Pastel Floral Accent Nails 🌸🌱

Hello lovelies & happy Friday! A beautiful Friday at that. Today I’m excited — not just because the snow is almost completely melted away, but I have a beautiful floral design to share with you!

The weather may not seem to know it’s Spring outside, but my nails certainly do!

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Top Coat: Essie Gel Couture Top Coat 
  • Base Coat: Essie Hard to Resist Advanced
  • OPI Nature Strong Cactus What You Preach
  • OPI Nature Strong Emflowered
  • OPI Canolli On My Mind
  • OPI Sickeningly Sweet
  • OPI Check Out The Old Geysers
  • Nailstuff.ca Mermaid Tail 7mm liner brush
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool 

How pretty did this Spring floral turn out? I think it turned out even better than I pictured in my head, & I just love it. I feel like anything to distract me from the lack of real Spring weather is what I need right now.

What do you think of my Spring floral? We’re close… so close to real Spring weather. But in the meantime, at least I have my nails! 🌿🌸

Happy Friday loves!

🖤

SWATCH SUNDAY — Sally Hansen InstaDri Holo-Glow Euphoric

Hello lovelies & happy Sunday. It’s a very rainy Sunday here which seems to be the trend for this April so far. But at least it’s not snow!

Today I’m sharing a new nail polish I recently picked up from my local Shoppers Drug Mart — Sally Hansen InstaDri Euphoric from their Holo-Glow line.

2 coats + top coat

You might remember I shared another one of these Holo-Glow shades back in September. The InstaDri line is one of my favourite to shop because they always have a fun selection of different shades & finishes to choose from. They also boast a 60 second dry time, although I find it a bit longer than that.

Lately I’ve been obsessed with perusing the Holo-Glow line, because holo makes everything better. I ended up purchasing two new shades: Euphoric & a purple from the Galactic Line called Planet Purple.

Check out that scattered glitter. The interesting base colour was what initially caught my eye: is it silver, is it lilac, is it a pale mint? It’s so shifty & pretty, & different from other holographic polishes in my collection. & when you own as many nail polishes as I do, that’s what you want: something different.

Formula was also very nice. On top of being a quicker dry, it was opaque in two coats. The glitter is scattered, but also very dense which I like. Will it suck for removal? Maybe. But the glitter pay off is worth it!

What do you think of Sally Hansen InstaDri Euphoric? Have you tried any of the Sally Hansen InstaDri Holo-Glow shades yet? What do you think? Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below.

🖤

SWATCH SUNDAY — Essie Mint Candy Apple

Hello lovelies & happy Sunday! It’s a beautiful sunny Sunday here which is a nice change from the never ending snowstorms we’ve been having. & it has me thinking of Spring (or, wistfully wishing for it) so that means it’s time to break out some Spring nail polish! Today’s pick is a favourite of mine, & just screams Spring to me!

This is Essie Mint Candy Apple.

2 coats + top coat

I love a good pale pastel shade, & Essie Mint Candy Apple is just that. This is actually the updated version of Mint Candy Apple — the original shade leans more blue than the minty shade you see above. Chantal’s Corner has a fabulous post about the two versions & a comparison, if you’re curious!

The formula on this shade was easy to apply & smooth. It has the new wider brush that Essie releases with all its new shades, which makes application a cinch. The formula has a nice thickness to it, without being gloopy, but I did need 2 coats for a smooth finish.

Obviously a nice shiny top coat (I used China Glaze Fast Forward top coat here) helps with that glossy finish.

The colour is just so nice, & so Spring-like which is just what my mental health needs after a month of what feels like never ending snowstorms. Even if it’s freezing outside & 4 feet of snow, at least I can look at my nails & feel like Spring will be here soon….ish.

Essie Mint Candy Apple is one of their core shades, & available anywhere you buy Essie polishes.

What do you think of Mint Candy Apple? Are you a fan of pastel polishes like this? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below, & let me know what your favourite Spring shade is! 🌸

Have a beautiful Sunday!

Essie Summer Abstract Stripes

•contains pr/gifted product•

Hello loves & happy Monday! Another new week… & crazily enough, the last full week of July. This month is almost… over? That’s kind of crazy. This Summer is definitely not dragging, that’s not for sure.

Even though I can see Autumn vibes sneaking into stores, I’m still in full Summer mode! So I have another bright & colourful design to share with you. I haven’t shared any design with the beautiful Essie shades I were gifted last month, so I thought it would be by time to share another. & yes… we’re doing another abstract stripes design. This has become my go to when I’m lacking inspiration, & I truly don’t see that changing any time soon.

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
  • Essie Cute As A Button
  • Essie Swoon in the Lagoon
  • Essie Mint Candy Apple
  • Essie Blanc
  • NailStuff.ca Mermaid Tail Brush Trio (I used the 11mm liner brush — it’s been my go to lately)

I really, really like these colours together. Not only are they super bright, & vibrant, but they compliment each other really well. I’ve been doing this look for over 7 years, & it still hasn’t gotten old to me. I feel like this is a look that is super accessible to most people, because no matter what your nail art level, you can totally do this design. Seriously! I recommend anyone looking for a fun & easy nail art design to give this one a try. You won’t be disappointed.

What do you think about these Summery Abstract stripes? Have you tried this design yet? What colour combination would you choose? Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below!

Itty Bitty Gradient Dotticure

Hello lovelies! Yes it’s me — only we’re rocking some shorties again. (Okay, & I’m drinking a matcha lemonade — my other drink aside from coffee!) I mentioned I had a patch on my middle finger nail of a bad crack. I finally decided I was over trying to keep it from cracking worse, & decided to chop my my nails down.

Today I went with a simple but fun look to wear. I love a good gradient dotticure, but I realized it’s been a long time since I actually did one. This design was actually inspired by this look from 2016. I thought since we were back down to shorties, why not find some fun nail art to do on short nails!

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Londontown KUR Nail Hardener & Base Coat
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive Fast Dry Top
  • Londontown KUR Mint No Chip
  • Sally Hansen I ❤️ Nail Art pen in purple
  • Sally Hansen I ❤️ Nail Art pen in turquoise
  • Sally Hansen I ❤️ Nail Art pen in pink
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Get Mod
  • Itty Bitty Dotting Tool (NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio)

How absolutely adorable as these itty bitty polka dots? You could definitely do this with a tiny dotting tool & an assortment of polishes, but I love those Sally Hansen I ❤️ Nail Art pens because it makes it so easy! I really wish Sally Hansen would bring them back, because they’re amazing for nail art — & mine are starting to empty out after all these years.

What do you think about this Gradient dotticure? Do you think you’d wear this fun (& easy!) look? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below.

& feel free to share any nail art you’d love to see me do on my new short nails!

Happy Friday! 🖤