Tag: fall nails

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GLAM NAILS CHALLENGE OCTOBER 2025 — Black Cat 🐈‍⬛ (aka My Birthday Nails 💅)

Hello lovelies & happy Wednesday! I know, this post is coming to you much later in the day than usual, but that is because it’s my birthday today! & I’ve been out & about (has to get that free Starbucks birthday drink ✨!)

But I’m so excited to share the next prompt for Glam Nails Challenge October — because it’s one of my favourite things! Black Cat. 🐈‍⬛ I’ve also been holding onto some nail art stickers from Wet N Wild, which were perfect for this prompt!

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Top Coat: Sally Hansen InstaDri Top Coat (red bottle) 
  • Base Coat: Essie Hard to Resist (purple)
  • Essie Nail Art Studio Jelly Blush *pr
  • Essie Swoon in the Lagoon
  • Essie Birthday Girl!
  • Wet n Wild Halloween Nail Art Stickers

Cute little black kitties, perfect for this prompt — & my birthday manicure. I went with a sponge-y pink base, compliments with Essie Birthday Girl, since it was the perfect day for it!

Maybe this is not the spookiest, scariest black cat design — but it is the perfect one for me to celebrate my October birthday with! I love the pink, I love the stickers (& the other little accent stickers I paired with them.)

What do you think of this black cat design? Do you like the colours I chose to compliment my stickers? Does it scream black cat to you? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below!

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Cosy Autumn Plaid🧣

Hello lovelies & happy Friday! & happy Thanksgiving Weekend to my fellow Canadians celebrating this weekend. It’s officially shifted into Fall weather (almost in overdrive) & the days are feeling cool, & the leaves are feeling crunchy!

Today’s look is one I’ve done a million (plus) times, but still remains a favourite. Nothing screams Autumn to me more than a plaid nail art look.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Top Coat: Sally Hansen InstaDri Top Coat (red bottle) 
  • Base Coat: Essie Hard to Resist (purple)
  • NailStuff.ca Essentials Raven *pr
  • OPI Icelanded A Bottle of OPI
  • Color Club What’s The Matte-r
  • OPI I Cannoli Wear OPI
  • Revlon Devine
  • NailStuff.ca 16mm Striper Brush

I wanted to start off with a super dark base, so I went with my bottle of NailStuff Essentials Raven. Such a good black! (& I’ve been loving black lately.) Then using my other colours, I layered on lines to create the woven plaid look. Super easy, & comes out beautifully.

What do you think of my cosy Autumn plaid? Do you like these seasonal designs that aren’t necessarily Halloween centric designs? Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below!

🖤

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Deep Wine Red with Sparkly Glitter Placement

Good morning lovelies & happy Friday! & happy The Life of a Showgirl release day to my fellow swifties! I’m going to one of the showings tonight with a friend for the album, after I get off work, & we decided to go in blind without pre-listening, so today is going to be a serious test of my willpower!

But in the meantime, how about a little sparkle. We are in full October vibes now, & while I am having so much fun doing Halloween designs for the Glam Nails Challenge, I thought I would switch it up a bit with just a little dark glitter placement.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Top Coat: Sally Hansen InstaDri Top Coat (red bottle)
  • Base Coat: Essie Hard to Resist (purple)
  • Revlon Color Stay Gel Envy Heartbreaker
  • Essie Nail Art Studio Glitter Separated Starlight

Okay I don’t want to sound too conceited, but like how freaking glamorous do these nails look? I absolutely adore how they turned out. The sparkle is kind of subtle, but not subtle. It’s definitely an everyday kind of glamour, & perfect for these Autumn October days! Also, no tools required which I always love because sometimes I’m just too tired to spend an hour on something more complex (especially when I have to be up at 5:30am to get ready for work!)

So what do you think of this design? I know it’s not a groundbreaking nail art look, but I think it just looks so pretty. Definitely my go to when I want something chic, but not complex. & just a little bit subtle.

Happy Friday!

🖤

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Autumn Abstract Stripes

Hello beauties & happy Monday.

I know — two posts in two days, who is she? But after a rough month with little nail painting motivation, I’m really trying to get back into doing it again. Nail art is my antidepressant, & my brain is so much calmer when I’m regularly creating beautiful designs! I plan on starting Glam Nails Challenge October on Wednesday as well, so prepare for a month of fun prompts & even more fun designs!

Today’s look — a favourite: abstract stripes. But with an Autumnal flair.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Top Coat: Essie Good To Go Top Coat
  • Base Coat: Essie Hard to Resist (purple)
  • Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Berry Fancy
  • Revlon Black Cherry
  • OPI Icelanded a Bottle of OPI
  • Quo Beauty Shimmer & Shine
  • Nailstuff.ca Mermaid Tail 7mm liner brush

At first, I thought about doing classic (straight) stripes — but there is something about abstract stripes that just feel fancier to me. Especially now that my nails are feeling so short. They just look way fancier (& complicated!) than they actually are, which I love.

What do you think of my Autumnal abstract stripes? Are you a fan of these designs? Also, are you excited for October & Halloween designs?! Let me know in the comments below.

Happy Monday

🖤

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SWATCH SUNDAY — Essence Colour & Go 122 Chic Reloaded (2012)

Hello lovelies & happy Sunday! It is a chilly, very Autumn-y feeling Sunday. The Fall chill is definitely in the air — & I’m drinking all the pumpkin spice things. It also means I’m craving all the Fall-ish nail polish colours, so I’ve been digging through my stash looking for shades from years past to put on.

& naturally that meant perusing through my Essence stash. I’ve been a hardcore Essence lover since they had those tiny little round bottles, & it continues to this day. When looking for a fun Autumn shade, this one immediately jumped out. This is Essence Chic Reloaded.

2 coats + top coat

Chic Reloaded is a beautiful dark grey metallic duochrome, that flashes purple or blue depending on the light. Similar to Essie For the Twill of It, or OPI Peace Love OPI, it has that beautiful oil slick effect to it. However, unlike the previous two mentioned shades, I feel like Chic Reloaded has a much stronger duochrome effect! Which, for a drugstore shade that cost me maybe $2.99 CAD at the time — circa 2012 — that is pretty darn amazing!

You can really see the two different shade in the close up shot! Such a fun effect on the nails. I also like that Chic Reloaded has a darker grey base, because it feels more moody.

The formula on this guy is also super easy to apply. My only complaint has nothing to do with the polish itself, but with my topcoat which I think is getting old & caused some shrinkage. Other than that, this shade is perfection & I would love to see Essence bring back more formulas like this into their current core collection!

What do you think of Essence Chic Reloaded? Are you a fan of the Essence line of nail polishes? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below.

🖤