Tag: blue

Manicure March | Sally Hansen HD Hi-Definition Nail Color in Laser

Happy Tuesday! Today I have another nail polish from Sally Hansen’s HD collection to share with you. I’m still excited over last week’s discovery in the polish LCD (read that review HERE if you missed it). I couldn’t wait to test out Laser, which was one of the first Sally Hansen HD polishes I ever owned. I remember liking it in the past, but haven’t worn it in years now. Let me go ahead and share Laser with all of you!

Sally Hansen HD Hi-Definition Nail Color in Laser Sally Hansen HD Hi-Definition Nail Color in LaserLaser is a metallic blue nail polish with purple and blue shimmer. It has an excellent formula, but it is on the sheer side so I applied three coats for opacity. I am just in love with this nail polish! It looks so amazing on the nails, and is super shiny! I’m not even wearing a glossy top coat in the photos you see here! I knew upon first glance that I had to keep this polish in my collection. While I’m not going to wear Laser very often, I’m so in love with it that I just need to have it.

All in all, I’m quite impressed with my polishes from the Sally Hansen HD line. Laser is very different from LCD, but it’s amazing in its own way. This nail polish line is discontinued, but I’m sure you can track them down on Amazon or eBay if you’re really wanting to own them. Make sure to read seller reviews before buying! I recommend paying under $10 including shipping for these polishes. They’re great, but not worth a total splurge! If you own Laser, please share your thoughts on this polish in the comments!

Join in #ManicureMarch by using the hashtag on social media and by tagging me in your photos on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or Twitter!

Manicure March | Julep in Bergen

Happy Monday! Today I am reviewing another nail polish from the brand Julep. I own so many Julep nail polishes that sometimes I can’t even remember if I’ve ever used them. Bergen is one of those polishes, but when I searched my blog I found that I used it back in 2014 (see that post HERE)! I was interested to give this nail polish another swatch to see why it wasn’t memorable. Let me share a review of Bergen with you!

Julep in Bergen Julep in BergenBergen is a really unique nail polish. The shade is a silvery blue, and there is a silver shimmer running throughout the base. Bergen has a really good formula that is opaque in two coats. I recommend letting each coat dry completely before adding on another, as the polish can bunch up when it’s still tacky on the nail. Bergen is not the polish shade I typically reach for when doing my nails, but I have to say I really love it! I’ve decided to keep this one in my collection in hopes that I’ll wear it more often.

All in all, sometimes a nail polish isn’t very memorable when it’s just one of many in your collection. While that can mean it’s got a bad formula or a boring color, other times it’s just that the polish isn’t your usual cup of tea. I’m so glad I rediscovered Bergen from Julep. I own nothing else like it in my stash, and I’m glad it has a great formula. I’d love to know in the comments if you’ve ever found a nail polish in your collection and had no recollection of using it. Please tell me I’m not alone in doing that!

Join in #ManicureMarch by using the hashtag on social media and by tagging me in your photos on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or Twitter!

 

Manicure March | Milani High Speed Fast Dry Nail Lacquer in Aqua Brisk

Happy Friday! Today I’m reviewing a polish that ended up in my ‘to swatch’ pile because the formula was quite separated in the bottle. Nail polishes do separate over time, but that doesn’t always mean the formula is bad. I wanted to swatch Aqua Brisk from Milani to see if this polish stood the test of time. I haven’t worn it for years now, but the color is so beautiful I want to include it in my rotation if it’s still good. Let me share this polish with all of you!

Milani High Speed Fast Dry in Aqua Brisk Milani High Speed Fast Dry in Aqua BriskAqua Brisk is a bright aqua polish with a creme finish. The formula is great, but it does take two coats to achieve opacity. I am so in love with this shade of nail polish! I’m glad that with just a good shake this polish got mixed back together. The formula is still amazing, even after sitting unused for a couple years. I need to make sure Aqua Brisk is worn more often because it looks so nice on my nails!

All in all, I’m so glad to discover that my Milani in Aqua Brisk is still an excellent product! If your nail polishes have separated, always give them a good shake and test them out before getting rid of them. It’s natural for polishes to separate, but they can almost always be salvaged. I’m excited that I rediscovered Aqua Brisk just in time for spring! Let me know in the comments what spring color you are ready to wear this year!

Join in #ManicureMarch by using the hashtag on social media and by tagging me in your photos on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or Twitter!

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

Manicure March | JulieG Nail Polish in Blueberry Fizz

Happy Thursday! I’m revisiting another textured nail polish line in today’s Manicure March review. I own a few collections from JulieG beauty that I purchased on Groupon a couple years back. I love these polishes, or at least I love the ones that I’ve tested. Yes, let’s be real, I haven’t tried all of them. I purchased the polishes because I knew I would like them and because I wanted to support Julie (she’s a YouTuber if you were unaware!). Let me share Blueberry Fizz with all of you!

JulieG in Blueberry Fizz JulieG Blueberry FizzBlueberry Fizz is a textured nail polish with a blue base and silver glitters. The formula is amazing! The polish applies with ease and is opaque in two coats. Plus, Blueberry Fizz dries really quickly. I fell in love with this polish as soon as I swatched it. I immediately pictured snow and winter, and knew I had to keep this polish. While I won’t wear Blueberry Fizz regularly, I can see certain times of year where I will pull it out of my stash. I think it’s okay to keep a few situational polishes in my collection, and this is going to be one of them.

All in all, I am so glad I swatched JulieG in Blueberry Fizz. This polish is beyond stunning! I know textured polishes aren’t popular anymore, but I can see this polish as a staple in my collection for years to come. Please share with me in the comments if you ever hold onto a nail polish because you know it will work for a specific situation, whether it be a holiday or nail art look. I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Join in #ManicureMarch by using the hashtag on social media and by tagging me in your photos on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or Twitter!

Manicure March | SinfulColors Professional in Cinderella

Happy Monday! Today rounds out my first week of Manicure March posts! I hope you’re enjoying this series as much as I am. I’m excited to review a cult favorite with all of you today. When I first starting blogging, everyone raved about SinfulColors Professional in the shade Cinderella. In fact, this polish was difficult to find at drugstores for a while. I can’t remember exactly where I got mine, but I rediscovered it in my collection and had a good laugh at the memory of how popular this $1.99 polish was. Despite it’s popularity, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to keep this polish, simply because I never wear it. Let me go ahead and share Cinderella with you, and let you know if I’m keeping it!

SinfulColors Professional in Cinderella SinfulColors Professional in CinderellaCinderella is a baby blue polish with a pink holographic shimmer. The formula is good, though can be a bit patchy. I applied three coats to achieve opacity. Cinderella is definitely a beautiful polish that truly lives up to its royal name. I can see why so many people love this nail polish, and I debated keeping it because it’s so well known. However, I’ve only worn this nail polish once before, and it’s just not a polish I would wear on a regular basis. I’ve decided to pass on Cinderella, and hope the next owner loves this polish!

All in all, sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the hype and purchase a polish that everyone else is talking about in the community. If the polish is super affordable like SinfulColors, then you can feel good trying out the favorite. However, if you’re about to splurge on an expensive polish just because it’s getting hyped, take a minute and think about whether you really want that shade. I’m glad I did try Cinderella, but I’m also ready to let it go. Definitely let me know in the comments if you own Cinderella!

Join in #ManicureMarch by using the hashtag on social media and by tagging me in your photos on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or Twitter!

Manicure March | Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Barracuda

Happy Tuesday! It is the first day of Manicure March, and I couldn’t be more excited. Just in case you missed my announcement in the last installment of Upcoming Adventures, Manicure March is a special feature I’m doing this month where I bring you a nail polish review for each and every day this month! I’m kicking things off with a polish from one of my all-time favorite brands, Sally Hansen. I purchased Barracuda at CVS some time ago after hearing about it on EleventhGorgeous’s YouTube channel. I wore it back in 2013, but honestly don’t know if it’s been on my nails since then. Let’s take a closer look at Barracuda!

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Barracuda Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in BarracudaBarracuda is a pastel blue creme polish, and I think my only polish from the Complete Salon Manicure line. I’m not a huge fan of pastel blues at this point, and I was even more disappointed with the formula! It was very watery and patchy, and I applied three coats before achieving opacity. I think this polish couldn’t stand the test of time, because my earlier review states I had no issues with the formula. Nonetheless, I won’t be keeping this around. If I’m not loving the color or the formula, this polish has got to go!

All in all, I’m quite surprised to find that this more expensive line from Sally Hansen is a bit of a flop for me. I’d love to know if you own polishes from the Complete Salon Manicure line, and how you like the formula. The price tag on this polish reads $8.99, but I know I purchased this on sale and with a coupon. That being said, I think I’ll stick with Sally Hansen’s other nail polish collections for now. Bye bye, Barracuda!

Join in #ManicureMarch by using the hashtag on social media and by tagging me in your photos on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or Twitter!

Manicure Monday | Milani Color Statement in Mint Crush

Happy Manicure Monday! Today I’m sharing another nail polish that I recently swatched as a part of my great destash project (learn more about that HERE). For some reason when I picked up Mint Crush from the Milani Color Statement line, I wasn’t thrilled with the color in the bottle. It looked like a polish I had a dupe of, and I set it aside in the ‘maybe’ pile. I’m so glad I decided to swatch it before giving it away! Let me show you this beautiful polish!

Milani Color Statement – Mint Crush Milani Color Statement – Mint CrushMint Crush is a pastel blue polish with a creme finish. It has a perfect formula that is opaque in one to two coats! You can definitely get away with one coat, but I did two in the photos above just out of habit. I am beyond impressed with the formula and the stunning color. This is definitely a case where the polish is more exciting on the nails than in the bottle. I’m crushing on Mint Crush! While I usually wear pastel polishes more in the spring, this blue shade is also perfect for winter. I’ll have to remember that in January!

All in all, I highly recommend Mint Crush from Milani. You can pick up this polish at your local drugstore, or online HERE for just $3.99. I’ve had such great luck with Milani nail polishes, and now I’m inspired to wear them more often. I’m glad I rediscovered this in my destash process!

What is your favorite Milani nail polish? Let me know in the comments!

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

My Top 5 Dark Nail Polishes for Fall | #FallintoPolishland

Happy Monday! My fall nail polish series #FallintoPolishland continues today with my top five dark nail polishes. When I first began my blog three and a half years ago, I absolutely avoided dark polishes! I was into brights and neons, but when I first received dark nail polishes for review I was converted. I now absolutely love dark polishes, especially in the colder months. Let me go ahead and share my favorites with you!

My Top 5 Dark Nail Polishes for Fall | #FallintoPolishland

LVX – Dahlia LVX – Dahlia

LVX – Dahlia [BUY]

First up is Dahlia from the high end brand LVX. This is a deep crimson polish that has a great formula. Dahlia is perfect for those of us who don’t like the traditional red nail. It looks beautiful even on those with the fairest skin tone. LVX is a vegan brand, so I think it’s worth the higher price tag!

Covergirl – Sapphire Flare Covergirl – Sapphire Flare

Covergirl – Sapphire Flare [BUY]

I, of course, have to include a couple dark blue polishes, as blue is my go-to shade in the fall. Sapphire Flare from Covergirl is a great option from the drugstore. It is a navy polish that is opaque in two coats. While dark, the polish is still very blue in color. Plus, this shade is great for nail art as well!

Milani – Ink SpotMilani – Ink Spot

Milani – Ink Spot [BUY]

Next up is Ink Spot from Milani, an even darker blue polish. Ink Spot has an amazing, high-gloss formula. It is nearly black, but still has a rich blue pigmentation. Ink Spot also has undertones of purple, so take that into consideration when you’re deciding between it and Sapphire Flare!

Julep – Brandt Julep – Brandt

Julep – Brandt [BUY]

One of my all-time favorite Juleps is Brandt, an off-black polish from the Trina Turk collection. Brandt has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats. It looks good with any outfit because the color is not a stark black. Brandt looks great layered under glitter, or on its own! It’s been a staple of mine for the past three years.

Michael Marcus – Once You Go Matte Michael Marcus – Once You Go Matte

Michael Marcus – Once You Go Matte [BUY]

 Last but not least is Once You Go Matte from Michael Marcus. I really love matte nail polish, and it’s always a bonus when a polish has a matte formula because I don’t have to reach for a separate top coat. Once You Go Matte has an amazing formula that dries quickly. I’ve worn it countless times since I got it!

That wraps up another #FallintoPolishland post! I hope you were inspired to grab some of your dark nail polishes out of the back of your collection to wear this season. If you’ve shied away from darks in the past, now is the perfect time to try them out! Of course, please share your favorite dark nail polishes with me in the comments!

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

Julep Mystery Box Swatches | High End Nail Polish for $2

Happy Monday! It’s been a very long time since I received a Julep Maven box, or even purchased anything from Julep. I’ve been on a pretty tight budget lately, and nail polish is one of those things I can easily stop buying. That being said, Julep had an amazing sale a couple weeks back called Savvy Deals. This sale included a Mystery Box with 10 polishes for $20. I was on the fence about purchasing a box, but then my mom mentioned she was interested in the box, too. We decided to each put in $10 and split the polishes! I just couldn’t resist scoring some Julep polishes for $2 each when the regular retail price is $14. Let me go ahead and show you the five polishes I picked out.

Julep Mystery Box Swatches | High End Nail Polish for $2

Julep – Kelsey Julep – KelseyFirst up is Kelsey, a light peach creme polish. Kelsey’s formula is a bit difficult to work with, as were all of the creme polishes I received. It is thick, tacky, and took a long time to dry. That being said, the end result is gorgeous! I absolutely love how Kelsey looks with my skin tone. It is worth dealing with a troublesome formula for this stunning result.

Julep – Jules Julep – JulesNext up is Jules, a pastel pink creme. Jules also has a finicky formula, but it does dry nicely in two coats. I recommend using thin coats, and letting the coats dry completely before adding another layer. I do have other polishes in my collection that I would reach for over Jules considering the formula, but it’s still a gorgeous pink!

Julep – Princess GraceJulep – Princess GraceThe last creme I received is Princess Grace, what Julep calls a Papaya color. Princess Grace is the biggest disappointment for me, because I love the shade, but the formula is too much trouble. Unlike Kelsey and Jules, which I could work with, Princess Grace’s formula is too tacky and thick. I had to redo my nails to get a clean look, and they still aren’t perfect. I’d stay away from this polish!

Julep – Paula Julep – PaulaNext up is Paula, my favorite of the bunch! Paula is a purply-blue polish with gold shimmer. It has a great formula that is opaque in two coats, and is just beautiful. I can’t wait to wear this again!

Julep – Glam Roc Julep – Glam RocLast but not least is Glam Roc, a dark purple polish with multi-colored matte glitter. Glam Roc has a Stardust Finish, which means it is a textured polish. While textured polish isn’t trendy anymore, I still really like it and was glad to receive Glam Roc in the mystery box. Glam Roc has a great formula that is opaque in two coats, plus it dries really quickly. I’m going to wear this in the fall months for sure!

All in all, I’m pretty happy with my Julep Mystery Box! I only spent $10, but I got two polishes I really love, two that are okay, and only one dud. I still consider that a win seeing as Julep retails for $14 per polish. Plus, I used Ebates and got 5% cash back! The moral of the story is, you can still own high end polishes without paying the high end price. Simply keep an eye out for deals!

How often do you shop for high end nail polish? What are your savings tips?

Zoya Nail Polish Focus Collection for Fall 2015

Happy Wednesday! Today I am excited to show you the Zoya Nail Polish Focus Collection for Fall 2015. This is one of two collections that Zoya is releasing this season, and contains six cream polishes in gorgeous shades. I am a huge fan of cream formulas, and could not wait to test out these pigmented polishes. Without further ado, let me show you these new Zoyas!

Zoya Focus Collection for Fall 2015

 

Zoya – Charli Zoya – Charli First up is Charli, a taupe polish with green undertones. Charli, like all of the polishes in the Focus Collection, has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. I’ve never used a taupe polish like this before, and I’m not quite sure what I think of it! Charlie is going to be perfect for nail art, but it’s not my favorite shade with my skin tone.

Zoya – Desiree Zoya – DesireeNext up is Desiree, a rich chocolate brown polish. I am really loving Desiree! The deep pigmentation is stunning, and the polish is naturally shiny without a top coat. Of course, Desiree has an amazing formula as well. I think this is a great brown polish to have in your collection!

Zoya – Hannah Zoya – HannahZoya Hannah is a classic red polish, and I have to say I’m wowed with it! If you’ve been a follower of mine for a while, you’ll know I’m not usually a big fan of red nail polishes, just because they typically look weird with my fair complexion and pink undertones. Hannah, however, just works. The formula is perfection as well.

Zoya – Janel Zoya – JanelIf you’re looking for a darker red, make sure to check out Janel. Janel is a deep and warmer-toned red polish. The formula is still great and opaque in two coats. This is a polish that could take you from the fall season right into the holidays.

Zoya – Lidia Zoya – LidiaNext up is Lidia, a deep eggplant purple polish. Lidia is so beautiful! I did experience a bit of patchiness with the formula, but nothing that another coat of polish can’t fix. I’m just really impressed with the rich pigmentation in this collection. It pumps me up for fall!

Zoya – Sia Zoya – SiaLast but not least is Sia, a royal blue polish. Sia is by far my favorite polish in this collection! I am truly obsessed with this blue shade. I could gush about how much I love it for several paragraphs, but I’ll stop here. Buy Sia and you will not be disappointed!

All in all, the Zoya Focus Collection is one of my favorite lines the brand has yet to release. I cannot wait to put Sia back on my nails, and I highly recommend the entire collection. I think it is a perfect release for the upcoming fall season. You can purchase the Focus Collection directly from Zoya’s website HERE. Each polish is $9, or you can buy the full collection at $54. For a limited time, you can purchase the full line in mini size bottles for $30! This is a great option for those of you on a budget, but make sure you act fast before they sell out!

What is your favorite polish in the Zoya Focus Collection? Let me know in the comments! 

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