Category: Sally Hansen

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Bright & Funky Abstract Stripes (2000s Inspired)

*contains PR/gifted items

Hello loves & happy Monday!

I am still over here desperately craving Spring weather — while the actually weather does not cooperate. You would think I would be used to it by now (after all these years), & yet every year I get enraged when Spring doesn’t come quick enough. But… I digress. You’re here for nails, & I absolutely love today’s design!

I’m calling these Pucci-esque–not to be confused with Color Club Pucci-licious–& they’re giving me mid-2000s vibes. Specifically: Emilio Pucci’s Spring 2005 collection. I wanted something absolutely bright & colourful, that just screamed Spring, & this combination delivered.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Maximum Growth
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive Gel Like Top Coat
  • Butter London Pure Colour 21X Bloomsbury
  • Essie You Do Blue
  • Sally Hansen Good. Kind. Pure. Peony Origins
  • Essie Willow in the Wind
  • OPI I Cannoli Wear OPI
  • Quo by Orly Nail Art Striper in black
  • NailStuff.ca Mermaid Tail 7mm Liner Brush

Okay — how gorgeous & fun are these nails? I love the combination of colours & how they pop on the nails. They’re just so sunny, & bright which is exactly what my days need when it’s quite a bit below freezing today. I need a little hit of Spring, even if it’s only on my nails (while I stare wistfully at the Spring dresses hanging in my closet, just waiting for me.)

What do you think of these bright & colourful nails? Do you love the colourful combination as much as I do? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below, & if you would rock this look on your own nails!

Happy Monday

♥︎

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SWATCH SUNDAY — Sally Hansen InstaDri Pink Aurora 💗🌌

Hello lovelies & happy Sunday! It’s a beautiful sunny–but chilly–day here on the East Coast. They keep telling us that Spring is on its way, but I won’t like… it’s getting harder, & harder to believe it. (Especially when they’re calling for over 20cm of snow at the end of the week)

But never the less, I’ll keep trying to summon Spring with whatever is on my nails, & today I was feeling something pink! Pink is not a colour I often reach for as a single manicure, but it does feel very Spring-y to me, so I thought I would grab for one in my stash. & as soon as I saw this sparkly pink looking back at me, I knew it would be perfect for today’s Swatch Sunday post.

This is Sally Hansen InstaDri Pink Aurora.

3 coats + top coat

I always do love a sparkle, & this sheer pink jelly is full of iridescent & holographic glitters. The jelly base is thin–very thin–so multiple coats as necessary for even a hint of opacity. Personally, I feel like I’m more likely to use this as a glitter topper rather than on its own, but I wanted to swatch it as it comes.

The sparkle on this beauty is lovely. I feel like from far away, it could come across as more subtle, but you can see it much more prominently unclose. I will say though –this shade was not easy to photograph at all. I tried in both my lightbox & outside & it was a struggle.

This shade is part of the Primsmatic Shine line of InstaDri, & I’m pretty sure I picked up my bottle 2+ years ago. I’m not sure if it’s still available in store, but I did find it on the Sally Hansen website–however it didn’t have an option for buying, so I’m thinking it’s probably discontinued unfortunately.

(I also found this Reddit thread looking for dupes which has some great alternative polish options.)

What do you think of Sally Hansen InstaDri Pink Aurora? Do you like this sheer sparkly pink? Would you wear this shade on its own, or as a topper over another pink?

Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below!

Happy Sunday

♥︎

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SWATCH SUNDAY — Sally Hansen Brewberry

Good morning lovelies & happy Sunday! The very first Sunday of January — & the very first Swatch Sunday of 2026.

& I’m excited because I have a brand new polish to share with you that I was gifted by my husband for Christmas. It’s not often he buys polish for me without me asking, as he’s always worried that he’s going to buy one I already own. So you imagine my surprise when I opened my Christmas present, & found this beauty looking back at me!

This is Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Brewberry.

2 coats + top coat

This beautiful deep dark pink/fuchsia applied beautifully in 2 coats, with great opacity. I like that it has a bit of a blue tone to it, because I feel like it compliments my skin tone really well.

The formula was smooth, easy to apply, & dried to a relatively shiny finish even before I applied top coat. My internet research tells me this shade was part of the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Birthday collection in 2024, but I’m glad to see it was added to the permanent core collection.

Close up!

The formula really is one of my favourite parts of the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel line. The brush is also a favourite because it’s wide, & makes for a quick application. It also makes for a lovely, smooth cuticle line — although sometimes I get the wonky brush, which makes application a bit more complicated. But Sally Hansen Miracle Gel is one of my favourite nail lines to purchase from, so I’m always excited when someone else buys me a shade from the line — as they have gotten a bit pricey in recent years.

I’m just loving how beautiful this shade is — a stunning jewel tone for this time of year. Brightens up these dark depressing January days post the holidays.

What do you think of Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Brewberry? Do you love the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel line as well? Did you get any fun nail polishes for the holidays? Let me know down in the comments below!

Happy Sunday ♥︎

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Instagram Collab — Mix & Match Christmas Pattern Nails

Hello beauties & happy Friday! & Happy boxing day. I hope everyone who celebrates had a wonderful, festive Christmas. This year has definitely been the least Christmas-y feeling Christmas in a long, long time — but I still wanted to make sure I had some festive nails for the occasion.

It’s been a long time since I participated in one of the Instagram Nail Art collabs hosted by @essieyall & @petitenaillover. So I really wanted to join in for one final collab for this year! & end the right right.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Miracle Cure
  • Top Coat: Essie Speed Setter
  • Essie Gel Couture Wider Than I Seam
  • Essie Nail Art Studio Lustrous Luxury
  • Essie Expressie Feel The Hype
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel A Moo Point
  • NailStuff.ca 4mm Micro Detail Brush

How cute did my little freehand shapes turn out? I’ll wanted a fun Christmas-y look without using red & green. & I had found some (new to me) shades at Shoppers Drug Mart on wicked clearance –like $3 a bottle! — so they inspired me to create this mix & match Christmas design for the collab.

& I really love how they turned out.

Wishing everyone the happiest holiday season ever, & a safe end to 2025. This year has been such a struggle, so I look forward to the New Year, & everything that 2026 holds.

& don’t forget to click over to Instagram & check out the hashtag #christmasnailartmanicollab2025 to see all the other amazing gorgeous designs & nail artists. You might find a new artist you love!

♥︎

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Navy Freehand Snowflake Accent Nails ❄️

Hello lovelies & happy Monday! & happy Holiday week. Sending lots of beautiful wishes to everyone preparing for Christmas, or celebrating Hanukkah, or whatever brings you joy this time of year. The crunch is on right now to finish up this year, so I apologize for my sporadic posting schedule.

Today I’m sharing a freehand nail art Winter look I recently did. It’s not December/Christmas until I paint some freehand snowflakes, & I’m very proud of this design!

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Miracle Cure
  • Top Coat: Essie Speed Setter
  • Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Dark Hue-mor
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel It’s a Moo Point
  • Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Strobe Light
  • NailStuff.ca 4mm Micro Detail Brush

I always get scared to freehand something delicate like this, because in case you didn’t know — I can be kind of a perfectionist. But I’m trying to work on that, & challenge myself, & I’m really proud of my snowflakes. They’re dainty, & cute, with just the right amount of glitter.

These are just such fun winter-y Holiday nails. I love how they turned out. Also I’ve been really, really feeling blue lately which is funny, because it’s not the most Christmas heavy colour. But I think for a design like this it’s perfect. & I got lots of compliments when I wore these nails to work, which always makes my whole day when someone notices them.

What do you think about these blue snowflake nails? Do you think it’s a fun, pretty design for the holidays? Are you all ready for the holidays? Let me know what you think down in the comments below.

& good luck to all my fellow last minute shoppers out there! I’ll be right out in the crowds finishing up my shopping, just like you.

♥︎