Category: NOTD

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Silver Snowflakes ❄️

Is it too early for snowflakes? Probably (& I’m definitely not trying to encourage Mother Nature in any way) but my few Christmas/Winter plates were sitting on my desk the other night looking so lonely so I decided maybe some snowflakes would be pretty. 

I do a variation of this design pretty much every year, with varying levels of success haha. I love how it looks a bit like wrapping to me. Honestly, the only time I like snow is between December 20th & January 2nd, or when it’s painted on my nails. 

For my manicure, the polishes I used were: 

  • Base Coat: Essie Grow Stronger
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive
  • Zoya Yves
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Buffalo Nickel 
  • Born Pretty Store Clear Jelly Stamper
  • Born Pretty Store Snowflake Stamping plate (no longer available) — this one (also Born Pretty) could be a good alternative. 
  • Edge Perfective Cuticle Barrier 

I was really impressed with how well Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Buffalo Nickel stamped. I find metallic shades can be so hit or miss when it comes to how well they stamp, but it turned out awesome! I thought about adding a bit of glitter in the middle of my snowflakes, but decided against it just in case I hated how it looked. 

We’re slowly creeping into the holiday season. We were at the grocery store yesterday & you could already hear Christmas carols being played! Trying my best to like Christmas this year, especially because it’s baby’s first Christmas (& my husband’s absolute favourite holiday!) so wish me luck. Maybe if I do enough Christmas manicures, it will subconsciously make me love it? 

What do you think of these snowflakes? Do you think it’s too early for Snowflake/Christmas/Winter designs? Let me know what you think in the comments below! 

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SWATCH SUNDAY— Joe Fresh Gel Look 2017 Holiday Collection

Happy Sunday everyone! It’s one of the best days of the week… Swatch Sunday! & I have not one but EIGHT polishes to share with you today from the Joe Fresh Gel Look Holiday 2017 collection. For my thoughts on the other Joe Fresh shades I’ve featured, feel free to check them out here. 

Like all Joe Fresh Gel Look shades, these polishes are designed to need no base or top coat, easily removes with nail polish remover, & is designed to last up to 14 days. 

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Mauve-ulous

 

First shade I have on my swatch fest is Mauve-ulous a taupe-y grey that leans a little brown. This is 2 coats for full opacity, with no base or top, & you can really see the flawlessness of the formula. This isn’t a shade isn’t one I would normally reach for, but it is a great neutral shade. 


Frosted

Next up is Frosted which is the perfect way to describe the pearl white polish. Again, I used two coats but I feel like 3 would be better to hide any patchy-ness. This shade feels very retro & brings me back to my love for white polishes just like this in the early 2000s, & I love it. Perfect white polish for the impending Christmas season. 


Soul Train

Soul Train is a two coat black polish that is dark & vampy & applies flawlessly. I don’t usually associate black nails with the holidays, but with some gold polka dots added (maybe using a few of the others from this collection) you’d have a great New Year’s Eve manicure. 


Pink Wish

Another frosty shade from this collection, Pink Wish is also 2 coats. This pale frosty rose gold applies a bit better than the other frosted shade in this collection. I’ll be honest—this is not a shade I would probably wear on its own (I don’t often wear golds alone) but it would be great as part of some nail art. 


Lover’s Kiss 

This crelly red shade is Lover’s Kiss & it was the only shade that needed 3 coats. You could probably survive with 2 if you don’t mind a bit of visible nail line but I prefer full coverage. This red screams Christmas to me & no holiday collection is complete without a little red. 


Sparkling Glitz

Next up we have another gold, this time with a metallic finish. Sparkling Glitz took 2 coats for coverage with minimal brush strokes when the polish dries down. You definitely want to let your polishbdry down before you’re second coat to avoid pulling your first coat. 

Dark Pine

Okay can we talk about this polish? Dark Pine is another vampy shade that fits in so perfectly with a holiday collection. Again, 2 coats was all that was needed for flawless application. & this shade is just… it’s so pretty. & it’s not your typical holiday green which makes me like it even more!


Gothika Blue

Last, but definitely not least, we have my absolute favourite shade from this whole collection! Gothika Blue is a deep shimmery blurple that took 2 coats for application. & it’s beautiful—it’s just straight up gorgeous. Like I don’t think I’ve seen a more beautiful polish. I’m going to need a couple back up bottles for sure. 


& that is it for the Joe Fresh Gel Look Holiday 2017 Collection! These shades are available to buy at your local Loblaws & Real Canadian Superstores for $5 each. 
Which of these 8 polishes are on your “have to have” list? Let me know your thoughts on this collection in the comments below! 

*PR SAMPLE* Some of these items were sent to me for review. However, all opinions are my own. 

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Remembrance Day Poppy Nails

It’s November 11th & here in Canada that is Remembrance Day. 

For those who might not know, Remembrance Day represents a day to reflect on all those who have fault & served in the military. At 11am, of the 11th day, of the 11th month we pause to remember. Growing up & coming from a military heavy family, this day has always held extra meaning to me—from a great grandfather who served as a sniper in the First World War, to cousins & family friends who served in Afghanistan, I always make sure no matter what I am doing to stop & take those moments to pause. 

In honour of today, & the poppy, I created a special design. 

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Essie Grow Stronger
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive
  • Icing Steel My Heart
  • ORLY Decades of Dysfunction 
  • Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Black Heart
  • L’Oréal Carmin Parisien
  • Xroma Polish & Vinyls Skinny Wave Vinyls
  • Small & large dotting tool 

I hope you too will also take a moment to Remember today.  ♥️

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My New Favourite Purple & Swirly Accent Nails 

Happy Friday everyone! Today I’ve got a quick mani I did recently when I was feeling some nail art, but didn’t want to do anything too complicated. This mani was actually inspired by a design I did back in September 2016 as part of my failed attempt at the 31 Day Challenge. I loved the look of the design over a super sheer polish, so I decided that it would make for the perfect accent nail. 

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Essie Grow Stronger
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive
  • L’Oréal Elusive
  • Ardene Ice Mist
  • Essie Frock N’ Roll
  • Small detail brush from Bundle Monster 

Okay can we talk about L’Oréal Elusive for a second? I found this bottle at my local Lawtons in the clearance section (my favourite place for polish finds) & I had to buy it! It’s just such a good shade of purple, & I’ve been wearing it a lot lately. Also I totally apologize for the chipping at the tip of my nails—I took these shots after 2 full days of wear so they were looking tougher than they should. But this purple…. it’s just such a good purple! 💜 I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’ve been on a huge purple kick lately. 

What do you think of this accent nail? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. & leave some suggestions for any nail art you’d love to see! 

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Holo Accent Nails using NailStuff.ca Holo Pigment! 

Happy Wednesday everyone! The week is already speeding by, which is crazy—halfway to the weekend. To get us over this mid week slump, today I’ve got another item I was so kindly sent to try out by NailStuff.ca: holo pigment flakies. 

This is my first time ever using any kind of pigment for the nails (I know, I’m so behind on the times) so I was super excited to give it a whirl & also totally unsure of how to go about it. I know these pigments work really well over gel nails, but I change my nails too often for that so I decided to create these holo nails using just nail polish! So after watch a bunch of YouTube & Instagram videos, I felt pretty confident I could do this! 

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Essie Grow Stronger
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive
  • L’Oréal Pino Purple
  • NailStuff.ca Holo Pigment Flakies
  • Fingerpaints Peel Off Base Coat
  • Edge Perfection Cuticle Barrier  

To accomplish this look: 

  • I painted all my nails with L’Oréal Pino Purple (including my ring finger.) 
  • I applied top coat to all my fingers except my ring finger & on that nail I applied Fingerpaints Peel Off Base Coat. (I originally tried used just wet nail polish but found the flakies didn’t stick as well for me.)
  • Next I applied my Edge Perfection Cuticle Barrier around my ring finger & let it dry completely. 
  • I then took the small eyeshadow applicator that comes with the flakies, & patted them down onto the nail & tried to rub them in some. It took about 2 applications to completely cover my base. (You can see at the edge of my nails where I missed a few spots.)
  • Seal in flakies with top coat (I used Seche Vive for that shine.) 

Super simple & only slightly messy. I did end up getting holo flakies in my bed (where I do my nails pretty much always) which in turn ended up sticking to my son for a couple of days but nothing wrong with a little holo glitter! 

I will say, my second attempt using a sticky base coat over my polish worked much better (as opposed to using just my base of polish). The first time I tried half the flakies came off with my top coat, but it could be my polish had dried too much for the flakies to really stick. 

Have you used holo flakies before? Any tips  for application that you’ve discovered? Leave all your thoughts below! 

*PR SAMPLE* Some of these items were sent to me for review. However, all opinions are my own.