Hand Painted Lilac Nail Art 💜

Hello lovelies & happy Friday! Trying to get back into my regular posting schedule, so I’m excited to share a second nail art post this week! & I’m beyond in love with today’s nail art inspiration. When walking my kids to school, I couldn’t help but notice all the lilacs in bloom — & bam, I knew just the inspiration for my nails!

I’ve done a lot of floral on my nails over the years, but I’ve never taken such a literal flower to paint on my nails. But for something I’ve never attempted before, I’m so in love with the end result. & I totally think I managed to capture the inspiration as well.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Top Coat: Essie Gel Couture Top Coat 
  • Base Coat: China Glaze Calcium Gel Fortifier
  • Essie Expressie IRL
  • Sally Hansen InstaDri Planet Purple
  • NailStuff.ca Holographic Top Coat *
  • Sally Hansen InstaDri Heather Hue
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Violet Voltage
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Lilac Insomniac
  • Essie Wind in the Willow *
  • Essie Off Tropic *
  • Nailstuff.ca Mermaid Tail 7mm liner brush
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool 

*pr/gifted

Do you think I captured the Lilac vibe correctly? I literally had pictures of lilacs in front of me while I was painting (which I don’t usually do — I kind of just wing it), but I really wanted to capture what lilacs look like correctly.

I think while a little abstract, they really do look like lilacs. & I just love the purple on purple. It all comes together so beautifully. Plus the holo comes alive in this beautiful sunshine we’ve been having.

What do you think about these lilac nails? Do you love how they look as much as I do? Like I said, I don’t often have literal picture inspiration when painting floral on my nails, but I really wanted to capture these flowers accurately. & it was kind of fun — I might it more often!

Happy Friday!

♥︎

Pretty Pink & Polka Dots

Hello lovelies & happy Sunday. I wish I could say it’s a beautiful sunny Spring day… but we got about 15cm of snow between yesterday & today, so it looks like it’s December outside right now. Not exactly the April weather I was looking forward to.

So let’s brighten things up with some pretty nails. I was feeling a simple dotticure the other day, so I decided to pair two very vibrant shades together for it! & it felt like it needed a little something extra added to it, so I gave it a little extra sparkle!

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Top Coat: Essie Gel Couture Top Coat 
  • Base Coat: Essie Hard to Resist Advanced
  • Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Vivid Violet
  • Essie Offbeat Chic **PR/Gifted
  • OPI I Snow You Love Me
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio (small size) 

Gosh, I just love a good dotticure! They are just so chic looking, but surprisingly easy to do. & I think this vibrant blue goes so well against the pretty shimmery pink of Vivid Violet. This is definitely giving Spring vibes, even if the weather outside is not agreeing with me. Hopefully, though, it’ll encourage Mother Nature to get herself together, & bring the actual Spring weather we deserve!

What do you think about this pretty dotticure? Do you love this colour combination as much as I do? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below & what the weather is like where you are! Has Spring sprung, or is Mother Nature as confused as she is here.

♥︎

SWATCH SUNDAY — Sally Hansen InstaDri Holo-Glow Euphoric

Hello lovelies & happy Sunday. It’s a very rainy Sunday here which seems to be the trend for this April so far. But at least it’s not snow!

Today I’m sharing a new nail polish I recently picked up from my local Shoppers Drug Mart — Sally Hansen InstaDri Euphoric from their Holo-Glow line.

2 coats + top coat

You might remember I shared another one of these Holo-Glow shades back in September. The InstaDri line is one of my favourite to shop because they always have a fun selection of different shades & finishes to choose from. They also boast a 60 second dry time, although I find it a bit longer than that.

Lately I’ve been obsessed with perusing the Holo-Glow line, because holo makes everything better. I ended up purchasing two new shades: Euphoric & a purple from the Galactic Line called Planet Purple.

Check out that scattered glitter. The interesting base colour was what initially caught my eye: is it silver, is it lilac, is it a pale mint? It’s so shifty & pretty, & different from other holographic polishes in my collection. & when you own as many nail polishes as I do, that’s what you want: something different.

Formula was also very nice. On top of being a quicker dry, it was opaque in two coats. The glitter is scattered, but also very dense which I like. Will it suck for removal? Maybe. But the glitter pay off is worth it!

What do you think of Sally Hansen InstaDri Euphoric? Have you tried any of the Sally Hansen InstaDri Holo-Glow shades yet? What do you think? Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below.

🖤

SWATCH SUNDAY — Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Garnish Attention (2018 Decadence Collection)

Hello my beauties! I hope everyone had a beautiful week. Mine was busy, busy as I started at a new cafe part time as a barista, & it’s been a while since I did that! My hands are feeling the need for a little TLC, but I think I’ll save that for another post.

Today we’re all about the polish, & this one in particular— Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Garnish Attention from the 2018 Decadence collection. This shade was one of the limited edition shades released for the Holidays that year.

2 coats + top coat

This beautiful dark navy blue is enhanced with a gorgeous green shimmer. It’s kind of giving me Wicked vibes, a little bit. Or maybe like Maleficent (from Sleeping Beauty). It’s definitely feeling a bit villainy, which I adore. That’s the kind of vibe we all need going into this new year. As for formula, first coat was definitely thin & streaky, but two builds to perfect opacity, & that’s what we like to see.

I also had no problems with removal, & no staining.

Look how pretty this is! That too shot just looks like some kind of rare sapphire, & I want it. Garnish Attention is absolutely stunning on the nails, even the short little nubby nails I’m currently rocking. I just love that bright greenish shimmer that comes out through the dark navy blue.

Sadly, this beauty was a limited edition released as part of the Holiday 2018 collection, so it’s not in current rotation. But maybe if we all ask for it, Sally Hansen could bring it back (even under another name) because I believe she deserves her moment in the spotlight!

What do you think of Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Garnish Attention? Would you wear this shade? Let me know in the comments below!

Happy Sunday

🖤

January Monochrome Chevron Moons

Hello beauties & happy Tuesday. It’s a chilly, chilly here which is feeling very January. & January can be just so blah. So I thought I would make things more fun, with some monochromatic half moons with a little glittery twist.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: NailStuff Essentials Base Coat *
  • Top Coat: Nail Stuff Essentials Quick Dry Top Coat *
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Hue There? layered over CND Vinylux Dark Dahlia
  • Essie Expressie Feel The Hype*
  • Essie Play Date
  • Quo by Orly Black Striper
  • NailStuff 4mm Micro Detail Brush  
    **pr/gifted

I love a good half moon look, & I think this design turned out very cool. I went into it not sure what I was doing — just knowing what colours I wanted to paint over my base — but what I created is a great look. Also, freehand painting these lines of chevrons was not as difficult as I thought it was going to be which I’m happy about.

What do you think about these monochromatic half moons, with a little glittery twist. I feel like I’m not quite ready to let go of my glitter, but I definitely am feeling drawn to darker colours right now.

What do you think of this design? Are you loving dark shades right now? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below.

Have a lovely Tuesday.

🖤