Adventures in Polishland

New Product Line from Miss Jessie’s | Event Photos & More

Posted on April 12, 2014April 11, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! This past week I had an amazing opportunity to attend a blogger event with Birchbox at the Miss Jessie’s Salon here in New York City. I don’t know much about hair care and hair styling, so I couldn’t wait to learn more. As it turns out, I learned more about hair in the two hours I spent at Miss Jessie’s than I’ve ever learned in my life! I have Miss Jessie’s co-founder Miko Branch to thank for that!

The Miss Jessie’s Salon is beautiful! I loved the chandeliers, white chairs, and big mirrors. You can see more photos from the event on my Facebook page HERE. Miko did demonstrations on four lovely ladies using the brand new products from Miss Jessie’s.

First, Miko used Coily Custard. This product is designed to tame frizz and create soft curls. Coily Custard contains agave and coconut oil, and has a lightweight formula. Miko used Coily Custard on blogger The Fat Apple to fight the shrinkage she was experiencing.

Next, Miko taught us about Transitioner’s Magic, a product great for those whose hair is going through a transitional phase. Ashley has straight ends on her hair due to her growing it out, so Miko used Transitioner’s Magic to create curls. Transitioner’s Magic also has a lightweight formula, and has soybean and avocado.

Finally, Miko used Multi Cultural Curls, a product designed to style hair that is multi-textured. Multi Cultural Curls has safflower oil and olive fruit oil, and has a lotion consistency. It smells fresh and clean, and was used to give our model beautiful and soft curls.

Here are all the completed looks! Miko also used Coily Custard on Christina (far left). Her hair type is similar to mine, so I couldn’t believe the beautiful transformation! The best part is, Miko took her time during each demonstration to show us how to apply each product, and many other great styling tips. From simple things such as flipping your head over to get extra volume, to the more complex techniques involved with diffusing your curls (not as straightforward as I once thought). I loved the fabulous finished looks!

Here’s a close-up of the three, brand new products from Miss Jessie’s. I love the packaging, as it really tells you everything about the product. No guesswork here! I’ve begun testing out Coily Custard on my hair, and so far I’m really impressed with the results. Of course, there is a bit of a learning curve with any new product, so I hope my practice will make perfect soon.

You can purchase these new Miss Jessie’s products on the brand’s website HERE or on Birchbox’s website HERE. The prices range from $14-22 for a 8.5oz bottle. If you’re in NYC, make sure to stop by the salon! Let me know what you think of Miss Jessie’s 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.

Adventures in Polishland Turns 2!

Posted on April 10, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! Today is my official, two year blogiversary! That’s right – two years ago today I began this blog on a whim. I just wanted to take a moment and thank all of you for supporting Adventures in Polishland. I have come to truly love the beauty industry, and I’ve learned so much from brands, fellow bloggers, and from all of you.

This past year was truly an adventure. I purchased my own domain name, and built a new website. You stuck with me through my move, and I am so grateful for that! In addition, I was lucky enough to attend a handful of blogger events throughout New York City. It is wonderful to meet fellow bloggers, and learn first-hand about products from the brands I love. I’ve also expanded my once polish-focused blog to include beauty and skincare posts. My Adventures in Polishland are ongoing of course, but it’s been exciting to try all sorts of products, and be the “guinea pig” for you.

So, what’s next? As I head into my third year as a beauty blogger, I hope to continue bringing you nail polish and beauty reviews, nail art, and more. You can always feel free to recommend products and blog post ideas, and to connect with me on social media – just hit the “Contact” tab above for all my links. As always, thank you for joining me on my Adventures in Polishland. i look forward to all of the adventures soon to come!

Broadway Nails imPress Press-On Manicure in Straight Up

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

Happy Monday! Today I have a full review of the imPress Manicure set that I received in my Influenster Uni VoxBox (see that post HERE). I’ve never tried any sort of false nails before in my entire life, so this was definitely a new Adventure in Polishland for me! Let me tell you more about this product, and share my experience.

Each imPress Manicure comes in a cute, nail polish shaped bottle. In the photo above you can see the packaging, and how the nails look in the front and back. Each bottle comes with 24 nails in twelve sizes. I received the design called Straight Up in my box, and it is the short nail length.

The kit also comes with a prep pad and mini nail file. Unfortunately I didn’t see the prep pad until after I applied the nails, so I didn’t get the chance to test it out. I did use the file, though, and it was definitely helpful!

Application of the imPress nails was very easy. All you have to do is find which sizes work best for you, peel off the backing, and press the imPress nail onto your clean nail. That’s it! It takes literally seconds to complete the manicure, and the result is a fun, nail art look with no mess and no fuss. That said, these nails are still not for me. I found this short length to be on the long side, and I felt like I was wearing “fake nails” to the point where it annoyed me. For example, I had a very difficult time using my iPhone with my imPress nails!

I also disliked that the nails didn’t come with a clean edge. One would think that fake nails would come perfectly shaped, but I had to file them, and even then the edges weren’t perfect. When looking at the Broadway Nails Instagram, I noticed that all of the imPress sets seem to have this uneven edging. I find that to be this product’s one major flaw.

All in all, I think the imPress Press-On Manicure from Broadway Nails is a fun idea, and great if you want a nail art look in seconds. If you like long nails, these are also a great option. While the nails stay on very securely, they also peel off with ease, so you don’t have to worry about damage to your natural nails. You can purchase imPress nails at your local drugstore for $7.99 each. Let me know your thoughts on imPress 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.

March 2014 Favorites!

Posted on April 4, 2014March 30, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! April is now upon us, and that means it’s time to share my March favorites with all of you. Let’s jump right into it!

NAIL POLISH

Zoya Dot [REVIEW] [BUY]

Dot is so beautiful! I just love the pastel pink shade. It’s subdued enough to be professional, but quite girly at the same time. I’ve been wearing it for over a week now!

CoverGirl Sapphire Flare [REVIEW] [BUY]

Once upon a time, I avoided dark nails like the plague. Now, I’m obsessed with navy nails! I’ve worn Sapphire Flare several times since I got it, and twice in the month of March. Plus, the formula is flawless. You need this in your collection!

SKINCARE

Sibu Beauty Sea Buckthorn Balancing Facial Cleanser [REVIEW] [BUY]

I know I said I wasn’t going to use this until I used up the other cleansers in my collection, but I can’t put it away! It’s the perfect all-in-one product, and makes my skin happy. I definitely see a second bottle in my future when this one is empty.

Amara Organics Vitamin C Serum [REVIEW] [BUY]

I’m also applying this serum religiously! I’m onto my third week of use now, and all signs of breakouts are gone. My skin is just drinking up this magical potion!

LIP COLOR

Baby Lips in Just Peachy [BUY]

Surprise! I added a new Baby Lips to my collection. By now I have too many, but this is my first in the Dr Rescue line, and I’m loving it. It has the same great application and hint of color as the other Baby Lips products, but it is medicated to help your dry lips out even more.

FOOD

Cadbury Mini Eggs

It is that magical time of year when the Cadbury Mini Eggs appear at the store. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw this 18oz bag. Mini eggs are definitely my favorite candy of all time, and I have to get my fill this time of year. SO. GOOD.

BOOK

Something Real by Heather Demetrios [REVIEW] [BUY]

I’ve been making an effort in my life to make time for reading outside of school this month, and picked up Something Real at my local Barnes & Noble. It is an amazing story about a girl whose family is the subject of a reality TV show. You can read more by checking out my review on Goodreads (linked above).

That wraps up my favorites for the month of March! Please feel free to share what you’re loving in the comments, or use hashtag #PolishlandFaves on social media.

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

Studio Gear Hydrating CC Cream | Review & Coupon Code

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

Happy Wednesday! It’s time for another makeup review here at Adventures in Polishland. I got the opportunity to test out Studio Gear Cosmetics’s new Hydrating CC Cream, and can’t wait to share my experience with all of you. As you may know, I love keeping things more natural when it comes to my makeup, so CC creams are the perfect choice for light coverage. Let me tell you more about this product, and share my experience with you!

The Studio Gear CC Cream is designed to fight aging, retain moisture, and cover and treat blemishes all in one non-oily formula. It is also SPF 20, and is infused with Hydra-Extend technology that provides up to 72 hours of continuos hydration. With all of these amazing qualities, it almost sounds too good to be true! Plus, this CC Cream has a unique formula that you have to see to believe.

I experimented with this CC Cream, and found that my favorite way to wear it is over a primer and applied with my fingers. Because I tend to get oily throughout the day, I set the cream with some pressed powder. The result is an almost airbrushed look that lasts all day! I am really impressed with this CC Cream! It is lightweight and I definitely don’t feel like I’m wearing a full face of foundation, but I still get the benefits of a fine-tuned complexion. The only drawback with this product is that it only comes in three shades (I am using Linen, the lightest shade). Luckily, it does adjust to my skin tone quite well, but I think in the winter months I would need just a shade lighter.

Other than that, I am loving this product! It truly is hydrating, and does not cling to dry patches. If you suffer from dry skin, this is definitely a great CC Cream for you! It also does a great job of giving my skin a glowy quality while not looking shiny. I am definitely making this my go-to foundation in the summer months!

WHERE TO BUY

You can purchase the Studio Gear Cosmetics Hydrating CC Cream on the brand’s website HERE. The 1oz tube retails for $34, but you can save 10% off of your entire order with coupon code bloggercc at checkout. I really like this CC Cream, and think you will, too! Please let me know if you’ve tried any products from Studio Gear Cosmetics 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.

My New Must Have Top Coat | Essie Good to Go

Posted on March 31, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I am excited to share with you my new, must have top coat. My friend Gina of charmnomgo gave me her bottle of Essie’s Good to Go to try out, and I loved it so much I purchased my own bottle. Many of you mentioned on Facebook that you’d like to see a full review of Good to Go, and that’s what I’m here to do!

Essie’s Good to Go is a top coat designed to give you brilliant shine in seconds. I’ve had terrible luck with other fast-dry top coats in the past, so I was definitely hesitant to try this one out. For some reason, many fast-dry top coats chip within just one day of being on my nails. Despite the beautiful shine they give, I just can’t depend on them if I want a long-lasting manicure. Thankfully, Good to Go is unlike those other top coats! I don’t know what the difference is formulaically, but it sure does the trick. It dries quickly, applies with ease, and gives my nails a shine that says “I bet you think I went to the salon today!”

Here is my manicure after three days of wear. I have Zoya Dot on as my color, and just one coat of Good to Go on top. As you can see, my nails still look amazing! Okay, so my cuticles are still in winter mode, but my polish is chip-free and super shiny. I’m beyond happy with the results!

All in all, I am so thankful that Gina made me try out Essie’s Good to Go! It retails for $8.50, which is a bit more than I typically like to spend, but because of its amazingness, I think it is worth every penny. I grabbed mine at Duane Reade, but you can shop on Amazon HERE or at your local drugstore. Let me know if you’ve tried Good to Go in the comments!

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

Influenster Uni VoxBox Unboxing

Posted on March 29, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I have a box of goodies from the website Influenster to share with all of you. Influenster is a free website that anyone can join. Once you create a profile and interact with the site a bit, you become eligible to get free products to test out. I was recently sent the Uni VoxBox. This box is filled with products geared toward college students. It contains a mix of beauty and lifestyle items, so I thought I would share it with all of you!

I was pretty excited with the size of the box! I knew there had to be some fun goodies in there!

First up are the beauty products! From the left to right, the products are:

NYC Expert Last Lip Color in Forever Fuchsia – $1.99 – I’ve never tried an NYC lipstick before, but this looks like a bright pink that is great for the spring season. I’ll have to give this a try soon!
imPRESS Press-On Manicure in Straight Up – $7.99 – I am so excited to try these press-on nails! Grav3yardGirl, one of my favorite YouTubers, talks about these nails all the time, and she really loves them. I will be sure to do a true wear test on these and report back!
Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation – $5.49 – You already know how much I love this foundation! See my complete review HERE if you missed it.

The Uni VoxBox also had a few lifestyle products inside.

Red Rose REAL TEA Premium Water Enhancer in Black Tea – $4.49 – I love iced tea in the warmer months, so this water enhancer might be a great way to make my own on the go! I’m a bit disappointed that this does contain preservatives, but I’ll still test it out for sure!
Playtex Sport Fresh Balance Tampons – $4.99 – I was super surprised to find a full size box of tampons in here! Feminine care products tend to be more expensive, especially for a college student.
Pilot Acroball PureWhite Pen – $1.53 – I can always use a good pen! I’ve been hearing about this line a lot recently, so I wonder what the hype is. I’ll have to find out!

I’m really excited about the Uni VoxBox! It contains over $25 worth of products! I will definitely post a review of the imPRESS nails, but if you want to learn more about any of these products, please let me know in the comments! If you would like an invitation to join Influenster, please send me your email address.

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

Pinspiration | Eyeshadow Sponge Gradient Nails

Posted on March 27, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! I’ve been trying to perfect gradient nails since I started this blog nearly two years ago. No matter what method I try, I just can’t get it down! I recently spotted THIS pin that suggested an eyeshadow sponge as the tool to use when creating a gradient manicure, so I had to give it a try. I first tested it out with Zoya’s new polishes (see that post HERE), but wanted to create another look. Let me show you my gradient nails!

To create this look I used two of my all-time favorite polishes – Essie Butler Please and Essie Play Date. First, I painted a full manicure using Butler Please. I let that dry a bit, and then took a clean eyeshadow sponge, added a drop of Play Date to it, and carefully dabbed it at the top of each nail. Then, I used the other side of the applicator, and repeated the process with Butler Please until I got the look the way I liked it. I completed the manicure by adding a coat of Essie Good to Go! top coat.

I am loving the result! It’s still not quite perfect, but I’m really getting the hang of this gradient method, and plan on using it for all my gradient looks in the future. Not only is this technique simple, but you can use nearly any nail polishes you like. If you don’t have any spare eyeshadow sponges, check your local drugstore or grab THIS pack on Amazon. They are super affordable, and one pack will last for several manicures. Let me know what you think of my eyeshadow sponge gradient in the comments!

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

Amara Organics Vitamin C Serum Review

Posted on March 25, 2014August 8, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

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

Happy Tuesday! Today I’m excited to bring you another skincare review! I recently had the opportunity to test out a Vitamin C Serum from the brand Amara Organics. While I’ve tried serum samples in the past, this is the first serum that I’ve used on a regular basis. Let me tell you more about the product and share my experience with you!

Amara Organics Vitamin C Serum Review | Adventures in Polishland

ABOUT THIS PRODUCT

This Vitamin C Serum from Amara Organics is 98% naturally derived and 72% organic. It has many uses, including anti-aging. Even though I’m in my early twenties, my skin is quite dehydrated and until the last year I hadn’t taken great care of it. It’s never too early to care for you skin!

Here are the product’s exact claims:

“Our Vitamin C Serum replenishes your skin’s vitamin C levels to give you these benefits:

Increases the production of collagen to bring back skin’s natural elasticity and counteract fine lines and wrinkles
Powerful antioxidant properties neutralize free radicals to reverse damage caused by the sun, pollutants, and cigarette smoke
Protects your skin from UV damage such as age spots, discoloration, and fine lines
Improves skin texture to give you a smoother, brighter complexion
Combined with Vitamin E and Hyaluronic Acid for extra powerful anti-aging effects”

MY EXPERIENCE

I’ve been using this serum on a daily basis for about two weeks now, and I can already see positive changes with my skin! The serum is clear and unscented, and I apply a few drops to clean, dry skin before moisturizing. The first change my skin experienced is actually not part of the product’s description – my breakouts cleared up! Right before trying this serum, I had acne all along my jawline, but now it’s almost completely gone!

My skin also appears to be less dehydrated since I started using this serum. I’ve never felt like I had “glowy” skin, but I find that my skin looks much healthier since I started using this serum. My moisturizer seems to sink in a lot faster as well. I can’t wait to continue using this serum, since the full effects are supposed to show at the 90 day mark. I will be sure to let you know of any long-term changes on my social media profiles!

WHERE TO BUY

You can purchase this Vitamin C Serum from Amara Organics on Amazon HERE. As I write this post, a 1oz bottle is on sale for $21.95. I think it is worth every penny, especially since only a few drops are needed for each use. Plus, investing in great skincare is always worth in it my opinion. You can also visit the Amara Organics website HERE for more information.

Have you ever tested a Vitamin C serum? If so, let me know how you like it 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.

Subscription Sunday | March Birchbox

Posted on March 23, 2014March 23, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! It’s officially been one year since I joined Birchbox, and I’m so excited to show you what is in my March 2014 box. This series first began as Ipsy v. Birchbox, but Birchbox is the only box I’ve stuck with this long. Let me go ahead and share my products with you, and if you’d like to see my first ever Birchbox, just click HERE.

This month’s theme is Spring Forward. Since we lost an hour of sleep this month, the products in our box are supposed to be time-savers and long-lasting. Anything to make up for the time change!

Here are all the products I got this month. I’ll talk about them a bit more from left to right, and share each sample’s retail value.

Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle Leave in Conditioner – $4.66 – I’ve been able to try a lot of Beauty Protector products through Birchbox, and I don’t mind collecting them since I’ll be traveling later this year. This stuff smells amazing, and I can’t wait to try it!
Coola Face Mineral Sunscreen – $3.60 – I am so sick of getting Coola products in subscription boxes! The main reason is because the samples are barely enough to use even one time. Don’t let the tube size deceive you – they are never filled completely!
Air Repair Rescue Balm – $2.17 – This is a 100% natural healing balm that can be used anywhere, such as lips and hands. It’s designed to lock in moisture, and while I wish the sample size was a bit bigger, I’m excited to try it!
Jergens BB Body Cream – $1.73 – I am most excited about this sample! This product has been getting a lot of buzz lately, so I can’t wait to see if this will improve the look of my skin. It’s a decent size sample, and I got the right shade for my skin tone.
theBalm How ‘Bout Them Apples? Cheek & Lip Cream in Pie – $5.33 – Last but not least is a red cheek and lip cream. I’m really excited about this! The shade blends out really nicely on my hand, so I bet it will look great on my face!

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $17.49

RATING 1-5 (1 BEING WORST, 5 BEING BEST): 3

OVERALL OPINION: This box is just okay for me. I really like the Jergens BB Cream and the product from theBalm, but I really wish I didn’t get anything from Coola. I don’t mind when the retail value is low so long as I can see myself using all of the products. With the exception of the Coola product, I’ll get use out of everything so I can’t complain too much. I would love to see samples from different brands in the future.

Do you subscribe to Birchbox? Join HERE and for $10 per month get a box of samples delivered to your door. For a limited time you will get 100 points when you sign up using code bb100. That’s equal to $10 in the Birchbox shop! If you already subscribe, let me know what you got this month!

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