Category: throwback

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SWATCH SUNDAY — China Glaze For Audrey

Hello lovelies & happy Sunday! Today we are throwing it way, way back for our Swatch Sunday pick is a nail polish classic: China Glaze For Audrey.

This shade was originally released way back in 2007–NailPolishCanada.com says it was part of the Something Blue collection. Nowadays, it is part of the permanent core collection, which means it’s easy to find pretty much anywhere China Glaze nail polishes are sold.

I originally bought it back in 2011 of 2012, when Sally Beauty opened near us. Naturally, as soon as I saw the name I knew I needed to own it, as Breakfast at Tiffany’s is one of my favourite movies.

2 coats + Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Top Coat

For Audrey is a beautiful robin’s egg blue that is as close to Tiffany blue as is legally allowed. There is some confusion online on whether or not it is an exact dupe to that little blue box, but I feel like I’ve real online (somewhere… can’t remember now) that only Tiffany can use that specific shade of blue as they have legal ownership. I don’t have anything from Tiffany’s, so sadly I cannot confirm just how closely the two match.

Either way, For Audrey is a beautiful shade, with a smooth & creamy formula. I applied everything in two coats, but I did need to add some top coat in order to smooth things a bit — that could be the polish formula, or it could be the fact my bottle is 10 years old, but I feel like having to add a bit of top coat is kind of a non-issue, especially since I always add top coat to my manicures anyways.

& the colour is perfect for dreaming of Spring. It’s just a bright, vibrant colour. It has me thinking of those warmer days to come!

What do you think of China Glaze For Audrey? Do you have this beautiful blue is your nail polish stash? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below!

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SWATCH SUNDAY — Fingerpaints Gorgeous Graffiti

Hello lovelies & Happy Sunday! I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend. The weather here has been a bit grey (at least compared to the balmy weather we’ve been having) so I felt like I needed to make up with it on my nails! & the best way to do it is a good neon polish! So for today’s Swatch Sunday pick, I knew we needed neon.

Today’s pick is FingerPaints Gorgeous Graffiti, a neon fuchsia with blue flakie microglitters. This guy was one of the first FingerPaints shades I ever picked up back in 2015 (I think) so sadly I don’t think still available, at least online. But there are definitely similar shades to be found.

2 coats (no top coat)

I really wanted to show off this shade in its natural glory, which is this beautiful satin matte finish. It took two coats for full opacity, & like any matte shade, it dries quickly so you want to apply your coats quickly. The formula is a bit trickier, but again, that’s a matte polish thing. Usually what I would do is apply my polish, apply a thick top coat (like Essie Gel Setter), & then finish everything with matte top coat. That would smooth out those bumps & lumps you can see, & give you a smooth finish.

Ahhh, I just love this shade! The fuchsia shade is pretty on its own, but then you add in those blue micro flakes, & it just takes it to another level. I love it! It’s one of those shades which is just so striking on its own. I’m actually a little sad my bottle is getting low.

& a close up of this look because I think it’s absolutely stunning. Just look at those flakes! I’m obsessed. I need a topper with those flakies I can add to every manicure!

What do you think about Gorgeous Graffiti by FingerPaints? Would you wear this vibrant shade? Tell me what you think in the comments below! & share your favourite neon.

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Watercolour Freehand Floral 🌸

Hello lovelies & happy Thursday!

I hope everyone is having a lovely week. The weather here has been pretty amazing & Spring like. You can’t help but love it! Our flowers are even starting to bloom in our front garden, so naturally I was inspired to create some pretty floral on my nails! This design was also inspired by a nail art look that popped up in my Facebook memories from 6 years ago (this one, in case you want to see the original.)

For this look, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Good Kind Pure Hardener
  • Top Coat: Essie Gel Setter
  • Essie Where’s My Chauffeur
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Get Mod
  • OPI Be Magentale With Me (Sheer Tints)
  • OPI Don’t Violet Me Down (Sheer Tints)
  • Essie No Shrinking Violets (Silk Watercolours)
  • Essie Love Sheen (Silk Watercolours)
  • Essie Flowerista
  • OPI Lost My Bikini in Molokini
  • OPI My Dog Sled Is A Hybrid
  • Essie Poolside Service
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Blacky
  • NailStuff.ca 7mm detail brush (COFFEE10 to save 10%)
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio 

Okay, so I know every time I do a floral, I say that it’s my new favourite — so I won’t even say it, but seriously this might be the most favourite floral I’ve ever done! I feel like the sheer polish plus darker outlining just gives this manicure such a beautiful feel. & I love the floral combined with the brightness of Essie Where’s My Chauffeur which is hands down one of my favourite polishes for Spring. I’m really really in love with this whole combination.

& obviously, a close up because I am so freaking proud of how these turned out! I know roses are my floral safe zone, but I think I would to branch out a little bit more, maybe try & perfect other styles. I definitely still have plans to try out a tulip design very very soon as well!

What do you think about this floral look? Has your garden started to come to life yet? Let me know what you think down in the comments below, & what kind of floral you’d like to see me attempt next!

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FASHION FRIDAY — Reacting to Old Outfits

Hello lovelies & happy Friday.

Today I have a bit of a different Fashion Friday post to share with you. I’ll be honest — like in self isolation means the majority of the time I’m wearing comfy pants & my favourite sweatshirts, which while I think I look adorable, aren’t really the most fashion forward looks. So I had a really fun idea for today’s post — I thought I would react to old fashion looks from my old blog!

Once upon a time, aka 10+ years ago, I used to document my daily fashion looks. It’s been a while since I went through that old blog, but I actually really love looking at old pictures & old outfits — it’s like a time capsule into another time in my life.

So let’s take a stroll down memory lane!

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Continue reading “FASHION FRIDAY — Reacting to Old Outfits”

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SWATCH SUNDAY — Essence You Belong To Me

Hello lovelies & Happy Sunday.

I’m finally starting to feel a little better from my awful, awful cold last week, so I’m hoping to get some good blog content done this week! Especially since we’re going to keep as close to home this week with March Break & the fear of Covid-19 looming. I hope everyone is staying healthy — both physically & mentally!

But in the meantime, let me distract you with some pretty nail polish… because that’s what I’m doing to distract myself!

Today’s Swatch Sunday pick is over 8 years old–this is Essence You Belong to Me. I picked up this Essence shade from their Colour & Go line back in 2012, when they were still in these cute little round mini bottles. I do believe this was one of the first Essence nail polishes I ever bought, this & Wake Up! & yep… it’s another blue-ish shade because that is just what I’m loving right now!

For these swatches, you’re looking at 2 coats of polish plus top coat (Essie Gel Setter). & I’m not going to lie: application was not easy. First coat on each nail went on really easily, & I thought I was in the clear, but as soon as I attempted my second coat everything went lumpy & thick. & it took FOREVER to dry, even with my quick dry top coat. But given the age of this polish & the size of the bottle, I feel like that isn’t really it’s fault. & while it did take a bit of work to get on, the end result it a beautiful shade. I’m obsessed with a good robins egg blue, & this shade is no exception. Hello Spring!

There is also a really pretty shimmer you can see in the bottle, (& if you look closely at your nails), but was pretty much impossible to pick up on camera. It’s very very subtle. But this doesn’t stop this shade from still being absolutely beautiful & very perfect for Spring!

Sadly, this shade is way way way discontinued, & I doubt you’d likely to be able to find it online, but I did see some posts online saying it was a dupe for China Glaze For Audrey, so if you absolutely need this blue in your life, there is an easily found alternative! I didn’t paint them side by side on the nail, but I did hold the two bottles up beside each other & the only difference seems to be that For Audrey doesn’t have the subtle shimmer that You Belong To Me does.

 

What do you think about this shade? Have you started breaking out some lighter shades to rock on your nails (& maybe cheer yourself up during the hectic scary time?) Let me know what you think, & what colour family you’d like me to grab from next! Also for anyone who might be struggling with high anxiety during this scary time, here is a picture of our floofy boy sticking out his tongue to distract you, even for a minute. ♥