Matte Pastel Ombre

Hello lovelies & happy Thursday! Hope everyone is having a lovely week. I’m still recovering from that awful cold (so. over. it) but that’s not going to stop me from painting my nails! I’ve really really really been longing for Spring which, in case you weren’t already aware, is 8 days away! I’m not excited or anything.

First up, how about a pretty matte pastel ombré look? Probably the easiest way to show off Spring on your nails!

For this look, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Good Kind Pure Hardener
  • Top Coat: Essie Speed Setter
  • Matte Top Coat: Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Matte Top Coat
  • Claire’s matte Sorbet Mint
  • Claire’s matte Sorbet Blue
  • Claire’s matte Sorbet Purple
  • Claire’s matte Sorbet Pink
  • Claire’s matte Sorbet Coral

For this manicure, I actually grabbed my mini set of Claire’s pastel polishes because they’ve been sitting in my drawers way too long, & they remind me of Spring in the best way. The blue especially is just like Spring in a bottle! I also thought about adding some floral on my nails–because you can never go wrong with floral–but I was loving this look all in it’s own I decided to leave it be. & I got a ton of compliments on this look too!

Ombré looks are so easy to do, & look so fancy on the nails. I tried my best pair colours together so it looked like a true gradient. I’m glad that these ombre/skittlette looks are still popular & going strong, because they’re so easy to do.

Also I’m rocking nubby nails again, thanks to a couple bad breaks, so this makes me feel not so bad about how short my nails are right now. I feel like this happens at this time every year — my nails just get tired with winter & cannot handle being long anymore so I have to give them a break. Although it is always fun coming up with short nail designs!

What do you think about this pretty pastel ombré? Is this a look that you would try? Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below!

Groovy Abstract Stripes

Hello lovelies & happy Tuesday! Hope everyone has had a lovely start to their week. We had another beautiful almost Spring like day yesterday, which gives me hope that maybe — maybe — one day soon, Spring will be here to stay. I just keep longingly staring at the clothes in my closet, dreaming of the day when it’s warm enough to wear them!

In the meantime, how about some Spring on the nails! I’ve definitely been feeling myself drawn to my more Spring looking nail polishes. I just need a little brightness in my life!

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: Sally Hansen Good Kind Pure Hardener
  • Top Coat: Essie Gel Setter
  • Essie Mint Candy Apple (the blue version)
  • Essie Splash of Grenedine
  • Essie Blank Page
  • Essie Bobbing for Baubles
  • Nailstuff.ca 11mm Liner Brush (COFFEE10 to save 10%) {gifted}

I love abstract stripe designs so so so much, especially when they turn out as perfect as these did! These totally remind me of one of those gorgeous abstract Pucci designs. The swirly lines & bright colours — perfect for Spring! Also I love the brighter pop of pink over the paler blue base. What is it about this colour combo? It makes me so happy!

If this doesn’t make you feel ready for Spring, I don’t know what will. I also just feel so proud of how these turned out too — it might just be the best version of the abstract stripe design I’ve done yet! & yeah, it kind of makes me want to do another!

What do you think about this look? Are you feeling these Spring-y colours? Let me know what you think down in the comments below!

Gradient Cactus Nails

Good afternoon & happy May everyone! Who else excited for warmer days. I feel like I’m saying this every post, but I’m just. so. ready. This winter has felt just so darn long & I’m craving neons & brights.

I was also craving a gradient as it felt like absolute ages since I had created one, so I decided to go with a blue toned look. & to finish off the look I added these absolutely adorable cactus stickers that Victoria from NailStuff.ca sent to me because she knows my love for cacti! 🌵 Have you checked out her collection of nail stickers & nail decals? I’m obsessed. So many fun designs for easy nail art this Summer.

For this manicure, the polishes I used were:

  • Base Coat: OPI Nail Envy
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive
  • Essie Fashion Playground
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Sugar Fix {PR sample}
  • China Glaze I’ve Got A Blue Attitude
  • Sally Hansen MG Make It N-Ice {PR sample}
  • Edge Perfection Cuticle Barrier {PR sample}
  • Cacti Nail Stickers {gift from Nailstuff.ca}

My gradient skills were a little rusty, but I love this look so much. The colours used almost give the gradient a thermal polish feel & obviously I couldn’t do a gradient without adding a little glitter. & finishing off the look with the stickers just made them a little more fun!

What do you think of this look? Share your thoughts down in the comments below!

SWATCH SUNDAY — Color Club Almost Famous

Good morning lovelies & happy Sunday. I thought I was brighten things up a little for this week’s edition of Swatch Sunday & bring out the sunshine with my colour pick. Today’s polish pick is Color Club Almost Famous! This shade was originally released as part of the Poptastic Spring 2010 collection, & (I do believe was) eventually was added it to the permanent collection. I picked up my bottle a few years back at Lawnton’s in their permanent Color Club display.

For today’s swatches, I did 2 coats of polish plus top coat. I did have to go back & touch up the streaky spots though, where I hadn’t applied enough polish. The formula isn’t the greatest, but that is a universal yellow polish problem for me. The colour, however, is so much fun! I love the brightness of it — it’s the perfection transition shade from Spring to Summer!

Oh hello Sunshine, I’ve missed you. ☀️

If you’re looking to add this shade to your collection, I found a few links: Amazon.ca, Nailpolishcanada.com, & Amazon.com. Sadly it’s not listed on the main Color Club website, so I’m thinking the shade may have sadly been retired–& truthfully I haven’t seen it in my local Lawton’s display, so it would make sense.

Do you have a favourite yellow polish? What is your go to yellow? I’m always looking for shades outside my usual purple/blue/pink wheelhouse, so share your favourites down in the comments below!

SWATCH SUNDAY — Julep Alyssa (It Girl)

Good morning lovelies! & happy Easter to those who celebrate! Today I’ve got another Spring-y swatch to share with you. Today I’m wearing a new-ish to me polish: Julep Alyssa (It Girl).

I was looking for a polish to wear as a base for some Spring/Easter Nail Art, & I thought this minty turquoise polish would be an awesome polish choice. This was another polish that was gifted to me, courtesy of @helloluli_, & I think it is such a beautiful shade for Spring.

For my swatches, I did 2 coats of polish over my base, & finished off everything with glossy top coat. According to the Julep website, their polish formulas are designed to make your nails look more beautiful — they are also vegan. I’m always here for polish that is going to help my nails, especially because pregnancy has left my nails looking rough (hence why they’re staying so short). The polish definitely dried quickly, which I appreciate–no one wants to wait forever to apply nail art.

Seriously, this colour is so gorgeous, I’m so in love with the Spring-y vibes it’s giving me. The formula was a bit thick for my liking & the brush was a bit big for my small nail beds, but other than that the coverage was good & it dried down just lovely so that I was able to add nail art on top as soon as I finished taking these pictures.

I am definitely a sucker for a pastel blue shade & I can see myself wearing this a lot.

By the looks of things, this shade might be hard to track down as it’s currently out of stock on the Julep website & I couldn’t really find another source to buy. I know I see Julep shades popping up in my local Winners & Marshall’s stores on occasion & eBay might also be an option.

So what do you think of this shade? Share your thoughts down below! & stay tuned this week to see what nail art I added on top for my Easter celebrations. 🌸