Holiday Nail Polish Picks

Hey everyone! Since I've managed to amass a large number of nail polishes, I figured it was only right to share my selections for the holiday season. I personally think dressing in holiday garb can be a little over the top, but painting your nails is a subtle way to show how festive you are!

My first choice is Essie "Shine of the Times" over top of OPI "Alpine Snow". Shine of the Times is an incredible sheer nail polish with flecks of shimmer that you can layer over top of just about anything to make it look awesome. I like it over a white nail polish like Alpine Snow because it actually reminds me of snow!

Next is OPI "Golden Eye" from their Skyfall collection a couple years back. This is the most gorgeous, finely-milled gold glitter that looks incredible on its own (3+ coats) or layered on top of something else. I like it over a plain white but it also looks great over a wine color.

Marc Jacobs "Gatsby" is the most luxurious polish I own, making it perfect for special occasions. It's a stunning metallic copper-rose gold shade that's opaque with one coat. A nice alternative to a solid red.

If however, solid reds are your thing, OPI "Short Stop" is a beautiful bright red that has become a staple in my collection. I think this shade of red is perfect year-round, but especially lovely for the holidays.

To add a bit of excitement to a classic red nail, try China Glaze "Ruby Pumps". It's a red-based polish with red shimmer running through it, and to me this polish just screams Christmas. In fact I think it's safe to say that I exclusively wear it around Christmas time.

Last but not least, OPI "Don't Mess With OPI" is a classic green color, perfect for holiday nail art. You know, I bought this polish on a whim thinking I would never really wear it, but I gravitate towards it more often than I thought. The formulation is great and the wear is so long.

Personally, I think dressing in holiday garb can be a little over the top, but painting your nails is a subtle way to show how festive you are!

Nail Goodies from Born Pretty

A little while ago, Born Pretty Store contacted me to review some of their nail goodies. I was thrilled! I've actually shopped with them before. They have the cutest array of nail art stuff, and they even sell really cute phone cases. Best of all, everything is super inexpensive! They gave me a $10 cap, and I was able to get about four items, which I'd say is pretty good.

The first thing I got was this multi-sided nail file, and let me tell you, if you're someone who does their nails frequently this is PERFECT. It has four different sides, each with a different degree of coarseness. Then it even has a side for smoothing & removing ridges. It's brilliant. At $2.88, you really can't go wrong!

Born Pretty is the absolute best store for nail stickers. They have so many and they're really cheap, so you can stock up on a couple different ones for under $10! I got the two in the picture above: some simple black stickers, and some neon ones. I wanted to pick something basic and easy to use. I'll be sure to Instagram a pic when I get around to using them!

Studs over top of Julep Bess

Finally, I picked up a little bag of these hexagonal studs. These have been crazy popular in the nail world for the last little while, so I was eager to test them out. I stuck them on when the nail polish was still wet, and sealed them in with my Essie Fast Drying top coat. I think the manicure is really cute, but I must say it doesn't last very long, especially if you're up and about doing things with your hands. I'm also one to pick at my nails/nail polish (bad habit), so you can bet the studs were off within a day. I think it's a nice idea for a one-time occasion, like a night out or a special event. They would also look cool over black nails.

I also have a 10% off coupon code for all my readers! It's CCB10. Definitely take advantage of it, and check out their site because you're guaranteed to find something that piques your interest!

Collective Nail Polish Haul

Somewhere, somehow, I managed to collect 14 new nail polishes in February... I justified the purchases because it was my birthday month, but I guess you can say have a bit of an addiction to new nail polish... GAH. It's a problem, but just look at them! I can't help it. I really need to get a good nail polish rack to display them.

From left to right: Color Club "The Lime Starts Here", Color Club "Koo-Koo Cachoo", Color Club "Yum Gum", Marc Jacobs "Gatsby",  Orly "Purple Crush", OPI "Sweet Heart", OPI "Alpine Snow", China Glaze "Light As Air", China Glaze "Sweet Hook", China Glaze "Make An Entrance", Zoya "Payton", Models Own "Hedonist", OPI "Push and Shove"

I'll just go through each of them, explaining my rationale for buying them/my initial thoughts if I've tried them already.

Orly "Bonder": I got this base coat because MissGlamorazzi recommended it on her YouTube channel, and let me tell you, it's great. The idea is that it bonds the nail polish to the nail, and it does exactly that. It seriously makes your nail polish last as long as it possibly can.

Color Club neons: On my way back from Florida last week, I popped by a discount beauty store and found these babies on offer - 3 for the price of 1. Such a bargain! I love neon nail polish (recall my obsession with Models Own Luis Lemon), so this was awesome. I haven't worn them yet but they seem seem really glossy and fairly opaque. Excited to try them out!

Marc Jacobs "Gatsby": My friend Marcella got me this nail polish for my birthday, and I love it. I would describe it as a rose-silver metallic (as opposed to rose gold). It sometimes looks a little champagne-y in different lights. It's totally opaque in one swatch. Although it's pricey, you really get good value for money with this one.

Orly "Purple Crush": Since "radiant orchid" is the Pantone color of the year, I felt an overwhelming urge to find a nail polish in that color range. My my my, does this fit the bill. Brands have been coming out with orchid colors left and right but none quite as radiant as this one. I'm seriously itching to wear it.

OPI "Sweet Heart" and "Alpine Snow": I got these two full-size OPIs in a set from TJ Maxx... The price? $7.99 for both! I couldn't leave this in the store, I just couldn't. I already know and love Alpine Snow, and it'll serve as a great base to make those Color Club neons really pop. As for Sweet Heart, well, you just can never have enough nude polishes, am I right?

China Glaze "Light As Air" and "Make an Entrance": I got these at the same place as the Color Clubs, and they were on sale for $2.99. Just couldn't pass them up. "Light as Air" is a beautiful dusty lavender color, and "Make an Entrance" is a vibrant raspberry.

China Glaze "Sweet Hook": So, for my birthday, I made a sneaky Nail Polish Canada purchase. I had enough fidelity points to snap up this pale lilac color, which I've been eyeing since last spring. It'll be the first polish I wear when the weather gets warm!

Zoya "Payton": In the same Nail Polish Canada order, I got Payton, which if you might recall from my previous wishlists, I've been wanting for a long time. The color is gorgeous - a rich purple with silver microglitters. My only gripe is that it's a little thin and brush is imprecise. Otherwise, I'm wearing it right now and I love the shade.

Models Own "Hedonist": Again, I've been wanting this bad boy since last summer! Oh god, I'm so glad I finally own it. I've never seen a brighter coral color in my life. I can't wait to have this on in the dead of summer when I'm eating popsicles and soaking up the sun. Perfect.

OPI "Push and Shove": Of the new OPI collections (Gwen Stefani and Brazil) this is the only polish that really caught my eye. I have a thing for mirror effect nails, so this was right up my alley. As you can see from the swatch above, it's really metallic and reflective. It comes with its own base coat (not sure what's up with that?) but I'm super excited to try it.

PHEW. That's it. I should probably lay off the nail polish purchases for the next while, although Nail Polish Canada did just get the new Models Own Gel Effects.......... LOL :)

PS. anyone notice, no Essie in this haul??? Their polishes have been so boring lately! Seriously hope they step it up!

Things To Look Forward To

As you could probably gather from my last post, I've been a little pessimistic lately. I figured it would be important to counterbalance that post with something more positive, so here are a few things I am looking forward to.

My 21st birthday! I'm not doing anything special, but there's something satisfying about having a day all to yourself. I'm going for pizza with my mom and brother, and I'll probably bake those confetti cupcakes. Oh and knowing myself I will most likely make a sneaky NailPolishCanada purchase.... :)

Confetti cupcakes, OPI Don't Bossa Nova Me Around, Zoya Payton, Pizza

Going to Disney World! I'm sure some people think I'm lame for loving Disney World so much, but for creative-escapist-types like myself, there really is no better place on Earth. The atmosphere is fun and enjoyable, the immersive rides are the coolest, and they have delicious restaurants. Frankly, I can't think of a reason not to go!

Some shots I took on my last trip to Disney

SUMMER! Before we know it, summer will be upon us. I know this winter is taking forever to end, but at least it's February and not December. It's not like I have any extravagant plans, but the warm weather will be a much needed change, and hopefully I will be in good spirits by then.

x x x

Do you have anything you're looking forward to?

OPI "Germanicure"

Hey everyone! As promised, I'll be posting NOTDs whenever I try out a new polish from the Take Ten  10pc set from OPI. The polish that took my fancy today is "Germanicure". In my previous post I had mentioned that it went on a little sheer and streaky, but my outlook has definitely changed.

I used about three coats (which is what I tend to do for every nail polish regardless of opacity) and what resulted was this gorgeous brown-red metallic shade. I thought it might have a purple tinge to it sometimes, but nope, Germanicure is more on the reddish-brown side of the spectrum.

Application was smooth, the only difficulties (if any) can be attributed to the short brush of the mini size bottle. I think this is an amazing fall shade and even though it's getting colder and more winter-y here, I'll probably wear it again at least a couple times throughout the next season.

Is anyone inspired to go pick up the Take Ten set?

Models Own "Luis Lemon"

Hey everyone! I know this may not be the colour to expect when you think of "fall nails", but when I saw this on sale at NailPolishCanada, I just couldn't resist. I'm thinking of it as my fall nail polish palate cleanser.

"Luis Lemon" is a vibrant highlighter yellow color. It's a little sheer on its own, but a white base coat will really make it pop. The polish applies thick yet smooth, and is overall a pleasure to work with. I'm quite impressed with the quality considering most neon polishes tend to be streaky. I only needed one coat over the white to get the shade in the photo above.

This is my first Models Own nail polish and I'm excited to try out some more. "Luis Lemon" is a winner for me!

Nail Polish Canada Wishlist #2

Ahhhhhhh I haven't posted in so long! Can you tell it's midterm season? Well, it's also holiday season for nail polishes and makeup companies... Which means new releases!!! Most of my favorite nail polish brands have already released Winter and Holiday collection so I thought I'd put together a new Nail Polish Canada Wishlist. I've done one of these once before (click here to see it), and as you know, Nail Polish Canada is the place to buy nail polish. They have every possible brand and helloooo free shipping.

First up is Color Club's "The Uptown"... I mean, do you see that gorgeous shimmer? Ugh, and that duochrome. It just looks so cool and all the reviews and swatches I've seen are great.

Next is Essie's "Sable Collar". It looks a little boring in the bottles but from the swatches I've seen, it has this really awesome metallic sheen on the nails. I don't have anything like it so it would be amazing to own.

Models Own "Hedonist" is the only polish featured in my last wish list that I still do not own. Need to get my hands on it ASAP before they get rid of it!

Next up is Essie's "Warm and Toasty Turtleneck". If you already have a light purple creme I wouldn't recommend this because it's probably similar to what you already own. BUT, I don't have any nail polish this color surprisingly, so I'm really eyeing it!

Generally I have mixed feelings about Butter London since they are pricey ($17) and their hit rate for me is 50% (I have two Butter Londons - love one, dislike the other), but "Giddy Kipper" is one I can't resist. All the swatches make it look so edgy and crisp and lovely.

This 5-piece dotting tool set is only $9.95 and really, it's only a matter of time I shell out for me. It's been sitting in my wish list for so long and I want to get into nail art more!

To my surprise, Nail Polish Canada now sells TheBalm products! So cool! The prices are exactly the same as anything you'll find in-store, and with NPC's rewards system and free shipping, it would be silly not to purchase the "Mary Lou-Manizer" there.

And finally, the creme de la creme: OPI's "Take Ten" Mini set. This set basically contains mini versions of the greatest OPI shades ever, including Pirouette My Whiste, Alpine Snow, Bubble Bath, Tickle My France-y, You Don't Know Jacques!, Cajun Shrimp, Big Apple Red, German-icure, Malaga Wine and Lincoln Park After Dark. And the best part: it's only $30! Hallelujah!

Voila! My second ever Nail Polish Canada Wishlist. Anything you've been after?

NOTD: L'Oreal "Now You See Me"

Hey everyone! Thought I would post this NOTD today to get myself psyched for the imminent L'Oreal sale that goes on in Montreal (which I'm crossing my fingers I get tickets to!). The reason I say this is because I picked this up at the last L'Oreal sale but never actually used it until recently. I guess I was waiting for the fall weather to kick in a little ;)

"Now You See Me" is this really beautiful wine red color that I think is great for fall. For reference, it's not quite as plum-brown as Essie's "Bahama Mama" (which I can't wait to put on, by the way). I used three coats in the above picture just to get it all smoothed out, but the consistency is good to work with, as are most L'Oreal nail polishes. Overall I'm really pleased I picked this up when I did because I foresee myself wearing it a couple more times throughout the season!

NOTD: Revlon Nail Art Moon Candy - Orbit

Hey everyone! These Revlon Moon Candy nail polishes have intrigued me ever since they were released, so a couple months ago I finally decided to pick one up for myself. I chose Orbit - a dark purple-blue with light blue and lavender flecks.

The idea is that you apply the solid colour first, and then follow up with the sparkly side, resulting in a super quick "galaxy" manicure.

Note that this nail polish was sooo hard to capture on camera haha. I would say in person it's much less black and a lot more vibrant!

The overall formulation of the polish was really nice. The consistency of the solid shade is thick enough to avoid streakyness, and it's very easy to apply. The glittery side is a little trickier. The flecks are finicky to work with sometimes because they don't apply smoothy - you kinda have to play around a bit before you get the amount of glitter and the smoothness you want. They tend to stick up on application.  A generous layer of top coat will go a long way on this polish.

Overall, the manicure does require a little more patience than usual but I think the result is totally worth it! It's fun to see light catch in the flecks at different points throughout the day. And in terms of the "galaxy manicure" trend, it's relatively simple to achieve.

What do you guys think?

NCLA Nail Wraps: Demo & Review

Hey everyone! A little while ago I posted my Little Black Bag haul/review, and I showed you guys that I got a pack of NCLA nail wraps in that order. I ended up really loving them so I thought I'd share my tips on how to apply them effectively. The set that I got is called "Electric Gradient". It comes with two manicure options: a blue-green gradient and a pink-red gradient. I tried different techniques both time I used them so I'll explain which one worked best!

You can purchase these nail wraps on nailpolishcanada.com for $16, and they come in a variety of patterns and colors :)

What you'll need:

• Nail wraps
• Base coat of your choice
• Top coat of your choice
• Nail file (there's one that comes in the pack that works fine)
• Scissors

First, you'll need to remove any nail polish you have on your nails. Then, cut & shape them any way you like. The nail wraps work better on a straight cut nail, but if you're dead-set on having round nails it will also work. I wouldn't cut your nails too short because you want to incorporate as much of the pattern as you can! Also, applying a base coat at this point is super important. The adhesive on the stickers is very strong and will damage your nails if you skip it! 

Next, pick a sticker that fits the size of the nail you're applying it on. When in doubt, use a smaller size rather than a larger one. If you use one that's a little too big, you'll have a hard time smoothing it down around your cuticle area. Smaller sizes might not fit as snug and there might be some space left between the sticker and your cuticle, but they'll apply much better. In the photo above, I chose a size that was too large and as you can see, there were some air bubbles left on the sides.

If you have shorter nails, the sticker will be much too long. I find them easier to work with if you trim them at this point. 

Bend the sticker over your nail. Try your best to avoid air pockets and smooth out any bumps. This will result in a clean finish. Also, bumpy nails will annoy the heck out of you (at least they did for me haha!). Again, if you pick a size that is slightly smaller than your actual nail you will have an easier time avoiding ridges like the one in the photo above. Once you're happy with how the sticker is placed, use your nail file to remove the excess sticker.

Done! Super cool gradient nails. If the white part of the sticker that came from filing it down annoys you, pick a similar color nail polish and run it along the tip of your nail to cover it up. 

If you have clubbed thumbs like I do, no worries! The largest size sticker that comes in the pack will fit. Generally, though, if you need to customize some of the sizes with a pair of scissors, don't be afraid to do so. These nails should last you a really long time, especially if you don't pick it off. Chipping is very minimal. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of this product and will surely purchase more in the future!

Tuesday In Love Nail Polish REVIEW

Hey everyone! Recently I was contacted by a nail polish company called Tuesday In Love, and I was asked if I would like to try out their line of water permeable nail polishes. Naturally, I agreed, because the whole idea of "breathable" nail polish is becoming super popular and it's so intriguing!

First, I'd like to talk about why this breathable nail polish has been gaining popularity. If you find staining to be an issue with painting your nails, this is a great option. The nail polish allows water to seep through the nail polish and onto your nail which is very hydrating and healthy. Some moms see this as a great option for kids who otherwise aren't allowed to wear nail polish.

In addition, many Muslim ladies have been loving this trend, since wearing nail polish prevents water from reaching your nails during wudhu. My Muslim friend Zeina explained it to me well and since I'm not a specialist I thought I'd share what she said:

"Basically when we pray we have to do this thing called wudhu, "ablution" in English, where we have to wash certain parts of the body (hands, mouth, nose, face, ears, neck, hair, arms and legs). When we wash our hands, it's been said if we have nail polish on then our fingernails aren't cleaned." (She mentioned that this isn't an absolute fact or anything, which is why some Muslim women don't care about nail polish)

"Because regular nail polish usually doesn't let water go through, our wudhu is nullified and our prayer doesn't count because our wudhu wasn't done properly! However, with this nail polish, it allows water to go through (YAY!) so while doing our wudhu our fingers and hands will get cleaned and our wudhu will count and thus our prayer will count while we wear nail polish."

"Usually we can only wear nail polish when we can't pray (during periods) or usually if we have a special occasion we do our wudhu and then wear it, but that limits prayer throughout the day. At a wedding once I wore nail polish and basically I couldn't pray 'til I got home."

1 coat Tuesday In Love pink nail polish + 1 coat Tuesday In Love top coat (also water permeable)

Pros:

• Incredibly opaque in ONE coat. As you can see on the left, there was a little bit of streaking but that would be easily smoothed out with a second coat. I was so impressed with the opacity that I didn't bother.
• It's totally peelable! I've tried "peelable" nail polishes before and none have actually worked aside from this one. Once it starts looking a little ratty you can peel it right off! No need for remover whatsoever.
• $12.47 price point as opposed to Inglot's $16 ($14 American)
• Portions of each purchase are donated to Plan Canada's "Because I Am A Girl" campaign (Read more)
• Water permeability test approved. When you purchase this nail polish you get a pamphlet with instructions on how to perform the test. Basically you paint a portion of a paper towel, drop some water on top and see if it seeps through.
• No need to worry about applying a base coat to protect your nails!

Cons: 

• Because it's peelable, this nail polish will not last more than a day. In my book that seriously sucks because I tend to keep my nail polish on for days, however if you do participate in wudhu or have a special occasion that calls for a nice manicure, this will definitely satisfy that even if just for one evening.
• As you can see in the top right-hand photo, the nail polish starts to change color as it gets worn. I assume this is due to water settling between the polish and nail. Again, this nail polish is really only for one day's use.

Comparison to Inglot O2M nail polish:

The major company specializing in these kinds of polish is Inglot which also has a line of breathable nail polishes. I personally haven't tried the Inglot polishes, but my friend Zeina has and is graciously willing to provide a comparison. She says that the Inglot polish lasts longer, however the formulation is incredibly thinned out and requires like five coats to render it opaque. The Tuesday In Love is therefore much easier to apply. Again, there is a $4 difference in price point between the Inglot & Tuesday In Love.

Verdict: Would I purchase another Tuesday In Love nail polish? Probably not, because I prefer a long-lasting manicure. That said, the Inglot nail polish seems to have an equal number of faults and if these are the only two options for Muslim ladies, Tuesday In Love definitely has its advantages. It honestly just depends if you're looking for something longlasting or temporary!

OPI "Chic From Ears to Tail"

Hey everyone! A couple days ago I blogged about OPI's "A Definite Moust-Have" so today I have part 2 - "Chic From Ears to Tail". As I said in that previous post, the new OPI Couture de Minnie collection, although not particularly unique, had some really great staple colours. This is one of them.

If you feel like your collection is lacking a bubblegum pink, this is a great choice. I have to admit, it's a little on the thin side, so you might have to lay it on thick if multiple-coaters aren't your thing. Otherwise, the formulation is creamy and the brush is ideal - not too dense and easy to use. If I'm not mistaken, I detect a really slight shimmer, but it's probably just there to give it some extra shine. I definitely foresee myself reapplying this a couple more times this summer.

The entire collection is available on nailpolishcanada.com.

OPI "A Definite Moust-Have"

Hey everyone! I recently got a few items from nailpolishcanada... (Yes, I need help.), and one of them is this polish from the new OPI collection "Couture de Minnie" called "A Definitely Moust-Have".

I wasn't originally going to get this but then it dawned on me that I don't have a hot-pink watermelon colour in my collection. In fact, that was kinda my response the the collection as a whole - was it unique? Not really... But there are some solid staples in that collection. Hot pink, cute creamy pink, and your standard red. Check it out: http://www.nailpolishcanada.com/categories/opi/collections/couture-de-minnie.html

Overall, the formulation was really great. It went on smooth and was relatively opaque. I used three coats to be safe but two is more than enough. The color is super ideal for summer and works well as a manicure or pedicure. If your summer has been less-than-ideal weather-wise (it's been extra rainy in Montreal for some reason), this is sure to be a great pick-me-up.

I also picked up "Chic From Ears to Tail" from the same collection so that'll be up as a NOTD very soon. Here are the rest of the goodies I got in the same order.

Check out my instagram for up-to-date stufff ;) instagram.com/abundanceerica 

Nail Polish Canada Wishlist

Hey everyone! It's no secret that I'm obsessed with nail polish, which means I have a ridiculously large collection of it. That also means, unfortunately, that I can't justify purchasing any more. So, instead of buying the ones I want from my usual online store (nailpolishcanada), I figured I'd make a quick wishlist. Not exactly the same as making an order, but it'll have to do!

Photos from nailpolishcanada.com

First up is "For Audrey" by China Glaze. Surprisingly, I don't think I have a similar colour to this in my current collection. I have a turquoise but it's much more on the green side. I think it's such a cute shade and name - of course referencing Breakfast at Tiffany's. I feel like it would definitely be a staple in my collection if I were to own it!

Next is "Bouncer it's Me" by Essie. Of the newer Essie collections (including their Resort Collection, their new wedding collection, their new summer collection, and their neons), this is pretty much the only one that caught my eye. I don't normally gravitate towards blue polish anymore but this one is so crisp and shocking that I can't help it!

OPI hasn't really intrigued me with their new collections recently - I feel like nothing totally unique has been released and I'm not feeling their new liquid sands, but "Chic From Ears To Tails" is something I would like to own. I don't have a pretty, creamy pink colour, and from the swatches I've seen I believe this has a very slight glitter to it, so I think it would be really pretty on!

Models Own "Hedonist" is a colour I've been eyeing for ages. I don't know exactly when Nail Polish Canada started stocking Models Own, but I'm so thrilled about it! These nail polish are extortionately expensive on the Models Own site and on ASOS (presumably because they hail from the UK), so I'm really glad they're only going for $8. There are other Models Own polishes that I'm after ("Luis Lemon" and "Indian Ocean"), but they're unfortunately sold out. I feel like Models Own is the only company that has put out anything super unique lately!

Photos from nailpolishcanada.com

It's no secret that Seche Vite is my favorite top coat ever, but once you're about halfway through the bottle it does start to get gloopy. "Seche Restore" is a polish thinner that supposedly gets the top coat back to its original state.

Zoya "Godiva" is hands down the most gorgeous textured glitter that has been released in this entire trend - or at least of the polishes I've seen swatches of. It has the prettiest sandy texture and it looks so classy and elegant. I'm really sad that it's sold out at the moment but hopefully the site restocks soon! Otherwise I might have to pop Trade Secrets a visit!

Next is Revlon "Orbit Moon Candy", a nail art duo that has intrigued me for a little while now. I nearly picked this up at Wal Mart but, of course, decided against it because I can't justify more nail polish. The combination of the two polishes makes a really awesome, quick galaxy nail.

Speaking of the galaxy nail, NCLA released limited edition nail wraps in a galaxy print. I originally saw these on Little Black Bag (where I've just placed my first order!!! Expect a haul/unboxing soon!), but they were soo popular and impossible to trade for. They just look really cool, and I'm a big fan of the galaxy nail trend.

So there you have it! My Nail Polish Canada wishlist complete. Any nail polishes you've been loving lately?

Nail Polish Trends for Summer 2013

Hey everyone! It's no secret that I've been off my blog game for a while now, but hopefully with school done I'll be motivated to get back in it. My two favorite beauty "realms" of the moment have been nail polish and hair, so I thought it would be a nice idea to share my favorite shades for the season! Without further ado...

My absolute favorite nail color of choice for the spring/summer season is coral. Or salmon, orange, creamsicle, peach, etc. If you're looking for something on the paler pastel side, I suggest Julep's Clara. It's a really subtle but flattering way to wear this trend. My favorite, however, has to be Butter London's Trout Pout. It does range on the pricier side ($17), but the quality is incredible - completely opaque in two coats but definitely wearable with just one - and the color is spot-on. It's the most perfect pink-toned coral I own!

Swatches & Full Reviews: L'Oreal L'Orange

You can never really go wrong with a solid neutral nail polish. Admittedly, I haven't found my perfect nude tone, but these are some that have come quite close. My favorite of the bunch in terms of color has to be Kiko's "French Pink". My only problem with it is that it's quite sheer considering it's meant to be a french manicure topcoat, however it still looks really chic and put-together. Another one I love is Julep "Kate". This is my go-to white nail. I think white nails look really great with a nice tan, and this one is just right. It's opaque and lovely and doesn't have that "liquid paper" look.

Swatches & Full Reviews: Julep "Kate", Kiko "French Pink" (#207), Zoya "Jacqueline", Essie "Sand Tropez"

I really believe that a fun, pink nail polish can be the perfect pick-me-up. For a bright, fluorescent pink option, I highly recommend China Glaze Shocking Pink. The color is truly shocking, but it's so summery and looks great on tan skin. I also really love Essie "Fiji". This is the most muted option of the bunch, and it has a more soft, feminine feel. Cascade Cool is a really cute blue-toned pink that veers more towards the purple tones - still a very nice option.

Swatches & Full Reviews: Essie "Fiji", Kiko "Flamingo Pink" (#288)

Lastly, I also love bringing out the blues & turquoises in the summer time. My favorite turquoise has to be Julep "Robin". It's the most perfect turquoise color I've tried so far. Kiko Light Misty Green definitely comes close. My favorite blue to wear is Essie "Bikini So Teeny". Funny story - I wore this polish to Disney World and Cinderella noticed that my nails matched her dress, so now I call this polish my "Cinderella Blue"! That really is the best way to describe it haha!

Swatches & Full Reviews: Julep "Robin"

Hope you enjoyed this post! Let me know if you would like to see these polishes swatched side-by-side. I might do a part 2 to this post if it's requested!

NOTD: Essie "Sand Tropez" + Bonus Easter Mani

Hey everyone! Welcome to April :) I probably won't be doing a March favorites post seeing as not much has changed from last month, however this little manicure has definitely been a favorite. I think it's so cute and perfect for spring! First I'll show you the base color I used, which is Essie Sand Tropez.

Though some may find it a little bland, I've been looking for a nude-taupe nail colour for a while. I think this will quickly become a favorite! The application is really lovely and smooth (as is with many Essie nail polishes).

PS. my nail beds have been awful lately! Do any of you have this problem?

This was the manicure I wore on Easter! Cute, isn't it? And it reminds me of Mini Eggs haha.

It's really simple to do as well. First, you paint your nail the color of the half moon (in my case, either blue, pink, purple, or yellow), wait for it to dry completely (I used a quick bit of Seche Vite topcoat because I'm super impatient lol), apply a page hole reinforcer to the bottom half - those little circular stickers, and then paint the top part of the nail with your color of choice. In case you're curious, the colors I used are Zoya "Jacqueline", American Apparel "L'Esprit", Essie "Fiji", Zoya "Blu" and of course, Essie "Sand Tropez".

Let me know what you think in the comments! Hope you're having a great spring so far!

NOTD (Essie Fiji) + OPI Giveaway Winner

Hey everyone! I've got a quick NOTD for you all (finally! It's been so long since I've done one), and I thought I'd announce the winner of my OPI giveaway at the same time. But first thing's first...

Long story short, I absolutely love this color. As you know I was in Florida for a couple days and got a (very unnoticeable) tan, and I thought this polish would enhance it a little. Definitely a good choice. I foresee myself wearing this a ton during the summer. It actually reminds me of a shade I used to wear when I was younger, except that one was milkier and cheaper. This was definitely a three-coater, but the result was worth it, I think. Essie polishes are always great quality in my opinion. Worth the hype!

Next order of business: the winner of my OPI giveaway...

Congratulations to Danni Golding! I will be emailing you shortly so please do respond ASAP :)

I also wanted to thank everyone who took the time to enter. I love having giveaways and giving gifts. I think it's so much fun to send people small tokens of my gratitude, especially on an international basis. And of course, thanks again for sticking with me and reading my blog. It means a lot!

Birthday Presents to Myself (Haul!)

Hey everyone! So my birthday is not for another couple of weeks, but I've already done a little shopping for myself (naughty). I celebrated with my family who all gave me money (a little disappointing in all honesty because I love a good thoughtful gift, but it's okay), so I thought I'd go ahead and buy a couple items I've been wanting--none too expensive because I'm trying to save up for a new camera. Anyway - onto the haul!

iPhone 4: So turns out I didn't have to pay for this little guy at all! My dad's contract was over and he was able to upgrade to an iPhone 5, so he passed this one onto me! It's in perfect condition and I'm already loving it so far! :) PS - follow me on Instagram: abundanceerica!

Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray: I popped by Sephora last Sunday just to have a browse around, and while I was looking at the hair stuff I noticed this and remembered someone on YouTube going on about it (Zoella I think). Anyhow, the sales lady persuaded me into buying it and although it was a little pricey ($19), I have been really loving it!

OPI Liquid Sand in "Get Your Number": I don't always fall into the "texture" nail polish trap because I usually get over them quickly (remember the OPI Shatter phase), but this one seems versatile enough that I probably won't get bored over it. It's basically a sparkly matte polish that dries into a sand texture - but I figure I could always use a shiny topcoat over it if ever I want a change :) Will do a NOTD asap!

Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer: I've been on the market for a new concealer lately so I watched one of FleurdeForce's old videos and found out that this is one of her favorites. Thought I'd try it out for myself!

FYI: I purchased all of these online at nailpolishcanada.com - such an incredible online shop! They have any nail polish you could ever want! :D (Left to right: Essie Bikini So Teeny, Essie Fiji, Butter London Trout Pout, Butter London Wallis, OPI Liquid Sand Get Your Number)

Butter London "Trout Pout" & "Wallis": I've been meaning to try Butter London polishes for ages now - mostly because I love them in Allison's NOTDs. Trout Pout & Wallis are the ones I opted for because they both really caught my eye. Can't wait to try them out!

Aveeno Foaming Cleanser: This is a repurchase. I really like this product because it's a fuss-free cleanser that does the job quickly.

Bath & Body Works "Coconut Leaves" and "Beach Cabana" mini candles: So I also stopped by B&BW on Sunday to have a look at their new spring scents, and I was actually going to purchase two three-wick candles and a room spray instead, but it ended up coming out to over $40 at the till - which, if you're a Bath & Body Works fan like I am, is much too expensive. I was shocked they weren't having any promotions on and decided to leave them, because I know they will be on some sort of sale in a week's time. Instead I got two mini candles to satisfy my candle need, and I'm really loving Coconut Leaves so far!

Essie "Bikini So Teeny" and "Fiji": Again, these are two polishes I've been wanting for a while!

Hope you enjoyed the haul!

PS. I opened up a Facebook page and no one has liked it yet! It's a little lonely so come on over? :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Zoya "Blu" + China Glaze "Ruby Pumps" hand-drawn hearts (I used the end of a bobby pin!)

Personally I'll be spending the day in bed watching My Mad Fat Diary. Maybe I'll bake something. (LOL, at least my nails are festive!) Have a great day everyone!

NOTD: Zoya Jacqueline

Hey everyone! As I mentioned previously, I recently got ahold of Zoya's new spring collection, so I'll be featuring each of them in a string of NOTDs :) This is actually the second one from the collection that I've tried so far (totally forgot to take a picture of Neely when I had it on).

Top left: natural lighting, top right: artificial lighting, bottom left: with flash, bottom right: natural lighting (but w/ more shade)

I'm very, very pleased with the formulation of these polishes. They're incredibly high quality and opaque in only two layers (I used three for good measure). Jacqueline is what I would describe as a pale, eggshell or magnolia yellow. It's really polished and classy, and is a nice alternative to a stark white or a plain nude. This shade is creamy and buttery--I really love the effect of it.

I'm excited to try the other shades in this collection, especially Blu (creme pale blue) and GeiGei (shimmery baby pink). Look out for those NOTDs coming soon! :)