Nails – Page 9 – Adventures in Polishland

Category: Nails

Dare to Compare | Julep Claire vs Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Rhythm & Blue

Posted on May 11, 2016April 12, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! It’s time for another nail polish comparison post, and today I’m starting with the blue polishes in my collection. Blue is one of my most-owned nail polish shades, and I have a lot of comparisons to share with you. I’m kicking things off with one of my oldest nail polishes paired up against a newer shade. I got Julep Claire in one of my first Julep Maven boxes back in 2012. I’ve used this polish a lot over the years, so I’m excited to see if it compares with a limited edition from Sally Hansen Miracle Gel called Rhythm & Blue. Let me show you these polishes individually and then side-by-side!

First up is Julep Claire, a sky blue creme polish. Claire has a great formula that applies smoothly and is opaque in two coats. When I first subscribed to Julep, I absolutely loved the polishes. Once Julep changed the brush and polish formula, the quality definitely went downhill. However, my older polishes like Claire have held up well over the years. This is such a beautiful polish!

Next up is Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Rhythm & Blue. This is also a light blue creme polish that has a good formula and is opaque in two coats. I received Rhythm & Blue for review this past fall, so it’s definitely a newer polish. This was part of a limited edition collection, though, so it can’t be purchased again.

Here is a look at Claire and Rhythm & Blue side-by-side. I’m wearing Claire on my pinky and ring fingers and Rhythm & Blue on my middle and pointer fingers. It is clear that these polishes are not exact duplicates, but the shade is very, very similar. I would say that Rhythm & Blue contains a bit more blue pigmentation than Claire does. There is definitely no reason to own both of these polishes in my collection, so I’ve decided to destash Claire simply because the bottle is already half empty, and I prefer a richer pigmentation.

All in all, I’m glad I decided to test out these polishes side-by-side. I own so many light blues that these are just a couple of the bunch. Make sure to stay tuned to Adventures in Polishland for more nail polish comparisons as I continue to clean out my nail polish stash. Definitely let me know in the comments what your favorite sky blue nail polish is! I recommend both of the polishes shown here, and you can pick up Julep Claire online HERE.

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.

Dare to Compare | Wet ‘n Wild Fergie Miami Spirit vs Julep Lena

Posted on May 6, 2016April 6, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today’s Dare to Compare post is one featuring two nail polishes that I’ve absolutely loved for years. I never thought that they would be so similar until I held the bottles next to each other! Wet ‘n Wild Fergie Miami Spirit and Julep Lena are both teal polishes, and I knew they weren’t exact duplicates because one of these dries to a matte finish while the other does not. Nonetheless, I wanted to swatch them side-by-side to see if it was really necessary to keep both in my collection. Let me review each polish for you, and then share the comparison results!

First up is Wet ‘n Wild Fergie in Miami Spirit. This is a teal polish with teal and silver shimmer that dries to a matte finish. I applied two coats to achieve opacity, and really like the result. This line of polishes comes with a wide, flat brush that I enjoy using. Miami Spirit is a fun and affordable polish!

Next up is Julep Lena, a teal polish with gold and green shimmer that dries to a glossy finish. Lena has an excellent formula that is opaque in two coats. I absolutely love this polish, and I even did a full wear test on the blog HERE a few years back. I’m so glad I rediscovered Lena, because I forgot how great is.

Here is a side-by-side look at Miami Spirit and Lena. I am wearing Miami Spirit on my pinky and ring fingers, and Lena on my middle and pointer fingers. I did apply a glossy top coat over Miami Spirit so I could really see how these polishes compare. The teal shade is almost identical, but I find that in person Miami Spirit has a much stronger shimmer effect than Lena. I prefer creme polishes, and so I’ve decided to keep Lena in my nail polish collection and destash Miami Spirit.

All in all, I’m so glad I tested out these polishes side-by-side, because I might not have discovered how similar they are otherwise. I highly recommend both of these polishes, and have worn them both many times over the years. There is just no reason for me to keep both of them, especially as I’m paring down my collection. I would love to know in the comments what your favorite teal polish is, or if you’ve tried either of these!

Dare to Compare | Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Wine Stock vs Madam Glam High Standards

Posted on May 4, 2016March 29, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! I’m excited to share another nail polish comparison post with all of you. I didn’t find too many duplicate shades in my red stash, seeing as I don’t wear red nail polish often. However, I definitely am a fan of the oxblood trend that seems to take place every fall. Deep red nails are easy to pull off and look good on just about everyone! I own two oxblood shades, one from Sally Hansen and the other from Madam Glam, that look nearly identical in the bottle. I just had to test these out side-by-side to see if they are exact dupes! Let’s get swatching!

First up is Wine Stock from the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel line. Wine Stock has a great formula, but it is on the sheer side so I layered three coats for full opacity. I love the wide and flat brush that comes with all Miracle Gel polishes. It makes application a breeze once you get used to a bigger brush. Wine Stock is a stunning polish, and one that is a staple in my fall nail polish wardrobe.

Next up is Madam Glam High Standards, which is another oxblood creme polish. High Standards has a good formula, but it is a bit on the goopy side. I applied two coats for full opacity, and it does dry to a beautiful finish. High Standards is a bit messier to work with than Wine Stock, but it looks just as gorgeous.

Here is a look at Wine Stock and High Standards side-by-side. I’m wearing Wine Stock on my pinky and ring fingers, and High Standards on my middle and pointer fingers. I cannot see any difference whatsoever between these two polishes. I can definitely say these are dupes! Personally I prefer Wine Stock by Sally Hansen because of the brush and smooth formula. High Standards is still an excellent polish, but I will be destashing it because of the goopy formula. Thankfully, Wine Stock is part of Sally Hansen’s permanent line, and available for purchase for under $10 at your local drugstore or online HERE. High Standards is currently out of stock on Madam Glam’s website.

All in all, I’m so glad to have found another dupe in my collection. I’m so excited to wear Wine Stock more in the fall months, as it truly is a perfect oxblood shade. I’m also excited that I can recommend it as the more affordable and available option. The Sally Hansen Miracle Gel line is a bit more expensive than most drugstore nail polishes, but keep an eye out for sales and coupons. There is almost always a way to save! Definitely let me know your favorite oxblood nail polish in the comments!

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.

Dare to Compare | Milani Color Statement Red Label vs KBShimmer Chilly Pepper

Posted on May 2, 2016March 26, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I have a nail polish comparison for you, and I’m excited to share the results. I’ve never been a big fan of the classic red nail polish, but every once in a while I find a shade of red that does work with my fair skin tone. In late 2015 I received KBShimmer’s Chilly Pepper for review and immediately knew this was a red made for me. As it turns out, I also own Milani Color Statement in Red Label, a shade that looks nearly identical to Chilly Pepper in the bottle. Now, I knew I would keep Chilly Pepper because it is one of my most used nail polishes, but I wanted to see if these polishes were dupes. Let me share the results with you!

First up is Milani Color Statement Red Label. This is a true red nail polish with a creme formula. Red Label has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. My only issue with the formula is that it is just a touch watery, but that is me nitpicking this polish. Red Label is an amazing red, and it’s a fabulous and affordable polish.

KBShimmer Chilly Pepper is also a bright red creme polish, but it does feel more like a ‘crelly,’ or creme and jelly formula. Chilly Pepper has a perfect formula. It applies with ease, looks beautiful in two opaque coats, and dries to a glossy finish with no top coat needed. I’ve used this polish so much since I received it, and you can tell by the messy state of the bottle. This is one loved polish!

Here is a look at Red Label and Chilly Pepper side-by-side. Red Label is on my pinky and ring fingers with Chilly Pepper on my middle and pointer fingers. Can you tell a difference between the two? It is very, very slight, but Red Label is a tad brighter. However, there is no reason for me to own both of these polishes. I knew I’d be keeping Chilly Pepper, so I’m saying goodbye to Red Label.

All in all, I’m glad I swatched these side-by-side so I could alert you to this dupe! I know KBShimmer is a higher end brand, and that Milani is more accessible for many of you at your local drugstore. If you can get your hands on Chilly Pepper, I highly recommend picking it up on Amazon HERE. That being said, I also recommend Red Label. It’s all up to how much you want to spend! Definitely let me know in the comments what your favorite red nail polish is. I would love to know!

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.

Dare to Compare | Milani Scarlet Ibis vs Milani Color Statement Mango Tango

Posted on April 25, 2016March 22, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I have another nail polish comparison post to share, and this time the polishes are from the same brand! I own two red-orange polishes from Milani that look extremely similar in the bottle, and I had to test them out to see if they are duplicates. I did want to mention that these polishes are from two different Milani collections, so it’s understandable that the shades are so similar. Let’s take a look at Scarlet Ibis and Mango Tango individually and side-by-side.

First up is Scarlet Ibis, a red orange polish with a very slight shimmer. This polish is from the limited edition Fantastical Plumage Collection, which is one of my all-time favorite Milani collections (review HERE). Scarlet Ibis has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. It’s a tad bit watery, so I used thin coats and really liked the end result. The shimmer is just enough to add some dimension, but not make my manicure glittery. I really like Scarlet Ibis!

Next up is Mango Tango from the currently-in-stores Color Statement line. This is a red-orange creme polish with a rich pigmentation. Mango Tango has a good formula that is opaque in two coats. I really like the brush in this new Color Statement line from Milani, so that made the application process a bit better than it was with Scarlet Ibis. That’s definitely something I keep in mind when deciding whether or not to destash a polish.

Here are Scarlet Ibis and Mango Tango side-by-side. I have Scarlet Ibis on my pinky and ring fingers, and Mango Tango on my middle and pointer fingers. There is definitely a slight difference between these two polishes, so I wouldn’t call them exact dupes. That being said, there is no reason for me to keep both of these in my collection. While I like the brush and formula of Mango Tango a bit more, I’ve decided to keep Scarlet Ibis. I prefer the shade and slight shimmer, and I know I’ll never be able to buy it again. This was a tough decision!

All in all, I always find it interesting when brands release polishes that are so similar there is no need to own both. I absolutely love Milani nail polishes, and think it’s great the brand is constantly evolving. Definitely let me know in the comments if you prefer Milani’s older collections, or the new Color Statement line. I would also like to know your favorite red-orange nail polish!

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

Nail Polish I’m Recycling | Zoya Earth Day Exchange 2016

Posted on April 22, 2016April 18, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today is Earth Day, and I am very excited to share with you all of the nail polishes I’m recycling this year. Did you know that nail polish is considered household hazardous waste? It is not supposed to go in the regular garbage, but instead must be recycled at a household hazardous waste facility. You can learn more at THIS helpful website, and even find a recycling center near you. Unfortunately, there are no recycling facilities local to me, so I had to figure out how to properly dispose of my unwanted polish. That’s where the annual Zoya Earth Day Exchange comes in to help! Every year Zoya runs an awesome promotion where you can exchange your unwanted polishes for new Zoyas at a discounted price. I’m participating this year, and want to share my experience!

First things first, let me share with you the nail polishes that I am recycling. Most of these polishes I reviewed during Manicure March, so if you want more information on a polish simply use the search feature on my blog to find a full review. The nail polishes I am recycling all fall into the same category, meaning they are what I consider unusable. These polishes have formulas that are so bad I wouldn’t recommend them to anyone else. Some of the polishes were once favorites, but just didn’t withstand the test of time. Others were bad from the start. I do want to mention that I am not bashing any of these nail polish brands. Every brand has a dud, and I’m recycling the duds I’ve found!

Here is the first round of polishes I’m recycling. They all come from the drugstore. I’m going to list the names for you for reference, but not a description of each polish.

SinfulColors Pink Break
SinfulColors Summer S-col
SinfulColors V.I.Peach
SinfulColors Whiteboard
Revlon Leather Rock Chic
Jordana Merry Mint
Jordana Sunsational
Jordana Whimsical White
Milani Texture Shady Gray

Julep Piper
Julep Alfre
Julep Nikki
China Glaze Skyscraper
China Glaze Creative Fantasy

Pomegranate Nail Lacquer The Queen’s Jewels
Max Dona Purple
LEX Nail Laquer Peabow
Madam Glam Lucky Bamboo
Tip Top Nail Chic Sitting Pretty

TOTAL: 19

Now that you know all of the polishes I’m recycling, let’s talk a bit about the Zoya Earth Day Exchange! You can visit Zoya’s website HERE for full details, but the basic way this works is that you buy Zoya Nail Polish for 50% off and in return you can mail in your unwanted polishes. Regular consumers, like me, must purchase 6-24 bottles of polish and use the code ZGREEN at checkout to get 50% off plus free shipping. This promotion runs on the honor system, meaning that you don’t have to send your polishes to Zoya if you plan on recycling them locally. I will, of course, be mailing all of my polishes to Zoya. Unfortunately, you do have to pay for the shipping to Zoya, but I’m going to use a flat rate shipping box to get the most for my money.

I don’t yet know if I’ll be purchasing any polishes from the promotion yet, but if I do I will let you know in a future blog post! I’m going to have a good look through my collection and see if there are any shades I’m missing that I really need. Otherwise, I’ll just do my part and recycle my polishes!

Definitely let me know in the comments if you are participating in the Zoya Earth Day Exchange this year! If so, what polishes are you recycling? What new Zoyas are you getting? I want to hear from you!

This post is in no way sponsored or affiliated with Zoya Nail Polish.

Dare to Compare | Priti NYC Fireglow vs Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Electra-cute

Posted on April 20, 2016March 22, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I am excited to share another nail polish comparison post with all of you. After looking through all the yellow polishes in my collection, I turned to the oranges to see if there were any duplicates. I noticed right away that Priti NYC Fireglow and Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Electra-cute looked exactly the same in the bottle. These are both perfect orange cremes for the fall, so I decided to swatch them and see which formula I preferred. As with all of my Dare to Compare posts, I’ll show you each polish individually, and then side-by-side.

First up is Fireglow, a bright orange creme from the boutique brand Priti NYC. Fireglow has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. It can be a bit patchy, but it does dry to a beautiful finish. I love that I am supporting a small business with this polish, and that it is made in the USA.

Electra-cute from Sally Hansen Miracle Gel is also a bright orange creme polish. The formula is good, but I did find Electra-cute to be quite patchy and streaky. I layered on three coats and I still didn’t have a completely even finish. I was a bit surprised, because I know I really enjoyed this polish when I first got it, so I guess the formula changed over time. Electra-cute was a limited edition polish that isn’t available anymore, so I considered that when swatching as well.

Here is a look at Fireglow and Electra-cute side-by-side. I cannot tell any difference in shade whatsoever! As you may have predicted, I’m going to be decluttering Electra-cute. The formula just doesn’t match up to Fireglow!

All in all, I’m so glad I discovered another duplicate shade in my nail polish collection. I highly recommend picking up Fireglow if you are looking for an orange polish. You can purchase it direct from the brand’s website HERE. It is a bit more expensive at $15, but worth the splurge! Let me know in the comments what your favorite orange polish is, and if you’ve tried any polishes from Priti NYC.

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

Dare to Compare | Milani Canary vs Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Traffic

Posted on April 15, 2016March 19, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! The second round of my nail polish declutter project has officially begun. I’m now going through each color family and seeing if I have any duplicates of the same shade. I decided to go through my yellows first because that is the color family from which I own the least amount of polishes. I noticed that Milani Canary and Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Traffic looked quite similar in the bottle, so I decided to put them to a swatch test! Let’s take a look at each polish individually, and then side-by-side.

First up is Milani Canary, a yellow mustard nail polish with a creme formula. Canary has a good formula, but it was a bit on the streaky side. I applied two coats to achieve opacity, and I do like the result. Canary is a discontinued polish, so you can’t purchase it in-store any longer. I definitely keep that in mind before decluttering a polish!

Next up is Traffic from Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics. This is also a yellow mustard creme polish. I purchased it at Sephora a few years ago because I wanted to try this vegan and cruelty free brand. Unfortunately, the formula on Traffic isn’t that great. It is pretty watery, and a bit streakier than Canary, but still workable. I did some research and it seems like this polish is also discontinued, but it’s still available from third-party sellers on Amazon HERE.

Here is a side-by-side look of Canary and Traffic. I’m wearing Canary on my pinky and ring fingers and Traffic on my middle and pointer fingers. While I could tell a very slight difference between these polishes in person, you can see from the photographs that they are virtually the same in shade. When I went into this comparison, I thought I would keep one of these polishes in my stash. As it turns out, I’m going to declutter both of them! While I do like this shade of polish for the fall, I have a deeper toned mustard polish with an excellent formula that I would reach for over either one of these. Thus, both of these polishes are going to be destashed!

All in all, I’m glad I tested out these polishes together. I discovered that they are dupes for one another, so if you own both of these feel free to declutter one! Make sure to let me know in the comments if you have a favorite yellow mustard nail polish. My go to is LVX Citrine, which is a deeper color than the polishes shown today. Stay tuned to the blog for more Dare to Compare posts soon!

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.

Zoya Petals Collection | Spring 2016

Posted on April 11, 2016March 21, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! I am always super excited when Zoya Nail Polish releases a new collection, and today I will be sharing with you the Petals Collection for spring 2016. The Petals Collection contains six floral-inspired shades, each containing a shimmer formula. I am so ready for bright colors and warm weather, and this collection is getting me really pumped! Let’s jump right into my swatches of the Petals Collection!

First up is Leia, an opalescent white polish with flecks of fuchsia, green, and gold. Leia has an excellent formula, but this is a sheer polish. I’ve layered three coats on in the photos above, and you can see it is still not an opaque polish. Leia is not my usual cup of tea, but it is so beautiful, and I love the way it changes in the light. I’m going to experiment with this polish and layer it over other shades, so if you’d like to see more please let me know in the comments!

Next is Aster, a periwinkle polish with flecks of fuchsia, blue, and silver. Aster has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats. I just love how dimensional this polish looks due to the strong shimmer effect. This shade is so beautiful for springtime, and I think it’s great to transition from the colder months especially.

Azalea is the next polish, and my favorite in the Petals Collection! This is a bright pink shade with silver and fuchsia shimmer. Azalea also has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. This polish is just right up my alley! Pink is one of my favorite shades to wear, and this unique shimmery goodness makes it so much fun for the spring and summer. I think it would make a great pedicure polish as well!

Next up is Zahara, a coral shade with silver and fuchsia shimmer. Zahara has a good formula, but I recommend three thin coats as it is a bit on the sheer side. This is a nail polish that I think will look good on everyone no matter the skin tone! I love a good coral polish in the warmer months, and Zahara is the perfect option.

The last two polishes in this collection still have shimmer formulas, but the shimmer effect is much lighter. Tulip is a peachy pink with a slight silver and fuchsia. I had a bit of trouble with the formula because it is quite watery. I recommend three very thin coats that you allow to dry completely before adding on another. The end result is just gorgeous! Tulip is a great everyday polish that can work professionally for sure.

Last but not least is Laurel, a bubblegum pink polish with a light shimmer of pink and silver. Laurel has a great formula that is opaque in two coats, and is super pretty. I like that this polish has just a hint of shimmer. In fact, it was difficult to capture it on camera even though I was photographing in natural light! Laurel is definitely one of my favorites in the collection.

All in all, I am absolutely loving the Zoya Nail Polish Petals Collection! As you all might know, I am typically not a big fan of shimmer nail polishes. However, I think Zoya has done a great job at creating some unique polishes in this collection. I will be wearing these a lot this spring and summer, and I think you should, too! You can purchase the Petals Collection directly from Zoya’s website HERE. Polishes retail for $10 each, but make sure to follow Zoya’s social media for sales and coupons! Please let me know in the comments if you’ll be picking up any of these polishes for your stash!

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

Dermelect Cosmeceuticals ‘ME’ Spring 2016 Outburst Collection | Explosive & Impromptu

Posted on April 8, 2016March 13, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I am excited to review two nail polishes from a new-to-me brand. Dermelect Cosmeceuticals is a brand designed to allow its users to express their individuality. The Spring 2016 nail polish collection is called the ‘ME’ Outburst Collection, and includes four polishes in vibrant shades. The brand curated this based on Outburst, meaning each shade commands attention and lets you stand out. I received Explosive and Impromptu to review for you today.

Dermelect Cosmeceuticals is very unique, and I wanted to share a bit more about the polishes with you before we jump into individual reviews. The formula is designed to be applied in two coats. The first coat bonds to the nail, and the second fuses with the base to create a finish that resists chipping and improves brittleness. There is a key ingredient of peptide-hydrolyzed keratin protein that is extracted from New Zealand’s sheep’s wool to help strengthen the nails. This is definitely not a vegan product, but the brand is cruelty free.

The first polish I tried is Explosive, a bright neon coral polish with a creme finish. Explosive has a really great formula. It applies a bit patchy, but dries to a flawless finish. I did apply two coats, and am really pleased with the result. This bright shade is perfect for spring and summer, and I definitely will be wearing it a lot in the coming months. I highly recommend Explosive if you’re looking for a coral!

Next up is Impromptu, a pale pink polish with silver and pink shimmer. Impromptu also has a really good formula. I didn’t expect the shimmer to be as strong as it is on the nails because it looks more subdued in the bottle. Impromptu reminds me of a ballerina because it’s such a classically feminine shade. This is a perfect transition shade from winter to spring, and I think it would make a nice pedicure color as well.

All in all, I’m really liking the nail polishes from Dermelect Cosmeceuticals. This is a higher end brand, with the polishes costing $14 each or $29 for the entire 4-piece Spring set. You can purchase these polishes direct from the brand’s website HERE. Individual shades are also available on Ulta’s website HERE for a discounted price of $12 each. Please let me know in the comments if you’ve ever tried any Dermelect Cosmececuticals polishes, or if you plan to give them a try!

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