GLAM NAILS CHALLENGE MARCH — Pastel

Good morning lovelies & happy Monday. I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend. This weekend was the beginning of March Break, which meant that work was pretty busy. It also means my kids are home all week during the day, which should make trying to get any nail art done a moot point haha.

But today we’re diving into the 3rd prompt for Glam Nails Challenge March, & this one was an easy one — pastel. Obviously, I had to do a pastel skittle look using a few Spring-y shades.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: China Glaze Calcium Gel Fortifer
  • Top Coat: China Glaze Fast Forward Top 
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Crying Out Cloud
  • Londontown USA Bell Flower
  • Essie Mint Candy Apple
  • Essie Chillato
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Sun Shower
  • Essie Expressie FX Iced Out

Oh I love a good skittle, & I’ve really been loving the pastels lately as well. This look is an easy way to do some “nail art” that isn’t really nail art but totally passed for it. Quick, easy, super cute; all the things I look for in a manicure, to be honest. & the addition of Essie Expressie FX Iced Out gives all the nails a nice cohesive look that pulls everything together. I know the glazed nail look is kind of on its way out, but I’m kind of obsessed with it.

I’ve never been one for following trends anyway.

What do you think of my pastel skittle look for Glam Nails Challenge March? Is it beginning to feel a bit like Spring where you are? We’ve had nothing but rain upon rain the last couple days… so yeah, definitely feeling like Spring haha.

Have a great Monday.

♥︎

GLAM NAILS CHALLENGE MARCH — Lines

Good morning lovelies & happy Monday! It’s officially the first week of March, & I decided to jump into Glam Nails Challenge March for this month, as I loved the prompts listed. I’m just feeling like I need to be inspired to do some fun, Spring-y nails.

The first prompt for this month is lines. Obviously, I went with a classic stripe design for my line inspired look, in a rainbow of pastel Spring-y colours. It matches perfectly with the warmer temperatures & sunshine we’ve had the last few days.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: China Glaze Calcium Gel Fortifer
  • Top Coat: China Glaze Fast Forward Top 
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Crying Out Cloud
  • Sally Hansen MG Sweet Pea
  • Sally Hansen MG Sun Shower
  • Color Club Art Club Striper Passion Flower
  • Color Club Art Club Striper Pink Pastel
  • Nailstuff.ca Mermaid Tail 7mm liner brush

This look was simple & easy to do. The colour combination is definitely giving the Spring vibes & inspiration that I was looking for. It’s been a while since I was feeling good about doing my nails, or really feeling inspired to do anything more than just a simple solid colour, but with warmer days ahead I’m feeling good about it again. & I always like when I have a whole month where I don’t have to think too much about what designs I’m going to have to do.

What do you think about my lines design for the first prompt of Glam Nails Challenge March? Do you like the Spring-y colour combination that I chose? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below!

♥︎

Simple Peach Floral

Hello lovelies & happy Monday! It’s a sunny, albeit chilly, Monday here which gives me hope that maybe Spring isn’t as far off as it feels. Today, I’m summoning Spring with a pretty floral design because…. I’m so over Winter.

I painted this look over yesterday’s Swatch Sunday pick, & I have to say even though it’s not blatantly a Spring colour scheme, I love how it came out.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: China Glaze Calcium Gel Fortifer
  • Top Coat: China Glaze Fast Forward Top 
  • Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear With The Beet
  • OPI A Great Opera-tunuity
  • Sally Hansen Good. Kind. Pure Rock Steady
  • Sally Hansen Good. Kind. Pure Almond Tan
  • Sally Hansen Good. Kind. Pure Black Stone
  • OPI Life Gave Me Lemons
  • Essie Willow in the Wind
  • Essie Satin Sisters
  • Nailstuff.ca Mermaid Tail 7mm liner brush
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio

I just love how these turned out. Usually, my go to floral is a rose design, but I’m trying to brand out of my comfort zone. Originally, I had planned just to do a few accent nails, but it looked so good I did all 10 nails instead! I really like this light peach over the dark base — it really makes it pop!

Over all, one of my absolute favourite designs I’ve done in a while.

I’ve been feeling so stupid & meh when it comes to my nails lately — especially after my serious nail break — but as soon as I did these I just few renewed again. It’s true, floral makes everything better.

What do you think of this floral design? Are you as ready for Spring as I am? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below, & what design you turn to when you’re feeling meh about your nails!

Have a fantastic Monday loves.

♥︎

Dark & Gloomy Hand Painted Floral

Hello loves & happy Monday! I hope everyone had a lovely weekend. After some gross winter weather on Saturday evening, we actually had a beautiful (almost Spring-like) Sunday.

Today I’m sharing some dark & gloomy floral which I feel like are perfect for the darkest & gloomiest month. It’s been so long, too long, since I hand painted any roses on my nails & these turned out better than I could have hoped. With the dark base, I feel like they have a bit of a gothic feel to them as well.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: China Glaze Calcium Gel Fortifer
  • Top Coat: Essie Speed Setter
  • Essie Snake It Up + Starrily Magnet
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Can’t Beet Royalty
  • Sally Hansen MG Good Cheer-y
  • Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Society Ruler
  • Sally Hansen CSM Berry Fancy
  • Sally Hansen Good. Kind. Pure. Eco-Rose
  • Essie Willow in the Wind
  • Essie Off Tropic
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio
  • Nailstuff.ca Mermaid Tail 7mm liner brush

I used a lot of red polishes to achieve these roses, but I think they turned out so beautiful. These are probably my favourites florals to paint; I love how beautiful they look on the nail.

Also I’ve never actually used this Essie magnetic shade before, but I tried it with my Starrily magnet & it worked really well. My bottle was purchased at Dollarama & did not have the snake skin magnet with it—probably the reason I’ve never used it— so I was happy to have something to use with it! & I love it, even if it didn’t show up well in these photos.

What do you think about these fun floral nails? Are you getting dark & gloomy from them? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below!

🖤

Christmas Ribbon Candy Swirls

Hello beauties & happy Friday! It’s almost the weekend, & not just any weekend, but Christmas weekend! That’s insane but exciting. I had to keep my holiday inspired nail art going with some more abstract nail art.

The first thing this design made me think of after I did it was the Ribbon Hard Candy you get around Christmas. I’m sure you know the stuff, but if not it’s this stuff.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: China Glaze Calcium Gel Fortifer
  • Top Coat: Essie Speed Setter
  • OPI I Cannoli Wear OPI
  • OPI Unfrost My Heart
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel 5 Golden Blings
  • Red & Green Acrylic Paint
  • 16mm Striper Brush from Nailstuff.ca

I decided to use a combination of acrylic paint & nail polish for this design to make it a bit easier for me. Sometimes, I find when I’m doing bigger stripes, my polish starts drying a bit too quickly, but you don’t have the same issue with acrylic paint.

I really, really like how these stripes turned out. I know, I know — I say this every time. But I don’t think there is anything wrong with being proud about your nail art! For a long time, I was extra critical of my work, so I’m glad to enjoy what I do. & it is a little bit different from typical Christmas nail art.

What do you think about these ribbon candy inspired abstract swirls? Do you like the holiday vibes they are giving off? Would you wear these for any Christmas celebrations you’re partaking in this weekend? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below!

Happy Friday 🎄