Blue, Mint & Purple Colour Block

Hello lovelies & happy Thursday. We’re that much closer to the weekend, which is pretty exciting. Also how is this month almost over?

Wasn’t it just the beginning of May, like a week ago?

Today I’ve got a brand new look to share with you that was inspired by @nailsuponatime on Instagram. She recently posted a very pretty pastel geometric look, & I was inspired to fancy up my shorties with my own colour block look.

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Nailgrowth Miracle
  • Top Coat: Essie Gel Setter
  • Essie All The Wave
  • Essie Mint Candy Apple (greener version)
  • Essie Worth The Tassel

First off, an apology for my rough looking cuticles. Trying to remember my cuticle oil during the day, but when it gets busy at work — & I mean BUSY — it definitely is the last thing I concentrate on haha.

Next up, it’s been a while since I attempted some freehanded straight lines like this, so I feel like they aren’t perfect. But I do love this colour combination. I always forget to wear Mint Candy Apple from Essie — I have both versions of it, & I do adore the colour, but for some reason always forget I own it. So silly.

What do you think about this colour combination & colour blocking? What colours are you loving right now? I’ve been feeling a lot of blues & purples right now (if you haven’t noticed) so I might have to kick up the neons really soon! It’s been too long.

SWATCH SUNDAY — Yves Saint Laurent Violine Surrealiste

Hello lovelies & happy Sunday!

Today we’re starting off a brand new week with another polish swatch: Yves Saint Laurent Violine Surrealiste. I’ve had this shade a long, long time in my stash, but I’ve never done a legit swatch post for it, & it’s such a fun shade for (almost) Summer, so I wanted to share!

3 coats + Essie Gel Setter

Originally, this shade was gifted to me circa 2014 by a family friend, along with a great selection of other YSL nail polish shades. I think it was originally released in 2013, but I’m not 100% sure.

The formula itself is crelly-like — it’s not quite a jelly, & not quite cream. I applied 3 thin coats for full opacity, although you could probably get away with two with just a hint of visible nail line. Obviously you can see my nails are very short right now, so I don’t have very much nail line going on. That being sad, I liked the almost gel like finish I got with 3 coats, finishing off with my Essie Gel Setter.

I’m not going to lie, trying to photograph this colour was a bit tricky, but I think I captured it the most accurately. I really do love this fuchsia shade a lot as well — it’s a beautiful much needed pop of colour that my itty bitty nubs need badly. I’ve been really uninspired since I broke my nail & had to file the rest down, but this colour makes me very happy! & hopefully I’ll feel like some real nail art very soon!

What do you think about this gorgeous vibrant shade? Are you a fan of YSL nail polishes? Would you like to see more shades from my collection? Let me know in the comments below!

Sadly this particular shade is no longer available, as far as I could find, but you can find a ton of other gorgeous shades via YSLbeauty.ca if you’re in the mood for some high end nail polish!

Mermaid Gradient Nails

Good morning lovelies & happy Thursday!

How is it almost the weekend again? I’m not complaining, it’s just crazy how this weekend is speeding by. & it’s Victoria Day weekend here in Canada, which has always felt like the kick off to Summer to me! Of course it’s going to be a rainy mess all weekend here in Halifax, but you can’t win them all.

Today I’m sharing some very fun, very Summer-y nails. I’ve been saying forever that I needed to order some new mermaid nail vinyls, so when I placed my Mother’s Day order at Beyond The Nail, I made sure to include some mermaid nail guides in there!

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Nailgrowth Miracle
  • Top Coat: Essie Gel Setter + Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Shiny Top Coat
  • Beyond the Nail Blazing Blush
  • Beyond the Nail Honeymoon
  • Beyond the Nail Auburgine
  • Beyond the Nail Mermaid Scale Nail Guides
  • Latex free make up sponge (I buy mine from Dollarama)

Okay, so I know I call pretty much every manicure I do my favourite, but seriously just look at this design. I’m obsessed!

I decided to go all out with a gradient (another look I haven’t done in a while) for my scale base, then added my Aubergine over top. & I am so freaking in love with how these three polishes look together. Seriously— I wore this design for three whole days, before I snapped my middle finger nail clean off. Plus the combo totally matches my current hair colour combo.

I can’t even begin to explain my love for this look. I also really like the mermaid scale guides because they were super easy to use, & they’re quite large so I managed to split them so I could use one guide per 2 nails. That makes me so happy!

What do you think about these bright & colourful mermaid nails? Does this design scream Summer to you? Have you done mermaid nails in a while? Let me know down in the comments below!

Holo Stripes

Hello lovelies & happy Wednesday.

The sun is shining, the weather is warm, & I got to wear a dress yesterday. That’s about all the good from this week, & exactly what I’m going to concentrate on. & you know what else warm sunny days mean? More holo! Because there is nothing better than sunshine & holo.

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Nailgrowth Miracle
  • Top Coat: Essie Good to Go
  • China Glaze BFF
  • Color Club Eternal Beauty
  • China Glaze OMG
  • China Glaze IDK
  • Essie Go Ginza
  • NailStuff.ca 16mm Striper Brush

I am absolutely smitten with how this look turned out. Yes, I’m a bit holo obsessed, but I a world full of chaos & sadness, we need a little sparkle every once in a while. This look was also super, super easy to do which I’ve been appreciating more & more lately. A few quick but steady stripes of polish & you’re in business! Looks way more complicated than it truly is.

What do you think about my holo stripes? Would you wear a look like this? What holo polishes would you combine? Let me know in the comments below!

Dainty Purple Polka Dots

Hello lovelies & happy Thursday! The weekend is quickly approaching. & I don’t know where you are, but the weather here is starting to really, really feel like Spring. I might even wear a dress to work today!

But in the mean time, I’m showing off some simple & dainty polka dot design. Purple makes me happy, & I always love a dotticure whenever I need a quick, simple look.

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Nailgrowth Miracle
  • Top Coat: Essie Good to Go
  • L’Oréal Color Riche Violet Vendome
  • Sally Hansen I ♥️ Nail Art Pen in Purple

Such a simple look, but a classic polka dot look just makes me happy. There is something about a simple look like this that is just so pleasing to the eye. Plus I feel like you can make it match any outfit or occasion—go wild with your colours, or keep it simple.

Also my favourite way to do simple dotticures like this is with my Sally Hansen nail art pens. I discovered these in the early days of my nail art journey, but I still own them, & still use them, especially for a look like this. Makes creating evenly placed polka dots, that are all the same size, so quick & easy. I kind of wish I had more colours, to be honest. I’m not even sure if they still exist to buy anymore!

What do you think about this dainty dotticure? Would you like to see me feature more of these easy manicures? What colour combination should I share next? Let me know in the comments below!