Adventures in Polishland

Feather Water Decals from Born Pretty Store | 2 Different Looks

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

Happy Wednesday! Today I have a review of some feather water decals from Born Pretty Store. I’ve seen people create feather manicures with actual craft feathers before, but I’m just not a fan of putting something furry like that onto my nails. When I saw these fun and colorful feathers on the Born Pretty Store website, I was excited to see how they would look! Let me show you the manicures I created with these decals.

First up, here is the sheet of water decals. As you can see, the feathers come in some really fun colors, and have some glitter running through them as well! This sheet is also $0.99 on the Born Pretty Store website HERE! There are eight different feather designs, so you can pick the one for you.

I first used the decals over Wet ‘n Wild Megalast in On a Trip. After my base color dried, a carefully cut out each feather that I wanted to use, removed the protective film, and placed the decal under water for about 15-20 seconds. Then, I carefully placed the decal on my nail. I really love how the feathers look over this purple color! The colors in the feather are still visible, but because they are faint I think they look like real feathers. Of course, I added top coat to get a really shiny finish.

I also wanted to show these decals over a white polish so that you can see how bright the colors are. I messed up my pointer finger a bit (user error here, there’s nothing wrong with the product!), but I’m still loving how vivid the feathers look. The base color of your manicure really changes the look of these decals, which I think is really cool!

All in all, I’m so glad I tried out these feather water decals! They are easy to use, and look great with almost any base color. Of course, you can use these for an accent nail, a skittle manicure, or any other type of nail art! At just $0.99 you can’t go wrong! As always, feel free to use discount code FZL91 for an additional 10% off. Let me know what you think of these feather manicures in the comments!

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

L’Oreal Paris Miss Denim Limited Edition Collection | Distressed Turquoise and Jean & Tonic

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

Happy Monday! I was recently perusing the limited edition displays at Duane Reade and found the Miss Denim Collection by L’Oreal Paris. I absolutely love L’Oreal polishes, so when I saw some gorgeous textured creams, I knew I had to grab a couple. I decided to grab two of the pastel shades to add to my collection.

First up is Distressed Turquoise, a sky blue polish. I applied two coats to achieve opacity, and I am loving the formula! It dries amazingly fast and glides on with ease. I wore Distressed Turquoise for a few days, but did experience chipping on the second day of wear. I was a bit disappointed with that, but the good thing with textured polish is you can always add another coat and it still looks great!

I also picked up Jean & Tonic, a deep seafoam shade that looks a bit more turquoise to me than Distressed Turquoise! Jean & Tonic also has a flawless formula that is opaque in two coats. It is more long-lasting, and I wore it for about 3-4 days before I experienced any wear. I do recommend a healthy layer of base coat with this polish, as it can stain if you don’t protect your nails. I’ve already worn this polish a few times this past month!

All in all, I am really loving the Miss Denim Collection from L’Oreal Paris! Not only do they have a great application, but they come off easily with a regular nail polish removal process – no foil needed! These polishes range from $4.99-6.49 at your local drugstore, so make sure to be on the hunt for them this summer. You don’t want to miss out on these limited edition shades if you love textured polish as much as I do!

Is there a drugstore nail polish you would like me to review on Adventures in Polishland? Let me know in the comments!

Kisspat Statement Necklace Review, Giveaway, & Nail Art!

Posted on July 5, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! I’m excited to bring you a fun blog post that incorporates fashion, nails, and a giveaway for all of you! I got the opportunity to review a statement necklace from the online boutique Kisspat, and thought I’d show you the jewelry, and in addition create a nail art look inspired by the piece!

NECKLACE REVIEW

Statement Necklace – Product Code KNSN-040M – $8.95 [BUY]

I love statement necklaces, and this design from Kisspat is definitely up my alley! The colors are beautiful, and I like the touch of rhinestones. This necklace is very lightweight, and good quality for the $8.95 price tag. The one main drawback, however, is that the chain turned my neck green! I wore this for about an hour, and had a green band around my neck. I was not a fan of that! I do really love this necklace, though, so I might try to wear it with a high-necked blouse in the future. There are 11 different colors for this product, so you can definitely find the shades that suit you best!

NAIL ART

I thought this necklace would make a great manicure, so I grabbed some polishes and rhinestones and created a nail art look! I used Color Club’s Aquamarine Azulino from the Gala’s Gems Collection for the blue and Julep’s Alexandra for the neutral shade. I used tweezers to place some rhinestones on my accent nail, and voila! I am loving this nail art look! It’s classy, yet still fun at the same time.

GIVEAWAY

I’m giving away one necklace from Kisspat! Please read the Terms & Conditions in the Rafflecopter widget before entering!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I hope you liked today’s fashion and fingernails post! Let me know if you’d like to see more posts like this in the future!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

PLEASE NOTE: AS OF AUGUST 4, 2014 KISSPAT’S WEBSITE WAS REMOVED. IF FOR SOME REASON IT IS REINSTATED, I SUGGEST NOT USING THE SITE. EMAIL ME AT ADVENTURESINPOLISHLAND@GMAIL.COM WITH QUESTIONS.

Kimble Beauty Hair Care Review | Shine Serum & Silk Non-Metal Elastics

Posted on July 4, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I’m excited to bring you a review of two hair care products from the brand Kimble Beauty. This brand is run by star Kim Kimble of the show L.A. Hair. I’ve never tried any of her products before, so I couldn’t wait to test these out! Plus, I have a special discount code for all of you, so stay tuned to the end of this post!

SHINE SERUM

This Shine Serum is made with Brazilian nut and açai berry ingredients, and is designed to add shine to dull and dry hair. I have very frizzy hair, especially in the summer humidity, so I couldn’t wait to give this a try. The trick with this Shine Serum is less is more! First, I tried two pumps, but that was way too much. I’ve since discovered that just half a pump of this rich product leaves my hair looking soft and silky, but not oily. Plus, this smells divine! This serum retails for about $12.99, but one 2oz bottle will last a very long time. I definitely recommend it if you have dry or frizzy hair!

SILK NON-METAL ELASTICS

I love my ribbon hair ties, but sometimes it’s great to have a plain, black elastic. Not only are these hair elastics designed to prevent breakage, but silk actually helps to maintain healthy looking hair by minimizing friction and preventing natural oils from depleting! I never knew that the material of a hair elastic could be so important! I’ve been using these since I got them, and love them! A pack of 6 elastics retails for $12.99.

All in all, I’m loving these products from Kimble Beauty! If you would like to try them out, shop online HERE and use code hair10 at checkout to get 10% off your purchase! You can use this code to buy any products in the Kimble Beauty line. Have you ever tried this brand before? 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.

Red Lip Colors for July 4th from NYC New York Color!

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

Happy Thursday! Yesterday I showed you a fabulous and affordable manicure for July 4th (see that post HERE), and today it’s time for some festive red lips! If you’re looking for some great lip colors that you can grab at your local drugstore, this is the post for you!

CITY PROOF TWISTABLE INTENSE LIP COLOR

Roosevelt Island Red – $2.99

The City Proof Twistable Intense Lip Color is designed to be lightweight, soft, and silky. It applies really easily thanks to the crayon-like applicator, and smells just like fruit punch! I find Roosevelt Island Red to be very glossy and moisturizing. It has a good color payoff, but is not completely opaque. If you’re going for a more natural look, I highly recommend this lip color! You can also wear it on top of a lipstick for added shine.

EXPERT LAST LIP COLOR

Traffic Jam – $1.99

I’ve tried one Expert Last Lip Color in the past, and didn’t have a great experience (see that review HERE), but I’m happy to report that I’m loving Traffic Jam! It is extremely moisturizing, and glides on with ease. The formula is creamy, and extremely pigmented. With one coat I got an opaque look! Traffic Jam is actually quite a wearable shade, especially with my fair skin tone. This lip color definitely stains your lips, though, so be careful during application!

All in all, I’m very impressed with these new lip colors from NYC New York Color! Not only are they incredibly affordable, but they are high quality as well. If you’re looking to rock a red lip this Fourth of July, stop by your local drugstore to grab one (or both!) of these. I’ll definitely be checking out more shades from these lines in the future!

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

July 4th Nails with Sally Hansen Color Frenzy in Red, White & Hue!

Posted on July 2, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! The Fourth of July is right around the corner, and if you’re looking to create a festive manicure without the fuss, I’ve got you covered! Sally Hansen’s new Color Frenzy line contains glitter polishes that have a mix of colors and shapes in a unique suspension formula. There are eight fun colors in the line, but the perfect one to celebrate America is called Red, White & Hue. Let me show you this fun polish!

Red, White and Hue contains (you guessed it) red, white, and blue glitters in a clear base. The glitters are hexagonally shaped, and are in small and medium sizes. I layered one coat over Zoya’s Blu to get this manicure. I am impressed with how easily the glitters in Red, White and Hue apply to the nail, and the coverage with one coat. I didn’t even apply a top coat, as the Color Frenzy base is quite shiny on its own!

I also tested Red, White and Hue over a white base. While the white glitters do blend in a bit, I like how this manicure looks as well. If you’re looking for a fun nail art look this holiday, try layering Red, White and Hue over a skittle manicure of all different polishes!

All in all, I’m loving this easy and affordable July 4th manicure! You can purchase Sally Hansen Color Frenzy polishes at your local drugstore, food store, or department store for just $5.99 each. I’m definitely going to checkout the other polishes in this collection! Let me know in the comments what manicure you’ll be wearing to celebrate America’s birthday! Feel free to use hashtag #PolishlandRWB so I can see your nails!

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

Jet Away June Wrap Up | It’s Time to Book Your Trip!

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

Happy Tuesday! Now that it’s July, Jet Away June has come to a close. I hope you all enjoyed the themed month! You can see all of my Jet Away June posts in one place by clicking on the Jet Away June category HERE. In June, I shared many of my own personal travel tips with all of you, so I thought it fitting that I wrap up the month by sharing the websites I like to use to book my trips.

MY FAVORITE AIRLINE

Flying can be very uncomfortable, especially if you don’t fly often. I’ve recently tried JetBlue for the first time, and it is now my go-to airline. Not only are the seats more comfortable than other planes, because you have extra legroom, but each passenger gets her own TV with several different channels to watch for free. Plus, you get free, unlimited snacks! How awesome is that?! JetBlue employees are also really nice. Like any airline, there have been some bad press about JetBlue in the news, but it’s honestly the best airline I’ve ever taken!

FINDING A CHEAP FLIGHT

My first step is always using Kayak to find a cheap flight. While JetBlue is definitely my personal favorite, I’m willing to fly on another airline if it is substantially cheaper. Kayak is a great tool that finds the most affordable flights from many airlines in one place. They also offer what is called “hacker” flights that combine flights from different airlines to save you even more money. I’ve neve purchased from Kayak directly, but I always use it to search before I shop.

THE PERFECT ONE-SHOP-STOP FOR BOOKING YOUR TRIP

If you’re looking for affordable flights, hotels, rental cars, and more, Orbitz is definitely a great option! You can book your flight and hotel separately, or pick a package deal. I used Orbitz for the first time a few months back and had a great experience. On top of the every day low prices, Orbitz also has a rewards program and they send out coupons all the time!

EARN CASH BACK

Finally, don’t forget to use Ebates when you book your trip online! Many websites, such as Orbitz, offer you cash back when you book your vacation. Flights and hotels can be very expensive, so every bit that you can save counts!

Well, that wraps up my Jet Away June month! I hope you enjoyed all of my posts and found them helpful. Let me know in the comments where you’ll be traveling this summer. I’d love to hear all about your trip!

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

Jet Away June | Caravan Stylist Studio in NYC

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

Happy Monday! Today’s Jet Away June post is for all of you who will be traveling to New York City! As you may know, I live in NYC, but with the thousands of tourists that visit the city every day I figured some of you would be stopping by this summer. I recently had the opportunity to visit the Caravan Stylist Studio at the Carlton Hotel thanks to Cottonelle. This is definitely a great hidden gem in the city that you need to hear more about before visiting!

The Caravan Stylist Studio is an appointment-only hub where actors, musicians, bloggers, and guests of the Carlton Hotel can get a complete head-to-toe look done before an event. Caravan offers nail, makeup, and hair services, in addition to fashion styling. Of course, I couldn’t wait to get my nails done at the studio! Cottonelle sent me to the Summertime Lounge Event, so I could learn about Caravan, and I even got to meet fellow blogger Faith over at Sassy Ethnic Bohemian who was celebrating her one year blogiversary!

Caravan is sponsored by a number of brand partners that provide the products for the studio. If you visit Caravan, you’ll be able to learn more about all of the brands and the different products they offer. I loved learning about the brands, especially Kryolan makeup and the new ZipLoop app. Cottonelle also sponsors the Caravan’s bathroom, which is decorated with a cute shower curtain and a signature “Let’s Talk Bums” sign! The photo above is a sneak peek of all of the goodies at Caravan. The studio is set up beautifully, and I loved the welcoming atmosphere!

One brand that I already knew and loved is Zoya Nail Polish! I was so excited to find out that Zoya is the official nail polish brand of the Caravan Stylist Studio! I got my nails done with a neutral shade, but the studio is currently showing off the beautiful brights Zoya has to offer for summer. I want to give a huge shout-out to Valerie Star, who did my nails and told me all about Caravan. She was really nice, and showed me some of the amazing nail art that she does on her clients. If you stop by Caravan, she’ll be the one to see! I also got my makeup done, and loved the fresh-faced, natural look I got!

All in all, the Caravan Stylist Studio is a great place to visit during the summer months when it’s hot outside and you need to freshen up! Whether you need a head-to-toe look for an evening out, or simply want to get a new manicure done, Caravan is the place to be! The studio is open to bloggers, editors, celebrities, and other special guests. More information can be found on Caravan’s official website HERE. If you’re visiting NYC this summer, I highly recommend stopping by Caravan if you get the chance!

I was sent to Caravan by Cottonelle through the website Crowdtap. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Subscription Sunday | June Birchbox

Posted on June 22, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! Today I have my June Birchbox to share with all of you. When I received my box in the mail this month, I was super excited to open it because it was much heavier than it usually is. Let me go ahead and show you my June products!

This month, Birchbox’s theme is Away We Go! It seems like I’m not the only one with traveling on the brain this month – Birchbox does, too! In fact, the company teamed up with JetBlue to give away a round trip flight. I hope I win!

Here are the first set of products in my June Birchbox. I’ll tell you a bit about each one from left to right:

Coastal Scents Revealed Palette Sampler – $3.20 – This eyeshadow sampler contains four neutral shades from the new Coastal Scents palette. I really like this idea for a sampler, as it lets me test out more than one shadow from a brand, and will last me a long time.
Davines Love Shampoo – $7.50 – This is a great size shampoo sample, and it smells amazing! I can’t wait to try it, as it’s formulated for dry and frizzy hair like mine.
Gilchrist & Soames Body Lotion – $3.00 – I like the idea of this body lotion as it is eco-friendly and spa-worthy, but the fragrance is a bit strong for me. This is still a great size sample!
Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator – $5.67 – It seems like I get a new cleanser every month. I wish there was a bit more variety, but this is a great one for travel because it is an exfoliating cleanser and a good size!

Davines Love Conditioner – $1.41 – I also got a conditioner that matches the shampoo sample I got. Normally I don’t like foil packets, but I think it’s great that I can test this along with the shampoo at least once or twice.
Davines Ol All in One Milk – $0.83 – I also got a sample of the hair treatment from the Davines line! I can’t wait to try out the entire hair care system!
Catherine Malandrino CM Perfume – $0.88 – Finally, I got a perfume sample that actually smells amazing! I’m excited to test it out!

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $22.49

RATING 1-5 (1 IS WORST, 5 IS BEST): 4

OVERALL OPINION: I love this month’s Birchbox! Not only did I get four amazing samples, but I got three smaller ones as well. Even though the retail value isn’t very high, it’s more than double what I paid for the box, and I’m sure to use every single one of these samples. I would definitely like more diversity in my Birchbox, but I can’t go wrong with anything here.

You can join Birchbox for just $10 per month HERE. I really love this subscription service, and highly recommend it! Do you subscribe already? Let me know what was inside your June box in the comments!

Jet Away June | Airport Security 101

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

Happy Wednesday! It’s time for another Jet Away June post! If you’re traveling via airplane this summer, it’s inevitable that you’ll have to go through airport security. For those who don’t travel very often, airport security can be a frightening unknown. There are what seems like endless rules to follow, and everyone dreads the long lines. I’m hoping that my post today will help ease your stress. I’ve come up with three simple steps to ensure you airport security success!

1. Know the Rules and Process

As I mentioned in my What’s in My “Liquids” Bag? post, the Transportation Security Administration (“TSA”) is the governmental agency in charge of airport security. Of course, the most important step for anyone to take before flying is to become familiar with the TSA website HERE. That’s where you can find the official rules. If you have any questions that this post leaves unanswered, definitely contact the TSA directly, as this post is just regarding my own personal tips and experiences. The TSA agents at the airport will also help you if you have any last minute questions. Just remember to be polite!

The process at security is simple. First, you show your ID and boarding pass to an agent. Then, you place your items into bins and onto the conveyer belt. This requires you to remove your shoes, take out your liquids bag, and remove your laptop from your carry-on (tablets and cell phones can remain in you bags). Next, an agent will direct you through the body scanner. Then you can retrieve your belongings. That’s it!

2. Plan Ahead

To make your visit at airport security as easy and painless as possible, have a plan. Here is what my plan is when I fly:

Have ID and Boarding Pass in Hand – As soon as I get to the airport, I take out my ID and Boarding Pass. The first checkpoint through security will look at both of these documents, so if you have them ready the process will move quickly.
Create an Order – Once your ID is checked, you usually only need to wait a few minutes before you start putting your belongings in the bins and on the conveyer belt. I plan the order in which I do things so I don’t scramble at the last minute: backpack/carry-on goes first, then a bin with my laptop and liquids bag, and finally a bin with my purse, shoes, and jacket.

Once your items are on the conveyer belt, a TSA agent will ask you to step through the body scanner. Then, all you need to do is retrieve your belongings and you’re done! Because you planned ahead, you’ll be able to grab your things and make room for the next person.

3. Be Patient

My last tip is simple – remain calm and be patient! Remember that the TSA agents are there to keep you safe, and will encounter thousands of passengers in a single day. If you have a question, ask politely and they will help you. If something goes wrong, which it shouldn’t, patience is key.

Always anticipate that the lines at airport security may be long. If you give yourself extra time, you’ll have no reason to panic. There are several factors that can affect how early you should arrive at the airport, such as time of day, time of year, and geographic location. I like to be at the airport about 1 hour and 30 minutes before my flight leaves. I would rather spend some extra time at the gate than miss my flight!

That’s it for my three simple tips to airport security! I hope you found them helpful. If you have any extra tips, please share them in the comments!