Lifestyle – Page 31 – Adventures in Polishland

Category: Lifestyle

Adventures in Polishland Across the Web!

Posted on June 2, 2013July 12, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Sunday! Today I just wanted to share with all of you two exciting websites that I have been featured on this past week.

First, I was interviewed by the nail polish blog So Nailicious. You can see my interview HERE. Please be sure to subscribe to her blog for amazing reviews and nail art. You can also follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Second, I wrote a guest post for fellow WordPress blogger Zenorah. My post shows you how to use holiday themed nail polishes all year round. I absolutely love the manicures I created, so I hope you will check out the post and follow Zenorah’s blog while you’re there. You can see my guest post HERE. As a little sneak peek, take a look at how I used a red and white Christmas glitter in this jelly sandwich manicure!

That’s all I have for today! Stay tuned for more nail polish and beauty reviews, and as always, a huge thank you to all of my followers for supporting me on my Adventures in Polishland.

Ipsy v. Birchbox: Round Three! May 2013

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

Happy Sunday! It is round three of Ipsy v. Birchbox here at Adventures in Polishland. Even though Birchbox won the first two rounds (see Round One HERE and Round Two HERE), I felt that I needed at least three months of each subscription service to really test the waters for good. At $10 each, I am getting some great new products for an affordable price. I’ve already used up quite a few of the samples! This month I got some really nice products as well. Let me show you what was inside!

First up is my Ipsy Glam Bag! This month’s theme is Spring Fling, and I am just adoring the cosmetic bag we got this month. I love the bright chevron pattern, and it is a waterproof material that will be perfect for the summer months. I’m quite impressed with the quality of the bag as well — it feels nice and sturdy! Let me describe the products I got from left to right!

Juice Beauty Reflecting Lip Gloss in Champagne – $7.50 – Juice Beauty is a very popular brand in these subscriptions! This month I got a really pretty lip gloss in a nude color. I tried this out a few times, and I do like it. It is very sheer, and although it looks very glittery in the tube it doesn’t make my lips look like a disco ball. Instead, it has a nice shine. What I don’t like is the smell! It smells strange, but I think it is because it’s organic and has natural fragrances only. Also, though this is packaged like a full size lip gloss, it is exactly one half of the full size that Juice Beauty sells online. Nonetheless, this is a great sample with a great value!
Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment – $13.50 – I have been wanting to try some of the hair cair products from Macadamia, so I am beyond excited for this product! It smells divine, and I already see a big difference in my hair since I started using it. I apply the tiniest amount from my ears down after I get out of the shower, and my hair is much softer and less frizzy than usual. This sample size retails for $13.50, and will last me a while since a little bit goes a long way. I am so happy with this sample!
Zoya in Julie – $8 – This month each Ipsy subscriber got a full size nail polish from the Zoya Lovely collection. I got Julie, but unfortunately I already own the entire Lovely collection. While I do think it is great to get a full size polish in these subscription services, the Lovely collection came out back in December, and many nail polish aficionados already own the colors they want. Similarly, my bottle came a bit damaged, and I noticed that many other subscribers received damaged bottles as well. Part of my thinks Zoya sent Ipsy all of the bottles they didn’t want to sell themselves! I love the idea behind this polish, but I wish we got something from a newer collection that wasn’t damaged.
St. Tropez Instant Glow Body Lotion – $6.27 – Next up is a self-tanner body lotion. I’ve tried the one from Jergens before, and loved the results yet hated the smell. This one is just the opposite! There is no smell, yet the color is way too dark for my pale skin, and I wasn’t able to achieve a natural look. I think this is a great sample size, but unfortunately it didn’t work for me. I’m going to try it again once I have more of a natural tan.
Yaby Concealer Refill in Buff – $4.85 – I am also very excited for this concealer from Yaby, another brand that Ipsy seems to like a lot as well! I’ve been needing a new concealer, and I’m glad Ipsy sent me one that seems like the perfect shade for me! I know some subscribers received incorrect colors in their glam bag, but make sure you go to the Ipsy website to edit your profile. I can’t wait to use this concealer, and it will fit in the Glam RX palette I got back in March.

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $40.12

OVERALL OPINION: I’m very happy with my Ipsy glam bag this month! The value is great, and I got three products I will definitely use. Unfortunately I already had the nail polish, and the St. Tropez lotion isn’t really my thing. Other than that, I will get a lot of use out of the other products. I am most excited about the Macadamia hair treatment!

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

Now onto my May Birchbox! This month there wasn’t really a theme, but each box came with a fun Mad Libs type activity. Fill in the Beauty Diaries phrase and tweet it to Birchbox, and you could win a full size product of everything in your box! See my Tweet HERE! Now I will tell you more about the products I got this month.

Amika Nourishing Mask – $1.60 – First up is a foil packet of a deep conditioner for hair. This mask is supposed to repair damaged hair with its special sea buckthorn berry ingredient. I will probably get 2-3 uses out of this packet, although it will be difficult to use in the shower. I would have liked different packaging to make this sample more user friendly. I also appreciate being able to try a high end hair product, but this packet just doesn’t excite me!
Runa Tea Bag Sample Box – $1.75 – My favorite product this month is a sampler box of four teas from Runa. I got four tea bags in these flavors: traditional, ginger-citrus, mint, and cinnamon-lemongrass. The tea bags smell amazing, and are supposed to have twice the antioxidants as green tea! It’s nice to get a little snack item in a beauty box. Even though the retail value isn’t high, I know I will be able to afford a box of the tea if I decide I like it and want more!
Sumita Color Contrast Eye Pencil in Suman – $5.25 – Each Birchbox subscriber got a mini Sumita eyeliner this month, and I luckily got it in a black color! I rarely wear eyeliner, but this one seems very nice. It is a very creamy consistency, and glides on easily. It is definitely smudge-proof as well. Even though I won’t use it often, this is a nice product to get in a box like this!
Coola Classic Sunscreen for Face – $4.32 – This tiny sunscreen sample from Coola was mostly empty when I got it, and exploded a bit when I opened it. Unfortunately there is not much for me to try! I admit it smells great, but I’m very disappointed with this sample. I cannot fathom spending $32 on the full size product. I understand that it is organic and high end, but that is quite a lot for sunscreen. I hope to get at least once use out of this tube.
Marvis Classic Mint Toothpaste – $1.40 – I’m not sure how I feel about getting a “luxury” toothpaste in my Birchbox. I will definitely use it up, of course, but I typically spend $1.40 or less on my regular toothpaste when it is on sale! I do love that this is an Italian import, since I am part Italian, but this is another product that I won’t be buying the full size of. The tube is great for travel, though, and it smells minty fresh!

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $14.32

OVERALL OPINION: I am so disappointed this month! This is the first time Birchbox provided me with samples that can really only be used 1-2 times each with the exception of the eyeliner, and perhaps the toothpaste. My box was considerably lighter this month, and the retail value of these items really stinks. It’s always nice to try high end products that I can’t afford to buy regularly, but I wish I could get more out of them. These products won’t even last until next month’s Birchbox.

RATING: 2

There you have it! My winner for the month of May is Ipsy by a landslide! After being beat out by Birchbox for two months, Ipsy finally provided me with some great products. At this point I am going to give each subscription another go. I sure hope that this was just a fluke with Birchbox, since my last two months were amazing. I am still an undecided girl when it comes to which program is better! Which one do you like more?! If you have yet to join, you can sign up for Ipsy HERE and Birchbox HERE.

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.

Beauty Blogger Tag: Get to Know Me!

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

I was tagged by Mercedes over at Beyond Beauty Lounge to do this tag! You can see her answers HERE. I hope you enjoy this kind of post!

1. Is your hair naturally curly or straight?
Neither! I have wavy hair.

2. What is your natural hair color?

Light brown.

3. Do you dye it yourself or go to a salon?

I have never dyed my hair, and I have no plans to do so!

4. How often do you wash your hair?

I wash and condition my hair every other day. I have very thin hair that gets oily rather quickly, so I do wash it as frequently as I can without going overboard.
5. Do you wear the same style every day or change it?

I typically wear my hair down and in a side part every day, and I flat iron it. Sometimes I wear it in a side braid, or in a messy bun if I’m at home.

6. Do you do your own mani/pedi or go to a salon?

I do my own mani/pedi for the most part. I might go to a salon 1-2 times per year.
7. How often to you change your nail polish?

About 2-3 times per week. I am a nail polish blogger, after all!
8. Do you polish your toes in the winter, too or just in the summer?

Yes, but I don’t change it very often.

9. How long does it take to put on your makeup?

Ten to fifteen minutes.

10. What do you do first? Face or eyes?
Face. I virtually only wear mascara.

11. Do you “collect” makeup or just buy what you need when you need it?

I collect nail polish, but only because I blog about it. I try not to hoard products I don’t need, and I am constantly trying to get rid of the things I don’t use. [Hint: see Blog Sale tab!]

12. How often do you wear false eyelashes?

Never! I used to for dance performances when I was younger, but I like my own lashes.

13. Do you do a full face of makeup every day?

No.

14. Do you wear makeup when you are home alone (or with family)?

If I feel like it, but typically no.

15. Will you leave the house without makeup.

Yes.

16. How many high end products do you have?

Very few. I am a budget-seeking lady!

17. How often do you wash your makeup brushes?

Not as often as I should
18. Do you plan your OOTD every night or decide when you are getting dressed?

Very rarely do I plan ahead. I typically wake up, check the weather, and put something together.

19. How often do you change your handbag?

Whenever I feel like it! I usually have one “go to” bag, and then I change it depending on my mood or where I’m going.
20. What time do you get up & go to sleep?

I wake up at around 8:30am, though it’s usually anywhere between 8:00-9:00am. I go to sleep at 11:30pm, right after Watch What Happens Live!
21. How often & when do you workout?

Never. Let’s be real, I don’t like to “work out”. I do walk about three miles every day, though. That’s my exercise.

22. Left-handed or Right-handed?

Right-handed.

23. How tall are you?

5’4”
24. Do you speak a foreign language?

I have some knowledge of Mexican Spanish. I can understand it and write it very well, but I can only speak it conversationally.
25. How many pets do you have?

I have a pet frog named Fred. He lives with my parents!

26. How often are you on Blogger?

Never. I use WordPress!
27. Do you read the comments posted on blogs?

Each and every one! I try to reply to them all as well.
28. Do you keep a list of products to try as you see other posts?

No, but I really should because I can never remember the names of the things I want to try.
29. How did you come up with your blog name?

It just popped into my head, and I Googled to see if anyone else had it. When no one popped up, I declared it mine!
30. What kind of camera do you use?

No professional cameras or equipment here — I use my iPhone 5.

31. How often do you clean your house?

I clean it at the end of each week.

32. What is your favorite color?

Pink.

33. What is your favorite beauty/fashion magazine?

I don’t typically read magazines.

34. Do you swear?

Very, very rarely. There are also some words that are not in my vocabulary at all, and I’m quite disappointed when I hear others using them.

35. What are you doing with the rest of your day?

It’s final exam time for this law student! Studying is my only plan at this point!

Now I tag YOU! Feel free to answer these questions on your beauty blog!

Ipsy v. Birchbox: Round Two! April 2013

Posted on April 20, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! I am back with round two of my battle of the beauty subscriptions now that I finally received my Birchbox in the mail! Unfortunately the post office held onto my box without delivering it for almost a week. Luckily it arrived safe and sound, and I am so excited to share this comparison post with you! Last month I reviewed both Ipsy and Birchbox for the first time, and Birchbox won the first round (all details HERE). Let me share with you what I got for April for each of these $10 subscription programs. Which one do you think will win this matchup?!

First up is Ipsy! This month’s theme was Pretty in Pink, and came in a cute white and pink cosmetics bag. My bag had a few small stains on it, so I emailed the company and they are going to send me a replacement. I’m definitely happy about that great customer service! I really do like this cosmetics bag, and I think this will be going in my school bag since it won’t take up a lot of room and can hold some lip balm, hand lotion, etc.

Now onto the products in my Ipsy Glam Bag! Last month I got five products, but this month I got four. I’ll describe everything in detail for you from left to right!

Be a Bombshell Blush in Sweet Cheeks – $16.00 – This blush is a beautiful and very pigmented pink! I think it will work well with many skin tones, but it does pack a lot of color so a little bit will do the trick. The packaging is adorable, but feels a bit flimsy. I am definitely excited to use this for a more polished look!
Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Nourishing Styling Treatment – $4.44 – At first I was excited to try what is marked a “healthy” hair treatment, and is even called soy renewal. However, after reviewing the ingredients on this product it seems to be full of chemicals, and has hardly any soy extract at all. I am definitely going to give it a try, and see if it manages my frizzy hair, but I wish it was actually as healthy as the packaging makes it sound!
Sation Nail Lacquer in Love At First Byte – $5.00 – I was thrilled to find a full size nail polish in my Ipsy bag! I’ve never tried Sation polishes before, so I can’t wait to use this gorgeous peach color. It does appear to be a sheer finish, but I won’t know for sure until I try it. Let me know if you’d like to see a review of this polish on my blog!
Mica Shimmer Powder in Earth – $11.96 – This is the only product in my bag that I don’t plan on using this month. While this is a gorgeous and shimmery eyeshadow, it is just not for me. I don’t wear eyeshadow very often, and the glitter in this is just too much for me. If you love eye makeup this would be perfect for you, though!

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $37.40

OVERALL OPINION: I am definitely loving this month over last month! I plan on using everything but the Mica Shimmer Powder, and I love having full size products. I do wish that the Healthy Sexy Hair lived up to its name, but that’s not really an Ipsy problem. This month’s cosmetics pouch is quite cute as well!

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

Now onto my April Birchbox! This month they teamed up with Women’s Health for the theme of Tiny Tweaks, Big Results. I had a feeling when I saw this cute packaging that there would be lots of good things inside. I cannot wait to share the contents!

Look at all of these goodies! I will get right into describing all of the contents from left to right.

One-Year Subscription to Women’s Health Magazine – $9.99 – This card was hiding at the bottom of my box, but I almost fell on the floor when I read it closely. Not only does this give me a one-year subscription to Women’s Health, but there is also an option to decline the subscription and get a $9.99 refund. That’s right — if I don’t want the magazine I can send this card in and get back $9.99! That is the price of my entire box! I haven’t decided if I want the magazine or the money yet, but this is an amazing value right off the bat!
Atelier Cologne in Ambre Nue – $2.80 – I love perfume samples, so even though they are not high in value, I like getting one in my monthly box! I like to change up my perfume, so samples are the perfect way to do that. This will be used up for sure!
Lierac Paris Concentré Mésolift Serum – $10 – I am excited to try this serum that is supposed to help hydrate skin, shrink pores, and fight off wrinkles. I just finished using a deluxe sample of another skin serum, so I’m happy to replace it with this one in my skin care routine! These serum samples last for weeks, and allow me to use luxury products that I would never be able to afford otherwise.
Number 4 Blow Dry Lotion – $10.67 – While I don’t blow dry my hair that often, this lotion is supposed to protect my hair from the heat and make sure it is smooth. I haven’t tried this yet, but it smells amazing and it looks like I can get a lot of use out of this sample. I will have to give this a try!
Ruby Wing Color Changing Nail Polish in Peony – $4.67 – I love that I have another nail polish! This time it is a mini size, but still a great value. I’ve never tried color changing nail polish before, but I cannot wait to use this one! I love the pink color. I think this will be great for summer!
Simple Revitalizing Eye Roll-On – $10.99 – This month I got this product as a Birchbox Find! As someone who has trouble getting up in the morning, and has very puffy eyes, this product is amazing! I already gave it a try and I am loving it so far. It feels amazing and is made for someone who has sensitive skin like me. As an added bonus, Birchbox added in a coupon for $1 off any Simple product. I love coupons and I will definitely use this one!

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $49.12 + $1 Simple coupon

OVERALL OPINION: I could not be more thrilled with this month’s Birchbox. Not only is the value just under $50 for a box I paid $10 for, but I love all of the products and will make sure to use them all. Even though it arrived a bit late this month, I am so happy to have this Birchbox! Plus, I love that this website has a fabulous rewards system. For each product you review you get 10 points! Every 100 points is $10 to spend in their shop.

RATING: 5

There you have it! My winner for the month of April is Birchbox! Not only was the retail value for my Birchbox significantly higher than Ipsy, but I enjoy the Birchbox products more. Ipsy is definitely more focused on makeup, while Birchbox has a focus on skincare. Since I don’t wear too much makeup, Birchbox is more tailored to my lifestyle. I am going to give both of these subscriptions one more battle round, and if I am not impressed with Ipsy I will cancel. At this time, Birchbox is an amazing value! You can join Ipsy HERE and Birchbox HERE.

Let me know what you think of these subscription programs in the comments!

My March Julep Maven Box!

Posted on March 27, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I finally have a review of my March Julep Maven Box, just making it in before the month is over! This month Julep had some technical difficulties, and for some reason my box got missed during the original shipment. Luckily Julep emailed me to let me know of their mistake, and I got my box in the middle of the month. I decided to go for the It Girl box this month, and received three beautiful spring shades. Let me show you what was inside my box!

This month the theme was pastels, and each maven got a bonus strawberry mint lip balm in her box. I love lip balms, and was happy to get that as a bonus! I’m also loving all of the polishes this month!

First up is Teri, a gorgeous peach creme that leans towards coral. Teri is opaque in two coats and has a good formula that is a bit on the thick side. This polish is a little streaky, but the color is so gorgeous that I don’t mind. Teri is perfect for spring! I put this on as soon as I opened my box this month and got a few compliments on it at school!

Next up is Simone, a pastel lilac that leans towards pink. Simone is also opaque in two coats, and has an amazing formula! My one disappointment is that the blue shimmer effect that is prominent in the bottle is very subtle on the nail. Nonetheless, Simone is beautiful and a great color for all skin tones.

Last but not least is Shenae, a shimmery mint green polish. Shenae is opaque in two coats and the formula is great! I had no problems whatsoever with application. As you know, I love mint greens, and this is the first I’ve tried with shimmer. This is an all-around great polish, and the color is just stunning! Shenae is definitely on trend for spring.

All in all, I’m very pleased with my March Julep Maven Box! Each polish is beautiful, and the formulas are amazing for the most part. If you would like to join the Julep Maven program and get a box of polish and other goodies each month, you can sign up HERE! Your first box is free with code FREEBOX at checkout, you just pay shipping. The best part is you can skip your box each month if you don’t like the colors, or if you don’t have room in your budget. You can also cancel at any time. Let me know what you think of my March box!

My March PopSugar Must Have Box!

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

Happy Saturday! Today I will be sharing with you a new monthly subscription program that I joined. The PopSugar Must Have Box is a lifestyle box filled with goodies from all different areas – beauty, home, fashion, and more! It is $35 each month, but the box is to have at least a $100 value. After doing some research, I decided to go for it and sign up! My goal was to use this box as an alternative to buying new products myself. I am loving my first box! Let me show you what was inside.

First I’ll show you what the box looks like when you get it. I love the bright pink tissue paper and the “Enjoy” sticker! It’s adds a personal touch. You can also see the little booklet that explains all of the items in the box. Look at all those goodies! So much to see here!

In your box you will also have items from different “Must Have” categories. Here are my two Must Have Fashion items. On the left is a Sweater Saverfrom Hollywood Fashion Secrets. It’s a small brick that your rub over sweaters and blankets to remove pills without damaging the items. I definitely have a couple sweaters that could use this! The Sweater Saver retails for $5.99. I also got a beautiful necklace from Heather Belle. It is a long gold chain with an octagon and tassel designs near the bottom. I’ve been wanting to buy more jewelry, so this is perfect! I was unable to find out the exact retail value of this necklace, but others on the Heather Belle website are selling for $75!

For the Must Have Home category, I got two more items. On the left is the Corkatoo Corkscrewfrom True Fabrications. This is such a cute corkscrew, and while I don’t drink wine, this will make a great gift item! It retails for $15.99. I also got this Denim Washfrom The Laundress. I am quite excited about this item! It not only retails at $19, but it is non-toxic, biodegradable, and allergen free. I can use this in my washing machine to make sure my denim isn’t fading! I will definitely use this entire bottle, and it will make my current bottle of laundry detergent last longer.

Now onto Must Have Beauty! I am so excited about these next two items. First is the Buxom Sculpted Lash Mascara. This is a $19 mascara and I am so excited! I love buying mascaras because it is one of the few makeup items I wear every day. This one is a high end brand that I wouldn’t have bought otherwise, but now I get to try it. I can’t wait to see how it works! I am also super excited about the nail polish I got! This is a set from The New Black called Pardon My French. I got the color set called Havoc. I’ve been dying to try these nail polishes, but couldn’t bring myself to spend the money on them. This mini set retails for $10! I will admit that I squealed a little when I saw this in the box.

Last but not least are my Special Extras for the month! Holly Fashion Secrets also provided a Fashion Tape Assortment Pack. This is great for holding accessories in place or hemming pants quickly. Also included were some Peeps! I don’t like Peeps, so these will be getting sent out in some nail mail. These are special bonuses, so I didn’t find out how much they retailed for.

All in all, my items add up to about $70 not including the necklace and the Special Extras. If the necklace is worth around $75, my box is definitely over the $100 mark! I’m really happy with everything in my box. They are either items I will use myself or give as gifts. I am going to continue on in this program for sure!

If you would like to join, please click HERE! Enter code REFER5 at checkout to get $5 your first box.

My February Julep Maven Box!

Posted on February 20, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

After a disappointing January box, Julep more than made up for it this month! With a few added bonuses, I was so happy that I didn’t end up skipping my box. While I do have a few gripes with the extra products, I loved the two nail polishes I got. I’m sure you will agree that I got my money’s worth this month! Let me show you my February Julep Maven Box.

Look at all of those goodies in one box! This month I got my style profile box — Classic With a Twist. Inside were two nail polishes, the Oxygen Nail Treatment, the Freedom Polymer Top Coat, an eyelash curler, and two chocolate hearts. For all of these products, minus the curler and candy, the total retail value is $64! As a Maven, I only paid $19.95. How awesome is that?! I even love the two polishes I got!

Up first is Helen, what Julep calls a smokey pastel lavender. Helen has that fabulous Julep formula that is opaque in two coats. Helen has a beautiful creme finish, and leans toward a feminine dusty rose color. It is perfect for a professional and chic look! I love Helen — it’s different than any other polish in my collection!

Julep Claudette is the other polish in my February box. This red brick color is a one coat polish! That’s right — what you see in the photos is opacity with just one coat. I was blown away with the quality of Claudette’s formula. I love that the red tone is not as bright as a true red polish, but it’s still perfect for awards season. If you aren’t a red girl like me, this is the one you want to actually keep in your collection! As a one-coater there is no reason to not own it! It’s perfect for when you need a red.

The next item in this month’s box is the Oxygen Nail Treatment. This product baffles me a bit. Why? Well, it is supposed to be worn 1-2 times per week, but without any other nail polish. Since most nail polish aficionados have polish on every day, it’s difficult to find the time to put on this treatment up to twice per week. The directions also don’t say how long you’re supposed to wear the treatment. I wore mine overnight and into the next day for about thirteen hours. Above you can see my nail before (left), during (middle), and after (right). I think the treatment did help to whiten my nails, but I’m not sure that I saw much of a difference. Maybe if I did wear this treatment for an extended period of time I will see more results.

Last but not least, the Freedom Polymer Top Coat was one of this month’s extra items in the box. This top coat is advertised to dry in five minutes in natural light, and in two minutes under a 60-watt light bulb. The finish is supposed to look like a gel manicure, and it to be long-lasting. I included a photo above of Shimmer Polish Karina layered over Claudette. I used the Freedom top coat for that manicure, and as you can see, the finish is great! Plus, the top coat did dry extremely quickly. However, this top coat chips off in a day! I almost never see chipping on my nails, but I used this top coat 3-4 times and my polish chipped like crazy! You also have to make sure your nails are completely dry before you apply this top coat, or your nail art will smudge. I only plan on using Freedom when I am in a rush.

All in all, February was a great month as a Julep Maven! I loved both of the polishes I got, and it was fun trying the nail treatment and top coat. While I am a bit disappointed with the top coat, I still see myself using it in some occasions. I will even try the nail treatment a bit more, too! If you would like to become a Julep Maven, sign up HERE and use code FREEBOX at checkout! Your first month will be free — just pay for shipping! Julep is a fabulous program for just $19.95 per month, and you can skip any month you don’t want or cancel at any time.

Tell me what you love about Julep in the comments, and don’t forget to enter my Baby Lips Giveaway HERE!

New Subscription Service: Nail Art Society!

Posted on February 14, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Valentine’s Day! Today I have an exciting post reviewing the new monthly subscription service Nail Art Society! Similar to Julep, Nail Art Society will send you a package each month for $19.95. Inside you will find nail polish and other nail art tools that you need to create a complete manicure. If you are just getting into nail art, this is definitely the program for you. Stick around because at the end of this post I’ll let you know how to lock in your membership for just $9.95 each month!

Here is everything that came in my first Nail Art Society bag. In the first photo, from left to right, is a Cherimoya Nailed It Nail Art Pen in Black, Layla Magneffect in Turquoise Wave, a container of Swarovski crystals, and tweezers from Stella Beauty Products. There is also a card that gives you step by step instructions on how to use all of the products for the month. The second picture just highlights the other literature in the bag. On the left is detailed instructions from Layla about applying the magnetic nail polish, and on the right is a card showcasing the current nail art trends. Let me show you the manicure I created with all of these goodies!

I decided to follow the manicure idea that Nail Art Society provided subscribers with this month. First, I started off with the magnetic polish from Layla in Turquoise Wave. I was very impressed with this polish. I’ve tried one other magnetic from this line, but Turquoise Wave was much more user friendly! It is a gorgeous light, metallic blue when you first apply it, but with the magnetic effect it adds a dark dimension. The easiest way to apply this polish to to first paint one coat on all of your nails like you would normally do. Then, add a thick coat of polish to one nail and quickly turn around the brush to hold the magnet right above the nail for a few seconds. If you work quickly you will get a great result!

To complete my manicure, I used the Cherimoya Nail Art Pen to create a tiger pattern on my ring finger. Then I used the tweezers to place some of the crystals on my pointer finger in a vertical stripe. To do so, layer a think coat of top coat on your nail, and then carefully press the crystals down firmly. Follow up with another layer of top coat to finish the look!

What do you think of my manicure? It is definitely funky! I’m not sure that I would wear this every day, but it was fun to try out the look and learn some new nail art techniques. Plus, I think it is great that Nail Art Society shows you how to create a complete manicure using all of the tools they give you in the bag each month. I do wish they had included the value of everything in the bag, because when I tried to research the price of some of the products I didn’t have much luck. I do know that Layla Magneffects sell for around $15, so that’s a great value on its own!

If you like what you see, make sure to sign up for the Nail Art Society program! You can lock in your membership for $9.95 each month by using the promo code PUREICE when you sign up. I am not aware of the coupon’s expiration date, so be sure to use it before it’s too late! Simply click HERE to join!

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

My January Julep Maven Box!

Posted on February 6, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I have a review of my January Julep Maven Box. Better late than never, right? January was the month of neons and nudes over at Julep, and for the first time since I joined the program I was a bit disappointed with the polishes. Let me show you what was in my box.

Here is a quick Instagram photo of my box and its contents. I chose the It Girl style, which guarantees three nail polishes. My extras were “swatch me” stickers to put on the top of the polishes with a dab of polish, and three yoga hair ties. I love the hair ties so much and have been using them every day since I got the box! Since I was home for the holidays at the time, my mom even gave me two of hers. That was a great bonus. The polishes, on the other hand, were not as thrilling.

Up first is Amelia, what Julep calls a “light champagne frost”. This polish, as I’m sure you can tell from the photos, was just awful. I needed three coats to achieve opacity, and each layer was uneven and extremely streaky. Amelia’s formula was goopy, and hard to see during application due to its opalescent nature. It did have a nice shimmer quality to it, but this was so hard to work with I’m not sure if I would ever use it again. Amelia is the first dud I have ever received from Julep!

Nikki is the first of the two neon shades in my January box. According to Julep, Nikki is a highlighter yellow polish, but in reality is is a mix between pea soup green and mustard. I needed three coats to achieve opacity with Nikki, as it was very sheer. Formula wise I didn’t have any problems, and it actually dries really quickly. I am really disappointed with the color, as it is not neon on its own as advertised. I definitely would need a white base underneath to bring out the color. Nikki also has a satin finish instead of a creme look. Finally, it stained my nails upon removal! I’m not too happy with Nikki either.

Last but not least is Nina, a tangerine orange neon. Finally! A polish I love! Nina is opaque in two coats, and while the formula is a bit goopy, it’s not streaky and dries quickly. Nina also has a satin finish, and reminds me a bit of macaroni and cheese color. It is definitely my favorite from the box.

Overall, I was a bit disappointed with my January Julep Maven box. This was the first month since I joined the program that my polishes were not top notch. I do have to say that with all of the Juleps I’ve tried to date, I am more than okay to accept a few duds and move on. Spoiler alert: I’ve already tried the polishes from my February box, and those formulas are great quality! I still support the Maven program, and will continue to receive a box each month even after one bad experience. If you’d like to join the program for $19.99 per mont, go to the Julep website HERE. You can also get your first month for FREE with the code FREEMAVEN at checkout!

SquareHue: A New Nail Polish Subscription Service!

Posted on December 20, 2012August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! Today I have a great post for you about the brand new nail polish subscription service called SquareHue. Similar to Julep, SquareHue offers a monthly box of on-trend nail polishes. Each month, you will get three nail polishes for $21, and a portion of each sale is donated to a charity organization. In addition SquareHue polishes are three free, made in the USA, and not tested on animals. Plus, each bottle is a full size, 0.5oz polish! Let me show you the December box from SquareHue. Make sure to read the entire entry to find out how you can lock in the low monthly price of $14.99 for life!

Here is what the box looked like when I opened it! As you can see, I got a cute welcome note that was signed by all members of the SquareHue team. Plus, each polish was nestled in it’s own little cubby complete with packaging streamers. I am a sucker for great presentation! I also love that the polishes are square shaped. It makes them easy to store, and they look different from the other polishes I own! Each bottle also has a great label on the bottom that says the name of the polish and the month and date it was released.

The first polish in my December box is Sugar Plum, a gorgeous deep purple. Sugar Plum has a blue undertone, and a beautiful shimmer look. It has a great formula, and is opaque in two coats. I really like the brushes in the SquareHue polish, because the stem is short so you have more control when applying the polish, and the bristles are strong. When a polish has a great application, I automatically like it! Sugar Plum is a great purple for the winter, and a surprise color for the holiday season. I can’t wait to wear it again!

Up next is Holly Berry, the perfect Christmas red. Holly Berry is a true red full of red shimmer. This polish has the same great formula and is opaque in two coats. As my followers know, I am not a big fan of red nail polish, but Holly Berry is perfect for the holidays. I can definitely see this color being used for nail art, too. Another great thing about SquareHue polishes, is that they are long-lasting, but super easy to remove. No staining, even with the red color of Holly Berry.

The final polish in my December box is Champagne Toast, a pretty light gold color with a metallic finish. Champagne Toast reminds me of Zoya Ziv but without the burnt orange undertones. If you are looking for a more neutral gold that can be paired with many outfits, this is the polish for you! Champagne Toast was also opaque in two coats, and dried very quickly. This is also the perfect base color for glitter polishes. Maybe you’ll see it in a future post (hint hint!).

Overall, I really love the SquareHue December box! The polishes are amazing quality, and remind me quite a bit of OPI. The monthly price of SquareHue is $21, but until Monday, December 24th you can lock in the price of $14.99 per month when you enter code DECBLOGGER09 at checkout. That’s right — only $5 per polish for life! Just like Julep, you can “pause” your account if you don’t want to purchase the monthly box, or you can cancel at any time. I highly suggest signing up as soon as possible to get the discounted price! You can visit the SquareHue website HERE.

Note: SquareHue is currently sold out of January boxes, so if you order now you will receive your first box in February. They had no idea how popular the program would be! Don’t worry, as long as you sign up by December 24th you will lock in the discounted price.

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own.