Adventures in Polishland

Author: Adventures in Polishland

September 2014 Favorites!

Posted on October 3, 2014September 28, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! September has come to a close and that means it’s time for my monthly favorites. I’ve been loving a lot of products this month, but I narrowed it down to a few that I want to recommend to all of you. Let me go ahead and show you my September favorites!

NAIL POLISH

Zoya Entice Collection | Adventures in Polishland Zoya Entice Collection [REVIEW] [BUY]

I’ve worn the Zoya Entice Collection so much this past month that I decided to include all of the polishes in my favorites! Margo, Ryan, and Genevieve have been living on my nails, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

PRIMER

Smashbox Photo Finish Oil-Free Primer [BUY]

I pulled this primer sample out of my collection and haven’t been able to stop using it! It is so light, and really makes my foundation look amazing. Plus, the oil-free formula is perfect for preventing acne. This is an expensive product, but I highly recommend it!

LIP PRODUCT

Alima Pure Lip Tint in Holly Berry [BUY]

I got this lip tint in a Birchbox a while back, and I’ve been loving it this fall. The main ingredient is organic cocoa bean, so it smells just like chocolate! Plus, it’s so hydrating!

BLUSH

Pür Minerals Hot Rocks Blush Pür Minerals Hot Rocks [BUY]

My cousin gave me this blush as a gift, and I’ve worn it a lot recently! The shade is a gorgeous dusty rose. The cover of the product does get quite dirty-looking, as that’s where I dust off the excess product. If you’re looking for a beautiful blush, I definitely recommend this one!

MAKEUP REMOVER

No7 Beautiful Skin Quick Thinking Wipes [BUY]

I decided to try a new brand of makeup remover wipes, and I’m loving these ones! They really do take off all makeup, including waterproof mascara, and they are so refreshing. Plus, there are 30 wipes in a pack and they are very affordable.

That’s it for my monthly favorites! I hope I introduced you to some new products! I noticed many of these products are high end this month, so it’s a bit of a change from my normal drugstore go-tos. It’s always good to change it up every now and then! Please let me know in the comments what you loved this September. Feel free to use the hashtag #PolishlandFaves on social media so I can see your photos!

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

Sally Hansen MiracleGel Review | All Chalked Up & Wine Stock

Posted on October 1, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I have a review of two of the new, Sally Hansen MiracleGel polishes. I was so excited when I heard about this new range of gel polishes at the drugstore. Not only are there 47 shades available, but they are designed to give 14 days of color in just two easy steps. I couldn’t wait to put these polishes to the test. Let me tell you all about my experience!

The key to the MiracleGel system is the Top Coat that needs to be purchased separately. After applying two coats of the MiracleGel polish, use the Top Coat as you normally would to seal the manicure. The polish contains a patented Tube Technology to help cure your polish without the need of any LED/UV lights.

The first polish I tested from the line is All Chalked Up, a beautiful lilac creme shade. All Chalked Up has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. I am loving this color, and hoped it would last at least a week. Unfortunately, I started getting tip wear after just two days, and substantial chipping on the third day. I was super bummed!

Next up is Wine Stream, a burgundy red that is just stunning for fall! Wine Stream has a “crelly” formula (creme and jelly mixture) that was opaque in two coats, but could use a third for an even darker look. I’m wearing two coats in the photos here. I again only got a few days of wear out of this polish before it started chipping, and was so disappointed! I even tried out Wine Stream again with my normal base and top coats, but it didn’t prolong the wear at all.

All in all, I’m quite disappointed that I didn’t have better luck with the new Sally Hansen MiracleGel polishes. If you’ve tested these polishes, please let me know your results in the comments. Maybe the formula just doesn’t work well with my body chemistry for some reason! My recommendation for the line is to snag any shades that you really want, but to leave the Top Coat on the shelf. It didn’t work any better than my normal top coat, so I can’t say it’s worth the money. You can find the MiracleGel line at your local drugstores and department stores. I’m going to continue experimenting with the Top Coat, and will definitely report back if I find something that works!

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

Fall Office Fashion with Firmoo Sunglasses!

Posted on September 29, 2014September 29, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! This past summer I had the opportunity to test out my first pair of sunglasses from the online store Firmoo (read all about them HERE). Now that fall is upon us, that doesn’t mean I can put the shades away. Instead, Firmoo provided me with another pair to review for all of you! Our eyes need sun protection no matter the season! Let me show you the style I chose, and how I am styling them this fall.

The frames I chose this time around are in the style FS1008, and feature a black frame with yellow-gold hardware. I love the big, circular shape, and the sleek style. They remind me of high fashion frames even though they retail for just $49.00! I decided to go with the darkest lenses available, but you can choose different colors as well. Of course, you can customize your sunnies with your individual prescription so you can see the world! I’m really amazed at how affordable these prescription glasses are. They are such great quality as well!

The reason I wanted black frames is because this fall I am interning with a judge and knew I’d be wearing a ton of black to the courthouse. Here is a typical outfit that I wear to the office, complete with my accessories! I will link everything so you can find the exact item or something similar!

Express Suit – Jacket [BUY] Pants [BUY]
Express Flutter Sleeve Top in Grapefruit [BUY]
Madden Girl Gretta Platform Pumps [BUY]
Rebecca Minkoff M.A.B. Tote [BUY]
BaubleBar Necklace [BUY]
Michael Kors Rose Gold Watch [BUY]

All in all, I am absolutely loving my new Firmo sunglasses! They are perfect for fall, and I feel so fierce when I’m wearing them! Whether you’re heading to the office, or simply running errands, Firmoo has the perfect frames for you at incredible prices. Please shop HERE using my referral link, and let me know which frames you’re snagging in the comments!

The product in this post was sent to me for my unbiased review. This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Foil Nail Stickers from Born Pretty Store

Posted on September 27, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I have a quick review of some nail wraps from Born Pretty Store. I’ve really loved the nail stickers I’ve tried in the past, so when I saw that Born Pretty Store offered a foil set that looked like mirrored nails, I just had to try them! I’ve wanted to achieve mirrored nails for a long time, but oftentimes the polish reviews I read show quite a streaky result. Thus, I thought nail wraps would be the perfect way to get mirrored nails. Let me show you the result!

Here is what the set of nail wraps looks like in the packaging. They are designed to wear for 11 days and have a great shine. The set retails for just $4.55 on Born Pretty Store’s website HERE.

I applied the foil wraps just as I normally would, by peeling off the sticky backing, smoothing out the wrap on my nail, and filing off the excess. Unfortunately, the result wasn’t what I was hoping to see. My first issue was with the size of the wraps. The smallest size was way too big for my pinky finger! This made the edges look awkward, and it was clear that I had stickers on my nails. I also experienced some issues getting the wraps to lie flat, and some of the edges got crinkly. I almost feel like I’m wearing tin foil on my fingers!

Unfortunately, these foil wraps are a miss for me, but I still love the other nail wraps that I’ve tried from Born Pretty Store. See reviews of those HERE and HERE.

All in all, I didn’t get the mirrored manicure that I was hoping for, but I’m still glad I was able to test out the foil wraps and report back to you on my experience! I still hope to try out other nail wraps from Born Pretty Store in the future, since I’ve had good luck on the others I’ve tried. As always, you can shop for nail art supplies at Born Pretty Store and get 10% off with my discount code FZL91. Please let me know in the comments if you’ve achieved a mirrored manicure before, and what product you used to get the look!

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.

Zoya Ultra PixieDust Collection for Fall 2014

Posted on September 24, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Zoya Nail Polish has done it again, and came out with an incredible trio of textured matte glitter polishes for fall. The Ultra PixieDust line has three red-toned shades perfect for the upcoming fall and winter seasons. You can see full reviews of all the past Zoya PixieDust Collections HERE, but let me go ahead and show you the new goodies!

First up is Oswin, a true red shade packed with chunky red glitters. Oswin has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. Make sure that you let each coat dry completely with these polishes to get the perfect textured finish. I found that Oswin lightened up a bit when dry, but I like the added dimension between the base and glitters. I don’t like such a bright red with my skin tone, but if you have a darker complexion it would look beautiful!

Next up is Arianna, a deeper red polish with a blue undertone. Arianna is also opaque in two coats, and I found that the finished product matches the bottle’s shade a bit more than Oswin does. If you enjoy wine shades, Arianna is perfect for you. Plus, this polish can work right through the holidays.

Last but not least is Noir, my favorite of the three! Noir is a stunning purple shade that is opaque in two coats. I found Noir to be the sparkliest of the bunch, as the glitter stood out even when the polish was completely dry. If you have very fair skin like I do, Noir is a great polish for you!

All in all, the Zoya Ultra PixieDust line is a fun bunch of polishes. I can guarantee you have nothing else like these in your collection! Zoya really creates a unique formula with these chunky glitters that dry matte, but each applies so smoothly and easily to the nail. You can purchase the Ultra PixieDusts on Zoya’s website HERE for $10 each. Buy them separately, or as a trio! Make sure to let me know in the comments which is your favorite as well.

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

Epica 18-Loop Scarf Hanger Review & Matching Nail Art!

Posted on September 22, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! I have a fun review for all of you today! I got the opportunity to test out a scarf hanger from the brand Epica, and was inspired to create a nail art look as soon as I got it in the mail. I’ve definitely been in an organizational mood lately, so anything that helps me declutter and keep things in order is a win in my book. I had been storing my scarfs in a plastic drawer set under my bed, but I often forgot about them. This hanger gave me the opportunity to move all of my scarves into my closet! Let me show you how it works!

EPICA 18-LOOP SCARF HANGER

The Epica Scarf Hanger is a ready-to-use hanger made out of a heavy metal with a chrome finish. There are 18 loops in varying sizes designed to keep all of your scarves together in one place. This hanger is snag-free, so it can hold your more delicate scarves, and works for ties and belts, too. I was really impressed with how heavy duty this was when I got it! I wasn’t afraid to start stacking on my scarves!

Epica Scarf Hanger | Adventures in Polishland

Here is the hanger with all of my scarves on it. I own some large pashminas, but also some thinner spring scarves. I was able to fit them all on with room for more! I like how I can see the scarves easily, and how they are less likely to be wrinkled when I have them hanging up instead of folded in a drawer. While the hanger did feel bulky once I loaded it up, I was impressed with how compact it was in my closet. As you can see in the photo on the right, the scarf hanger takes up a little extra room than your average hanger, but not too much. This is the perfect hanger for the tiny closet space I have!

NAIL ART

I knew I wanted to create a nail art look to go along with this blog post, and thought this was the perfect opportunity to get more practice with my dotting tools. First, I started out with a base of Zoya Genevieve and let that dry. Then, I grabbed my dotting tools set, and picked a large dot for the first round. I wanted to capture the metallic look of the hanger, so I used Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Celeb City as my large dots. I applied them in any way that I thought would fit onto my nails, knowing that I didn’t have to exactly mimic the hanger’s design. I let that layer dry, and then grabbed a smaller dotting tool to finish out the look. I grabbed Genevieve again, and made a dot in the center of each silver dot to make the holes look like loops. I really love how my manicure came out! It looks so fun and abstract, and I’d definitely recreate it again.

All in all, I definitely recommend picking up the Epica 18-Loop Scarf Hanger if you need some organization in your life. With winter right around the corner, I know it will be really helpful to have my scarves within reach in my closet instead of living under my bed. This hanger retails for just $19.95, but is on sale as I type this for just $8.95! That is such an amazing deal, so make sure to snag it on Amazon HERE. Let me know what gadgets you use to organize at home, and what you think of my nail art in the comments!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

NYC New York Color Fashion Queen Collection | Crystal Couture Glitter Polishes

Posted on September 20, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Earlier this week I shared with you the three In a New York Minute polishes from the new, limited edition Fashion Queen Collection from NYC New York Color (see that post HERE). Today I’m bringing you the six glitter shades called Crystal Couture. These glitters can be worn alone, or layered over another polish for added sparkle and shine. I decided to test them out alone, since I love opaque glitter polishes. Let me show you the sparkly goodness!

First up is the collection’s namesake polish Fashion Queen, a gold glitter polish. Fashion Queen has a clear base filled with gold microglitters. It is opaque in two coats and has a great formula. Fashion Queen is perfect as an accent nail this fall, as it will go with so many manicures!

Next up is Ruby Queen, a bright red base packed with red glitters and small pink hexagons. Ruby Queen is opaque in two coats, and has a fabulous formula. This is the perfect polish to transition from fall to winter. I can see it being worn during the holidays for sure!

NY Princess is the purple of the collection, and is packed with purple, lilac, and green glitters. NY Princess is also opaque in two coats, and I’d recommend a nice glossy top coat with this one. It reminds me of grape jelly!

Next is Blue Majesty, a blue polish with blue microglitters. I love this polish! It has a great formula and is opaque in two coats, plus it just looks so fancy. I think Blue Majesty would look awesome in a geometric manicure as well.

If you love green, you need Queen’s Jewels! It’s the green version of Blue Majesty but with green and silver glitters. Queen’s Jewels is opaque in two coats, and the formula is perfect. I can definitely see this being worn during the holidays as well!

Last but not least is Rule the City, a charcoal base filled with grey and red glitters. Rule the City is opaque in two coats, I would recommend following up with a glossy top coat. This polish is quite edgy, and would go really well with your leather jacket this fall. It’s definitely a rockstar polish!

All in all, the Crystal Couture polishes from the NYC New York Color Fashion Queen line are amazing glitters! I love that each is opaque in two coats, but can be worn in other ways as well. These polishes retail for the fabulous and affordable price of just $1.99 each. Make sure to check your local drugstore and department store’s limited edition displays! Let me know in the comments which Crystal Couture polish is your favorite!

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

NYC New York Color Limited Edition Fashion Queen Collection | In a New York Minute Polishes

Posted on September 18, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! This fall the brand NYC New York Color released an amazing, limited edition line called the Fashion Queen Collection to bring runway style to the street. I got the opportunity to review the polishes, and can’t wait to share them with all of you. Today’s post will feature the three In a New York Minute shades that are designed to be quick-dry formulas. Let me show you these fall polishes!

First up is Royal Chic, a deep brown creme shade that reminds me of chocolate! Royal Chic has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. I think this is quite a daring polish, but great if you want a deep polish that isn’t as harsh as a black. I also am impressed with the high-gloss finish Royal Chic has even without top coat!

Next up is Queen of the City, a stunning burgundy polish with undertones of black. I am obsessed with Queen of the City! Not only is the formula amazing, but there is almost a duochrome effect in this polish. Queen of the City is the perfect polish for fall, and I feel super fabulous when wearing it!

Last but not least is Crown Gold, a yellow gold, metallic polish. Crown Gold also has an amazing formula and is opaque in two coats. This is one of my favorite gold polishes of all time. It looks so rich, and the pigmentation is great!

All in all, I’m really impressed with the three In a New York Minute polishes from the new Fashion Queen Collection. Of course, NYC New York Color is the perfect brand for those of us who are fabulous and affordable, since these polishes retail for just $1.99 each! You can purchase this line at your local drugstore or department store, so be sure to look for the limited edition display. Find a retailer near you by visiting the NYC New York Color website HERE. Stay tuned to see the six glitter polishes in this line – you don’t want to miss it!

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

Reach Your Health Goals in New York City with Walgreens Balance Rewards!

Posted on September 15, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BalanceRewards #CollectiveBias

Happy Monday! Here at Adventures in Polishland I’m always sharing ways to stay fabulous and affordable. If you’re a Walgreens shopper like I am, you are probably signed up for the free Balance Rewards program to earn extra savings throughout the store. Today I’m here to let you know about the Walgreens app that allows you to earn points for tracking the healthy choices you make on a daily basis. That’s right – you can save money and work on your health goals at the same time! Let me show you how I began using the app to stay fit in New York City!

ABOUT THE APP

The free Walgreens app can be downloaded directly from the app store on whatever device you have (I use an iPhone 5). When you first open the app, you get the welcome screen shown to the left, and then the home screen on the right. In addition to prescription reminders, coupons, and a store locater, you can see a walking man on the bottom left. That’s the icon you need to click on to start making healthy choices!

Once tapping on the healthy choices icon, you’ll see this screen. Here is where you can log your health and activity – your steps, weight loss, heart rate, sleep, etc. This screenshot is my “before” screen – as you can see, I have 940 Balance Rewards points from shopping in Walgreens, but I haven’t yet logged any activity. Now that you’ve seen the basics of the app, let’s get walking!

STAYING FIT IN NEW YORK CITY

When I found out that I could earn Balance Rewards points by tracking the healthy choices I’m already making, I was so excited! The easiest way to stay fit in NYC is to walk everywhere. In fact, I rarely use the subway anymore. Not only do I save money by not taking public transportation, but I get to enjoy Downtown Manhattan as I walk to school each day and keep in shape. I walk at least three miles every day, and now I can earn Balance Rewards as well. Here’s how I log my walking on the Walgreens app.

First, I click on the steps icon that you see on the healthy choices home page and choose “Add Activity.” Then, I simply enter the date, how much I walked, and can even put in things like intensity and mood. The screenshot on the right shows that 60 points were added to my Balance Rewards account to reward me for staying fit! This is such a great incentive for not only walking every day, but remembering to pull out my app and use it. Of course, if you run or do other sorts of activity, feel free to log it as well.

Now that you’ve seen how the app works, I want to show you some of my favorite views from my NYC walks. The city is so beautiful, and there’s always something going on to see.

All in all, I’m so glad I discovered that I can earn Balance Rewards and stay fit at the same time with the Walgreens app. Not only can I remember to make healthy choices, but I can save up for more beauty products as well. How awesome is that?! For more information on all of the ways you can earn points, visit the Walgreens website HERE. Whether you live in NYC or not, you can download the app for free and start racking up points today. Make sure to let me know in the comments how you plan on making healthy choices with Walgreens!

Subscription Sunday | September Wardrobe Wakeup + Coupon Code

Posted on September 14, 2014September 14, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! Today I’m super excited to tell you all about a new monthly subscription that I tried for this first time this month. I recently heard about Wardrobe Wakeup through YouTuber TheStylesMeow (see her channel HERE), and signed up to see what I thought of the program! This is the first time I’ve tested out a fashion service, so I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect. Let me tell you all about Wardrobe Wakeup, and make sure you stay tuned for an exclusive coupon code at the end!

WHAT IS WARDROBE WAKEUP?

Adventures in Polishland is all about fabulous and affordable living, so when I heard Wardrobe Wakeup gives budget friendly women a chance to wear designer labels I knew I had to check it out. Wardrobe Wakeup is a monthly fashion subscription that sends you a high-end, contemporary piece each month based on a style survey that you take upon signing up. This is a fashion rental service, so you don’t get to keep the garment you’re sent, but you do get to wear it as often as you’d like before sending it back at the end of the month. Plus, if you really like a piece, you can purchase it for up to 90% off the retail price. So, how much does it cost? There are three different plans from which to choose – for $25 you get one top each month, for $45 you get one dress per month, or you can alternate between a top and a dress for $35.

I signed up for the mid-range subscription at $35 per month to test out the program. What I really like about the style survey is that you get to let Wardrobe Wakeup know about where you’ll be wearing the clothes, what colors and styles you like, and even your favorite designers. The best part is, each Wardrobe Wakeup member is assigned a personal stylist! Mine messaged me back not even an hour after I contacted her, and she was able to answer all of my questions! I’m really impressed with the customer service!

MY FIRST PIECE

Joie Aruna Silk Ikat Top | Wardrobe Wakeup

This month I got a beautiful top from the brand Joie called the Aruna Silk Ikat Top. It is a tank top cut with a slight high-low hem, and has a nice blue and white pattern. This top retails for $178.00, which is WAY out of my price range. I’m so glad I got to wear it, though, because it is just perfect for me right now! It is still rather hot in New York City, so a tank top was awesome to receive. I knew I could dress this top up or down, but I decided to make it a casual outfit with jeans and flats. Because my school’s air conditioning is always on full blast, I layered a simple black cardigan on top. The Joie top is definitely a statement piece, so I kept the other pieces I was wearing pretty basic.

As for the fit, I think it was spot on. This top is designed to be flowy, and I think a size down would have been too small on me (I’m wearing a medium). I’ve never worn a Joie piece before, and thought this top was comfortable and easy-to-wear. I think I might wear it again before I send it back!

MY FINAL THOUGHTS

All in all, I think Wardrobe Wakeup is a great subscription service if you love fashion and want to wear designed clothing at an affordable price. One of the main benefits is being able to wear trendy items without having to invest in them. Plus, you can wear the piece as many times as you want before sending it back to Wardrobe Wakeup – you don’t have to pay for the return shipping or even wash the garment because the company takes care of that for you! While the monthly price is a bit steep for a piece of clothing you don’t get to keep, Wardrobe Wakeup is perfect if your fashion identity is always changing. I’m going to see what I think of next month’s dress before I decide whether or not to continue on with this service in the long run!

Finally, I reached out to Wardrobe Wakeup and asked if there were any current promotions or coupon codes I could share with all of you. They created a special coupon code just for my followers! Use code AIP10OFF to receive $10 off your first month. Just sign up HERE and enter the code on the first page to redeem the offer. Make sure to support this new subscription service on social media as well! They have a Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, so go follow! Of course, let me know what you think of Wardrobe Wakeup in the comments!