4mm Micro Detail Brush (COFFEE10 saves you 10%!)

As you can see from my close up, this isn’t the most perfectly clean freehanding, but I kind of like it. It works with this kind of design. It sort of reminds me of another Valentine’s Day nail art look I did a few years back which was inspired by napkins I saw out & about.

What do you think about this hearts look? I’m definitely ready to be done with pink for a while — I think I’ve pink-ed myself out. Haha. But I’ve got a whole bunch more prompts to come, so stay tuned for some beautiful (not pink) nail art looks to come!

#GlamNailsChallengeFeb — Roses

Hello lovelies & happy Wednesday lovelies!

As you can see from the background of my nail art pictures today, it’s Winterland here in Halifax! But on my nails, it’s totally Spring. Today is prompt #3 for GlamNailsChallengeFeb, & it is Roses! & as you know, if you’ve been around the blog a while, roses are one of my favourite things to paint on my nails!

This time I decided to go with a vintage inspired rose look. Usually I tend to go for a more realistic looking floral, but I wanted to try something different!

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Nailgrowth Miracle
  • Top Coat: Essie Good to Go
  • Matte Top Coat : Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Matte Top Coat
  • Essence shine last & go! Take Me To Heaven
  • L’Oréal Jardin Des Roses
  • Sally Hansen CSM So Much Fawn
  • OPI Koala Bear-y
  • Starrily Vantablack
  • Essence Gel Nail Polish The Green & the Grunge
  • Sally Hansen MG Wet My Whistle
  • NailStuff.ca 4mm Micro Detail Brush (COFFEE10 saves you 10%!)
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio

How pretty did these roses turn out with the black accents. It gives them almost a sketched effect, which I really like. It reminds me a bit of a manicure I did a few years back, obviously with a different colour scheme (& a bit more nail art practice!)

This is my first time wearing this Essence shade in a manicure, I think. I really like the blue background against the brightness of the pink roses. I really think this is a super cute design, both for Valentine’s Day, & Spring in general.

Yep, already dreaming of Spring. Winter can be over now!

What do you think of this rose design for #GlamNailsChallengeFeb? Are these giving you Valentine’s Day feels? Would you wear this look for a Valentine’s Day date?

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