SWATCH SUNDAY — QUO Loud & Proud

Hello lovelies & happy Sunday!

It’s a beautiful, sunny & slightly chilly weekend here on the East Coast. It’s also 2 days until Valentine’s Day, so I went searching for something pink to share for this week’s Swatch Sunday. Pink’s not a colour I wear very often, but one I love to buy. So I thought why not bring out one of those untouched pink’s for this week’s post.

Today’s pick: QUO Beauty Flash Dry Loud & Proud. I picked up this shade last Winter, on clearance–naturally–& have only used it in a couple manicures since. But, since it’s a sunny day, I was feeling some neon.

2 coats, no top coat.

Loud & Proud is a shocking coral neon pink which dries to a semi matte finish, as most neons do. The formula was a bit crelly, leaning on the creme side, but had almost full opacity in two coats. I was actually a bit nervous about needing a ton of coats, but 2 was perfect for me. If you had longer nails, with more of a free edge, you might need another coat, or some white undies.

This shade comes from the QUO Beauty Flash Dry line, which means it’s supposed to dry quicker than your average nail polish. The first coat was definitely quick to dry, although I found the second coat a little bit slower — maybe because I had applied my second coat a bit thicker? The shade was also incredibly hard to photograph the colour correctly, but I tried my best. Originally, it was leaning very orange, which wasn’t true to colour at all.

This were definitely as close to the true colour as I could get it to show.

What do you think about this fun pink neon from QUO? Would you bright this bright, matte pink for your Valentine’s Day celebrations? Let me know what you think & what you’re going to be wearing for any upcoming Valentine’s Day celebrations!

Pink on Pink Valentine’s Hearts 💗

Hello lovelies. It’s officially one week until Valentine’s Day, so I figured that a good enough time as any to start with a little love-ly nail art. Truth be told, I’m not a huge fan of Valentine’s Day… minus to opportunity to make cupcakes. But I do like the excuse to pull out all of my pink nail polishes at once, so I’m hoping to share a few nail art looks over the next week.

First up, a simple & slightly rustic heart design. I was inspired by my base polish pick, & decided to build my manicure around it.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Essie Hard To Resist Glow & Shine 
  • Top Coat: Seche Vite Fast Dry Top Coat
  • OPI DS Extravagance
  • OPI Koala Berry
  • OPI Pinking of You
  • OPI Chiffon My Mi
  • Dotting tool (NailStuff.ca — Dotting Tool Trio)
  • NailStuff.ca Mermaid Tail Nail Brush Trio (11mm Liner Brush)

How cute did these little hearts turn out? I feel like free handing hearts can be kind of hit or miss, so I was a bit scared how they would turn out — especially because I was not in the mood to start my design all over again. I did like the hearts just solid colours, but I wanted to try outlining the hearts, & I’m so glad I did because I feel like it made them pop off the nail so much more vibrantly! & they don’t seem so one dimensional. Absolutely adorable.

What do you think about these adorable pink on pink heart nails? Have you been playing around with some Valentine’s (or anti-Valentine’s) Day designs for this year? I’m definitely thinking pink (duh) & maybe a gradient dotticure? I can’t wait to share what design I end up choosing!

♥︎

Hot Pink & Polka Dots

Hello beauties & happy Tuesday! A very, very snowy Tuesday here. The weather definitely cannot make up its mind lately.

Today I have a pretty design to share that I actually did a little while ago, but didn’t get a chance to share. I thought that it would be gorgeous for a pre-Valentine’s Day design, so I wanted to share.

The polishes I used for this manicure are:

  • Base Coat: Essie Hard To Resist Glow & Shine 
  • Top Coat: Seche Vite Fast Dry Top Coat
  • Essie Swoon in the Lagoon
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Blacky-O
  • Dotting tool (I always use mine from NailStuff.ca — Dotting Tool Trio)

Gosh I love a good polka dot design. It’s literally the easiest & quickest nail art I think you can do — & it always looks so put together. This is definitely a great nail art look for anyone wanting fun nails, without wanting to put an hour+ into painting something.

What do you think about this nail art look? Is this a nice prelude to February & the Valentine’s Day looks to come? Let me know all your thoughts down below!

An (Early) Spring Floral

Hello lovelies & happy Thursday. Yesterday the temperatures were above freezing & it felt a bit like, dare I say it… Spring. Oh, & it was perfect since I was wearing this pretty Spring-y floral.

Originally I did this floral because I had bought this pretty new Sinful Colors shade at Walmart, & I thought it would be a great base for floral nail art. I also wanted something that was kind of, sort of Valentine’s Day-

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Essie Millionails
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive
  • Sinful Colors Wonder Mint
  • Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure One in a Melon
  • Sally Hansen CSM So Much Fawn
  • Sally Hansen CSM Berry Fancy
  • Essie Blanc
  • Essie Check My Baggage
  • Essie Off Tropic
  • Essie Cacti on the Prize
  • NailStuff.ca 7mm detail brush
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio

So I know everytime I do a new floral look, I gush endlessly about how it’s my favourite, so I’ll save you that — but I am really proud proud of how these turned out, especially the rose buds. The feel delicate & romantic, & I literally didn’t want to take these off! Plus the bright blue base is vibrant & makes me forget it’s only February.

It gives me thoughts about Spring days, & sunshine & pretty dresses. & I’m so ready for all of those things.

What do you think about this pretty Spring floral? Do you like the roses paired against this vibrant blue base? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below!

Valentine’s Inspired Leopard Print 💗

Hello lovelies & happy Tuesday!

Less than a week until Valentine’s Day, & I feel like I haven’t really done any related manicures this year. Usually there is at least one pink/red dotticure, haha. Kind of crazy! So I thought I would share this fun Valentine’s Day inspired leopard print design that I did recently.

& yes, this is another new holographic Color Club shade I recently picked up from Walmart because I’m obsessed.

The polishes I used for this manicure are: 

  • Base Coat: Essie Millionails
  • Top Coat: Seche Vive
  • Essie Ballet Slippers
  • Color Club Trick of the Trade
  • Sally Hansen I ❤️ Nail Art pen in Black
  • NailStuff.ca Dotting Tool Trio

So turns out, trying to draw heart shapes & turn them into leopard spots is not as easy as I thought it would be — or as clear as what it’s supposed to be. But I think I was semi successful? I really like the pop of holo pink on the smooth, slightly milky base of Ballet Slippers. It really makes the holo pop!

I like that this look is Valentine’s Day, but swap out your pink for basically any other colour & it’s a good everyday look too. I always forget how much I love Leopard print on my nails, until I do it again.

What do you think about this Valentine’s Day inspired nail art look? Are you a big fan of this holiday? Honestly, I’ve never really been a huge fan, but I do love cinnamon hearts, Love Hearts, & any excuse to paint a theme on my nails.

If you’re looking for some Valentine’s Day nail art inspiration, I do have this post from a few years ago: 5 Cute Valentine’s Day Designs (inspired by Pinterest).

Have a great Tuesday!