Adventures in Polishland

Mosaic Nail Art with Diamond Glitter from Born Pretty Store

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

Happy Saturday! Today I have a fun nail art post featuring diamond glitters from Born Pretty Store! I’ve experimented with loose glitter before, but never with diamonds. Let me show you the glitter and how I used it!

This glitter pot is filed with mylar glitters in the shape of a diamond. The colors include, gold, silver, blue, pink, and green. I really like that this pot has a screw-on top so the glitters don’t go everywhere when I open it. The pot is also very easy to store, as I don’t have to worry about it popping open either. It retails for just $2.62 on Born Pretty Store’s website HERE.

I decided to place the glitters individually on an accent nail for my manicure. I used a pair of tweezers to help me out, and it made the job very easy. First, I began with a white base because I wanted the colors to really stand out. Then, while the polish was still tacky, I carefully applied the glitters. I sealed my manicure with a top coat, and was ready to go! I love how my nail art turned out!

All in all, I’m really liking these diamond nail glitters from Born Pretty Store! They are easy to use, and even the packaging is great. I highly recommend them, and I think I’ll be trying out other looks with them in the future. Don’t forget to use code FZL91 to score an extra 10% off on the Born Pretty Store website.

Born Pretty Store | Adventures in Polishland The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

UNi 100% Pure Moroccan Argan Oil for Hair & Skin Review

Posted on May 22, 2014August 8, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Happy Thursday! Today I have a review of Moroccan Argan Oil from the brand UNi. I’ve slowly but surely been testing out different oils, whether they be for the skin or hair, and decided to finally give the real deal a try. Argan oil gets a lot of hype in the beauty community, so I was really interested in how it compares to some of the other products I’ve tried thus far. Let me tell you a bit more about this product, and share my experience with you!

The UNi Argan Oil is sourced directly from Moroccan Argan Kernels found only in Morocco! This argan oil is considered 100% pure because it is cold pressed from unroasted kernels. The process sounds almost like brewing coffee from whole beans to me! Argan Oil is great for your skin and hair because it contains essential fatty acids The UNi brand is USDA Certified Organic, and is designed to rejuvenate and regenerate your skin and hair with its non-greasy and lightweight formula. The reason I’ve stayed away from oils in the past was because I was afraid it would make my already oily hair even worse, so I was excited and nervous to give this a try!

I’ve been using this argan oil on the ends of my hair after showering for the past few weeks. At first, I used about a dime size amount, and that was way too much. My hair definitely felt greasy and sticky, so now I’ve reduced the amount of oil to three, small drops. To apply the oil, rub your hands together to warm it up and then massage it into your hair or skin. While three drops felt like nothing, I noticed a big difference in my hair – it was shinier, easier to style, and appeared a bit fuller. Keep in mind that this product does have a slight nutty scent due to its organic nature.

All in all, I am so glad I gave this argan oil a try! I will continue to use it on my hair, and slowly use it on my skin as I begin my new skincare routine. This 2oz bottle retails for $35.99, but as I’m typing this the product is on sale for just $14.99 with free shipping on Amazon HERE. That is an amazing price for argan oil, so I definitely recommend grabbing it right away! Even if you miss this sale, a 2oz bottle is going to last a very long time as only a few drops are needed for each application. If you’ve been waiting to try argan oil, the UNi brand is a great place to start!

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.

Born Pretty Store Brush Set Review & Nail Art FAIL!

Posted on May 20, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! Today’s post is a review of a brush set from Born Pretty Store that led to a nail art fail! I was so excited to receive this set, as I am not a nail art expert and I thought this set would help me create beautiful designs. Well, the set is great, but let’s be real – special brushes aren’t going to magically improve my art skills! I wasn’t going to include my manicure fail, but I wanted to show it so you can see that not all nail polish bloggers are professionals, and because it took me a lot of time and effort to even create this look. Let me just jump right in and share the brush kit and manicure with you!

This brush kit comes with six nail art brushes and a dotting tool. The brushes come in all different sizes, and the set even includes a fan brush. The dotting tool is quite small, but definitely a great tool to have in your collection. This set retails for a very affordable $5.46, and can be purchased HERE. The brushes all seem to be very nice quality, though because this is my first nail art brush kit I can’t compare the set to others.

I experimented with a lot of the brushes in this set, but unfortunately couldn’t get any great results yet. I think this is definitely a practice makes perfect type of thing! For the manicure you see below, I used this angled brush. I attempted to do a striped design.

Well, here’s my manicure fail! I began with Zoya Rooney as a base color, and Rocha for the stripes. I waited until Rooney was dry before painting on my stripes. The brush itself was fine, but my hands were so shaky that I just couldn’t get a straight line. These are my art skills at their finest!

All in all, I’m still glad I got the chance to try out this brush kit from Born Pretty Store. I’m sure with practice my nail art will improve, but I hope you don’t mind that I shared my fail manicure with you today. Believe it or not I worked hard on it! If you have a difficult time making your nail art look good, you are not alone! Don’t get discouraged – you can still get beautiful nails with stickers, rhinestones, etc. Have you ever had a fail manicure? Tell me about it in the comments!

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

Products I’ve Used Up #3

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

Happy Sunday! It’s time for another round of products I’ve used up where I share mini reviews about all of the different products I’ve used the last couple months. I actually finished these products up a few weeks ago, but am just now getting around to posting this entry. That means another one is probably not too far behind. Nonetheless, let me share my empties with you!

NAIL CARE

CVS Strengthening Polish Remover – I am always going through nail polish remover! This is the purple formula that you can find at the drugstore. It was alright, but I’ll be going back to normal acetone. That stuff really works!
Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Rockstar Pink – I went to use one of my all-time favorite nail polishes just to discover it was all dried up! What a bummer! I used this so much during my senior year of college that my suitemates knew it was my signature polish. At some point I’ll be repurchasing this. [BUY]

HAIR CARE

L’Oreal Triple Resist Reinforcing Shampoo – I really love this line from L’Oreal. It’s super affordable, and my hair reacts well to it. If you are looking for a good shampoo from the drugstore, I highly recommend this line.
Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment – If you’ve been reading Adventures in Polishland for a while, you know I love this hair oil! I’ve repurchased it again, so I’m currently working on my third bottle. I know this is expensive, so I always buy it when I get a percent off coupon from CVS! [BUY]

MAKEUP AND MAKEUP REMOVER

Benefit Gimme Brow in Light/Medium – I absolutely love this eyebrow gel! It fills in your brows while keeping them groomed. I used it on days where I wanted just a bit of color on my brows. I wish it wasn’t so expensive or I would repurchase it for sure. [BUY]
Urban Decay De Slick Setting Spray – You can tell it took me a long time to use up my De Slick setting spray because this is the old packaging! It lasted me nearly a year, and I’ve already repurchased the All Nighter version. I definitely recommend these setting sprays! [BUY]
Simple Cleansing Wipes – I haven’t been using makeup remover wipes as much, but I did go through another pack of Simple wipes. They’re not my favorite, but they get the job done! [BUY]
Almay Lash Care Eye Makeup Remover Pads – I loved these pads! They do an excellent job of removing that stubborn mascara, and they’re very gentle. I would definitely consider repurchasing these in the future. [BUY]

SKINCARE

Bioré Deep Cleansing Pore Strips – These strips are amazing! I try to use them once per week to clean out my pores. I do recommend them, but read all of the instructions before use so you don’t damage your skin. I’m working on a new box now! [BUY]
Olay Fresh Effects Shine, Shine Go Away Cleanser – I got this free sample of this cleanser and I did like it, but wasn’t amazed by it. I didn’t see a huge difference in my skin when I used it, so I don’t think I’ll repurchase it. I do like the other products in the Olay Fresh Effects line, though! [BUY]

BODY CARE

CVS Hand Sanitizer – I always keep a small hand sanitizer in my purse or school bag. You never know when you’re going to need to clean your hands on the go!
Bath & Bodyworks Hand Sanitizer in Mango Paradise – I also used up the sanitizer that lives on my desk! I got this last year for free with a coupon at Bath & Bodyworks. It did smell nice, but I prefer unscented sanitizer. For that reason, I’m not going to repurchase it.
Lady Gage Fame Perfume Sample – I absolutely love Lady Gaga’s perfume! It smells amazing, and I’ve used up all the samples of it that I’ve gotten with Sephora orders. At some point I’ll probably purchase the full size. I highly recommend it! [BUY]
Philosophy Vanilla Birthday Cake Body Wash – I splurged on some Philosophy body wash a few months ago, and I’m glad I did! This one smells just like vanilla cake, and is a great treat. I would get it again during a sale event, but it’s a little expensive for every day. [BUY]
Dove Go Fresh Deodorant in Revive – I’ve used Dove deodorants for a long time since they are affordable and worked well for me. However, I think my body has become used to it, so I’m on the hunt for a great new deodorant. Let me know your favorite in the comments! [BUY]

And those are all of my empties for my third Products I’ve Used Up post! Please let me know what products you’ve recently used up that you are going to repurchase in the comments!

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

Adovia Natural Dead Sea Mud Soap Review

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

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Happy Friday! One of my favorite types of products to try out is bar soap. In fact, you may have seen me feature some awesome bar soaps in my monthly favorites posts! I just love testing out new brands and scents, so when I got the opportunity to review the Natural Dead Sea Mud Soap from Adovia, I couldn’t wait to give it a try! Let me tell you more about this soap, and share my experience with you.

The Adovia Natural Dead Sea Mud Soap is a soap enriched with century old Dead Sea mud that infuses your skin with minerals to keep it hydrated while it cleanses at the same time. It can be used on your body and face, but should not be used to wash your eyes. I wanted to try this soap because it is advertised to be great for acne, and it’s all natural. In April, I got a nasty breakout along my jawline and on my upper back (sorry if this is a bit personal, but hey, we’re all friends here!) I was really hoping this Adovia soap would help clear up my breakout!

When I first got the soap, I loved the fresh and clean scent! It was strong during my first use, but died down significantly after that. I was so disappointed! However, if you don’t like strong smelling soaps, that might be a plus for you. I’ve used this bar of soap all up in the shower over a course of three weeks. I was really impressed that the soap lasted that long, as I usually use up a bar of soap in 1-2 weeks. I am happy to report that my back is clear of all the acne I had. My jawline, on the other hand, is still not 100% clear. I did see a small improvement, but my acne is definitely still there. That may be due to me using a lot of products, such as moisturizers, sunscreen, or makeup on my face, but I still would have liked that acne to disappear as well.

All in all, I did like the Adovia Natural Dead Sea Mud Soap. I like using an all natural product, and I’m glad it cleared up the acne on my back. I do wish that the clean scent was stronger, and lasted for the entire use of the bar of soap. If you are looking for a gentle soap that will help with your acne, I do recommend this, but know that it is a little bit of a splurge at $16.00 retail. This is a good product to keep on hand for when you suffer an acne breakout, but maybe not for every day use. You can purchase the Advoia soap on Amazon HERE. Let me know if you’ve ever tried a specialty soap for acne in the comments!

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.

Zoya Bubbly Collection for Summer 2014

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

Happy Wednesday! Today I’m bringing you another review of a brand new Zoya collection for this summer! You can read all about the Tickled Collection HERE, but today’s post is all about the Bubbly Collection. I am so intrigued with the Bubbly Collection! Each of the six polishes has what Zoya has coined a “liquid-metal, holographic jelly formula.” Confused? Understandable – these polishes are like nothing I’ve ever seen before, so let me go ahead and share them with you!

First up is Alma, a tangerine orange polish with golden glitters. Alma is opaque in two coats, and applied quite easily. I was rather impressed with how smoothly the Bubbly polishes apply to the nail. Though they have a bit of a textured look, they actually dry to a smooth finish! I really like Alma, and think it can suit anyone.

Next up is Harper, a bubblegum pink polish with the same Bubbly finish. Harper is opaque in two coats, and is my favorite in the collection! I just love my pink polishes, and this is certainly a new pink for my collection. I can picture it in some awesome nail art looks now!

Zoya Muse is definitely a surprise to me! I never would have expected a dark blue polish in a summer collection, but the gold and green undertones remind me of the ocean! I applied two coats in the photos above, and love the result. Muse gives a mystical and mermaid-like feel!

Stassi is next, and it’s a green polish that reminds me of dragon scales! Stassi is a bit sheer, so I applied three coats for opacity. Not only is Stassi fun for summer, but it can be worn again during St. Patrick’s Day!

Binx is a beautiful raspberry polish, and the name reminds me of one of my favorite movie characters despite its feminine look (if you know who I’m talking about, tell me in the comments!). Binx has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats. I really like the strong pigmentation in this polish!

Last but not least is Jesy, a vibrant orange polish. Jesy is my second favorite in this collection due to its great formula and very shiny finish. Just look at how the light reflects off Jesy in the photos! I applied two coats and was ready for the summer sun.

All in all, Zoya’s new Bubbly Collection is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before! The polishes have a jelly-like base that is filled with easy to apply glitters. Each contains a holographic sparkle, and I can definitely see the liquid metal look. I highly recommend this collection, especially if you’re looking to spice up your nail polish collection this summer! You can purchase the Bubbly Collection on Zoya’s website HERE for $9 per bottle. Let me know what your favorite is 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 Tickled Collection for Summer 2014

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

Happy Monday! Today I have the first Zoya Nail Polish review for the Summer 2014 season! The Tickled Collection is complete with six creme polishes in bright colors that will have your fingers ready for the summer sun. Let me share these vibrant shades with you!

First up is Ling, a true blue polish. Ling has an amazing one coat formula that glided on perfectly. I love how pigmented this polish is! I just love blue nail polishes, and it’s always great to have a one-coater in your collection. Ling is so awesome!

Next up is Tilda, a light green that reminds me of guacamolé (yum!). Tilda also has a one coat formula. I had no application issues whatsoever. Tilda isn’t my cup of tea color-wise, but it’s certainly a great polish. I think it would look beautiful on darker skin tones!

Zoya Rocha is up next, and is a red polish with orange undertones. You guessed it – Rocha has a one coat formula as well! Plus, this is the perfect summer polish. I like that Rocha is not a true red, as the orange undertones make it truly unique.

Rooney is the first of three pinks in this collection, and is a medium pink with blue undertones. Rooney did require two coats to achieve opacity, but has a great formula. This is a great every day polish, and is office appropriate while still being fun for summer.

Kitridge is a super bright bubblegum pink. It has a very thin formula, and I applied three coats to achieve opacity. Kitridge is prone to streaking, but as you can see my third coat rid my manicure of any imperfections. If you’re looking for a girly manicure this summer, definitely reach for Kitridge!

Last but not least is my favorite in the colleciton, Wendy. Wendy is a coral pink shade. It has a good formula, but is a bit streaky with the first coat. My manicure evened out in two coats, and I just love the result! Wendy is bright and fun, and my friend even complimented me on my nails while I was wearing it. I just love it!

All in all, Zoya’s Tickled Collection is a great one! If you love creme polishes like I do, this collection is a must. I am amazed with the three one-coat formulas, and highly recommend you pick them up. You can purchase the Tickled Collection for $9 per polish on Zoya’s website HERE. Let me know what your favorite polish from this collection is 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.

Feel Beautiful this Allergy Season with Duane Reade and Poncho!

Posted on May 10, 2014May 13, 2014 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 and its advertiser. #CollectiveBias

Happy Saturday! As I write this, we are enjoying a sunny day here in NYC! The only bad news? Spring weather brings those nasty allergies. A runny nose, scratchy throat, and watery eyes is enough to make you feel miserable and look a bit disheveled. I decided to take the bull by the horns this allergy season and make sure I look and feel good even with the high pollen counts. Let me tell you the tools I use to feel beautiful during allergy season!

Poncho Weather App

The first tool I’ve been using this allergy season is a new weather app called Poncho. This is a free app (sign up HERE), and it’s specifically for the New York City area. What I really love about this app is that you can customize the settings to fit your lifestyle, such as when you get weather updates, how you want to get updates, and (of course) whether or not you have allergies! If you mention you have allergies, Poncho will let you know the pollen count every day, and for each day that the pollen count is high, it sends you a $3 off coupon to go grab some allergy medicine! How awesome is that?! Here’s what today’s Poncho forecast looks like –

I find the pollen counts really helpful, since I only take my allergy medicine on the medium or high days. Speaking of allergy medicine, that’s my next tool!

Allegra Allergy at Duane Reade

As soon as allergy season hit, I ran to Duane Reade with my Allegra coupon from Poncho in hand. I needed some relief ASAP! The pharmacy at my local Duane Reade is on the lower level, so I headed down the escalator, and spotted the purple Allegra packaging right away. I picked up a 30-tablet pack of the non-drowsy, 24-hour formula for indoor and outdoor allergies. I began taking Allegra the very next day, and I feel so much better!

I am so thankful for both Poncho and Duane Reade – my allergy season saviors! I’ve felt much better than usual this allergy season, because Poncho really helps me stay prepared for the day to come. I highly recommend getting this app, and if you’d like to read more information about it, check out this Mashable article. If you suffer from allergies, let me know how you stay feeling beautiful during allergy season in the comments! I’d love to know your tricks!

Follow Duane Reade on social media: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Anti-Aging 101 with Duane Reade and RoC Brand Eye Care!

Posted on May 9, 2014August 8, 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 and its advertiser. #CollectiveBias

Happy Friday! Earlier this month I told you all about some fun events that were happening with Duane Reade and RoC Brand Eye Care. I headed to the #Eyes4NYC event last week, where I learned a ton of great information about anti-aging. I can’t wait to share all of the tips and tricks with you!

At the #Eyes4NYC event, we had the opportunity to hear from dermatologist Dr. Debra Jaliman and Anna Prilutsky from Johnson & Johnson. They answered all of our anti-aging questions, and I couldn’t believe all the great information I learned in just an hour!

Dr. Debra Jaliman and Anna Prilutsky answer our questions!

The focus of the event was retinol – how to use it, how to buy it, etc. I always thought that I was too young to use retinol, since I’m only 24, but it turns out you’re never too young (or too old!) to start using anti-aging products. Dr. Jaliman suggests that retinol newbies begin with an every-other-night application system, and the RoC Correction Sensitive Eye Cream is a great product to use. Also, make sure you don’t skimp out on that sunscreen, even in the rain! Using an SPF of 30 or higher will protect your skin while using retinol products, and prevent any further aging.

We also got to Walk the Aisle with Anna, who shared all about purchasing anti-aging products. It’s very important to read the packaging, and a product’s ingredients. For example, just because a product has “Retinol” in the name does not mean it is a listed ingredient – be sure to check the ingredients list! Similarly, if a brand writes that a product is “clinically proven” that means it spent the money to do a clinical trial. Of course, your best bet is always to buy products from RoC! They contain the proper ingredients, and are even packaged perfectly. Because retinol is light and oxygen sensitive, the best packaging is a tube (not a jar).

All in all, I had an amazing time at the #Eyes4NYC event! I’ve started using RoC anti-aging products now, and I’m loving them so far. I’ll start seeing results in four weeks, so let me know if you’d like an update on my experience at some point. Until then, make sure you stop by your local Duane Reade and pick up some RoC Brand anti-aging products. You’ll find them in the skincare aisle – in the photo above, it’s the gold packaging! Be sure to let me know what you use for anti-aging, and if you’ll be switching to RoC after learning more. I sure did!

P.S. I learned so much from this event, that it just won’t fit into this one blog post! Be sure to check out my Facebook for more photos and my Twitter for even more tips and tricks!

Drugstore Hauls Just Got Better with the Duane Reade Mobile App!

Posted on May 7, 2014May 12, 2014 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 and its advertiser. #CollectiveBias

Happy Wednesday! As you know, Adventures in Polishland is about all things fabulous and affordable, and that includes drugstore makeup! When I heard Duane Reade was relaunching its mobile app to Version 2.0 which includes new features to help me shop easier and save more in the store, I couldn’t wait to test it out. Let me tell you a bit more about the app, and show you my mini drugstore haul!

ALL ABOUT THE APP

The Duane Reade mobile app is free to download from the iTunes app store. Here is what it looks like upon opening.

The loading screen (left) displays the Duane Reade logo as the app launches. I quickly took a screenshot of what it looks like just so you could see! On the right is the app home screen. There are so many awesome features with this app. Here is a brief overview of what each icon on the screen does –

Pharmacy: refill your prescriptions, transfer your prescriptions, see your prescription history, set up a pill reminder, and schedule a vaccination.
Photo: print photos from your iPhoto or social media accounts and create prints, posters, or cards.
Store Locator: find the store closest to your current location or search for one near a specific address.
Weekly Ad & Coupons: see the items on sale this week, and clip virtual coupons for use in the store.
Refill by Scan: a quick way to refill your prescriptions – just scan the barcode!
Scanner: scan any product in the store to get more information about it.
Pill Reminder: set up daily reminders for all your medicines.
Rewards: easy access to your Balance Rewards card.
Shopping List: your Duane Reade “to buy” list is right on the app for easy shopping in store.
Shop: you can also shop directly from the app if you don’t want to leave the comfort of your own home!
DR Walk-In: information about the walk-in clinics nearby and their contact information.
Steps: keep track of your fitness and weight loss goals right from your phone.
Settings: where you can log-in and get help with the app if needed.

My favorite feature on the app is the coupon clipper! I immediately scrolled through the beauty tab and clipped some awesome Revlon coupons. The best thing about the app is that you don’t need to have a physical coupon. The app is green and convenient!

MY SHOPPING EXPERIENCE

Of course, I had to test out this awesome app and use the Revlon coupons I clipped. I headed to the store at 22W 48th Street to use the special iBeacon technology that is only available at 10 Midtown Manhattan Duane Reade locations. iBeacon is so cool! When you get to Duane Reade, it recognizes your location, and helps you shop in the specific store you’re in. Here’s a look at what the app looked like when iBeacon was activated.

Not only was a floor map and product locator available for me to use, but the coupons showed up right away! The barcode you see at the top is what the cashier scans at checkout, and all applicable coupons are used at once. Shopping is so much easier when I don’t have to organize all my coupons by hand!

It was fun to shop from the Revlon section! I almost never get tangible coupons for Revlon products, but I had $1 off a lip product and $2 off any face product (foundation, concealer, etc.) to use. I grabbed the Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey that everyone talks about, as well as the ColorStay Under Eye Concealer in Light. I’m so excited to test out these products! Let me know if you’d like a review on either one.

All in all, I am loving the relaunched Duane Reade mobile app! It makes shopping in this busy city much easier, and saves me money, too. Plus, it is environmentally friendly – no need for a plastic rewards card or paper coupons! I’ll be sure to use this app whenever I’m in the mood for a drugstore haul.

Have you downloaded the Duane Reade mobile app yet? Let me know by using the #DRMobileApp hashtag on social media and share your hauls with me! Also make sure to Follow Duane Reade’s social media accounts: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.