Author: Adventures in Polishland

Ceaco Thomas Kinkade Disney The Little Mermaid Falling in Love Jigsaw Puzzle Review

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

I recently took a little break from working on jigsaw puzzles to begin my adventures in diamond painting. When I found the Ceaco Thomas Kinkade Disney – The Little Mermaid Falling in Love puzzle at the thrift store, I knew it would be the perfect project for when I needed a diamond painting break. This beautiful puzzle is based on a Thomas Kinkade painting, and features our favorite characters from the Disney animated classic The Little Mermaid. Let me tell you why this jigsaw puzzle was so much fun to put together!

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

This puzzle is one of many designs in the Ceaco Thomas Kinkade Disney collection. It has 750 pieces, and measures 24″ x 18″ when completed. It comes in a square box that is easy to stack and store. As mentioned, I found this at my local thrift store. It was brand new and just $2.99! The puzzle retails for $14.99 on the Ceaco website, or $12.99 on Amazon. Ceaco puzzles are Made in the USA. Unlike the Peggy’s Garden puzzle I reviewed recently, this one does not say it is made with recycled materials, so I must assume it’s not.

The first thing I noticed when working on this puzzle is that the individual pieces feel a lot sturdier than the previous Ceaco puzzle I completed. I also did not have a problem with the image peeling away from the cardboard. However, several of the pieces were not fully cut when I opened the box, and I had to separate them myself. These pieces also do not lock together, so it’s very challenging to move sections around while working because they just fall apart.

Despite the pieces falling apart easily, it was an absolute joy to put together this puzzle! I began with sorting the pieces, and was able to put together Flounder, Eric, and Ariel right from the start. I then moved onto the edge, and worked my way around the border with the castle, ship, and coral sections. The sky was my favorite section to complete! I felt like pieces were going in so easily as I reached for them!

The most challenging part of this puzzle is the blue water. That being said, the art has many hints in the water that help guide the puzzling along. For example, King Triton and his castle can be seen in the water, as well as different schools of fish. The water also has different shades of blue that I used to help me sort through the pieces. I ended up putting small sections of light blue together before adding them to the main puzzle.

I also love how this puzzle features so many different elements from The Little Mermaid. While Ariel and Eric are the main focus of the image, you can see that Ursula is spotted in the scene along with Sebastian’s crustacean band. I really enjoyed finding all of the different details in the image as I worked on the puzzle!

Just like the last Ceaco puzzle I completed, this one comes with a high quality print of the puzzle image. This allowed me to use both boxes for sorting. I definitely referred to the picture a lot while working on the blue water area in particular.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Beautiful artwork
  • Sturdy pieces
  • Quick and fun to complete
  • Included print out of image
  • Made in USA

Cons:

  • Pieces do not lock together
  • False fits (happened twice)
  • Some pieces not fully cut through during manufacturing

Final Thoughts

I am so glad I found this puzzle at the thrift store! I completed it in one weekend, and had such fun doing so. Even though the water was a bit difficult, I never felt frustrated or stuck. Plus, there were a lot of unique elements in the artwork that I enjoyed discovering. I think this is a great puzzle for beginners and Disney fans alike! Ceaco is continuing to be a budget-friendly (even at retail price!) puzzle company.

Follow me on Instagram @PolishlandReads to see more of my puzzle adventures!

The Woobles Rainbow Billy the Unicorn Crochet Kit Review

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

I’ve never purchased from an Instagram ad before, but after seeing The Woobles pop up in my feed for several months, I decided to take the plunge. The Woobles is a company that sells beginner friendly crochet kits specializing in amigurumi, the Japanese art of crocheting small, stuffed animals. I’ve crocheted for nearly 20 years, but I’ve never mastered amigurmi. In fact, I find working on these small projects quite frustrating! That being said, when I saw the cute Rainbow Billy the Unicorn design, I knew I had to make it as a gift for my unicorn-loving niece. In this post I will share my experience with The Woobles, and whether or not I think it’s worth the price tag.

First, let’s talk about what comes in The Woobles crochet kits. I appreciate that the kits contain all of the tools you need to make your project:

  • Yarn
  • Stuffing
  • Crochet Hook
  • Eyes
  • Weaving Needle
  • Stitch Markers
  • PDF pattern and video tutorials

This kit is a beginner level, and recommended for ages 12+. It comes in a really cute and resealable holographic bag. I have a full unboxing video on Instagram if you want to see the materials up close.

The materials themselves were good quality. The yarn is advertised as “Easy Peasy yarn, custom-made for beginners.” I actually found that it separated quite easily, and was a bit too large for the crochet hook provided at 4mm. I also had a huge clump in my white yarn. It is common to see a small knot in yarn skeins due to the manufacturing process, but this knot was tricky to get around on such a small project. That being said, I actually really liked the crochet hook. The rubbery handle was very comfortable to hold compared to the metal hooks I typically use.

When it comes to the crochet process, I appreciate that we get both the PDF of the pattern and the step-by-step tutorial videos. Because I already know how to crochet, I used the pattern and would only use the videos when needed. The videos were very helpful, and I did refer to them quite a bit. However, it was surprising that in most of the videos the instructor was using a very different texture of yarn, and working on a separate project. It would be more helpful if the instructor was working on the same project in the kit.

The crocheting itself went relatively smoothly for me. What I do not like about amigurumi, however, are all the tiny parts that have to get sewn onto the project. For Rainbow Billy, the arms, ears, horn, mane, bangs, and cheeks are all separate parts that have to be sewn onto the main section (here, the head). I find it super frustrating to make these little bits and connect them together. The sewing aspect is challenging, and it never looks quite right for me (as seen in this top-down view of Billy’s head). My poor little Billy looks a little wonky!

I completed my Rainbow Billy in about 5 hours. The packaging states that this project will take 3-8 hours. I honestly think if you’ve never crocheted before, this will take you even longer as you try to learn all the stitches through the videos.

Additionally, I am surprised with how many supplies were left over when the project was completed. I have a good amount of yarn and stuffing, as seen in the above photo. While it’s great that The Woobles gives you sufficient materials, I think they could easily reduce what is provided so we do not end up with any waste. This would also save the company money.

Speaking of price, this kit costs $30.00. At first, I suffered a bit of sticker shock when I saw the website listing. However, I do think this is a fair price. If I were to buy all of the included materials from Joann Fabrics, it would cost me $25.00 before shipping. Of course, that price does not include the pattern and tutorial videos included with The Woobles. Thus, if you are looking to try crocheting without accumulating a lot of materials, this is a great way to do it.

Overall, I think The Woobles Rainbow Billy the Unicorn crochet kit is a fun crafting project. That being said, I do not plan on purchasing from this company again. I just don’t enjoy the amigurumi process, and prefer to work on other projects like scarves and blankets. However, if you would like to dip your toes into the crochet world, this is a great way to do that! The Woobles offers a variety of amigurumi kits on their website. I am very glad I gave this company a try, and my niece really loves her little stuffed unicorn made by her aunty!

Visit my Etsy Shop to purchase scarves, blankets, and other items crocheted by me!

Ceaco Peggy’s Garden Fanciful Jigsaw Puzzle Review

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

My jigsaw puzzle craze continues with another review of a puzzle I completed! I found the Ceaco Peggy’s Garden Fanciful puzzle at the thrift store for $3.00. I was excited to discover that it was still brand new when I got it home! I love flowers, and the bright colors on the box are such a cheery image. It may be snowing outside right now, but I can at least imagine a sunny, floral atmosphere with my puzzle!

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

Ceaco makes a few different versions of Peggy’s Garden, with this one being the Fanciful edition. This is a 1000 piece puzzle that measures 26.6″ x 19″ when completed. It comes in a square box that is small and easy to store. Just as with the White Mountain puzzle I completed recently, this puzzle is Made in the USA in my native New England – this time in Massachusetts! I once again love that the brand uses recycled materials to make their puzzles. This puzzle typically retails for $12.99, but it’s currently on sale on Ceaco’s website for $4.99! It is also available on Amazon.

The pieces themselves are made of cardboard, and they measure on the smaller side. I did have issues with the image peeling a bit off of the backing whenever I would try a piece in the wrong spot. It’s almost like the pieces would get stuck together! The image is high quality, but it is a bit glossy, which reflected the sunlight when I worked on the puzzle during the day. I needed to get right over the pieces to avoid glare.

All of that being said, the pieces fit together really well, and it was obvious whenever I put a piece in the wrong spot. It can be tricky to move sections of the puzzle around, though, as the pieces do not lock together strongly. I carefully slid sections around, and only moved small groupings at a time.

In terms of difficulty, I found this puzzle to be quite the challenge! I began with the edge, and then moved onto the middle of the flowers that have the small dots at the center. I then built out the flowers from there, and kept working outwards. The leaves in various shades of green came last! Once I got the flowers done, the rest moved pretty quickly, and it was satisfying to see everything come together so nicely.

One thing I absolutely loved about this puzzle is the included poster of the puzzle image. This allowed me to use both sides of the box for sorting. I definitely used the image to help me lay out many of the pieces, specifically the colored circles in the background. I appreciate that the colors in the print match the puzzle exactly!

Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Beautiful artwork with vibrant colors
  • High quality image
  • Included print out of image
  • Made in USA of recycled materials

Cons:

  • Pieces do not lock together well
  • Image peels off easily
  • Glare due to glossy finish
  • Puzzle dust

Final Thoughts

Overall, I really enjoyed putting together the Ceaco Peggy’s Garden Fanciful puzzle. It was a nice challenge for me, and the issues I did have with the pieces did not detract from the puzzling experience too much. Instead, it just felt more like a “budget” puzzle, which makes sense since the original price is $12.99. I will definitely keep my eye out for more Ceaco puzzles!

Follow me on Instagram @PolishlandReads to see more of my puzzle adventures!

White Mountain Puzzles Tapestry Cat Jigsaw Puzzle Review

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

After YouTube recommended the channel Karen Puzzles to me, I’ve rediscovered how much I enjoy jigsaw puzzles. I’ve decided that 2023 is going to be the year that I allow myself to spend time doing cozy and crafty hobbies. I thought it would be fun to document the different puzzles and projects I complete here on the blog. That way, I can look back and see all of the fun creations I put together, all while sharing my thoughts on the products with you. Let’s jump right into the first jigsaw puzzle I completed this year from White Mountain Puzzles called Tapestry Cat!

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

I purchased the White Mountain Puzzles Tapestry Cat by Lewis T. Johnson on Poshmark, but it is available on the brand’s website and Amazon for $19.99. This is a 1000 piece puzzle that measures 24″ x 30″ when completed. I absolutely love that the puzzle is Made in the USA in my native New England! The box also reads that the puzzle is made with recycled materials, which is awesome as well.

The pieces are made of a nice, sturdy cardboard. I did have a few issues with false fits, or pieces fitting in places where they don’t belong. Thankfully, the colors on the puzzle are very clear and rich, so when I took a closer look I was able to see my mistakes and rectify them. I appreciated that the pieces lock together well, so I could easily move around sections as I worked on them.

I started the puzzle by working on the tapestry section on the outside border. I found this quite challenging! I think I struggled a bit because the pattern repeats itself multiple times. Once I got this section completed, though, the rest went more smoothly for me.

Once I finished the tapestry, I moved onto the cat. I put together the cat’s face and paws, but then quickly moved onto the flowers. The flowers were the most fun for me! I matched up the pieces by color and texture, and used the photo on the box to arrange them on the board. It was so satisfying when all my sections began locking together!

Lastly, I filled in the darker areas around the cat to complete the puzzle. This was a bit tricky, but at this point I didn’t have many pieces left, so it went together quite quickly. The end result is just stunning! I love the beautiful colors, and the cat is darling. I left the puzzle out for a few days because I loved looking at my feline friend. I definitely see myself doing this puzzle again, and perhaps framing it if I ever have a library room.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Sturdy cardboard
  • High quality image
  • Beautiful artwork
  • Large box size (great for sorting!)
  • Pieces lock together well
  • Made in USA of recycled materials

Cons:

  • False fits
  • A bit of puzzle dust (I kept blowing it away)
  • Image on the box is obstructed with writing (I would love a separate poster/print inside!)

Final Thoughts

Overall, I really enjoyed putting together the Tapestry Cat from White Mountain Puzzles! The few cons that I encountered are nit-picky on my end. I will definitely keep my eye out for other designs from this brand. Plus, they have a store in Jackson, NH that I would love to visit one day!

Follow me on Instagram @PolishlandReads to see more of my puzzle adventures!

Book Postscript Tag 2022

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

As 2022 comes to a close, I want to share about some of the books I read this year. I saw Vicky over at Vicky’s Book Nook on YouTube post the Book Postscript Tag. This tag was created by Mementomori, and it is a fun way to reflect on your reading. This year was quite interesting for me book wise. I began by reading a lot of books that I had accumulated from NetGalley over the years. Unfortunately for me, most of them were pretty bad! I also switched jobs a few months ago, so instead of reading during my long commutes, I’m only reading about 20 pages a day during lunch. Despite my weird reading year, I’m still happy with what I accomplished, and would like to share some of my reads with you!

Book Postscript Tag 2022

I am using affiliate links from Bookshop.org in this post. While I try to buy all of my books locally and secondhand, whenever I do buy a new books I use this website because it donates a portion of every sale to independent bookstores. With that being said, let’s jump into the questions!

1. The longest book you read this year and the book that took you the longest to finish.

The longest book I read this year is RINGER by Lauren Oliver at 528 pages. This is the second book in the Replica duology, which is a young adult sci-fi series. Lauren Oliver is one of my go-to authors, and this series was definitely thought-provoking and fast-paced. It follows two teenage girls, Gemma and Lyra, as they discover who they really are. If you have any interest in human cloning, I definitely think you would enjoy this series!

The book that took me the longest to read is NIGHT SHIFT by Stephen King. I started this book on November 19, 2021, and I didn’t finish it until June 30, 2022! This is one of King’s short story collections, and I guess you can tell I do not do well with short stories. Overall, these stories were quite good and very creepy. I just have a difficult time with short fiction, and kept putting this book down because it didn’t capture my attention. I was so glad when I finally finished it!

2. A book you read in 2022 that was outside of your comfort zone.

A book I read outside of my comfort zone this year is BEYOND BELIEF: MY SECRET LIFE INSIDE SCIENTOLOGY AND MY HARROWING ESCAPE by Jenna Miscavige Hill. This is the one and only book I listened to on audio this year. I know so many people love audiobooks, but I just can’t get into them. That being said, I did really enjoy this book, which is a memoir by a woman who grew up in the Church of Scientology. This book really opened my eyes about what goes on in this organization. I will never be watching another Tom Cruise movie!

3. How many books did you re-read in 2022?

4. Favorite re-read of 2022.

I am usually a big re-reader, but this year I only re-read one book, so by default it’s my favorite re-read of the year. That book is EASY by Tammara Webber. This is a new adult contemporary romance, which funnily enough it also not something I would normally read. That being said, I enjoy the characters, and I appreciate that there are important topics discussed in this book.

5. A book you read for the first time in 2022 that you look forward to re-reading in the future.

A surprise favorite for me this year is A SUDDEN LIGHT by Garth Stein. This novel follows a boy named Trevor as he spends the summer at the family estate where his father grew up. I absolutely loved how the house was one of the main characters. It is filled with secrets and ghosts. If you like multi-generational novels, I highly recommend this one. It’s heartbreaking and hopeful at the same time.

6. Favorite single short story or novella that you read in 2022.

I mentioned earlier that I struggle with short fiction, but I did really enjoy some of the stories in NIGHT SHIFT by Stephen King. Some of my favorites in this collection are Jerusalem’s Lot, The Ledge, and Children of the Corn. One story that will haunt me forever is The Mangler. It’s the single scariest thing I’ve read by King thus far!

7. Mass Appeal: A book you liked and would recommend to a wide variety of readers.

This year I’ve really enjoyed the Dragon Masters series by Tracey West. This is a children’s book series that I started reading because my nephew is really into it. I love reading the same books as him! I have to say, I got really sucked into these magical fantasy books. They are really cute, and a great palette cleanser between longer adult books. I think this series can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike!

8. Specialized Appeal: A book you liked but would be hesitant to recommend to just anyone.

My favorite read this year is NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT THIS by Patricia Lockwood. This is an autofictional novel, meaning that it’s a fiction book based on the author’s life. While I think that everyone should read this book, I fully understand that many people will not get it or enjoy it. The story is written in two parts. The first focuses on the protagonist’s career in social media, while the second follows her life once a tragic event strikes her family. While devastating, this book is incredibly written and very important. Lockwood is by far one of my favorite authors, as I also love her memoir PRIESTDADDY.

9. Reflect on your year as a bookish content creator (goals met, good/bad memories, favorite videos you made, etc).

This year I hoped to revamp my Bookstagram page @PolishlandReads. Unfortunately, I did not keep up with it very much at all. I struggle to post bookish photos when the majority of the books I read are now ebooks. I hope that next year I can get back into the groove over there!

10. Tag some fellow bookish content creators.

I don’t have anyone specific to tag. If you’re interested in doing this tag, consider yourself tagged by me.

2022 Reading Reflections

While my reading this year went a bit differently than expected, I’m still very happy with what I accomplished. I ticked off many books from by TBR list, I caught up on a lot of NetGalley requests, and I discovered some new favorites. I hope that all of you also had a good reading year. Please share your thoughts on any of these questions in the comments!

Zoya Nail Polish Y2K Collection | Swatches + Review

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Today I am excited to share swatches and a full review of the Zoya Nail Polish Y2K Collection for Winter/Holiday 2022. This trio features liquid holographic jelly formulas designed to bring us back to the early 2000s era. I find these polishes so much fun, and was reminded of sleepover parties growing up when we would listen to pop music on CDs and use roll-on glitter until we sparkled all over. Even if you’re not nostalgic about the Y2K era, this Zoya collection is a lot of fun for any age!

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

I swatched the nail polishes in this post over the Holo Taco Peely Base, and sealed in each manicure with the Zoya Naked Manicure Glossy Seal Top Coat. The swatches are all photographed in natural lighting.

Sparrow

First up is Sparrow, a bright cyan blue jelly nail polish with holographic glitters. I applied three coats to achieve opacity. I recommend applying thin layers of each polish and letting them dry completely between coats so that you don’t drag the jelly consistency during application. Sparrow is such a beautiful color, and I love how the glitters pop!

Malana

Next up is Malana, a bubblegum pink jelly polish with holographic glitters. I again applied three coats to achieve opacity with this polish, and I love the result! I’ve always loved bright pink nails, and to have the glitter built into Malana makes it so much fun.

Tamiah

Last but not least is Tamiah, a grape purple jelly polish with holographic glitters. I applied three coats of Tamiah to get full coverage. I do like this purple shade, but I wish the purple was a bit brighter on the nails. I would consider layering this over a more pigmented purple for a bit more oomph!

Zoya Y2K Trio Over Black Nail Polish

One of my favorite things about jelly formulas is that they can be used in a variety of ways. I decided to layer one coat of each polish in the Y2K Collection over black to see how they would work as toppers. I love the unique galaxy, duochrome result of each polish! I even did a bit of abstract nail art on my ring finger with little swipes of all three polishes. It’s so fun to experiment with jellies!

All in all, the Zoya Nail Polish Y2K Collection is a unique trio of polishes that I really enjoyed trying. I think this is a great gift idea for the younger nail polish lovers on your holiday list, but of course any holo glitter fan will find this fun! You can purchase these cruelty free and vegan nail polishes on the Zoya website for $12.00 each.

Blue Ombré Skittle Manicure featuring Holo Taco Everything Taco

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After missing out on the first two launches, I finally snagged a bottle of the coveted Everything Taco from Holo Taco. I placed my order on a Monday, and to my happy surprise my new nail polish arrived that Thursday. Of course, I had to get this unique, special effects topper on my nails as soon as possible. What better way to wear it with than my favorite nail polish color, blue. I grabbed five blue nail polishes from Zoya Nail Polish in my collection, and came up with a blue ombré skittle manicure that I’m excited to share with you today.

Zoya Nail Polish Blue Cream Nail Polishes

The Zoya polishes in this post were provided for my unbiased review. This post includes affiliate links. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

My first step in creating this manicure was choosing the blue nail polishes for the ombré. Unsurprisingly, I had many options in my collection. I decided to go with more muted blue shades. From left to right, I chose Zoya Blu, Zoya Val, Zoya Austin, Zoya Brett, and Zoya Ryan. It looks like Brett is no longer available for sale, but you can use whatever polishes you have on hand as long as you get an ombré effect.

Blue Ombré Manicure featuring Holo Taco Everything Taco

To create my manicure, I began with Holo Taco Long Lasting Base. I then applied two coats of each cream polish, and let my nails dry. Next up I added one coat of Holo Taco Everything Taco. This nail polish topper is so much fun! It has a mix of iridescent flakie Unicorn Skins, as well as holographic glitters. It truly combines everything that Holo Taco has to offer when it comes to special effects toppers!

Holo Taco Everything Taco Review by Adventures in Polishland

Not only do I love how blingy Everything Taco looks on the nails, but I love how user friendly it is. I remember back when I started this blog, one thing often discussed in the nail polish community was “fishing for glitters.” There is absolutely no fishing with Everything Taco. All of the glitters apply easily onto the nails without any effort during application. Holo Taco has truly perfected the glitter nail polish topper!

Blue Ombre Manicure with Everything Taco

Last but not least, I applied two coats of Holo Taco Super Glossy Taco to seal in my manicure. I like using one coat to even out all the glitters, and the second for that smooth, glass-like shine. I am absolutely loving the result! I may have missed Everything Taco during its first two releases, but third time was the charm, and I cannot wait to use this polish over and over again.

Follow me on Instagram @adventuresinpolishland for more!

#ManicureMonday | Cool Toned Cloud Manicure featuring Zoya Nail Polish

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

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

#ManicureMonday | Cool Toned Cloud Manicure

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

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

Zoya Nail Polish Nail Art Tutorial | Adventures in Polishland

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

Manicure Monday Cloud Nail Art Look

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

Follow me on Instagram for more manicures and product recommendations!

#ManicureMonday | Green Iridescent Nails with Holo Glitter

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I’m excited to share with you the green iridescent manicure I wore last week. This nail polish look is a combination of a cream polish, a special effects topper, and a glitter topper. I’ve had so much fun layering nail polishes lately. Not only does it give me the opportunity to get more wear out of the polishes in my collection, but each manicure is quite unique. Today I’ll be sharing with you the polishes I used to achieve a sparkly and iridescent look, as well as point out a dupe for a now discontinued product.

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Chlorophyll

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

I began my manicure with two coats of Chlorophyll from the now defunct brand Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics. This is a teal green nail polish with a cream formula. If you are looking for something similar, a great option is Zoya Cecelia. It’s too bad OCC went out of business, because I really love the formula of their polishes. I’ve had Chlorophyll for nearly a decade now, and it still applies wonderfully.

Zoya Leia

Once Chlorophyll was dry, I added a coat of Zoya Leia. Leia is a sheer opalescent polish with flecks of fuchsia, green, and gold. It is such a beautiful, shimmery polish that reflects in the light. I will 100% admit that I reached for Leia this week because Holo Taco released the Winter Shimmers Collection, and I wanted to see if I had a similar option in my stash. This gives me Celestial Lights vibes for sure!

I finished the manicure by adding one coat of Holo Taco Flakie Holo Taco. I use this polish so often that I will probably be repurchasing it before the end of the year! It levels up nearly every manicure, and I just love the rainbow sparkle. You can really see how the look pops once I add this glitter topper. If you are looking for a versatile holo glitter, I highly recommend this one. Of course, I sealed in the look with two coats of Holo Taco Super Glossy Taco for a glass-like finish.

Tag me in your #ManicureMonday posts on Instagram @adventuresinpolishland!

Dry Brush Nail Art featuring the Zoya Nostalgic Collection

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

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

Dry Brush Nail Art featuring the Zoya Nostalgic Collection

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

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

Dry Brush Nail Art featuring the Zoya Nostalgic Collection

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

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