Pastel Dry Brush & Polka Dots

Happy Tuesday lovelies! If it’s possible for the Tuesday after a long weekend to be happy. I mean, I worked 2/3 days of this long weekend so I’m not even sure what a long weekend is anymore! But that’s okay… I’m feeling minuscule-ly better & I have a fun new manicure to share with you.

Today’s design is actually inspired by a design from a very long time ago! Okay maybe it was only 3 years ago, but it feels like forever since my nails were that kind of amazingly long. Last time, my polish picks were more in the neon family, so I decided this time to stick to more pastels. & oh yes, do I love how the colours went together!

For this design, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Quo by Orly Breathable Kiss Me, I’m Kind
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive
  • Wet n Wild Clear Polish
  • Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Let’s Snow
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Ocean Daze
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Bourbon Babe
  • Color Club Pucci-licious
  • Sally Hansen I ♥️ Nail Art pen in black

Dry brush is such a fun technique to create on the nails, because depending on the look you’re going for you can use a clear polish or smudgy top coat to blend your colours together & let dry for a few minutes & use a non-smudging top coat to keep the look of your dry brushing more in tact. I wanted to create a more blended look, so I applied a coat of Wet n Wild’s clear polish over top, & brushed it a few times so the shades would blend together better. In this case, it’s good to smear your design. I also tend to do this with other nail art like gradients or Saran Wrap marbles, but I want to colours to blend together as much as possible.

I’m loving the vibrancy of these shades. They remind me of Summer & I love Summer. Suddenly wishing I could find a bikini with a similar dry brush & polka dot pattern on it. Or maybe a dress… something fun & Summery I could wear on more than just my nails.

what do you think of these pastel dry brush & polka dot nails? Is this a look that you would wear for summer? Share your thoughts down in the comments below!

Blurple & Pink Pastel Half Moons 🌙

Good Morning lovelies! Hope you’re having a fantastic Thursday. I seriously can’t believe that it is almost the weekend already! & the May long weekend at that. Well, unless you work in retail of course… & then it is just another weekend with a slightly busier Monday.

Today I’m showing off some pretty half moons featuring a few shades from the Sally Hansen Canada Miracle Gel Pastel Punk collection. & as you can see, I’ve made a return to rounded nails. My nails in general have been feeling pretty weak ever since my return to work (a combination of not oiling & moisturizing them every hour, dealing with lots of stock & having to use a liberal amount of hand sanitizer) so after another break I decided a return to rounded was in order.

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Nailtek 2
  • Top Coat: Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Top Coat
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel I Lava You
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Just Maui’d
  • Paper Hole reinforcements

I’ve raved again & again just how much I adore the look of half moon designs, especially how EASY they are! Because this kind of design was my first ever real “nail art” I did, aside from maybe poorly door polka dots, this is one of my top nail art design suggestions for those just getting into nail art. Especially because the only “tools” it requires can be bought at Walmart or Dollarama (or any dollar store) for less than $2.

Also check out how much more purple Just Maui’d looks paired with I Lava You versus on its own when I swatched it. It pairs so well with the pinks, I can’t get over it. Definitely in love.

what do you think of this half moon combination? What is your favourite colour combination? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Also I’m on the hunt for any suggestions on how to help my nails feel less frail. Going to be switching up my base coat–thinking about trying out Nail Envy again. If you have any suggestions let me know! 💜

Floral Flash Nails

Happy Tuesday lovelies! I hope you’re enjoying the beginning of your week. Today I’m sharing some brand new nails with you–& yep, more floral! I truly believe you can never wear too much floral. Now if only I had taken more pictures of this design…. sadly I only snapped a few to share with you!

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Nailtek 2
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel In the Sheer
  • Essie Play Date
  • Essie Go Ginza
  • Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Trouble Maker
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Super Charge
  • Essence The Green & The Grunge
  • Sally Hansen I ♥️ Nail Art pen in Pink
  • China Glaze Metro Pollen-tin
  • Sally Hansen I ♥️ Nail Art pen in Black
  • Sally Hansen Royal Hue
  • China Glaze I Sea the Point
  • Bundle Monster detail brush
  • Bundle Monster dotting tool

It always takes so many polishes to create my favourite florals, but when you see it all put together it’s so worth it. Gosh I love floral designs over almost bare or really sheer polishes. They’re is just something romantic about how they come together. Love love love. Also I felt like I needed some untraditional floral colours–like purple roses. Something just a little bit different from my more recent floral & rose designs. I’m a little bit floral obsessed right now–I just picked up a new floral phone case, & I keep buying floral shirts & dresses. There is just no such thing as too much floral! 🌸

What do you think of this design? Are you a fan of negative space florals? Share your thoughts down in the comments below!

Neon(ish) Stars ⭐️

Happy Wednesday loves… I mean, I think it’s Wednesday. My days have been blurring into each other which has made it hard to keep things straight! I’m trying my best to keep to my posting schedule, but right now things are a wee bit hectic. & by wee bit, I mean life is all around insane. But just because I’m working 50+ hours a week doesn’t mean I don’t have time for pretty nails!

Who needs sleep anyways? That’s why they invented coffee!

Today’s nails were based on the fact I wanted pretty nails, with a pop of colour, that were relatively easy. I realized I hadn’t used my stamping plates in forever, so it felt like a good opportunity. Plus I love the look of a pop of colour over a neutral sheer base–@oliveandjune is always posting amazing inspiration on Instagram that I’m constantly saving, so I decided to try the look out. & I love it.

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Nailtek 2
  • Top Coat: Essie Speed Setter
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel In the Sheer
  • Sally Hansen Insta-dri Va-Va Violet
  • Born Pretty Store Image Plate BP-L006 (item #17924)
  • Born Pretty Store small clear jelly stamper
  • Edge Perfection Cuticle Barrier

I was in serious need of something bright & colourful to cheer myself (& my nails) up! Even with obsessive moisturizing, a ton of cuticle oil, & anything else moisturizing I can find, my hands have been hurting the last few weeks. The up & down temperature changes have been the main culprit I think, plus the fact that work is dry as heck. They’re not used to not being babied like they were! Plus paper cuts are seriously the devil. Still working on testing out my own hand pampering mask recipe, so once I find one I want to share I will make sure to post it! Also if you have any favourite hand treatments to share, let me know in the comments below!

What’s your favourite “cheer up” manicure to do when you’re feeling down? share it in the comments below!

SWATCH SUNDAY — Gelish Royal Temptations Spring 2018 Collection

PR Sample — sent to me free for testing & review.

Happy Sunday lovelies! I feel like it’s been ages since my last Swatch Sunday post, even though it’s only been 2 weeks. We’re currently under a snowfall warning here in Halifax (yes, in April…) so it felt like a good time to share the swatches of the Gelish Soak Off Gel Spring 2018 collection! The Royal Temptations collection is inspired by the lavish life of Marie Antionette! The colours are described as opulent pastels & according to the press release “help convey the romantic fantasy we convey with being a queen”.

Continue reading “SWATCH SUNDAY — Gelish Royal Temptations Spring 2018 Collection”