Category: White

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SWATCH SUNDAY — Hard Candy Coconut

Happy Sunday lovelies! It’s one of my favourite days of the week because it gives me the opportunity to focus on some favourite shades from my stash. Today it’s this beautiful from early 2015 — Hard Candy Coconut. I originally picked up this shade in the original release of the Hard Candy 20th Anniversary shades at Walmart (along with Sky, Scam & Zombie.) I’ve made it no secret my absolute love for a good white nail polish, & this one remains much loved even 3 years later!

2 coats & top coat.

I live for white nail polish. It reminds me of being young. I remember being 15 & searching so hard for a good white & layering 3 different polishes trying to get my nails to look like I wasn’t wearing white-out. Truthfully though, 15 year old Shannon knew nothing about base coats or top coats so I’d add shimmery polishes to try & level out my white polishes. Maybe I was ahead of the time? I also used to use tape to create French manicures which I’d have to redo everyday because I couldn’t stand when they chipped (& they would chip literally 5 minutes after doing them because, again, no top coat.)

There is something that is so fresh about white nail polish. Not only does it make you look semi-tanned (even if you’re not) but it’s just such a blank canvas… a world full of possibilities. I definitely wish you can see that shimmer that comes out in the bottle, because it really is so pretty, but even without it coming through this polish is a keeper. Which is probably the reason why I’m still pulling it out 3 years after I first bought it, & why I’ll always make sure I have a back up bottle for the future.

Do you have a favourite white nail polish? Let me know what it is in the comments below!

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Sweater Nails with Water Decals from NailsStuff.ca

I’ve written before about my obsession with creating sweater nails. It’s one of my favourite styles for this time of year! So when I received these water nail decals from NailStuff.ca, I couldn’t wait to have a new way to create sweater nails, especially ones that I could do a bit faster (& a little less messier).

You can find my first experience with water decals–also from NailStuff.ca–here.

For this manicure, the products I used were:

  • Base Coat: Nailtek 2
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive
  • Revlon Elusive
  • Quo by ORLY Breathable Power Packed
  • NailStuff.ca Christmas Fair Isle Water Decal in Grey/Black

These decals were super easy to use. There are a whole bunch of different designs you can chose from, & you can pair different ones together or wear just wear the decals alone.

My only struggle was applying top coat–you want to make sure you’re using enough top coat when you seal in your design. My Seche Vive was a little low so I dragged the same spot twice & it pulled on the decal a little bit (on my ring finger). Also I found that sealing in your design with top coat was best before trying to clean up any excess with acetone so you don’t accidents pull your water decal sideways on your nail (if it isn’t dry enough). Since I’m still relatively new to these decals, these issues are definitely all on me. I think as I practice more, I’ll learn more of these little application tricks.

what do you think of these water decals? Would you try out this sweater nail look? Let me know what you think in the comments below! ❄️

*PR SAMPLE* Some of these items were sent to me for review. However, all opinions are my own

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SWATCH SUNDAY — Essie Sweet Soufflé 

I’ve mentioned previously that the whole reason I’m a nail polish addict today is the fact that I spent a good chunk of my preteen & early teenage years on the hunt for the perfect white nail polish ala a certain 90s vampire slayer. Even though my days of wear giant bubble rings & cutting my hair like Sarah Michelle Gellat circa 1997 are pretty much over, that doesn’t my I still don’t have an appreciation for a good white nail polish every so often. So when I saw Sweet Soufflé from the Essie Summer 2017 collection–described by Essie as a creamy white with golden glow–it was pretty much assumed I was going to have to add it to my collection. 

To achieve opacity, this took 3 very careful coats for the polish to level & hide any streakiness. The shimmer definitely translates to the nail, even if you can’t see it in photos. & I love everything about it. This is the kind of white shade I used to dream about at 13, instead of the chalky whites that looked more like I was wearing white out on my nails! 

I really love the golden orange shimmer of Sweet Soufflé & the more I starred at it, the more it reminded me of the shimmer of another Essie polish: Shine of the Times. So obviously I had to pair these two together. 

Two coats of Shine of the Times over Sweet Soufflé. Yep, pretty much the best polish combo ever. It’s like you’re wearing opals on your nails & as an October birthday girl I love opals. Also reminds me why Shine of the Times is such an incredible shade & cult favourite. Takes a gorgeous polish & brings out the inner sparkle. 


Do you have a favourite from the Essie Summer 2017 collection? What do you think of this polish combination? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Tribal accent nails featuring Essence Lets Get Lost! 

I’ve been a little lost on nail art inspiration lately so I decided to go with one of my favourite nail art designs–tribal! I’ve always loved Aztec inspired nails, and so the other night when I couldn’t come up with any manicure ideas I decided to pull an old favourite out of my back pocket! 

  
  

The polishes I used for this manicure were:

  • Essence Lets Get Lost! 
  • Hard Candy Coconut
  • Art Club Nail Art Duo in Bubblegum Pink
  • Essence Nothing but Lovestoned
  • QUO by ORLY nail art striper in black.
  • QUO by ORLY nail art striper in white.
  • OPI My Favourite Ornament 
  • ACO by Ardene Just Saying 
  • Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

  
   
So what do you think of this manicure? I forgot how awesome Essence Lets Get Lost! is. The formula has never let me down, and after owning it for two years it still goes on perfectly. 💙 

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Crochet and floral accent nails inspired by @banicured_

whew! It’s been a super busy couple of weeks. The Mr and I moved into a brand new house and then I had one of the big head honchos visiting at work. Stress-ful. But with that over I can concentrate on the good things in life. Like POLISH! 

  

Today’s mani is inspired by the crazy talented @banicured_ who did these stunning crocheted floral nails a couple weeks ago. As soon as I saw them I put them right on my list of manicures to recreate! 

The polishes I used for this manicure were:

  • Essie Where’s My Chauffeur (non accent nail colour & floral) 
  • ACO by Ardene Golden Luxury (accent dots)
  • Mariposa Striper in White (crocheted pattern)
  • Essie Time for Me Time (base of accent nails) 
  • Essie Suite Retreat (blurple-floral) 
  • Essie Stones and Roses (pink-floral) 
  • China Glaze Be More Pacific (green-floral) 
  • Seche Vite Dry Fast top coat. 

So what do you think of my inspired by manicure? I really love how these turned out! Also I’m so in love with the Essie 2015 Resort collection (as you probably guessed as I used 3/4 polishes on this mani!) 

What are you wearing today loves? 💗