Category: NOTD

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Hand Painted Lilac Nail Art 💜

Hello lovelies & happy Friday! Trying to get back into my regular posting schedule, so I’m excited to share a second nail art post this week! & I’m beyond in love with today’s nail art inspiration. When walking my kids to school, I couldn’t help but notice all the lilacs in bloom — & bam, I knew just the inspiration for my nails!

I’ve done a lot of floral on my nails over the years, but I’ve never taken such a literal flower to paint on my nails. But for something I’ve never attempted before, I’m so in love with the end result. & I totally think I managed to capture the inspiration as well.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Top Coat: Essie Gel Couture Top Coat 
  • Base Coat: China Glaze Calcium Gel Fortifier
  • Essie Expressie IRL
  • Sally Hansen InstaDri Planet Purple
  • NailStuff.ca Holographic Top Coat *
  • Sally Hansen InstaDri Heather Hue
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Violet Voltage
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Lilac Insomniac
  • Essie Wind in the Willow *
  • Essie Off Tropic *
  • Nailstuff.ca Mermaid Tail 7mm liner brush
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool 

*pr/gifted

Do you think I captured the Lilac vibe correctly? I literally had pictures of lilacs in front of me while I was painting (which I don’t usually do — I kind of just wing it), but I really wanted to capture what lilacs look like correctly.

I think while a little abstract, they really do look like lilacs. & I just love the purple on purple. It all comes together so beautifully. Plus the holo comes alive in this beautiful sunshine we’ve been having.

What do you think about these lilac nails? Do you love how they look as much as I do? Like I said, I don’t often have literal picture inspiration when painting floral on my nails, but I really wanted to capture these flowers accurately. & it was kind of fun — I might it more often!

Happy Friday!

♥︎

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Funky Red Animal Print

Hello lovelies & happy Wednesday! A super sunny & beautiful Wednesday. I’m just loving this gorgeous Summer weather.

Today I’m excited to share some fun & funky nails — & something a little bit different from what I’ve been posting. It’s been absolute ages since the last time I did animal print, so it felt long overdue.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Top Coat: Essie Gel Couture Top Coat 
  • Base Coat: China Glaze Calcium Gel Fortifier
  • Essie Gel Couture Electric Geometric *
  • Essie Gel Couture On the List
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool 
  • Madam Glam Acrylic Nail Art pen in Black *

*pr/gifted

I got so many compliments on these nails when I wore them to work, which always gives me a little confidence boost. I wanted something vibrant & fun, & I feel like these nails really checked off all my needs.

Leopard print has always been one of my go to nail art looks — in fact, I think one of my first posts all those years ago was a red-toned leopard print. They’re easy, & eye catching, & always fun to wear. If these don’t say Summer vibes, I don’t know what else does! Plus this Essie shade — Electric Geometric — is such gorgeous coral red.

What do you think about these animal print nails? Do you love them as much as I do? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below, & tell me what Summer themed nail arts you want to see next!

♥︎

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SWATCH SUNDAY — China Glaze Bizarre Blurple (2014 Halloween “Wicked” Collection)

Hello lovelies & happy Sunday! It’s another rainy one here — which seems to be the trend for weekends lately. But that’s okay because it’s also National Nail Polish Day & I’m super excited to show off one of — if not my absolute — favourite nail polishes of all time.

This is China Glaze Bizarre Blurple.

2 coats + top coat

How do I describe this beautiful shimmery purple? It’s literally magical. The base is a super deep dark purple, but it is packed with this shimmery blue that gives it this incredible sparkle. & the name is so much fun — Bizarre Blurple. This is one of those shades I can just wear anytime, & it makes me so happy.

According to my Internet sleuthing skills, this shade was originally released as a part of the 2014 Halloween “Wicked” collection, so it was limited edition. My bottle was scored on clearance at my local Chatters sometime there after, during the beginnings of my nail polish obsession — so the bottle is well over 10 years old. But it still applies like magic, even if I only have about a 1/3 of a bottle left.

So I cherish it & don’t waste a single drop!

But seeing as it’s National Nail Polish Day, what better occasion to show off this beauty that means so much to me. Now, if only China Glaze could bring it back for another spin — I promise I would buy at least 5 bottles as back ups!

What do you think of this Blurple beauty? What nail polish is your number one love? We all have that special polish that is our favourite, & I love knowing the stories behind other peoples so please share down in the comments below!

🖤

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Pink Gel & Floral Nail Art 💖🌸

Hey lovelies! I totally meant to post this manicure last week, but I got knocked out by the cold from hell which left me ravaged & not in the mood to do any posting! But my sinuses are finally recovering, & now I can finally show this fun look I did last week!

I was super curious about doing nail art over my gel manicure base, so I wanted to give it a try. I plan on also doing some nail art using all gel, but I was curious what would happen if you painted some nail art over just gel. (Including topping it with a regular top coat.)

Products used for this manicure: 

  • Olive & June Peel Off Base Coat *
  • Olive & June Gel Polish Base Coat *
  • 2 coats Olive & June Gel Polish XOXO *
  • 1 coat Olive & June Gel Polish Pink Goldfish *
  • Olive & June Gel Polish Top Coat *
  • Sinful Colors Bold Color
  • Essie Mint Candy Apple *
  • Essie Satin Sister
  • Butter London Coming Up Roses *
  • Nailstuff.ca Mermaid Tail 7mm liner brush
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool 
  • China Glaze Fast Forward Top Coat

**gifted/PR

I think these are so just so pretty! I will say, the quick dry top coat I used (China Glaze Fast Forward Top Coat) did dry down in a way that made the nail art flowers almost look like 3D stickers — which I thought I was very cool. I’m curious what would have happened if I had used the Olive & June Gel Top Coat — & I might have to experiment to see what happens!

As I mentioned, I’m still so new to the world of gel, so I’m enjoying playing around with it.

What do you think of this little bit of nail art? Would you like to see me do a series or feature on nail art using only gel nail polishes? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below!

Happy Wednesday

💖

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SWATCH SUNDAY — Essie Gel Couture New Highs 💙(Dopamine Rush Collection 2025)

PR/Gifted

Hello lovelies & happy Sunday. Unfortunately, it’s a pretty blah rainy Sunday (again). But I thought I would punch things up with a fun Essie colour I was recently sent for PR! This is Essie New Highs from the newly released 2025 Gel Couture Dopamine Rush collection.

2 coats + Essie Gel Couture Top Coat

Described as a “Ultramarine” Blue on the Essie website, I feel like this blue is much more exciting on the nail than in the bottle. The formula is on the thinner side, so two coats was a must for opacity. The formula dries quickly, but an added coat of top coat gave it a more plush finish.

The colour is really nice. It’s not a navy, but it’s not a cobalt. It feels bright, even though it’s on the darker spectrum of blue shades. & I quite enjoy it! Also, looking at the rest of the shades in the collection, I might have to search out a couple more to add to my stash.

Essie Gel Couture shades are available anywhere you buy Essie, ranging in price from $11.49 CAD to $16.49 CAD (when not on sale).

What do you think of Essie Gel Couture New Highs? Are you a fan of this vibrant blue? What are your thoughts on the Essie Gel Couture line? I was definitely late to trying it, but I’m a huge fan of the formula & love all the colours I own! & I especially adore the top coat! It has a great lasting quality & dries quickly.

Let me know what you think down in the comments below!

Enjoy your Sunday!

🖤