Icy Blue Half Moons (With Holo Diamond Accents 💎)

Hello loves & happy Friday!

This has been a very busy week for me, so I apologize for the (still) sporadic posting schedule. Eventually I’ll figure it out, but it might not be until next month. Haha. However, I have some cute nails to share with you!

Today’s look is an easy but striking one. I love a good half moon, as we all know, but I decided to jazz it up with a little holo diamond(ish) accents.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: NailStuff Essentials Base Coat *
  • Top Coat: Essence Colour Shield Top Coat (I ran out of my NailStuff one & need to make an order!)
  • OPI Y2Slay
  • OPI Suzy & the Arctic Fox
  • OPI I Snow You Love Me
  • Paper Hole Reinforcements
  • Dotting tool (I use the NailStuff.ca dotting tool from Dotting Tool Trio)

**PR/gifted

How freaking beautiful is this combination? I love the little holo Diamond accent over these two very cool blues. Y2Slay was another clearance find at my local Shoppers Drug Mart. I’ve been having very good luck their lately — in fact I just found a NailsInc Holiday pack there for only $10 which has some pretty polishes perfect for Valentine’s Day Nail Art!

What do you think about my half moons? Is this colour combination perfect for these cool January days (& nights!) Let me know everything you think down in the comments below!

Happy Friday

🖤

Moody January Stripes

Hello lovelies & happy Tuesday! A busy Tuesday at that! Even though January can sometimes be the worst month, this one is definitely turning out to be a crazy one for me.

So my nail art is tending to fall on the easy side of things. As you could probably tell from my previous post, I did a big chop on my nails. Not only do I like to start a new clean with a fresh canvas, I also started a second job working at a cafe as a barista, so I wanted to trim back my nails as I get used to that (after 2 years being away!)

But just because I have short nails doesn’t mean I can’t have cute nail art!

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: NailStuff Essentials Base Coat *
  • Top Coat: Essence Colour Shield Top Coat (I ran out of my NailStuff one & need to make an order!)
  • Essie Expressie Take The Espresso
  • Essie Skirting the Issue
  • Essie Sable Collar
  • Londontown USA Opal
  • Quo by Orly Black Striper
  • NailStuff 4mm Micro Detail Brush  

**pr/gifted

How cute are these short little stripe-y nails? The colours are also kind of dark & gloomy, great for these gloomy days. & I do love a dark nail. The combination of Essie Skirting the Issue over Expressie Take The Espresso makes for such a dark Ox blood red. I adore it.

What do you think of these moody stripes on my new shorties? Do you like these darker manicures? We’re a month away from Valentine’s Day, so I’ll have to start thinking up some designs for that now!

Have an amazing Tuesday.

🖤

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

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Holiday Tartan 🧣🎄

Hello lovelies & happy Monday! A chill-y Monday here on the East Coast. I am so not a winter girlie, that is for sure! But, I do love Winter nail art, so I guess it’s a Catch 22.

Today’s nail art look screams holiday vibes. If there is one thing you can count on in the cooler months, it is that I will be rocking some plaid/tartan nails. & these ones are inspired by my family tartan that I grew up wearing every Christmas without fail.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: NailStuff Essentials Base Coat *
  • Top Coat: Nail Stuff Essentials Quick Dry Top Coat *
  • Essie Gel Couture Rock The Runway *
  • Essie Bourdeaux *
  • Essie Off Tropic *
  • Essie Feel The Hype *
  • Essie Blanc
  • Essie Leggy Legend
  • Quo by Orly Striper Black
  • Nailstuff.ca Mermaid Tail 11mm liner brush

I’m not going to lie, I am so freaking proud of how this plaid turned out! Sometimes when I attempt a plaid, it turns out unintentionally chaotic, but this one turned out so close to the actual tartan that I almost cried. Okay, maybe that’s a smidge dramatic — but I was very very happy! & proud.

What do you think about my holiday tartan nails? Did you grow up wearing some specific during the holidays? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below! I’d love to hear all about your Christmas fashion traditions.

Happy Monday!

🖤

Dainty Red Dotticure ♥️

Good morning lovelies, happy Tuesday & happy July! We’re officially 1/2 way through the year, & that just seems insane to me. It’s officially Summer vacation for my kids, which means the free time to myself I have (when they’re not asleep) becomes much more limited!

So simple nail art becomes a bit more necessary. But simple does not need to mean boring, & I feel like today’s look is anything but boring!

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Essie Here to Stay
  • Top Coat: Essie Gel Setter
  • Essie She’s Pampered
  • Sally Hansen I ♥️ Nail Art pen in pink
  • Color Club Top Shelf
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio (tiniest size)

This beautiful polish is another thrift store score that I was not expecting, but I quite love. It looks much more pink in the bottle, but on my nail it’s giving all the way red. But I’ll never say no to a red nail polish — that is well established by now.

I added some pink polka dots over my base shade, with a colour sparkly ones just for fun! I think this look turned out chic & classic, but it’s also fun. From far away you get red nails, but up close you get the full fun look. & I love a nail art design like that! Polka dots were one of the first designs I ever taught myself, & they remain one of my favourites.

What do you think about this chic dainty dotticure? Are you a fan of a subtle look like this? Let me know what you think in the comments below & please — PLEASE — let me know any nail art looks you’d like to see me attempt!

🖤