GLAM NAILS CHALLENGE DECEMBER (2024) — Christmas Lights

This week has been a rough one for painting my nails & getting them posted. I’ve had a never ending headache/migraine. Plus my holiday vibes are nonexistent this year. I don’t know if it’s just me, but it doesn’t feel like almost Christmas to me.

But! I did get the next prompt for Glam Nails Challenge December created which was Christmas Lights. This was inspired by a look I saw on Pinterest & thought was neat. So I decided to do my own twist on it.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: NailStuff Essentials Base Coat *
  • Top Coat: Nail Stuff Essentials Quick Dry Top Coat *
  • Essie Nail Art Studio Mystic Marine*
  • Essie Frilly Lillies*
  • Essie Life’s A Beach
  • Essie Offbeat Chic *
  • Essie Making Spirits Bright
  • Quo by Orly Black Striper
  • NailStuff 4mm Micro Detail Brush

*PR/gifted

I really tried to do some kind of peakaboo snowflakes with Making Spirits Bright but they’re more hidden than I was planning on. The sparkle does look really pretty in person though.

What do you think about these Christmas light nails? Did I honour the inspiration well?

Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below. & don’t forget to pop on over to Instagram & follow all the amazing designs using #glamnailschallengedec24.

🖤

GLAM NAILS CHALLENGE DECEMBER (2024) — Candy Cane

Hello lovelies & happy Wednesday.

Another late in the day post, but in my defence I went to bed with a massive headache… & woke up with a migraine. So I wasn’t keen on screens or trying to finish up this post. It’s prompt number 4 of Glam Nails Challenge & this one is Candy Cane. I wanted to make sure I wasn’t copying my candy cane nails from earlier this season, & I think this look turned out super cute!

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: NailStuff Essentials Base Coat *
  • Top Coat: Nail Stuff Essentials Quick Dry Top Coat *
  • Essie Off Tropic *
  • NailStuff Essentials White Dove *
  • Nailstuff Essentials Cardinal *
  • Essie Cosmic Chrome *
  • Nailstuff.ca Mermaid Tail 7mm liner brush
  • Largest size from NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio 

*PR/Gifted

I knew I wanted to do a green base, & I knew I wanted to add some candy cane accents, but I thought it would be cute to add a whole candy cane on my thumbs as an accent.

Also, adding a coat of Essie Cosmic Chrome over the stripes gave it such a cool finish, it really did remind me of a real candy cane! If I’d had any on hand, I would have posed with one, but I hope the little sprinkling of snow we got yesterday is an equally seasonal backdrop.

What do you think about my candy cane nails? What is your favourite flavour of candy cane? While I do appreciate the OG peppermint, I tried the maple syrup flavour in the Brach’s Elf candy cane collection & they were so freaking good! I wish I had a way to go a whole (Costco sized) box of just maple!

As always, you can hop on over to Instagram & follow all the amazing designs using #glamnailschallengedec24.

🖤

GLAM NAILS CHALLENGE DECEMBER (2024) — Gingerbread

Good evening loves.

I know, I know. This post is coming to you way late today, but it’s been a rough couple of days. However, I wanted to make sure I had a design for this prompt to share!

Today’s prompt is Gingerbread & so I thought gingerbread cookies would be appropriate.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: NailStuff Essentials Base Coat *
  • Top Coat: Nail Stuff Essentials Quick Dry Top Coat *
  • OPI Hot & Coaled (over NailStuff Essentials Raven*)
  • Essie Expressie Never Skip A Beat *
  • NailStuff Essentials White Dove *
  • Nailstuff.ca Mermaid Tail 7mm liner brush
  • NailStuff 4mm Micro Detail Brush

*PR/gifted

I do some version of this look every year, but with a different twist. It’s just such a go to easy look for this prompt, & looks way cuter than when I try to make gingerbread cookies in real life. Mine end up being a bit more… abstract. So I’m glad I can have cute, aesthetically pleasing gingerbread cookies, if only just on my nails.

What do you think about my gingerbread nails? What is your favourite holiday treat or cookie? While I do love gingerbread men, my granny’s scotch cookies always come in #1 for me — & I even figured out how to make them gluten & dairy free.

Don’t forget that you can follow along with all the designs this month with the hashtag #glamnailschallengedec24.

🖤

SWATCH SUNDAY— OPI Infinite Shine Hot & Coaled (2023 Terribly Nice Collection)

Happy second Sunday of December lovelies! Can you believe it? Christmas is quickly approaching, & that just seems like madness.

Today I’m sharing another shade from the OPI Infinite Shine Terribly Nice collection from last Christmas. My husband had gifted me 6 (?) these beauties as my Christmas gift, & if I remember correctly, this was the one my son picked out. So I thought this would be a fun shade to share this week. This is OPI Infinite Shine Hot & Coaled.

2 coats over a black cream base (NailStuff Essentials Raven ) + top coat

The beautiful sparkly black has a sheer almost metallic black base & an abundance of multi-sized coloured glitters — including holographic & iridescent.

As soon as I saw how sheer the base was, I knew I was going to need to apply this over some undies. You obviously can build the opacity, but I just wasn’t feeling 3+ coats. for me, this is just a shade that I feel looks better in a coat (or 2) over a dark base. GingerlyPolished has swatches of the collection from last year, including Hot & Coaled in case you’re looking for swatches of built to opacity on its own.

Close up to really see that fantastic glitter. You can’t really see the but if shimmer in the base, but I think it’s stunning worn like this. The glitter is a lot of fun — I’d also be curious to try it in a glitter gradient. You’d probably want to stick to a darker colour — black, navy blue, dark burgundy— but I think it’s would look stunning.

What do you think of OPI Infinite Shine Hot & Coaled? Are you a fan of this glittery beauty? Do you think you’d wearing it as a topper or on its own? Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below.

Also for anyone looking, I have seen a few of the Terribly Nice collection shades available at my local Marshalls including a mini set of all the shades. So I would definitely hit yours up if you want to try & get your hands on it!

Enjoy your Sunday

🖤

GLAM NAILS CHALLENGE DECEMBER (2024) — Santa Claus 🎅

Hello lovelies & happy Friday! Today is exciting because it’s our second prompt of Glam Nails Challenge December!

Todays prompt is Santa Claus & I’m laughing at myself because I thought this look was totally a genius idea — turns out it’s exactly the same as the Santa Claus look I did last year (only with a bit more sparkle added!) I guess what they say is true — if it’s not broken, don’t fix it!

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 Good Cheer-y
  • NailStuff Essentials White Dove *
  • Essie Making Spirits Bright
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio 

*PR

Please excuse the red staining of the negative space part of my nails — a leftover from the pink polish in my previous post. But I love these regardless — even with the déjà vu of it all. I do think I’m more drawn to the shimmer & sparkle this year though. Just give it a little more Holiday Magic!

What do you think of my Santa nails for Glam Nails Challenge December? Don’t forget that you can follow along with all the designs this month with the hashtag #glamnailschallengedec24.

Happy Friday!

🖤