Easter Nails with CND Chic Shock

With Easter coming up this weekend, this manicure featuring the CND Spring 2018 Chic Shock Collection could not be more appropriate. Thanks to Hazuki at Onyx Aesthetics for giving me such  cute Spring-ready nails!

The Chic Shock Collection adds four new creamy opaque shades to CND's lineup: Jellied (pastel yellow), Candied (pastel pink), Taffy (pastel blue-green), and Gummi (pastel purple). All four are available in Shellac and Vinylux, CND's long wear polish line. I love Vinylux because it truly does last a long time, making it great for short vacations or special event days when you really don't want to be dealing with an accidental chip. The formula has also been revamped this year, thanks to the addition of vitamin E, keratin, and jojoba oil for that extra bit of goodness. Plus, the brush is now wider and curved for easier application.

Hope you all have a great Easter long weekend! Thanks to this mani, I'm kind of craving some Cadbury Mini Eggs... anyone else?

KISS Christmas Manicure

I just couldn't let December 25 come around without sharing a Christmas mani! This year, I'm keeping things simple by making use of these KISS Accent Stickers in Glad Tidings -- a totally holiday-appropriate set of nail art stickers. There are candy canes, trees, reindeer, wreaths, gingerbread men... basically all the festive designs you can think of. Plus, not only are they cute, they're also easy-to-use.

On my nails, I decided to use a base of CND Vinylux in Palm Deco which was actually released as part of their Summer 2017 Rhythm & Heat Collection. The dark green, however, is totally perfect for this time of year as well.

I'll be taking a break from the blog until 2018 (where has 2017 gone??). Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Totally 80s Nail Art by Onyx Aesthetics Studio (CND New Wave Collection)

Happy New Year! I'm back from my "recovering from laser eye surgery" hiatus (more on that later)... is it too early to start talking about spring collections? Back in December, I was invited to preview the CND Spring 2017 New Wave Collection at Onyx Aesthetics Studio in Gastown and, based on the amazing mani I received last year, I knew I'd come away with some fun and intricate nail art that just had to be shared.

CND Banana Clips, Video Violet, and Ecstacy

The first thing I thought when I saw the bright colours of the New Wave Collection was that I wanted to do something a little crazy. My inspiration was the 80s so I asked my nail technician to create a colourful "print" topped with black geometric triangular shapes. As you can see, she delivered my vision perfectly!

While I got a Shellac manicure, the New Wave Collection is also available in VINYLUX, CND's long-wearing polish (it lasts a week with no chips).

It features 6 shades: Video Violet, Pink Leggings, Jelly Bracelet, Blue Eyeshadow, Ecstasy, and Banana Clips [clockwise from top left]. Definitely not for neutral nail lovers as they are all super bright and quite neon, but I'm thinking these will be super fun for manis and pedis once the weather warms up.

Halloween Nail Art from KISS and Broadway Nails Press-On Manicure

Halloween is creeping on up which means it's the perfect time to break out some fun nail art! As I have less and less time to paint on intricate designs, however, I've found the easiest way to do this is with products like nail stickers or press-on nails -- especially when it's an occasion like Halloween where you really only need the look for a day or two.

This year I'll be making use of a few different items: KISS Nail Dress and Art Stickers, as well as Broadway Nails Press-On Manicure.

I love a good nail sticker for how fast and easy they are to use, and have recently been enjoying press-on manicures for nights out when I don't have time to do my nails. I first used Broadway Nails Press-On Manicure a few years ago, and have thankfully since perfected my technique. Since my nails are quite short, I realized you can actually trim the press-on nails with a nail clipper and file them down for a more natural look. This can be difficult with longer designs but works in most cases!

Easy Colourblocked Nails with CND VINYLUX Weekly Polish (Flirtation Collection)

You've probably all heard about Shellac since it's pretty much the gold standard for UV-cured manicures around. But did you know that CND also makes a long-wearing nail polish called VINYLUX Weekly Polish?

I loved the CND Shellac mani I received back in February but as someone who changes her nail colour frequently, I find it hard having the same nails for weeks on end -- no matter how pretty they are. This is where VINYLUX comes in... you get similar benefits of Shellac (including the same shade availability) but you can actually remove it with nail polish remover.

I created the above mani using two polishes from the Flirtation Collection: Desert Poppy (bright coral) and Date Night (blue creme). The diagonal colour blocking was so easy to do and because orange and blue are complementary colours, I think it really pops.

To use VINYLUX Weekly Polish properly, you have to thoroughly cleanse hands and nails (CND ScrubFresh Nail Surface Cleanser is perfect for this). Next, you apply two thin coats of the polish to the nails making sure you coat the tips. Then, finish off with one coat of VINYLUX Weekly Top Coat. The polish is fully dry in 8 1/2 minutes and then you can get on with your day! Over the week, natural light helps cure the polish and it lasts for days with only the most minimal of tip wear. When I want my mani to last (but not forever, obvi), VINYLUX is what I'm reaching for.

In addition to Shellac and VINYLUX, CND also offers a number of other products to keep your nails in tip-top shape. Call it the #CNDRescueKit, if you will. First, there is RescueRXx which is a daily keratin treatment aimed at repairing dry, weakened, and damaged nails. There's also SolarOil which consistently receives rave reviews for its conditioning properties (it seems a bit like Essie Apricot Cuticle Oil which I love). Lastly, Cuticle Eraser micro-exfoliates the cuticles and can be used on a daily basis.

CND Flirtation Shellac Manicure by Onyx Aesthetics Studio

Last week, I was invited to Onyx Aesthetics Studio, a trendy nail salon in Gastown, to preview CND's new summer collection and get my nails done at the same time. The result was (I think you'll all agree) absolutely stunning.

This was my first introduction to CND nail polish, although I was sort of familiar with the brand before. They're most well known for their Shellac Brand 14+ Day Nail Colour, a professional service offered at nail salons around the world. Shellac is painted on like a polish but each coat is briefly cured under a UV or LED lamp. Manicures last for weeks with no chipping or peeling, are super shiny, and dry immediately.

The new Flirtation Collection features six new Shellac colours: Lavender Lace (pale lavender), Sparks Fly (glittery coral), Be Demure (light candy pink), Aqua-intance (turquoise), Pink Pursuit (dusty rose), and Honey Darlin' (pale yellow). Linda, the owner of Onyx Aesthetics Studio, used all of these colours except Lavender Lace on the tips of my nails before hand-painting on a unique floral design.

In only an hour, I walked out with these gorgeous nails (no dry time required!) and have been receiving compliments ever since. It's been a week and while I do have a little bit of nail growth, my nails look just as good as when I first got them done.

The colours in the new CND Flirtation Collection are great for spring/summer, whether you want some crazy nail art like mine or just a basic mani. Plus, if you want to do your nails at home there's always the option of CND's Vinylux Weekly Polish System which isn't Shellac but is supposed to last 7 days with no chips. The Vinylux Flirtation Collection comes in eight shades: Lavender Lace, Be Demure, Aqua-intance, Pink Pursuit, Honey Darlin', Skin Tease (creamy white pink) Desert Poppy (bright coral) and Date Night (blue creme).

Fall Glitter Ombre: OPI It's A Piazza Cake (Fall/Winter 2015 Venice Collection)

I have been playing around with the OPI Venice Collection, released for Fall/Winter 2015, over the past few weeks and have decided to do something a bit different from my more recent swatch parties. They take forever... I'm not sure how nail polish bloggers do them all the time! What I'll be doing instead is sharing some easy nail art inspired by the collection.

My favourite colour from the OPI Venice Collection is It's A Piazza Cake so it was a natural first choice for me when it came to picking a colour. A persimmon creme, this orange shade is completely unique to my collection and just screams "Fall". Can't you just picture this being worn on cool, crisp days as your feet crunch through fallen leaves or as you prepare for Thanksgiving or Halloween festivities? As a creme, it also applies like a dream: super opaque in only 2 coats.

The "glitter ombre" is a nail art look I do fairly often (see here and here, for example) but I don't think I have actually featured it on the blog before. I did write a tutorial on POPSUGAR though, so go check that out! It's so quick and easy to do. At the same time, I think it looks really cool and is a great way to spice up a plain mani.

In addition to your base colour, you will need a glitter polish or top coat for the "glitter ombre" effect. I initially tried to do this mani with Baroque... But Still Shopping!, which is a gold glitter released by OPI as a limited edition polish this season. Unfortunately it didn't work due to how dense it is (although this makes me pretty excited to wear it on its own).

Instead, you'll need a glitter that is packed into a clear base. This way when you're painting the ombre, it won't affect the base colour. I personally prefer a glitter that has a mix of sizes as well. I used Avon Frosty 'N Fab Glitter Nail Enamel in Golden Tinsel above, which was a limited edition Christmas polish from a few years ago. It's a fairly common type of polish, however, so you should be able to find something similar.

Some people do this look from the tip down, but I prefer my glitter based around my cuticles. It looks good either way... or you could even try a mix of both! I recommend patting the glitter down and of course, seal everything with a top coat since the glitter will add a bit of a chunky layer on top. Ta-da -- Fall-ready nails!

Pride Nails

You may remember that I sported these rainbow skittles nails a few years back to attend Pride Parade (I really can't say "no" to a good themed mani). Now this year, thanks to Pride Nails, I'll be able to save precious nail painting time while also supporting the Vancouver Pride Society.

White Nail Polish: AVON Iceberg White / Rings: House of Hudson (c/o)

Designed in collaboration with Incoco, proceeds of these 100% real nail polish strips go back to the Vancouver Pride Society, a non-profit organization that brings together the LGBTQ community and its friends and allies through local events like East Side Pride, the Sunset Beach Festival, and of course, the world-famous Vancouver Pride Parade. Through the sale of Pride Nails, the Vancouver Pride Society hopes to raise over $20,000 for the Pride Legacy Fund, which provides scholarships and support for the youth in our communities.

2015 has obviously been a historic year with respect to marriage equality, given the recent same-sex marriage referendum in Ireland and the U.S. Supreme Court decision on gay marriage. I'm so glad other countries are finally taking steps towards greater equality in this regard, although we still have a long way to go in terms of LGBTQ rights generally. I know it may not be much, but every little show of support helps.

Find Pride Nails in stores (only if you're in Vancouver) or online.

Coordinated Lips & Tips: Mark. Get It Together Set

It's been a while since I last properly featured a full mark. collection on the blog (see here and here) though I have been using quite a few of their products over the years. For Spring, I'm loving this cute Get It Together Lipclick and Lacquer Set, which features a small-sized lipstick and two mini nail polishes.

The idea behind the set is to make it easy for people to match their lip colour with their nails which I didn't realize was actually a "thing" but why not, I guess.

The Lipclick shade is called Coral Fixation and is a really nice vibrant coral. It has a Satin/Cream finish and feels comfortable on the lips. The packaging is really fun as well since it features a magnetic cap that clicks closed (similar to the MAC Mineralize Rich Lipsticks but not quite as luxurious as Chanel or Estée Lauder).

To coordinate my nails, I used Coordinating Coral as the base and added Go Bolder Gold to the tips. Both polishes applied evenly and I really like how they look together. I then decided to add a white line (Kiss Nail Art Paint in White) and ended up loving the result. They look a bit like Easter eggs!

OMG Nail Strips: Rainy Day Umbrella Nails

A while ago, I was contacted by OMG Nail Strips to see if I wanted to try out some of their nail strips and since then have been waiting for the perfect time to use this fun Rain Storm design. Living in "Raincouver" I knew it wouldn't be too long so when the Pineapple Express storm hit the west coast over the weekend, it was nail art time!

The nail strips come in two designs (as seen above with AVON Gel Finish Polish in Royal Vendetta on my index finger and pinky) and were incredibly easy to apply (see instruction video). The quality on these was spectacular. There were no jagged edges when filing off the excess and they adhered to my nails well with no bubbling. I did find the strips to be larger than normal but I guess that's good because there will be a greater likelihood of fitting more nails, plus you can always trim them down to size.

At $7.99 for 14 strips, they are not exactly cheap but if you use them as accent nails you can really make the pack last. Besides, the umbrella design is so cute and I've gotten tons of compliments on my nails already. While the umbrella design could probably be freehanded with some time and patience, getting a mani like this done so quickly is well worth it.

MAC x The Simpsons Nail Stickers

When I was previewing MAC Cosmetics Fall/Winter collections last month, the one that really stood out to me was The Simpsons Collection. In honour of The Simpsons 25th anniversary (I can't believe it's been that long), this limited edition collection is currently in stores and centres around who else but the ever fashionable Marge Simpson?

It should also come as no surprise to you that I was most interested in trying out Marge Simpson's Cutie-cles ($16.50 USD/$19 CAD). With a bright yellow background, these nail stickers feature many of our favourite faces, from Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie to secondary characters like Moe and Milhouse.

To achieve this fun mani, I decided to intersperse the nail stickers with a blue polish, AVON Gel Finish in Royal Vendetta, to pay homage to the show's iconic colours. Love the result!

Broadway Nails imPRESS Press-On Manicure

Fake nails have never really been my thing so when I received an Influenster VoxBox containing two sets of imPRESS Press-On Manicures by Broadway Nails I was initially reluctant to try them out. Plus, I must have been on the "wild animal print" list, for some reason, because the two designs I received are definitely not ones I would have chosen for myself (to put it nicely).

Over The Moon (left) and Dancing Queen (right)

I decided to give these a go anyway and ended up (somewhat) pleasantly surprised. Unlike the rigid acrylics I was expecting, imPRESS nails are actually flexible plastic nail covers that have a peel-off adhesive on the back. Each package contains 24 nail covers of varying sizes which unfortunately might not work for people with small nail beds since they seem to be on the larger side. However, as a bonus application tip: there are numbers etched on the back of each nail to help match up sizes for both hands. It would have been nice if I had realized that before I wasted a ton of time trying to match my nail covers...

After you assemble all the covers to fit your nails, application is super quick and easy. Wipe down your nails with the enclosed prep pad then peel off the adhesive backing and stick. The whole process took no time at all and I was left with a very eye-catching mani.

While I don't think I would wear these regularly, the imPRESS Press-On Manicure is an excellent option for a night out when you don't have time to do your nails. There are also tons of designs available (french manis, basic colours, etc.), so don't let the hideousness of the ones I received deter you from trying them out!

Springtime Nails: AVON Nail Art Design Strips

AVON typically comes out with fun themed nail art design strips every holiday (see Halloween and Christmas, for example) so I was excited to try out these spring-inspired designs that can also be worn on more than just one occasion.

Floral Fever features an explosion of flowers while Sun Worshipper reminds me of (pretty) fish scales. As always, the strips were easy to use though I did experience a little bit of crinkling with the Sun Worshipper design. I think this is because it's slightly thicker, which makes it hard to get smooth, but didn't end up being that noticeable once my entire mani was done.

These limited edition designs are currently on sale so get them before they're all gone!

Valentine's Day Nail Art

With Valentine's Day coming up this Friday, I have been sporting some appropriately pink & red heart-adorned nails. I suppose I'm trying to make up for neglecting last year's Valentine's mani (though you can still see my ones from 2011 and 2012).

Check out my post on POPSUGAR for full details on how to get the look. And while you're at it, be sure to check out some of the other blog posts I've written as a member of the POPSUGAR Beauty Select!

Essie My Better Half, Avon Nail Art Enamel in Cupid and Real Red

Christmas Nails: AVON Holiday Nail Art Design Strips

With Christmas now literally days away, I thought it only appropriate to pretty up my nails with these fun & festive AVON Holiday Nail Art Design Strips.

Retailing at $12 CAD for 18 strips, there are three designs to choose from: Candy Cane, Winter Wonderland, and Holiday Cheer. I decided to use just the first two for this mani since I liked the colour combination (though I realized it's also a little American flag-esque). Plus, the Christmas trees are too long for my short nails so I'd have had to trim them down and I was feeling a bit lazy.

Application was pretty similar to my experience with the Halloween nail art design strips but I noticed it was harder to get clean edges when filing on the snowflake design than the candy cane stripes. Even though I tried my best to be careful, they still look a bit jagged. However, I'm probably the only one bothered by it as no one else appears to have noticed.

Hope you all have a lovely Christmas (if you celebrate), and happy holidays!

"The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" Nail Art Tutorial

"The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" is coming out next Friday and I could not be more excited (I love Jennifer Lawrence). I hear there are going to be some really cool outfits in the movie, and because beauty and aesthetics are such a huge part of life in The Capitol, I also thought it would be fun to put together this flaming nail art tutorial inspired by The Hunger Games.

To recreate this look, there are just 4 simple steps:

1. First, paint on a shimmery coal nail polish as your base colour. I used MAC Cosmetics Military from their Holiday 2013 Divine Night Collection.

2. Next, paint on a gold polish (I used mark. Trend Mini Nail Lacquer in Gleam Scene) partway down the nail, creating flicks to look like flames.

3. Add a red polish (I used mark. Trend Mini Nail Lacquer in Snowberry) on top of the gold flames, being careful to leave some peeking through.

4. Last, I decided to top my nails with Essie As Gold As It Gets, which is a gold top coat. This step is optional but adds a bit of dimension and sparkle.

In honour of the movie's upcoming release, I also have a super exciting giveaway for any Hunger Games fans in the Vancouver-area. One lucky reader will win:

• Two advanced screening tickets to "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" on November 20, 2013 playing at 7 p.m. in the Scotiabank Theatre 
• A Hunger Games Prize Pack (including the book trilogy, DVD, and lots of other swag)

GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNER, KATHERINE!

Halloween Nails: AVON Nail Art Design Strips

Apparently October has been the month for nail appliqués (see here and here), but I just couldn't resist the opportunity to put together this Halloween mani using AVON's appropriately-themed nail art design strips.

They come in three different designs: Crazy For Candy, Orange You Scared, and All Webbed Out. My personal favourite is the candy corn though the spider ones do have little jewels which add some fun dimension. Each package retails for $12 CAD and contains 18 strips.

Application was incredibly easy; in fact, I think it was the easiest nail strip application I've had yet! Sometimes I struggle with filing off the excess but had absolutely no problems with these appliqués. They did, however, smell quite pungent when I first opened them but thankfully it wore off quickly.

I'm not really a fan of Halloween and haven't donned a costume in years so these nails are about as festive as I'm going to get. For those of you that do celebrate...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Revlon by Marchesa Nail Art 3D Jewel Appliqués: Gilded Mosaic

I showed you Royal Burgundy a few weeks ago and thanks to the kind folks at Revlon I'm back again with Gilded Mosaic from the limited edition Revlon by Marchesa Nail Art 3D Jewel Appliqués™ Collection.

Gilded Mosaic was inspired by this beautiful Marchesa gown and the design features a black base with raised gold beads and silver accents. SO pretty.

This time around I was also able to perfect how I apply these nail appliqués for optimal use. First, I realized that because my nails are short I can actually cut the strips in half and use one appliqué for two nails. This means I'll be able to get twice the wear from one pack (or more if I just do accent nails). Second, I filed off the excess with a light downwards motion holding the nail file vertically as opposed to holding it horizontally and filing from side-to-side. This resulted in significantly less premature tip wear as my mani is still going strong 5 days later. I knew my vigorous filing was to blame...

All eight Revlon by Marchesa appliqué designs are now available at drugstores and mass retailers for $8.95 CAD. They appear to be quite popular (for obvious reasons), so better get your hands on them while you can!

Revlon by Marchesa Nail Art 3D Jewel Appliqués: Royal Burgundy

One of the beauty collaborations I'm most excited for this Fall is the limited edition Revlon by Marchesa Nail Art 3D Jewel Appliqués™ Collection, set to come out this October. Collaborating with Revlon, Marchesa founders Keren Craig and Georgina Chapman have translated their couture gowns into a set of eight intricate textured nail appliqués that I'm pretty sure many nail art addicts will want to get their hands on.

As you can see, the rich metallics, intricate prints, and lavish colours are accented with opulent jewels and dainty beads. Very Marchesa and very gorgeous.

Lucky for this nail art addict, I received a set of the Royal Burgundy appliqués from the #blogvancity event I recently spoke at (see recaps on J's blog and Sheila's blog) and figured that my (belated) birthday party this past weekend warranted just the occasion to wear them. I'm sure I'm not the only one who loves "special occasion nails"!

Unlike the more complicated processes of some other nail wraps (example), I found applying these relatively hassle-free. All you need to do is start with clean nails, apply the stickers that fit, and file off the edges. To make the process even easier, included in each pack is a mini nail file and cuticle stick. Since I wear my nails short, I also used scissors to cut off the excess sticker before filing.

With minimal work, my nails ended up looking perfectly Fall-appropriate with this beautiful burgundy and gold design inspired by this dress. I haven't been able to stop staring at them!

Wear time on these nail wraps was okay but they did start showing tip wear on the second day (the overlay rubbed off to reveal white underneath). I'm not sure if this is because of my vigorous filing or not, but because the designs are so intricate it actually wasn't very noticeable.

The Revlon by Marchesa Nail Art 3D Jewel Appliqués™ are limited edition and will be available at drugstores and mass retailers for $8.95 CAD. I know I'm planning on collecting a few designs... who else is with me?

Geometric Nail Art: LACC Nail Enamel in 1977 & Butter London Trout Pout

After a few days of sporting this gorgeous turquoise nail polish on its own, I decided to refresh my manicure with some easy geometric nail art. Not only was the colour combination fun to wear, but this actually ended up being a great way to hide a few little chips.

To get the look above, I used LACC Nail Enamel in 1977 as my base (LACC is a great Vegan-friendly line started by a fellow Vancouverite) before adding triangular-shapes with Butter London Trout Pout and Kiss Nail Art Paint in White. For a glossy effect, I finished off with AVON Speed Dry Top Coat (c/o).

P.S. These nails are also featured in a recent FASHION Magazine Beauty Panel challenge on summertime nails - be sure to check it out here!