Tag: creme

Zoya Sunsets Collection for Summer 2016

Happy Friday! Today I am beyond excited to share with you a full review of the Zoya Nail Polish Sunsets Collection for Summer 2016. Every year Zoya releases two summer collections, and this year we have the Seashells & Sunsets. I knew I had to try the Sunsets first, because I love creme nail polishes. The Sunsets contains six cremes in bright shades that are perfect for the summer months. Let me show you these gorgeous polishes!

Zoya Sunsets Collection for Summer 2016

Zoya – Cam Zoya – CamFirst up is Cam, a bright orange polish. Cam has a good formula, but during application it was quite streaky. I applied two coats, and was very happy to see that as the polish dries is smoothes out to a flawless finish on the nail. I’m surprised with how well Cam wears with my fair skintone! It is perfect for the summertime.

Zoya – Dixie Zoya – DixieNext up is Dixie, my favorite polish in the collection! Dixie is a bright pink polish with a lot of red pigmentation. The formula is great, although it does apply just a bit streaky like Cam. I’m amazed at how these polishes dry so smoothly on the nail! Dixie is made for me, and I can’t wait to wear it again!

Zoya – Brynn Zoya – BrynnThere is also a blue-toned pink in the collection called Brynn. This polish has an excellent formula that applies smoothly and is opaque in two coats. Brynn will look good with any skintone, and is also a polish that I think can be worn during any time of year. If you only buy one polish from the Sunsets Collection, I think Brynn is a great choice because it is so wearable.

Zoya – Liv Zoya – LivNext up is Liv, a mid-toned purple polish. Liv also has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. The purple shade is quite hard to describe, because although Liv has a rich pigmentation, it is also lighter in color. Nonetheless, it is really gorgeous, and makes an excellent transitional color from summer to fall.

Zoya – Dory Zoya – DoryAnother favorite of mine is Dory, a cornflower blue polish. Dory has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats. I am obsessing over how amazing this polish looks on the nails! It is super shiny without a top coat needed, and it looks really great with my fair skin. I know some people find blue nail polish intimidating, so I would give Dory a try if you are looking for a wearable shade.

Zoya – Ness Zoya – NessLast but not least is Ness, a jade green polish with a hint of blue. Ness also has an amazing formula that applies smoothly in two coats. I think Ness is also a great place to start with green polishes if you haven’t found the right shade yet. It’s really beautiful!

All in all, I am obsessing over the Zoya Sunsets Collection! I love each and every shade, and this is a collection where I recommend buying all of the polishes. If you are new to nail polish, or if you are looking for the perfect summer brights, definitely grab the entire collection and you’ll have everything you need! I know I will be getting a lot of use out of these polishes, and I can’t wait to wear them over and over again. You can buy the Sunsets Collection on Zoya’s website HERE for $10 each or $54 for the entire collection.

Which polish in the Sunsets Collection is your favorite?! Let me know in the comments!

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

Manicure March | China Glaze in Surreal Appeal

Happy Monday! We are in the home stretch for Manicure March, and today I’m revisiting the brand China Glaze. Earlier this month I tried Creative Fantasy, and found the formula to be quite bad. I wanted to test out another China Glaze in my collection to see how the formula compared. I love the shade of Surreal Appeal, but it’s not worth keeping if it has a bad formula. Let’s take a look at this bright nail polish!

China Glaze in Surreal Appeal China Glaze in Surreal AppealSurreal Appeal is a bright coral nail polish with a creme finish. The formula is good, but it is still a bit thicker and goopier than I would like. That being said, it’s not too challenging to work with, and I get a gorgeous finish in two opaque coats. I absolutely love the shade of Surreal Appeal. I’ve decided that I’m going to keep it in my collection for now, because I know this is a polish I will wear regularly. However, I’m going to see if I own another polish in this same color with a better formula. If I do, I will destash this one.

All in all, I’m glad I found a China Glaze polish in my collection with a beautiful color and decent formula. Surreal Appeal is so bright and fun, and makes me ready for the spring weather. Coral pinks are a go to shade for me in the warmer months for sure. I would love to know in the comments what nail polish colors you reach for once springtime is here. Do you wear polishes seasonally, or just based on your mood? Please share with me!

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 | NYC New York Color In a New York Minute Quick Dry in Royal Chic

Happy Thursday! Today I have a review of another fabulous and affordable nail polish from NYC New York Color’s Quick Dry line. If you are on a tight budget, or simply looking to save money on nail polish, I highly recommend trying out NYC New York Color. I’ve had very good luck with the polishes I’ve tried from the In a New York Minute line. Plus, they go on sale very often at the drugstore. Let me show you Royal Chic and let you know if it’s surviving my declutter project!

NYC New York Color In a New York Minute Quick Dry in Royal Chic NYC New York Color In a New York Minute Quick Dry in Royal Chic

Royal Chic is a deep brown creme nail polish. The formula is really good, and the polish is opaque in two coats due to its rich pigmentation. If you are looking for a good brown, I think Royal Chic is a great option. That being said, I don’t like how this polish looks with my skin tone, and I know I won’t be wearing it. I thought about keeping this polish for nail art looks, but I do own brown polishes from Zoya that I will be keeping. I’m saying goodbye to Royal Chic!

All in all, Royal Chic is the perfect example of a great polish formula with a shade I just don’t like on me. I would love to know in the comments what nail polish shades you don’t like with your skin tone. Are there any nail polishes you’ve purchased because they looked great in the bottle, but then not on you? It happens to all of us from time to time! The good thing is there is no guilt when it’s a super affordable polish like NYC New York Color!

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 | Julep in Teri

Happy Thursday! It’s time to swatch another Julep nail polish! I wasn’t kidding when I said I owned a lot of them. Today I’ll be reviewing Teri, which is a polish that has survived a few declutters in the past. I’m know I’ve tested this polish a few times before, and it’s always stuck around because there is a lot missing from this bottle. Let me go ahead and show you this polish, and let you know if I’m keeping it this time.

Julep in Teri Julep in Teri

Teri is a peachy pink nail polish with a creme formula. The formula is okay, as it is very opaque, but is too thick to get a smooth application. You can see in the photos above that the polish is uneven. Despite the pretty color, it’s time to say goodbye to Teri. I just have no need for nail polishes that have less than good formulas. This is especially true when the polish shade is not unique.

All in all, I’m glad to be finally destashing Teri. The color is very pretty and looks good with my skin tone, but I’m sure I own something very similar in my collection. I’ll have to be on the lookout for it in the next stage of my declutter project, which you will find out more about at the end of Manicure March. Please let me know in the comments if you have any polishes that have survived multiple declutters. Why did you hold onto it? Did you eventually get rid of it? I’d love to know!

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. 

The Perfect Fall Nail Color | Milani Cosmetics in Canyon Country

Happy Friday! One of the polishes that I’ve rediscovered in my nail polish destash project is Canyon Country from Milani Cosmetics. I typically reach for dark polishes in the fall, but I’m so glad I took the opportunity to swatch Canyon Country! I think I’ve found the perfect fall nail color, and I’m excited to share it with you. It’s been a couple years since it first appeared on the blog (see that post HERE), so it’s definitely time for another post!

Milani Cosmetics – Canyon Country Milani Cosmetics – Canyon CountryCanyon Country is a burnt orange nail polish with a creme finish. It has a perfect formula that is opaque in two coats. I am obsessing over the smooth finish! I’m not wearing a top coat in these photos, and my manicure looks awesome. Plus, Canyon Country is a color that I think will look great on anyone no matter the skin color. It’s warm and cozy, and will go perfectly with your fall sweaters and boots. Plus, Canyon Country will work really well in nail art. It’s an all-around great polish!

All in all, I’m so glad I took the time to swatch Canyon Country before I destashed it. Some polishes just don’t look as exciting in the bottle as they do on the nails, and this is definitely one of them. While this particular Milani polish is retired, it can still be found on Amazon HERE for a reasonable price. I highly recommend picking it up for your collection!

What is your perfect fall nail color? 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 Green Nail Polishes for Fall | #FallintoPolishland

Happy Monday! Today starts off a brand new series on my blog called #FallintoPolishland! Fall is my favorite season, and there are a lot of nail polishes that I especially enjoy wearing in the fall months. I decided to put together a few blog posts each featuring a particular nail polish family. Today I’m showing off my top five green nail polishes for fall. Green is one of my favorite colors, and I especially love it in nail polish form. Let me show you the polishes I picked out to share with all of you!

My Top 5 Green Nail Polishes for Fall | #FallintoPolishland

OPI – Stranger Tides OPI – Stranger TidesOPI – Stranger Tides [BUY]

OPI Stranger Tides is a beautiful muted green from the On Stranger Tides Collection that came out a few years back in celebration of Pirates of the Caribbean. Strander Tides has an awesome formula that is opaque in three coats. The muted shade is great for transitioning from summer to fall, and is perfect for those who don’t like dark shades. Stranger Tides is also office appropriate, as it can pass for a neutral shade.

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics – Chlorophyll Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics – Chlorophyll Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics – Chlorophyll [BUY]

Next up is Chlorophyll from Obsessive Compulsive Cosemtics. This is a richly pigmented teal polish. Chlorophyll has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. This nail polish will look great on every skin tone, and looks beautiful when paired with a gold glitter. While Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics is more of a higher end brand, the entire brand is 100% vegan and cruelty free. I highly recommend it!

Essie – Stylenomics Essie – Stylenomics Essie – Stylenomics [BUY]

The last creme formula I have to share is Stylenomics from Essie. Stylenomics is a very dark green that is nearly black. The formula is amazing and opaque in two coats. I really love Stylenomics, and wear it every fall. While this polish is from an older Essie collection, I found it on Kohl’s website! You never know where you’ll find older collections.

RUFFIAN – Hedge Fund RUFFIAN – Hedge FundRUFFIAN – Hedge Fund [BUY]

Next up is Hedge Fund from the Birchbox Exclusive brand RUFFIAN. I’ve been in love with this polish ever since I received it, so if you’ve been an Adventures in Polishland reader for a while you’ve probably seen me gush over this in the past. Hedge Fund is an army green with gold shimmer. The formula is perfection, and so is the wear. It’s now only available for purchase in a kit, but if you’re interested I say go for it!

Julep – Marion Julep – Marion

Julep – Marion [BUY]

Last but not least is Julep Marion, a deep teal polish with silver shimmer. Marion has an excellent formula that is opaque in two coats. It’s perfect for fall, and for the holiday season. Marion has a super glossy finish, so you can skip the top coat and save time. Make sure to shop using Ebates to earn 5% cash back when you shop on Julep’s website.

That brings us to the end of the first #FallintoPolishland post! I hope you liked seeing my favorite green nail polishes for fall. Next week this series will continue, so make sure to follow my blog to see when those posts go live!

What are your favorite green nail polishes for fall?! Let me know 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 Island Fun Collection for Summer 2015

Happy Saturday! It’s one of my favorite times of the year! I love whenever Zoya Nail Polish releases a new collection, and this summer I have two collections to share with you. First up is the Island Fun Collection, which contains six cream formulas in highly pigmented shades. Let me show you these stunning polishes (and stay tuned for the shimmers in my next review)!

Zoya Nail Polish Island Fun Collection for Summer 2015

Zoya – Jace Zoya – JaceFirst up is Jace, what Zoya calls a tropical green. Jace has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. I’m not sure what I make of this green shade! I think I am a bit too pale for it, but if you have dark skin this one will look stunning on you. Jace will definitely be great for nail art, too!

Zoya – Cecilia Zoya – Cecilia Next up is Cecilia, a gorgeous teal polish. Cecilia also has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. I’m loving how rich this color is! Plus, it’s a shade that can be worn all year long from summer through next spring. Look at how shiny Cecilia is even without top coat, too!

Zoya – Talia Zoya – TaliaZoya Talia is up next, and is a beautiful turquoise shade that definitely leans towards blue. Talia does have a flawless formula that is opaque in two coats, but I recommend a healthy layer of base coat with this one because it is prone to staining. Nonetheless, I am truly impressed with the rich pigmentation in this polish! It’s so much fun!

Zoya – Serenity Zoya – SerenityNext is Serenity, a blue-toned purple polish. Serenity has a perfect formula that is opaque in two coats, but this one had a bit of a skunk odor to it. I’m willing to forgive the strong scent because the color is just amazing. I’m obsessing over this unique purple!

Zoya – Nana Zoya – NanaMy favorite in the Island Fun Collection is Nana, a fuchsia polish. I’m drooling over Nana’s perfect formula and beautiful coloration. Whether you’re going to work or hitting the beach, this polish is appropriate for every occasion. It’s definitely a must-have!

Zoya – Demetria Zoya – DemetriaLast but not least is Demetria, a bright red-orange polish. While I’m not loving this color with my complexion, I am loving the formula! It’s a smooth application that is opaque in two coats. What more could you want?!

All in all, I’m loving the Zoya Island Fun Collection! Zoya always gets cream formulas right. I think it’s fun that Zoya went with such deeply pigmented shades for the summer, since it’s something different for our nail polish collections! My top recommendation is Nana, but you can’t go wrong with any of these shades. You can purchase the Island Fun Collection on Zoya’s website HERE for $9 each. Let me know which polishes you’ll be picking up in the comments!

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

Manicure Monday | Julep Florence

Happy Manicure Monday! Last week all of you were so helpful when I asked if you knew of any nail polish brands that began with the letter F. Unfortunately, I didn’t own any of those brands (which I know is hard to believe)! I searched through my collection and finally found a polish whose name begins with an F, so I decided that would have to suffice for this week’s entry into the Alphabet Challenge! Let me show you Julep Florence!

Julep – Florence Julep – FlorenceFlorence is a beige nude polish with a creme formula. It applies well in two coats, but is a bit on the streaky side. I received Florence in my Julep Maven box way back in September 2013 (see that post HERE) and haven’t used it since then! I do really like this shade with my skin tone, but the formula definitely wasn’t the best. Nonetheless, I’m glad I was able to use it again for the Alphabet Challenge!

Julep – Florence

I have decided to destash Florence, as I have plenty of other nude polishes in my collection with better formulas. As I sit here looking at how gorgeous Florence is in the photos, though, I’m almost rethinking my decision! If I wasn’t so desperate to shrink my polish collection before I move in a few months, I’d definitely hang onto this one. What do you think – is Florence a keeper for you?!

Julep Beauty Inc.

This post contains an affiliate banner. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.