SWATCH SUNDAY — Essie You Do Blue 🩵

Hello lovelies & happy Sunday! A beautiful, sunny Sunday. It’s been feeling like Spring (most of) this week, so I thought something Spring-y on my nails would be perfect. & what is more Spring-y than a beautiful periwinkle blue?

Without further ado, this is Essie You Do Blue.

2 coats + top coat.

The formula on this creamy blue is smooth & easy to apply to the nail. I am quite a fan of the wider Essie brushes they’ve been using in the last few years. It took me a bit to get used to them, but they are much better when it comes to application.

My favourite part of this polish, though, is that is has this gorgeous fuchsia shimmer that really pops in the sunshine. It gives the extra dimension that makes it a little extra special, & for me that makes this shade a winner. I own a lot of blue nail polishes, but the ones that have shimmer or sparkle added — especially unexpected ones — are always the ones I reach for first!

This shade was originally released, as far as I can tell, during early 2020 as part of the Flying Solo collection. I think after that it made it to the core collection, but I did pick up mine on clearance for $1 so I’m thinking it may not be in regular circulation anymore — although the Essie website does have it listed as available for sale so I could be totally wrong.

Over all, I’m totally obsessed with this colour — it’s not just the pretty periwinkle blue, but that stunning shimmer. I adore it.

What do you think of Essie You Do Blue? Do you think this shade screams Spring as much as I do? Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below, & let me know your thoughts on this pretty blue shade!

Happy Sunday!

♥︎

Easy & Simple Spring Floral 🌼

Hello lovelies — & happy Wednesday!

& Happy April 1st. I hope everyone’s week is going okay. I don’t know about where you are, but here on the East Coast of Canada the weather is miserable–which is just more reason for Spring-y designs. The flowers may not be showing themselves in our garden, but at least I can wear them on my nails.

Today’s look is me wistfully wishing for some warmer, Spring-like days. Which, obviously, means floral!

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Maximum Growth
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive Gel Like Top Coat
  • OPI Infinite Shine Mariachi Makes My Day
  • OPI Infinite Shine Shaking My Sugarplums
  • Essie Willow in the Wind
  • Essie Off Tropic
  • OPI I Cannoli Wear OPI
  • OPI Where Did Suzi’s Man-go?
  • Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Red My Lips
  • Sally Hansen Good. Kind. Pure. Peony Origins
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Montley Hue
  • NailStuff.ca 7mm Mermaid Tail Brush

This design started off as simply just a rose design, but after I had painted my roses I realized that something was missing, so I added a bit more greenery, & then a few of the white flowers (sort of daisies, but not really). & once I added my white flowers, I felt like it pulled everything together perfectly.

Is it a totally original floral look? Well, no.

Do I still absolutely adore the end result? Absolutely, yes. Especially where my nails are so short at this current moment in time, I feel like a floral design looks so beautiful & put together. Plus, the darker purple base is a little bit end of winter, with the floral adding the touch of Spring I’m desperately craving.

What do you think of this floral look? Do you like the combination of colours? Does it have you craving Spring as much as I am craving spring? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below.

& if it’s feeling like Spring where you are, I’d love to know! Give me some hope so warmer, sunnier days to come.

♥︎

Spring Robin’s Egg Nails

Hello lovelies & happy Monday.

Starting off this full first week of Spring… with a snowstorm. & oh, how I wish I were kidding. But it isn’t going to stop me from rocking some Spring inspired nails! & what is more Spring like than some robin’s eggs? I recently score a killer deal on an Essie shade at my local Shoppers ($1 clearance!), & it was the perfect Spring-y blue, so I knew it would be perfect for some speckled egg nails.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Maximum Grow
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive Gel Like Top Coat
  • Matte Top Coat: NailStuff Essentials Matte Top Coat
  • Essie You Do Blue
  • OPI That’s What Friends Are Thor
  • Small nail art brush

I won’t lie, these nails are actually super super easy to do. All you need to do is create some messy specks using a nail art brush — the messier the better. But the real trick to this look is obviously the matte top coat to give it that eggshell finish. & bam! Instant Spring inspired Robin’s egg nails.

&, obviously, if you paint you nail a selection of pale pastel shades, you could create Mini Egg inspired nails easily (as I have done in years past).

What do you think of my Robin’s Egg nails? Would you wear a simple nail art like this to channel Spring? Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below!

♥︎

SWATCH SUNDAY — Orly Naughty

Hello lovelies & happy Sunday! I feel like it’s been ages since my last Swatch Sunday post (because I took last Sunday off) but we’re back, & back to business!

As is tradition, I was gifted some Winners/Marshalls gift cards for Christmas, so naturally I always have to peruse the nail section to see what they have going on. I’m always looking for shades that are different from ones I already own, but within my wheelhouse, & when I saw this shade on the shelf I knew I needed to add it to my stash.

This is Orly Naughty.

2 coats + top coat

This beautiful reddish brown shade is deep, & dark with a creamy formula. I did find this formula patchy, so I had to be careful with my application — especially around the cuticle line. I did find on a few nails I had to go back & carefully fill in where it was looking thin. But once I applied my top coat, it did smooth everything down nicely.

I love this colour so much! It’s deep, dark, & vampy. It fits the January vibe that this year has started with. I do love a dark nail. I did end up adding some glitter on top of this guy — Essie Nail Art Studio Lustrous Luxury which gave it more of a purple look. I’ve actually been wearing that for the last 3 days because I couldn’t figure out any nail art to wear over it, & can’t bare to take it off!

What do you think about this Orly shade? Are you a fan of this deep, dark shade? I don’t often see Orly popping up at Winners, hence why I was exciting to pick it up when I saw it. Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below!

Happy Sunday

♥︎

Navy Freehand Snowflake Accent Nails ❄️

Hello lovelies & happy Monday! & happy Holiday week. Sending lots of beautiful wishes to everyone preparing for Christmas, or celebrating Hanukkah, or whatever brings you joy this time of year. The crunch is on right now to finish up this year, so I apologize for my sporadic posting schedule.

Today I’m sharing a freehand nail art Winter look I recently did. It’s not December/Christmas until I paint some freehand snowflakes, & I’m very proud of this design!

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Miracle Cure
  • Top Coat: Essie Speed Setter
  • Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Dark Hue-mor
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel It’s a Moo Point
  • Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Strobe Light
  • NailStuff.ca 4mm Micro Detail Brush

I always get scared to freehand something delicate like this, because in case you didn’t know — I can be kind of a perfectionist. But I’m trying to work on that, & challenge myself, & I’m really proud of my snowflakes. They’re dainty, & cute, with just the right amount of glitter.

These are just such fun winter-y Holiday nails. I love how they turned out. Also I’ve been really, really feeling blue lately which is funny, because it’s not the most Christmas heavy colour. But I think for a design like this it’s perfect. & I got lots of compliments when I wore these nails to work, which always makes my whole day when someone notices them.

What do you think about these blue snowflake nails? Do you think it’s a fun, pretty design for the holidays? Are you all ready for the holidays? Let me know what you think down in the comments below.

& good luck to all my fellow last minute shoppers out there! I’ll be right out in the crowds finishing up my shopping, just like you.

♥︎