Category: NOTD

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SWATCH SUNDAY — Essie Revenge’s a Beach (Summer 2022)

Hello lovelies & happy Sunday.

I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend so far & that the weather, where you are, is not apocalyptic.

Today’s Swatch Sunday post is decidedly Summer appropriate. I posted last weekend about the other polish I picked up during my small Shoppers haul, & here she is: Essie Revenge’s A Beach from the Summer 2022 collection.

2 coats + top coat

I’ve been eyeing this shade in their clearance bin for a month or so, but I’ll be honest — the price wasn’t right. But when I saw it for $3 on my last visit, I knew it was coming home with me.

Formula is pretty good on this one — I could almost do one coat, but I applied a second for full coverage. It dried down a bit flat, but adding top coat gave it that glossy finish you see. The colour is a beautiful blue leaning teal that you just know needs careful removal because it’ll be a stainer. I’m still wearing this shade, so we’ll see how it goes when I attempt to remove it tonight!

It really is a beautiful colour. Definitely a little bit bluer than Essie Garden Variety & a little more teal & darker than Essie Strut Your Stuff. It also definitely appears lighter in my light box versus natural lighting. Not necessarily a colour I immediately reach for in the Summer, but I very much get the beach vibes they were aiming for.

Obviously, as this was part of last years Summer collection, availability is limited. I did find it still available on NailPolishCanada.com, & I have no doubt if you Google around you can find more. My best advice is check the clearance section at your favourite place to buy nail Polish — that’s where I usually score finds like this. It’s also possible it will pop up at your local Winners/Marshal’s, as mine always seems to get in these previous collections.

What do you think of Essie Revenge’s A Beach from the Summer 2022 collection? Are you feeling the beach vibes? Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below!

Happy Sunday! 🖤

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Throwback Floral (Using Just a Dotting Tool)

Hello lovelies & happy Friday! I hope it’s a beautiful day wherever you are. It’s supposed to be sunny, & slightly warm today, so I’ll take it.

Today I’m sharing a design which is a recreation of a design I did many moons ago—like… 2013 at the beginning of my nail art journey & before this blog. I just always love revisiting old designs, & when this one popped up on my Facebook memories, I knew I needed to do an updated version!

2013 version
2023 version

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Londontown KUR Nail Hardener & Base Coat 
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive Fast Dry Top
  • Essie Peach Side Babe
  • Essie Worth the Tassel
  • Essie Blanc
  • Essie Turquoise & Caicos
  • Small & Large Dotting Tool (NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio)

I didn’t have a list of the original polishes I used for my design, so I tried to go with what looked the closest to the colours — which was hard because my original photo is pretty poor quality. I think, though, I did a pretty good job on recreating the original look!

I know that was my first jump into “real” nail art after getting my first dotting tool. It was an Essence brand one that I found at Shoppers Drug Mart, & I got very excited to find something to do legit nail art.

What do you think of this floral nail art recreation? Do you remember what nail designs first got you into nail art? Let me know down in the comments below!

Have a fantastic Friday!

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Subtle Red Dotticure

Hello lovelies & happy Wednesday! We’re half way through the week, & half way to the weekend. I hope everyone’s week is going well so far. We’ve had a pretty week & chilly week so far, but after all those wildfires swept across the province, I’ll take a little rain.

Today, though, I have a super easy & chic nail art look. I did another subtle red nail art look last Summer, & I really liked it, but I really wanted to do something with polka dots. We all know red & polka dots are my two favourite things!

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Londontown KUR Nail Hardener & Base Coat 
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive Fast Dry Top
  • Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Cherry Delightful
  • Sally Hansen CSM Killer Heels
  • Small Dotting Tool  (NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio)

I really, really love how these turned out. Obviously, you don’t really notice the red unless you’re searching for it, but to me it takes it just a step above the usual plain red manicure. It also kind of reminds me a bit of a pond manicure, without having to worry about all the coats of polish.

Also I’m really loving this Sally Hansen red Cherry Delightful. It’s been in my stash for ages (5 years at least) but I don’t think I’ve worn it that frequently because I totally didn’t realize that it’s a one coater! I feel like a good one coat red polish is urban legend at this point, because trust me I’ve been looking. It also has this beautiful squishy finish which just makes me so happy.

Over all, I’m obsessed.

What do you think of this subtle red dotticure? Are you a fan of polka dots on your nail? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below.

Have a happy Wednesday loves! ♥︎

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Easy Holo Ocean Themed Nails

Hello lovelies & happy Monday! It’s the beginning of a brand new week, & I’m sharing a super easy look with you.

This was a super quick & easy look I did the end of last week, inspired by a request by my little girl. I had these cute ocean themed nail art stickers I picked up from Icing circa 2014-2015, though I thought they would be super cute paired with an ocean-y blue nail polish for some easy nail art.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Londontown KUR Nail Hardener & Base Coat 
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive Fast Dry Top
  • Superchic Lacquer Throwing Shade
  • Icing Nail Art Stickers — can find similar styles on Etsy.

I’ve raved before about my love for nail art stickers for easy nail art, especially when time is an issue. You can use a whole bunch on the nail, or one on each nail for a simple look. I have quite the collection myself, so they’re fun to grab when I’m lacking time (or inspiration).

& there are some great brands out there to choose from.

What do you think about these simple holographic ocean nails? Are you a fan of simple nail art like this? Have you ever tried any nail art sticker brands that you absolutely love? Let me know your favourites down in the comments below!

Have a fantastic Monday!

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SWATCH SUNDAY — Pacifica Plant Magic Mermaid Tail

Good morning lovelies & happy Sunday. This weekend has been a bit exhausting, but I did managed to get a brand new polish to share for this week’s Swatch Sunday.

(& one for next week too — stay tuned!)

I was perusing my local Shoppers Drug Mart & noticed that they are clearing out their section of Pacifica nail polishes. I’ve been curious about these shades for a while, but the price tag was a bit steep, so when I saw them for 50% off, I decided now was the time! & the shade I picked? No surprise there: Mermaid Tail.

2 coats + top coat

The formula on this shimmery shade is pretty thin. The first coat is almost Smokey, but the second coat definitely builds. Personally, seeing it under my light, I kind of wish I had done one more coat, just because I feel like it would have built the colour a bit more solidly.

If your nails are longer, I would definitely recommend a third coat.

The base is a deep green, with a bright turquoise shimmer. The bottle shows off a bit of purple shift too, but that never showed up on the nail sadly. However — the colour is very pretty, & I can see why it has the name Mermaid Tail. It’s very fitting.

Not a colour I would usually pick, but it is very pretty. & I like the fact it’s 16 Free, so I feel safe using it on my little girls nails (she’s who I really bought it for — she’s obsessed with all things mermaid!)

The Pacifica Plant Magic shades are currently $7.49 CAD at Shoppers Drug Mart. It’s categorized as clearance, so it definitely looks like a deal you want to take advantage of while you still can. I didn’t see Mermaid Tail listed online, but they had plenty in store, so if you have a Shoppers near you, I’d definitely check out the selection.

Have a lovely Sunday! 🖤