Category: Nail Polish Reviews

Don’t Be Clueless: Everything You Need to Know About ncLA’s As If!

Happy Monday! Today I have a quick review of the ncLA nail polish I received in my July PopSugar MustHave Box (see that review HERE). I’ve tried a few ncLA polishes before, and I was so excited to receive another in a subscription box. Let me show you As If!

IMG_2382 IMG_2383 IMG_2385As If! is a pastel purple, or what ncLA calls a lavender creme. This polish is opaque in two coats, but due to the formula I needed three. Unfortunately As If! is a bit difficult to work with — a bit streaky and patchy. I suggest using thin coats to ensure you get a smooth finish. Despite the application, I’m quite pleased with the finished result of As If! I’m loving the color, and this polish has a high gloss finish without a top coat. There are definitely some pros and cons to this polish!

All in all, I’m not sure that ncLA’s As If! is worth the retail price of $16, but I’m not disappointed that I got it in my PopSugar MustHave Box. For now, I’ll enjoy this gorgeous color on my nails, but be sure to let me know what you think! Have you tried ncLA polishes? How did you like them? Share your thoughts in the comments!

JulieG Frosted Gumdrops in Blueberry Fizz and Crushed Candy

Happy Thursday! As you may know, I am absolutely loving the textured nail polish trend that is sweeping nail nation this season! I was so excited a couple months back when Groupon offered the entire JulieG Frosted Gumdrops Collection for just $12.99. I made sure to grab it for that fabulous price. I’ve loved the two I’ve tried from the collection so far, so I thought I would share them with you today!

IMG_1764 IMG_1768First up is Blueberry Fizz, a blue polish with specks of silver glitter. Blueberry Fizz is opaque in two coats, and has a great formula. I definitely recommend waiting for each coat to dry completely before applying another — you don’t want to drag this textured polish! As far as color goes, I love this shade of blue. It’s very close to being metallic without being too harsh of a tone. I would definitely wear Blueberry Fizz into the winter months as well as the summer!

IMG_1913 IMG_1916Next is Crushed Candy, a purple polish that also has silver glitter mixed throughout. Crushed Candy is the perfect color — it can be worn to the office, and for a girl’s night out. Plus, it has the same great formula of Blueberry Fizz and is opaque in two coats. I wore Crushed Candy for about a week this summer, and I didn’t want to take it off.

All in all, I am loving the JulieG Frosted Gumdrops Collection! I can’t wait to try out the other colors sometime soon. You can purchase JulieG polishes at your local Rite Aid store, or on Jesse’s Girl Cosmetics’ website HERE. JulieG retails for just $3.99 each! You can also grab some amazing deals on Groupon by joining HERE for free. I’ve been so impressed with the beauty deals in the Groupon Goods section lately! Let me know what you think of JulieG polishes in the comments!

 

Some of the links above are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Mint Manis for Talia Joy | #MintManisforTaliaJoy

Happy Friday! Today I am joining the nail polish community in a special memorial for YouTube star and makeup guru Talia Joy Castellano, who passed away earlier this week after losing her battle with cancer. As the last Instagram photo she posted featured a mint green manicure that she wore, today we come together and share our mint green nails to help her legacy live on. While I wasn’t able to create a new look in time for today, I am going to share some of my favorite mint green polishes. I hope you will enjoy this post, and keep Talia’s family in your thoughts. Feel free to post your mint manicure on my Facebook page HERE.

SinfulColors in Mint Apple
SinfulColors in Mint Apple
Zoya PixieDust in Vespa
Zoya PixieDust in Vespa
Cameo Colours Lacquer in Ishtar
Cameo Colours Lacquer in Ishtar
China Glaze in Keep Calm, Paint On
China Glaze in Keep Calm, Paint On
Zoya in Neely
Zoya in Neely

Limited Edition Fantastical Plumage Collection from Milani Cosmetics

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Happy Wednesday! Earlier this week I showed you the new Retro Glam Collection from Milani Cosmetics (you can see that post HERE if you missed it). Milani is also releasing a second limited edition collection this summer called Fantastical Plumage. It is packed with bright colors and has another fun glitter polish, too. Let me show you this gorgeous collection!

IMG_2246 IMG_2247First up is Scarlet Ibis, a fiery red orange polish. As with all of the polishes in this collection, Scarlet Ibis is opaque in two coats and has a great, reliable formula. I love how wearable this polish is even though it is quite bright. Since I’m not a fan of true reds, adding a hint of red to an orange is perfect. Plus, it’s very flattering. Scarlet Ibis can also make the transition from summer to fall easily.

IMG_2250 IMG_2252Next is Canary, a true yellow polish. I was actually rather impressed with Canary’s formula, since I have trouble with most yellow nail polishes. While yellow isn’t necessarily my go to shade, Canary is so pretty for summer, and can be used in a variety of nail art looks. I’m thrilled to have this yellow in my collection, and I think it would make a great addition to yours!

IMG_2257 IMG_2258Peacock is next, and it is a gorgeous dusty blue polish. This subtle light blue shade is gorgeous for any time of year, and it looks very dainty on the nails. Peacock will also go with a lot of outfits, since the blue is not too “out there”. I don’t think I have another polish like it in my stash!

IMG_2263 IMG_2264Up next is Blue Jay, a stunning cobalt blue polish. Blue Jay is just fabulous! I’m a sucker for bright blue nails, and this one does not disappoint. I can’t wait to wear this polish again, and I might even pair it with Peacock for a fun contrast.

IMG_2269 IMG_2271The last of the colors in the Fantastical Plumage Collection is Purple Martin, a light purple polish. Purple Martin is stunning, and I just love this color. Plus, the formula is amazing, and pack a high-gloss finish without a top coat. Purple Martin is definitely my favorite polish in the collection!

IMG_2275 IMG_2276Last but not least is Carnival, a black and white glitter polish. Carnival has black bar glitters, black hexagons, and white hexagons. I applied one coat to each of the colors, and I’m loving the result! I did have to use special care to ensure I got enough glitters on the brush, but it was not unmanageable. I finished up with a top coat to even the layers, and to complete my manicure.

All in all, the Fantastical Plumage from Milani Cosmetics is so much fun! The bright colors are a perfect way to finish out the summer, and even the bird-themed polish names are so cute. This collection will be available in limited quantitates in August at CVS and Meijer stores. It will also be available to purchase on Milani’s website HERE. Let me know what you think of this collection in the comments below!

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

Limited Edition Retro Glam Collection from Milani Cosmetics

Happy Monday! First, I want to give a big welcome to all of you from my new website, adventures-in-polishland.com! Please take the time to re-follow Adventures in Polishland now by adding your email in the box to the right so you receive all new blog posts. If I make it to 500 followers by the end of July, I plan on having a huge giveaway! Stay tuned for the first prize reveal on my Facebook page later this week.

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Today I have a review of the new Retro Glam Collection from Milani Cosmetics that will be hitting stores this August. I am absolutely in love with these polishes, and am always excited to feature a brand that is fabulous and affordable here on Adventures in Polishland. Let me show you these sweet polishes!

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First up is Strawberry Shake, a baby pink polish with a hint of shimmer. As with all of these polishes, Strawberry Shake is opaque in two coats and has a great formula. I suggest letting each coat dry completely to avoid dragging the polish. With that tip in mind, you will get a gorgeous, high-gloss finish. I love how cute Strawberry Shortcake is!

IMG_2286 IMG_2290Up next is Raspberry Delight, a bright pink polish. I love how pigmented this polish is, as the color is perfect for summer. Raspberry Delight is just shy of being a neon polish, so it’s great for the office as well as the summer sun. I also love that I don’t need a top coat to get a glossy finish!

IMG_2293 IMG_2295Creamy Pistachio is the next in the collection, and is a dusty mint green polish. Mint green is my all-time favorite polish color, and Creamy Pistachio doesn’t disappoint! I love that this polish is still pigmented without being too bright. Plus, it has the great Milani formula that I have come to expect.

IMG_2299 IMG_2303Next up is Mint Chip, a darker green polish. Not only is mint chocolate chip my favorite ice cream, but Mint Chip is a gorgeous nail polish! The color is stunning, and great for those who want to give green nails a first try. Mint Chip is also the perfect year-round nail color.

IMG_2305 IMG_2307Almond Bliss is the final colored polish, and is an off-white, cream color.  It is a gorgeous neutral shade that is work appropriate yet trendy at the same time. Almond Bliss is also a great base for nail art, as it is nice with many different colors.

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Last but not least is Sprinkles, a black and white glitter polish with grains, bars, and hexagons in a variety of sizes. I layered one coat of Sprinkles over each of the polishes in this collection, and I am loving the result! Sprinkles applies quite well — no fishing for glitters needed. I topped this with a top coat to even the layers, and I’m good to go! These polishes look amazing together, and I’ll be wearing this manicure for the next few days at least.

All in all, the Retro Glam Collection from Milani Cosmetics is a complete win for me! It will be released during August, and is a limited edition collection. To purchase, visit your local CVS or Meijer store, or shop on Milani’s website HERE. Also, stay tuned for a review of the complete Fantastical Plumage Collection later this week!

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. Please see my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Try it on Tuesday | Icing Hey Sailor Boy & HK Girl Top Coat

Happy Tuesday! I haven’t written a Try it on Tuesday post in quite some time! Try it on Tuesday is when nail bloggers and nail polish lovers alike try on a polish from their collection that has been sitting there untried for a great deal of time. Yesterday I decided to grab a polish called Hey Sailor Boy from the Icing, and sealed it with one of the most talked about top coats in the nail polish community, HK Girl from Glisten and Glow. Let me show you this awesome combination!

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Up first is Hey Sailor Boy! It is a gorgeous, dark blue jelly polish filled with blue micro glitter and blue and green hexagonal glitters. I received this polish as a gift, and I am so thrilled I did! Not only does Hey Sailor Boy have an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats, but it is a dupe for the beloved Deborah Lippmann Across the Universe! I just love the dimensional look with this polish — it appears to be a jelly sandwich manicure without the extra work! Hey Sailor Boy is also so shiny and glittery that my camera had a difficult time capturing its amazingness. My photos do not do this polish justice!

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To complete my manicure, I reached for the Glisten and Glow HK Girl Top Coat. I received this bottle as a gift from Jill, the owner of Glisten and Glow, for helping her judge a nail art competition, and had yet to use it. I typically use up one top coat at a time, but I was unhappy with the results I had been getting with my other top coats, so I decided to switch it up and reach for this one. I’m so glad I did! HK Girl is the shiniest top coat I’ve ever used — it looks like I got a gel manicure done at the salon! It also dries extremely quickly. The one drawback of HK Girl is that it does have a stronger odor than most nail polishes, but I’m willing to put up with that for the results I got. I was also pleasantly surprised to discover that HK Girl retails for just $6.95 on Glisten and Glow’s website HERE!  That is a very good price for an indie top coat!

All in all, I am loving my current manicure. Not only did I get to try out a polish and a top coat that have been sitting in my collection for several weeks, but Hey Sailor Boy is perfectly themed for the Fourth of July! You can stop by your local Icing store to grab a bottle of Hey Sailor Boy for just $4.50. Be sure to leave me a comment below with your favorite top coat as well!

The products in this post were given to me as gifts from two separate people. This post contains some affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Stay Bright this Summer with Priti NYC Nail Polish!

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Happy Saturday! Today I am beyond excited to review some polishes from the brand Priti NYC. In the summer months, I love wearing brightly-colored nails, so I decided to build my own summer collection by picking my favorite polishes from the Priti NYC Flowers Collection. Let me share with you these stunning, 5-free polishes, and make sure to read the entire post for an exclusive coupon code!

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First up is Fireglow, a bright orange creme. Fireglow is opaque in two coats, and has an amazing formula. I find that all of these Priti NYC polishes really glide over the nail during application for that perfect, glossy finish. I love orange nails in the summertime, and Fireglow is a fun shade. It is very wearable, and I think it would look great with almost any skin tone!

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Next up is Love Patt, a bright lime green creme. Love Patt has a great formula, but it is a bit on the sheer side. I applied three coats to achieve opacity. I am absolutely loving Love Patt! It is bright without being over-the-top, and the shade of green is just perfect. Love Patt will definitely be on my nails a lot this summer!

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Nice Gal Peony is the next polish! It is a bright pink creme, and has the perfect formula! Nice Gal Peony is opaque in two coats, and is one of my all-time favorite pink polishes. This polish is work appropriate, but super fun as well. I knew I had to include a bright pink in this post, and Nice Gal Peony is stunning!

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Last but not least is Canterbury Bells, a stunning royal blue creme. Canterbury Bells has an amazing one coat formula! That’s right, only one coat is needed to achieve opacity! I love how pigmented this polish is, and blue nails never go out of style in my opinion. I love this shade for the summer, but I think Canterbury Bells can be worn all year long, too. Plus, if you’re in a hurry this one-coater will save you some time. I was too excited about this one!

All in all, I am loving these polishes from Priti NYC! They all have fabulous formulas, and the colors are just beautiful for summer. Priti NYC nail polishes retail for $13.50 each, but you can save 10% by using the code PRITISPECIAL from now until August 1st! You can shop online HERE and follow Priti NYC on Facebook HERE. Be sure to let me know which Priti NYC polishes you grabbed for summer!

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

SinfulColors SinfulShine Nail Polish in Amazonian

Happy Tuesday! Today I’m excited to review a nail polish that is super fabulous and very affordable! SinfulColors just released a new line of nail polishes at Walgreens stores called SinfulShine. These polishes are made with gel tech for a glossy finish, and come in 32 shades. I was lucky enough to receive the color Amazonian in the Sunkissed VoxBox from Influenster. (You can learn more about Influenster HERE). Let me show you this cool nail polish!

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Amazonian is a dark green nail polish packed with green glitter and just a hint of bronze glitter. It is opaque in two coats, and I was very impressed with the formula! I suggest applying thick layers of this SinfulColors nail polish, as it will glide easier on the nail. I can definitely see the how the gel tech makes a huge difference in the polish. I didn’t apply any top coat to get the look in the photos! At first I was a bit disappointed that I got such a dark color during the summer months, but once I put on Amazonian I was pleasantly surprised with how much I love it! It’s very different from any nail polish in my collection!

All in all, I’m loving Amazonian from the SinfulColors SinfulShine collection! At just $2.99, I might have to stop by Walgreens and see the other colors. Be sure to let me know in the comments if you have tried any of the polishes from this line, and what you thought of them. Many thanks to Influenster for sending me Amazonian to review!

 

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

Simple Saturday: OPI Planks a Lot from the Pirates of the Caribbean Collection

Happy Saturday! Today I have a quick review of a beautiful purple polish from the OPI Pirates of the Caribbean Collection. Even though this collection was limited edition, I spotted this polish at my local CVS a couple months ago. I was so excited to find it, and couldn’t wait to put it on. Let me show you the stunning Planks a Lot!

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Planks a Lot is a purple creme polish that I would call a dusty purple. While it’s not quite a pastel shade, it’s definitely not a bright color. I love the color as it’s very unique, and could be worn in any season. Planks a Lot also has a flawless formula that is opaque in two coats. Even though OPI nail polish is a bit more expensive than most polishes I purchase, I find that I almost always love the formula and application. It’s nice to splurge every once in a while! I found myself staring at my nails a lot when I was wearing Planks a Lot!

All in all, I am so happy this nail polish appeared at my local CVS store! I have good luck finding discontinued OPI polishes there, so I suggest trying your luck at your CVS, too! I know that not every location carries OPI, but keep an eye out. You can also grab Planks a Lot on Amazon for an affordable price. It is currently selling for just $4.70 HERE. Hopefully I’ll be able to snag the rest of the OPI Pirates of the Caribbean Collection soon!

Color Club in Mod in Manhattan from the Wanderlust Collection

Happy Thursday! I am back with a new review today after being on vacation for two weeks and then starting a brand new job. Thanks for sticking with me through the delay! Just as an announcement, I am starting a new series called Subscription Sunday that will feature unboxings and reviews of the subscriptions services to which I subscribe. That post will be live every Sunday starting this week! As a sneak peek, I’m bringing you the nail polish I got in my June Birchbox today. Let me show you this polish from the Birchbox Exclusive Wanderlust Collection!

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Mod in Manhattan is a gorgeous off-white polish that has hints of peach in it. It has a great formula that applied well and is opaque in two coats. I applied Butter LONDON’s Hardwear to ensure a very glossy finish, but Mod in Manhattan was definitely shiny on its own. I am really loving this polish, as it is a good alternative for those who are hesitant to rock the white nail polish trend for this summer. Plus, I’m so happy I got the New York themed polish from the collection, as I live right in Manhattan! This is definitely the perfect nail polish for me at the moment.

All in all, I’m very impressed with Mod in Manhattan. It is great quality, and a great sample size to receive in my Birchbox. This polish is just one of the four that Birchbox collaborated with Color Club to create. The other three polishes represent Barcelona, London, and Paris — the other cities where Birchbox considers home. You can purchase the entire collection for just $8 on Birchbox’s website HERE. The polishes are mini size, but I think $8 is a great bargain. Let me know which Wanderlust polish you got in your Birchbox, and if you are excited for Subscription Sunday!