Category: Beautiful NYC

Beautiful NYC | ELF Studio Haul

Happy Thursday! It’s been quite a while since my last Beautiful NYC post. I haven’t been buying much makeup at all since I’m on a tight budget (and also because I already have so many beauty products!). That being said, I stopped by the ELF Studio store on Broadway in Manhattan this past weekend with a couple friends and just had to grab a few things. ELF is definitely my definition of fabulous and affordable! Let me show you what I picked up while at the store.

Beautiful NYC | ELF Studio HaulELF Studio – Located at 741 Broadway in Manhattan

The ELF Studio is quite small inside, but sells all of the ELF products you could want! In addition, the store offers makeup classes and there are professional makeup artists on hand to do your makeup as well. All of the products were organized well, and I had no problem finding anything. I do wish there were more price labels near the products, however. Luckily, everything at ELF is super affordable, so I wasn’t worried about breaking the bank!

Beautiful NYC | ELF Studio HaulI was also excited when I got a reusable tote with my purchase! You can never have enough tote bags, right?! Look how cute this one is, too!Beautiful NYC | ELF Studio HaulNow, onto the haul! I kept it pretty small, but got some goodies for sure. First up, I got two makeup brushes. I’ve heard great things about ELF brushes even though they are crazy affordable at just $3 each. I decided to go with the Eyeshadow “C” Brush and the Angled Blush Brush. I’ve definitely been on the hunt for eyeshadow brushes, and I decided to press my luck with this one. I also thought the angled brush would work well for both blush and bronzer. Next, I got the Blush Palette in Light, which retails for $6 and comes with four blushes! I own one ELF blush now, and absolutely love it. I can’t wait to test out more! Finally, I picked up the HD Lifting Concealer for $3 as well. I’ve been wanting to try a green concealer, as they are designed to counteract redness. I think it will be great for my skin!

All in all, I’m so excited about my new ELF products! I only spend about $16.00 tax included, and got four new goodies to try. Please let me know if you would like a full review of any of these products. I would be happy to let you know what I think once I’ve tested out these products! Also, please let me know which ELF products are your favorite in the comments. I’d love to check them out as well!

 

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

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

#BalanceRewards #CollectiveBias #cbias
#BalanceRewards #CollectiveBias #cbias

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!

http://www.walgreens.com/topic/balancerewards/balance-find-offers.jspOnce 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

 #BalanceRewards #CollectiveBias

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.

#BalanceRewards #CollectiveBias
#BalanceRewards #CollectiveBias

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.

#BalanceRewards #CollectiveBias
I love spying the Empire State Building! Sometimes it pops up in the distance when you stand in just the right spot!
#BalanceRewards #CollectiveBias
Beautiful flowers in a local park!
#BalanceRewards #CollectiveBias
An American Flag waves proudly in this neighborhood!

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!

Jet Away June | Caravan Stylist Studio in NYC

Happy Monday! Today’s Jet Away June post is for all of you who will be traveling to New York City! As you may know, I live in NYC, but with the thousands of tourists that visit the city every day I figured some of you would be stopping by this summer. I recently had the opportunity to visit the Caravan Stylist Studio at the Carlton Hotel thanks to Cottonelle. This is definitely a great hidden gem in the city that you need to hear more about before visiting!

The Caravan Stylist Studio is an appointment-only hub where actors, musicians, bloggers, and guests of the Carlton Hotel can get a complete head-to-toe look done before an event. Caravan offers nail, makeup, and hair services, in addition to fashion styling. Of course, I couldn’t wait to get my nails done at the studio! Cottonelle sent me to the Summertime Lounge Event, so I could learn about Caravan, and I even got to meet fellow blogger Faith over at Sassy Ethnic Bohemian who was celebrating her one year blogiversary!

Brand Partners at the Caravan Stylist Studio

Caravan is sponsored by a number of brand partners that provide the products for the studio. If you visit Caravan, you’ll be able to learn more about all of the brands and the different products they offer. I loved learning about the brands, especially Kryolan makeup and the new ZipLoop app. Cottonelle also sponsors the Caravan’s bathroom, which is decorated with a cute shower curtain and a signature “Let’s Talk Bums” sign! The photo above is a sneak peek of all of the goodies at Caravan. The studio is set up beautifully, and I loved the welcoming atmosphere!

Zoya at the Caravan Stylist Studio

Image by Faith Bowman
Image by Faith Bowman

One brand that I already knew and loved is Zoya Nail Polish! I was so excited to find out that Zoya is the official nail polish brand of the Caravan Stylist Studio! I got my nails done with a neutral shade, but the studio is currently showing off the beautiful brights Zoya has to offer for summer. I want to give a huge shout-out to Valerie Star, who did my nails and told me all about Caravan. She was really nice, and showed me some of the amazing nail art that she does on her clients. If you stop by Caravan, she’ll be the one to see! I also got my makeup done, and loved the fresh-faced, natural look I got!

Image by Faith Bowman
Image by Faith Bowman

All in all, the Caravan Stylist Studio is a great place to visit during the summer months when it’s hot outside and you need to freshen up! Whether you need a head-to-toe look for an evening out, or simply want to get a new manicure done, Caravan is the place to be! The studio is open to bloggers, editors, celebrities, and other special guests. More information can be found on Caravan’s official website HERE. If you’re visiting NYC this summer, I highly recommend stopping by Caravan if you get the chance!

I was sent to Caravan by Cottonelle through the website Crowdtap. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

 

Feel Beautiful this Allergy Season with Duane Reade and Poncho!

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser. #CollectiveBias

Happy Saturday! As I write this, we are enjoying a sunny day here in NYC! The only bad news? Spring weather brings those nasty allergies. A runny nose, scratchy throat, and watery eyes is enough to make you feel miserable and look a bit disheveled. I decided to take the bull by the horns this allergy season and make sure I look and feel good even with the high pollen counts. Let me tell you the tools I use to feel beautiful during allergy season!

Poncho Weather App

#DRAllergy #CollectiveBias #shop

The first tool I’ve been using this allergy season is a new weather app called Poncho. This is a free app (sign up HERE), and it’s specifically for the New York City area. What I really love about this app is that you can customize the settings to fit your lifestyle, such as when you get weather updates, how you want to get updates, and (of course) whether or not you have allergies! If you mention you have allergies, Poncho will let you know the pollen count every day, and for each day that the pollen count is high, it sends you a $3 off coupon to go grab some allergy medicine! How awesome is that?! Here’s what today’s Poncho forecast looks like –

#DRAllergy #CollectiveBias #shopI find the pollen counts really helpful, since I only take my allergy medicine on the medium or high days. Speaking of allergy medicine, that’s my next tool!

Allegra Allergy at Duane Reade

#DRAllergy #CollectiveBias #shop

#DRAllergy #CollectiveBias #shop

As soon as allergy season hit, I ran to Duane Reade with my Allegra coupon from Poncho in hand. I needed some relief ASAP! The pharmacy at my local Duane Reade is on the lower level, so I headed down the escalator, and spotted the purple Allegra packaging right away. I picked up a 30-tablet pack of the non-drowsy, 24-hour formula for indoor and outdoor allergies. I began taking Allegra the very next day, and I feel so much better!

#DRAllergy #CollectiveBias #shop I am so thankful for both Poncho and Duane Reade – my allergy season saviors! I’ve felt much better than usual this allergy season, because Poncho really helps me stay prepared for the day to come. I highly recommend getting this app, and if you’d like to read more information about it, check out this Mashable article. If you suffer from allergies, let me know how you stay feeling beautiful during allergy season in the comments! I’d love to know your tricks!

Follow Duane Reade on social media: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

 

Anti-Aging 101 with Duane Reade and RoC Brand Eye Care!

 I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser. #CollectiveBias

Happy Friday! Earlier this month I told you all about some fun events that were happening with Duane Reade and RoC Brand Eye Care. I headed to the #Eyes4NYC event last week, where I learned a ton of great information about anti-aging. I can’t wait to share all of the tips and tricks with you!

Anti-Aging 101 with Duane Reade and RoC Brand Eye Care | Adventures in Polishland

At the #Eyes4NYC event, we had the opportunity to hear from dermatologist Dr. Debra Jaliman and Anna Prilutsky from Johnson & Johnson. They answered all of our anti-aging questions, and I couldn’t believe all the great information I learned in just an hour!

#Eyes4NYC #shop #cbias
Dr. Debra Jaliman and Anna Prilutsky answer our questions!

The focus of the event was retinol – how to use it, how to buy it, etc. I always thought that I was too young to use retinol, since I’m only 24, but it turns out you’re never too young (or too old!) to start using anti-aging products. Dr. Jaliman suggests that retinol newbies begin with an every-other-night application system, and the RoC Correction Sensitive Eye Cream is a great product to use. Also, make sure you don’t skimp out on that sunscreen, even in the rain! Using an SPF of 30 or higher will protect your skin while using retinol products, and prevent any further aging. 

#Eyes4NYC #shop #cbiasWe also got to Walk the Aisle with Anna, who shared all about purchasing anti-aging products. It’s very important to read the packaging, and a product’s ingredients. For example, just because a product has “Retinol” in the name does not mean it is a listed ingredient – be sure to check the ingredients list! Similarly, if a brand writes that a product is “clinically proven” that means it spent the money to do a clinical trial. Of course, your best bet is always to buy products from RoC! They contain the proper ingredients, and are even packaged perfectly. Because retinol is light and oxygen sensitive, the best packaging is a tube (not a jar).

#Eyes4NYC #shop #cbias

All in all, I had an amazing time at the #Eyes4NYC event! I’ve started using RoC anti-aging products now, and I’m loving them so far. I’ll start seeing results in four weeks, so let me know if you’d like an update on my experience at some point. Until then, make sure you stop by your local Duane Reade and pick up some RoC Brand anti-aging products. You’ll find them in the skincare aisle – in the photo above, it’s the gold packaging!  Be sure to let me know what you use for anti-aging, and if you’ll be switching to RoC after learning more. I sure did!

P.S. I learned so much from this event, that it just won’t fit into this one blog post! Be sure to check out my Facebook for more photos and my Twitter for even more tips and tricks!

Drugstore Hauls Just Got Better with the Duane Reade Mobile App!

 I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser. #CollectiveBias

Happy Wednesday! As you know, Adventures in Polishland is about all things fabulous and affordable, and that includes drugstore makeup! When I heard Duane Reade was relaunching its mobile app to Version 2.0 which includes new features to help me shop easier and save more in the store, I couldn’t wait to test it out. Let me tell you a bit more about the app, and show you my mini drugstore haul!

ALL ABOUT THE APP

The Duane Reade mobile app is free to download from the iTunes app store. Here is what it looks like upon opening.

#DRMobleApp #CollectiveBias #shop

#DRMobleApp #CollectiveBias #shop

The loading screen (left) displays the Duane Reade logo as the app launches. I quickly took a screenshot of what it looks like just so you could see! On the right is the app home screen. There are so many awesome features with this app. Here is a brief overview of what each icon on the screen does –

  • Pharmacy: refill your prescriptions, transfer your prescriptions, see your prescription history, set up a pill reminder, and schedule a vaccination.
  • Photo: print photos from your iPhoto or social media accounts and create prints, posters, or cards.
  • Store Locator: find the store closest to your current location or search for one near a specific address.
  • Weekly Ad & Coupons: see the items on sale this week, and clip virtual coupons for use in the store.
  • Refill by Scan: a quick way to refill your prescriptions – just scan the barcode!
  • Scanner: scan any product in the store to get more information about it.
  • Pill Reminder: set up daily reminders for all your medicines.
  • Rewards: easy access to your Balance Rewards card.
  • Shopping List: your Duane Reade “to buy” list is right on the app for easy shopping in store.
  • Shop: you can also shop directly from the app if you don’t want to leave the comfort of your own home!
  • DR Walk-In: information about the walk-in clinics nearby and their contact information.
  • Steps: keep track of your fitness and weight loss goals right from your phone.
  • Settings: where you can log-in and get help with the app if needed.

#DRMobleApp #CollectiveBias #shop

My favorite feature on the app is the coupon clipper! I immediately scrolled through the beauty tab and clipped some awesome Revlon coupons. The best thing about the app is that you don’t need to have a physical coupon. The app is green and convenient!

MY SHOPPING EXPERIENCE

Duane Reade Midtown | Adventures in PolishlandOf course, I had to test out this awesome app and use the Revlon coupons I clipped. I headed to the store at 22W 48th Street to use the special iBeacon technology that is only available at 10 Midtown Manhattan Duane Reade locations. iBeacon is so cool! When you get to Duane Reade, it recognizes your location, and helps you shop in the specific store you’re in. Here’s a look at what the app looked like when iBeacon was activated.

#DRMobleApp #CollectiveBias #shopNot only was a floor map and product locator available for me to use, but the coupons showed up right away! The barcode you see at the top is what the cashier scans at checkout, and all applicable coupons are used at once. Shopping is so much easier when I don’t have to organize all my coupons by hand!

#DRMobleApp #CollectiveBias #shopDuane Reade Revlon Beauty Haul | Adventures in PolishlandIt was fun to shop from the Revlon section! I almost never get tangible coupons for Revlon products, but I had $1 off a lip product and $2 off any face product (foundation, concealer, etc.) to use. I grabbed the Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey that everyone talks about, as well as the ColorStay Under Eye Concealer in Light. I’m so excited to test out these products! Let me know if you’d like a review on either one.

All in all, I am loving the relaunched Duane Reade mobile app! It makes shopping in this busy city much easier, and saves me money, too. Plus, it is environmentally friendly – no need for a plastic rewards card or paper coupons! I’ll be sure to use this app whenever I’m in the mood for a drugstore haul.

Have you downloaded the Duane Reade mobile app yet? Let me know by using the #DRMobileApp hashtag on social media and share your hauls with me! Also make sure to Follow Duane Reade’s social media accounts: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Cottonelle Spring Clean & Fresh Event at Tenoverten Salon!

Happy Thursday! Today I am excited to tell you all about a fun event I attended today with Cottonelle. Because I am active with Crowdtap, a website that connects influencers and brands, I was invited to attend Cottonelle’s Spring Clean & Fresh Event at the Tenoverten Salon in Soho. We were treated to manicures, and other beauty services, as well as lots of goodies! Let me tell you more about Tenoverten, and the great products we got to try.

Tenoverten has so many polishes, including Chanel, Nars, Essie, and its own brand, tenoverten! You can see more pictures of the salon and the event on my Facebook page HERE.

Cottonelle even let my friend Gina tag along! It was great having her get a manicure with me!
Cottonelle even let my friend Gina tag along! It was great having her get a manicure with me!

Adventures in Polishland Getting a Manicure! Essie – The Girls Are OutI decided to go with the Essie shade The Girls Are Out for my manicure. Even though I wanted to try out a high end polish, I just loved this blue-tinted pink shade. I think it looks beautiful! I definitely recommend Tenoverten if you’re looking to get a professional manicure in NYC. There are three locations, and prices range from $10 for a polish change to $40 for a luxe manicure. Plus, the salon is really cute inside, and the employees were so friendly. You can visit the salon’s website HERE for more information.

Cupcakes from Navy New YorkWe were also treated to some mouth-watering cupcakes from Navy, a restaurant here in NYC. They were absolutely delicious, so I couldn’t help but mention them!

Cottonelle Swag BagLast but not least, Cottonelle was kind enough to give us some gift bags on the way out! Who can’t use some new toilet paper and flushable cleansing cloths?! Really though, this bag had some awesome practical items, as well as a Barielle nail polish, an eos lip balm, and a cute picture frame. I really appreciate the generosity, and can’t wait to use these items.

Thank you so much to Cottonelle for inviting me to the event! Definitely make sure to check out Tenoverten in NYC, and use the fun hashtag #LetsTalkBums on social media if you’d like to share how much you love Cottonelle. I’ll be reviewing my new Barielle polish soon, so keep an eye out for that!

The products and services in this post were provided by the companies mentioned herein. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

RoC Brand Eye Care at Duane Reade | Giveaway & Event Details #Eyes4NYC

CB Disclosure White Background 600 px wideHappy Friday! I am so excited to tell you all about some amazing opportunities with RoC Brand Eye Care and Duane Reade! If you love skincare and are looking to try out RoC Brand anti-aging products, you are in for a treat. This post will outline many ways that you can get enter for a chance to win some fabulous products!

NYC EVENT

#EyeHeartNY #CollectiveBias #shop

Thursday, May 1, 2014
6:00pm – 7:00pm EST
Duane Reade
40 Wall Street
New York, NY 10005

Join me at Duane Reade for an in-store event! Prominent NYC dermatologists and health experts will discuss the benefits of the RoC products and answer your questions. It is free to attend, so I hope to see you there!

#EYES4NYC TWITTER PARTY

#EyeHeartNY #CollectiveBias #shop

Thursday, April 24, 2014
12:00pm – 1:00pm EST
RSVP: http://cbi.as/rpoqw 

Not in the NYC area? Don’t you worry! You can still join in on the fun by attending the #Eyes4NYC Twitter Party! Special guest Dr. Debra Jailman, a board certified dermatologist, will be answering all of your anti-aging questions, as well as discuss eye health and great products to use. RSVP using the link above for your chance to win $550 in Visa gift cards and awesome RoC products!

GIVEAWAY

#EyeHeartNY #CollectiveBias #shop

Last but not least, RoC is hooking one of you up with this gift box filled with over $140 worth of products! Please make sure to read through all the details and rules to see if you qualify to enter.

WHAT’S INSIDE THE GIFT BOX?

  • RoC® RETINOL CORREXION® Eye Cream
  • RoC® RETINOL CORREXION® Sensitive Eye Cream
  • RoC® MULTI CORREXION® 5 in 1 Eye Cream
  • RoC® RETINOL CORREXION® Deep Wrinkle Night Cream
  • RoC® RETINOL CORREXION® Deep Wrinkle Daily Moisturizer with Sunscreen BROAD SPECTRUM SPF 30
  • RoC® RETINOL CORREXION® Deep Wrinkle Serum

WHO CAN WIN?

  • US residents aged 18 years of age or older
  • RoC Brand cannot mail to PO Boxes, so please have an alternate address ready if you win
  • Further giveaway details listed in the Terms & Conditions located on the Rafflecopter widget.
  • Questions may be directed to adventuresinpolishland@gmail.com

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck to everyone entering the giveaway, and I hope to see you at the in-store event or online during the Twitter Party! A huge thank you to RoC and Duane Reade for making these opportunities available!

This post made possible through #CollectiveBias. 

New Product Line from Miss Jessie’s | Event Photos & More

Happy Saturday! This past week I had an amazing opportunity to attend a blogger event with Birchbox at the Miss Jessie’s Salon here in New York City. I don’t know much about hair care and hair styling, so I couldn’t wait to learn more. As it turns out, I learned more about hair in the two hours I spent at Miss Jessie’s than I’ve ever learned in my life! I have Miss Jessie’s co-founder Miko Branch to thank for that!

Miss Jessie's Salon NYCThe Miss Jessie’s Salon is beautiful! I loved the chandeliers, white chairs, and big mirrors. You can see more photos from the event on my Facebook page HERE. Miko did demonstrations on four lovely ladies using the brand new products from Miss Jessie’s.

Miss Jessie's Coily Custard DemoFirst, Miko used Coily Custard. This product is designed to tame frizz and create soft curls. Coily Custard contains agave and coconut oil, and has a lightweight formula. Miko used Coily Custard on blogger The Fat Apple to fight the shrinkage she was experiencing.

Miss Jessie's Transitioner's MagicNext, Miko taught us about Transitioner’s Magic, a product great for those whose hair is going through a transitional phase. Ashley has straight ends on her hair due to her growing it out, so Miko used Transitioner’s Magic to create curls. Transitioner’s Magic also has a lightweight formula, and has soybean and avocado.

Miss Jessie's Multi Cultural CurlsFinally, Miko used Multi Cultural Curls, a product designed to style hair that is multi-textured. Multi Cultural Curls has safflower oil and olive fruit oil, and has a lotion consistency. It smells fresh and clean, and was used to give our model beautiful and soft curls.

Miss Jessie's Completed LooksHere are all the completed looks! Miko also used Coily Custard on Christina (far left). Her hair type is similar to mine, so I couldn’t believe the beautiful transformation! The best part is, Miko took her time during each demonstration to show us how to apply each product, and many other great styling tips. From simple things such as flipping your head over to get extra volume, to the more complex techniques involved with diffusing your curls (not as straightforward as I once thought). I loved the fabulous finished looks!

NEW Miss Jessie's ProductsHere’s a close-up of the three, brand new products from Miss Jessie’s. I love the packaging, as it really tells you everything about the product. No guesswork here! I’ve begun testing out Coily Custard on my hair, and so far I’m really impressed with the results. Of course, there is a bit of a learning curve with any new product, so I hope my practice will make perfect soon.

You can purchase these new Miss Jessie’s products on the brand’s website HERE or on Birchbox’s website HERE. The prices range from $14-22 for a 8.5oz bottle. If you’re in NYC, make sure to stop by the salon! Let me know what you think of Miss Jessie’s 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. 

 

Gala’s Gems Collection from Color Club | Release & Review!

Happy Saturday! Today I’m excited to tell you all about a fun event I attended last week with Birchbox. Despite a very snowy day, I joined other Birchbloggers at the Mondrian Soho Hotel for hot chocolate, manicures, and a Q & A with blogger Gala Gonzalez. Gala runs the blog Amlul, and partnered with nail polish brand Color Club to create the new collection Gala’s Gems. Let me tell you a bit more about the event, and share the nail polishes with you!

Color Club Gala's Gems Collection

Birchblogger Event

Birchblogger Event with Gala GonzalezTo celebrate the release of Gala’s collection, Birchbox was kind enough to host an event with local bloggers so we could try out the polishes and learn more about Gala. We had the chance to get our nails done (shoutout to my manicurist Kenyetta!) and then heard from Gala, who was interviewed by Birchbox co-founder Katia. Gala is so beautiful and down-to-earth. She let us in on some of her blogging secrets, and shared about her journey in the fashion industry. I highly recommend you check out her blog if you haven’t before – it’s professionally done, and a must read for fashion lovers!

You can also find more photos from this event on my Facebook page HERE.

Gala’s Gems Review

Color Club – Heirloom PearlsColor Club – Heirloom PearlsFirst up is Heirloom Pearls, a pearlescent white polish. All of the polishes in the Gala’s Gems Collection have a metallic finish, which I think is perfect for the transition from winter to spring. Heirloom Pearls has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. It looks flawless on my nails, and would go with pretty much any outfit. I highly recommend it!

Color Club – Breakfast At... Color Club – Breakfast At...Next up is Breakfast At…, a mint green metallic polish. I love the clever name of Breakfast At…, and the green color is right up my alley. The formula is very good, though a bit prone to streaking due to its metallic nature. This is the color I got for my manicure at the event. I just love it!

Color Club – Aquamarine Azulino Color Club – Aquamarine AzulinoAquamarine Azulino is up next, and it is a gorgeous baby blue polish. This has a great formula that is opaque in two coats, and I just adore the pastel blue shade. The shimmer throughout the polish makes it perfect for snowy days, yet the pigmentation is also nice for the warmer months. Aquamarine Azulino is an all around great blue!

Color Club – Gold Struck Color Club – Gold StruckLast but not least is Gold Struck, a rose gold metallic polish. I was a bit disappointed that Gold Struck is so streaky, but that can happen with any metallic polish. I still really love the color, and this is a great option for those of you who didn’t grab Sally Hansen’s Gold Roses (review HERE). Gold Struck really has that liquid metal look!

All in all, I had a great time at the Birchbox event, and I really like the Gala’s Gems Collection from Color Club. This collection will be available very soon, so keep an eye out for it! I’ll be sure to post on Facebook when these polishes are available, as well as the price point. Let me know in the comments what you think of the Gala’s Gems Collection!

UPDATE: You can now purchase this collection for just $13 on the Birchbox website HERE.

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