Stamped Cactus Accent Nail (featuring Essence’s new “Stamp It!” plate)

Happy Friday everyone!

Today I’ve got a fun look to share with you, featuring a brand new product from Essence–their new “Stamp It!” plate which was recently released in Canada. My love for cacti everything is ongoing, so I was excited that one of the images included with a cactus. I picked up my new stamping plate during a recent outing to Shoppers Drug Mart.

It can also be purchased on the Essence website as well.

For this design, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: OPI Nail Envy
  • Top Coat: Essie Speed Setter
  • Essence Miss Universe
  • Julep Alyssa
  • ORLY Decades of Dysfunction
  • Essence Black is Back
  • Essence “Stamp It!” Stamping plate
  • Clear Jelly Stamper

I was super impressed with how well I could pick up images from the plate to apply to my nails. There is a huge variety of different images to choose from & they definitely seem easier to do than some of my older Essence stamping kits. I still have to pick up the actual stamper, but I’m looking forward to trying it out as well… you can never have too many stamping plates at your disposal, & I find myself turning to stamping when I’m extra busy & still want pretty nails.

What do you think of this look? Have you tried out Essence new stamping plate yet? Let me know what you think by sharing your thoughts down in the comments below!

Freehand Tribal Print Accent Nails

Hello lovelies! & happy Saturday!

Today I’m sharing the most amazing design with you. It feels like absolute ages since I created any kind of tribal design. (I went back & checked–it was December!) So it felt like the perfect time for a new tribal design.

I’ve done tribal a lot in the past, but sometimes I struggle creating the line work. I love my prepolished stripers, but they end up junky & chunky so quickly. Thankfully I received some new nail art brushes from NailStuff.ca & couldn’t wait to see how they would work for freehanding!

For this design, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: OPI Nail Envy
  • Top Coat: Essie Speed Setter
  • Essence Let’s Get Lost
  • Sally Hansen CSM Let’s Snow!
  • Sally Hansen CSM Ruby Do
  • Essie Mint Candy Apple
  • Essence Black is Back
  • Nailart.ca Mermaid Tail nail art brush trio
  • Born Pretty Store Aurora Rainbow Nail Striping Tape in purple (item #40423)

I cheated a little bit & used striping tape to create my thicker lines of colour & then use my smallest detail brush from Nailstuff.ca to go in & create my print details with black polish. & I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t incredibly proud of myself for how this design turned out! Especially the chevron/zigzag line work on my ring finger. This design just ended up looking exactly how I hoped & I feel so accomplished. My new nail art brushes were definitely the main reason this look turned out so well–not only were they so easy to use, but how find the brush was meant my line work didn’t end up looking like a blobby mess!

This look turned out so lovely, & I like the hint of Fall it’s giving off. These colours are such good jewel tones & just what I need in the inbetween time before Fall really hits!

So what do you think of this design? Shade your thoughts down in the comments below. ♥️

Pink & Grey Leopard Print

Good morning lovelies & happy Tuesday. Starting off my Tuesday morning with a little 90210 & cold brew & a brand new mani to share with you guys! It had occurred to me that I hadn’t done a leopard print design in a really long time, so I was itching to do one!

Originally I had been planning on doing a more neutral themed colour scheme, but I’ve been obsessed with all things pink lately (planning on even adding pink to my hair soon!) so a pink base shade seemed like perfection.

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: OPI Nail Envy
  • Top Coat: Essie Speed Setter
  • Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Rose to the Occasion
  • Essence Rock My World!
  • Essence Back in Black
  • Small dotting tool
  • Small detail brush — currently obsessed with this brush set from Nailstuff.ca

How cute is this look? I forgot how much fun it is to wear leopard print. One of my all time favourite dresses (& the birthday dress from my 23rd birthday) was leopard print! & although my crazy leopard print dress days are (probably) behind me, it makes me excited to be able to still rock it on my nails! Plus I absolutely love the colour combination of grey & pink—I can definitely see myself rocking this combo a lot with Fall on its way.

What do you think of this pink leopard print? Do you have a favourite leopard print colour combo? Share down below! 🐆💗

Freehand Herringbone Pattern Nails

Happy Friday lovelies, & happy almost weekend! Today I’m sharing a fun design I freehanded recently. As I’ve mentioned, oh, about a thousand times already, I bought a new striper a few weeks back, & I’ve been obsessed with them. These are the kind of designs I’ve been doing forever, & they never get old. This look was actually inspired by a mani swap I did with @armstrongnails back in 2015.

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: OPI Nail Envy
  • Top Coat: Essie Speed Setter
  • Claire’s Mood Nail Polish Pastel Blue Mood
  • Essence We Will Spock You
  • Kiss Products Nail Art Striper in Black

You can always tell how in love with a manicure I am based on how many photos I take of each design. I was a little obsessed with this look. I only wish the holo had showed up a bit better in pictures, but I took these early in the morning before the sun really came out.

This herringbone pattern is making me think of Fall & making me so excited for Fall. 🍁 I already have so many polishes picked out for the season, & I can wait to start digging into my darker shades. You can never go wrong with khaki, plum or navy nails, am I right?

what do you think of this look? What colour are you most excited for this Fall? Share all your thoughts down in the comments below!

SWATCH SUNDAY — New Essence “Out of Space Stories” Shades

Happy Swatch Sunday lovelies. Today is an exciting day because I have a few brand new Essence shades to share with you that I just discovered!

I didn’t even know they were coming out with any new polishes in the Out of Space Stories line, but I was out at Shoppers checking out the Polish section & discovered these two beauties tucked in a display off on its own with a few other Essence products. Naturally, I had to buy both to add them to my collection. (So it would be complete!) Not going to lie, it feels like absolute ages since Shoppers has had any new fun Essence collections–limited edition or otherwise–so this was a very happy discovery!

Now onto the swatches!

Continue reading “SWATCH SUNDAY — New Essence “Out of Space Stories” Shades”