Category: Nail Polish Reviews

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!

Urban Outfitters Freakin Pink — My Favorite Clearance Find Ever!

Happy Tuesday! As you know, Adventures in Polishland is dedicated to fabulous and affordable nails, so I am always hunting for nail polish bargains. A few weeks back I got an email from Urban Outfitters letting me know it was time for the 50% off clearance sale. That means that everything on clearance was an additional 50% off the sale price. I headed to the nearest store and found that several nail polishes were marked down to just $0.49 with the extra discount! I had to grab a few for myself, and I am so glad I did. Let me share with you my favorite clearance find of all time!

 

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Here is Freakin Pink in all its glory! Not only is this polish a neon, bubblegum pink, but it dries to a matte finish! I surely did not expect this polish to have a matte look, but it was a fantastic surprise. Plus, Freakin Pink has an amazing formula that applies with ease. It is opaque in two coats, and doesn’t require top coat due to its unique finish. Freakin Pink is perfect for the summer and is on trend with the neon craze!

All in all, I love everything about this polish, from its bright color to its colorful name! I am beyond happy to have found this polish in the clearance section at Urban Outfitters for just $0.49, especially when the regular price is $5! Talk about fabulous and affordable nails! You can still find Freakin Pink online for the regular price as part of the Urban Outfitters Basics Collection HERE. Stop by your local store to see if you can snatch one up for a discounted price, too!

 

Zoya Irresistible Collection for Summer 2013!

Happy Wednesday! Today I have the last of the three Zoya collections for Summer 2013 to review for you. The Irresistible Collection is for the metallic-loving lady! With six gorgeous shades, this collection truly is irresistible. I am blown away with how stunning each of these nail polishes is, and I’m even happier to report that the formulas are all spot on! Let me show you these must have shades for summer.

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First up is Kerry, a golden yellow metallic polish. Kerry is opaque in two coats and has a great application. I suggest thin coats with each of these polishes, as metallic formulas can bunch up if you have too much polish on the nail. Kerry truly is a golden hue, and sparkles just beautifully. If you are looking for a great base for your next ruffian manicure, you better get Kerry!

 

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Next up is Amy, a burnt orange metallic polish. Amy is also opaque in two coats, and has the same great “irresistible” formula. This polish has a golden shimmer throughout, and is more wearable than most oranges. I think Amy will go well with any skin tone, and can work during the autumn season as well as the summer. I’m surprised at how much I love Amy on my own nails!

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Tinsely is the next polish in this collection, and is a unique rose colored shade. Tinsley is quite different, and has a duochrome feel to it. It’s not quite pink, and it’s not quite purple, but it is very pretty! I love the golden shimmer throughout this metallic finish as well. Tinsley is office appropriate, yet still fun and summery for beach days. Talk about a versatile polish!

 

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Bobbi is next, and my favorite polish in the Irresistible Collection! Bobbi is a bright, magenta polish with silver shimmer. Bobbi is opaque in two coats, and has a great formula and application. The color is just absolutely stunning, too! Bobbi is the perfect nail polish for any pink fan, and I think it can be worn all year long. I can’t wait to put this on my nails again!

 

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Next up is Hazel, a metallic polish that is a mix of blue and silver. This cool color combination creates a unique polish that is like nothing else in my collection. Plus, Hazel has an amazing formula and is opaque in two coats. Hazel is also a great transitional polish to take your nails from summer to fall. If you love blue polish, this is a must have for you!

 

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Last but not least is Rikki, a light green metallic polish. If you loved Logan from the Ornate Collection, then you will love Rikki as well! It is a lighter version of that winter favorite, and has the same great application that is opaque in two coats. Rikki also is replete with gold shimmer that truly shines in the summer sun. It is a fabulous finale to the Irresistible Collection!

All in all, I am really impressed with Zoya’s Irresistible Collection. I am not always the biggest fan of metallic polishes, but this collection changed my mind! With fabulous formulas, and beautiful colors, I think I will be grabbing for these polishes quite often. You can purchase the Irresistible Collection for $8 each on Zoya’s website HERE.

 

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

What’s Under There? Part Two

Happy Monday! Today I have another edition of What’s Under There? In this series I share with you some of the nail polishes I used as the base color for glitter manicures. You can see Part One of this series HERE, and make sure to stay tuned for new installments on a regular basis! Let me show you the polishes on today’s agenda.

 

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First up is Sally Hansen Complete Manicure in Barracuda, a beautiful pastel blue. Barracuda is a great polish that is opaque in two coats. The formula is spot on, and applies with ease. I layered Rainbow Polish in Tahitian Waters over Barracuda (see that post HERE), but it is beautiful on its own as well. The Complete Salon Manicure line is one of the more expensive collections from Sally Hansen, but it often goes on sale. Keep an eye on the weekly fliers and coupon inserts in the newspaper!

 

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Next up is Surreal Appeal from China Glaze, a vibrant red orange polish that leans towards pink. Surreal Appeal is from the Cirque du Soleil collection, and is the perfect color for summer. I needed three coats of this polish, as the formula was a bit uneven in two coats alone. Otherwise, Surreal Appeal is just a fabulous polish! I layered Different Dimension in Wish You Were Here over this polish in THIS review for a manicure with even more pop. You can find Surreal Appeal at your local beauty supple store, or on Amazon HERE (it is currently just $3.05, so snag it before the price goes up!).

 

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Last but not least is Zoya Arizona, a beautiful orange creme polish. I’ve wanted Arizona for the longest time, and when I tried it for the first time I understood why. This polish has a perfect formula that is opaque in two coats. The orange color is not too bright, but just a true orange. I used it as the base color for Different Dimension’s Comfortably Numb to create the neon look seen HERE. Arizona is such a flattering polish, and can be purchase on Zoya’s website HERE for $8.

All in all, these polishes are stunning on their own as well as layered with a glitter nail polish! I find that these shades are great for the spring and summer seasons as well, and are definitely fabulous and affordable. Let me know which of the three is your favorite!

 

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

Sport Royal Nails with butter LONDON’s Queen Vic!

Happy Friday! Today I am excited to share with you a gorgeous polish from the brand butter LONDON. If you have been searching for a color that is professional and sophisticated yet modern at the same time, Queen Vic is the polish for you! Let me show you this stunning nail polish!

 

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Queen Vic is a gorgeous deep purple polish that leans towards red. It is opaque in two coats, and has an amazing formula! I had no application issues whatsoever, and thought the long, slender brush was easy to use. Queen Vic dries to a shiny finish, so I didn’t even apply top coat! I just love the color as well. I find that it is classy, but it’s also not too “mature” for younger women to wear. Queen Vic is the perfect shade for any businesswoman that loves to stay trendy outside of the office. It is also a polish that can be worn all year round, since the color is neither too bright nor too dark.

All in all, I am loving Queen Vic from butter LONDON! It is definitely a splurge nail polish, as it retails for $15, but I think this is definitely a great polish to pay a little extra for. I will be sure to get a lot of use from this beautiful color, and feel royal while wearing it! You can purchase Queen Vic directly from butter LONDON HERE, or on Amazon HERE.

 

The product in this post was sent for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. Some of the above links are affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Policy for more information.