Nails – Page 29 – Adventures in Polishland

Category: Nails

Products I’ve Used Up #2

Posted on February 17, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! It’s time for another “empties” post here at Adventures in Polishland. I think these posts are a great opportunity to learn about a lot of products in a short amount of time. Plus, they serve as a personal reminder since I can always look back and see which products I would repurchase in the future. Let’s get right into all of the products I’ve used up!

HAIR CARE

L’Oreal Paris Triple Resist Reinforcing Conditioner – I’ve been using this L’Oreal system for a while now, and I really like it. My hair seemed to strengthen a bit, and I have no complaints! Plus, this line is really affordable. With sales and coupons, I can find this for around $2-3! [BUY at the drugstore]
Not Your Mother’s Beat the Heat Thermal Styling Shield Spray – I picked up this heat protectant last year, and it lasted forever! This protectant was just okay. It worked to protect my hair, but it left my hair crunchy and has a weird smell. Despite it being an affordable $5.99, I don’t think I would repurchase it again. [BUY]

NAIL CARE

CVS Strengthening Polish Remover – This used to be my go to nail polish remover, and I snagged a couple bottles a few months back during a clearance event for just $0.55! After using pure acetone and the Julep remover, this just doesn’t cut it for me anymore. It’s good, but not the best. [BUY at CVS]
Julep Acetone Free Condition Nail Polish Remover – This is my all time favorite polish remover! It works really well, plus it leaves my nails feeling healthy and it doesn’t have a strong smell. Unfortunately, it is a tad expensive. I would totally buy this in large quantities if Julep had that option! I highly recommend this! [BUY]

SKINCARE

Clean & Clear Foaming Facial Cleanser for Sensitive Skin – This is another product that lasted me a very long time. It’s a great cleanser for sensitive skin, and I used it whenever I wanted a gentle cleansing. I would repurchase it again in the future for sure. [BUY]
Michael Todd Jojoba Charcoal Facial Scrub – I got this scrub in an Ipsy bag a few months back, and I am in love. This is the best scrub I’ve ever used! My skin always felt so clear and healthy after I used it. Although it is a bit on the expensive side, I will definitely be repurchasing it after I run out of the scrub I’m using now. It is seriously worth it! [BUY]
Gold Bond Ultimate Skin Therapy Cream – I talked about this moisturizer in my December Favorites, and it made that list for a reason! This is a great lotion, and I would definitely repurchase it at some point. Read more about it HERE. [BUY]

Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes – I really do like these makeup wipes, and I am working my way through a few packs that my Mom got me for Christmas (thanks, Mom!). You can see all of my thoughts on these wipes HERE. Make sure to grab them during sale events, or shop on Amazon for a great price! [BUY]
Tatcha Aburatorigami Beauty Papers – I got these blotting papers in a PopSugar box, and was happy to try them out. Unfortunately, these were a flop for me. The blotting papers from the drugstore work much better than these high end ones for a much lower price. I wouldn’t repurchase them. [BUY]

MAKEUP

Too Faced Primed & Poreless – I’ve talked about this primer many times on Adventures in Polishland, so I won’t go on forever! This is my first bottle, and it lasted me several months so it is a good investment product. You can see my full review HERE. [BUY]
Revlon Lash Potion by Grow Luscious in Blackened Brown – This mascara was good, but not my favorite. I did like it on days where I wanted natural looking lashes, and I applied it with short and fast strokes. This did clump up rather quickly, but I’ve heard others have really liked it. I’m not sure I would repurchase it, but it’s not a bad product! [BUY]
Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Transluscent – I love this powder, and have repurchased it several times! With coupons and sale events at the drugstore, I get this powder for next to nothing. Plus, it’s a great quality product. I wish I was able to make use of the residual product still left in the container, but at such an affordable price, I don’t feel bad throwing it out as is. [BUY at drugstores]

SAMPLES

REN Hydra-Calm Global Protection Day Cream – I got this as a free sample with a Sephora order, and loved it! It has a bit of an odor, but works so well to moisturize my skin. I considered purchasing the full size, but when I saw it was $45 I had to say no! If you have room for this in your budget, it’s a great product! [BUY]
Taylor Swift Enchanted Wonderstruck Perfume – I may not be a Taylor Swift fan, but I’m a huge supporter of this perfume! I loved this so much I asked for a full size for Christmas. I love the fruity yet musky scent. Plus, you can get a great price by purchasing this on Amazon instead of a department store! [BUY]
Versace Bright Crystal Perfume – I also loved this perfume sample by Versace. It smelled expensive! It also has a great mix of sweet and sultry scents together. I would consider getting the full size if it were more affordable. [BUY]
Benefit It’s Potent! Eye Cream – Finally, I got this eye cream in a Birchbox, and really liked it. It really is potent, so make sure to be careful when applying it so the cream doesn’t go in your eye. I’m using another eye cream now, but I would definitely consider purchasing the full size in the future. [BUY]

Phew! That is a lot of empties this time around! I hope you liked hearing more about these products. I always feel a bit accomplished when I finish up a product, since it makes me feel like I got my money’s worth. Do you agree? Let me know if you’ve tried out any of these products in the comments!

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

Neon Nails featuring Star Studs from Born Pretty Store

Posted on February 15, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I have a really fun manicure to share with you featuring some star studs from Born Pretty Store. When I got the studs in a neon color, I decided to create a nail art look that would be perfect for any 80s throwback party. Let me show you the totally rad manicure!

First, here is a look at the packet of studs. For just $3.37, you get 200 studs! Think of all the nail art looks you can create with this one packet! These studs also come in eight different colors, so you can choose your favorite. I got the lime green, or shade #4. They can be purchased HERE.

As a base for my neon nails, I grabbed Spoiled in Plastic Flamingo, one of my all-time favorite polishes. When the polish was still tacky, I used some long-nose tweezers to place the studs on my nails. I placed one stud on the base of each nail, and three in a diagonal on an accent nail. The tweezers made this process really easy, so I definitely recommend using them as a helpful tool.

All in all, I’m loving this neon manicure! The colors are so fun and vibrant, and the studs are so easy to use. Whether you’re looking for a themed look for a special occasion, or simply want to liven up your normal manicures, I think these star studs are a great choice. You can grab them on Born Pretty’s website for an extra 10% off with code FZL91. Have you tried any nail studs? Show me what you create on my Facebook Page!

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

Vintage Inspired Floral Nail Art featuring Water Decals from Born Pretty Store!

Posted on February 13, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! Today I have another review of some water decals from the online retailer Born Pretty Store. I’ve tried water decals a few times now (see my King of Pop Manicure HERE), but this time around I had more control over my nail art design and decided to take it in a vintage direction. Let me show you the water decals and the manicure I created!

Unlike the other water decals I’ve tried in the past, this sheet does not have any pre-made shapes or designs. Instead, the design is separated into rectangular blocks that can be cut into any shape or size. I decided to cut the decals into a variety of shapes to keep my manicure interesting!

I began my manicure with SinfulColors Mint Apple, a beautiful dusty green with shimmer (full review HERE). Once my polish was completely dried, I cut the decals into the shapes I desired, removed the protective film, and dipped them into water for a few seconds. The water decals work just like temporary tattoos. The design slides right off the paper backing when wet, and you can easily position the decals onto your nails using your fingers. Once the decals are dry, finishing up with a top coat and you’re good to go!

All in all, I’m really loving these water decals! I only used two of the rectangular blocks on the sheet to create this look, so I can be sure to get more use out of it in the future. You can purchase this sheet of decals on Born Pretty Store’s website HERE for just $2.98. I chose design number 10, but there are lots of others as well. As always, use code FZL91 to get an extra 10% off your purchase, and enjoy free international shipping. Let me know what you think of my nail art 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.

New Milani Nail Lacquer for 2014!

Posted on February 10, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I have my last review of the new Milani nail polishes for 2014. In addition to the Gold Label Specialty Nail Lacquer, and the new High Speed Fast Dry polishes, Milani is also expanding its regular collection with ten new and trending shades. Let me show you these beautiful polishes (and please forgive my dry cuticles – winter has not been good to me!).

First up is Vanilla Almond, a tan creme polish. Vanilla Almond has a great formula that is opaque in just one coat! I was beyond thrilled to find such a full coverage polish in this nude shade. If you’re looking for a perfect neutral, I definitely suggest Vanilla Almond!

Next up is White, a white creme polish. I’ve been looking for an affordable white polish for a long time, and I am so excited that Milani released this one! The formula is very good – the first coat was streaky, but the second is nearly flawless. White polishes are so hard to get right, but Milani’s done it! I even love wearing white alone in the summer months.

Mauve Medley is next, and it’s a gorgeous, deep berry creme. Mauve Medley has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. I was actually surprised at how much I love this polish! The shade just looked really awesome with my skin tone, and the color is appropriate for a work setting, yet not boring one bit.

Golden Romance is my absolute favorite in this post! It is a glitter polish with very fine yellow gold glitters and small and medium rose gold hexagons. Not only is the polish beautiful, but it is full coverage in just two coats! The formula is really easy to work with as well. I’m truly obsessed with Golden Romance!

Next up is Mulberry Sugar, a reddish-brown shimmer polish. Mulberry Sugar has an awesome formula that is opaque in two coats. I’m not usually one for brown polishes, but the shimmer in this one makes it really unique and a bit more fancy. Mulberry Sugar is the perfect fall shade, though of course it can be worn all year long!

Iced Mango is the other new shimmer polish, this time in a burnt orange shade. Iced Mango also has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats. If you’re looking for a wearable orange, try out this one! I’m loving it, and I bet it would make for great nail art as well. Try it paired with Mulberry Sugar!

If you’re looking for a creme orange, maybe Canyon Country is for you! It is a burnt orange shade as well, but with a dustier pigmentation. Canyon Country has a great formula, and I applied two coats to achieve opacity. This polish definitely reminds me of when I visited the Grand Canyon – I wish I could have worn it when I was there!

Next up is Peach Innocence, a beautiful peach creme polish. Peach Innocence has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. I actually don’t own another peach polish like this one, so I’m so glad Milani released it. Plus, I think Peach Innocence will look awesome with all skin tones!

Heather is up next, and it is a dusty plum creme polish. Heather’s formula is awesome as well, and it is opaque in two coats. I like that this is a more subdued polish, yet is still quite pigmented at the same time. If you don’t like bright shades, Heather is for you!

Last but not least is Cupid’s Touch, a pink creme polish with blue undertones. Cupid’s Touch is so pretty, and, of course, it has a great formula. I love that this shade has a hint of blue, and that makes it unlike the other pinks in my nail polish collection. Cupid’s Touch is perfect for Valentine’s Day, too!

All in all, I am really loving all of these new Milani polishes. Golden Romance is by far my favorite, and I’m also excited to have an affordable white in my collection. You can purchase these polishes for just $3.99 each at your local CVS store. They can also be purchased on Milani’s website HERE. Let me know in the comments what your favorite new release from Milani is!

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

Valentine’s Day Nail Art | Free Hand Hearts

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

Happy Saturday! Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, so I thought it would be fun to create a simple, nail art look. I grabbed two of my favorite nail polishes, and decided a free hand design would be quick and easy. Let me show you the manicure I put together!

To create this manicure, I started out with a base of Wet ‘n Wild Megalast in On a Trip (full review HERE). Once that was completely dry, I took Rainbow Polish in Wild Orchid (review HERE) and did free hand hearts all over my nails. Hearts are really easy to create – just make a “V” shape and you’re all set! Wild Orchid is one of my favorite indie nail polishes, and I thought the pink base with pink and purple glitters would be perfect for Valentine’s Day! To seal the entire look, I finished up with a layer of butter LONDON Hardwear Top Coat.

All in all, I think this manicure is really cute, and great for Valentine’s Day! I love how quick and easy it is to create, and there is no need to be absolutely perfect with your free hand hearts. This look is also customizable to your personal tastes, as you can choose any colors you wish. Let me know in the comments if you like this look!

Some of 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.

Show Team Spirit with a CoverGirl Fanicure! #DRBigGame #CollectiveBias

Posted on February 6, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

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Happy Thursday! Today I’m excited to tell you all about a fun event I attended at Duane Reade last week. P&G and CoverGirl are celebrating female fans by offering team-inspired nail looks for spirit all season long, and to prepare for the Big Game, CoverGirl gave free manicures to Duane Reade customers. Let me tell you all about the Fanicure event, and show you how to create one of your own!

The Fanicure event was so much fun! I chose to get a Seattle themed manicure, since I’m still bitter about New England losing to Denver in the playoffs. My manicurist used three CoverGirl Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss shades in Sapphire Flare, Appletini, and Snow Storm to create the look. With a smooth finish, even color and glossy shine, this polish can last as long as a week with no top-coat required!

I also got to hang out with some other great bloggers! Make sure to head over to their blogs to see the Fanicures they got as well.

Momma D and Da Boyz, Beauty 101, and Adventures in Polishland

HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN FANICURE!

While I was at Duane Reade, I also picked up the shades that correspond with my favorite football team, New England. Each of the 32 teams has its own custom nail gloss bundle to ensure fans can really show team spirit. New England’s CoverGirl colors are Snow Storm, Ever Reddy, and Sapphire Flare. At the Duane Reade where I was shopping, the CoverGirl display was upstairs on the second floor in the Look Boutique.

Next, I got started on creating my own Fanicure. I began with applying Ever Reddy as a double accent nail, and Sapphire Flare on my other nails. Once that was completely dry, I used some striping tape and then finished up with Snow Storm. I am loving the completed look! It was easy to create, and I’m ready to support my favorite team in style.

All in all, I had a great time at the Duane Reade Fanicure event, and I’m loving the New England Football Fanicure I created. You can create your own Fanicure by visiting the CoverGirl website HERE and seeing what nail polishes correspond with your favorite team. Either shop online, or stop by your local drugstore to pick up these fabulous and affordable polishes at just $5.49 each!

You can also catch up on Big Game news by stopping by the Duane Reade Big Game Social Hub HERE. This is a hub where Tweets, Instagram content, and Vine videos using the #DRBigGame hashtag are congregated in one place. Duane Reade is the perfect place for all your game day needs, including nail polish!

Be sure to let me know what you think of my Fanicure in the comments!

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.

Flashy Fingers with Nail Rock Sequin Manicure

Posted on February 3, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! One of the items in my January Birchbox was a nail art kit from the brand Nail Rock. Of course, I had to give it a try! This kit is designed to give you a sequined manicure. I’ve never tried anything like this before, so I was definitely intrigued. Let me show you what is inside the kit, and the fancy fingers I created!

The Nail Rock Sequin kit comes with one bottle of Rock Polish Grip and one nail sequin pot. My kit is in the shade Green. I love that the price tag is just $7.00 – over half off the competing product made by Ciaté! This kit also comes with a direction sheet, that explains all you have to do is apply two coats of the Rock Polish Grip, and dunk your nail into the pot to complete the look.

Here is my completed manicure! I followed the directions, and I think the result is pretty awesome. I actually really like how it turned out. Of course, this is not a practical manicure for daily life, but if you have a special event you want some extra bling for, this will definitely work! I highly recommend laying down newspaper or a paper towel before opening the sequin pot. Even though I was careful to not spill the sequins, they still migrated a bit outside my paper towel. Removal, however, was a breeze. All you need is regular nail polish remover.

All in all, I thought it was so fun to try out this sequined manicure. I felt so flashy with my nails decked out, but I don’t know if or when I’ll recreate the look. Nail Rock does have several other nail art kits, which can be purchased on the Birchbox website HERE. Have you ever tried a sequined manicure? Let me know in the comments!

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

Geometric Rose Garden Nail Art featuring Nail Stickers from Born Pretty Store

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

Happy Saturday! It’s still officially winter, but my nails are ready for the spring! Born Pretty Store sent me some beautiful rose nail stickers to review, and I decided to put together a geometric rose garden manicure. I’ve been really inspired with nail art lately, so I hope you like what I’ve put together. Let me show you the rose stickers and the look I created.

Here is the sheet of nail stickers from Born Pretty Store. The sheet contains 28 golden rose stickers in a few different designs, and retails for just $2.22 HERE! Instead of just placing these on a solid background, I thought it would be fun to use both green and pink together to symbolize the flower and stem colors.

I began my manicure using Julep Payton as a green base. You can see my full review of Payton HERE, but I thought the bright green color and creme finish would be the perfect base for my rose garden!

Next, I let Payton dry completely, and then used scotch tape to mark off sections of each nail. I did a different design on each nail, but you can do each nail the same if you like. Once the tape was in place, I used Julep Drew as my pink, rose color. Before Drew dried, I carefully peeled off the tape. I have a few minor mistakes, but no worries – my roses can go right on top of the less-than-perfect parts! I let Drew dry, and then used butter LONDON Hardwear Topcoat to even out the edges.

Finally, I added a rose nail sticker to each nail. It is so easy to use these stickers. All you have to do is peel and place! I followed up with another layer of top coat to seal everything in place. I chose to use a sticker on each nail, but this look is customizable to you! Use the stickers on an accent nail, or use the same design on each nail. The sticker sheet has enough stickers for 2+ manicures, depending on how many you use.

All in all, I am really loving this geometric rose garden nail art! It is simple to create, yet looks funky and feminine at the same time. As always, you can purchase fabulous and affordable nail art supplies on Born Pretty Store’s website HERE. Use discount code FZL91 for an additional 10% off. Let me know in the comments what you think of my manicure!

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.

Pinspiration | Dry Brush Technique featuring Milani Gold Labels

Posted on January 28, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! I was loving the new Milani Gold Label Specialty Nail Lacquers so much that I knew I had to create a nail art look with them. I browsed through my Nail & Beauty Inspiration Board on Pinterest for ideas, and settled on the Dry Brush Technique. I first learned of this nail art method on The Lacquerologist back in December, and Pinned the blog post for later. I love the easy tutorial that Emily created, and knew I’d be trying it out at some point. Let me show you the look I created!

To create this bright and funky manicure, I followed Emily’s tutorial and used polishes from the new Milani Gold Label line. I began with a base color of Popping Pink, and used Vivid Violet, Power Periwinkle, and Sugar High with the dry brush technique. I sealed the look with butter LONDON’s Hardwear Topcoat, and I really love the final result! The look was so easy to create, and the bright colors go so well together. Plus, I couldn’t resist adding in a bit of glitter, too.

All in all, I’m so glad I tried out the dry brush technique after seeing it on The Lacquerologist! It’s simple, yet looks really cool. The possibilities are endless as well, so I’ll definitely have to try this again in the future! Let me know in the comments if you’ve ever tried this technique, or if there are any nail art designs you would like me to test out on Adventures in Polishland.

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.