Spring 2016 Nail Polish Favourites

Happy Spring 2016!

My nail polish favourites for this season feature a combination of pink, peach, purple, and green pastels and shimmers. There are even a few jellies and duochromes in the mix this spring.

Which of these pretty shades is your favourite? To see swatches and more detailed posts on the polishes below, click on any names in mint green text.

Spring Polka Dot Nail Art

Before I start creating summer nail looks, I wanted to post one more spring design.

This look features Light as Air from China Glaze, a polish that I reviewed recently in the Nail of the Day section of my blog. It’s the perfect pastel purple shade! The shimmery polka dots are in the shade Meadow from Zoya. It’s a beautiful golden peach colour. I love the contrast between the creamy finish of the base colour and the glowy peach dots.

I used a dotting tool to create the polka dots and alternated larger and smaller dots to add a bit of texture. This look was very quick and easy to create.

What do you think of this spring nail look? What did you wear on your nails this spring?

Bridal Nails: Flowers, Pearls, and Shimmer

In honour of wedding season, here is a bridal nail look. Although this nail art may seem difficult, it was very easy to create.
For the base, I used an iridescent polish from OPI called Pearl of Wisdom. Next, I stamped a floral design on the tips of my nails using a white polish and the m51 plate from Konad. To finish off the look, I added some half pearls that I found on eBay.
To see a video tutorial of this look, click HERE.
To see my wedding nail look from last year, click HERE.
Would you wear this nail art during wedding season?

March 2015 Beauty Box Five

The March 2015 Beauty Box Five* features products to help us look effortlessly chic for spring. If you are unfamiliar with Beauty Box Five, it is a subscription service that sends its members five cosmetic samples each month. The service is open to those in Canada and the USA, and subscriptions start at $12 per month. The best part is that shipping is free!

The brands that Beauty Box Five works with are also very impressive (see them all HERE).

Now let’s talk about the March items…

1. Elite Therapeutics Rosemary Eucalyptus Body Cream | Retail: $19 for 8 oz (sample contains 0.5 oz) - This non-greasy lotion contains 70% Certified Organic ingredients. It’s also paraben and cruelty free. As someone who loves and uses body creams daily, I found this first item very exciting.
2. Eslor Introductory Collection - Second Edition - I received an Eslor sample kit in the June 2014 Box. It featured products to calm and soothe skin. The sample kit that was sent this month includes a peeling gel, a lifting mask, a cleanser, and a day cream. Full size versions of these samples range in price from $28-$85.

3. Scandalous by Nanacoco Thickening Mascara | Retail: $4.99 - This mascara has a special brush to reach and magnify all lashes. I received the shade Very Black.
4. Laugh Out Loud by Nanacoco Lip Gloss | Retail: $3.99 -  I received the shade Ballerina which is a neutral pink that would look great with many different skin tones.
5. Styli-Style Line & Seal Twist Mechanical Eye Liner | Retail: $3.99 - This twist-up eyeliner is so convenient that it doesn’t require a sharpener. I received the shade Raisin which I think would pair well with green eyes.
Overall, I think this month’s box includes a nice assortment of products. All three makeup items are full size and the skincare items are from higher end brands. The makeup items are in universally flattering shades that will complement many different skin tones. I’m looking forward to next month’s box and can’t wait to see what Beauty Box Five has in store for April.

Nail Polish Canada Haul: Poshe Top Coat and Essie Love Every Minute

First I will begin by explaining my search for a new topcoat. Before my recent purchase, I owned three bottles of topcoat: Zoya Armor, Revlon Colorstay, and Seche Vite. While I love Zoya top coat over Zoya polishes, I find that it does not work as well with non-Zoya formulas. I purchased the Revlon Colorstay a couple years ago after watching rave reviews of it on YouTube; however, I have never liked it. It dries very slowly and definitely does not prevent my polish from chipping. I’ve been using it for a while because I don’t like to waste products. Then one day, while painting my nails for a special event, I grabbed the tiny sample bottle of Seche Vite that I received in a beauty subscription box. I used to use Seche Vite when I was younger and remembered that it always left a shiny finish and helped my polish last for a long time. When I opened the sample bottle and started applying the product, my throat began to burn and I felt like I had to cough. Then I remembered why I stopped using Seche Vite—I switched over to 3-free polishes (fewer harsh chemicals) and got rid of any items that I had that were extra toxic. Don’t get me wrong, Seche Vite is a wonderful product and many people love it, but it just didn’t make sense for me to use a top coat that was not 3-free with 3-free polishes.

After much research and contemplation, I remembered that I used a great top coat a few years ago from Poshe. I purchased it when I was on vacation in the USA. After finishing the entire bottle, I could not find the product in Canada and that’s when I tried Revlon Colorstay. Recently, I found Poshe top coat on Nail Polish Canada and purchased a bottle. It works very similar to Seche Vite and leaves a glossy, long lasting finish that really does help my polish last longer. Not to mention, it dries very quickly and it’s 3-free. Before placing my Nail Polish Canada order, I added one of the new Essie 2014 Wedding polishes to my cart. I purchased the colour Love Every Minute which is a pretty rose coral creme. Click HERE to see swatches and my full review on this polish.

Overall, I am very happy with my purchase. Have you purchased any new polishes for spring and summer? What’s your current favourite top coat?

Sephora Haul (Pictures + Swatches)

After lots of contemplation, I decided to return my Urban Decay Naked 3  palette. The shadows were not very pigmented on me despite my very pale complexion, and the pink-toned shades left my eyes looking tired and dull. I also found that the shadows disappeared after a few hours even though I was wearing a primer. I have never experienced any of these problems with my Naked 2 palette.
I thought that instead of keeping a palette that I was never going to use, it would be a good idea to exchange it for new products in spring inspired shades.
The first item that I picked up was the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream. My skin has been terribly dry this winter and I have been experiencing eczema-like patches on my face and neck, so I thought this cream would be worth a try. Since it’s free of parabens, harsh chemicals, and colorants, I’m hoping that it will calm my very sensitive, irritated skin without causing any more harm and smooth out all the red patches before spring.

Next up is one of the new HD Blushes from Make Up For Ever. The Sales Associate recommended this blush to me because I told her that I wanted a cheek product that would apply smoothly on bare skin since I do not use any foundation or powder. She said that this blush looks flawless and melts into the skin without looking blotchy. I was a bit hesitant since I’m not great at applying cream blush, but she said that I could use a brush and apply it just like I would a powder product. This blush is very pigmented so very little goes a long way. The colour that she selected for me is #215 Flamingo pink. It’s a non-shimmery peachy-pink shade that’s great for spring. If I like the formula, I will consider trying more shades.

This last product is one of the new Cheek Pop blushes from Clinique. While the peachy shades were very pretty, I wanted to start with a pink since I’m used to wearing light pink blushes. I chose Plum Pop over Berry Pop since the plum shade was a bit more of a cool toned pink. I love the cute packaging and beautiful floral pattern on the blush itself. The Sales Associate tried this shade on me in the store and it really complemented my pale skin. I like how it gives the skin a radiant, glowy sheen without any visible glitter. I will probably try the other shades in the line too since they are all very spring appropriate, and I tend to have a weakness for new blushes.

What are your favourite blushes for spring?

Spring 2013 Nail Polish Favourites

One of my favourite aspects of spring is the pretty, pastel nail polish shades that show up on store shelves in early March.
This year, my list of spring polish favourites features pinks, greens, peaches, nudes, and, of course, pastels.
Which ones do you like best from my list below, and what will you be wearing on your nails this season?
To see reviews, swatches, and nail designs featuring these shades, check out the Nail Art and NOTD tabs on my blog’s menu bar.

Essie Neo Whimsical, OPI Play the Peonies, Zoya Jaime

Zoya Rory, Zoya Gei Gei, Zoya Barbie, Zoya Erika

Essie Fiji, Orly Cotton Candy, Butter London Teddy Girl

Zoya Jacqueline, Zoya Kennedy

Zoya Bevin, Essie Mint Candy Apple

Pretty Spring Nail Art

While I love seeing nail looks around this type of year that include rabbits, grass, and colourful Easter eggs, I like to wear designs on my nails that will be appropriate long after the egg hunt ends.
This year, I created a shimmery pink floral look with pearl accents. It was very quick and easy to create, and it’s perfect for spring.

Check out my video below to see how I created the look and which products I used. I also have a picture of last year’s look which uses more pastel shades.

Easter / Spring Nail Tutorial

NOTD: Essie Fiji

I’m always on the search for an opaque pastel pink cream-finish polish. Many of you have recommended that I try Fiji by Essie and I thought that spring was the perfect season to do so.

The polish is a beautiful milky pink shade with maybe a slight hint of lavender. While it is fairly opaque, I found the formula a bit thick and streaky. As a result, I had to apply 3 coats to ensure that the colour applied evenly. Once it dried, I was quite happy with the results and have no doubts that I will get a lot of use out of this polish. It gives the nails a very clean, polished look that is very versatile.

I Went Shoe Shopping!!!!

I have always had trouble finding nice pairs of heels. My feet are a bit wide and most pairs of pumps are often very narrow. Also, pumps are usually quite expensive and I can’t justify spending $70 on a pair of shoes that I won’t wear every day. For the past four years I have worn the same pair of mid-heel black pumps to work, nice dinners, business-casual events, etc. Aside from them, I have not owned another non-formal pair of heels…until now.
A few weeks ago, I passed by the Spring shoe store in my city and decided to take a look at the sale items. I came across a pair of cute brown pumps that were very affordable. The store did not have my size but ordered them for me from their store website (myspringshoes.com). When I picked them up they fit very well. I left the store eager to go home and search the Spring website for other great deals. I was surprised to find that the website’s return policy allows customers to return shoes that were purchased online to spring stores for a full refund. In the past I have avoided ordering shoes online because I did not want to have to worry about paying expensive return shipping fees if I did not like the shoes. Spring’s website also ships orders over $49 for free. If the order is less than $49 shipping starts at $5 which is not bad. If you don’t want to pay shipping costs, you can also go into a Spring store and have them order the shoes online for you for free. You pay for the shoes ahead of time at the store and the shoes arrive either at the Spring store for you to pick up or at your home address—whichever option you prefer.
In total, I purchased four pairs of pumps over the last month or so. A dark brown pair, a camel coloured pair, and a pink suede pair. I also purchased another pair of pink pumps from Wal-Mart.
*click photos to enlarge*

1. CARLA by George from Wal-Mart
Colour: Salmon/Rose
Size: 7 (normally I wear 7.5-8)
Original Price: $19
My Impressions: Normally shoes from Wal-Mart either hurt my feet or do not fit properly. These shoes are definitely an exception—they are comfortable and fit well. They are really in style for the season with their nudish-pink shade and glossy finish.

2. FOISY by Spring
Colour: Chocolate Brown
Size: 38 (normally I wear 7.5-8)
Original Price: $49.99
Sale Price: $17.98
Link: http://www.myspringshoes.com/ca-eng/women/shoes/mid-low-heels/80174499-foisy/35
My Impressions: I really like these shoes. They are well made and fit perfectly. I chose this colour because it is a nice change from the black shoes that I normally wear.

3. FOISY by Spring
Colour: Natural
Size: 38 (normally I wear 7.5-8)
Original Price: $49.99
Sale Price: $24.98
Link: http://www.myspringshoes.com/ca-eng/women/shoes/mid-low-heels/80174499-foisy/35
My Impressions: These shoes are exactly the same as the dark brown ones, aside from the colour of course, so I’m not sure why they are $5 more. That said, I really like these shoes as well and I think that they will match many different outfits.

4. JESMER by Spring
Colour: Light Pink
Size: 38 (normally I wear 7.5-8)
Original Price: $49.99
Sale Price: $24.98
Link: http://www.myspringshoes.com/ca-eng/women/shoes/mid-low-heels/80175248-jesmer/55
My Impressions: I am not completely sure how I feel about these shoes. I actually had to order them twice because the first pair had some dirt marks and a dent in one of the heels. This next pair looks much better but, as you can see from the picture, the bottoms are very dirty. They were never worn by me so they must have collected the dirt while in the store. I think the suede fabric on the outside of the shoe as well as on the bottom collects lint and dirt. Even the pink exterior looks a bit dirty. I bought these shoes in addition to the Wal-Mart shoes because they were a different texture. These shoes are suede and may be more appropriate to wear in early spring or early fall. The pink ones from Wal-Mart will be more appropriate for summer months. The downside to suede shoes is that they get dirty very easily and need to be sprayed with protector frequently to prevent staining. At the moment I do not know if I will keep these shoes or return them. They are cute but they may not be practical. Either way, they were a good price.

*Bonus Pictures*
Since I’m showing my new shoes in this post, my cat wanted to show her paws