Adventures in Polishland

Author: Adventures in Polishland

Zoya Satins Collection for Fall 2013

Posted on August 9, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I have the last of the Zoya Nail Polish fall collections to share with you. I loved the PixieDusts, and the Cashmeres, and the Satins are no exception! Let me show you these gorgeous polishes!

First up is Channing, a rusty red-orange polish with golden shimmer. Channing is opaque in two coats, and has a flawless formula. This polish just screams “fall” to me, as the color matches beautiful foliage. Channing is also really unique, and I’m loving it in my collection!

Next up is Mason, a gorgeous purple polish with a pink undertone and shimmer. Mason is so beautiful, and has an amazing formula to match. It is opaque in two coats, and the finish is just stunning. Mason is definitely one of my favorites in this collection. The color is right up my alley!

Claudine is up next, and is a titanium colored polish with silver shimmer. I am really impressed with Claudine. The formula is great, and opaque in two coats. I’m not usually a fan of dark colors, especially metallics, but this one is so edgy and has a rock star quality. Claudine is perfect if you don’t want black nails, but want something dark. I highly recommend it!

Up next is Neve, a gorgeous, deep blue metallic polish with hints of purple shimmer. Neve is another one of my favorites in the Satins collection. The rich pigmentation is so beautiful, and of course the formula is spot on. I can’t wait to put on Neve again! I can see myself wearing it a lot this fall and winter.

Giovanna is the next of the Satins, and is an emerald green metallic polish. Giovanna has an amazing formula and is opaque in two coats. Emerald is the color of the year, and this one is definitely the perfect choice. I love Giovanna, and I’m so glad to have it in my collection!

Last but not least is Maria-Luisa, a gold toned flakie polish. Maria-Luisa can be worn as a top coat or on its own. I applied three coats in the photos above to get a full coverage look. Maria-Luisa does have a great formula, and the flakies are so gorgeous! I did apply it over each polish in the Satins Collection as well, so here’s what that looks like…

All in all, I’m really impressed with the Satins Collection. I recommend each and every one of the polishes, but my personal favorites are Mason and Neve. You can purchase the Satins Collection on the Zoya website HERE for $8 each of $48 for the whole set. Be sure to let me know which of these polishes is your favorite in the comments!

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

Hot Days, Hotter Nights Giveaway!

Posted on August 7, 2013August 7, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! I’ve teamed up with 10 wonderful beauty bloggers to help you celebrate the end of summer with a fabulous giveaway. There are 10 awesome prizes to win, so let’s get right into it! Please make sure to read the rules at the end of the giveaway, and send a huge thank you to xonoelle for putting all of this together. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rules:

Must be 18+ or have your parents’ consent.
US only.
Winners will be drawn through Rafflecopter. #1 winner will win #1 prize, #2 winner will win #2 prize, and so on.
Please give 4-6 weeks for all prizes to be sent out. Each prize will be sent out from the blogger giving it away.

Zoya Cashmeres Collection for Fall 2013

Posted on August 5, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I have the second fall collection from Zoya Nail Polish to share with all of you (check out my PixieDust review HERE). Fall is the perfect opportunity to don your cashmere sweaters, and Zoya has transformed our favorite autumn hues into gorgeous, creamy nail polishes. Let me show you these warm-toned polishes!

First up is Livingston, a true red polish. Livingston is the perfect red! It has a great formula that is opaque in two coats, and is a classic color to wear all year long. Not only is Livingston work appropriate, but it is fierce! With black and white trends in fall fashion, Livingston will be the perfect accessory to your outfits.

Up next is Pepper, a dark, brick red polish. Pepper is also opaque in two coats, and has the same great formula as Livingston. Last fall we saw oxblood nails were all the rage, and it looks like they will be again this season! If you didn’t grab this haute hue last year, I definitely suggest Pepper.

Sailor is next, and is a stunning navy polish. Sailor is definitely my favorite in the Cashmeres collection! It is the perfect navy polish that is opaque in two coats. It’s the perfect alternative to a black nail, since it’s not as harsh, yet it’s still edgy. I’m not usually partial to dark nail polishes, but Sailor is so nice!

The next Cashmere is Hunter, a dark green polish. Hunter screams fall to me — the shade is one of the classic colors of the season! Just as with the other polishes in this collection, Hunter is opaque in two coats and has a flawless formula. If you’ve been hunting for a great green, look no further!

Next up is Louise, a chocolate brown polish. Louise is an amazing one coat formula! I love when that happens! Plus, the color is so rich and pigmented. Louise is really the perfect brown, which I didn’t have in my collection yet. I can see this being great for nail art as well!

Last but not least is Flynn, a camel brown polish. Unfortunately for me, Flynn just looks awful with my skin tone. I feel like I am so close to the dreaded mannequin hands with this one! Despite that personal issue, Flynn still has a great formula and is opaque in two coats. This polish would look beautiful with a darker complexion!

All in all, I am loving the Zoya Cashmeres collection! The formulas are so wonderful, and the colors are just perfect for the fall months. I definitely recommend each polish in the collection, but my favorites are Sailor and Hunter! You can purchase the Cashmeres collection on Zoya’s website HERE for $8 each or $48 for the whole set. Stay tuned for the last fall collection from Zoya Nail Polish soon!

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

Ipsy v. Birchbox: Round Five | July 2013

Posted on August 4, 2013August 5, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! Today I have round five of my Ipsy v. Birchbox challenge! July was an interesting month for these $10 beauty subscriptions — the retail value of each was only $1 apart! My winner this month really comes down to the products themselves. Let me show you what I got, and tell you a bit about each product!

First up is Ipsy! July’s Ipsy theme was Beach Beauty. This time the cosmetic pouch was a transparent, pink pouch made out of beach ball material. While the pouch isn’t exactly my style, it is great for the beach since it is waterproof. It’s also perfect for those who work retail, and need a clear bag to bring to work.

Here all all of the products! I’ll describe them for you from left to right.

Big Sexy Hair in Weather Proof – $7.80 – This hair product is supposed to prevent frizz in the humidity. I was excited to try it out, but unfortunately all it does is weigh my hair down and make it flat. It did manage my frizz, but sucked away any volume. I suggest this if you have very thick hair.
Derma E Microdermabrasion Scrub – $16.25 – I’ve been using scrubs religiously in the summer to keep my pores clean. This one is very interesting — I love the lemony scent, but it was difficult to rinse off my skin completely. I ended up with some residue, and wasn’t a huge fan of that. It’s okay, but for the price I won’t be repurchasing the full size.
Coola Face Sunscreen – $4.87 – This is the second time I’ve received a Coola product in a subscription box, and I don’t like it! The problem is in the packaging — this tiny tube isn’t even filled. I’m lucky if I get one use out of it. If the sample was larger, I would be able to tell you more about the product, but I’m not a fan of receiving these tiny sunscreen samples.
Pop Beauty Pouty Pop Crayon in Coral Crush – $4.16 – This is my favorite item this month! I’ve never tried Pop Beauty, but I’m loving it. Basically this is a jumbo lip crayon that is between a lipstick and a lip gloss. The color I got is bright, but goes really well with my skin tone. I’ve already worn it twice!
BH Cosmetics California Collection Sampler – $0.35 – You read that retail price correctly — this little sample of three eyeshadows is only worth 35 cents due to the full size palette being $7.00. My issue is that I got three eyeshadows that don’t even go together (a dark purple, bronze, and gold). If I could create a complete look from this sampler, I would appreciate it more.
Nicole by OPI in Pretty in Plum – BONUS – As a thank you for referring two new Ipsy members, I got this Nicole by OPI nail polish. I’m not including this in the retail value, as it’s not a part of the actual subscription. Otherwise, this is a really nice bonus to get!

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $33.43

OVERALL OPINION: Out of all the products in my Ipsy bag for July, the only one I will use on a regular basis is the Pop Beauty lip color. I will use up the Derma E and Coola products, but I’m not too excited about them. While the retail value is triple my money, I’m not too impressed with these products. They just don’t fit into my lifestyle well.

RATING (1-5, 1 BEING LOWEST AND 5 BEING HIGHEST): 2

Now onto my July Birchbox! The theme was Power Play, based off the hit show Suits. I’ve never seen the show, but as a law student I knew this box was for me! Here are all the products! Let me tell you a bit more about each one.

DDF Acne Control Treatment – $12.94 – This product came at the perfect time! I was experiencing some breakouts, and with the help of this product they are clearing right up! While this isn’t a miracle worker, it definitely got to work, and I could see improvements in my acne after a few uses. I love it!
Benefit It’s Potent Eye Cream – $6.40 – I was thrilled to receive this product! I’ve been wanting to try it out, and I’m so glad I got to. I must say I’m impressed — this cream is very moisturizing, and feels great. This sample is tiny, but it will last a while.
No. 4 Super Comb Prep & Protect – $7.00 – Another hair product! To be honest, I haven’t tried this out because I am already happy with the protectant I use. I’ll keep this one for travel, or for when I run out of my other one.
Birchbox Bobby Pins – $1.67 – These bobby pins are a cute product to get in my box, but I don’t know how often I’ll be using them. They are a bit oversized for my extremely thin hair, but I’m not overly disappointed with them. I love the cute pattern!
theBalm Instain Blush in Swiss Dot – $4.40 – I was thrilled to get this sample! I’ve been wanting to try blush from theBalm for a long time, but was afraid to pay the money and not like it. This one is a gorgeous shade — it’s very pigmented, but wearable. I’m so glad to try this one out!

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $32.41

OVERALL OPINION: Birchbox is sure stepping it up! I am really excited about three of the five products in this box. Two of them are samples I’ve been wanting to try for a long time! While I’m tired of getting hair products, I’m really happy with this month’s box as a whole.

RATING: 3.5

There you have it! My winner for the month of July is Birchbox! While both Ipsy and Birchbox had very similar retail values, I plan on using the products in my Birchbox a lot more. For me, the monetary value is secondary. The products aren’t worth anything just sitting in my stash! It seems like the Birchbox survey really understands me — it has beat out Ipsy four times! I can’t wait to see what happens next month after being a member of both programs for six months!

You can join Ipsy HERE and Birchbox HERE. Each program is $10 per month.

Some of the above links are affiliate links. Subscription boxes purchased with my own money. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Zoya PixieDust Special Texture Edition for Fall 2013

Posted on August 1, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! Today I have the first of three very amazing fall collections to share with you from none other than Zoya Nail Polish. I’m so excited that Zoya has a brand new PixieDust collection, since textured nail polishes are my favorite trend in the nail polish world. Let me show you the six new shades for fall!

First up is Carter, a royal purple polish with magenta glitters. Carter is my absolute favorite polish in the collection! It is opaque in two coats, and has an amazing formula. I couldn’t capture how much Carter sparkles in real life, but this deep purple is just a favorite shade of mine. I wore it for an entire weekend, and to see Justin Timberlake in concert!

Next is Tomoko, a gold polish with a metallic shine. Tomoko does have a great formula that is opaque in two coats, but I had some trouble with application because the polish was difficult to see on my nails when wet. I think Tomoko is just so close to my skin tone that it blended right in! Other than that issue, I really like this polish. I wore it for over a week and only had slight tip wear!

Chita is up next, and is a stunning dark green polish with silver glitters. Chita is opaque in two coats, and has a fabulous formula. This one did take a bit of extra drying time, but other than that it’s flawless. I love Chita’s deep shade and strong pigmentation. This is a polish that can work for the holiday season as well as the fall.

Sunshine is the next PixieDust in the collection, and is a navy blue polish with silver glitters. At first I was confused by the blue shade, but now I’m walking on Sunshine and I’ll tell you why — this is a one coat formula! With amazing pigmentation, one coat of Sunshine provides a full coverage manicure. This denim colored polish is going to be on my nails a lot this fall!

Next up is Arabella, a bright rose pink with light pink glitters. Arabella has the perfect formula that is opaque in two coats. It also dries rather quickly, which I really appreciated. Arabella is a very flattering and wearable polish. It is just stunning for any time of year!

Last but not least is Dhara, a bright orange polish with gold glitters. Zoya has certainly perfected the orange PixieDust! I loved Beatrix in the summer collection, and Dhara is definitely great for fall. It is opaque in two coats, and has a flawless formula. Don’t fear wearing an orange polish — this one will look nice with any skin tone!

All in all, I am loving the PixieDust collection for fall! I find each shade to be quite wearable, and the formulas are really nice overall. You can purchase these polishes on Zoya’s website HERE for $9 each or $54 for the complete set. Stay tuned for reviews of two more Zoya collections for Fall 2013 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.

Don’t Be Clueless: Everything You Need to Know About ncLA’s As If!

Posted on July 29, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I have a quick review of the ncLA nail polish I received in my July PopSugar MustHave Box (see that review HERE). I’ve tried a few ncLA polishes before, and I was so excited to receive another in a subscription box. Let me show you As If!

As If! is a pastel purple, or what ncLA calls a lavender creme. This polish is opaque in two coats, but due to the formula I needed three. Unfortunately As If! is a bit difficult to work with — a bit streaky and patchy. I suggest using thin coats to ensure you get a smooth finish. Despite the application, I’m quite pleased with the finished result of As If! I’m loving the color, and this polish has a high gloss finish without a top coat. There are definitely some pros and cons to this polish!

All in all, I’m not sure that ncLA’s As If! is worth the retail price of $16, but I’m not disappointed that I got it in my PopSugar MustHave Box. For now, I’ll enjoy this gorgeous color on my nails, but be sure to let me know what you think! Have you tried ncLA polishes? How did you like them? Share your thoughts in the comments!

JulieG Frosted Gumdrops in Blueberry Fizz and Crushed Candy

Posted on July 25, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! As you may know, I am absolutely loving the textured nail polish trend that is sweeping nail nation this season! I was so excited a couple months back when Groupon offered the entire JulieG Frosted Gumdrops Collection for just $12.99. I made sure to grab it for that fabulous price. I’ve loved the two I’ve tried from the collection so far, so I thought I would share them with you today!

First up is Blueberry Fizz, a blue polish with specks of silver glitter. Blueberry Fizz is opaque in two coats, and has a great formula. I definitely recommend waiting for each coat to dry completely before applying another — you don’t want to drag this textured polish! As far as color goes, I love this shade of blue. It’s very close to being metallic without being too harsh of a tone. I would definitely wear Blueberry Fizz into the winter months as well as the summer!

Next is Crushed Candy, a purple polish that also has silver glitter mixed throughout. Crushed Candy is the perfect color — it can be worn to the office, and for a girl’s night out. Plus, it has the same great formula of Blueberry Fizz and is opaque in two coats. I wore Crushed Candy for about a week this summer, and I didn’t want to take it off.

All in all, I am loving the JulieG Frosted Gumdrops Collection! I can’t wait to try out the other colors sometime soon. You can purchase JulieG polishes at your local Rite Aid store, or on Jesse’s Girl Cosmetics’ website HERE. JulieG retails for just $3.99 each! You can also grab some amazing deals on Groupon by joining HERE for free. I’ve been so impressed with the beauty deals in the Groupon Goods section lately! Let me know what you think of JulieG polishes in the comments!

Some of the links above are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Subscription Sunday | July PopSugar MustHave Box

Posted on July 22, 2013March 28, 2026 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I have my Subscription Sunday post that was due to go up yesterday — better late than never, right?! I also want to start this post by giving a big thank you to my new blog followers. I am already up to 72 new followers! Don’t forget, if I get to 500 by the end of July, I will have a huge giveaway. The first prizes are listed on my Facebook page HERE if you’d like a sneak peek. Be sure to enter your email on the right to follow, and encourage your friends to do the same! Now, onto my July PopSugar MustHave Box!

PopSugar MustHave is a monthly subscription service that sends a box of goodies to your door for $35 each month. While this is the most expensive subscription service I receive, it is also my favorite! PopSugar is a lifestyle box, meaning you can get all sorts of items. July’s box is Summer themed, and has everything you need to enjoy the warm months.

First up are my Must Have Food and Must Have Home items! Let me tell you a bit more about these items. I’ll link to where you can purchase them, and list the retail price as well!

All Natural Crunchy Cookie Chips in Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip – $5.99 – These cookie chips were oh so yummy! While I typically love chewy cookies, these cookie chips were a delicious new treat. I love that they are all natural, taking the guilt out of a sweet snack. I would definitely repurchase these!
Tovolo King Cube Ice Tray – $8.50 – This unique ice cube tray makes six, two-inch cubes. While it is geared towards classic cocktails, this can be used for all kinds of frozen treats in the summer. Whether you make popsicles, ice coffee cubes, or even regular ice for your to-go cups, this tray is sure to come in handy. I can’t wait to give it a try! Bonus points: it is dishwasher safe and BPA free!
Mighty Leaf Iced Tea in Calypso Mango – $25.00 – Iced tea is one of my favorite drinks, so I was thrilled to get some. This box is home to four giant tea bags, each making a half gallon of iced tea. I haven’t tried the tea yet, but the bags smell amazing. I’m sure this will be sweet and refreshing!

Up next are my Must Have Beauty and Must Have Fashion items!

ncLA Nail Polish in As If! – $16.00 – I always love receiving nail polish in my subscription boxes, especially high end brands that I can’t usually afford to buy. ncLA polish is great quality, and this light purple shade is gorgeous. I’ll be sure to have a review on the blog soon!
Supergoop! SPF 30 Anti-Aging City Sunscreen Serum – $42.00 – Sunscreen is definitely needed in the summer! I never know which one to grab at the drugstore, so this one from Supergoop sounds great to me. It has that typical sunscreen scent, but absorbs quickly into the skin. No grease here! I’m loving it!
BaubleBar Rose Double Curb Chain – $28.00 – I love BaubleBar jewelry, and rose gold is my favorite metal. This necklace is stunning, and amazing quality. It is sold out right now online, but I highly recommend BaubleBar. The jewelry is gorgeous, and I’m so happy to have received this piece in my box.

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $125.49

Wow! What an amazing retail value for this month’s box! The best part is, I plan on using each and every item in this box. The necklace is my favorite, but it’s always great to get practical items like the sunscreen. In the five months that I’ve been a PopSugar MustHave member, I was only disappointed once, and that was back in April. Ever since then, my boxes have been unbelievable! I highly recommend this box. You can join HERE. Get $5 off your first box with code REFER5 at checkout!

Let me know what you think of PopSugar MustHave in the comments, and let me know what your favorite subscription programs are.

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. Subscription box purchased by me. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Mint Manis for Talia Joy | #MintManisforTaliaJoy

Posted on July 19, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I am joining the nail polish community in a special memorial for YouTube star and makeup guru Talia Joy Castellano, who passed away earlier this week after losing her battle with cancer. As the last Instagram photo she posted featured a mint green manicure that she wore, today we come together and share our mint green nails to help her legacy live on. While I wasn’t able to create a new look in time for today, I am going to share some of my favorite mint green polishes. I hope you will enjoy this post, and keep Talia’s family in your thoughts. Feel free to post your mint manicure on my Facebook page HERE.

Limited Edition Fantastical Plumage Collection from Milani Cosmetics

Posted on July 17, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Earlier this week I showed you the new Retro Glam Collection from Milani Cosmetics (you can see that post HERE if you missed it). Milani is also releasing a second limited edition collection this summer called Fantastical Plumage. It is packed with bright colors and has another fun glitter polish, too. Let me show you this gorgeous collection!

First up is Scarlet Ibis, a fiery red orange polish. As with all of the polishes in this collection, Scarlet Ibis is opaque in two coats and has a great, reliable formula. I love how wearable this polish is even though it is quite bright. Since I’m not a fan of true reds, adding a hint of red to an orange is perfect. Plus, it’s very flattering. Scarlet Ibis can also make the transition from summer to fall easily.

Next is Canary, a true yellow polish. I was actually rather impressed with Canary’s formula, since I have trouble with most yellow nail polishes. While yellow isn’t necessarily my go to shade, Canary is so pretty for summer, and can be used in a variety of nail art looks. I’m thrilled to have this yellow in my collection, and I think it would make a great addition to yours!

Peacock is next, and it is a gorgeous dusty blue polish. This subtle light blue shade is gorgeous for any time of year, and it looks very dainty on the nails. Peacock will also go with a lot of outfits, since the blue is not too “out there”. I don’t think I have another polish like it in my stash!

Up next is Blue Jay, a stunning cobalt blue polish. Blue Jay is just fabulous! I’m a sucker for bright blue nails, and this one does not disappoint. I can’t wait to wear this polish again, and I might even pair it with Peacock for a fun contrast.

The last of the colors in the Fantastical Plumage Collection is Purple Martin, a light purple polish. Purple Martin is stunning, and I just love this color. Plus, the formula is amazing, and pack a high-gloss finish without a top coat. Purple Martin is definitely my favorite polish in the collection!

Last but not least is Carnival, a black and white glitter polish. Carnival has black bar glitters, black hexagons, and white hexagons. I applied one coat to each of the colors, and I’m loving the result! I did have to use special care to ensure I got enough glitters on the brush, but it was not unmanageable. I finished up with a top coat to even the layers, and to complete my manicure.

All in all, the Fantastical Plumage from Milani Cosmetics is so much fun! The bright colors are a perfect way to finish out the summer, and even the bird-themed polish names are so cute. This collection will be available in limited quantitates in August at CVS and Meijer stores. It will also be available to purchase on Milani’s website HERE. Let me know what you think of this collection in the comments below!

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