Category: nail polish

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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!

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Valentine’s Day Hearts ❤️

Hello lovelies & happy Valentine’s Day! 💗 I know today is not a day everyone enjoys, especially if you’re not currently in love, but it is a great day for nail art, & naturally I needed to do something themed for today. I really, really wanted something red & pink to wear, & this was the look I decided on!

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: China Glaze Calcium Gel Fortifer
  • Top Coat: China Glaze Fast Forward Top Coat
  • Butter London Saucy Jack
  • Sally Hansen 90s Nostalchick
  • Ardene Glitter Me Pink
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio
  • Nailstuff.ca Mermaid Tail 7mm liner brush

How cute are these little cuticle hearts? This is definitely a simpler Valentine’s Day nail art look, but I think that’s why I love it so much. It gets the point across, but isn’t over the top. Simple & chic, which is what I feel like my nail art has really been leaning towards lately! I think I’m due for some fun over the top nails soon.

What do you think about these Valentine’s Day nails? Do you like the simplicity of these single hearts? Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below!

& happy February 14th!

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SWATCH SUNDAY — OPI OPI Red

Hello lovelies & happy Sunday!

I hope this past week wasn’t too tough on anyone. Are you ready for this week, & Valentine’s Day? I work in a Candy Store, so you know we’re going to be busy with last minute Valentine’s Day shopping! Today, though, I thought I would share a beautiful red that would be perfect for any Valentine’s Day plans you may have this week.

This is OPI OPI Red.

2 coats + top coat.

I actually shared this shade on my Instagram a few weeks ago, but I feel like it deserves its own special post because it really is the perfect red shade for Valentine’s Day. & we know I love a good red, no matter the occasion. OPI Red is a pink toned red, with this beautiful but very subtle shimmer.

The formula on OPI Red is actually incredible, especially for a red nail polish. It’s almost a one coater, but I added two just for a more plush look. It also levels out really, really well so you don’t have any streakiness. I did add top coat to my swatches, but that was mostly because I was wearing these before I was able to take photos & I didn’t want to bang them up.

If I had any complaints about this beautiful red, it would be I wished the shimmer was more visible on the nail. Other thank that, this is quite possibly the perfect red nail polish. & well know how much I love red nails.

I purchased my bottle of OPI Red at my local Marshall’s but you can find it listed online on a number of websites including this one & this one. For my gel polish lovers, I also found the Gel Version on the Trade Secrets website. It is out of stock on the actual OPI website, but I’m hoping that doesn’t mean it’s discontinued.

What do you think about OPI OPI Red? Is this a shade you could see yourself wearing? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below!

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Simple Pink & Holo Glitter Nails

Good morning lovelies & happy Monday! We’re still digging out from the snowpocalypse over the weekend but thankfully I have some manicures from last week (when I wasn’t posting) to share with you this week!

Today’s look is a super simple one, but I actually really love it. This would be a great Valentine’s Day look to wear for any fun date (or girls night!) you have planned. It’s also a super simple look to create.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: China Glaze Calcium Gel Fortifer
  • Top Coat: China Glaze Fast Forward Top Coat
  • Butter London Pistol Pink
  • OPI I Snow You Love Me
  • Dotting tool

I haven’t worn this pink in ages & I totally forgot how beautiful it was! I don’t often wear just pink nails on their own, so naturally I had to add a little extra sparkle. Originally, I wanted to use heart glitters — but my bottle is all dried up & needs some nail polish thinner — so I decided to go with the next best thing which is this glitter from OPI.

It gives the effect of rhinestones on your nails, without having to worry about hitting them against something & knocking them off! Just such a cute easy nail art look to wear!

What do you think about this simple chic pink nail art look? Would you wear this design on your nails? As always, I love to hear what you think in the comments so please share below!

Enjoy your Monday 🖤

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SWATCH SUNDAY — Essie Chocolate Cakes

Hello lovelies & happy Sunday! It’s a blustery snow day here on the East Coast.

I apologize for my unannounced absence this week. The beginning of 2024 was a lot, & I didn’t realize I needed a week just to not do anything. But I’m back, & I have some new (shorter) nails to share with you to start off this new week. I’ve actually been loving darker shades a lot lately — January vibes.

For today’s Swatch Sunday pick, I grabbed an older shade from my stash — Essie Chocolate Cakes.

2 coats + top coat

This shade originally came to me in a set with Essie Ballet Slippers that I bought post-Christmas a few years ago. I remember loving the dark reddish brown shade, but being confused because I’d never heard of an Essie shade called Chocolate Cakes. I’m still not 100% sure which collection it was originally released with.

The formula though, is nice. This is two coats for full coverage. It was a bit thin, so I did find I needed the two to make sure I had no patchiness. It also pooled slightly at the cuticle line, so I had to make sure that I was careful with application. Mine came in what I think is an Expressie bottle, so it had the same wider brush which I always like.

I saw it described as a creamy dark chocolate shaded, but the red undertones really show up for me so I feel like it’s more a deep dark burgundy. We all know my love affair with red nail polish, so this is such a good alternative or option. Like I said, I’ve been wearing this shade for the last 3 days, so I’m really loving it.

I did find a few sites through Google that had this shade listed for sale, but I don’t know how reputable they are, so I’ll avoid posting them. However, I feel like this shade isn’t 100% unique, so you could definitely find a common dupe easily to get the vampy dark vibe this shade is giving off.

What do you think about Essie Chocolate Cakes? Are you a fan of this deep dark reddish brown? Do you remember this shade upon its original released? I always get excited when I find new to me shades, so I’m curious about the collection it was originally released with!

Have a lovely Sunday!

♥︎