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Dare to Compare | Milani Imperial Purple vs Essie Play Date vs Chrome Girl 2Gether Forevs

Posted on June 10, 2016May 10, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! My nail polish declutter project continues today with a comparison post of some purple nail polishes. I absolutely love a good lavender polish, especially in the spring. My go to shade is always Essie Play Date, but it turns out I own two polishes from Milani and Chrome Girl that look very similar in the bottle. I had to test them out together to see how both the shades and formulas compared. Let’s jump into another Dare to Compare!

First up is Milani Color Statement in the shade Imperial Purple. This polish has a good formula, but it is a bit on the watery side. I applied two thin coats to achieve opacity. Imperial Purple is a great option from the drugstore, but you do have to be prepared for cleanup because it can be messy.

Next up is Essie Play Date, the lavender polish I always grab! Play Date does not have a perfect formula, as it can be a bit streaky. I applied three coats for a smooth and opaque finish. Even though Play Date’s application isn’t the best, it wears really well. I have great luck with Essie formulas even though I only have a few in my collection.

Last but not least is Chrome Girl in 2Gether Forevs. I don’t think I’ve tried this polish since I first reviewed it over two years ago! 2Gether Forevs has an excellent formula. It applies smoothly and is opaque it two coats. I forgot how great this polish is!

Here is a look at these purples side-by-side. From left to right are: Milani Imperial Purple, Essie Play Date, and Chrome Girl 2Gether Forevs. As you can see, Essie Play Date is a different shade than the other two polishes. This surprised me a lot! However, Imperial Purple and 2Gether Forevs are virtually the same shade. I’ve decided to keep both Play Date and 2Gether Forevs, as I love both of these polishes!

All in all, I’m glad I tried all three polishes side-by-side! I highly recommend all of these, but my favorite has to be Essie Play Date. There is just something about it that I really love, even though it can be streaky upon application. You can purchase it at your local drugstore or on Amazon HERE. Make sure to let me know in the comments what your favorite lavender nail polish is!

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

Dare to Compare | Comparing 4 Midnight Blue Nail Polishes

Posted on June 6, 2016May 9, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today’s Dare to Compare post is going to be a big one. I own four nail polishes in my collection that are midnight blue shades, meaning they are almost black, but have a blue pigmentation. I knew I had to try them out side-by-side to see if they are exact duplicates of one another. The polishes range from the affordable price of $5 to the higher end price of $14, so I have a polish for every budget to share. Let me show you these polishes individually, and then side-by-side.

First up is Milani Color Statement in the shade Ink Spot. This is a highly pigmented polish that can be worn in just one coat. I added two coats for this blog post, just to ensure an opaque finish. Ink Spot is a great polish, and one that is super affordable. I recommend this polish if you are on a budget and looking for a solid one-coat formula.

Next up is Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Night Flight. This polish has been my go to for a while when it comes to midnight blue polishes. The formula is excellent, and it is opaque in two coats. Plus, it does dry very quickly, which I really appreciate. I reach for Night Flight because it does dry so fast. This is one is also super affordable at around $5.00 at the drugstore.

The third midnight blue polish I own is Madam Glam’s Endless Night. In the bottle this looks much more blue than it is black, but once I apply two coats it takes on the same blue-black look. Endless Night also has a good formula, but it is a stainer! Make sure to wear a healthy base coat if you own this polish. Madam Glam polishes retail for around $8.00, but Endless Night is discontinued.

Last but not least is Julep Kristy. This polish has a good formula that is opaque in two coats, but it does have a tendency to stain as well. I’m not sure if I’ve ever worn Kristy before, but it is a nice polish. If you’re looking for a splurge polish this might be a good one for you!

Here is a look at all four polishes side-by-side. From left to right are: Milani Ink Spot, Sally Hansen Night Flight, Madam Glam Endless Night, and Julep Kristy. As you can see, these polishes are all nearly identical. In person both Endless Night and Kristy are a touch more blue than Ink Spot and Night Flight, but honestly there is no need for me to own all four of these polishes! I’m going to keep only Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Night Flight, just because I love the quick dry formula.

All in all, I hope you found this post helpful if you are looking for a midnight blue polish. I think all of the polishes mentioned here are great options, but I definitely recommend Night Flight. It is available at the drugstore or online HERE for a fabulous and affordable price! Please let me know in the comments if you own any of these polishes, or if you have a favorite midnight blue. I would love to hear your thoughts!

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

Dare to Compare | Milani Blue Print vs Milani Blue Jay vs Essie Butler Please

Posted on May 23, 2016May 23, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I have another nail polish comparison post featuring three blue polishes. This post is pretty exciting for me, because it contains my all-time favorite nail polish, Essie Butler Please. I just drool over bright blue polishes, and that is reflected in my collection. Nonetheless, it’s time to pare down my blues to the best of the best. I noticed that Butler Please looks very similar to two of my Milani polishes, so I had to test them out side-by-side. Let’s take a look at each blue individually, and then compare the shades.

First up is Milani Color Statement in Blue Print. This is a bright blue polish that dries to a glossy finish. Blue Print has an excellent formula that is opaque in two coats. This polish is part of Milani’s permanent collection, and available at the drug store for a fabulous and affordable price. I highly recommend this polish if you’re looking for something really budget-friendly.

Next up is Milani in Blue Jay. This was a limited edition nail polish from the Fantastical Plumage collection and no longer available. Blue Jay has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats. I absolutely love this polish! In fact, I’m a big fan of that entire collection. I’ve held onto all the polishes, but unfortunately you cannot purchase them any longer. Nonetheless, I thought it would be helpful to include Blue Jay in this comparison if you do own it!

Last but not least is Essie Butler Please, my favorite polish! Butler Please has a unique formula that dries to a semi-matte finish. It applies rather smoothly, and it does take two coats to achieve opacity. There is just something about this polish that I am forever obsessing over, and I definitely compare other blue polishes to this one. The formula isn’t perfect, but the end result is worth it to me.

Here is a look at all three polishes side-by-side. From left to right are: Milani Color Statement Blue Print, Milani Blue Jay, and Essie Butler Please. It is clear that we don’t have any exact duplicates with any of these polishes, but they are very similar. Blue Jay is the deepest blue of the three for sure. Blue Print and Butler Please are nearly identical in shade, but of course vary in terms of finish. I’ve decided to destash Blue Print, because although I love it, I’m always going to reach for Butler Please over it. Plus, I know I’m keeping the other two, so one has to go.

All in all, while I didn’t find a dupe in this Dare to Compare, I was glad to test out these polishes together. If you are looking for the perfect blue, I highly recommend any of the polishes mentioned today. Essie Butler Please is available on Amazon HERE for $8.50, and check your local drugstore for Milani Blue Print. Please let me know in the comments what your favorite bright blue nail polish is, and if you prefer a glossy or matte finish.

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

Dare to Compare | Sally Hansen Blue Me Away vs Milani Water Front vs Sally Hansen Dive Bar

Posted on May 16, 2016May 10, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I have another nail polish comparison post, this time looking at three different polishes. As I mentioned in my last Dare to Compare, I own a ton of blue polishes, and many of them are similar in color. I had to laugh when I found three polishes in a light blue shade, all from the drugstore. I knew I had to see if these polishes are dupes, so let me share them with you!

First up is Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear in Blue Me Away!, a light blue creme polish. Blue Me Away! is one of the oldest polishes in my collection, but the formula is still excellent. I applied two coats to achieve opacity, and the polish still applied smoothly to my nails. Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear is one of my all-time favorite lines of nail polish, as it is super fabulous and affordable. Blue Me Away! is one I’ve gotten a lot of use out of over the years.

Next up is Milani Color Statement in Water Front, another blue creme polish. Water Front has a good formula, but it is a bit on the watery side so I found it a little messy during application. This is still a great choice of polish, though, so if you see it at the drugstore I do recommend it. Just be prepared to clean up the cuticles a bit!

Last but not least is Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Dive Bar. I’ve found that a lot of the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel polishes have a match in one of the less expensive Xtreme Wear polishes. Dive Bar has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. I absolutely love this polish! The Miracle Gel line comes with a large flat brush that makes application super easy, which I always appreciate.

Here is a look at all of the polishes side-by-side. From left to right are: Blue Me Away!, Water Front, and Dive Bar. Blue Me Away! is definitely the most pigmented of the three polishes, but Water Front and Dive Bar look exactly the same to me. I knew based on my swatches that I would destash Water Front, since it does have that watery formula and is a dupe of Dive Bar. I’ve decided to keep the other two polishes, since they are slightly different, and because Blue Me Away! is so used that I really can’t give it to anyone else.

All in all, I’m glad I tested all three of these polishes together. It’s always fun to find a dupe! Each of these polishes is worth purchasing, but my favorite is definitely Blue Me Away! due to its price and quality. You can find it at your local drugstore or online HERE for under $3.00. Definitely let me know in the comments what your favorite light blue nail polish is. I would love to hear your thoughts!

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

Dare to Compare | Milani Color Statement Red Label vs KBShimmer Chilly Pepper

Posted on May 2, 2016March 26, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I have a nail polish comparison for you, and I’m excited to share the results. I’ve never been a big fan of the classic red nail polish, but every once in a while I find a shade of red that does work with my fair skin tone. In late 2015 I received KBShimmer’s Chilly Pepper for review and immediately knew this was a red made for me. As it turns out, I also own Milani Color Statement in Red Label, a shade that looks nearly identical to Chilly Pepper in the bottle. Now, I knew I would keep Chilly Pepper because it is one of my most used nail polishes, but I wanted to see if these polishes were dupes. Let me share the results with you!

First up is Milani Color Statement Red Label. This is a true red nail polish with a creme formula. Red Label has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. My only issue with the formula is that it is just a touch watery, but that is me nitpicking this polish. Red Label is an amazing red, and it’s a fabulous and affordable polish.

KBShimmer Chilly Pepper is also a bright red creme polish, but it does feel more like a ‘crelly,’ or creme and jelly formula. Chilly Pepper has a perfect formula. It applies with ease, looks beautiful in two opaque coats, and dries to a glossy finish with no top coat needed. I’ve used this polish so much since I received it, and you can tell by the messy state of the bottle. This is one loved polish!

Here is a look at Red Label and Chilly Pepper side-by-side. Red Label is on my pinky and ring fingers with Chilly Pepper on my middle and pointer fingers. Can you tell a difference between the two? It is very, very slight, but Red Label is a tad brighter. However, there is no reason for me to own both of these polishes. I knew I’d be keeping Chilly Pepper, so I’m saying goodbye to Red Label.

All in all, I’m glad I swatched these side-by-side so I could alert you to this dupe! I know KBShimmer is a higher end brand, and that Milani is more accessible for many of you at your local drugstore. If you can get your hands on Chilly Pepper, I highly recommend picking it up on Amazon HERE. That being said, I also recommend Red Label. It’s all up to how much you want to spend! Definitely let me know in the comments what your favorite red nail polish is. I would love to know!

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

Dare to Compare | Milani Scarlet Ibis vs Milani Color Statement Mango Tango

Posted on April 25, 2016March 22, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I have another nail polish comparison post to share, and this time the polishes are from the same brand! I own two red-orange polishes from Milani that look extremely similar in the bottle, and I had to test them out to see if they are duplicates. I did want to mention that these polishes are from two different Milani collections, so it’s understandable that the shades are so similar. Let’s take a look at Scarlet Ibis and Mango Tango individually and side-by-side.

First up is Scarlet Ibis, a red orange polish with a very slight shimmer. This polish is from the limited edition Fantastical Plumage Collection, which is one of my all-time favorite Milani collections (review HERE). Scarlet Ibis has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. It’s a tad bit watery, so I used thin coats and really liked the end result. The shimmer is just enough to add some dimension, but not make my manicure glittery. I really like Scarlet Ibis!

Next up is Mango Tango from the currently-in-stores Color Statement line. This is a red-orange creme polish with a rich pigmentation. Mango Tango has a good formula that is opaque in two coats. I really like the brush in this new Color Statement line from Milani, so that made the application process a bit better than it was with Scarlet Ibis. That’s definitely something I keep in mind when deciding whether or not to destash a polish.

Here are Scarlet Ibis and Mango Tango side-by-side. I have Scarlet Ibis on my pinky and ring fingers, and Mango Tango on my middle and pointer fingers. There is definitely a slight difference between these two polishes, so I wouldn’t call them exact dupes. That being said, there is no reason for me to keep both of these in my collection. While I like the brush and formula of Mango Tango a bit more, I’ve decided to keep Scarlet Ibis. I prefer the shade and slight shimmer, and I know I’ll never be able to buy it again. This was a tough decision!

All in all, I always find it interesting when brands release polishes that are so similar there is no need to own both. I absolutely love Milani nail polishes, and think it’s great the brand is constantly evolving. Definitely let me know in the comments if you prefer Milani’s older collections, or the new Color Statement line. I would also like to know your favorite red-orange nail polish!

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

Dare to Compare | Milani Canary vs Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Traffic

Posted on April 15, 2016March 19, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! The second round of my nail polish declutter project has officially begun. I’m now going through each color family and seeing if I have any duplicates of the same shade. I decided to go through my yellows first because that is the color family from which I own the least amount of polishes. I noticed that Milani Canary and Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Traffic looked quite similar in the bottle, so I decided to put them to a swatch test! Let’s take a look at each polish individually, and then side-by-side.

First up is Milani Canary, a yellow mustard nail polish with a creme formula. Canary has a good formula, but it was a bit on the streaky side. I applied two coats to achieve opacity, and I do like the result. Canary is a discontinued polish, so you can’t purchase it in-store any longer. I definitely keep that in mind before decluttering a polish!

Next up is Traffic from Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics. This is also a yellow mustard creme polish. I purchased it at Sephora a few years ago because I wanted to try this vegan and cruelty free brand. Unfortunately, the formula on Traffic isn’t that great. It is pretty watery, and a bit streakier than Canary, but still workable. I did some research and it seems like this polish is also discontinued, but it’s still available from third-party sellers on Amazon HERE.

Here is a side-by-side look of Canary and Traffic. I’m wearing Canary on my pinky and ring fingers and Traffic on my middle and pointer fingers. While I could tell a very slight difference between these polishes in person, you can see from the photographs that they are virtually the same in shade. When I went into this comparison, I thought I would keep one of these polishes in my stash. As it turns out, I’m going to declutter both of them! While I do like this shade of polish for the fall, I have a deeper toned mustard polish with an excellent formula that I would reach for over either one of these. Thus, both of these polishes are going to be destashed!

All in all, I’m glad I tested out these polishes together. I discovered that they are dupes for one another, so if you own both of these feel free to declutter one! Make sure to let me know in the comments if you have a favorite yellow mustard nail polish. My go to is LVX Citrine, which is a deeper color than the polishes shown today. Stay tuned to the blog for more Dare to Compare posts soon!

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

Manicure March | Milani Color Statement Nail Lacquer in Crimson Jewel

Posted on March 19, 2016February 29, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Manicure March continues with another Milani Color Statement polish. As I’ve mentioned earlier in this series, I own a lot of Milani nail polishes because I was sent the entire line for review a couple years ago. I think the line is really great quality, but not all of the colors are my cup of tea. One of those is Crimson Jewel, a red glitter polish. I don’t wear glitter very often, so I’m really trying to cut down on the glitters in my collection. Let me share my thoughts on Crimson Jewel with all of you!

Crimson Jewel is a red glitter polish with a red base. It has a great formula that applies easily and is opaque in two coats. I’m really impressed with how this polish can be worn alone without the need for another base color. I didn’t expect to really like Crimson Jewel, but when I was wearing it, I thought I had to have it! I can picture it for the holiday season for sure.

All in all, Crimson Jewel is one of the polishes I’m keeping in my collection, even though it’s not one I’m going to wear often. I’m going to be interested to see if this will make it past the next round of my declutter. My first declutter round is focusing on each polish individually – whether I like the color and whether the formula is good. My next will compare my polishes to see if any are so similar that I can get rid of them. I’ll explain more about that at the end of Manicure March, so make sure to stay tuned!

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 Color Statement Nail Lacquer in Ruby Stone

Posted on March 13, 2016February 20, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Sunday! I have another Milani nail polish to review for all of you today. I really love Milani nail polishes, but not all of the colors I own are compatible with my skin tone. I very much appreciate receiving polishes for review, as I know it’s helpful for all of you to learn more about polishes before purchasing them. However, if the polishes aren’t ones I’m going to wear again, I should pass them onto another home. Let me share one such polish with all of you today!

Ruby Stone is a red nail polish with a red shimmer. The formula is great, as it applies smoothly and is opaque in two coats. Ruby Stone is definitely a beautiful nail polish, and I could envision myself wearing this during the holidays for sure. I almost kept this polish, but then I thought about it more and decided to declutter it. I’m much more of a creme polish fan, so if I were to wear a red nail polish, it wouldn’t be a shimmer like Ruby Stone.

All in all, Ruby Stone is a perfect example of how it can be difficult to destash nail polishes. Some polishes have a great formula, but they just aren’t polishes I would wear. There is no reason for me to keep those! Definitely let me know in the comments if you own any polishes that are beautiful, but may not look the best with your skin tone. Do you hold onto them, or pass them onto friends and family? 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

Posted on March 11, 2016March 11, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

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!

Aqua 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.