Polish of the Moment: Essie Resort 2014 Collection

While at Winners the other day, I was browsing around their nail polish to see what gem I could find and I saw that they had the Resort collection minis for under $13 so I had to give it a go. I first saw the collection and I wasn't really wowed, apart from the pale blue colour which is something unique in my collection. Reviews kept saying that they were streaky and hard to apply so I took a pass but when you can a smaller version, it tends to soften the blow on your wallet. Mini sizes make it so easy to test out a collection and when you have enough nail polish, you rarely go through an entire bottle (at least I've never done so!)
Out of these four shades I know I'm going to get the least use out of the peach shade called Resort Fling. It's a jelly formula which isn't my favourite and I'm not sure how it would look on my skintone. Might have to give it a try as a pedicure. The polish I'm really loving is the nude shade called Cocktails and Coconuts. I don't have many nude polishes and I've over worn Essie Sand Tropez to death so I thought it would be a great option. This is probably the best nude polish I've tried so far, and although I don't usually like shimmer in nail polish, this one is subtle and adds extra dimension (sort of like the glitter in Essie Bikini So Teeny). Find Me An Oasis, the powder blue shade, is probably my next favourite. Most of the blue shades I have are either darker or have green undertones to them but this one is basically a white base with just enough baby blue and I think I'm in love. This is gonna look so good with a tan. Last but not least is Under The Twilight, a dark cream purple, which isn't a typical Spring shade so I was surprised they included it but it's definitely a one-coater and I don't have many of those in my stash. I might give it a go while I'm still a bit pale but this will be amazing in the Fall and Winter, and application will be a breeze - this is extremely opaque. 
All in all, there are certain collections that don't seem as strong to me or that you just don't feel like buying all of them full size, in which case these mini sets are amazing. If you can find them at your Winners, definitely pick one up! 
Any polishes in particular looking extra pretty to you lately? 

The Best of Spring: Essie Edition

As a previously loyal, die hard OPI fan, this post kind of makes me laugh. I was never interested in buying Essie polishes until maybe a year ago when I fell in love with them. As with every brand, you have the odd dud here and there, but I've loved many of the shades that I've had from Essie and I actually prefer their brushes because they are thinner and allow for a lot of precision. 
I noticed that my collection, as a whole, was lacking in the spring/summer shade category so I took myself to Target (when Essie was on sale whoop!) and did some damage. Keep in mind this was over a period of like 7 months - which in the end doesn't matter because it's still a lot haha! I'm so excited to be sporting these shades on my nails in the coming months! The colours I included are: (bottom row) Mademoiselle, Fiji, Sand Tropez, Absolutely Shore; (top row) Bikini So Teeny, Mod Square, Watermelon, Really Red.  (I'm wearing Mod Square in the picture). I love wearing Fiji with a tan and Watermelon looks like it'll be one of my preferred pinks during the warmer weather!
This line up has everything I could want for Spring/Summer nails - except I would probably add in an orange and a purple, but otherwise, these are some of my go to shade ranges. Aside from Essie though, I am so tempted to buy some shades from the Deborah Lippmann Spring Collection because they are seriously beautiful! Vivianna Does Makeup has made me want more beauty products once again! (more on her recommendations in an upcoming post!) To sum it up, I'm involved in a major love affair with Essie at the moment and I don't think it'll be a summer fling ;)

Nailed It!

Apart from my love of the blackened red manicure, I've been enjoying a few of my Essie polishes a lot this month, as well as a new base coat and top coat to go along. A few years back I swore by Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat but after hearing about all the health warnings that came along with that little bottle I decided it was time to start searching for a new top coat. I've been thoroughly enjoying Sally Hansen's selection of top coats lately (btw, how weird is it that there was never anyone even named Sally Hansen....). I tried the one that comes in the metallic bottle but I settled for Insta Dri because it dries my nails really quickly but won't have me inhaling the toxic fumes emitted from Seche Vite.
 For a base coat I'm not particularly fussy, mostly because no matter what I try nothing prevents the staining that happens with dark polishes. Lately I've been getting through this bottle of Sally Hansen Complete Care base coat. it says it basically does everything from protecting your nails from staining to helping to fortify them.... I can't say much for the fortification and lengthening of nails due to this alone but it has served me well. 
Colour wise this month has definitely been about the Essie domination. I grew up very much an OPI kind of girl but I've expanded my horizons and been liking Essie polishes, especially since the brush isn't so tiny anymore. The colours that I've been gravitating towards the most this month have been Merino Cool (a new purchase which I love --- very similar to L'Oreal Greyt Expectations), Sand Tropez and Fiji. Funny enough these colours are a little bit harder to apply for me. Not impossible but definitely a bit more finicky compared to those shades that are opaque in one swipe. All of these picks are definitely more muted and neutral but I cannot wait to wear brighter hues in the months to come. Hello Spring, I'm waiting for you!

Perfectly Polished: Clean, Fresh Nails

Nail polish. Just hearing those two words get me giddy and reaching for my nail polish remover waiting to see what hue will grace my fingertips next. As the weather starts cooling down (... freezing up is more like it), I tend to reach for darker, vampy shades. That being said, this year soft pinks and nudes are tickling my fancy - that made me giggle just typing it - and I'm not complaining. No matter what time of year it is, there is nothing more satisfying than looking down at your hands and seeing freshly manicured nails that look clean and very Kate Middleton-esque. *sigh* She's so beautiful. Ok, back to nail polish, I tend to get side tracked whenever I think about how gorgeous and ladylike she is. Don't judge!

If you feel the same way or don't but want to see what the fuss is all about, here are some shades that are sure to make you swoon!

Top Row: OPI - (L to R) Bubble Bath // Coney Island Cotton Candy // Samoan Sand
Essie - (L to R) Allure // Fiji // Eternal Optimist

Out of this bunch I'd have to say my faves have to be Bubble Bath and Fiji. In this picture you might think that they're similar but the formulas and opacity are very different. Bubble Bath is definitely sheerer while Fiji is very opaque and gives your nails such a clean, girly look - It's the polish Emily Maynard always wears. And how pretty is that neutral ombre look?! I think I may give that a try soon.

Thanks for stopping by x

Glorious Peonies.