Tag: beauty

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SWATCH SUNDAY — Essie Starry Starry Night (2016 Re-release) 🌌🌠

Hello loves & happy Sunday. It’s a rainy, miserable Sunday here but I guess it beats snow. Today I decided to take a little trip to the past… all the way back to early 2016 when life was just simpler & all the crazy in the world seemed manageable.

Today’s Swatch Sunday pick is Essie Starry Starry Night from the 2016 Retro Revival Collection.

2 coats + 2 coats top coat

I’ll start off with this shade has definitely had a hard go since I bought it in 2016. While I have lots of shades over a decade old that apply perfectly, this was took some trick & finese to get a good looking application (& top coat… lots of top coat.) A little polish thinner, & I feel like she will be back to normal again.

The polish itself is a dark navy jelly base, with small silver glitters layered inside. The coats are thin enough that the glitter still peaks through, even with multiple coats.

I really like this colour & layered glitter look, which was why I originally bought it. I had no experience with the previous (original) version of this shade, but saw later people were upset about how different it was. Here is a great comparison post of the two different shades. While I love the revival version, I can see why lovers of the original could be upset, especially with change in colour & glitter size.

Do you remember this Essie shade? I kind of wish they had kept this one around rather than making it a limited edition release, but I suppose that’s how they build hype. I just find it so much more fun than a lot of the shades you see in the core collection.

What do you think? Should Essie bring this shade back (again)? Let me know what you think down in the comments below.

Happy Sunday

🖤

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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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Neon & Neutral Drag Marble

Hello loves & happy Thursday.

My posting is sporadic this week, as I started a new (second) part time job this week, so I’m trying my best to juggle everything as I get used to it. It’s a busy week for me! But I wanted to make sure I had another manicure to share, & I just love these neon drag marble nails that I did recently.

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 Gossamer Garments *
  • Essie Throw in the Towel *
  • Essie Expressie Feel the Hype *
  • NailStuff.ca dotting tool from Dotting Tool Trio (tiniest one)

**PR/gifted

My idea was to do a sheer-ish base, with a neon drag marble. But then I decided to go with a little navy blue & sort of neon. It wasn’t originally the planned design, but I think it turned out nice. Drag marbles are just some of my favourite easy designs, & they look good on any nail length (which I love).

What do you think about these drag marble nails? A little break up from the dark & gloomy nail shades I’ve been feeling lately!

Also, I did a big chop on my nails for beginning my new part time job (as a barista), so look forward to seeing lots of short nail designs in the near future!

Happy Thursday loves

🖤

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January Monochrome Chevron Moons

Hello beauties & happy Tuesday. It’s a chilly, chilly here which is feeling very January. & January can be just so blah. So I thought I would make things more fun, with some monochromatic half moons with a little glittery twist.

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 Hue There? layered over CND Vinylux Dark Dahlia
  • Essie Expressie Feel The Hype*
  • Essie Play Date
  • Quo by Orly Black Striper
  • NailStuff 4mm Micro Detail Brush  
    **pr/gifted

I love a good half moon look, & I think this design turned out very cool. I went into it not sure what I was doing — just knowing what colours I wanted to paint over my base — but what I created is a great look. Also, freehand painting these lines of chevrons was not as difficult as I thought it was going to be which I’m happy about.

What do you think about these monochromatic half moons, with a little glittery twist. I feel like I’m not quite ready to let go of my glitter, but I definitely am feeling drawn to darker colours right now.

What do you think of this design? Are you loving dark shades right now? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below.

Have a lovely Tuesday.

🖤

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SWATCH SUNDAY — OPI Cyber Cherry On Top 🍒

Hello lovelies & happy Sunday! I hope everyone is having a great start to the New Year. Mine started… roughly but I’m excited to put that all behind me, & focus on the good things that 2025 will hopefully hold — like new (to me) nail polishes.

Today is one of those shades! This one was picked up along with last week’s polish pick, for only $5 at my local Shoppers Drug Mart on clearance. I love this time of year because you can always find past collections being cleared out to make room for the new year & new releases. Today we have OPI Cyber Cherry On Top from the Fall 2024 Metallic Mega Mix Collection.

2 coats + top coat

Oh wow! Cyber Cherry On Top is a beautiful cherry pink-red with a fuchsia flash with a bit of micro shimmer. It’s definitely a fun not-red red option, & we all know I cannot say no to a red. & with Valentine’s Day a month away, I’m going to be all about pinks & red leading up to it. The formula was smooth & easy to apply & built to pretty good opacity with two coats. There was minimal nail line visible, but with a shade like this it doesn’t bother me as much as it used to.

My own complaint with this shade was I found it was a tad thin, so you can easily floor your cuticles if you’re not careful. Just not one of those shades you can apply in a rush, but I honestly find that with most red polishes.

This colour! Wow, it’s just so beautiful. Is it red? Is it a hot pink? Like I don’t know but I adore it, especially with that bit of shimmer. It’s a step up from my usual red manicure.

As OPI Cyber Cherry On Top was released as part of the Fall collection, I’m not sure about its current circulation. It looks like it’s still available for sale on the OPI Website (also available in gel), as well as the TradeSecrets website (for my Canadian friends). I also found it online at Sally Beauty, so you might be able to find it in store. & of course, check the clearance sections at your local stores that sell polish, as they could be marked down.

What do you think of OPI Cyber Cherry On Top? Did you pick up this shade when it was released, & what do you think? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below, & let me know what your favourite shades to wear during January are!

Happy Sunday

♥︎