Tag: Summer

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Abstract Shorties

Hello lovelies & happy first day of Summer to those in the northern hemisphere! & it actually feels very Summer like today, which is very exciting. I’m definitely here for it, & all things Summer related.

Todays look is a quick abstract design I applied over my base of OPI I Cannoli Wear OPI from my Swatch Sunday post for this week. I wanted to extend my wear another day or so, & decided an abstract look was the perfect way to do that!

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Londontown KUR Nail Hardener & Base Coat 
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive Fast Dry
  • OPI I Cannoli Wear OPI
  • Essie Revenge’s A Beach
  • Essie Turquoise & Caicos
  • Essie Merino Cool
  • OPI Who You Callin’ Bossy?!
  • Small dotting tool — NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool

As you can see, I’m rocking extra shorties right now thanks to a break on my ring finger at work on Saturday.

Normally I would be upset about it, but I’m kind of enjoying shorter nails right now. I find when my nails are square, I prefer a shorter length to them. Plus I love showing off that you can rock fun nail art no matter the length of your nails!

What do you think of these abstract shorties? Are you a fan of looks like these? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below, & what colour scheme you would choose.

Have a lovely Wednesday ☀️

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Glazed Donut Stars ✨

Hello lovelies & happy Monday! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend, & your Monday is off to a wonderful — or, at the very least, caffeinated — start.

Today I’m really excited because I have a really striking manicure to show off. I know glazed donut nails are so 2022, but you know what — I’m still loving them. I picked up a clearance bottle of Expressie FX Iced Out at Lawtons a few months ago, & have been itching to do some glazed nails with it. & oh boy — the results are stunning!

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Londontown KUR Nail Hardener & Base Coat 
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive Fast Dry
  • Essie Ballet Slippers
  • Essie Expressie FX Iced Out
  • Essie Dive Bar
  • Born Pretty Store Classic Patterns Stamping Plate BP-L006 (discontinued)
  • NailStuff.ca Clear Jelly Stamper Set

How freaking gorgeous is the glow on this look? I’m actually stunned by how well the shift hits. It actually looks like there is a blue light behind my nail polish & I can’t get over it. I decided to apply some stamped stars over this base (using Essie Dive Bar) & I like the fact they’re not quite opaque because the glow shows through them as well.

They look ethereal. I can’t get over it.

What do you think of this take on the glazed donut trend? I know glazed nails are still having a moment, so I feel like I’m not too behind on the times. Or maybe we need to come up with a new name for these — like alien glow nails?

Either way, I’m very much obsessed.

Have a fantastic beginning to your week loves!

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Neon Squiggles ➰

Hello lovelies & happy Friday! I know, I skipped a day of posting this week — sometimes you just need a day to take a break & relax. But I’m back today & I have a manicure I’m really obsessed with. It has all the Summer vibes that I’ve been looking for.

I really loved a sponged neon base, & I just found my make up sponges the other day, so I knew it was time for another version of one of my favourite looks! & I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Londontown KUR Nail Hardener & Base Coat 
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive Fast Dry
  • Essie Blanc
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Peach Please
  • Sally Hansen MG Sugar Crush
  • Sally Hansen MG Violet Voltage
  • Sally Hansen MG Electri-Lime
  • Sally Hansen MG Fuchsia Fever
  • OPI Who You Callin’ Bossy?!
  • NailStuff.ca 4mm Micro Detail Brush

Love this vibrant base, but obviously I needed to draw some kind of pattern overtop. It’s been a while since I tried one of these swirly looks, but I think it turned out really fun. I have no set plan going into it, I just tried to create something that looked unique… & I think I was successful! My ring finger is probably my least favourite of all my nails, but over all I love love love how it looks. I’m very happy with it!

What do you think about this neon swirl look? Are you busting out the neon now that the days are getting warmer? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below, & share what your favourite neon nail polish is down in the comments below!

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SWATCH SUNDAY — Essie Revenge’s a Beach (Summer 2022)

Hello lovelies & happy Sunday.

I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend so far & that the weather, where you are, is not apocalyptic.

Today’s Swatch Sunday post is decidedly Summer appropriate. I posted last weekend about the other polish I picked up during my small Shoppers haul, & here she is: Essie Revenge’s A Beach from the Summer 2022 collection.

2 coats + top coat

I’ve been eyeing this shade in their clearance bin for a month or so, but I’ll be honest — the price wasn’t right. But when I saw it for $3 on my last visit, I knew it was coming home with me.

Formula is pretty good on this one — I could almost do one coat, but I applied a second for full coverage. It dried down a bit flat, but adding top coat gave it that glossy finish you see. The colour is a beautiful blue leaning teal that you just know needs careful removal because it’ll be a stainer. I’m still wearing this shade, so we’ll see how it goes when I attempt to remove it tonight!

It really is a beautiful colour. Definitely a little bit bluer than Essie Garden Variety & a little more teal & darker than Essie Strut Your Stuff. It also definitely appears lighter in my light box versus natural lighting. Not necessarily a colour I immediately reach for in the Summer, but I very much get the beach vibes they were aiming for.

Obviously, as this was part of last years Summer collection, availability is limited. I did find it still available on NailPolishCanada.com, & I have no doubt if you Google around you can find more. My best advice is check the clearance section at your favourite place to buy nail Polish — that’s where I usually score finds like this. It’s also possible it will pop up at your local Winners/Marshal’s, as mine always seems to get in these previous collections.

What do you think of Essie Revenge’s A Beach from the Summer 2022 collection? Are you feeling the beach vibes? Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below!

Happy Sunday! 🖤

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Throwback Floral (Using Just a Dotting Tool)

Hello lovelies & happy Friday! I hope it’s a beautiful day wherever you are. It’s supposed to be sunny, & slightly warm today, so I’ll take it.

Today I’m sharing a design which is a recreation of a design I did many moons ago—like… 2013 at the beginning of my nail art journey & before this blog. I just always love revisiting old designs, & when this one popped up on my Facebook memories, I knew I needed to do an updated version!

2013 version
2023 version

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Londontown KUR Nail Hardener & Base Coat 
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive Fast Dry Top
  • Essie Peach Side Babe
  • Essie Worth the Tassel
  • Essie Blanc
  • Essie Turquoise & Caicos
  • Small & Large Dotting Tool (NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio)

I didn’t have a list of the original polishes I used for my design, so I tried to go with what looked the closest to the colours — which was hard because my original photo is pretty poor quality. I think, though, I did a pretty good job on recreating the original look!

I know that was my first jump into “real” nail art after getting my first dotting tool. It was an Essence brand one that I found at Shoppers Drug Mart, & I got very excited to find something to do legit nail art.

What do you think of this floral nail art recreation? Do you remember what nail designs first got you into nail art? Let me know down in the comments below!

Have a fantastic Friday!