Nail Polish Reviews – Page 23 – Adventures in Polishland

Category: Nail Polish Reviews

New Milani High Speed Fast Dry Nail Lacquer for 2014

Posted on February 5, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Not only is Milani releasing the amazing Gold Label Specialty Nail Lacquers this month, but there are also three, brand new colors in the High Speed Fast Dry line. These polishes are designed to be a full coverage, one coat formula. I first tried this line back in March (see that post HERE), and I was so excited when I saw the new colors. Let me show you the three new shades for 2014!

First up is Aqua Brisk, a bright aqua creme polish. Aqua Brisk is definitely a perfect, one coat formula. I’m really impressed that such a light colored shade is so opaque in one coat! Plus, the bright color is beautiful and right up my alley. I’m obsessing over Aqua Brisk for sure!

Next up is Sangria Rush, a deep berry creme polish. Sangria Rush is also a one coat formula, living up to Milani’s claim! This polish is definitely a rich shade, and very on trend for this winter. I see a lot of women rocking polishes like Sangria Rush around NYC!

Last but not least is Blue Zoom, an electric blue creme polish. Blue Zoom is a polish after my heart. I just love bright blue nail polishes, and this one is amazing! Blue Zoom is a true one coater, and I can’t get enough of it. With its high-shine finish, I won’t even need to worry about top coat!

All in all, I am loving these new High Speed Fast Dry polishes from Milani! They are all truly one coat formulas, and the colors are just beautiful. They are available at CVS stores for just $4.69 each. You can also purchase them on Milani’s website HERE. Have you tried any polishes from this line? If so, let me know what you think 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.

New Milani Gold Label Specialty Nail Lacquer for 2014 | Part 2 of 2

Posted on January 26, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Sunday! Today I have part two of the new Milani Gold Labels to share with all of you. If you missed the bright creme shades, make sure you check them out HERE! Each of the creme shades has a corresponding glitter top coat that goes along with it. Of course, they can be mixed and matched, but I decided to review them as a pair. Each manicure in this post is sealed with butter LONDON’s Hardwear Topcoat, and features one coat of glitter. Let me show you these gorgeous glitters!

First up is Sugar Coated layered over Showy Sea-Green. Sugar Coated has lime green bar glitters and lime hexagons in both small and medium sizes. There is also a sprinkling of holographic glitter mixed throughout for an added sparkle. I’m really impressed with the amount of glitters that apply to the nail in one coat. The mono-color effect is really unique as well!

Next up is Sugar Rush over Popping Pink. Sugar Rush contains medium hexagonal glitters in lime green, peach, white, and mirrored silver. The glitters apply to the nail with ease, and this is one of my favorite polish combinations in the collection. I just love how fun this manicure is!

The pink version of Sugar Coated is Sugar Burst! I have one coat layered over Splendid Strawberry, and this is a great combination. No fishing for glitters needed, and I love the light pink glitters and holographic sparkle over a brighter pink shade. This manicure is perfect for Valentine’s Day!

Next up is Sugar High layered over Colorful Coral. Sugar High contains small hexagonal glitters in dark blue, light blue, peach, yellow, and bright pink. This mix of colors looks great over an orange shade, and can definitely be used over a lot of different polishes for a new look every time. I also love the amount of glitters I can get with just one coat of Sugar High!

The most unique polish in this collection is Sugar Cane. I have Sugar Cane layered over Vivid Violet. This glitter top coat contains blue and pink bar glitters, and small, medium, and large white hexagons. I did have to fish for the large hexagons, but the other glitters applied with ease. In fact, I got tons of bar glitters! Sugar Cane is really funky, and I definitely have nothing else like it!

Last but not least is Sugar Rim, which I layered over Power Periwinkle. Sugar Rim contains red, yellow, and black grains, small light blue hexagons, and silver shards. I do wish that the silver shards were easier to get onto the nail, but otherwise this is an awesome glitter polish. I can see myself wearing this manicure more in the future for sure!

All in all, the glitters from the new Milani Gold Labels are just as awesome as the brights. I honestly cannot speak highly enough of this collection, especially of the $4.69 price tag. These polishes are definitely fabulous and affordable, and can be combined in a variety of ways. All the Milani Gold Label Specialty Nail Lacquers will be available at CVS starting in February. Let me know which of these polishes is your favorite in the comments!

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

New Milani Gold Label Specialty Nail Lacquer for 2014 | Part 1 of 2

Posted on January 24, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! With the new year comes new nail polishes, and I am just drooling over the new Milani releases. I will have several Milani posts for you in the coming days, but first up is part one of the Gold Label Specialty Nail Lacquers. I am seriously loving all of these bright, creme shades. Let’s jump right into the polishes!

First up is Showy Sea-Green, a true green nail polish. Showy Sea-Green is a mix of sea foam green and tree green for me, but whatever the hue, I’m loving this polish! The formula is good, and opaque in two coats. I am a huge green nail polish fan, and I can’t wait to wear this one throughout the spring and summer.

Next up is Popping Pink, a neon pink polish. Popping Pink is beyond flawless. The formula is great, it’s opaque in two coats, and the color is amazing! I might be a bit obsessed with neon pink, but if you are, too, Popping Pink is a must! I can guarantee you that this is my new go-to polish.

Splendid Strawberry is also a bright pink, but with a bit more of a red pigmentation to it. Just like all these polishes, Splendid Strawberry has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. It really stands out against my fair skin tone, and I think Splendid Strawberry would look great on anyone!

If you love orange nails, check out Colorful Coral! This is a bright orange polish with an excellent formula. It’s opaque in two coats, and is super cheerful. Colorful Coral is definitely a wearable orange shade. Plus, it’s perfect for nail art!

Next up is Vivid Violet, a bright, lilac purple polish. Vivid Violet has a great formula, and is opaque in two coats. I love that a lighter hued purple is turned into a bright shade with this polish. While I love pastels, it’s nice to have a sharp lilac shade, too. Vivid Violet is a great addition to any polish collection!

Last but not least is Power Periwinkle, a gorgeous periwinkle blue polish. Power Periwinkle’s formula is amazing, and applies like a dream. I used two coats, and I’m loving it! Just like Vivid Violet, Milani has turned a usually pastel shade into a bright color. Power Periwinkle is great for the colder months, as well as the spring and summer!

All in all, I am really impressed with these new Milani Gold Labels. Not only are the formulas awesome, but the colors are right up my alley. If you love brights as much as I do, these are a great addition to your collection. These polishes will be available at CVS stores starting in February for just $4.69 each. Stay tuned for part two of this collection, and other Milani beauties!

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

Review & Giveaway | Chrome Girl Nail Lacquer

Posted on January 20, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! I’ve partnered up with the awesome online retailer Planet Beauty to bring you another great review and giveaway. This time I’m showcasing a new-to-me nail polish brand called Chrome Girl. Launched in February of 2013 by two girlfriends, Chrome Girl is 4-Free and Made in the USA. Let me show you these beautiful polishes, and stay tuned for the giveaway at the end!

First, I wanted to highlight the Chrome Girl bottles. I love the rectangular shape, and despite looking smaller than your average bottle, these are full size at 0.5oz. These bottles are going to be so easy to store, and I even love the silver font on the front. Packaging isn’t the most important thing about nail polish, of course, but I’m loving the unique Chrome Girl bottles.

The first Chrome Girl I tried is 2gether Forevs, a lilac purple creme polish. 2gether Forevs has a dream formula that is opaque in two coats. I wore this polish for four days without top coat and only experienced slight tip wear. I highly recommend 2gether Forevs for sure!

Next up is Pucker Up, a bright pink creme polish. Pucker Up also has an amazing formula, and I applied two coats to achieve opacity. While not a very unique shade, I don’t think you can ever go wrong with a bright pink. I own quite a few in my collection, and I’m so glad to add this to the pile! Plus, it’s a great Valentine’s Day color!

Last but not least is Birthday Suit, a pastel pink creme polish. Birthday Suit has a good formula, and I suggest careful application to avoid any streaking since this shade is so light. I applied two coats to achieve opacity, and I’m liking the result! Birthday Suit reminds me of a ballerina, and I think it’s so feminine. If you’re looking for a great, work appropriate polish, I think Birthday Suit is a great choice!

GIVEAWAY

Planet Beauty is kindly sponsoring a giveaway! One of you will win three Chrome Girl polishes. Please read the Terms & Conditions in the Rafflecopter widget below before entering. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Chrome Girl polishes can be purchased on Planet Beauty’s website HERE for $10 each. For a limited time, all orders over $34 receive free shipping throughout the United States!

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.

My First Manicure in 2014 featuring JulieG Silver Bells!

Posted on January 8, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! I’m back today with a new blog post after not polishing my nails for over two weeks! The holidays were just so busy that once I took off my old manicure, I decided to take a bit of a polish break. Soon I’ll be testing out all sorts of new polish goodies for the new year, but to break my polish hiatus, I grabbed one of the Holiday Frosted Gumdrops from JulieG. Let me share my first manicure of 2014 with you!

JulieG Silver Bells is a silver nail polish with silver glitters and a textured finish. The formula was good and manageable, but a bit on the thick side. I suggest three thin coats for full opacity, as I wore for my manicure. Silver Bells dries very quickly, and looks stunning! I’m not usually a huge silver nail polish fan, but the sparkle in Silver Bells makes it wearable and perfect for winter.

All in all, I’m really liking Silver Bells, and I’m glad it got me out of my nail polish funk! I’m excited for the coming year, and can’t wait to continue trying and testing more nail polish and beauty products. I hope you’ll join me on my Adventures in Polishland as I soar into my second year of blogging!

You can purchase JulieG polishes for $3.99 at your local Rite Aid or on the Jesse’s Girl website HERE. I purchased mine from Groupon!

My New Year’s Beauty Resolutions for 2014!

Posted on January 1, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday, and Happy New Year! Today I’ll be sharing my New Year’s Beauty Resolutions with you, and encourage you to participate as well. Whether it’s budgeting money, taking better care of your skin, or simply trying out some new products, New Year’s is the perfect time to set some goals for the year ahead, even when it comes to beauty. Let’s celebrate the start of 2014 together with some beauty resolutions! Make sure to stay tuned to the end of this post to learn how you can get involved, and share your resolutions with the beauty community!

MY BEAUTY RESOLUTIONS

Always Remove Makeup Before Bed

I’m usually pretty good about removing any makeup I’m wearing before bed, but there are those nights when I find myself under the covers ready to catch some z’s and I’m not getting up again to wash my face. While I know it’s best to go through a complete nighttime skincare routine, I’m pledging to at the very least use makeup remover wipes to get makeup off my face before bed. Did you know that for every night you don’t remove makeup your skin ages 30 days? I’m combatting that with PONDS Evening Soothe Wet Cleansing Towelettes at the moment.

Take Better Care of My Hands and Cuticles

Despite being a nail polish blogger, my hands are far from perfect! My cuticles deserve some extra TLC, so I’m hoping to get moisturized this winter and stay that way throughout 2014. I received this Burt’s Bees Honey & Grapeseed Hand Cream as a gift, and it’s the perfect product to help me begin taking care of my hands. It smells great, and is 99% natural!

Use an Eye Cream in My Skincare Routine

I’ve received a few eye creams as samples in the past, but I recently purchased this full size tube of First Aid Beauty 5 in 1 Eye Cream. I may be a bit young to start an anti-aging skincare routine, but I’ve noticed that I do have a lot of wrinkles under my eyes, and that is most likely due to dryness. I’m hoping this cream will help take care of that sensitive area that I’ve been neglecting.

Floss Teeth Daily

A beautiful smile starts with healthy teeth! I think many of us are guilty of not flossing daily, and that is going to stop. I’m grabbing this floss that I already have, Reach Cleanburst, and starting a new daily flossing routine!

Reorganize My Nail Polish Collection and Try the Untrieds

Last but not least, I want to tackle my nail polish collection! I’ve let it get all jumbled and disorganized the past several months, and I hope to go through it, weed out the polishes I don’t want, and try all of my untrieds. Above is a photo of just a few untried polishes I have laying around. Keep an eye out on my blog – you’ll probably see them soon!

SHARE YOUR BEAUTY RESOLUTIONS!

I hope you enjoyed hearing about my New Year’s Beauty Resolutions for 2014! Now it’s your turn! Share your resolutions with me in the comments, or use hashtag #NewYearsBeautyResolutions on social media so I can see your posts. If you’re a blogger, you can add your link to the inlinkz widget below. Let’s start a movement of positivity in the beauty community as we ring in 2014! Happy New Year!

Julep Lena: The Wear Test

Posted on December 30, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Julep Lena: The Wear Test

Happy Monday! Today I’m doing something a bit different, and that is a true wear test of one of my polishes. I recently posted about my experience at the Julep Pop-Up Store in NYC (see that post HERE), and I received a couple comments warning me that Julep Lena is a stainer. I was quite surprised to hear that news, so I decided to put my nails to the test! Let me share my experiment with you, and how it turned out!

My experiment began with two base coats – Sally Hansen Double Duty and Sephora Collection. I used Sally Hansen Double Duty on my right hand as a control, and then painted my left hand as follows: one coat Sally Hansen, two coats Sally Hansen, one coat Sephora, and two coats Sephora (I wore one coat of Sally Hansen on my thumb). Because one of my commenters mentioned that she used two coats of base coat, I wanted to do the same to see if it made a difference. Once my base coat was completely dry (a very important step!), I applied Lena in two coats.

After three full days of wear with no top coat, I had slight tip wear and just one substantial chip in my manicure. I was a bit nervous to take off my polish, but to continue my experiment I grabbed two removers to test out as well – CVS Strengthening Polish Remover and Julep Acetone Free Conditioning Nail Polish Remover. I used the CVS remover on my control hand, and the Julep remover on the experiment hand. Are you ready to see the results?!

Ta da! No staining at all! The only places you can even see remnants of the polish are under the nail on my ring finger (where I accidentally got polish stuck during application) as well as a tiny bit on the ring finger’s cuticle. Other than that, I did not experience any staining whatsoever, and both nail polish removers worked equally as well. I am thrilled with the result, and glad I don’t have any stained nails!

All in all, my Julep Lena wear test turned out well! Of course, I’m not 100% sure why others experienced staining, but it could be due to an old formulation, body chemistry, or even the type of base coat. Whatever the case may be, you should be safe to wear Lena with either of the base coats I mentioned. My biggest tip is to just make sure it is completely dry before applying Lena. You always want to have a strong, impenetrable base for your color no matter what polish you’re using. Please be sure to let me know in the comments if you’ve tried Lena, and what your result was. Also, if there are any polishes that you want me to do a wear test on, let me know that as well!

Zoya Nail Polish Naturel Collection for 2014

Posted on December 28, 2013May 23, 2020 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I’m excited to share with you the Zoya Nail Polish Naturel Collection! This six-piece collection is replete with natural, rose-toned neutrals that are subdued yet stunning. If you’re looking for the perfect neutral polishes, the Naturel Collection is sure to be for you! Let me show you these beautiful polishes!

Zoya Naturel Collection

First up is Chantal, what Zoya describes as a “French Vanilla” shade. Chantal has a good formula that is opaque in two coats. I painted carefully to avoid streaking, and finished up with a glossy topcoat. The result is a flawless finish! I’m quite impressed with Chantal, and I know this polish will be perfect for nail art as well as a day in the office.

Next up is Taylor, a beige polish that is just a bit darker than Chantal. Taylor has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. It’s nearly the same color as my skin tone as well! If you are looking for something subtle and chic, Taylor is a fabulous pick.

Zoya Rue is up next, and it is a beautiful blush pink shade. I’m not sure if I just have a soft spot for the name Rue because of The Hunger Games, or if this polish really is that amazing (reality: both are true!). Rue’s formula is absolute perfection, and the color is just so dainty and feminine. I think Rue is my favorite in the Naturel Collection!

Next up is Brigette, a light mauve polish that is just a bit darker than Rue. Brigette also has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats. Plus, the pigmentation is just right. You really can’t go wrong with Brigette!

Odette is the next polish in the Naturel Collection, and is a stunning orchid shade. Odette’s formula is fabulous, and (you guessed it) is opaque in two coats. I am just loving this purple shade, and would definitely wear this on a daily basis.

Last but not least is Normani, a brown-toned mauve polish. Normani is so unique in color, and has a great creme formula. I truly have nothing else like this in my polish collection! Normani is also a shade that I think would look good on everyone!

All in all, I am very impressed with the Zoya Naturel Collection. Not only do these shades work well individually, but they can be worn together in a number of combinations. You can purchase the Naturel Collection on Zoya’s website HERE for $9 each or $54 for the complete collection. Let me know what you think of these polishes 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.

Feminine Fall Manicure Set from ShopLately!

Posted on December 26, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! Today I am very excited to share with you a shopping website that is brand new to me. It’s called ShopLately, and it’s part social network and part online boutique. I first heard about the site through some of my favorite YouTubers, and had to check it out for myself. Let me tell you a bit more about ShopLately, and show you what I ordered!

The ShopLately shopping experience is lots of fun! The website allows you to browse through products, or search for something specific. If you like something, simply click the heart button, and the product will be saved to your ShopLately profile. That way you never lose track of the items you love! ShopLately also features a number of great boutiques. Of course, my first order from the site had to be nail polish, so I grabbed a manicure set from the boutique Glint & Gleam.

I was so excited when my order arrived! Not only did I get it just four days after I placed the order, but it came packaged really well and I got a free gift! Imagine my surprise when I opened the box and found this cool necklace inside as well. I would have never picked it out for myself, but I’m excited to see what I can pair with it.

The item I ordered is called the Feminine Fall Manicure Set. For $17, I got a 4-step nail buffer, Miss Adoro French Manicure stickers, and two NYX polishes. I’ve never tried anything from these brands before, so I couldn’t wait to test these products out!

First up is NYX Nude Taupe, a beige polish with a creme finish. I am rather impressed with this polish! It has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. The brush is also large and flat, which makes application smooth and easy. I surprisingly like the color as well!

Unfortunately, the Miss Adoro French Tip stickers were a bit of a flop for me. I attempted to create a gorgeous and glittery French manicure, but the darn strips just wouldn’t file as they should! The glitter was just way too think for the file to cut through. As you can see in the second photo, I was really trying to make these work. Alas, I tried to make the best of a bad situation and went for a half moon manicure instead. It looks somewhat decent, but the edges are not clean because of the filing incident. I was definitely disappointed!

Luckily, the other NYX polish in the set was super amazing! Femme is a light purple metallic polish. The formula is absolute perfection, and is opaque in two coats. I just love the unique mix of purple and silver in the polish, and the way Femme shines in the light. I have nothing else like this in my polish collection!

All in all, while I was disappointed with the Miss Adoro stickers, I am loving the two NYX polishes and the nail buffer. Glint & Gleam has definitely won me over with its great packaging and free necklace as well! I’m definitely going to do some more ShopLately shopping in the near future. I think my next purchase will be from the indie nail polish brand GlitterDaze, or Manna Kadar Cosmetics (you know I love her line!).

You can join me on ShopLately by signing up HERE today! For a limited time if you sign up with your Facebook credentials, you’ll get a $10 credit! To check out my ShopLately profile and see the products I’m loving, click HERE. Be sure to let me know what you think of ShopLately in the comments!

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.

Subscription Sunday | Julep Cynthia (The Best Things Really Are Free!)

Posted on December 22, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! Today I am excited to share with you a polish that I got completely free! As you know, I’m a member of the Julep Maven subscription program. Julep has a new incentive – if you get your Maven box three months in a row, they’ll give you a free nail polish! Let me show you the polish I picked as my freebie!

Cynthia is a beige nail polish mixed with holographic glitter. It has a great formula that is opaque in two coats, and dries to a satin finish. I knew Cynthia would be a unique polish, and it does not disappoint! I’ve worn it twice already since I got it, and even my friends at school commented on how much they liked it! In the photos above I’m not wearing a top coat, but if you want a glossy finish go ahead and layer that on.

All in all, I’m really impressed with Julep Cynthia! It is unlike anything else in my collection! You can purchase Cynthia on Julep’s website HERE. Maven members will pay the discounted price of $11.20 and receive free shipping. If you’re not a Maven yet, what are you waiting for?! You get a box of nail polish and beauty products for just $19.95 per month, and you can try your first month FREE with code FREEBOX at checkout (just pay shipping). Stay tuned for more Julep posts on Subscription Sunday!

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