Adventures in Polishland

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel | Tribal Vibe & Boho Chic Collections

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

Happy Monday! Today I am so excited to share a review of four nail polishes from the new Sally Hansen Miracle Gel line. Around this time last year, Sally Hansen first launched the Miracle Gel line (see my first review HERE). I was a bit underwhelmed, but a few months back the brand updated its formula and I was obsessed with the Poolisde Paradise Collection (full review HERE). Now, Sally Hansen has upped the ante again! The Miracle Gel Top Coat has a new formula designed to deliver 2x the volume and shine. To coincide with the relaunch of the top coat, Sally Hansen is also releasing the Tribal Vibe and Boho Chic Collections. Let me show you the polishes topped with the new Miracle Gel Top Coat!

First up is Totem-ly Yours, a beautiful beige nude with pink undertones from the Tribal Vibe Collection. Totem-ly Yours has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats. The shade nearly matches my skin tone perfectly! This nude polish is to die for, and absolutely perfect for the fall. It looks professional, yet not boring, and the high-shine top coat really makes it look great. If you work in a corporate environment, you need Totem-ly Yours for sure!

Rhythm & Blue is the other polish I tried from the Tribal Vibe Collection. It is a sky blue polish that has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. I am once again beyond impressed with how awesome this polish looks! Not only is Rhythm & Blue a gorgeous color, but the Miracle Gel Top Coat applied with ease and added a lot of depth and shine to this manicure.

Beatnik is the first polish from the Boho Chic line that I reviewed, and it is a stunning cobalt blue. I am obsessed with Beatnik! The color is beautiful, and the formula is perfection. I will be wearing Beatnik again as the colder months approach.

Last but not least is Miss Wanderlust, a coral jelly polish with a mix of glitters. I was happily surprised with how well Miss Wanderlust applies – it goes on smoothly with a lot of glitter going onto the nail without digging. Of course, the Miracle Gel Top Coat adds a glossy finish to this already stunning polish. I’d love to see more glitters like this from Sally Hansen in the future!

All in all, the new Sally Hansen Miracle Gel collections are beyond fabulous and affordable! The polishes retail for $9.99 each, which is on the higher side for a drugstore line. However, the brand often goes on sale and I’ve seen coupons in the Sunday paper as well. I highly recommend investing in the new Miracle Gel Top Coat at the very least! The Tribal Vibe and Boho Chic Collections are now available at drugstores.

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

DIY Washi Tape Storage | Birchbox Upcycling Project | #PlanWithPolishland

Posted on August 8, 2015August 7, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I have an exciting #PlanWithPolishland post to share with you! I don’t know about you, but whenever I get a new hobby a get a little too excited and buy all the goodies I can get my hands on. This is definitely true with my new planner obsession! Just take a look at all the hauls I’ve posted on my YouTube Channel if you don’t believe me. Well, if I’m going to have a planner supplies collection I want to make sure it’s organized. Washi tape is one of the new-to-me products I’ve been collecting, and I wanted a cute yet functional way to store it. I saw a video on YouTube by Xao Vang that really inspired me to make my own washi organizer. In her video, she transformed an entire desk drawer into her washi storage. That didn’t fit my needs, so I grabbed an old Birchbox and decided to put it to use!

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS!

If you don’t have a Birchbox, feel free to use any sturdy cardboard box you own. The dimensions of a Birchbox are around 7″ x 5″ x 2″. In the DIY video I also mention a gold washi tape. It can be purchased on Etsy HERE.

As you can see, it is super easy to create this washi tape storage box! I created it about a month ago now, and it fits my needs well. Not only does my washi stay organized, but it was easy to pack during my move. I currently store the box on a crafting bookshelf in my bedroom, but carry it down to the kitchen or family room to do my actual planning. I never need to worry about the tape being lost or damaged, and I have plenty of room to grow my collection if I want to in the future. There is no need to spend money on a washi tape organizer when you can make one yourself!

That brings us to the end of another #PlanWithPolishland blog post! I hope you enjoyed this simple DIY. If you make one, use the hashtag #PlanWithPolishland on social media so I can find your post. I would love to see how you decorate your washi storage! If you would like more planner content, make sure to subscribe to my YouTube Channel HERE where I do planner related videos 2-4 times per week. I also have a planner Instagram account HERE where you can see photos of my weekly spreads and hauls. Stay tuned for more #PlanWithPolishland blog posts on Saturdays!

SinfulColors A Class Act Collection | Back to School 2015

Posted on August 7, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! I’m back today with my first nail polish review for the upcoming fall season. Fall is my favorite time of year for new nail polish collections, and I was beyond excited when SinfulColors reached out to me and asked if I would review ten shades from the brand’s new line. The A Class Act Collection features on trend shades and a mix of finishes. I have five demi-matte polishes to share, and five glossy/jelly polishes, so this post will be broken into two sections. First, up is the mattes, so let’s jump right in to the review!

The A Class Act Collection contains a variety of polishes in a “demi-matte” finish. Each of these polishes have the same formula, so I wanted to address it before showing you the swatches. The application of the mattes is a bit problematic – the formula is goopy, patchy, and difficult to apply. I never got a clean line during application, and it was hard to work with the formula. I had to apply between 2-3 coats to get the finish I desired. That being said, each polished dried beautifully. Besides the messy edges, the matte finish is stunning, and I love the end result. Thus, so long as you are patient during application, I think the mattes are worth the $1.99 price tag if you are loving a particular polish. Otherwise, the mattes are a bit of a miss for me.

First up is Whiteboard, a white polish that looks just like chalk! This polish is great as a base, or would work well for some chalkboard nail art (such as the style I featured HERE). I love rocking a white manicure in the summertime, especially when I’ve got a tan. It’s simple yet fashion forward at the same time.

V.I.Peach is a pastel yellow polish that reminds me of sunshine. It’s not a polish I would think to buy, but it’s actually quite wearable and goes well with my fair skin tone. I like this yellow shade as a matte, and think it is perfect to transition from summer to fall.

Next up is Pink Break, a pastel baby pink polish. This color totally reminds me of the typical pink shown at baby showers! It’s lightly pigmented, and it’s great for an everyday manicure. The demi-matte finish is still shiny despite being completely matte. It’s a great combination!

Chalk it Up is a green polish somewhere between mint and pistachio. This is one of my favorite colors of nail polish to wear, and the matte finish is a fun spin on it. I’d love to pair this up with a pastel blue for a nail art look!

The last matte is Blackboard, a true chalkboard polish! Blackboard is my favorite of the mattes that I tested. The formula was good during application, and it dried very quickly. Blackboard is definitely not a true black polish, but instead a deep grey. It is reminiscent of a school chalkboard for sure, and not as harsh as a full-on black. I highly recommend Blackboard if you are looking to pick up one of the demi-mattes.

Now let’s dive into the four glossy and one jelly polish I got to review. I’m happy to report that these all had wonderful formulas, and I did not have any application issues whatsoever. I’ll begin this section with the one jelly polish, and then review the four glossy finishes.

RADient is the one jelly polish in the bunch. Although it is listed as a demi-matte on the SinfulColors website, the formula is a true jelly. It is sheer, but layers on beautifully, and is a gorgeous raspberry color. I used two coats for my photographed manicure, with a bit of my nail line still visible. I will need to try this out in a jelly sandwich ASAP!

Summer S-cool is the first glossy polish I have to share, and it is a vibrant robin’s egg blue. I applied two coats to achieve opacity, and am amazed with the natural gloss and shine without a top coat. Summer S-cool is the perfect polish to wear to a pool party before heading back to the classroom!

Next up is Feel the Vibe, a true orange polish that will be absolutely necessary come Halloween. I applied two coats to achieve opacity, and cannot get over how awesome this orange is. If you are looking for the perfect orange, this one is for you! I think it is a must have in every nail polish stash.

Daredevil is next, and it is a hot pink polish with a bit of luminescent shimmer. I am obsessed with this polish! Not only does it have an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats, but it is an incredible shade of pink. I own more pink nail polishes than any other color, and I must say this is a fabulous one. I think I’ll put this on again very soon!

Last but not least is Fig, a stunning deep plum polish with purple shimmer. Fig is not a unique shade, but it’s one that SinfulColors has done very well. The formula is spot on, and the glossy finish is perfection. I actually might unhaul some of my similar polishes now that I have Fig!

All in all, the A Class Act Collection from SinfulColors has a great mix of polishes at the fabulous and affordable price point of $1.99 each. The full collection contains 27 polishes, so be sure to check your local Walgreens and other mass retailers beginning now in August and into September. I highly recommend picking up any of the glossy shades, and Blackboard from the demi-matte finishes. As always, please let me know in the comments if you’ll be picking up any polishes from the A Class Act Collection!

Follow SinfulColors on Social Media

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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

Manicure Monday | Zoya Charisma

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

Happy Manicure Monday! I can’t believe it! This is the last post in the Alphabet Challenge! I’m so proud of myself for keeping with the series, and catching up when I missed a couple weeks here and there. The only weeks I skipped were Q and X, simply because I don’t own any polishes that fit those categories. But without further ado, let’s jump right into the final post and round it up with Zoya Charisma for the letter Z!

Charisma is one of my all-time favorite Zoya polishes of the dozens that I own. It is a matte polish somewhere between a pink and purple shade. The formula does tend to be a bit patchy, but I layered three coats on and let each dry completely in order to get this final look. I just love matte polishes, and this fun color makes it that much better.

All in all, Zoya Charisma is the perfect polish to close out the Alphabet Challenge! You can purchase it on Zoya’s website HERE for $9.00. Now that we’ve reached the end of the Alphabet Challenge, I want to hear from all of you! I found another nail polish challenge on Pinterest HERE, and would be happy to continue Manicure Monday posts featuring that challenge. Please let me know if you are interested in seeing those posts in the comments!

Skincare Sample Reviews | Laura Mercier, Jurlique & Sumbody

Posted on July 30, 2015August 8, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! I recently announced on my Facebook Page that I cancelled my Birchbox after over two years. I really, really love Birchbox, but I was getting tired of receiving the same types of products over and over and not using them on a regular basis. It was time for me to save that $10 a month and focus on using all of the products I accumulated in my collection. Whenever I use up a product, I reach into my sample drawer in my makeup collection (see a tour of that collection HERE). That way I save money by not purchasing new products, and I get the opportunity to use what I already have. I thought it would be fun to share my thoughts on a few skincare samples I’ve been using lately. Let’s jump right into the reviews!

Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Face Polish

$32.00 [BUY]

This facial exfoliant from Laura Mercier is just as divine as the price tag suggests! I love the microbeads in this product, as they are gentle yet scrub hard enough to make sure my skin is smooth. I’ve gotten a lot of use out of this deluxe sample, and it definitely makes me want to save up and purchase the full size. My skin looks and feels so much more even and radiant after using this product! I highly recommend it!

Jurlique Herbal Recovery Advanced Serum

$56.00 [BUY]

My skin is also loving this serum from Jurlique. Serum is one product that I always use, but never have to buy. I have gotten so many samples of serum that I’m constantly testing out new brands. I really like this one at the moment, as it’s very different from other serums I’ve tried. It is more on the thicker side, and is nearly a full face lotion. I love how my skin looks and feels after using this serum, but the scent is a bit on the funky side, probably due to the herbal nature of this product. Because of the price tag, I doubt I will repurchase this in the full size, but I am really glad I got the opportunity to test it out. If you have the means, I definitely think you should check out this serum!

Sumbody Salt Scrub

$18.95 [BUY]

Last but not least, I have a skincare product for the body as well. I’ve never tried a salt scrub before, so I was interested to see how it would differ compared with the sugar scrubs I typically use. This Sumbody scrub is definitely more abrasive than a sugar scrub, so if you have sensitive skin I wouldn’t reach for this. This scrub really intrigues me – it appears to dissolve as soon as I apply it, and leaves my skin moisturized despite the main ingredient being sea salt. The combination of salt with shea butter and cocoa butter must make for the perfect product! I’m not sure I will repurchase this as it is a bit rough on my skin, but if you’re not sensitive I highly recommend it.

I hope you all enjoyed these mini reviews of mini products! I hope to be using up a lot of my samples in the coming months to save money and try new things. If you’d like to see sample reviews every once in a while, please let me know in the comments! I would love to share what I’ve been using with all of you. Also, let me know what samples you’re currently trying in the comments!

Manicure Monday | OPI Your Web or Mine

Posted on July 27, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Manicure Monday! I’m back this week to continue the Alphabet Challenge. Last week I didn’t participate because I just couldn’t find a brand or polish that began with the letter X. Luckily, I found an OPI polish this week that begins with Y. Your Web or Mine from the Spiderman collection is another polish that I got when I first began blogging, but haven’t worn in years. Let me show you this pretty pink!

Your Web or Mine is a frosty pink with a metallic finish. This polish has a good formula that is opaque in two coats, but brush strokes are visible because of the metallic quality. I’m not usually a fan of frosty polishes, but Your Web or Mine is really wearable. I think it goes really well with my skin tone, and is definitely office appropriate. I highly recommend it!

The OPI Spiderman Collection was limited edition, but I found the same mini polish set that I own on Amazon HERE for just $8.99! You get four mini polishes and a collector’s box with the set. That is such a great deal for this OPI set!

What OPI Collection is your favorite? Let me know in the comments!

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

How to Use the Erin Condren Perpetual Calendar | #PlanWithPolishland

Posted on July 25, 2015July 25, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I am excited to bring you another #PlanWithPolishland post featuring my Erin Condren Life Planner. Every Life Planner comes with a Perpetual Calendar, which is a little book with a line for every day of the year. The calendar was originally designed to mark down birthdays, anniversaries, and other dates that reoccur every year. That way, you can mark down these special days once in your Perpetual Calendar and carry it in your planner from year to year. I wanted to put my Perpetual Calendar to use, but I didn’t think its traditional purpose would work for me. Let me go ahead and show you how I’m using the Erin Condren Perpetual Calendar, and share some other ideas I have with you!

Here is a quick peek at the Perpetual Calendar. You can find it in the Keep it Together folder at the back of your Erin Condren Life Planner. I love this year’s cute design, and was inspired by the “Celebrate Someone or Something Everyday,” headline. I’ve decided to use my Perpetual Calendar as a happiness journal, in which I write down one thing every day, no matter how big or small, that made me happy. Here is a peek inside my journal for the month of June – I started as soon as my Erin Condren order arrived!

I really like how my happiness journal is turning out, and you can definitely feel free to use your Perpetual Calendar in the same way. I often see people in the We Love EC group on Facebook asking others for inspiration on how to use the calendar, so I thought I would share some more ideas with you. Let’s jump right in!

Gratitude Journal
Fitness Journal / Meal Planner / Weight Tracker
Quote Journal
Reading List
Weather Log
Budget Book
Fun & Silly Holidays (i.e. National Donut Day)
Top News Story of the Day
Song of the Day List
Cleaning Log / Chore List
…any combination of the above!

These are just some of the ways you can put your Erin Condren Perpetual Calendar to use! I hope these gave you a bit of inspiration. Even if you don’t use any of these ideas, perhaps they helped you think of another use for your Perpetual Calendar. I’m really loving my happiness journal, but maybe that’s not the right system for you, and that’s okay! Find what works, and don’t be afraid to experiment! If you’d like to get a Perpetual Calendar separate from the Life Planner, they are only $5 on the Erin Condren website! Please sign-up using my referral link HERE to score $10 off your first purchase!

Show me how you use your Perpetual Calendar with the hashtag #PlanWithPolishland! You can also follow my NEW planner Instagram @PlanWithPolishland HERE.

Christie Brinkley Authentic Skincare | Close Up Instant Wrinkle Reducer and Treatment Review

Posted on July 23, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! Today I have a review of a high end skincare product from Christie Brinkley Authentic Skincare. I was excited when I got the opportunity to try this luxurious product, as I’ve been looking for a great eye cream that is anti-aging. Although I’m only in my mid-twenties, I can see fine lines forming under my eyes already. I’ll thank law school and hours of studying for that! The Close Up Instant Wrinkle Reducer and Treatment is designed to instantly reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles in two minutes, so I was eager to test out these results myself. Let me go ahead and share more about this product with you!

ABOUT THE PRODUCT

The Close Up Instant Wrinkle Reducer and Treatment is designed to work as both an anti-aging product and a primer in one. I’m going to share the brand’s claims with you below, so you can read them word for word.

“Be camera ready in a flash! This instant treatment tightens the look of skin while firming and smoothing the appearance of crow’s feet & fine lines. Softens the look of under-eye puffiness. Use around eyes, mouth and on forehead to erase years from your appearance…. It also starts working on contact for immediately tighter and smoother skin, erasing fine lines and wrinkles, reducing under-eye puffiness and blurring imperfections all under two minutes. And the 30 minute and 4 hour results were proven to be even better. It’s one of my secret weapons; the results get better with time.” – Christie Brinkley Authentic Skincare

As for the directions on the product itself, Close Up is to be applied after moisturizer like any other primer. It requires two minutes to set before applying makeup.

MY EXPERIENCE

With such impressive claims, I think I was bound to be disappointed with Close Up. First, let me talk about what I do like about this product. After it is set, my skin feels very soft and smooth, and it makes a great base for applying foundation. Unfortunately, I did not find the product to reduce wrinkles at all. In fact, the fine lines under my eyes are more pronounced upon using this product. I was a bit shocked and disappointed with this result. While I love that Close Up is so smoothing, I find that the formula just doesn’t work for me. I think this is a product that would bring about good results over an extended period of time, but because my first few tests were so off-putting, there is no incentive for my to keep using Close Up.

FINAL THOUGHTS

All in all, I am going to have to recommend you pass on this product. The price tag is $79.99 on the brand’s website HERE. That steep amount is way too much for a product that only lives up to half of its claims. That being said, just because this product didn’t work for me, doesn’t mean it won’t work for you – we all have different skin types! Nonetheless, I’m going to remain on the hunt for a better wrinkle-reducer, and I’ll report back when I find one!

This product was provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

ELF Studio Blush Palette in Light | Review & Swatches

Posted on July 20, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! We are taking a detour from Manicure Monday this week so I can show you the gorgeous blush palette I picked up at the ELF Studio here in NYC (see my haul post HERE). I’ve been loving this palette, and wanted to rave about the gorgeous pigmentation in each blush. I am still amazed that this palette of four blushes only cost me $6.00! Let’s jump right in and look at these fabulous and affordable blushes!

First and foremost, I want to take a quick look at the packaging. I love the sleek black packaging, and how sturdy it is. The palette closes well and, at the same time, is easy to open. Plus, the inside contains a huge mirror that is very useful, especially if you are traveling. You can definitely pay upwards of $6 just for the mirror alone! Here are swatches of the four blushes inside. I did label them in the photos because I, of course, had to swatch them out of order (whoops!). I will take a second and describe each blush below, but I do want to mention that each blush has an amazing formula. They are extremely pigmented, but you can easily control the application. They blend out beautifully as well. I like to use the ELF Blush Brush to apply them, but any blush brush you already own will be just fine! Now, let’s talk about these colors.

This is my favorite shade in the quad! It is a matte rosy pink, and it goes really well with my fair complexion. This blush can easily be worn any time of year, and I’m loving it at the moment for sure.
If you love pink, this is the blush for you! It may seem scary in the swatch above, but trust me, it blends out really well. This is a great blush for spring and summer, and will work with a multitude of skin tones. I would pair this with a nude lip color, as it’s definitely quite bright!
This is the one shimmer blush in the quad, and is a red-orange shade with gold shimmer. It’s definitely the more intimidating blush for me, but I’ve worn it once or twice and really liked it. I suggest a light hand with this one! I can’t wait to wear it during the holiday season!
Finally, we have a brownish-orange matte blush. I thought I could use this as a bronzer at first, but it is really too orange-toned for that. However, with a light hand it makes a beautiful blush. It adds warmth to my face without being overdone. I’m going to experiment more with it for sure!

All in all, I’m very impressed with this blush palette from ELF. I highly recommend picking it up if you are looking for some blushes that won’t break the bank, but are still great quality. I purchased the palette in Light, but there is also a quad with darker shades if you’re looking for that as well. You can buy this palette on ELF’s website HERE. I will continue to check out more of ELF’s products in the future, so please leave me your recommendations in the comments!

TRESemmé Fresh Start Dry Shampoo Review

Posted on July 18, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! A few weeks ago I posted a review of the drugstore dry shampoo Batiste (read that review HERE). That review did really well views wise, so I thought I would share my thoughts on another dry shampoo that I just used up. As I mentioned in my Batiste review, I am currently on the hunt for the best dry shampoo from the drugstore. I found the TRESemmé Fresh Start on sale at Rite Aid for $4.99 a couple months back, so I decided to put it to the test. Let me share my thoughts on this product with you!

The TRESemmé Fresh Start is a very interesting dry shampoo. Usually I find that a dry shampoo either zaps oil or adds texture, but the Fresh Start did a little bit of both. While my oil did disappear quite a bit, this product left behind a lot of residue and left my hair feeling really gunky. My hair looked clean, but I felt gross. It was a weird dichotomy, and I couldn’t decide if I liked the product or not!

The more I used Fresh Start, the more I disliked it. I found the product difficult to wash out in the shower, and it tended to flake as well. If you have thick hair, this product would probably work better for you, but my thin hair felt weighed down. Despite the great price point, I don’t think I’ll be purchasing this dry shampoo again.

Alas, my hunt for the perfect drugstore dry shampoo continues! While TRESemmé Fresh Start was okay, it just didn’t measure up to my beloved Klorane dry shampoo. I’m not giving up, though! I will find a fabulous and affordable dry shampoo that I love at some point!

What dry shampoo is your favorite? Do you splurge on it?