Tag: Essie

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#GlamNailsChallengeFeb — Mandala

Hello lovelies & happy Wednesday! Hope everyone’s week is off to a good start. We had another stormy day here in Halifax yesterday—lots of freezing rain. Seriously ready for it to be Spring already!

Today I have another new design for #GlamNailsChallengeFeb! Today’s prompt is Mandala. & I’ll be honest—this was not an easy prompt for me. Originally I tried stamping because I have a plate that has a few mandala patterns, but that did not work out, so then I tried free handing a pattern, which was also a fail. But when I typed “mandala nails” into Pinterest, I saw a few beautiful looks using dots, so I decided that would probably be my easiest (& least frustrating) option!

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Nailgrowth Miracle
  • Top Coat: Essie Good to Go
  • L’Oréal Vintage Vinyl
  • Sally Hansen CSM So Much Fawn
  • Sally Hansen Good.Kind.Pure. Almond Tan
  • Essie Mosaic on Down
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio (COFFEE10 saves you 10%!)

As you can see from my close up, this isn’t the most perfect mandala pattern, but I’m still happy with how it turned out. I was originally inspired by this Pinterest post, but obviously I need more practice (& maybe not to start at 11pm) to get mine to look as beautiful as that! But you know, doing this challenge is all about testing myself, & that means even those manicures I’m not 100% comfortable with!

What do you think about this “Mandala” look? Is this dotticure version something that you would try yourself? Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below!

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#GlamNailsChallengeFeb — Roses

Hello lovelies & happy Wednesday lovelies!

As you can see from the background of my nail art pictures today, it’s Winterland here in Halifax! But on my nails, it’s totally Spring. Today is prompt #3 for GlamNailsChallengeFeb, & it is Roses! & as you know, if you’ve been around the blog a while, roses are one of my favourite things to paint on my nails!

This time I decided to go with a vintage inspired rose look. Usually I tend to go for a more realistic looking floral, but I wanted to try something different!

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Nailgrowth Miracle
  • Top Coat: Essie Good to Go
  • Matte Top Coat : Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Matte Top Coat
  • Essence shine last & go! Take Me To Heaven
  • L’Oréal Jardin Des Roses
  • Sally Hansen CSM So Much Fawn
  • OPI Koala Bear-y
  • Starrily Vantablack
  • Essence Gel Nail Polish The Green & the Grunge
  • Sally Hansen MG Wet My Whistle
  • NailStuff.ca 4mm Micro Detail Brush (COFFEE10 saves you 10%!)
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio

How pretty did these roses turn out with the black accents. It gives them almost a sketched effect, which I really like. It reminds me a bit of a manicure I did a few years back, obviously with a different colour scheme (& a bit more nail art practice!)

This is my first time wearing this Essence shade in a manicure, I think. I really like the blue background against the brightness of the pink roses. I really think this is a super cute design, both for Valentine’s Day, & Spring in general.

Yep, already dreaming of Spring. Winter can be over now!

What do you think of this rose design for #GlamNailsChallengeFeb? Are these giving you Valentine’s Day feels? Would you wear this look for a Valentine’s Day date?

Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below!

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Minimalistic Marble

Hello lovelies & happy Wednesday! We’re halfway through the first full week of 2021 & there have been no zombies or aliens yet, so things are feeling promising. For my first real nail art of this year, I was feeling some minimalist marble. Something that felt very clean & fresh, but with a little glitz.

This nail art actually reminds me a bit of a nail art look I did last year, even though it was totally unintentional haha. There is just something about marble that you can’t go wrong with!

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Hard As Nails
  • Top Coat: Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Shiny Top Coat
  • Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Heather Hustle
  • Essie Bobbing for Baubles
  • Essence Rock My World!
  • L’Oréal Color Riche Blanc De Lune
  • Nailstuff.ca Gold Metallic Flakies (COFFEE10 to save 10%!)
  • Latex Free make up sponge.

I started this look off just by thinking I would do a simple sponge manicure, but the colour combination looked so much like marble, I decided I had to go with it! Naturally, that meant I needed to add a few of my gold foil flakes from NailStuff because they bring the whole look together! It’s also a little bit of sparkle against an otherwise monochromatic background.

I really love the overall look, so much I’ve been wearing these since Sunday night! I just haven’t wanted to take them off. They’re so pretty.

What do you think about this nail art look? Would you wear these marble nails? What nail art looks are you excited to try this year? I think this might be the year I try water marbling again… maybe 😂😂

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#GlamNailsChallengeDec — New Years Celebration

Hello lovelies & happy Wednesday! We’ve officially made it — the last day of #GlamNailsChallengeDec! Can you believe it? That means we’re just a few days away from 2020 being the past, & hopefully 2021 will hold exciting things.

But first we need some New Years Eve nails! Today’s prompt is New Years Celebration, & I was inspired my fireworks! Who doesn’t love setting off fireworks on New Years Eve — my dad always used to set off a grand show during our yearly celebrations, & they make me so happy! I can’t wait until my kids are a bit older, & we can set a few fireworks off in our backyard at midnight. In the meantime, I’ll celebrate with my firework inspired waterfall look.

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Hard As Nails
  • Top Coat: Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Shiny Top Coat
  • China Glaze New Year, New Boo
  • Essie Mosiac On Down
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Buffalo Nickel
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Five Golden Blings
  • Starrily Space Debris
  • NailStuff.ca 16mm Striper Brush (COFFEE10 saves you 10% on your purchase!)

Does that not totally look like cascading fireworks?! I love the waterfall look, & I haven’t done one in a while. I thought the combination of gold & silver over the navy blue would be the perfect New Years combination. & I got a ton of compliments on this look when I wore it to work, so I feel like I was successful!

This is probably one of my favourite New Years Eve looks I’ve ever done.

& with that, we’re officially done with #GlamNailsChallengeDec — which prompt was your favourite? Do you enjoy these challenges? Let me know in the comments below!

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Christmas Eve Ornament Nails

Hello lovelies & Merry Christmas Eve! Hope everyone is having a not too stressful start to their Christmas (or December 24th, for those who don’t celebrate.)

Today I have one final pre Christmas look to share with you — some Christmas ornament nails. This is actually a recreation/new take on a design I did five years ago. I thought a new version would be a fun design!

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Hard As Nails
  • Top Coat: Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Shiny Top Coat
  • Sally Hansen Good Kind Pure Almond Tan
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Five Golden Blings
  • Icing Emerald City
  • Essie Off Tropic
  • Random icky green (haha)
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Can’t Beet Royalty
  • Starrily Diamond Rain
  • Zoya Ray
  • Starrily Vantablack
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Get Mod
  • NailStuff.ca 4mm Micro Detail Brush (COFFEE10 saves you 10%!)
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio

I’m actually obsessed with these. They turned out so perfect—-better than I had even imagined! I really wanted to do some kind of ornament design, & these just turned out so cute. I also didn’t have a ton of time to do my nails, & all the painting was (relatively) quick! Also I’m super proud of my teeny tiny little designs on the ornaments themselves, mostly because I was stumped on what designs to even put!

It’s the perfect Christmas Eve design, especially for the hours of wrapping I have to do tonight after the kids go to bed! Haha.

I hope everyone has the most lovely next couple days filled. I know this year is so much different than Christmas past, & so many people are away from the people they love most, but I’m sending love to all, & wishing no matter your situation, your days are filled with peace.

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays lovelies! 💗🎄