SWATCH SUNDAY — China Glaze The Heat is On (Desert Heat 🏜️ Collection 2015)

Good morning lovelies & happy Sunday. It’s been a while since I posted a Swatch Sunday post! So I’m excited to jump back in, & for this one I’m throwing it way, way back to 2015 with a gorgeous China Glaze shade I bought as part of a mini set: The Heat Is On.

2 coats + top coat

I was thinking about this shade, & kind of nervous about its state (I feel like these mini bottles dry up way faster than normal sized bottles) but she was in great shape, & I was so excited to wear it.

The shade is a beautiful vibrant red with an undertone of orange. The formula was creamy, & easy to apply; it had a glossy finish even before I applied top coat. I like that it has just a hint of a jelly formula, because it really does make it look juicy on the nails.

I was so obsessed with this shade when I first bought my mini set of this collection, & all these years later — 11 to be exact — I still love it. It really makes me wish I had a full sized bottle, but sadly it was a limited release. I have found a few bottles online for sale… & I won’t lie, it’s tempting.

What do you think of this shade? Do you think it’s as fun & lush as I do? Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below.

& stay tuned — because I have my eyes open for any Fall collections popping up in store, & I’m ready for full on Autumn vibes.

Happy Sunday!

SWATCH SUNDAY — Nicole by OPI Scarlett || Happy 12th Birthday Coffee & Nail Polish 🎂

Hello lovelies & happy Easter Sunday! I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend, celebrating however they celebrate. But it’s not just Easter Sunday — 12 years ago today I made my very first post on Coffee & Nail Polish! So I thought it would be fun, & for this week’s Swatch Sunday I would share the first very nail polish I ever used for a manicure: Nicole by OPI (RIP) Scarlett from the Selena Gomez collection.

2 coats + top coat

This beautiful metallic pink was originally released as part of the Nicole by OPI Spring Collection which was Selena Gomez themed. I picked up this beauty at my local Lawton’s Drugs (which was one of my favourite places for clearance nail polish) for the stellar price of $2.50.

The formula on this one was slightly thin, but not too thin it made it hard to apply. 2 coats built to this perfect opacity. The finish though — the finish is my favourite. It’s this gorgeous glass fleck finish. Also I love that it sort of looks pink, but also sort of looks red.

Stunning.

Close up of this beautiful finish. I love the shimmer, the pinkish glow; all of it. It really does glow on the nail which just adds to the beauty.

& obviously, since today is the anniversary of my very first blog post, I had to do a recreation of my very first design — a red on red leopard print. Base is Scarlett & my spots were done using Nicole by OPI Basking in Gloria (from the Modern Family collection).

Unfortunately I did forget to matte-ify my design & didn’t realize until after the fact, but I still love my recreation.

What do you think about this throwback shade! I feel like the NOPI shades were definitely ahead of their time for drugstore brands. I really miss them, & cherish the shades I still have.

Happy Sunday!

Happy Easter!

🖤

SWATCH SUNDAY — Orly Naughty

Hello lovelies & happy Sunday! I feel like it’s been ages since my last Swatch Sunday post (because I took last Sunday off) but we’re back, & back to business!

As is tradition, I was gifted some Winners/Marshalls gift cards for Christmas, so naturally I always have to peruse the nail section to see what they have going on. I’m always looking for shades that are different from ones I already own, but within my wheelhouse, & when I saw this shade on the shelf I knew I needed to add it to my stash.

This is Orly Naughty.

2 coats + top coat

This beautiful reddish brown shade is deep, & dark with a creamy formula. I did find this formula patchy, so I had to be careful with my application — especially around the cuticle line. I did find on a few nails I had to go back & carefully fill in where it was looking thin. But once I applied my top coat, it did smooth everything down nicely.

I love this colour so much! It’s deep, dark, & vampy. It fits the January vibe that this year has started with. I do love a dark nail. I did end up adding some glitter on top of this guy — Essie Nail Art Studio Lustrous Luxury which gave it more of a purple look. I’ve actually been wearing that for the last 3 days because I couldn’t figure out any nail art to wear over it, & can’t bare to take it off!

What do you think about this Orly shade? Are you a fan of this deep, dark shade? I don’t often see Orly popping up at Winners, hence why I was exciting to pick it up when I saw it. Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below!

Happy Sunday

♥︎

Red & Gold Shattered Glitter Placement ✨❤️

Hello lovelies & happy Wednesday! It’s another chilly wet Winter day, & the January vibes are just not it. Have I mentioned I’m not a fan of Winter?

But I have just the thing to cheer myself up… new (sparkly) nails! There is nothing that I love more than some sparkle when I’m feeling down, & I recently pulled out a glitter topper I had almost forgotten I owed. The end result was another perfect glitter placement design.

I’m never going to get tired of these!

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Miracle Cure
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive Gel Like Top Coat
  • Orly Color Blast Garnet Luxe Shimmer
  • Sinful Colors Twilight Twinkles
  • Small dotting tool

I know this isn’t a super complicated look — still trying to ease myself back into nail art inspiration — but I love how these look. They’re just fun, & pretty, & I never get tired of red nail polish. I also feel like these would be so pretty for February & Valentine’s Day nails!

What do you think about these red shattered glitter nails? Do you love? Also — as always, if you can think of any glitters similar to these in different colours, let me know. I used to have a holographic silver one by Color Club that dried up that I’m desperate to replace!

Happy Wednesday

🖤

Kiss Products Voguish Fantasy Press On Nails — Christmas Party Ready Nails

•contains pr/gifted items

Good morning lovelies & happy Tuesday!

Kiss once again spoiled me, & recently sent me a box of Christmas cheer in the shape of their Press On Nails & False lashes! The perfect thing to help me get Holiday ready quickly.

Sunday night I had a get-together with my former Candy Store coworkers, so I thought a set of nails would be perfect for the occasion — & who can say no to candy cane inspired nails!

These nails were fairly easy to apply. The trick is to make sure you pick out the size/style you need for each nail prior to starting your application, & laying them out in order. Then, start from your pinky nails & work your way to your thumb. I find this especially important to do when you’re doing nails with any significant length — like these ones!

Now for these nails I was only planing on wearing them for the night, so instead of using the included glue, I chose to use sticky tabs to apply them which I find a better option for shorter term wear. Each pack does come with the Kiss Nail Glue, which from my previous experience does last really well & holds up against every day use.

What do you think about these Kiss Voguish Fantasy nails? Would you rock press on nails like this for a super quick & easy party look? Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below!

🖤