Author: Adventures in Polishland

Celebrate Father’s Day with Macy’s and Nautica Voyage | #NauticaforDad

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. #NauticaforDad #CollectiveBias

Happy Wednesday! Today I am excited to bring all of you a little something different! Adventures in Polishland has always focused on beauty products that are traditionally for women, but today I get the opportunity to share with you the perfect fragrance gift set for Dad this Father’s Day. I’ve teamed up with Macy’s and Nautica to tell you about the Nautica Voyage Gift Set, and also share with you why this is a great gift for my dad in particular. Make sure to read the entire post to find out how you can enter to win an AMAZING giveaway!

Celebrate Father's Dat with Macy's & Nautica Voyage! | #NauticaforDad

ABOUT NAUTICA VOYAGE 

Celebrate Father's Dat with Macy's & Nautica Voyage! | #NauticaforDad Celebrate Father's Dat with Macy's & Nautica Voyage! | #NauticaforDadThe Nautica Voyage Gift Set is a four-piece set that retails for just $65.00 (it’s a $128.00 value!). It includes a 3.4 oz Eau de Toilette, a 2.5 oz Aftershave Balm, a 2.5 oz Shower Gel, and a 1 oz Eau de Toilette. The Voyage scent is fresh, cool, and acquatic, with top notes of green leaf and crisp apple. I have to say I love the scent (of course, I had to take a few test whiffs before handing this over to my dad!). It’s masculine, yet still really fresh and clean.

As you might be able to tell by the packaging, Nautica is inspired by the water, and designed for the “Gentle Man,” the everyday hero in our lives who we can always count on. My dad has always been my hero. He works long hours to ensure my brother and I could have great educational opportunities, and always goes out of his way to provide me with everything I need. Plus, my dad is sweet, loving, and funny! Even though I’m in my twenties now, he still draws me fun pictures and sends them to me via email. It means so much to me that we can still connect as I’ve been away from home these past few years!

In addition to being an all-around amazing father (and now a grandpa to my nephew, too!), my dad loves lighthouses. Growing up in New England, we’ve had the opportunity to visit Cape Cod and Maine, and my dad always loves to look at the lighthouses there. He’s told me that when he retires, we wants to visit a lot of the lighthouses along the coast with my mom, all while driving in his blue Mustang! I was surprised and delighted to see how much my dad is a Nautica man. This gift set could not be a better fit for him, and I know it’s not something he would purchase for himself!

WHERE TO BUY

Celebrate Father's Dat with Macy's & Nautica Voyage! | #NauticaforDadThe Nautica Voyage Gift Set is avilable at Macy’s, so I headed to the famous Herald Square location to pick up the set. This Macy’s location is huge! In fact, it was the world’s largest store up until a few years ago. I knew that it might be difficult to find just what I was looking for when I headed in, so I asked an employee for help right away! She gave me simple and clear directions, and was very friendly. I carefully made my way through the crowds until I got to the Mens Fragrance Department.

Celebrate Father's Dat with Macy's & Nautica Voyage! | #NauticaforDadHere is the entrance to the department. As you can see, it was very busy, and there were employees everywhere! Luckily for me the Mens Fragrance department is on the first floor of the store, so I didn’t have to travel too far. I asked an employee for help finding the Nautica Votage Gift Set, and she knew just where it was on the shelf!

Celebrate Father's Dat with Macy's & Nautica Voyage! | #NauticaforDadTa da! There it is – right on top of the display case! I guess Macy’s is making sure to be prepared for Father’s Day! Whether you’re shopping at the Herald Square location or at your local store, I highly recommend asking an employee for help. I never shop in the Mens Department, so I definitely needed a bit of guidance! Of course, if you want to shop from home, you can purchase the Nautica Voyage Gift Set online HERE. You even get free shipping with your order for spending over $50!

GIVEAWAY

I am beyond excited that I can share this giveaway that Nautica is hosting with all of you! One lucky grand prize winner will win a $4,000 Cruise Vacation package, and five winners will win a Nautica fragrance package. How incredible is that?! Be sure to enter using the widget below for your chance to win! All winners must be at least 18 years old.

Nautica for Dad

Last but not least, I wanted to share all of the places you can find Nautica online. One really cool feature is this Social Hub HERE that lets you learn more about how other bloggers are sharing Nautica with their dads this Father’s Day! I think the stories are so sweet! Of course, I want to know all about the anchor in your life as well – tell me about your dad or father figure in the comments! 

CONNECT WITH NAUTICA

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Manicure Monday | Sally Hansen XtremeWear in Blue Me Away!

Happy Manicure Monday! I can’t believe we’re nearing the end of the Alphabet Challenge! This week the letter S is up, and of course I had to reach for one of my favorite brands, Sally Hansen. I’ve been a huge Sally Hansen fan for years and years, way before I ever started blogging. I decided to feature one of the oldest polishes in my collection this week. Let me go ahead and show you Blue Me Away!

Manicure Monday | Sally Hansen XtremeWear in Blue Me Away! Manicure Monday | Sally Hansen XtremeWear in Blue Me Away!Blue Me Away! is a beautiful blue creme polish that is bright yet subdued at the same time. It has a great formula that is opaque in two coats, and is super shiny without top coat. I am so impressed with how this nail polish has stood up to time! My bottle is about half empty at this point, but Blue Me Away! is still going strong. The best part is the XtremeWear line is really affordable, usually around $3.00 at the drugstore. It’s one of my favorite nail polish lines of all time.

All in all, I’m loving Blue Me Away! just as much as I did years ago when it first became part of my nail polish collection. Sally Hansen was one of the inspirations for my blog’s tagline – “Your Guide to Fabulous and Affordable Nails.” I’ve always loved finding a great bargain, and no matter how many nail polishes I get to test, Sally Hansen will be a staple in my collection. You can find Blue Me Away! at your local drugstore or department store. Be sure to let me know in the comments what your favorite XtremeWear polish is!

NYC New York Color Strip Me Off Base Coat Review

Happy Saturday! Today I have a review of the new Strip Me Off Base Coat from NYC New York Color. I got the opportunity to test this base coat out for all of you, and I have to say I was very intrigued with the product. It is designed to peel off of your nails so you can remove your manicure without using nail polish remover. I did some testing, and let me show you how it works!

NYC New York Color Strip Me Off Base Coat Review

STEP BY STEP PROCESS

NYC New York Color Strip Me Off Base Coat Review | Step OneHere is what the base coat looks like upon application. It goes on as a thick white color, and then begins to separate and dry. At first I thought I got a wonky bottle, but that’s how the product works! Don’t be alarmed if it looks strange when you put it on. You can see how my pinky and ring fingers have more transparent patches than my pointer finger, and that’s because the base coat changes as it dries. I have to say it reminds me of school glue!

NYC New York Color Strip Me Off Base Coat Review | Step TwoHere is what the base coat looks like when fully dry. Unfortunately, the dry time is about 5-7 minutes, which is a very long time for base coat. As you can see, there were a few patches that didn’t fully dry. This happened to me every time I tested the base coat. Luckily, it doesn’t affect your overall manicure. I simply patted these bits down to make sure they were flat and dry, then added my nail color.

NYC New York Color Strip Me Off Base Coat Review | Step ThreeI tested Strip Me Off with both glitter polishes and regular nail colors. I found that glitters work the best, as they peel off in one big sheet. Regular nail polishes will peel off as well, but it does break up in smaller pieces. Nonetheless, it’s so cool that you can use this base coat with any polish you have. I decided to feature Shimmer Polish in Karen in this post!

NYC New York Color Strip Me Off Base Coat Review | Step FourFinally, here are my nails after I peeled off the base coat! I’m so impressed with how clean my nails look. They aren’t damaged at all – no scratches or residue are left on my nails.  It was definitely refreshing to just peel off my polish and not have to get out the acetone. No smell and no fuss!

MY FINAL THOUGHTS

All in all, the NYC New York Color Strip Me Off Base Coat is a great product. It works properly, and with a price tag of just $1.99 I’m amazed with the results. I will say that I do not like how long it takes for this base coat to dry, but on the flipside, it saved me 10-15 minutes when I went to remove my glitter manicure. I don’t think I would use this base coat regularly, but I am going to use it whenever I have on a glitter manicure. It’s just so convenient! You can find Strip Me Off at your local drugstore or department store. Let me know in the comments if you’ll be picking this up!

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

Firmoo Hipster Glasses Review + Work Outfit

Happy Thursday! Today I have a fashion post for all of you – something I don’t do all that often, but is definitely fun once in a while. I got the opportunity to review another pair of glasses from the fabulous and affordable brand Firmoo. I’ve tested prescription sunglasses from this brand in the past (see those reviews HERE and HERE), but this is the first time I got regular glasses. I’ve always wanted hipster glasses, so I figured now was the perfect opportunity to try them!

Firmoo Hipster Glasses + Work Outfit | Adventures in Polishland

Here I am in my hipster glasses! I absolutely love them! The design number of these frames is F043. They are a big frame in a dark brown color, with silver accents on either side. I’m really impressed with the quality of these glasses. They are very sturdy, and the lenses clean very easily. Each pair of glasses comes with both a hard and soft case, a cleansing cloth, and a mini screwdriver. I love that everything you need comes with the glasses!

Firmoo Hipster Glasses + Work Outfit | Adventures in PolishlandThis past semester I was working at a fashion company, so I liked to dress business casual. My Firmoo glasses were absolutely perfect – there is no brand name listed on the outside, so I didn’t have to worry about wearing a competitor label! The brown color also goes with any outfit. I always felt professional, yet young and vibrant at the same time. Plus, I felt more like a New Yorker in these glasses – everyone here is so hip!

Here are my outfit details:

All in all, I’m so glad I got the opportunity to test out these glasses! It is so much fun to be able to switch up my glasses depending on my mood. Firmoo is the perfect online shop, too. The customer service is excellent, the products are well made, and the prices are low! The exact frames I’m wearing in this post are now sold out, but there are other similar designs, such as THIS ONE for just $39.00. I highly recommend Firmoo, and hope you all will check it out!

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

Book Review | The DUFF by Kody Keplinger

The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend by Kody Keplinger

Published by Poppy on September 7, 2010

Genres: Young Adult, New Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Format: eARC

Source: NetGalley

Goodreads: ★★


Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn’t think she’s the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She’s also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her “the Duff,” she throws her Coke in his face. 

But things aren’t so great at home right now, and Bianca is desperate for a distraction. She ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him. 

Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out Wesley isn’t such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she’s falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.
REVIEW

I went into The DUFF not knowing what to expect. Reviews from my Goodreads friends are all over the map, but when I got the opportunity to review the book in celebration of the movie being released, I was excited to dive right in. Unfortunately, while The DUFF was a quick and easy read for me, it is not one that I enjoyed much at all. I have a lot to discuss, so let’s begin with my thoughts on Bianca, the book’s first-person narrator.

Bianca is one of the most unlikeable characters I’ve ever encountered. While I can understand that she is going through a lot in her teenage life, with her parents’ relationship failing and with her being labeled the DUFF by one of the most popular guys in school, her negative attitude really got to me. It was horrible for Wesley to call Bianca the DUFF, but Bianca bullies him just as much, if not more. She’s constantly telling him how despicable he is and saying how much she hates him. This negativity was annoying to me as a reader, and didn’t make me want to root for Bianca. Instead, I wished she would just grow up and stop being so horrible to everyone around her. The fact that Bianca constantly lied to everyone around her, including her best friends and family, only made me despise her even more.

Moreover, even getting past the protagonist’s many faults, the writing of The DUFF was lackluster as well. I found the dialogue to be quite awkward, with characters speaking long passages to each other. It was unrealistic, and really hyped up the teenage melodrama I felt while reading.

Similarly, this is one of those novels where all of the serious issues discussed throughout the story somehow wrapped up nicely with a big bow to tie everything together. In order to avoid spoilers I will not explain this critique much more. However, as an example, Bianca’s father relapses in an addiction he has struggled with for years, and seemingly gets over it instantaneously. Not only did this scene in particular rub me the wrong way (it gives young readers the idea that addiction is just a quick sickness that can be overcome in a day), but when I put it together with all the other aspects of this book that worked out perfectly in the end, it was quite damaging to the book’s credibility.

I was also very shocked with the content of this book. The DUFF is labeled as young adult, but it is definitely new adult. There is obscene language in the entirety of the book (I think the F word is Keplinger’s favorite), and there are several explicit sex scenes. While there was nothing wrong with the subject matter of the novel per se, I felt very uncomfortable thinking that so many young people have read this book and loved it. This book takes place in a high school with a protagonist who is only 17-years-old. I would feel much differently if the story played out between adults, and not between young people who are on the borderline of being able to legally consent.

In the same way, while I appreciate that The DUFF is taking on a “girl power” attitude, the feminism portrayed in the novel was quite unsettling. I whole heartedly agree that women should not be called sluts and whores, but while this book celebrates womanhood, it does so at the expense of bashing men. Male gender roles are completely upheld (in fact, there is a line commenting on how all teenage boys are obsessed with sex), and the author suggests that it’s okay to call Wesley a manwhore. This double standard was very aggravating, and not what I would want today’s youth to read. This is true with The DUFF’s moral, if you will, at the end of the story, though I will hold off on critiquing that in the interest of not spoiling the ending.

Finally, I want to quickly mention some of the serious issues brushed over in this novel that are clearly present yet not flushed-out. First, Bianca is clearly going through some mental anguish and needs to talk about her issues with a professional. Her obsessive clothes-folding routine and several comments regarding how “messed up” she is leads the reader to the conclusion that there is something wrong that needs to be addressed in ways other than casual sex. Unfortunately, we never see Bianca reach out for that help. In addition, I was very disappointed with the flippant comments marginalizing suicide in this book. Suicide is a serious issue that should never be used as a joke.

Overall, I’m not sure that I would recommend The DUFF to anyone, as I find it inappropriate for its target, young adult audience, and anyone older would probably not enjoy it. If you’re a contemporary lover who doesn’t mind some teenage angst and friends-with-benefits relationships, perhaps you’ll give The DUFF a try. Otherwise, it’s fine to go without reading this popular book. I don’t think you need to worry about missing out on anything!

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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. 

Manicure Monday | Revlon Nail Art Expressionist in Pop Art

Happy Manicure Monday! I skipped last week’s Alphabet Challenge because I couldn’t find a polish in my collection that began with the letter Q, but I’m back this week and am onto the letter R. I’ve had this Revlon Nail Art Expressionist in my collection for years now, but I almost never use it. I decided this was the perfect time to put it to the test!

Manicure Monday | Revlon Nail Art Expressionist in Pop Art Manicure Monday | Revlon Nail Art Expressionist in Pop ArtThe Revlon Nail Art Expressionist in Pop Art is a dual ended nail polish. On one side is a blue nail polish with a regular size brush, and on the other is a pink polish with a thin striping brush. I began with two coats of the blue, and was impressed with how great the formula is. Then, I used the pink to add some simple triangles. The pink formula was a bit thin and watery, so that made it difficult to have straight lines in my nail art. I still really like the way this look turned out, though!

All in all, I’m glad I took the time to test out this Revlon Nail Art Expressionist! I’ve seen these polishes on clearance at my local drugstore, so if you are looking to try this one out I definitely recommend seeing if you can get a deal. This polish is also just $3.04 on Amazon HERE, but as I type this there is only one left in stock! Definitely snag it if you’re interested! Have you ever tried a polish from Revlon’s Nail Art Expressionist line? Let me know in the comments!

The polish in this post was a gift. This post contains an affiliate link. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Book Review | The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordon (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #2)

The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #2) by Rick Riordon

Published by Disney Hyperion on January 1, 2006

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Adventure

Format: Paperback

Source: Giveaway

Goodreads:★★★★


The heroic son of Poseidon makes an action-packed comeback in the second must-read installment of Rick Riordan’s amazing young readers series. Starring Percy Jackson, a “half blood” whose mother is human and whose father is the God of the Sea, Riordan’s series combines cliffhanger adventure and Greek mythology lessons that results in true page-turners that get better with each installment. In this episode, The Sea of Monsters, Percy sets out to retrieve the Golden Fleece before his summer camp is destroyed, surpassing the first book’s drama and setting the stage for more thrills to come.

REVIEW

After completing The Lightning Thief, I decided to continue on with the Percy Jackson series right away and picked up The Sea of Monsters. If you’ve read my review of The Lightning Thief (LINK), you’ll know that my main issue with the book was how closely it paralleled my beloved Harry Potter. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed the characters and the adventure, so I hoped the series would adopt more of its own voice as the story continued.

Unfortunately, The Sea of Monsters started off on the wrong foot. There was a syntax error in the first few pages, and a scene at the beginning that closely mirrored the Knight Bus in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. I couldn’t believe the similarities, but kept powering through, and I’m so glad I did!

The Sea of Monsters introduces readers to a new character named Tyson, who is a young cyclops. In Percy’s world, cyclopes are very dangerous and thus mistreated by half bloods. I absolutely loved the role Tyson plays in the story, and am impressed with Rick Riordon’s decision to include him. Percy’s journey with Tyson is so touching. It teachers readers about acceptance, and how someone who is a bit different is not necessarily bad. I think it’s amazing that children who read this book will get to see how important it is to be kind and understanding of everyone.

Moreover, The Sea of Monsters is a fast-paced and exciting read. This second book jumps right into the action from the start, and readers are along for the ride without hesitation. While I do wish there was a bit more set-up at the beginning, once I adjusted to the new storyline I was fully invested. Percy is such a great narrator, and his voice makes the book so much fun to read.

Finally, I loved the cliffhanger at the end of The Sea of Monsters. It was a bit predictable, but it was still exciting, and made me want to pick up the next book in the series right away. I was surprised at how short The Sea of Monsters was, but I enjoyed it a great deal, and it was a definite improvement over the first book in the series. I’m excited to continue on and see where Percy’s adventures take him and his friends next!

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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.

Huge Makeup Destash! | How to Clean Out Your Beauty Collection

Happy Saturday! I recently went through my entire makeup collection and decided to get rid of a lot of products. My main focus was throwing away things that were expired, but I also tossed products that I never use and couldn’t be given away to a friend. I’m moving in about two months, so the less I have to pack the better. I thought it would be fun to quickly show you all of the products I destashed, and share some tips on how I choose to get rid of things!

Huge Makeup Destash! | Adventures in PolishlandHere you can see the big box of products I decided to let go. I’ll show you the products by type so you can get a better idea of what I threw away, but I won’t mention each product specifically (that would take a long time!). Feel free to ask me any questions in the comments about a specific product!

EYE PRODUCTS

Eye Products | Huge Makeup Destash!The easiest place to start with any beauty destash is with your eye products. Mascaras should be thrown away after three to four months of use. I regularly toss the mascaras I use on a daily basis, but colored mascaras tend to stay in my collection longer because I don’t use them often. It was time to get rid of this Maybelline Great Lash! Similarly, eyeliners tend to dry out even if they aren’t necessarily expired. This occurs most often with gel eyeliners, such as the ones here from Cailyn. I also tossed some pencils that were old and unusable.

Eyeshadows | Huge Makeup Destash!It’s a bit more difficult to get rid of eyeshadows. I first destashed what was broken. Here, a NYX shadow was missing a lid, and my NYC palette was broken resulting in a messy compact that I didn’t think was salvageable. Then, I got rid of old eyeshadows, such as the Sephora single. Finally, I took out products I never use. I got the JCat and bhCosmetics palettes in subscription boxes, and they need to go!

LIP PRODUCTS 

Lip Products | Huge Beauty Destash!Lip products also tend to have a long shelf life, especially if they do not contain ingredients like SPF that expire quickly. First, I took out any lip stains and lip glosses because they were clearly expired and separating in the tube (yuck!). Then, I tossed the Cailyn lip products that were dried out. Finally, I simply reached for products that do not suit my skintone. I own more lip products than anything else, so I was really happy to get rid of a bunch!

FACE PRODUCTS AND TOOLS

Face Products and Tools | Huge Beauty Destash!Last but not least, I threw out a face product that was expired, and some broken beauty tools. This was easy! If they don’t work, throw them away! There is no use to keep products that are taking up space and serve no utilitarian function. Make room for better things!

All in all, I hope you liked seeing what makeup I destashed. The products in this post were not bad products, but they simply needed to be thrown out because they were expired, old, or not in use. I felt so good after getting rid of all these products! It allowed me to see all of the useable products I own better, and gave me a better idea of what products, if any, I need to buy. I highly recommend going through your stash at least 1-2 times per year.

Do you have any tips for destashing your makeup collection? Share them in the comments!

Madam Glam Nail Polish Review | 4 Shades

Happy Thursday! Today I am excited to share with you four nail polishes from the online store Madam Glam. This online boutique reached out to me and asked if I would like to review some of its products for all of you. When I took a look at what the store had to offer, I had to say yes! Madam Glam sells nail polish in addition to other makeup products. All nail polishes are 5-free and vegan, which is really awesome. Let me go ahead and show you the four shades I tested!

Madam Glam Nail Polish Review | 4 Shades

Madam Glam – So Nude Madam Glam – So NudeFirst up is So Nude, a peach-based nude with orange and gold shimmer. So Nude has a watery formula, so I recommend three thin coats for the best results. I thought So Nude was going to be a creme based off the Madam Glam website, but I’m pleasantly surprised with the shimmer. It adds a little something extra to an otherwise neutral polish.

Madam Glam – Lucky Bamboo Madam Glam – Lucky BambooNext up is Lucky Bamboo, a bright pistachio green polish. I unfortunately had a lot of trouble with Lucky Bamboo. It was thick, streaky, and on the goopy side. I layered about 2-3 coats on each nail until I got a clean look. I absolutely love the color of this polish, but I’m disappointed with the formula. I wouldn’t recommend this one unless you really, really wanted this color of nail polish.

Madam Glam – Ibiza Madam Glam – IbizaIbiza is the next polish I tried, and it is a blue-green polish with a holographic shimmer. Ibiza has a flawless formula that is opaque in two coats. I’m absolutely loving this one! It’s so beautiful for summer, and is just a stunning color. I can’t wait to put this on again!

Madam Glam – Midnight Madam Glam – MidnightLast but not least is Midnight, a deep purple creme polish. Midnight also has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats. It is richly pigmented, and I’m loving this tone of purple. I think this is a perfect fall color, but can of course be worn any time of year. Midnight is also super shiny without a top coat!

All in all, I’m so glad I got the chance to test out some Madam Glam polishes! While one wasn’t so great, three were awesome! I would definitely try out more in the future, and I’d like to try out some of the other products they offer in the future as well. Madam Glam is a higher end brand, with each polish retailing for $10.95 each on its website HERE. If you purchase 4 or more products, use the code 40OFF at checkout to receive 40% off your order! Talk about great savings!

Please let me know in the comments if you’ve tried anything from Madam Glam! If not, what is at the top of your wish list?!

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

Zoya Nail Polish Paradise Sun Collection for Summer 2015

Happy Monday! It’s time for the second review of Zoya Nail Polish’s summer collections! The Paradise Sun Collection contains six shimmer polishes that are jam-packed with lots of sparkle that is sure to glimmer in the sunlight. The shades correspond beautifully with the Island Fun creams (see that review HERE), or go well alone, too. Let me go ahead and share the glittery goodness with you!

Zoya Nail Polish Paradise Sun Collection for Summer 2015Zoya – GenesisZoya – GenesisFirst up is Genesis, a beautiful pearlescent white polish. Genesis has a good formula, and I recommend three thin coats for the perfect, opaque finish. I love how beautiful the shimmer is in this one – it’s subtle at first, but powerful when the light hits it perfectly!

Zoya – Selene Zoya – SeleneNext up is Selene, a teal polish with aqua shimmer. This one reminds me of a mermaid! It has a great formula that is opaque in two coats, too. Selene is typically darker than I usually go in the summer, but I like that Zoya went for an edgier feel this year!

Zoya – Oceane Zoya – OceaneOceane is next, and it’s a turquoise polish with a pearlized shimmer. Oceane has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. It is truly a beautiful ocean blue!

Zoya – Isa Zoya – IsaIf you’re a purple fan, you need Isa in your collection! Isa is a blue-based purple with an aqua shimmer. It is beyond stunning, and has the perfect formula that is opaque in two coats. I love how multi-dimensional Isa is. It’s nearly a holographic polish!

Zoya – Mae Zoya – MaeMy favorite in the collection is Mae, a magenta pink. Mae is a sheer polish, so I recommend three thin coats. My nail line was still a bit visible in three coats, but I like the coverage I got. Mae is so fun and girly!

Zoya – Aphrodite Zoya – Aphrodite Last but not least is Aphrodite, a red-orange polish with red shimmer. Aphrodite also has a sheer formula, but I achieved opacity in three thin coats. I’m not a big fan of red nail polishes, but this one sure is nice. If you love reds, you should check out Aphrodite for sure!

All in all, Zoya delivers once again with the Paradise Sun Collection! I’m definitely a cream formula girl, but I have to say these shimmers are just beautiful for summer. I highly recommend Mae and Isa, though all of these polishes are top notch. You can buy them directly from Zoya’s website HERE for $9 each. Let me know in the comments if you’ll be buying any of these polishes!

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