Winter Nail Polish Picks

Cold weather doesn't mean giving pretty manicures the cold shoulder! Here are some of my favourite colours and styles:

Cobalt - If you like bright but not quite neon, this is the perfect shade for you. Essie makes a gorgeous cobalt polish. A shocking colour like this looks best on short, square or rounded nails.

Berry - Berry lips were en vogue this fall, and the trend continues with nails. Bonus: berry shades are flattering on most skin tones.

Nude - Subtle and pretty, no matter your colouring, nude nails are many women's go-to, and it's easy to see why. This shade looks great on long or short nails.

Jewel Tones - Match your tips to your Baroque-inspired jewel toned accessories. Jewel tones are not only a great way to be on-trend, but you'll look luxe without spending lots of cash. Elle Canada's list of polishes is great.

Crimson - Fiery red is classic, sexy and screams vixen. What's not to love?

Fun, quirky, colourful nail art - Add a little whimsy to your winter with glitter, designs, or even candy cane stripes. Lots more ideas are at my Pinterest Nail Art board.

What's your go-to winter mani?

Image from APolishAddict.com

My Fall Beauty Bag

Mid-way through this Fall, I've noticed that many of my go-to beauty products have changed with the seasons, while some old standbys have remained in my glittery makeup bag year-round:

-Mascara. I love Julep's mascara. It lengthens beautifully and comes in a cute bottle.

-Lip balm with SPF. Just because there's less sun in Fall doesn't mean your lips don't need protection from UV rays. I like Maybelline's Baby Lips. To moisturize my lips, I prefer EOS in sweet mint.

-Moisturizer with SPF. See above. Plus, my skin feels hydrated and healthy. I usually don't even put foundation on top. I love Yves Rocher's hydrating moisturizer.

-Lip stain. Dark, statement-making lips are en vogue, and I love how a berry lip looks on me. Stain means I don't have to touch it up often, which is great for a busy girl.

-Lip gloss. I use gloss every season! Right now I'm really enjoying Cake's (and you can buy a tube from my store).

-Nail polish: Revlon's polish is fabulous! Lately I've been alternating between "Minted" and "Cherries in the Snow" manicures.

What's in your fall beauty bag? How are you going to update it for winter?

DIY Manicures Changed My Life

As a kid, I'd bite my nails whenever I was nervous. As I got older, I'd pick at my cuticles during panic attacks, completely unaware of what I was doing until my fingers were bleeding or infected.

But this isn't a post about dermatillomania (though I have been meaning to write one). It's not about bad habits from childhood, either. It's about how changing one little item in my beauty regimen has boosted my self esteem.

After an entirely sucky period in my life, I was left drained and insecure (especially in my appearance). I felt ugly more often than I felt acceptable, and I could probably count the number of days I spent feeling pretty on my hands.

I struggled my way back to self-love and self-confidence, but some days are still a battle. That's why the little things I do to make myself feel happy and beautiful are so important.

I recently began painting my nails; spending hours selecting a shade of polish, painting on coat after coat, covering it in glitter and admiring my handiwork. It's been worth it. This tiny change in how I take care of myself physically (and, I suppose, splurge on nail lacquer from time to time) makes me feel good.

What little something do you treat yourself to for an ego boost?

Image Source: RebeccaEsther.com