Category: Nail Polish Reviews

Red and Gold Holiday Nails featuring Zoya Nail Polish Cherri and Holo Taco Gold Flake Taco

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

The holiday season can be a busy time of year, so I like to keep my manicures quick and easy while still being festive. One of my favorite ways to dress up any cream nail polish is by adding a glitter top coat. This week I wore a beautiful red and gold combination featuring polishes from Zoya Nail Polish and Holo Taco. Let me show you how I got a holiday look with just two nail polishes!

Some of the products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. This post includes a referral link. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

I began my manicure with Cherri from the Zoya Magical Collection. This is a red cream nail polish that is opaque in two coats. This is a nice Christmas red, as it has blue undertones making it pigmented and bright. You can use any red nail polish in your stash, but if you would like to buy Cherri, you can use my referral link to save $5.00 on your first Zoya purchase.

I then added one coat of Holo Taco Gold Flake Taco. This is a clear base with gold tone metallic flakes. Back in the day, I owned a similar polish from the now defunct line Sephora by OPI. I even wrote an entire blog post about it in 2012 after finding it on sale! I must have decluttered that polish at some point, but really wanted a similar option. I’m really loving Gold Flake Taco! It may not be real gold, but it looks just as stunning.

As you can see, the Gold Flake Taco really dresses up my red nail polish base of Cherri. This manicure is simple to apply, but gives a festive look for the holiday season. Whether you are headed to a Christmas party, or staying cozy at home, your nails will look absolutely fabulous! Plus, I’m excited to try out more combinations using Gold Flake Taco during all seasons of the year.

Top 5 Christmas Nail Polishes for the Holiday Season

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Black Friday! Today I am excited to share five of my favorite cruelty free and vegan nail polishes to wear during the holiday season. Whether you like to stick to traditional cream formulas, or add some sparkle and shine to your manicure, this post will have a polish for you! All of the products featured in this post are currently available on the Zoya Nail Polish website. You can save $5.00 off your first order using my referral link here.

The products in this post were originally provided for my unbiased review. This post includes a referral link. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Zoya Venus

First up is Venus from the new Enamored Collection from Fall 2023. This beautiful red nail polish with holographic glitters is what inspired this blog post. I absolutely fell in love with Venus as soon as I put it on my nails. The formula applies beautifully in two coats, and I just love how sparkly it is! This polish screams holiday season to me, and I cannot wait to wear it again in time for Christmas.

Next up is Wyatt, a green cream polish from the Urban Grunge Collection. I really like this deep shade of green. It feels a bit more elevated, and this nail polish will look fabulous with many holiday outfits. Wyatt has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. I wore it last year on Christmas with another polish on this list!

If you’re looking for something other than red and green, I highly recommend Alicia, also from the Urban Grunge Collection. This is a silver linear holographic polish. The formula is a bit sheer, so I applied three coats for an opaque look. Alicia is the perfect polish to take you right through New Year’s Eve!

Zoya - Mila

Of course, many of us love reaching for the perfect red nail polish during the holidays. My go to choice is Mila from the Nostalgic Collection. Mila has a cream formula and is opaque in two coats. The deep shade is a bit different than the classic bright red, but I like how sophisticated this more vampy shade looks on my nails. Mila is the other polish I wore with Wyatt last Christmas!

Last but not least is Elphie, a PixieDust formula from the Enchanted Collection. This emerald green shade has a textured formula that is opaque in two coats. It also has a hint of sparkle and dries to a matte finish. Elphie is a unique polish that looks really fancy without any added effort during the manicure process. Your friends and family will most likely ask what’s on your nails when they see this stunning polish!

Easy Christmas Manicures

I hope you found this post featuring five of my favorite Christmassy nail polishes helpful. These polishes can be worn alone, or you can mix and match to create fun nail art designs. The holidays are a busy time of year, but having festive fingernails always puts a smile on my face!

What are your favorite Christmas nail polishes?

Let me know in the comments!

Zoya Nail Polish Amaris | November Color of the Month

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Zoya Nail Polish launched a new initiative in June 2023 called the Color of the Month. Each month, Zoya releases a brand new nail polish shade that is available while quantities last. If you purchase the Color of the Month for $12.00 and use the dedicated promo code, you also get free shipping on your entire order. To my surprise, Zoya sent me the November Color of the Month, Amaris. I immediately put it on my nails, and am excited to share my thoughts with you!

Zoya Nail Polish Amaris November Color of the Month

The product in this post was provided to me complimentary by the brand. This post includes a referral link. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Zoya Amaris
Zoya Amaris

Amaris is what Zoya describes as a swirling nebula of blue and green with holographic glitters. I applied two coats to achieve opacity. The formula is on the thick side since it is so packed with glitters. I applied a healthy amount of polish to the base of my nail, and then carefully spread it out with the brush to get an even layer. I finished the manicure by using two layers of the Zoya Naked Manicure Ultra Glossy Seal Top Coat. The first layer helps to even out the glitter, and the second gives more of the glossy shine. The above photos were taken in artificial light, and you can still see how dimensional the holo glitters are!

Zoya November Color of the Month Amaris

Here is a photo of Amaris in natural lighting after a few days of wear. I love the celestial look of this nail polish! I definitely recommend wrapping the tip of your nails to extend the wear of this glitter nail polish. That means painting slightly over the edge of your nail to the underside. Wrapping the nail helps reduce chipping, allowing your manicure to last just a bit longer.

Amaris is available on Zoya’s website through the month of November. You can use code CTM77 to get free shipping on your entire order when you purchase Amaris for $12.00. If you are a new Zoya customer, you can use my referral link to save $5.00 on your first purchase. I think the Color of the Month is a fun way to try out new nail polish shades from one of my go to brands, and I’m excited to see what will be released in the coming months!

Zoya Nail Polish Y2K Collection | Swatches + Review

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Today I am excited to share swatches and a full review of the Zoya Nail Polish Y2K Collection for Winter/Holiday 2022. This trio features liquid holographic jelly formulas designed to bring us back to the early 2000s era. I find these polishes so much fun, and was reminded of sleepover parties growing up when we would listen to pop music on CDs and use roll-on glitter until we sparkled all over. Even if you’re not nostalgic about the Y2K era, this Zoya collection is a lot of fun for any age!

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

I swatched the nail polishes in this post over the Holo Taco Peely Base, and sealed in each manicure with the Zoya Naked Manicure Glossy Seal Top Coat. The swatches are all photographed in natural lighting.

Sparrow

First up is Sparrow, a bright cyan blue jelly nail polish with holographic glitters. I applied three coats to achieve opacity. I recommend applying thin layers of each polish and letting them dry completely between coats so that you don’t drag the jelly consistency during application. Sparrow is such a beautiful color, and I love how the glitters pop!

Malana

Next up is Malana, a bubblegum pink jelly polish with holographic glitters. I again applied three coats to achieve opacity with this polish, and I love the result! I’ve always loved bright pink nails, and to have the glitter built into Malana makes it so much fun.

Tamiah

Last but not least is Tamiah, a grape purple jelly polish with holographic glitters. I applied three coats of Tamiah to get full coverage. I do like this purple shade, but I wish the purple was a bit brighter on the nails. I would consider layering this over a more pigmented purple for a bit more oomph!

Zoya Y2K Trio Over Black Nail Polish

One of my favorite things about jelly formulas is that they can be used in a variety of ways. I decided to layer one coat of each polish in the Y2K Collection over black to see how they would work as toppers. I love the unique galaxy, duochrome result of each polish! I even did a bit of abstract nail art on my ring finger with little swipes of all three polishes. It’s so fun to experiment with jellies!

All in all, the Zoya Nail Polish Y2K Collection is a unique trio of polishes that I really enjoyed trying. I think this is a great gift idea for the younger nail polish lovers on your holiday list, but of course any holo glitter fan will find this fun! You can purchase these cruelty free and vegan nail polishes on the Zoya website for $12.00 each.

Blue Ombré Skittle Manicure featuring Holo Taco Everything Taco

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

After missing out on the first two launches, I finally snagged a bottle of the coveted Everything Taco from Holo Taco. I placed my order on a Monday, and to my happy surprise my new nail polish arrived that Thursday. Of course, I had to get this unique, special effects topper on my nails as soon as possible. What better way to wear it with than my favorite nail polish color, blue. I grabbed five blue nail polishes from Zoya Nail Polish in my collection, and came up with a blue ombré skittle manicure that I’m excited to share with you today.

Zoya Nail Polish Blue Cream Nail Polishes

The Zoya polishes in this post were provided for my unbiased review. This post includes affiliate links. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

My first step in creating this manicure was choosing the blue nail polishes for the ombré. Unsurprisingly, I had many options in my collection. I decided to go with more muted blue shades. From left to right, I chose Zoya Blu, Zoya Val, Zoya Austin, Zoya Brett, and Zoya Ryan. It looks like Brett is no longer available for sale, but you can use whatever polishes you have on hand as long as you get an ombré effect.

Blue Ombré Manicure featuring Holo Taco Everything Taco

To create my manicure, I began with Holo Taco Long Lasting Base. I then applied two coats of each cream polish, and let my nails dry. Next up I added one coat of Holo Taco Everything Taco. This nail polish topper is so much fun! It has a mix of iridescent flakie Unicorn Skins, as well as holographic glitters. It truly combines everything that Holo Taco has to offer when it comes to special effects toppers!

Holo Taco Everything Taco Review by Adventures in Polishland

Not only do I love how blingy Everything Taco looks on the nails, but I love how user friendly it is. I remember back when I started this blog, one thing often discussed in the nail polish community was “fishing for glitters.” There is absolutely no fishing with Everything Taco. All of the glitters apply easily onto the nails without any effort during application. Holo Taco has truly perfected the glitter nail polish topper!

Blue Ombre Manicure with Everything Taco

Last but not least, I applied two coats of Holo Taco Super Glossy Taco to seal in my manicure. I like using one coat to even out all the glitters, and the second for that smooth, glass-like shine. I am absolutely loving the result! I may have missed Everything Taco during its first two releases, but third time was the charm, and I cannot wait to use this polish over and over again.

Follow me on Instagram @adventuresinpolishland for more!

#ManicureMonday | Green Iridescent Nails with Holo Glitter

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I’m excited to share with you the green iridescent manicure I wore last week. This nail polish look is a combination of a cream polish, a special effects topper, and a glitter topper. I’ve had so much fun layering nail polishes lately. Not only does it give me the opportunity to get more wear out of the polishes in my collection, but each manicure is quite unique. Today I’ll be sharing with you the polishes I used to achieve a sparkly and iridescent look, as well as point out a dupe for a now discontinued product.

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Chlorophyll

Some of the products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. This post includes affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

I began my manicure with two coats of Chlorophyll from the now defunct brand Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics. This is a teal green nail polish with a cream formula. If you are looking for something similar, a great option is Zoya Cecelia. It’s too bad OCC went out of business, because I really love the formula of their polishes. I’ve had Chlorophyll for nearly a decade now, and it still applies wonderfully.

Zoya Leia

Once Chlorophyll was dry, I added a coat of Zoya Leia. Leia is a sheer opalescent polish with flecks of fuchsia, green, and gold. It is such a beautiful, shimmery polish that reflects in the light. I will 100% admit that I reached for Leia this week because Holo Taco released the Winter Shimmers Collection, and I wanted to see if I had a similar option in my stash. This gives me Celestial Lights vibes for sure!

I finished the manicure by adding one coat of Holo Taco Flakie Holo Taco. I use this polish so often that I will probably be repurchasing it before the end of the year! It levels up nearly every manicure, and I just love the rainbow sparkle. You can really see how the look pops once I add this glitter topper. If you are looking for a versatile holo glitter, I highly recommend this one. Of course, I sealed in the look with two coats of Holo Taco Super Glossy Taco for a glass-like finish.

Tag me in your #ManicureMonday posts on Instagram @adventuresinpolishland!

Zoya Nail Polish Nostalgic Collection | Swatches + Review

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Today I have swatches and a full review of the Zoya Nail Polish Nostalgic Collection. This collection was released in the fall of 2021, and includes six cream polishes designed to be a modern take on classic favorite shades. While at first I was quite surprised that this collection was all cream formulas, once I got the polishes I could see how beautifully they worked together and individually. Let me share my thoughts on the Nostalgic Collection with all of you!

Zoya Nostalgic Collection Swatches and Review

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

I swatched all of the nail polishes in this post over the Holo Taco Peely Base, and I applied the Zoya Naked Manicure Glossy Seal Top Coat on top for a glossy finish. As always, the photos are taken in natural lighting.

Mila

Zoya Mila
Zoya Mila

First up is Mila, described as a sultry, deep mahogany red cream polish. I applied two coats to achieve opacity. Mila is such a stunning polish! I love how deep this red shade is. It’s a bit more vampy than the traditional red nail polish.

Rumi

Zoya Rumi
Zoya Rumi

Next up is Rumi, a muted terracotta cream polish. Rumi has an excellent formula that is opaque in two coats. I like the pink undertones in this shade, and I think it is a great alternative to a neutral nail polish.

Vivi

Zoya Vivi
Zoya Vivi

The other pink polish in the line is Vivi, a dusty, cool-toned rose pink cream. I found Vivi a bit difficult to use, as the formula is thin and runny, so my application was a bit messy. I am wearing three coats in the swatches. Vivi is a really pretty shade, but I don’t think I will be reaching for it again just due to the tricky formula.

Austin

Zoya Austin
Zoya Austin

My favorite polish in the Nostalgic Collection is Austin, a cool wedge-wood blue cream. Austin is opaque in two coats and has a fantastic formula. I am loving this periwinkle blue shade! It’s actually quite unique for a blue nail polish, and I look forward to wearing Austin again soon.

Cooper

Zoya Cooper

Next up is Cooper, a logan green cream polish. Logan also has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. This green shade is just perfect for the fall season, and would work really well in some camouflage nail art.

Becca

Zoya Becca
Zoya Becca

Last but not least is Becca, described as a blackened fig cream polish. This polish has an excellent formula that is opaque in two coats. Becca is a stunning deep purple nail polish. I don’t love how it looks with my fair skin tone, but if you are looking for a dark purple polish Becca is a great option.

In the end, I am loving the Zoya Nail Polish Nostalgic Collection. Despite being a collection of all cream shades, the collection is anything but boring. Almost all of the polishes have amazing formulas, and they work well as a cohesive collection in addition to being beautiful in a stand-alone manicure. Make sure to follow my blog, as my next post will be a simple nail art look using this collection. Until then, you can purchase the Nostalgic Collection on the Zoya website at $12.00 per bottle.

What is your favorite shade in the Nostalgic Collection?

Let me know in the comments!

Northern Lights Nails featuring Zoya Lou and Holo Taco Aurora Unicorn Skin

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

After my recent purchase from Holo Taco, I’ve really enjoyed trying out the Aurora Unicorn Skin special effects topper on different manicures. I decided to test it over a beautiful blue nail polish shade from Zoya Nail Polish called Lou. The result is a stunning northern lights inspired manicure that is perfect for fighting the winter blues!

Zoya Lou

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

I began by applying two coats of Zoya Lou over the Holo Taco Long-Lasting Base. This polish was released in the Luscious Collection of Fall 2020, and is described as a deep spruce blue cream with a hint of green. Lou is opaque in two coats and has a fantastic formula.

Northern Lights Nails by Adventures in Polishland

I then completed the look by adding one coat of Holo Taco Aurora Unicorn Skin, and sealed in the manicure with two coats of Holo Taco Super Glossy Taco. I love how the flakes in Aurora really shift from blue to purple to pink in different lighting! This topper really compliments the blue base color well.

Aurora Unicorn Skin over Zoya Lou

As someone who loves nail polish but isn’t that great at nail art, I really love having special effects toppers in my nail polish collection. Iridescent flakies like Aurora Unicorn Skin really help to add dimension to any manicure. I’m excited to continue building my collection of glitters and toppers so that the manicure combos can be seemingly endless!

What’s your favorite nail polish topper? Let me know in the comments!

Zoya Nail Polish Naturel (5) Collection | Swatches + Review

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Today I am excited to share with you swatches and a full review of the Zoya Nail Polish Naturel (5) Collection. This transitional collection for 2022 includes five cream nail polishes and one Hot Lips Glossy Lip Balm. This installment to the Naturel family is replete with warm-toned neutral shades with pink undertones. I love the Naturel line because all of the polishes are appropriate for even the most professional of environments. They are also staples for any nail polish collection, and the shades work beautifully for any skin tone. Let’s jump into all of the polishes in the Zoya Naturel (5) Collection.

Zoya Nail Polish Naturel (5) Collection | Swatches & Review

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. This post includes an affiliate link. All opinions are my own.

I swatched all of these nail polishes over the Holo Taco Peely Base. I’m wearing two coats of each polish in the photos, and sealed in each shade with the Zoya Naked Manicure Ultra Glossy Seal Top Coat. The swatches are all photographed in natural lighting.

Chelsea

Zoya Chelsea
Zoya Chelsea

First up is Chelsea, a powdered blush cream polish. Like most of the polishes in this collection, Chelsea has a thinner formula that can be a bit tricky to apply. I recommend thin coats of this polish, as well as some patience as the watery formula can be a bit messy and streaky. Luckily, Chelsea is opaque in two coats, and my top coat helped to even out any texture and give it a beautiful finish. I really enjoy this light pink shade!

Sutton

Zoya Sutton
Zoya Sutton

Next up is Sutton, a muted pink-nude cream. Sutton also has a thinner formula, but it is opaque in two coats. If you are looking for a really warm neutral with a hint of pink, this polish is a great option.

Evan

Zoya Evan
Zoya Evan

The first brown-toned polish in this collection is Evan, what Zoya describes as a softened saddle cream. Evan also has a thinner formula, but you can see the result with the glossy top coat is quite stunning. Evan is such a gorgeous beige shade, and would work really well in nail art looks.

Parker

Zoya Parker
Zoya Parker

My favorite polish in the collection is Parker, a warm greige polish. Parker has an excellent formula that is opaque in two coats. This is more of the traditional cream formula I have come to expect from Zoya. I was so surprised when I applied Parker, because I did not expect to love it so much! This shade looks really nice with my fair skin tone.

Elyse

Zoya Elyse
Zoya Elyse

The last polish in the line is Elyse, a gentle aubergine cream polish. Elyse has an excellent formula that is opaque in two coats. I really like this purple shade, and I can see myself wearing this to the office and then dressing it up with a holographic top coat for some more bling.

Sweettart

Zoya Sweettart
Zoya Sweettart

The last item in the Naturel (5) Collection is a Hot Lips Glossy Lip Balm in the shade Sweettart. This is a shimmering purple mauve shade. It has a sweet candy scent that I really enjoy. The formula is unique in that it has a sticky consistency so that it stays in place, but it has a smooth, hydrating feeling on the lips. The shimmer in Sweettart is not too strong, which I personally like because it adds dimension without looking glittery. I don’t wear lip products often, but this one is very pretty!

Zoya Naturel 5 Collection Swatches + Review

All in all, the Zoya Nail Polish Natural (5) Collection is a solid addition to the Naturel family of products that Zoya offers. While the lighter shades do have thinner formulas that require a bit more patience to apply, all of the shades look beautiful with a glossy top coat. My personal favorites from the collection are Chelsea and Parker, but there is definitely a shade for everyone. As always, Zoya Nail Polish is a cruelty free brand, and all of the products in this line are vegan friendly. You can purchase the Naturel (5) Collection on the Zoya website.

What is your favorite shade in the Naturel (5) Collection?

Let me know in the comments!

Holo Taco Build Your Own Bundle Review & Swatches | #HoloTacoCombo

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Sunday! I recently made a purchase from the Holo Taco website, and thought I would share the experience with you. After digging at the bottom of my base coat bottle for a while, I knew it was time to order a new bottle. Since I was also out of my favorite top coat, Super Glossy Taco, I decided to order the Holo Taco Build Your Own Bundle. This option on the brand’s website allows for customers to choose a base coat, creme polish, topper, and top coat for a discounted price of $42.00 (a $4.00 savings off the regular price). I also had a $5.00 coupon from being subscribed to the Holo Taco newsletter, so I snagged mine for $37.00 plus shipping. Let me share with you the polishes I picked out, and also let you know about the amazing customer service I received from the brand.

Holo Taco Build Your Own Bundle Review

The bundle I built includes Long Lasting Base, High Tea Hibiscus, Aurora Unicorn Skin, and Super Glossy Taco. When I placed my order, the invoice let me know that the brand was moving warehouses and there would be a delay in shipping. That was not a problem for me, and I fully expected to receive my order when it was ready. I was pleasantly surprised when about a week later I got an email apologizing for the delay in shipment, and a refund for the $6.99 shipping fee, as well as another $5.00 coupon for a future purchase. I really appreciated this great customer service, even though it was completely unnecessary. It’s rare for a company to go above and beyond when it comes to customer service these days, and I thought it was absolutely worth the mention in this post.

Holo Taco High Tea Hibiscus

Now let’s jump into my thoughts on the polishes! I’ve just tried the Long Lasting Base for the first time, so I will report back after I give it more of a test drive. The creme polish I chose in my bundle, however, is High Tea Hibiscus, a deep magenta polish. I was quite surprised with how thick the formula is. I recommend getting a good amount of product on the brush during application, because otherwise the polish will streak onto the nails. I applied two coats for full opacity. High Tea Hibiscus is a beautiful polish, and I’m interested to try more creme polishes from this brand to see if the formula is typically this consistency.

Holo Taco Aurora Unicorn Skin

Next up is Aurora Unicorn Skin, the special effects topper I chose for my bundle. This is an iridescent flakie top coat that color shifts depending on the base shade over which it is layered. On this manicure in particular, it added a stunning pink to purple color shift. Aurora has been on my wish list for a very long time, so I’m excited to add this polish to my collection. I look forward to testing it out in different manicures to see how it will transform on the nails!

Holo Taco High Tea Hibiscus and Aurora Unicorn Skin

Lastly, I topped off my manicure with Super Glossy Taco. I love this top coat because it gives the nails a high gloss shine while also drying very quickly. If I’m wearing a glittery manicure, I will often apply two coats. The first coat will even out the texture in the glitter, and the second gives it that smooth, glassy finish. This is the second time I’m purchasing this top coat, and I’m so happy to have a new bottle!

Holo Taco Aurora Unicorn Skin Natural Sunlight

Here’s a quick look at my completed manicure in natural sunlight (please forgive my dry, winter skin in these swatches by the way!). I’m really happy with this manicure, and I found myself looking down at my nails a lot throughout the day. I even elevated my manicure by adding the Flakie Holo Taco a few days later for added bling!

All in all, if you are looking to try out Holo Taco nail polishes, I think the Build Your Own Bundle is a great option. You save a few dollars, plus you can stock up on the necessary top and base coats we use with every manicure. The Build Your Own Bundle is available on the Holo Taco website. The brand represents that their entire line is cruelty free and vegan.

Have you tried Holo Taco nail polishes? Let me know in the comments!