Adventures in Polishland

Author: Adventures in Polishland

3 Ways to Save BIG at The Body Shop!

Posted on April 13, 2016March 21, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I’m going to share some of my tips to saving money at The Body Shop. I really love shopping at The Body Shop because it not only has great quality products, but it is a company focused on morality as well. The Body Shop never tests on animals, and it has a Community Trade program to ensure its ingredients are fairly sourced. The prices at The Body Shop, however, are definitely more than I would like to spend. Thus, I’ve come up with some shopping strategies to ensure I can enjoy my favorite products at a fraction of the price. I’m going to share my tricks with you today, along with my most recent purchase from The Body Shop to illustrate my points. Let’s jump into the big savings!

Tip 1: Shop with Ebates and Wait for Double Cash Back

Ebates is a website that allows you to earn cash back on most of your online purchases. I’ve been a member for a few years now, and absolutely love it! The website is legitimate and safe, and even helps you find coupon codes. The Body Shop is typically 4% cash back, but every so often it is a promoted store at 8% cash back! I’ve even seen it go as high as 10% for special holiday sales. I wait to shop until The Body Shop is double cash back. I earned $4.54 back from my latest purchase at The Body Shop. That is so awesome! You can sign up to Ebates for free and earn a $10 gift card by using my referral link HERE.

Tip 2: Wait for a Big Sale

One of the best ways to save money is to become familiar with a store’s sales. Whenever I find a product that I love I will pay very close attention to sales. Over time a pattern will emerge, and I know when to shop to get the highest discount. At The Body Shop, my favorite sale is Buy 3, Get 3 Free. There are always sales at The Body Shop, and you can visit the website’s Offers page HERE to see the current promotions. I highly recommend waiting for the Buy 3, Get 3 Free sale, though. Here is what I purchased most recently!

I love the body scrubs at The Body Shop, so I purchased the Cocoa Butter and Pink Grapefruit scrubs to stock up. These retail for $21 each regular price. I also wanted to get a body butter, because my skin has been very dry lately. I decided to try the Aloe Body Butter because it is fragrance free and I am sensitive to smells. This body butter is also $21.

Next I picked up some new-to-me hair care items. First I grabbed the Ginger Scalp Care shampoo because I do tend to get flakes and I hope this will work well for me. This shampoo retails for $10.00. I also purchased the Rainforest Moisture Hair Butter, which is a deep conditioner. I want to ensure I’m getting a lot of moisture into my hair, and will be using this once per week. This retails for $14.

Finally, I got the Seaweed Pore-Cleansing Facial Exfoliator. I’m running low on my face scrub, so I wanted to have one on backup. I’m all about pore cleansing scrubs, so I’m very excited to try this! This scrub retails for $18.

For this particular purchase, I purchased the three $21.00 items, and got the other three free. You would think my total would be $63.00, but not so! My last tip explains how to save even more.

Tip 3: Sign Up for Love Your Body Rewards

Lastly, I recommend signing up for the Love Your Body Rewards program. This program costs $10.00 per year, but it pays for itself because you get a $10 coupon on your birthday. Plus, you save 10% off every purchase. There are also ways to earn points and added rewards, so I highly recommend signing up if you are a regular customer. You can learn more on The Body Shop’s website HERE.

Now that I’ve shared my tricks to saving big at The Body Shop, let’s break down my most recent purchase!

RETAIL PRICE: 21 + 21 + 21 + 10 + 14 + 18 = 105

SALE PRICE: 21 + 21 + 21 = 63

LOVE YOUR BODY PRICE: 63 x 10% = 56.70

EBATES PRICE: 56.70 x 8% = $52.16 –> total savings of 50%!

As you can see, these three simple tips add up to huge savings at The Body Shop! I know other stores sell products from The Body Shop at discounted prices, but I can always save more buying directly from the store. Plus, I can earn rewards on my purchases with Love Your Body! It’s a win for my wallet and for me – I get to use my favorite products at a discounted price. I hope you all found this post helpful! If you have any tips for saving at The Body Shop that I didn’t mention here, please share in the comments! Happy shopping!

This post is not sponsored or affiliated with The Body Shop. My link to Ebates is a referral link. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Book Review | Newt’s Emerald by Garth Nix

Posted on April 12, 2016April 12, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Newt’s Emerald by Garth Nix

Published by Katherine Tegan Books on October 13, 2015

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Historical Fiction

Format: ARC

Pages: 304

Source: Book Expo America

Goodreads: ★★★

On her eighteenth birthday, Lady Truthful, nicknamed “Newt,” will inherit her family’s treasure: the Newington Emerald. A dazzling heart-shaped gem, the Emerald also bestows its wearer with magical powers.

When the Emerald disappears one stormy night, Newt sets off to recover it. Her plan entails dressing up as a man, mustache included, as no well-bred young lady should be seen out and about on her own. While in disguise, Newt encounters the handsome but shrewd Major Harnett, who volunteers to help find the missing Emerald under the assumption that she is a man. Once she and her unsuspecting ally are caught up in a dangerous adventure that includes an evil sorceress, Newt realizes that something else is afoot: the beating of her heart.

In Newt’s Emerald, the bestselling author of Sabriel, Garth Nix, takes a waggish approach to the forever popular Regency romance and presents a charmed world where everyone has something to hide.

REVIEW

I received an ARC of Newt’s Emerald while attending Book Expo America in 2015, and was excited to read a book by well-known fantasy author Garth Nix for the first time. Newt’s Emerald is a magical fantasy story that takes place in London during the Regency era. The book follows Lady Truthful as she turns 18-years-old. Her father shows her the emerald she will inherit during her birthday dinner, when suddenly a big storm occurs and the emerald is stolen. Truthful travels to London to visit her aunt, and to help find the emerald.

I thought the idea for Newt’s Emerald was a lot of fun, but unfortunately the book fell a bit flat for me. My first issue is with the writing style. Nix does an excellent job of writing in the British English of the time period, but it was difficult to adapt because there was a lot of vocabulary I didn’t know. While there is a glossary in the back of the book, many of the words I looked up weren’t listed there. Similarly, Nix assumes that the reader is already familiar with the magic system in the book. Perhaps if you read a lot of books in this genre you would be, but I would have liked a lot more world-building. This is especially true for a young adult novel, in which many of the readers might not be familiar with this particular magic system.

Moreover, I also found that the book’s short length held back the story. The characters were underdeveloped, as was the romance. A longer book would have also helped to build suspense. This is especially true at the end of the novel. I won’t spoil the story for you, but I will say that I was very disappointed with the ending. The book built up to a climax that happens in the last couple of pages. Then, the book is suddenly over. This sudden ending really detracted from my enjoyment of the story. This could have been solved with a longer book, or even an epilogue.

That being said, there were still some things I liked about Newt’s Emerald in addition to the plot idea. First, I loved the character of Truthful’s aunt, Lady Badgery. Ever since becoming an aunt, I’ve loved aunts in literature. Lady Badgery is sassy and smart, but also quite loving. She really takes Truthful under her wing, and I loved seeing how their relationship played a role in the book. In addition, I loved the glamorous setting of Newt’s Emerald. Not only was glamour a part of the magic system, but I really liked all of the balls Truthful attended, as well as the careful attention to fashion. I don’t believe I’ve ever read a book in the Regency era before, and this definitely piqued my interest.

All in all, I was quite disappointed with Newt’s Emerald because it was underdeveloped and slow-going. It reads more like middle grade than young adult, so I would recommend it for younger readers. While I thought the story had a fun plot, it just wasn’t done well for my tastes. I am interested to hear your thoughts on Nix’s other books. I know his Abhorson series is well-loved, so I might give that a try in the future.

BUY THE BOOK

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

When you buy a book through the Amazon or Book Depository links above, I earn a small commission through each website’s affiliate program. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Zoya Petals Collection | Spring 2016

Posted on April 11, 2016March 21, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! I am always super excited when Zoya Nail Polish releases a new collection, and today I will be sharing with you the Petals Collection for spring 2016. The Petals Collection contains six floral-inspired shades, each containing a shimmer formula. I am so ready for bright colors and warm weather, and this collection is getting me really pumped! Let’s jump right into my swatches of the Petals Collection!

First up is Leia, an opalescent white polish with flecks of fuchsia, green, and gold. Leia has an excellent formula, but this is a sheer polish. I’ve layered three coats on in the photos above, and you can see it is still not an opaque polish. Leia is not my usual cup of tea, but it is so beautiful, and I love the way it changes in the light. I’m going to experiment with this polish and layer it over other shades, so if you’d like to see more please let me know in the comments!

Next is Aster, a periwinkle polish with flecks of fuchsia, blue, and silver. Aster has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats. I just love how dimensional this polish looks due to the strong shimmer effect. This shade is so beautiful for springtime, and I think it’s great to transition from the colder months especially.

Azalea is the next polish, and my favorite in the Petals Collection! This is a bright pink shade with silver and fuchsia shimmer. Azalea also has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. This polish is just right up my alley! Pink is one of my favorite shades to wear, and this unique shimmery goodness makes it so much fun for the spring and summer. I think it would make a great pedicure polish as well!

Next up is Zahara, a coral shade with silver and fuchsia shimmer. Zahara has a good formula, but I recommend three thin coats as it is a bit on the sheer side. This is a nail polish that I think will look good on everyone no matter the skin tone! I love a good coral polish in the warmer months, and Zahara is the perfect option.

The last two polishes in this collection still have shimmer formulas, but the shimmer effect is much lighter. Tulip is a peachy pink with a slight silver and fuchsia. I had a bit of trouble with the formula because it is quite watery. I recommend three very thin coats that you allow to dry completely before adding on another. The end result is just gorgeous! Tulip is a great everyday polish that can work professionally for sure.

Last but not least is Laurel, a bubblegum pink polish with a light shimmer of pink and silver. Laurel has a great formula that is opaque in two coats, and is super pretty. I like that this polish has just a hint of shimmer. In fact, it was difficult to capture it on camera even though I was photographing in natural light! Laurel is definitely one of my favorites in the collection.

All in all, I am absolutely loving the Zoya Nail Polish Petals Collection! As you all might know, I am typically not a big fan of shimmer nail polishes. However, I think Zoya has done a great job at creating some unique polishes in this collection. I will be wearing these a lot this spring and summer, and I think you should, too! You can purchase the Petals Collection directly from Zoya’s website HERE. Polishes retail for $10 each, but make sure to follow Zoya’s social media for sales and coupons! Please let me know in the comments if you’ll be picking up any of these polishes for your stash!

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

Dermelect Cosmeceuticals ‘ME’ Spring 2016 Outburst Collection | Explosive & Impromptu

Posted on April 8, 2016March 13, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I am excited to review two nail polishes from a new-to-me brand. Dermelect Cosmeceuticals is a brand designed to allow its users to express their individuality. The Spring 2016 nail polish collection is called the ‘ME’ Outburst Collection, and includes four polishes in vibrant shades. The brand curated this based on Outburst, meaning each shade commands attention and lets you stand out. I received Explosive and Impromptu to review for you today.

Dermelect Cosmeceuticals is very unique, and I wanted to share a bit more about the polishes with you before we jump into individual reviews. The formula is designed to be applied in two coats. The first coat bonds to the nail, and the second fuses with the base to create a finish that resists chipping and improves brittleness. There is a key ingredient of peptide-hydrolyzed keratin protein that is extracted from New Zealand’s sheep’s wool to help strengthen the nails. This is definitely not a vegan product, but the brand is cruelty free.

The first polish I tried is Explosive, a bright neon coral polish with a creme finish. Explosive has a really great formula. It applies a bit patchy, but dries to a flawless finish. I did apply two coats, and am really pleased with the result. This bright shade is perfect for spring and summer, and I definitely will be wearing it a lot in the coming months. I highly recommend Explosive if you’re looking for a coral!

Next up is Impromptu, a pale pink polish with silver and pink shimmer. Impromptu also has a really good formula. I didn’t expect the shimmer to be as strong as it is on the nails because it looks more subdued in the bottle. Impromptu reminds me of a ballerina because it’s such a classically feminine shade. This is a perfect transition shade from winter to spring, and I think it would make a nice pedicure color as well.

All in all, I’m really liking the nail polishes from Dermelect Cosmeceuticals. This is a higher end brand, with the polishes costing $14 each or $29 for the entire 4-piece Spring set. You can purchase these polishes direct from the brand’s website HERE. Individual shades are also available on Ulta’s website HERE for a discounted price of $12 each. Please let me know in the comments if you’ve ever tried any Dermelect Cosmececuticals polishes, or if you plan to give them a try!

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

New Year’s Resolutions 2016 | Quarter 1 Update

Posted on April 7, 2016March 19, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! We are now a few months into 2016, and I wanted to share an update on my New Year’s Resolutions for this year. I know a lot of you might be feeling disgruntled about your resolutions if they haven’t been going very well, so I hope that if I share my journey and experiences you will feel more inspired to keep going. Resolutions don’t happen overnight – they take hard work and dedication. As long as we are working towards our goals we are being successful! Today I’ll be sharing a quick update on each of my five resolutions, and grade myself on my progress. You can see my New Year’s Resolutions announcement HERE if you missed it!

1. Paint My Nails More Often & Try More Nail Art

Grade: C+

I’ve done really well with blogging more about nail polish this year, especially during Manicure March! However, I’m still not wearing nail polish often on a daily basis. I have been swatching a lot lately, so I haven’t painted a full manicure because I know I’ll just have to take it off to swatch. I know that’s an excuse, so I need to get over it and paint my nails more! I’m ready to put my newly decluttered collection to use.

2. Nail Down a Skincare Routine

Grade: B

I’ve been doing much better at taking care of my skin this year, but I’m not at the point of a daily routine just yet. I probably do a full morning and evening skincare routine about 4-5 days per week. That is a huge improvement for me, so I’m happy with my progress!

3. Focus on My Overall Health

Grade: C

My health goals were broken down into three main categories: taking my daily vitamins, exercising regularly, and eating healthier. I’m doing really well at taking my vitamins. I’ve made it a part of my day, and you can see in my Health Star Jar above that there are a lot of purple stars! Unfortunately, I’ve slacked off big time when it came to exercise. I got sick in January and took some time off, but that time off turned into a couple months off (big oops!). I’m going to try to start with exercising once per week to ease myself back into a routine. Finally, I’ve been eating somewhat better, but my sweet tooth has been overpowering me. I need to conquer it!

4. Organize My Life

Grade: B

A general goal of mine is to become more organized in all aspects of my life. I think I’ve done a good job at this so far! I’ve created some new systems that work for me, such as keeping notebooks for certain purposes, coming up with a functional clothing organization system, and storing my makeup. Decluttering has been on the forefront of my mind, and getting rid of unneeded things in my life has helped me become more organized for sure. I’ve also been working on budgeting my money by making sure I buy with purpose. I also keep a spending log to keep track of every dollar that comes in and goes out. My main priority now is becoming more productive and motivated in my daily life.

5. Read 40 Books

Grade: A

As of writing this blog post, I’ve read 17 books in 2016! I am well on my way to completing this goal. I was a reading machine in both January and February, and in March I slowed down a bit to focus on longer books and books that require more brain power. I am also writing non-spoiler book reviews for every book I read, so check out THIS section of the blog to see them.

All in all, while there is definite room for improvement, I think my New Year’s Resolutions are going well. It’s important to check in with yourself and be honest about how you are progressing. It is okay if you haven’t even begun work on your resolutions yet! Just don’t give up! I know it can be really hard to motivate yourself, so let’s cheer each other on in the comments! Share your resolutions and progress with me!

My Everyday Makeup featuring MAKE Beauty | Limited Time Coupon Code

Posted on April 6, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I am excited to share with you my everyday makeup look, and also review a couple of products from the brand MAKE Beauty. I first tried MAKE Beauty a few years ago through the subscription service Birchbox. I luckily got the opportunity to review some of the brand’s products for all of you, and I was so happy when they arrived because they perfectly fit into my normal makeup routine. This post will provide first impressions reviews of the MAKE Beauty Matte Finish Eyeshadow in Alabaster and the Silk Cream Lipstick in Taffy, and then conclude with an overall look at my full makeup. Make sure to stay tuned to the end of this post where I will share a coupon code for MAKE Beauty with all of you!

Matte Finish Eyeshadow in Alabaster [BUY]

MAKE Beauty Matte Finish Eyeshadow in Alabaster

First up is the Matte Finish Eyeshadow in Alabaster. I’ve swatched Alabaster on my hand, but you probably will have a hard time seeing it because it is my exact skin tone! I was so excited to discover that, because I don’t like to wear eyeshadow on a daily basis. However, I do have quite veiny eyelids, so I often use an eye primer just to cancel out the discoloration. Alabaster works perfectly to fully cover up my veiny lids. It is smooth, pigmented, and wears very nicely throughout the day. This eyeshadow formula also contains Vitamins C and E to help provide anti-oxidant protection to the eye area, and I think it does a great job because I didn’t experience any irritation. I’m in love with Alabaster!

Silk Cream Lipstick in Taffy [BUY]

MAKE Beauty Silk Cream Lipstick in Taffy

Next up is the Silk Cream Lipstick in the shade Taffy, a medium pink with purple undertones. Taffy just happens to be a ‘my lips but better’ shade. I couldn’t believe how well this fit my complexion! I also like how Taffy applies smoothy, and feels nice on the lips. I’ve had really dry lips lately, but Taffy still applied nicely and wore well throughout the day. Taffy did not add any moisture to my lips, but it also didn’t feel drying. I know I will be reaching for this lipstick often!

My Everyday Makeup Look

Here’s my completed makeup look! I’ll list all of the products for you if you’d like to learn more about what I use on the daily. Links to the MAKE Beauty products are above in each review.

Make Up For Every Step 1 Equalizing Primer [BUY]
Covergirl TruBlend Liquid Makeup in L2 [BUY]
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Concealer [BUY]
Maybelline BROWdrama Pro Palette in Blonde [BUY]
Maybelline Great Last Mascara in Clear [BUY]
Rimmel London Scandaleyes XX-Treme Mascara in Black [BUY]
Rimmel London Natural Bronzer [BUY]
Benefit Cosmetics Dandelion Blush [BUY]
L’Oreal Paris Colour Riche Eyeshadow Palette (I used the highlight shade) [BUY]
Rimmel London Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Translucent [BUY]
Urban Decay De-Slick Makeup Setting Spray [BUY]

All in all, I am really loving the products I received from MAKE Beauty, and am excited they fit into my daily routine. MAKE Beauty is a boutique brand with higher end prices, but I think these are great products in which to invest. From now until April 15, 2016, you can save 20% off your purchase at makebeauty.com with the code MAKEYOURSELF at checkout. I highly recommend snatching up these savings while you can!

What products are part of your everyday makeup look? Please share in the comments!

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

February & March Favorites! | What I’m Loving in 2016

Posted on April 5, 2016July 14, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! I’m excited to share my favorites for the months of February and March. I didn’t get the opportunity to share what I loved in February during Manicure March, so I thought I’d lump the past two months together. It actually works out perfectly because I haven’t discovered many new things to share with you. I’ve been so busy working on the blog these past couple of months, but I’ve really been enjoying it. Without further ado, let me share my favorites with you!

SKINCARE

Yes to Coconut Ultra Hydrating Melting Cleanser [REVIEW] [BUY]

I’ve been loving the Yes to Coconut Melting Cleanser! It smells amazing, and does a great job at cleansing my face without stripping it of moisture. I don’t use this daily, but when I want a deep clean. It truly melts away my makeup! I’m definitely going to be purchasing more products from the Yes To brand in the future.

BODY CARE

The Body Shop Aloe Body Butter [BUY]

I purchased this body butter because it is fragrance free. I don’t know about you, but I’m sensitive to smells, and sometimes it’s nice to put on lotion without perfume. This body butter truly is fragrance free, and I appreciate that so much. Plus, it does an amazing job at hydrating my skin. I’m seeing a big difference in just a couple weeks of using it! I do wish it was a bit more affordable, but I’m going to grab it during sales for sure.

TV SHOWS

Fuller House

Full House is my favorite TV show of all time, so you know I was ready for Fuller House! I marathoned the series as soon as it came out, and really loved it. I got a free Netflix month just so I could watch it. I’m so glad it got picked up for a second season. It’s so fun to see the cast back in action, and I love all the new characters. I highly recommend it if you haven’t seen it yet!

The Family

I’ve also been loving the new show on ABC called The Family! I’m not usually into creepy TV shows, but for some reason I just had to watch this after seeing the commercials. The show follows a family in Maine. Ten years ago, the youngest son went missing, and the man who lives across the street was convicted of his murder. Then, at present day, the son reappears. Now the family is trying to catch his kidnapper. It’s so intriguing! I am always excited for a new episode.

BOOK

More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera [BUY]

My favorite book of the past couple months is More Happy Than Not, a young adult contemporary with a science fiction twist. I will have a full review up for you later this month, but I wanted to share it now so you can pick it up as soon as possible! The story follows Aaron Soto, a teenager living in the Bronx. He is struggling after his father committed suicide, and trying to find his way in life. The story is not only emotional, but it is very well written. I highly recommend it!

ETSY SHOP

Pretty on Paper Co. [SHOP]

I made my first purchase from Pretty on Paper Co. back in January, and I instantly fell in love. The planner stickers in her shop are amazing quality, and I love her design aesthetic. I’ve already made a second purchase, and I will definitely be back for more! She makes amazing weekly kits, which I love using in my planner. I recommend checking out her shop! She is located in Canada, but shipping to the United States is pretty affordable.

That wraps up my February and March favorites! I hope you enjoyed seeing what I’ve been enjoying these past couple of months. As always, please share your favorites with me in the comments! I love getting recommendations from all of you. You can also use the hashtag #PolishlandFaves on social media to share your photos. Here’s to a great April!

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.

March Empties | #365DaysofEmpties Update

Posted on April 4, 2016March 23, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! It’s now April, and that means it’s time to share the products I used up during the month of March. I thought I was going to have a lot of empties this month, but a lot of my products are still going strong even though there is just a bit left in the bottle! Let me know in the comments if you ever have that feeling, where your products are just about to finish but last for what feels like forever. Let’s go ahead and jump right into my March empties.

SKINCARE

Olay Fresh Effects Everything Off Deluxe Makeup Removal Wet Cloths – 1 Pack [BUY]

Mini Review: I like these wipes because they take off all my makeup well, including mascara. They are a bit rougher on my skin than I would like, so I wouldn’t recommend these if you have sensitive skin. I much prefer the Swipe Out wipes from the Fresh Effects line.
Would I Buy it Again? If there was a good sale! I try all different wipes.

Elizabeth Arden Flawless Future Caplet Serum – 1 Sample [BUY]

Mini Review: I have mixed feelings on this serum! The caplets burst into a silver shimmer, leaving the face really glittery, which I really disliked. However, my skin loved this serum! My face was clear and even, and I didn’t experience a breakout during the entire time I used it. I also have a bunch of caplets left, but no serum.
Would I Buy it Again? No. I don’t like the glitter, and this is very expensive!

Cover FX Calming Primer – 1 Sample [BUY]

Mini Review: I used this serum whenever my skin was having a bad day. It is very gentle and good for sensitive skin. The texture is really nice, and my makeup applied well.
Would I Buy it Again? Yes! I might purchase it in the future.

NAIL CARE

Sally Hansen Continuous Treatment Base & Top Coat – 1 Bottle

Mini Review: I grabbed this base and top coat during a clearance sale at CVS for a couple dollars. I used it primarily as a base coat, and it served its purpose well. It did have a very strong odor however. I’m glad to move onto a new base coat!
Would I Buy it Again? No. This product is discontinued.

HAIR CARE

Neutrogena T/Sal Therapeutic Shampoo – 1 Bottle [BUY]

Mini Review: This shampoo is not a miracle worker, but it did help greatly to improve my flakes. I get an extremely dry scalp in the winter, and I needed something to help. I noticed that if I skipped using this my flakes came back in full force, so it did help a lot.
Would I Buy it Again? Yes, but I’m trying out a new shampoo next to see if it helps better.

BODY CARE

The Body Shop Pink Grapefruit Body Scrub Gelee – 1 Tub [BUY]

Mini Review: I love this scrub! I’ve never tried a gelee scrub before, and it was a unique feel. I think this pink grapefruit scrub is perfect for the warmer months. It smells fresh, exfoliates well, and has a great texture.
Would I Buy it Again? Yes! I already did.

ORAL HYGIENE

Crest Complete Whitening + Scope – 1 Tube [BUY]

Mini Review: I liked this toothpaste just fine, but I don’t think there is anything special about it. I try to purchase toothpastes that are approved by the ADA (American Dental Association), and this one is not.
Would I Buy it Again? No.

MARCH EMPTIES: 7

TOTAL 2016 EMPTIES: 26

I am a bit disappointed that I didn’t finish up a lot of products this month, but I am still on track to finish 100 products by the end of the year. I am now trying to focus on one product at a time so that I can use up what’s in my stash. For example, I am going to use only one to two mascaras at once to see if I can use one up before it expires. Definitely let me know in the comments what you used up in the month of March, and if you have any tips on using up products. I would love to know!

This post includes affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Upcoming Adventures | April Blog Chat

Posted on April 3, 2016March 12, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Sunday! I’m back today to let you know what to expect on the blog this month in April. March was a ton of fun! I really enjoyed doing a themed month and getting back to my nail polish roots. Now I am glad to return to my normal blog schedule in April. In this Upcoming Adventures post I’ll be reminding you of my blog schedule, share new blog goals, and let you in on a special announcement!

First things first, I wanted to remind all of you of my blog schedule in case you first discovered Adventures in Polishland during Manicure March. I like to describe my blog as a lifestyle blog with a beauty focus. While I mainly blog about beauty and nail polish, I share other aspects of my life with you, too.

Here is my current schedule:

M/W/F: Beauty Post

Tu/Th: Lifestyle Post

In April you can expect to see a lot of book reviews on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I read up a storm in February and am still getting those reviews out for you. If you’d like to stay in touch with me while I’m reading, you can follow or friend me on Goodreads HERE. My book reviews are always non-spoiler. They begin with general statistics about the book at the beginning, and then I include the book’s synopsis from Goodreads. My review concludes the post, and I always let you know what I liked and didn’t like!

I will also be celebrating my 4th Blogiversary this month on April 10th! I can’t believe I’ve been blogging for four years. I don’t know exactly how I’m going to celebrate yet, but you can rest assured I’ll put together something special for that day. To go along with that, I am also committing to write at least one nail polish post per week. I want to make sure I stay true to my roots and continue to embrace the ‘Polish’ in Polishland!

That wraps up my Upcoming Adventures post for April! I hope you all had a great March, and I hope you are as excited for the spring season as I am. If you are not already, you can follow my blog for free on Bloglovin HERE so my new posts are always in your feed. I would love to have you join the adventure with me! Here’s to an awesome April!

Manicure March Wrap Up | Final Results + What Happens Next!

Posted on April 1, 2016March 11, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I am beyond excited to wrap up Manicure March with all of you. It was really fun to blog every single day for an entire month, and get back to the roots of Adventures in Polishland with nail polish reviews. If you missed any of the 31 posts, you can check them out HERE. I decided to do Manicure March to share with all of you my nail polish declutter project. Last year I began decluttering my nail polishes because I was feeling very weighed down by them. I absolutely love nail polish, and am still very passionate about it. However, I don’t want to hold onto them and not use them. I’m taking my time to pare down my nail polish stash to include only those polishes I absolutely love. I hope all of you are enjoying this adventure, and that you’re excited to see the final Manicure March results!

Manicure March by the Numbers

First things first, let’s discuss the numbers. I swatched 31 nail polishes during Manicure March. I didn’t have a specific goal in mind for how many I wanted to keep versus declutter, but I was hoping to destash more than I kept. Here is the breakdown of results:

Polishes Kept: 14

Polishes Decluttered: 17

I feel great that I was able to destash more nail polishes than I decided to keep. Of course, the end result for me is to build a collection of amazing nail polishes that I absolutely love. I would have been totally fine keeping more if they fit that category!

What am I doing with the decluttered polishes?

The biggest question I’ve received since announcing my destash project is what I’m going to do with the polishes I no longer want. I’ve thought about this in depth, and I honestly want to leave myself with the least amount of work possible. I’ve come up with a four-step process to help me move the decluttered polishes out of my possession as quickly as possible:

Recycle Bad Formulas – Did you know you aren’t supposed to throw out nail polish in the regular garbage? Nail polish needs to be disposed of at a household hazardous waste facility. Unfortunately, there aren’t any local to me based on THIS online research. However, every year Zoya puts together an Earth day promotion where you can send in your old nail polish to be recycled. I’m going to keep an eye out for the 2016 promotion, and will post about it on my Facebook Page HERE when the information is available.
Give to Friends and Family – I always offer any products I have to friends and family first. It cuts down on shipping costs and gives back to those in my personal community!
Sell those Worth Money – If I have any nail polishes that are worth money, I might try to sell them in nail polish groups. I don’t think any of the polishes I’ve decluttered thus far fall into this category, but some might make it into the pile later. I will not sell nail polishes I received for review. However, I may offer them to others if they pay the shipping fee.
Donate to Charity – Finally, I will donate the rest of my polishes to charity. Many shelters accept gently used nail polish, so check your local area to see what’s an option for you. I plan on donating to PolishedGirlz, an organization I’ve heard amazing things about in the nail polish community.

What Happens Next?

Manicure March completed my first round of my declutter. I did a modified KonMari method in which I held every polish and quickly decided whether it was one that sparked joy for me. If it did, I kept it. If not, I put it directly in the declutter bin. If I couldn’t decide based on the polish alone, I swatched it during Manicure March!

My next round is going to be based on nail polish color. I’m going to look at each color family of polish and get rid of any polishes that are the same or very, very similar. You can expect some comparison posts to be coming your way during that round! After that I will see how my collection is doing, and perhaps create a round three.

That wraps up Manicure March! I hope you enjoyed all of my reviews and the fun discussions we had in each post. I really loved hearing your thoughts, so thank you to everyone who commented and shared with me! My regular blog schedule will be resuming tomorrow, but I promise there are more nail polish reviews coming your way very, very soon!