Lifestyle – Page 27 – Adventures in Polishland

Category: Lifestyle

May 2014 Favorites!

Posted on May 30, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! May is coming to a close, and that means it’s time to share my monthly favorites with all of you! It’s been a busy month, and I’m so glad that it’s summer. Let me go ahead and share the products I’ve been loving!

NAIL POLISH

Zoya Nail Polish in Wendy [REVIEW] [BUY]

I absolutely love Wendy from the new Zoya Tickled Collection! It’s a wearable pink shade, and I wore it for about a week this month. I think it would look great on absolutely everyone, so definitely pick it up!

LIP BALM

Noya Lip Balm in Cherry [BUY]

I received this lip balm in a Birchbox a while back, and decided to bring it along with me on my recent trip to Los Angeles. I’m so glad I did! Not only is this 100% natural, but it smells amazing and does a great job at moisturizing my lips. I’m making this my go-to lip balm for sure.

SKINCARE

Neutrogena Clear Face Sunscreen [BUY]

After attending the Duane Reade event with Dr. Jaliman earlier this month, I decided that I really need to wear sunscreen on a daily basis. I decided to get this one from Neutrogena because it’s advertised to not cause breakouts. I’ve used it a few times now, and it’s true! This sunscreen has a semi-matte finish, and is a lot less greasy than other sunscreens. I definitely recommend it.

BODY CARE

Jergens BB Body Perfecting Skin Cream [BUY]

I got two samples of this BB cream so I decided to just give it a try! I won’t say that this is going to change the appearance of your skin drastically, but I’ve noticed that it does make my legs look a bit nicer and ready for summer. Plus, it smells really good! I do really like this stuff, and would recommend it if you want to even our your skin tone.

MUSIC

Love Never Felt so Good by Michael Jackson & Justin TImberlake [BUY]

My new favorite song is definitely the MJ & JT single! It’s so fun, and it’s awesome to hear two of my favorite artists together thanks to the power of technology. It’s definitely got a vintage, MJ vibe, which I personally love. Definitely check it out!

That’s it for my favorites this month! I didn’t end up trying too many new products, but I hope to do that this summer when I don’t have as much work on my plate. As always, feel free to share your favorite products of May in the comments or on social media with the hashtag #PolishlandFaves. I hope you had a great May, and here’s to June!

Some of 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.

April 2014 Favorites!

Posted on May 2, 2014April 27, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! I can’t believe we just started May! April flew by so quickly, and it was a crazy month for me. Not only did I attend some awesome blogger events, but I started a new job and my first nephew was born! Needless to say, I loved April, but I’m very happy it’s May so I can finish all of my finals and enjoy some downtime. Let me share with you my April favorites!

MANICURE

Yi Kou Nail Wraps [REVIEW] [BUY]

My favorite manicure in April was definitely my nail wraps from Born Pretty Store! They were so bright and fun, and really easy to apply. I highly recommend them, and I’m considering purchasing some more.

LIP GLOSS

Maybelline Color Elixir Lip Gloss in Nude Illusion

I grabbed this lip gloss as part of a coupon deal, and never expected to love it as much as I do! It is extremely moisturizing, has a great color payoff, and smells delicious. Plus, I love the unique brush applicator. I want more shades of this gloss for sure!

SOAP

Puddle Duck Soapworks Goat Milk Soap in Pumpkin Latte [BUY]

You all know I love my soaps! My mom got me this one for Christmas, and it smelled absolutely divine. It was also exfoliating, but not overly abrasive. I’m so sad it’s all gone! I saved the wrapper so I would remember the exact brand and scent. Pumpkin Latte is a seasonal scent, but I surely hope it’s around next fall!

MAKEUP COLLECTION

InterDesign Acrylic Drawers [BUY]

In the spirit of Spring Cleaning, I went through my entire makeup collection and reorganized it. I ended up purchasing two more sets of acrylic drawers from Amazon, and I’m loving my new set-up. If you’d like an entire blog post dedicated to my makeup collection and how I organize it, please let me know in the comments!

HAIR

Yes, I got a haircut for the first time in nearly a year! I love it! This was my first NYC haircut, and I got it done by Kate at Tackamichi Salon. I went on Sustainable Beauty Day, and got this amazing haircut for a donation to charity. It was a fabulous opportunity, and I’m loving my new ‘do! Major thanks to Kate (definitely ask for her if you go to Takamichi)!

That’s it for my April 2014 favorites! Thank you for being patient with my irregular blog schedule as I head into my final exams. Soon I’ll be on summer break, and working a regular schedule again. As always, share your monthly favorites with me in the comments or on social media with the hashtag #PolishlandFaves.

Adventures in Polishland Turns 2!

Posted on April 10, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! Today is my official, two year blogiversary! That’s right – two years ago today I began this blog on a whim. I just wanted to take a moment and thank all of you for supporting Adventures in Polishland. I have come to truly love the beauty industry, and I’ve learned so much from brands, fellow bloggers, and from all of you.

This past year was truly an adventure. I purchased my own domain name, and built a new website. You stuck with me through my move, and I am so grateful for that! In addition, I was lucky enough to attend a handful of blogger events throughout New York City. It is wonderful to meet fellow bloggers, and learn first-hand about products from the brands I love. I’ve also expanded my once polish-focused blog to include beauty and skincare posts. My Adventures in Polishland are ongoing of course, but it’s been exciting to try all sorts of products, and be the “guinea pig” for you.

So, what’s next? As I head into my third year as a beauty blogger, I hope to continue bringing you nail polish and beauty reviews, nail art, and more. You can always feel free to recommend products and blog post ideas, and to connect with me on social media – just hit the “Contact” tab above for all my links. As always, thank you for joining me on my Adventures in Polishland. i look forward to all of the adventures soon to come!

March 2014 Favorites!

Posted on April 4, 2014March 30, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! April is now upon us, and that means it’s time to share my March favorites with all of you. Let’s jump right into it!

NAIL POLISH

Zoya Dot [REVIEW] [BUY]

Dot is so beautiful! I just love the pastel pink shade. It’s subdued enough to be professional, but quite girly at the same time. I’ve been wearing it for over a week now!

CoverGirl Sapphire Flare [REVIEW] [BUY]

Once upon a time, I avoided dark nails like the plague. Now, I’m obsessed with navy nails! I’ve worn Sapphire Flare several times since I got it, and twice in the month of March. Plus, the formula is flawless. You need this in your collection!

SKINCARE

Sibu Beauty Sea Buckthorn Balancing Facial Cleanser [REVIEW] [BUY]

I know I said I wasn’t going to use this until I used up the other cleansers in my collection, but I can’t put it away! It’s the perfect all-in-one product, and makes my skin happy. I definitely see a second bottle in my future when this one is empty.

Amara Organics Vitamin C Serum [REVIEW] [BUY]

I’m also applying this serum religiously! I’m onto my third week of use now, and all signs of breakouts are gone. My skin is just drinking up this magical potion!

LIP COLOR

Baby Lips in Just Peachy [BUY]

Surprise! I added a new Baby Lips to my collection. By now I have too many, but this is my first in the Dr Rescue line, and I’m loving it. It has the same great application and hint of color as the other Baby Lips products, but it is medicated to help your dry lips out even more.

FOOD

Cadbury Mini Eggs

It is that magical time of year when the Cadbury Mini Eggs appear at the store. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw this 18oz bag. Mini eggs are definitely my favorite candy of all time, and I have to get my fill this time of year. SO. GOOD.

BOOK

Something Real by Heather Demetrios [REVIEW] [BUY]

I’ve been making an effort in my life to make time for reading outside of school this month, and picked up Something Real at my local Barnes & Noble. It is an amazing story about a girl whose family is the subject of a reality TV show. You can read more by checking out my review on Goodreads (linked above).

That wraps up my favorites for the month of March! Please feel free to share what you’re loving in the comments, or use hashtag #PolishlandFaves on social media.

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

Subscription Sunday | March Birchbox

Posted on March 23, 2014March 23, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! It’s officially been one year since I joined Birchbox, and I’m so excited to show you what is in my March 2014 box. This series first began as Ipsy v. Birchbox, but Birchbox is the only box I’ve stuck with this long. Let me go ahead and share my products with you, and if you’d like to see my first ever Birchbox, just click HERE.

This month’s theme is Spring Forward. Since we lost an hour of sleep this month, the products in our box are supposed to be time-savers and long-lasting. Anything to make up for the time change!

Here are all the products I got this month. I’ll talk about them a bit more from left to right, and share each sample’s retail value.

Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle Leave in Conditioner – $4.66 – I’ve been able to try a lot of Beauty Protector products through Birchbox, and I don’t mind collecting them since I’ll be traveling later this year. This stuff smells amazing, and I can’t wait to try it!
Coola Face Mineral Sunscreen – $3.60 – I am so sick of getting Coola products in subscription boxes! The main reason is because the samples are barely enough to use even one time. Don’t let the tube size deceive you – they are never filled completely!
Air Repair Rescue Balm – $2.17 – This is a 100% natural healing balm that can be used anywhere, such as lips and hands. It’s designed to lock in moisture, and while I wish the sample size was a bit bigger, I’m excited to try it!
Jergens BB Body Cream – $1.73 – I am most excited about this sample! This product has been getting a lot of buzz lately, so I can’t wait to see if this will improve the look of my skin. It’s a decent size sample, and I got the right shade for my skin tone.
theBalm How ‘Bout Them Apples? Cheek & Lip Cream in Pie – $5.33 – Last but not least is a red cheek and lip cream. I’m really excited about this! The shade blends out really nicely on my hand, so I bet it will look great on my face!

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $17.49

RATING 1-5 (1 BEING WORST, 5 BEING BEST): 3

OVERALL OPINION: This box is just okay for me. I really like the Jergens BB Cream and the product from theBalm, but I really wish I didn’t get anything from Coola. I don’t mind when the retail value is low so long as I can see myself using all of the products. With the exception of the Coola product, I’ll get use out of everything so I can’t complain too much. I would love to see samples from different brands in the future.

Do you subscribe to Birchbox? Join HERE and for $10 per month get a box of samples delivered to your door. For a limited time you will get 100 points when you sign up using code bb100. That’s equal to $10 in the Birchbox shop! If you already subscribe, let me know what you got this month!

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

Subscription Sunday | February Birchbox

Posted on March 9, 2014February 22, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! March may have just begun, but unfortunately due to winter storms here in NYC my February Birchbox was a bit delayed. I was so happy when it finally arrived! Let me go ahead and show you what I got this month.

Birchbox teamed up with Us Weekly in February to prep us for awards season. Our items this month are inspired from celebrity makeup artists who have great tips for their clients.

Now onto the products! You know the drill by now!

Dr. Brandt Pores No More Pore Refiner – $11.25 – This product reminds me of the Too Faced Primed & Poreless that I love so much! I think I’m going to save this perfect travel size for one of my next adventures.
Beauty Protector Protect & Oil – $2.00 – I had to estimate this price a bit because there is no size on this sample. Nonetheless, this is a great sample size for a hair oil, since a few drops will do the trick. It smells divine!
Ruby Wing in Mini Kitten Heels – $4.67 – While I’m always excited to get a nail polish in a beauty box, I’m hesitant with this one since the last Ruby Wing Color Changing polish I tried didn’t work (read about it HERE). I’ll see what happens, though!
Juicy Couture Couture La La in Malibu – $1.44 – Perfume samples can be a bit disappointing, but I love everything I’ve tried from the Couture La La line, so I’m sure I’ll like this one, too. I’ll be sure to use this up!

Last but not least, I got two packets of the 32 Oral Care Effervescent Breath Crystals retailing for $0.98. These are pretty interesting. They remind me of pop rocks! I wonder what these will be like.

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $20.34

RATING 1-5 (1 BEING WORST AND 5 BEING BEST): 4

OVERALL OPINION: While this month’s retail value isn’t as high as I’d like it to be, I’m still really happy with all of the products I got. I’ll be using everything in my box for sure. Plus, I know that the Pore Refiner, hair oil, and nail polish can each be used multiple times.

You can subscribe to Birchbox for just $10 per month HERE. If you’re already a member, let me know what you got in your February box!

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

Subscription Sunday | February Beauty Army Kit!

Posted on March 2, 2014February 22, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! Today I have another new-to-me subscription service to share with all of you. Beauty Army is a $12 per month kit of up to six beauty samples. Unlike other services where your goodies are a complete surprise, Beauty Army permits each user to take a survey, and then curates samples that match your own individual profile. Once you get your results, you can choose up to six samples that are then mailed to you. Let me show you the samples I got in my first kit!

Here is the box when it arrived in the mail! I love the pink camouflage print box, and the packaging is really nice. Because of the crazy winter storms we’ve been getting in NYC, it actually took so long to get to me that I forgot what samples I had picked out.

Let me tell you more about these samples from left to right, and let you know the retail value of each one.

Menza Daily Face Wash – $11.76 – Wow, this 1oz sample is sure worth a lot! This face wash is supposed to be great for sensitive skin, so I can’t wait to try it.
Every Beauty Makeup Remover Pads – $0.70 – I’m really excited to try these makeup remover pads! They are super affordable – a pack of 50 costs just $6.99! If I like them, I might buy a big pack since they are more affordable than the makeup remover wipes I’m currently using.
Phyto 5 Jojoba and Shea Butter Nourishing Cream – $7.99 – This stuff must be good – the full size is nearly $80! I can’t wait to test out this high end cream. So fancy!

Amala Hydrating Cream Cleanser, Face Cream, and Yogurt Mask – $4.49 – Onto the foil packets! I’ve never tried Amala before, and it’s definitely a luxury line. It will be interesting to give these a try.
Miracle Skin Transformer Tinted Acne Treatment Lotion – $0.64 – This looks like a primer that is specifically made for acne prone skin. I hope I can get at least one use out of this packet!
Michael Todd samples – $3.99 – I love the Michael Todd products that I’ve tried, so I’m glad to test out even more. I wish that I got one, deluxe sample instead of a variety of foil packets.

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $29.57

RATING 1-5 (1 BEING WORST AND 5 BEING BEST): 3

OVERALL OPINION: While I am disappointed that half of my samples are foil packets, the deluxe samples are awesome! I am especially excited to try the Makeup Remover Pads. I also really like that I can pick out my samples each month, so I won’t get anything that I really don’t want. If my Beauty Army kit had more deluxe samples, I would love it!

You can join Beauty Army for $12 per month HERE. Are you already a member? Let me know what you think of this subscription 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.

February 2014 Favorites!

Posted on March 1, 2014February 28, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! February has come to a close, and it’s time for me to share my favorites of the month with you. Before I do, I just wanted to say a big thank you! February was my best month traffic wise since I moved to my own URL, and while it’s not all about the numbers, it’s definitely exciting to see my blog grow. I really appreciate your support, and I’m always working to make Adventures in Polishland better. And after that sappy moment, onto my February favorites!

FOUNDATION

Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation [REVIEW]

I’ve really been loving this new Rimmel Foundation! Make sure to check out my review for all the details, but if you’re looking for an affordable foundation I highly recommend this one. I have no complaints with this product at all!

HAIR CARE

Redken Anti Frizz Polishing Milk

I got this sample in a Little Black Bag a really long time ago, and am finally using this on a regular basis! This month my hair has been extra dry and frizzy (not to mention staticky), and a pea size drop of this Polishing Milk helps to smooth everything out. Check your local salon if you’d like to buy it!

SKINCARE

Almay Lash Care Eye Makeup Remover Pads [BUY]

My mom gave me these back in December, and I’ve been using them a lot this month. They do a great job of taking off my mascara, and don’t irritate my skin. If you have sensitive skin, I think you should give these a try!

BEAUTY TOOL

Travel Spray Bottle

I got this spray bottle so I could keep water in it for my BeautyBlender. I love to use my BeautyBlender when it’s damp, but I don’t put on makeup in the bathroom. Thus, this bottle comes in handy! I grabbed it at Duane Reade in the travel section, and I’m sure you can get one at any drugstore.

FOOD

Enjoy Life Soft Baked Snickerdoodles

My sweet tooth has been out of control lately, and when I saw these on sale at Whole Foods I just couldn’t resist! These snickerdoodles are all natural, gluten free, and dairy free, but amazingly still taste just wonderful! I don’t feel guilty when eating these cookies either. Yum!

APP

Flappy Bird

Poor, Flappy Bird! He got so much hate this month that the app is no longer available. Well, let me tell you, I love this game! It was hard at first, but I worked myself up to a high score of 60. I’m so glad I downloaded this game before it was pulled from the app store. If you love Flappy Bird too, tell me your high score in the comments!

EXPERIENCE

Chicago on Broadway

February was full of fun things for me! I had friends come to visit, ate at great restaurants, and saw four Broadway shows! My favorite experience was definitely a classic – Chicago. It’s not my favorite Broadway show of all time, but I had third row seats and a very fun night. I definitely recommend it the next time you’re in NYC!

That wraps up my February favorites! As you can see, I wasn’t very adventurous with new beauty products, but I still had a great month that I wanted to share with all of you. I hope your February was just as good. Share some of your favorites with me in the comments or use the hashtag #PolishlandFaves on social media!

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

Subscription Sunday | My First Beauty Box 5!

Posted on February 23, 2014February 22, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! Today I am super excited to bring you my first unboxing of Beauty Box 5. It’s been a while since I’ve opened up a new-to-me subscription box, so I was really curious to see what would be inside. Similar to some other beauty boxes, Beauty Box 5 is a subscription service that sends you five cosmetic samples per month. Let me show you what is inside my box!

Beauty Box 5 comes in a Tiffany blue box, which I just love! Inside I found an informational card on top. On the back it explains more about how the service works, and I’m guessing they put this in every welcome box since I didn’t get the exact products pictured. Now onto the goodies!

I’ll tell you a bit more about each product from left to right, and mention the retail value of each sample.

La Fresh Travel-Lite Facial Cleansing Wipes – $2.49 – I love these wipes! This is an 8-pack that is perfect for your purse. I’ll be saving this pack for my next trip!
H2O+ Face Oasis Hydrating Treatment – $5.76 – I’ve never tried anything from this brand before, but I’m excited to use this oil-free moisturizer. This is a decent size skincare sample as well!
Ofra Lipgloss Plumper in Sultry – $12.95 – This is a full size lip gloss! The shade looks nice, and I’m interested to test it out. I’ve never tried a lip plumper before, so we’ll see what happens!
Nubar Nail Polish in Kristal – $4.00 – Believe it or not, I’ve never tried a Nubar polish before! Kristal looks gorgeous, and I’ll have a full review of it on my blog very soon.
Bellápierre Cosmetics Eyeshadow in Celebration – $14.99 – This is a full size Mica powder eyeshadow in a beautiful gold shade. It’s not something I would typically use, but it’s fun to give it a try.

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $40.19

RATING 1-5 (1 BEING WORST, 5 BEING BEST): 4

OVERALL OPINION: I’m really impressed with my first Beauty Box 5! I got a great variety of items, including three full size products. Plus, the retail value is over three times the cost of the box. The only item that I’m not too excited about is the Bellápierre eyeshadow, but otherwise I’ll be using everything else!

You can subscribe to Beauty Box 5 for $12 per month HERE. Already a member? Let me know why you love Beauty Box 5, and if you think I should subscribe!

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

Subscription Sunday | February Julep Maven Box

Posted on February 2, 2014February 1, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! When I saw the Julep Maven February selections, I just knew I had to grab my box this month. Let me show you what was inside!

This month, Julep is releasing the Dramatic Collection. Every box came with a special bonus polish called Love, in addition to the box’s regular contents. I decided to go with my style profile, and grabbed the Classic with a Twist box with two polishes and a beauty product.

The first polish I got is Greta, a berry toned shimmer polish. Greta is opaque in two coats, and has a great formula. The color is stunning, and I’m loving the holographic sparkle. It’s a great transitional color from winter to spring.

The other polish is Octavia, a bright indigo creme. Octavia has a great formula as well, and is opaque in two coats. I love how pigmented this polish is! It is definitely unlike other blue-toned polishes in my collection.

The beauty product this month was a brand new Julep Eye Sheen in the shade Dusty Taupe. I was expecting this to be a cream eyeshadow, but it’s more of a mousse. The formula is nice, and easy to apply with your fingers. I like the shade, but it has a lot of glitter in it, so it’s more of a special occasion product for me. I was also disappointed with the product’s size – it’s much smaller than the standard cream shadow.

Finally, the bonus polish each Maven got this month is Love, a rose gold glitter polish with hints of red glitter. I was happy to discover that Love is opaque on its own in two coats. It also has a formula that applies with ease. Love is such a great bonus product, and I’m loving it!

All in all, I’m so glad I got my February Julep Maven Box! It truly was a bargain at $19.99. If you’re not a Julep Maven member yet, I highly recommend this monthly program. I’ve been a member since July 2012! My favorite part of the program is the ability to skip any month that you don’t want to purchase. Try the program for just $3.99 shipping today by entering code FREEBOX at checkout HERE. Are you a Maven? Let me know in the comments!

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