Category: Nail Polish Reviews

Milani Color Statement Nail Lacquer | The Sheers

The Sheers | Pinks & Purples | Greens & Blues | Earth Tones | Reds | Glitters | Quick Dry Top Coat

Happy Wednesday! Today I have the first installment of a new blog series reviewing the new Milani Color Statement Nail Lacquer line. Milani just released 37 new shades of polish that is now available at CVS stoes and online for just $3.99 each. I received the line to review for all of you, and will be sharing swatches of the polishes in a few posts in the coming days. To make things easy for you to navigate through this collection, I’ve created a header for this blog series. Once all of the posts are live, each section will be clickable and bring you straight to that blog review. Today, I’ll be showing you the four sheer polishes in the collection. These sheer polishes are perfect for layering and nail art looks, but I’m showing them to you alone today so you can see the true color payoff in each shade.

Milani – Pearl-Plexed Sheer Milani – Pearl-Plexed SheerFirst up is Pearl-Plexed Sheer, a clear polish with iridescent shimmer. I am wearing three coats of this polish in the photos above so that you can see how gorgeous and sparkly this polish is. Layer one coat of Pearl-Plexed over any polish and your manicure will be transformed into a glittery and pearlescent polish. Pearl–Plexed has a great formula as well. Let me know if you would like to see me try this polish over any specific colors and I’d be happy to do that for you!

Milani – Frenchie Sheer Milani – Frenchie SheerNext up is Frenchie Sheer, an off-white sheer polish perfect for the white tips in your French manicure. I’m wearing two coats in the photos above, and as you can see it really highlights the white part of my nails to make them look opaque. I don’t wear French manicures, but can see myself using this in nail art for sure!

IMG_6746 Milani – Lady-Like Sheer

My favorite of the sheers is Lady-Like Sheer. Milani describes this as an “antique white,” but it’s definitely a pastel pink. I’m wearing two coats in the photos above, and as you can see Lady-Like is nearly opaque! The formula is perfection, and the polish color is so beautiful. I would wear this alone any day!

Milani – Vintage Lace Sheer Milani – Vintage Lace SheerLast but not least is Vintage Lace Sheer, a sheer light pink polish. This is definitely the sheerest polish in the line. I’m wearing two coats in the photos above, and you can see my natural nails quite clearly still. Vintage Lace Sheer is great for a French manicure, or if you are looking to wear a “no nail polish” look.

All in all, the sheer polishes in the Milani Color Statement line include some great staples and some beautiful layering polishes. If you love to do DIY French manicures at home, I highly recommend these polishes. With the $3.99 price tag, they are super fabulous and affordable. You can purchase these at your local CVS store, or on Milani’s website HERE. Make sure to stay tuned to see the rest of the collection in the coming days!

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

Zoya Naturel Deux (2) Collection | Transitional 2014

Happy Monday! Earlier this year, Zoya Nail Polish released the Zoya Naturel Collection, complete with six neutral shades (see my review HERE). Today I’m here to show you six more neutral polishes in the new Naturel Deux (2) Collection transitioning us from summer to fall. Whether you’re heading back to work after summer vacation, or simply looking to put away the neons as the weather gets cooler, the Naturel Deux Collection is perfect for you!

Zoya – Spencer Zoya – Spencer First up is Spencer, a light brown polish that Zoya describes as caramel. Each of the polishes in this collection has a creme formula, and is opaque in two coats. Spencer’s formula is very good, and the shade is a bit darker than my light skin tone. I would have never picked out Spencer on my own, but it actually looks quite nice on me. I highly recommend it!

Zoya – Chanelle Zoya – ChanelleNext up is Chanelle, a medium brown polish Zoya describes as almond cream. I applied two coats for the manicure you see above, and I’m loving the result! Chanelle has a great formula that applies very smoothly. This is a perfect polish for nail art as well!

Zoya – Emilia Zoya – EmiliaThe last of the brown polishes is Emilia, a dark chocolate creme. Emilia looks so rich and is very pigmented. It looks beautiful in two, opaque coats, and would look great when combined with Chantelle in one manicure. I think Emilia would work well with any skin tone!

Zoya – Marnie Zoya – MarnieThe Naturel Deux Collection also has three purple-based shades. Marnie is first, and is a deep plum color that reminds of the ever-popular oxblood shade. Marnie screams “professional” to me, and is perfect for a fall day at the office. I’ll probably be wearing this quite a bit!

Zoya – Aubrey Zoya – AubreyNext up is Aubrey, the perfect mauve creme polish. Aubrey is one of those polishes that should be a staple in everyone’s polish collection, even if you don’t wear it often. It has a great formula, and applies really well in two coats.

Zoya – Madeline Zoya – MadelineLast but not least is my favorite polish in the collection, Madeline. Madeline is a dusty rose shade, and is absolutely stunning! The formula is great, and I love the high-shine finish. I love the pink and purple undertones, and the cool tone for fall.

All in all, I’m loving the Naturel Deux (2) Collection from Zoya! These are the perfect polishes to help you transition from summer to fall, and great for those of us that need neutral nail polish for our jobs. You can purchase the Naturel Deux (2) Collection on Zoya’s website HERE. Each polish is $9 or you can purchase the entire collection for $54. Which polish in this collection is your favorite? Let me know 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. 

Save or Splurge | White Nail Polish

Happy Wednesday! Here at Adventures in Polishland, I always love to let you know how to get the most fabulous and affordable nails. While it’s nice to splurge on occasion, I only like to spend the big bucks when it’s absolutely necessary, so I thought I would review two white nail polishes to let you know if you should splurge or save. A white polish is definitely a needed staple in every nail polish collection. Whether you’re wearing it alone, under glitter, or in a nail art look, white will always come in handy. Unfortunately, it’s very difficult to get a white polish with a perfect formula. I’ve tried at least half a dozen white polishes, and most of them are extremely streaky. Let me go ahead and show you my two favorite white polishes, both at opposite ends of the price spectrum.

Save or Splurge | White Nail PolishThe two polishes that I’ll be comparing for you are LVX Fantom ($16.00) and SinfulColors Snow Me White ($1.99).

LVX Fantom I’ve loved LVX Fantom since I first tried it out. The formula is very good. It does tend to be a bit splotchy, but it evens out to a flawless finish in two to three coats. I’ve used it several times both on its own and in nail art. It’s never done me wrong!

SinfulColors Snow Me WhiteI also picked up SinfulColors Snow Me White at the drugstore because I wanted to see if there was an affordable white that I could recommend to all of you. I’m happy to report that this polish has a good formula as well. It is definitely prone to streaking, and has a bit of a tacky feeling, but it looks just great with two coats.

Save or Splurge | White Nail Polish Save or Splurge | White Nail Polish

Here are LVX Fantom and SinfulColors Snow Me White side by side. LVX can be seen on the pinky and index fingers, with SinfulColors on the middle and pointer fingers. As you can see, there is no visible difference between these polishes at all. In fact, I would be 100% comfortable wearing this as a complete manicure!

All in all, my final verdict is that you can definitely save here, and purchase the SinfulColors Snow Me White as your go-to white polish. While I do prefer the LVX formula a bit more, it is definitely not worth the price tag if you’re on a budget. I will mention that LVX is often on sale on HauteLook for 50% off, so be on the lookout for added savings. In addition, drugstores like Walgreens and Rite Aid have sales on SinfulColors as well, so there is always an opportunity to rock fabulous and affordable nails!

Do you have a go-to white nail polish? Let me know what it is in the comments!

Manicure Monday | Wet ‘n Wild Fergie in Miami Spirit

Happy Monday! Today I thought I would share with you the nail polish that I am currently wearing as a manicure. I first got this polish, Wet ‘n Wild Fergie in Miami Spirit, two years ago when I first start blogging from fellow nail polish blogger Polish Monster. I wore it once, and then put it back into my collection where it’s hid for the past two years. I recently re-discovered this polish in my nail polish bins, so I decided to try it out again. Let me show you the gorgeous Miami Spirit!

Wet 'n Wild Fergie – Miami Spirit Wet 'n Wild Fergie – Miami SpiritMiami Spirit is a teal polish packed with teal and silver shimmer. I applied two coats to achieve opacity, and I’m impressed with the smooth and flawless formula of this polish. Miami Spirit dries to a satin finish, so it’s definitely great if you love a matte look.

Wet 'n Wild Fergie – Miami Spirit Wet 'n Wild Fergie – Miami SpiritI decided that I wanted something shiny at the moment so I reached for my Essie Good to Go top coat. I love how Miami Spirit looks with a shiny top coat! The shimmer becomes much more prominent, and I feel like I just walked out of the salon. Plus, I think this teal shade is great for summer. It reminds me of mermaids!

All in all, I’m so glad I reached for an oldie but goodie in my nail polish collection! When I first tried Miami Spirit, it was brand new in the nail polish world, but now it’s part of the Wet ‘n Wild permanent line and can be purchased at your local drugstore for just $3.49! Whether you wear Miami Spirit matte or glossy, you’ll be looking fabulous at an affordable price!

Have you tried out any polishes from the Wet ‘n Wild Fergie line? Let me know in the comments!

Milani Limited Edition Bella Blue Collection | Nails, Eyes, & Lips!

Happy Saturday! Today I’m excited to bring you a post featuring the limited edition Bella Blue Collection from Milani Cosmetics. I usually keep my makeup simple and natural, but I stepped outside of my comfort zone to test out some blue mascaras and even (gasp!) a blue lipstick! Let me go ahead and show you the Bella Blue Collection!

Milani Bella Blue Collection

NAIL POLISH

Milani – Bella BlueMilani – Bella BlueLet’s begin with the nail polish in this collection! Bella Blue is a blackened-blue polish that is packed with crystal-like blue glitters. It has a great formula that is opaque in two coats, and looks super rock ‘n roll! I wouldn’t think of this as a standard summer polish, but I love the edgy look it has. I also got compliments while wearing it! Bella Blue is definitely a hit for me in the nail polish department.

MASCARA

Milani Bella Blue Mascaras

There are also three blue-toned mascaras in this collection! Each is a bit different, so let’s take a closer look.

Milani – Bella BlueBella Blue is the first mascara, and it is a metallic, ocean blue with hints of blue and purple glitters. The formula is good, but does tend to clump up due to its metallic nature. I also found that the curl on this one is not strong on its own, so you may want to curl your lashes in advance of applying Bella Blue. As you can see, the color is definitely pigmented! I also think this shade looks amazing with my skin tone!

Milani – Mediterranean Blue Next up is my favorite of the mascaras, Mediterranean Blue. This mascara is more of a teal shade, and does not contain any glitter whatsoever. The formula is great, and very pigmented. Feel free to layer Mediterranean Blue over a black mascara if you don’t want the color to be as vivid.

Milani – Azure Last but not least is Azure, a light blue packed with opalescent sparkle. I like that the formula on Azure still applies well, and that the glitter isn’t too “disco ball.” Instead, you get a nice glimmer when the sun hits your lashes, but it’s not too noticeable otherwise. The color payoff of Azure is similar to Mediterranean Blue, but is definitely more cool-toned.

LIPS

Milani – Bella BlueMilani – Bella BlueThe final product in the Bella Blue Collection is a blue lipstick of the same name. I really like the clear packaging of this lipstick, and I was amazed when I discovered that it smells just like cinnamon rolls! Seriously, it smells amazing! I was a bit nervous to try Bella Blue, but found that I actually liked the color. It is a metallic lipstick, and looks like a bluish-purple on my lips. The formula is light and creamy, but I find that it’s not opaque and I struggled to get a clean edge. I tried Bella Blue over lip primer and with a lip liner, but it actually looks best on its own. I just wish it was opaque! What do you think?!

All in all, I think the Bella Blue Collection from Milani is super fun for summer! I, of course, love the nail polish, and the mascaras are great for a pop of color in any makeup look. You can find the Bella Blue Collection at select Walgreens, Kmart, and Fred Meyer stores this summer. Make sure to look for the limited edition displays before these products sell out!

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

L’Oreal Paris Miss Denim Limited Edition Collection | Distressed Turquoise and Jean & Tonic

Happy Monday! I was recently perusing the limited edition displays at Duane Reade and found the Miss Denim Collection by L’Oreal Paris. I absolutely love L’Oreal polishes, so when I saw some gorgeous textured creams, I knew I had to grab a couple. I decided to grab two of the pastel shades to add to my collection.

L'Oreal – Distressed Turquoise L'Oreal – Distressed Turquoise First up is Distressed Turquoise, a sky blue polish. I applied two coats to achieve opacity, and I am loving the formula! It dries amazingly fast and glides on with ease. I wore Distressed Turquoise for a few days, but did experience chipping on the second day of wear. I was a bit disappointed with that, but the good thing with textured polish is you can always add another coat and it still looks great!

L'Oreal – Jean & Tonic L'Oreal – Jean & TonicI also picked up Jean & Tonic, a deep seafoam shade that looks a bit more turquoise to me than Distressed Turquoise! Jean & Tonic also has a flawless formula that is opaque in two coats. It is more long-lasting, and I wore it for about 3-4 days before I experienced any wear. I do recommend a healthy layer of base coat with this polish, as it can stain if you don’t protect your nails. I’ve already worn this polish a few times this past month!

All in all, I am really loving the Miss Denim Collection from L’Oreal Paris! Not only do they have a great application, but they come off easily with a regular nail polish removal process – no foil needed! These polishes range from $4.99-6.49 at your local drugstore, so make sure to be on the hunt for them this summer. You don’t want to miss out on these limited edition shades if you love textured polish as much as I do!

Is there a drugstore nail polish you would like me to review on Adventures in Polishland? Let me know in the comments!

July 4th Nails with Sally Hansen Color Frenzy in Red, White & Hue!

Happy Wednesday! The Fourth of July is right around the corner, and if you’re looking to create a festive manicure without the fuss, I’ve got you covered! Sally Hansen’s new Color Frenzy line contains glitter polishes that have a mix of colors and shapes in a unique suspension formula. There are eight fun colors in the line, but the perfect one to celebrate America is called Red, White & Hue. Let me show you this fun polish!

Sally Hansen Color Frenzy – Red, White & Hue! Sally Hansen Color Frenzy – Red, White & Hue!Red, White and Hue contains (you guessed it) red, white, and blue glitters in a clear base. The glitters are hexagonally shaped, and are in small and medium sizes. I layered one coat over Zoya’s Blu to get this manicure. I am impressed with how easily the glitters in Red, White and Hue apply to the nail, and the coverage with one coat. I didn’t even apply a top coat, as the Color Frenzy base is quite shiny on its own!

Sally Hansen Color Frenzy – Red, White & Hue! Sally Hansen Color Frenzy – Red, White & Hue!I also tested Red, White and Hue over a white base. While the white glitters do blend in a bit, I like how this manicure looks as well. If you’re looking for a fun nail art look this holiday, try layering Red, White and Hue over a skittle manicure of all different polishes!

All in all, I’m loving this easy and affordable July 4th manicure! You can purchase Sally Hansen Color Frenzy polishes at your local drugstore, food store, or department store for just $5.99 each. I’m definitely going to checkout the other polishes in this collection! Let me know in the comments what manicure you’ll be wearing to celebrate America’s birthday! Feel free to use hashtag #PolishlandRWB so I can see your nails!

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

Jet Away June | Yi Kou Nail Wraps from Born Pretty Store

Happy Friday! Back in April, I tried Yi Kou Nail Wraps from Born Pretty Store for the first time (see that post HERE). I loved them so much that when I got the opportunity to review another pack, I jumped at the opportunity! I’m including this review during Jet Away June because nail wraps are the perfect choice for nail polish when you’re traveling. I’m always nervous to bring nail polish with me anywhere! I don’t want the glass bottle to break, nor do I want the polish to leak. If you’re going on a trip, nail wraps are the way to go!

Black & White Yi Kou Nail WrapsI decided to pick a black and white design from Yi Kou this time around because this color combination has been on trend throughout the spring, and now into the summer! Plus, neutral shades are perfect for traveling because they go with many different outfits. This one set of wraps can be used all at once for a complete manicure, or you can use just one, such as the heart strip, as an accent nail.

Black & White Yi Kou Wraps Black & White Yi Kou WrapsApplication is very simple – peel the strip from the protective backing, smooth it out on your nail, and use a nail file in a downward motion to trim off the excess. I always finish with a top coat to make sure the edges lay flat. It also helps to make the manicure last longer (which is always helpful when you’re away from home!). I’m really liking this black and white design! The heart is definitely my favorite, but the different patterns look fun together! I love the instant nail art look – it’s no hassle to create whatsoever! You can purchase this pattern on the Born Pretty Store for just $2.38 HERE. The design number is K1012.

All in all, nail wraps are the perfect way to keep your nails looking fabulous as you jet away this summer! You can easily pack nail wraps, and they will last you at least a full week. I also recommend nail polish remover pads such as THESE from Born Pretty Store. They are much easier to pack than a bottle of regular nail polish remover, and will take off your nail wraps if you’d like to change the design. I highly recommend the Yi Kou wraps from Born Pretty Store, as they are very affordable and some of the best quality nail wraps I’ve tried. Don’t forget to use code FZL91 to get an additional 10% off your order!

Born Pretty Store | Adventures in Polishland

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

Zoya Magical Pixie Collection for Summer 2014

Happy Tuesday! Earlier this year, Zoya released the first Magical Pixie Collection, and now there are three, brand new shades for summer. If you love glitter nail polish and textured polish, these are definitely the polishes for you. Let me show you the sparkly goodness!

Zoya – Ginni Zoya – GinniFirst up is Ginni, a baby pink that reminds me of a ballerina’s tutu! I applied two coats in the photos above, and while some of my nail line is still visible I like the coverage. I think three coats would just be too thick and chunky due to the big glitters. Ginni is such a beautiful polish, and quite wearable.

Zoya – Arlo Zoya – ArloNext up is Arlo, a pinky-purple polish and my favorite in the collection. Arlo is opaque in two coats, and is quite pigmented. I just love the color, and the holographic glitters look stunning in this base color. Look at that dimension!

Zoya – Bar Zoya – BarLast but not least is Bar, a golden nude polish. Bar is nearly opaque in two coats, and I love how the nude color really gives a sparkly manicure that is subtle yet still fancy. This polish would look awesome as an accent nail to a nude manicure.

All in all, I’m quite impressed with the entire Magical Pixie Collection for this summer. I really love Arlo, and think these polishes all have great formulas. You can purchase these polishes on Zoya’s website HERE for $10 each. Let me know which of these polishes is your favorite in the comments!

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

Products I’ve Used Up #3

Happy Sunday! It’s time for another round of products I’ve used up where I share mini reviews about all of the different products I’ve used the last couple months. I actually finished these products up a few weeks ago, but am just now getting around to posting this entry. That means another one is probably not too far behind. Nonetheless, let me share my empties with you!

 

NAIL CARE

Nail Care Empties

  • CVS Strengthening Polish Remover – I am always going through nail polish remover! This is the purple formula that you can find at the drugstore. It was alright, but I’ll be going back to normal acetone. That stuff really works!
  • Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Rockstar Pink – I went to use one of my all-time favorite nail polishes just to discover it was all dried up! What a bummer! I used this so much during my senior year of college that my suitemates knew it was my signature polish. At some point I’ll be repurchasing this. [BUY]

HAIR CARE

Hair Care Empties

  • L’Oreal Triple Resist Reinforcing Shampoo – I really love this line from L’Oreal. It’s super affordable, and my hair reacts well to it. If you are looking for a good shampoo from the drugstore, I highly recommend this line.
  • Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment – If you’ve been reading Adventures in Polishland for a while, you know I love this hair oil! I’ve repurchased it again, so I’m currently working on my third bottle. I know this is expensive, so I always buy it when I get a percent off coupon from CVS! [BUY]

MAKEUP AND MAKEUP REMOVER

Makeup Empties

  • Benefit Gimme Brow in Light/Medium – I absolutely love this eyebrow gel! It fills in your brows while keeping them groomed. I used it on days where I wanted just a bit of color on my brows. I wish it wasn’t so expensive or I would repurchase it for sure. [BUY]
  • Urban Decay De Slick Setting Spray – You can tell it took me a long time to use up my De Slick setting spray because this is the old packaging! It lasted me nearly a year, and I’ve already repurchased the All Nighter version. I definitely recommend these setting sprays! [BUY]
  • Simple Cleansing Wipes – I haven’t been using makeup remover wipes as much, but I did go through another pack of Simple wipes. They’re not my favorite, but they get the job done! [BUY]
  • Almay Lash Care Eye Makeup Remover Pads – I loved these pads! They do an excellent job of removing that stubborn mascara, and they’re very gentle. I would definitely consider repurchasing these in the future. [BUY] 

SKINCARE 

Skincare Empties

  • Bioré Deep Cleansing Pore Strips – These strips are amazing! I try to use them once per week to clean out my pores. I do recommend them, but read all of the instructions before use so you don’t damage your skin. I’m working on a new box now! [BUY]
  • Olay Fresh Effects Shine, Shine Go Away Cleanser – I got this free sample of this cleanser and I did like it, but wasn’t amazed by it. I didn’t see a huge difference in my skin when I used it, so I don’t think I’ll repurchase it. I do like the other products in the Olay Fresh Effects line, though! [BUY]

BODY CARE

Body Care Empties

  • CVS Hand Sanitizer – I always keep a small hand sanitizer in my purse or school bag. You never know when you’re going to need to clean your hands on the go!
  • Bath & Bodyworks Hand Sanitizer in Mango Paradise – I also used up the sanitizer that lives on my desk! I got this last year for free with a coupon at Bath & Bodyworks. It did smell nice, but I prefer unscented sanitizer. For that reason, I’m not going to repurchase it.
  • Lady Gage Fame Perfume Sample – I absolutely love Lady Gaga’s perfume! It smells amazing, and I’ve used up all the samples of it that I’ve gotten with Sephora orders. At some point I’ll probably purchase the full size. I highly recommend it! [BUY]
  • Philosophy Vanilla Birthday Cake Body Wash – I splurged on some Philosophy body wash a few months ago, and I’m glad I did! This one smells just like vanilla cake, and is a great treat. I would get it again during a sale event, but it’s a little expensive for every day. [BUY]
  • Dove Go Fresh Deodorant in Revive – I’ve used Dove deodorants for a long time since they are affordable and worked well for me. However, I think my body has become used to it, so I’m on the hunt for a great new deodorant. Let me know your favorite in the comments! [BUY]

And those are all of my empties for my third Products I’ve Used Up post! Please let me know what products you’ve recently used up that you are going to repurchase in the comments!

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