SWATCH SUNDAY— OPI Big Apple Red 🍎

Good morning lovelies & happy Sunday! & happy early Canada Day to all my fellow Canadians. We’re looking at a very, very rainy Canada Day which is kind of lame, but that’s Nova Scotia for you.

I am very excited because I was at the thrift store on Friday & they sometimes have barely used nail polish there, so I always check it out. That’s when I stumbled across this beauty: this is OPI Big Apple Red.

2 coats + top coat

In a surprising turn of events, OPI Big Apple Red is one of those red nail polishes that I didn’t yet own. It’s a gorgeous cherry red nail polish, which a smooth application & cream finish.

According to Google, Big Apple Red was voted as the most iconic red nail polish of all time — so the fact I didn’t yet own this shade is actually a crime.

We all know red is definitely my favourite nail colour, & this is an absolutely stunning red. It had perfect coverage in two coats, which I’m all for when it comes to a red. It also garnered a ton of compliments & “nice nails” while I was at work, so that is always an indication of a beautiful polish.

What do you think of this iconic OPI red? Do you have Big Apple Red in your collection? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below & what nail polish shade you consider “iconic”!

🖤

Y2K Inspired Half Moons & Floral 🌸

Hello lovelies & happy Friday! I hope your week has been going beautifully. The weather has been pretty stunning the last couple days (minus the rain currently falling) & it’s feeling like Spring. So let’s break out the Spring nail art designs!

Today’s look is a combination of a design I quite love (half moons) with a little twist. I was checking out 2024 nail art trends, & saw that Y2K was trending — so, as a millennial who grew up during the height of Y2K — I wanted to relive my pre-teen/teenage years.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: China Glaze Calcium Gel Fortifer
  • Top Coat: LA Girl Rapid Dry Top Coat 
  • Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Red It Online
  • Essie Swoon in the Lagoon
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Pretty Peony
  • Essie Muchi, Muchi
  • Nailstuff.ca Mermaid Tail 7mm liner brush

I think these turned out so, so cute!

When I paired the red & pink together I was a little scared it would look a bit Valentine-y, but with the added flowers it came out super cute. & I think it channels Y2K without being too over the top. It is also giving Spring vibes, which I’m here for. I’ve been wearing a lot of my floral dresses lately, so it pairs perfectly!

What do you think about these half moons? Do you like the combination of nail art? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below, & share what nail art trends you’re loving right now!

Enjoy your Friday. 🖤

SWATCH SUNDAY — Color Club A Warm Place

Hello lovelies & happy Sunday. I hope where ever you are, it’s been a beautiful week. We’ve had a little bit of every season this week, which always sends me into a spiral. Winter is my least favourite season, & I can’t wait for nicer days to come.

Today though, I’ve got a hot polish shade to share with you.

Color Club A Warm Place.

2 coats + no top coat

This beautiful warm red applied like a dream, for a polish that is definitely (more than) a few years old — peep that old school Color Club label! The colour is definitely more on the warm side, with a bit of a pink undertone so it compliments the olive tones in my skin well.

It had a nice shine, even without applying top coat, but obviously if I was wearing it out & about I would seal it in with a glossy top coat. I was very happy to see that it was quite opaque, & only needed 2 coats for full, solid coverage.

I picked up this bottle at my local Lawtons a while ago — they haven’t sold Color Club in years — but when looking it up online I couldn’t find much about this shade aside from a few scattered bottles for sale.

So if anyone has any information on when this shade was released, collection info, etc — let me know!

What do you think about Color Club A Warm Place? Do you love a good red as much as I do? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below! ♥️

Happy Sunday

GLAM NAILS CHALLENGE MARCH — Dots

Hello lovelies & happy Thursday!

I am a day late on posting the next prompt for Glam Nails Challenge March. I worked long shifts for the last few days, so I was too exhausted to get up this prompt so I apologize! But the next prompt for Glam Nails Challenge March is dots, & we all know that I adore a dotticure. I decided to go with a gradient dotticure for this look, as I haven’t done one in a while.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: China Glaze Calcium Gel Fortifer
  • Top Coat: China Glaze Fast Forward Top 
  • Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manciure Cherry Delightful
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel A Moo Point
  • Sally Hansen MG Blacky-O
  • Sally Hansen MG Can’t Beet Royalty
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio

I’m obsessed with this red from Sally Hansen — it was released years ago as part of the Sally Hansen RED/esign collection. The black, white & dark red dots remind me a bit of Mini Mouse too, which is fun.

A gradient dotticure was one of my first nail art looks that I learned to do, & became obsessed with, so I always return to it. It’s the easiest way to jump into nail art if you’re kind of scared–it’s really hard to mess it up!

What do you think of my dotticure for Glam Nails Challenge March? Are you a fan of a gradient dotticure like this? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below!

SWATCH SUNDAY — OPI OPI Red

Hello lovelies & happy Sunday!

I hope this past week wasn’t too tough on anyone. Are you ready for this week, & Valentine’s Day? I work in a Candy Store, so you know we’re going to be busy with last minute Valentine’s Day shopping! Today, though, I thought I would share a beautiful red that would be perfect for any Valentine’s Day plans you may have this week.

This is OPI OPI Red.

2 coats + top coat.

I actually shared this shade on my Instagram a few weeks ago, but I feel like it deserves its own special post because it really is the perfect red shade for Valentine’s Day. & we know I love a good red, no matter the occasion. OPI Red is a pink toned red, with this beautiful but very subtle shimmer.

The formula on OPI Red is actually incredible, especially for a red nail polish. It’s almost a one coater, but I added two just for a more plush look. It also levels out really, really well so you don’t have any streakiness. I did add top coat to my swatches, but that was mostly because I was wearing these before I was able to take photos & I didn’t want to bang them up.

If I had any complaints about this beautiful red, it would be I wished the shimmer was more visible on the nail. Other thank that, this is quite possibly the perfect red nail polish. & well know how much I love red nails.

I purchased my bottle of OPI Red at my local Marshall’s but you can find it listed online on a number of websites including this one & this one. For my gel polish lovers, I also found the Gel Version on the Trade Secrets website. It is out of stock on the actual OPI website, but I’m hoping that doesn’t mean it’s discontinued.

What do you think about OPI OPI Red? Is this a shade you could see yourself wearing? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below!