Category: Red

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SWATCH SUNDAY — Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Berry Fancy

Good morning lovelies & happy Sunday. Unless, of course, you to where in the path of Hurricane Fiona & are also still in the post storm darkness. I come to you, from my the front of our car where I am simultaneously charging my near dead phone, & using it as a hot spot so I can write up the blog post!

Haha, Hurricane or no, the show much go on.

Today I reached into my stash for another pretty shade from a few years ago: Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Berry Fancy. This shade was originally released as part of the Sally Hansen Red/esign collection circa 2018, & was gifted to me from Sally Hansen in a super cute package. At the time, I was newly pregnant with my daughter (& sick all the time) so I only swatched 1/2 the collection. You can find those shades HERE.

2 coats + Sally Hansen CSM Fast Dry Top Coat

The formula on this shade is quick nice. It’s not a one coater, which would be nicer, but it does apply absolutely perfectly in 2 coats, & leaves a thick glossy finish, even before applying top coat. The colour itself is a beautiful dusty brick red, that leans a bit more berry side of things. It’s a nice change up, & definitely is 100% an Autumn shade.

Again, the application was really nice, & I like that this is a not quite red kind of shade. It’s kind of like a mix between a dark dusty rose, a brick red, & like… maybe plum? Either way, it’s a fantastic edition to my red collection, because sometimes you get a little bored with just fire engine red, you know?

This is also the shade/colour I’ve been heavily debating adding to my hair where I have it coloured. Currently it’s a not so great, extremely faded, purple-y pink colour, so I’m thinking it would be nice to go with something definitely for the ‘Ber months… since they are my favourite months, after all!

I peeked online, but it doesn’t look like Berry Fancy is still part of Sally Hansen’s regular core collection. I did find one bottle listed on eBay, used, but other thank that it doesn’t look like its an easy shade to track down. That being said, I feel like this shade probably has an easy dupe out there, so if you’re looking for a red/not-quite-red shade like this, it won’t be hard to dupe.

Let me know what you think of this shade, & have a wonderful day. Time for me to finish my camp stove made coffee, & pray we get some power soon! Have a lovely day darlings!

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Autumn Fan Brush Splatter Nail Art

Hello lovelies & happy Thursday! We’re officially a full week into September, & the Autumn vibes have been strong — with the perfect early September weather to match. I’ve been fully immersing myself in all things pumpkin spice, while wearing my absolute favourite knee high boots.

So obviously, I need some nail art to match.

I’ve been rocking some serious shorties lately, thanks in part to a wicked break on my middle finger (hence why it’s so wonky). So I’ve been feeling a bit… uninspired nail art wise. One nail art look I have been loving though is splatter nails! They’re easy, fun, & I’ve never done one that I didn’t love.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Essie Hard To Resist Glow & Shine 
  • Top Coat: Essie Gel Setter
  • Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Know The Espa-Drille
  • Sally Hansen InstaDri Cinna-snap
  • Sally Hansen InstaDri Zip Wine
  • Sally Hansen InstaDri Midnight Drive
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Golden Glow
  • Fan Brush Nail Art Brush (mine was purchased at either Claire’s or Icing)

How funky are these? I just love how fun this colour combination is together, & it’s combining all the colours I love for Autumn — but on a light base. I usually go with the Saran Wrap technique for my nail art, but I thought I would try out with a fan brush, & I’m really happy with the end result. They’re just so much fun!

What do you think about these splatter nails? Do you like this fun splatter design? Let me know what Autumn nail art you’re rocking right now — or if your holding onto Summer nails as long as possible.

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SWATCH SUNDAY — A Color Club Mystery

Hello lovelies & happy Sunday… the first Sunday of September. The weather has been absolutely beautiful the last couple days, & I even had a chance to break out the knee high boots & my favourite tights. & I’ve been perusing through all my deeper nail polish shades, looking for fun dark shades that are calling my name.

Today, though, I have a bit of a nail polish mystery featuring Color Club. I’ve mentioned before I’m a huge fan of buying polish at Winners, & I found this beauty in a set of 6 at my local Winners — with no name or codes or any distinguishing information. A real nail polish mystery!

2 coats + Essie Speed Setter top coat

The formula on this beautiful dark plum is super rich. I probably could have gotten away with just one coat of I had been a bit more careful — the opacity is stunning.

The colour is beautiful & dark, & perfect for Autumn. In fact, this is the exact shade I’m thinking about putting in my hair for Fall.

So after some perusing on Google, & Veronica Mars level sleuthing, I think I’ve figured out this shade is Color Club Twice Bitten from the 2016 Under My Spell Holiday collection. There were a couple I thought it might be, but after reviewing bottle shots & other swatches, I definitely think it has to be that one!

The only downside I found to this polish — it stained my nails (& fingers) really badly upon removal. Like… my finger nails & cuticle area were seriously red. Which is a shame, because the colour itself is beautiful & I love a deep dark shade like this.

What do you think about this mystery shade? Do you think I was correct in surmising that it’s Color Club Twice Bitten? Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below, & if you like these mystery shade posts?

Have a great Sunday!

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SWATCH SUNDAY — OPI First Date at the Golden Gate

Hello lovelies & happy Sunday! I hope everyone is having a lovely & enjoyable weekend. I’m excited because I’m really embracing all the Autumn vibes with today’s Swatch Sunday pick. I know, I know… it’s still Summer. But my pumpkin spice loving heart is ready for more, & today’s polish pick is definitely filling the void.

Today I’m rocking OPI First Date at the Golden Gate which was originally released as part of the 2013 Fall/Winter collection (so perfect for Fall almost 9 years later!) This shade came to me during a Chatters sale, although I can’t exactly remember. The bottle is dusty though, so she’s definitely been around a while.

3 coats, no top coat.

The formula on this shade is soft & smooth, & applied to the nail easily. I did have to go with 3 coats of polish, as it was a bit on the thin side, but they dried surprisingly fast. This is always a bonus when you have to apply anything more than 2 coats.

I also like how syrup-y the finish looks, even without top coat.

The colour of this one seems absolutely perfect for Fall & I can’t believe I haven’t really reached for it much this time of year. First, it’s a not-quite-red — & we all know I adore read nail polish! But the shade has this burnt quality, with brown undertones, which reminds me of when the leaves shift around the end of September, beginning of October.

& that’s my favourite time of year!

What do you think about OPI First Date at the Golden Gate? Do you have this beauty in your collection? Do you enjoy me posting these throwback Fall collection shades? Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below!

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Stamped Red Sparkly Nails (Autumn Vibes)

Hello lovelies & happy Tuesday! I hope everyone is having a lovely start to their week, & it’s not too hard wherever you are. Today is the first day in a while that actually feels not unbearably hot — at least it does early in the morning as I write this! & even though I love love love the heat, I’m excited for a cooler day because its giving me Fall vibes, & I’m already wishing for those cooler days of boots, tights & lots of layers!

But since we still have a few weeks before it will even begin to feel cool enough to wear tights with my dresses, I guess I will need to fill my Autumn vibes with nail polish & nail art.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Essie Hard To Resist Glow & Shine 
  • Top Coat: Essie Gel Setter
  • Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Red Handed
  • Quo Beauty FX Shimmer & Shine
  • Essence Shine, Last & Go Into the Unknown
  • Born Pretty Store stamping plate BP-L006 (no longer available)
  • Nailstuff.ca clear stamper & scraper set

Oh man, I am enjoying this look.

Originally I had painted my nails red, adding the sparkle, but I felt like I wanted to jazz them up a bit, & it had been a while since I did any stamping! I thought navy blue would be just enough darkness so a subtle transition manicure between Summer & Fall, & I was right. It gives me just enough of a Autumn feel, without going full on. Although I’m drinking maple pumpkin in my coffee as I write this, so I’m not really scared to go full tilt into all the Fall colours!

I also have a stamping plate I bought last year for Autumn/Thanksgiving that I never got a chance to use, so I’m pumped to be able to pull it out this year!

What do you think about this nail art look? Are you ready for all the Fall polish/nail art content? Let me know what you think, & what colours you’re excited to wear in the upcoming season!