Adventures in Polishland

NYC New York Color Midnight Beauty Collection | Black Elixir & Smoky Top Coat

Posted on October 26, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Sunday! I am so excited to review two of the nail polishes from NYC New York Color’s Midnight Beauty Collection. I’ve really loved the polishes I’ve tried from this brand lately, so I couldn’t wait to test out some Halloween shades. There are four total polishes in this collection, so make sure to visit your local drugstore to see the complete collection. Nonetheless, let me show you two of these stunning shades!

First up is Black Elixir, the perfect black creme polish. Black Elixir has an amazing formula that glides on flawlessly and is opaque in two coats. I am obsessing over this black polish, and highly recommend it. If you’re on a budget like I am, this is the black polish for your collection!

I also tested out Smoky Top Coat, a black crelly polish with grey glitters mixed throughout the base. I didn’t realize this was a top coat when I was swatching it, as the formula is great and opaque in two coats. I love the finished result with Smoky Top Coat, especially because the crelly formula has a cool dimension to it. This is definitely an awesome Halloween polish!

All in all, I really love the NYC New York Color Midnight Beauty polishes that I’ve tried. These retail for just $1.99 at your local drugstore. I still cannot get over how amazing that price point is for such quality polishes. Definitely give this brand a try if you have not already done so! As always, let me know in the comments if you plan on picking these up!

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

Sally Hansen Fuzzy Coat | Halloween 2014 Collection

Posted on October 25, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I have the final post in my Sally Hansen Halloween 2014 series to share with you. This time around it’s a review of the two Fuzzy Coat polishes. I’ve never tried the Fuzzy Coat line before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ll let you know right off the bat that they are super fun! Let me show you the Halloween themed shades.

First up is Fur-ankenstein, a green and black glitter polish in a clear base. All of the Fuzzy Coat polishes contain bar glitters, and I love the festive colors in this one. Plus, how awesome is the name Fur-ankenstein?! This polish has an amazing formula, and I applied one coat over OMGhost for the result you see in the photos. I think the coverage in just one coat is awesome!

The other Fuzzy Coat is Witch-ful Thinking, which contains the classic orange and black colors for Halloween. Just as with Fur-ankenstein, Witch-ful Thinking has a great formula and one coat provides tons of glitters. I layered this polish over OMGhost as well, but of course you can customize the base color to your liking.

All in all, I am loving the Sally Hansen Fuzzy Coat polishes for Halloween 2014! Not only do the polishes have fun names, but the color themes are just perfect for this time of year. If you don’t have the patience for nail art but still want to rock a festive manicure, these Fuzzy Coat polishes are perfect for you! You can grab them for $5.99 at your local drugstore or department store now.

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

Sally Hansen Big Glitter Top Coats | Halloween 2014 Collection

Posted on October 24, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I’m continuing my reviews of the Sally Hansen Halloween 2014 Collection with the Big Glitter Top Coats. If you’ve been a follower of mine for a while, you’ll know that I love wearing glitter polishes alone. I decided to see how versatile these Big Glitter polishes are, and swatched them without a base color. Let me show you the sparkly results!

First up is Costume Glitters, a golden glitter polish that leans towards a rose gold hue. It contains holographic square glitters, and is just stunning! I applied three coats in the manicure pictured here, and though the look is not opaque I still love the finished product. It’s super sparkly, but I would definitely wear this whether it’s Halloween or not!

The other Big Glitter polish in the Halloween line is Dressed to Thrill. This is a silver based glitter polish. Again, I’m wearing three coats and as you can see it just shy of being opaque. If you’re dressing up as a princess, prom queen, or anything along those lines, Dressed to Thrill is a must!

All in all, the Sally Hansen Big Glitter Top Coat polishes are so much fun for Halloween! They can be worn alone or layered to get a customizable look that’s perfect for you. These polishes retail for $5.99 and can be purchased at your local drugstore and department store. Of course, let me know in the comments what you think of these glitters!

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

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri | Halloween 2014 Collection

Posted on October 23, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! Halloween is right around the corner, and in the next few days I’ll be sharing reviews of some fabulous and affordable polishes for the season. Sally Hansen has some awesome limited edition lines, and I’m going to start out by showing you the four Insta-Dri polishes. These polishes are the perfect base colors for the season. Let me go ahead and share them with you!

First up is OMGhost, a white creme polish. OMGhost has a watery formula, so I recommend three very thin coats. The final result is gorgeous, and the streaking is minimal. If you don’t yet own a white nail polish, OMGhost is perfect to pick up this time of year. It goes well with glitter on top!

Next up is Pumpkin Queen, my new favorite orange creme. This polish is perfection! Not only is the formula great, and opaque in two coats, but the result is awesome. Pumpkin Queen truly lives up to its name. I think this is a must buy in the collection!

Night Fright is up next, and it is a stunning black creme. Night Fright is nearly opaque in one coat, but I added a second coat to ensure a rich pigmentation. I love how glossy Night Fright is even without top coat. I highly recommend it if you need an affordable black polish for your collection.

Last but not least is Scaredy Matte, a matte black polish. Scaredy Matte has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. I do wish the matte effect was a bit stronger, as the finish is a bit shinier than I would expect from a matte. Nonetheless, this is a great polish for this time of year, and perfect to match with your leather jackets!

All in all, I think the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri polishes for Halloween 2014 are awesome! These are four core polishes that everyone should own, especially for this time of year. These polishes retail for just $4.99 and are available at your local drugstore or department store. Let me know in the comments which of these you’re going to pick up!

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

’50s Sock Hop Nails | Easy Halloween Tutorial

Posted on October 18, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! I got a great response from my last Halloween nail tutorial (see it HERE) that I decided to create another one! Growing up, one of my favorite Halloween costumes was a ’50s inspired Sock Hop outfit. My mom sewed me a custom poodle skirt and black bolero, and I was ready to rock to some doo-wop tunes! If you’re going to don this classic outfit idea on Halloween, I’ve got just the nails for you. Plus, stay tuned to find out how to take this manicure from ’50s Sock Hop to Punk Rock in one easy step!

All you need to create this look is a pink nail polish, black nail polish, dotting tool, and nail art brush. Start with a pink base, and let that dry. Then draw a straight line on your pointer finger using a nail art brush for the G-clef. Use the dotting tools to create the noteheads in any way you choose. Now comes the tricky part! Carefully draw on the rest of your G-clef and the stems for your notes. It’s okay if the lines aren’t perfect – mine aren’t! Finally, let your manicure dry and follow up with a glossy top coat.

Here are the exact products that I used in this tutorial, but feel free to use what’s in your stash!

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Fuchsia Flare [BUY]
Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics in Tarred [BUY]
Born Pretty Store Nail Art Brush [BUY] (10% off with code FZL91)
Dragonpad Dotting Tools [BUY]

If you’re going for more of a Punk Rock costume this year, simply add a black and white glitter polish on top of the already existing manicure! That will add some pizazz to your nails and give the look a bit more of an edge. I used Milani in Sprinkles, but whatever you own will be great. For even more flare, use some holographic glitter as well!

I hope you enjoyed today’s Halloween nail tutorial! Whether you’re dressing as a ’50s Sock Hop girl or Punk Rocker, this manicure will be sure to add a little something special to your costume. Please let me know what you think in the comments, and let me know if there are any other tutorials you would like to see for Halloween!

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

ModelCo Party Proof Matte Lipstick Review | Get Naked & Kitty

Posted on October 16, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! Today I wanted to tell you about a line of lipsticks that I’ve been loving! Thanks to Birchbox, I’ve received two of the ModelCo Party Proof Matte Lipsticks in the past few months (one as a bonus with an order and the other in my monthly box). I’m not usually a big lipstick wearer, as I much prefer tinted lip balms, but I’m happily surprised with how awesome this lipstick range is. I thought I would go ahead and review the two I own for all of you!

First up is the shade Get Naked, the perfect peachy nude lipstick. One of the reasons I love these lipsticks is the formula. I love matte lips, but matte products tend to be very drying. The Party Proof line, however, feels very moisturizing and creamy on the lips. It does have a matte finish, but is glossier than other matte lipsticks I’ve tried. I really like that! Get Naked is also the perfect nude shade for my fair skin tone. It’s definitely a must have!

The other Party Proof lipstick I own is Kitty, a rosy mauve shade that is truly a “my lips but better” color. Kitty also has a creamy formula that stays in place all day. I feel much more polished and put together with this lipstick, but at the same time I still have a natural look. It’s a great every day shade, and the matte finish is perfection.

All in all, I’m so glad I discovered the ModelCo Party Proof Matte Lipstick line through Birchbox! These lipsticks are available for purchase on the Birchbox website HERE in sets of three for $24 each. I think that is a decent price for three lipsticks! Both Get Naked and Kitty come in the Neutrals trio along with Dusk Till Dawn. There is also a Classics trio available for purchase. I think at some point in the future I’ll be snagging more of these lipsticks for my collection now that I know how much I love the formula! The sleek white packaging is a pure bonus! Please let me know if you’ve tried any ModelCo products in the comments!

Show Your College Student You Care with #AmazonWishList!

Posted on October 14, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias. #AmazonWishList #AmazonHasIt #CollectiveBias

#AmazonWishList #AmazonHasIt #shop #CollectiveBias Happy Tuesday! Today I am so excited to bring you information about the new #AmazonWishList feature! I am a dedicated Amazon shopper, and use many of the company’s features including Prime, the Rewards Credit Card, and, of course, Wish List. Now Amazon has made shopping with the site even easier. This post will explain the new #AmazonWishList feature, and also share how easy it is to shop for your college student through the site. Make sure to stay tuned through the end to find out how you can win awesome prizes from Amazon, too!

WHAT IS #AMAZONWISHLIST?

Adding items to your Wish List has never been easier! If you’re browsing Twitter and see an awesome product that you want to buy, now you don’t have to go searching for it on the web! So long as the Tweet contains an Amazon link, just reply to it using the hashtag #AmazonWishList and the item will automatically be added to your Wish List! To set up your account, simply link your Twitter and Amazon accounts together. Then, get adding! Here’s an example of how the program works.

Find a Tweet that Contains an Amazon Product Link
Reply to the Tweet Using #AmazonWishList

3. The Item is Now on Your Wish List!As you can see from the timestamps on my screenshots, this entire process took just one minute to complete! Keep in mind that your Twitter profile needs to be set to Public in order for Amazon to see your tweet. Feel free to read more about the program’s details on Amazon’s website HERE.

SHARE THE LOVE WITH YOUR COLLEGE STUDENT

This #AmazonWishList feature makes it easier than ever to send care packages to your favorite college student. As a student myself, I know how awesome it is to receive a package in the mail from a loved one. Goodies like candy and bath and body products are always nice, but Amazon has awesome practical gift packs that are ready to purchase at the click of a button. One care package that I think is a brilliant idea is the Proctor & Gamble Laundry Bundle. Not only is doing laundry a huge pain, but laundry products can be pretty expensive, especially when you’re a college student. I would love this bundle!

For just $32.99, you get everything you need for 70 loads of laundry: Tide Pods Spring Meadow, Downy Unstoppables Fresh, and Bounce Outdoor Fresh Sheets. Not only will you get great results with a fresh and clean feel, but you can also save an additional 5% when you sign up for a subscription to the Laundry Care Bundle Pack. That way, your college student will never have to worry about buying laundry products! Talk about an amazing gift! Head on over to Amazon HERE to purchase this bundle now!

I was so excited about this new program with Amazon that I decided to create some Tide inspired nails! One of the ways I stay sane during college is by painting my nails, and my suitemates and I used to meet up for nail painting parties in the common room. We would share our nail polish collections, swap nail art ideas, and just take a breather from work. I loved it! Let me know if you’d like a full tutorial of this look in the comments!

#AMAZONWISHLIST TWITTER PARTY

If this post has peaked your interest about the new features Amazon has to offer, I definitely recommend stopping by the #AmazonWishList Social Shopping Part on Wednesday, October 15 from 11:00am-12:00pm EST. During the party you’ll learn about the featured products and find out about special promotions. Plus, Amazon will be giving away 10 Kindles! How awesome is that?! Make sure to use the hashtags #AmazonWishList and #AmazonHasIt to take part and RSVP to the Twitter party HERE.

I hope you have enjoyed learning about the amazing new #AmazonWishList feature today, and that you will consider sending a care package to your favorite college student. Whether it’s the Laundry Care Pack or other goodies, I know he or she will appreciate the kindness. Please let me know in the comments what your favorite Amazon feature is, and if you’ll be testing out the #AmazonWishList program!

Zoya Nail Polish MatteVelvet Collection

Posted on October 12, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Sunday! Today I’m bringing you a review of the complete MatteVelvet Collection from Zoya Nail Polish! I absolutely love matte nails, especially in the colder months of the year. This year Zoya re-released the brand’s six, best-selling matte polishes, and I was extremely lucky to receive them for review. I’ve never tried any of Zoya’s matte formulas before, so I couldn’t wait to test these out. Let me go ahead and show you the stunning MatteVelvet line!

First up is Loredana, a gunmetal grey polish with silver shimmer mixed throughout the base. Like all of the polishes in this collection, Loredana is opaque in two coats and has a perfect formula. The shimmer is quite pronounced in this polish, which gives it a cool metallic look. Loredana is great if you don’t want a super dark polish this fall.

Next up is Savita, my absolute favorite in the collection! Savita is a beautiful deep purple polish with a subtle red and gold shimmer. I am just beyond obsessed with this polish! It looks so classy and divine. I can’t wait to wear Savita a lot in the coming months!

Posh is up next, and it’s a red polish with red shimmer. Posh is definitely one of my favorite red polishes of all time. The matte finish compliments my fair skin tone really nicely, and the red shimmer gives the shade an added dimension. I can see Posh working for many Halloween looks, as well as Christmas manicures as well!

Next is Veruschka, an emerald green matte with green and gold shimmer. I love the rich pigmentation in this polish, and how flawless it looks on my nails. I’m not sure that I would wear Veruschka on a regular basis, but it’s perfect for the holiday season!

Zoya – Harlow Next up is Harlow, a polish that’s somewhere between pink and purple, and packed with silver shimmer. The shimmer is really vibrant in Harlow, and I actually wish it was more subdued. Nonetheless, this is a feminine polish that’s wearable in all seasons.

Last but not least is Dovima, a charcoal polish with silver shimmer. Dovima is definitely my second favorite in the MatteVelvet line after Savita. I love the deep shade, and the subtle shimmer. Plus, it is a manicure that can go with any outfit and it looks really cool. I’m wearing it as I type up this blog post!

All in all, I am loving the Zoya MatteVelvet Collection! Matte polishes are some of my favorites to wear, and I love when polish formulas in and of themselves are matte so I don’t need to apply a special top coat. Not only do these polishes dry quickly, but they don’t chip easily. I highly recommend each and every shade in the collection! You can purchase the MatteVelvet polishes directly from Zoya HERE for $9 each. Be sure to let me know which MatteVelvet is your favorite 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.

Zoya Matte Cloud Nail Art | Fall 2014

Posted on October 9, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! Today I have a fun fall manicure to show you that I created using some of the Fall 2014 Zoya Nail Polish colors. I’ve been wearing Margo a lot lately, and decided to add some bling to the beautiful creme by adding in the Ultra PixieDust shades. Let me show you how I combined these polishes!

First, I started off with a base of Margo and let that dry. Then, I used each of the Ultra PixieDusts one at a time to create an ombré cloud. I began with Oswin, and then added on Arianna and Noir letting each coat dry in between. Finally, I used a matte top coat over the top to create a uniform finish. The ombré is subtle, but really pretty!

All in all, this manicure is super easy to create, but really nice for fall! You can learn more about the polishes I used in this post be reading my full reviews HERE and HERE. Let me know how you like to rock the Zoya polishes seen here 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.

Abstract Floral Nails with Born Pretty Store Water Decals

Posted on October 7, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! Today I have a review of some floral water decals from Born Pretty Store. Water decals are such a fun and easy way to create a nail art look, and I’ve always enjoyed testing them out in the past. You can see the other manicures I’ve created with water decals HERE, but let’s jump right into today’s look!

This set of water decals contains a beautiful floral pattern with red flowers. There are two rows of five blocks that can be cut into any shape you desire. I love that these decals are quite customizable. You can shape them to fit your entire nail, or cut them into funky shapes. The sheet itself retails for just $1.99 and can be purchased HERE.

I decided to go with an abstract look, and began with a base of Jordana Merry Mint (full review HERE). Once my green base was completely dry, I began adding on random pieces of the decals. I finished with a glossy top coat, and I’m loving the result! It reminds me of vintage wallpaper, and looks like a collage project. I know it won’t be everyone’s style, but the colors and pattern are really cool to me.

All in all, I love using water decals to easily dress up any manicure! As always, you can find these decals and many other nail art products on Born Pretty Store’s website at amazingly low prices. Use my discount code FZL91 for an additional 10% off! Let me know in the comments how you would use these water decals!