Category: Nail Art

#ManicureMonday | Cool Toned Cloud Manicure featuring Zoya Nail Polish

Happy Manicure Monday! Today I’m excited to share with you the nail polish look I’m wearing this week. I’ve been using a lot of special effects toppers and glitters on my nails lately, so I decided to reach for some good, old-fashioned cream shades. I grabbed three polishes from Zoya Nail Polish and did some simple nail art in a cloud manicure. While this manicure will impress your friends because it looks put together and fancy, it’s super easy to create. Plus, these cool toned shades are perfect for the chilly winter months!

#ManicureMonday | Cool Toned Cloud Manicure

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. This post includes affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

I used three nail polishes from Zoya to create this manicure. The purple shade is Abby from the Charming Collection, the bright blue shade is Mateo from the Dreamin’ Collection, and the subdued blue shade is Lake from the Whispers Collection. I did a skittle manicure and decided to use my ring finger as the accent nail. Make sure to let your nail polish dry before moving onto the nail art portion.

Zoya Nail Polish Nail Art Tutorial | Adventures in Polishland

I’ve used the same Pinterest tutorial for cloud nail art since I started this blog back in 2012. Essentially, you just apply your nail polish in a descending manner and layer on your colors. The only trick is to let the shades dry before going onto the next step. That way you don’t smudge your manicure. This is especially important before adding your top coat! I use the Holo Taco Super Glossy Taco for a super shiny, glass like finish.

Manicure Monday Cloud Nail Art Look

I’m loving how this manicure turned out! The cool toned colors look so great together even though they came from three different Zoya Nail Polish collections. It’s also nice to take a break from the glittery nails I’ve been sporting lately for a smooth, cream formula finish. If you haven’t tried out a cloud manicure before, I highly recommend it! The result looks quite impressive even though it’s simple to create.

Follow me on Instagram for more manicures and product recommendations!

Dry Brush Nail Art featuring the Zoya Nostalgic Collection

Happy Wednesday! A few days back I featured swatches and a full review of the Zoya Nail Polish Nostalgic Collection. I loved this collection so much that I knew I wanted to wear the polishes together in one manicure. I decided to do a dry brush nail art look. This is a simple technique I learned from Emily over at Casual Contrast (formerly The Lacquerologist). You can find Emily’s full tutorial on this nail art on her blog, but today I’ll show you what combining the Nostalgic Collection from Zoya looks like.

Dry Brush Nail Art featuring the Zoya Nostalgic Collection

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. This post includes an affiliate link. All opinions are my own. Please see my Disclosure Policy for more information.

I began my manicure by applying two coats of Vivi. I chose a light base shade because I wanted the darker polishes in the collection to still pop out well on the nails. I let Vivi dry completely before moving onto the next step, as I didn’t want this base shade to budge at all in the dry brushing process.

Dry Brush Nail Art featuring the Zoya Nostalgic Collection

I then used Mila, Austin, and Cooper to add some fun color to my manicure. The trick with dry brushing is to wipe off the brush until it has very little polish on it. That allows for you to do abstract strokes on the nails for a unique look each time. I love this technique because it looks fancy, but it’s super easy to achieve. You really cannot mess it up! My only tip is to let the polish dry between layers, and make sure your manicure is fully dry before you apply a top coat so you don’t smudge the completed look.

I’m really loving the final result! The Zoya Nostalgic Collection works so well together, as the shades really compliment one another. I decided to use three of the polishes in the actual dry brushing, so that the colors would still stand out without looking muddy. That being said, you could definitely add more colors, especially if you switch to using a nail art brush for small strokes. If you are looking for an easy nail art design that looks great in the end, I would recommend giving the dry brush technique a try!

Dare to Compare | Comparing 4 Bright Pink Nail Polishes

Happy Tuesday! I told you in my last Dare to Compare post that my love for pink polishes is strong, and bright pink is one of my favorite shades to wear. In fact, one of my first ever Dare to Compare posts back in 2013 featured three bright pink polishes (read it HERE). Today I have four more polishes to compare with all of you. I’ll be reviewing each polish individually, and swatching them side-by-side to see the colors together.

Milani Color Statement – Hot Pink Rage Milani Color Statement – Hot Pink RageFirst up is Hot Pink Rage from Milani’s Color Statement line. Hot Pink Rage has a perfect formula that is opaque in one coat! I did apply two in the photos above to see if I could achieve a richer pigmentation, but one coat is definitely all you need. Hot Pink Rage is definitely a deeper pink in shade, while still being very bright.

Milani – Raspberry Delight Milani – Raspberry DelightNext up is Raspberry Delight from Milani’s older nail polish line that is now discontinued. Raspberry Delight has a good formula, but it did get a bit streaky during application. I applied two coats for opacity, and I can see some uneven texture in the finish. This is a gorgeous pink, and a bit lighter in shade than Hot Pink Rage. Raspberry Delight does have a very subtle shimmer in the bottle, but I can’t see it on my nails at all.

Covergirl – Tickled Pink Covergirl – Tickled PinkTickled Pink from Covergirl is up next, another polish I’ve owned for several years now. Tickled Pink has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats. It applies really smoothly, and just looks amazing on my nails. I’ve had great luck with Covergirl polishes, and Tickled Pink is one of my favorites!

Priti NYC – Nice Gal PeonyPriti NYC – Nice Gal Peony

Last but not least is Nice Gal Peony from Priti NYC. Nice Gal Peony also has an excellent formula. It applies well and is opaque in two coats, and just so pretty! I also like that this polish is made in the USA by a smaller brand. I do take those things into consideration when buying products, because it’s always nice to support companies in my own country.

Dare to Compare | Comparing 4 Bright Pink Nail Polishes Dare to Compare | Comparing 4 Bright Pink Nail PolishesHere is a look at all four polishes together. From left to right are: Milani Color Statement in Hot Pink Rage, Milani in Raspberry Delight, Covergirl in Tickled Pink, and Priti NYC in Nice Gal Peony. It is obvious from the comparison that these polishes are not exact duplicates for one another despite being very similar. Hot Pink Rage and Tickled Pink are almost dupes, but they are slightly different. It’s so difficult for me to declutter any of these polishes, because they all have such great formulas. However, there is no need for me to keep all four, so I’m letting go of Raspberry Delight and Tickled Pink.

All in all, I’m surprised that these bright pink polishes are more different in shade than I first anticipated! Sometimes the way a polish looks in the bottle is not exactly how it dries on the nails. That is certainly the case with some of these pink shades! As always, I would love to know what bright pink polishes are your favorites. Please share in the comments!

Some of the products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Easy July 4th Nail Art | My Independence Day Manicure

Happy Monday! It is Independence Day here in the United States, and I wanted to share with you the manicure I created to celebrate. I’ve always loved July 4th, and what a better way to wear the red, white, and blue than on your nails! I reached into my nail polish collection to create this really easy nail art look, which can be customized to fit your tastes and skill level. Let me share my Independence Day manicure with all of you!

Easy July 4th Nail Art | My Independence Day Manicure

What You Need // What I Used:

  • Red Nail Polish // KBShimmer in Chilly Papper [LINK]
  • Blue Nail Polish // Covergirl Outlast Stay Brilliant in Out of the Blue [LINK]
  • White Nail Polish // LVX Fantom [LINK]
  • Scotch Tape
  • Born Pretty Store Star Stamping Plate [LINK]
  • Stamp and Scraper Tool // Born Pretty Store Stamp Set [LINK]
  • Top Coat // Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Top Coat [LINK]

Easy July 4th Nail Art | My Independence Day Manicure Easy July 4th Nail Art | My Independence Day ManicureI began my manicure by painting all of my nails red with the exception of my ring finger, which I painted blue. I made sure to let this dry completely before continuing on with the nail art look. If you are in a rush, you can simply leave your manicure like this, or add some glitter on top to dress it up a bit! A white glitter over the blue accent nail would look great.

Easy July 4th Nail Art | My Independence Day Manicure Easy July 4th Nail Art | My Independence Day ManicureThe final step was adding on some white stars using my stamping tools. I decided to block off part of my nail using Scotch tape, and left only the middle triangle open for the stamp. Make sure to choose a really pigmented white polish so that the stars will really stand out on your nail. Feel free to stamp over the whole nail, or just a portion like I did! Follow up with a glossy top coat once the stamp is dry, and your manicure is complete!

All in all, I am loving my July 4th nail art! It was really easy to create, but looks super festive. If you don’t own a stamping plate with stars, you can substitute nail stickers or simply a glitter polish. Of course, if you’re really fancy you can freehand some stars as well. Make the look your own with whatever you have in your collection! I hope you are having a fun and safe Independence Day! Please tag me on social media so I can see your festive nails!

Some of the products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. This post includes affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Nail Bliss Nail Pop Appliqués Review | All Laced Up

Happy Monday! Today I have a review of a nail art product from the brand Nail Bliss. This is a new-to-me brand sold exclusively at Sally Beauty Stores, and I was excited to receive the Nail Pop Appliqués in the style All Laced Up to review. I love trying out nail stickers because they make nail art really quick and easy. Plus, nail appliqués typically last longer than nail polish. Nail Pop Appliqués are also super fabulous and affordable, so I knew I had to test them out so I could share my thoughts with all of you!

Nail Bliss Nail Pop in All Laced Up
Nail Bliss Nail Pop in All Laced Up

Here is a look at the Nail Pop packaging. These appliqués are designed with accent nails in mind, so you only receive eight full size nail stickers. However, you do get a lot of smaller accents, which can be layered or worn alone. I was surprised that this bulky box only contained the sheet of appliqués you see here, and not a nail file, which is needed to apply the stickers and is included by many competitor brands. This packaging seemed a bit unnecessary, especially since there was a cardboard piece inside to puff out the box. I would rather a more environmentally friendly design for such a small sheet of stickers!

Color Club – Mod in ManhattanI began my manicure with a base of Color Club’s Mod in Manhattan. I decided I wanted to replicate the manicure on the Nail Pop box as much as possible, so an off-white shade was a great choice. I made sure to let my manicure dry completely before attempting to apply the appliqués.

Nail Bliss Nail Pop in All Laced Up
Nail Bliss Nail Pop in All Laced Up

The Nail Pop Appliqués work just like any other nail sticker. You choose the size that fits your nail best, smooth the sticker over the nail, and file off any excess. Then, make sure to seal the manicure with a top coat.

The first thing I noticed with the appliqués is that I had trouble finding the right size for my nails. Similar nail stickers often come with more stickers than you need so that you can find the perfect size for your nails. That is certainly not the case here. Not only are there not enough appliqués for a complete manicure, but the four sizes available didn’t fit my nails well. Similarly, the appliqués were difficult to apply because they are so sticky during application that you cannot reposition them at all. If you make a mistake, you have to work around it.

Nail Bliss Nail Pop in All Laced UpThat being said, I did really like the final manicure result. The All Laced Up Set has some really fun patterns, and I like being able to create a skittle manicure with little effort.

Nail Bliss Nail Pop in All Laced UpUnfortunately, my manicure did not last long. Just a few hours after my manicure was dry, I noticed the nail appliqué begin to peel off my pointer finger. You can see the edge is completely off my nail in the above photo. The next morning when I woke up (about 17 total hours later), nearly all of the appliqués were peeling at the edges. This was so disappointing! I made sure to follow the application instructions on the stickers exactly, and sealed them with top coat. I think the main reason they were peeling is because they just didn’t fit my nail shape well. I will say that the smaller accents stayed put very easily, and I had trouble removing them.

All in all, I would recommend passing on the Nail Bliss Nail Pop Appliqués. Of course, these will work a bit differently on everyone, especially if the sizes included fit your nails better. However, I’m really disappointed my manicure didn’t even last a full day. I do think the small accents work very well, so if you are looking solely for those you might be interested in this set. You can shop the entire Nail Bliss line at your local Sally Beauty Supply store, or online HERE. Please let me know in the comments if you’ve tried any products from Nail Bliss. I would love to hear your experience!

The product in this post was provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Vintage Floral Nail Art featuring Born Pretty Store Water Decals

Happy Wednesday! Today I am excited to share with you a vintage floral nail art look I created using water decals from Born Pretty Store. I absolutely love water decals because they make nail art really easy no matter your level of talent. Water decals work just like temporary tattoos – you soak them in water and transfer the design onto your nails. You can cut the decals into any shape you want, but today I decided to use the decals like nail strips and create an all-over design. Let me show you the vintage floral manicure I created!

Vintage Floral Nail Art featuring Born Pretty Store Water Decals Vintage Floral Nail Art featuring Born Pretty Store Water DecalsHere is a look at the water decals when they arrive. You get a full sheet and it costs only $1.42 on Born Pretty Store’s website HERE. As you can see, the design can be cut any way you choose. I decided to go with an all-over design on the nail, so I trimmed the sheet into what I estimated my nail shape to be. You can also trim the decal once it’s on your nail, so have some small nail scissors handy.

Vintage Floral Nail Art featuring Born Pretty Store Water Decals Vintage Floral Nail Art featuring Born Pretty Store Water DecalsI decided to begin my manicure with two coats of Zoya Ness. I thought that would make a great base polish for the decals because it matched up with some of the colors in the decals. Make sure to let your manicure dry completely before adding the water decals. I am loving my end result! I think the design looks really cool, and I’m so happy with how it came out. I could never paint my nails with such an intricate design, so it’s awesome I can get the look with water decals. I also wanted to quickly mention that I apply a glossy top coat over the decal to ensure it stays in place. The decals wear just like normal nail polish, and remove easily with nail polish remover.

Born Pretty Store | Coupon CodeAll in all, I highly recommend water decals if you are looking to create intricate nail art without a lot of effort. I’ve always enjoyed the water decals I’ve tried from Born Pretty Store in the past, and this vintage floral design is no different! As always, you can get 10% off your order with the code FZL91 at checkout. Please let me know in the comments if you’ve used water decals and how you like them!

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. This post includes affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Chevron Nail Art featuring Striping Tape from Born Pretty Store

Happy Friday! Today I have another review for a nail art product sold by Born Pretty Store. I was very excited to receive a chevron patterned striping tape to review. I love striping tape – it makes creating geometric nail designs really easy, and I’ve used it multiple times here on the blog. When I saw chevron striping tape I knew I had to have it! Let me share with you how I used it to create a bright and fun manicure!

Chevron Nail Art featuring Striping Tape from Born Pretty Store Chevron Nail Art featuring Striping Tape from Born Pretty StoreI wanted to create a summery manicure, so I began with a base of Zoya Dixie, a bright pink polish. Once that manicure had dried completely, I applied two rows of chevron tape to each nail and went over the tape with a white nail polish. I applied two coats of white polish, and removed the tape promptly. I finished with a glossy top coat, and I’m loving the result! My manicure looks so fancy, but it was really easy to create!

Born Pretty Store | Coupon Code

All in all, I’m so glad I was able to try the chevron striping tape from Born Pretty Store! I can’t wait to test out this tape more in future manicures. Plus, the tape is a super fabulous and affordable price of $1.59 HERE for an entire roll that can be used several times. If you are looking to create an easy nail art look, I highly recommend purchasing this tape. You can also use the code FZL91 for an additional 10% off your purchase. Be sure to let me know if you’ve ever tried striping tape, and how you like to use it!

The product in this post was provided for my unbiased review. This post includes affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Adventures in Nail Vinyls Part 2 | Houndstooth Nail Art Fail

Happy Wednesday! Today I have a nail art post to share with you, and as you can see by the title, it’s another fail. A few months back, I tried nail vinyls for the first time, and it did not go very well. You can read all about that HERE. I got the opportunity to review some more products from Born Pretty Store, so I decided I would give nail vinyls another try. Practice makes perfect, right?! Let me share with you what happened during round two of my nail vinyl adventures when I attempted a houndstooth manicure.

Born Pretty Store Houndstooth Nail Vinyls
Born Pretty Store Houndstooth Nail Vinyls

First things first, here is a look at the sheet of nail vinyls. I got a houndstooth pattern, and this time around the vinyls are a thicker material and less of a thin sticker. This sheet retails for $3.99 at Born Pretty Store HERE.

Sally Hansen – OMGhostI decided to do a traditional black and white houndstooth manicure, so I began with a white nail polish. I made sure to let it dry completely this time, since in my last attempt the polish wasn’t thoroughly dry. I actually painted my nails one day, and let it dry overnight before going ahead with the vinyls.

Adventures in Nail Vinyls Part 2 | Houndstooth Nail Art Fail

Here is my result after applying the vinyls. As you can see, it still didn’t work out for me! I made sure to press down firmly on the vinyls, but I found that these did not stick well on my nails. That’s why I have a lot of big black splotches, and why the pattern isn’t very clear. It really is a bummer!

Adventures in Nail Vinyls Part 2 | Houndstooth Nail Art FailI did practice with the vinyls on my seldom seen on the blog right hand, and I did get a much better result. However, it still doesn’t look good enough for a manicure. I think I’m going to need to keep experimenting with these vinyls if I really want to get a good result.

Born Pretty Store | Coupon Code

That brings us to the end of adventures in nail vinyls part two! I know it might seem silly to share these nail art fails with you, but I think it’s important that I share my honest results whenever I review products for the blog. I see amazing nail art from other bloggers all the time, and I absolutely love looking at their masterpieces. As you all may know, my nail art talent is severely lacking, but that doesn’t stop me from trying. If you have trouble with nail art, you’re not alone! We can keep practicing together! As always, if you make a purchase from Born Pretty Store, use the code FZL91 at checkout for an additional 10% off the price. Please let me know in the comments if you’ve tried nail vinyls and the results you’ve had!

The product in this post was provided for my unbiased review. This post includes affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Cherry Blossom Nail Art | Born Pretty Store Stamping Plate

Happy Friday! Today I am excited to review a stamping plate from the online store Born Pretty Store. I absolutely love the fabulous and affordable nail art supplies that Born Pretty Store has to offer. I’ve had really good luck with the stamping plates I’ve tried in the past, so I was happy to receive a stunning floral design to review for all of you. I am loving the warm weather, and I decided to do a Cherry Blossom inspired nail art look using the stamping plate. Let me share the stamping plate and the nail art I created with you!

Born Pretty Store Stamping Plate in Qgirl 057Here is the floral stamping plate I received. It is the brand Qgirl in the style number 057 and can be purchased HERE for just $2.99! This plate comes with four different floral designs. I decided to use the design in the upper left hand corner for the nail art look today. It reminds me of beautiful cherry blossoms! By the way, I kept the blue covering on the plate in the photo above so there would not be a reflection in the picture. I, of course, removed that cover before using the plate!

Zoya – Cala Zoya – CalaI first began my manicure with a base of Zoya Cala. I wanted to have a nice neutral base, but I thought white would be a bit too harsh for the look I’m trying to achieve. I applied two coats of Cala, which is a nice light beige, and let that dry completely before beginning the stamping process.

Cherry Blossom Nail Art | Born Pretty Store Stamping Plate Cherry Blossom Nail Art | Born Pretty Store Stamping PlateI then used my Born Pretty Store Stamper [buy HERE] to add on the floral design. I used Milani Color Statement in Corrupted Coral as a stamping polish, and it worked really well. I did find that the stamp design didn’t transfer completely onto the nail, but the end result is just gorgeous. I love the colors in this nail art design, and I think they are subtle enough for daily wear. I also followed up my manicure with a glossy top coat once the stamp dried so as to not smear the nail art.

Born Pretty Store | Coupon CodeAll in all, I’m loving the Cherry Blossom Nail Art I created using a stamping plate from Born Pretty Store! I have to say I’ve really gotten the hang of stamping. This is an area where practice does make perfect, so if you’re new to stamping don’t give up when it’s difficult at first! As always, you can shop at Born Pretty Store and get 10% off your purchase with my coupon code FZL91 at checkout. I’d love to know in the comments if you use stamping plates, and where you purchase them!

The product in this post was provided for my unbiased review. This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Born Pretty Store Melodi Nail Wraps Review | Instant Nail Art

Happy Monday! Today I am excited to review a set of nail wraps from Born Pretty Store for all of you. Nail wraps are a hot and cold product in the nail polish world. I’ve found that they are either awesome or terrible, and the price of the wrap is no indicator to the wrap’s quality. I’ve had good luck with the wraps from Born Pretty Store for the most part, and I am always up for trying out a different brand and design. This time around I have a colorblock pattern from the brand Melodi. Let me show you these gorgeous nail wraps!

Born Pretty Store Melodi Nail Wraps Review | Instant Nail ArtHere is a quick look at the Melodi Nail Wraps in the packaging. As with most nail wraps, they are formulated to last up to seven days, and not smudge upon application. This set of wraps is made with real nail polish, which I can tell by the slight polish scent upon opening the package. I received the style MDS1206 to review. It retails for just $1.52 HERE.

Born Pretty Store Melodi Nail Wraps Review | Instant Nail Art

If you’ve never used nail wraps before, they essentially work like stickers that you put on your nails. I start with a clean nail, find the wrap that fits my nail, and then stick it on the nail. Then I smooth out the wrap, gently bend over the excess, and use an emory board to file off the end. I follow up with a glossy top coat to ensure the wraps stay in place, and to give more of a realistic look. Voila! Instant nail art!

Born Pretty Store Melodi Nail Wraps Review | Instant Nail ArtI am really impressed with the Melodi Nail Wraps! They applied easily, and they look just like regular nail art. Plus, they are long-wearing! I’ve found that if a nail wrap is going to be bad, it typically comes off within 24 hours. I’m on Day 3 of wearing these wraps and so far I only have light tip wear! I’ve showered and washed my hands several times over the past few days, and the wraps still look awesome. I am beyond thrilled!

Born Pretty Store | Coupon Code

All in all, I highly recommend the Melodi Nail Wraps from Born Pretty Store. Not only are they super affordable, but they are excellent quality as well. Of course, I love the cute design, too. As always you can use the code FZL91 to get an additional 10% off your Born Pretty Store order. I think you should definitely pick up these nail wraps! They are perfect for those of us who love nail art, but don’t have the skill or patience to pull it off perfectly every time. Be sure to let me know in the comments if you like nail wraps, and if you’ll be getting these from Melodi!

The product in this post was provided for my unbiased review. This post includes an affiliate link. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.