Adventures in Polishland

Simple Saint Patrick’s Day Nail Art!

Posted on March 17, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Since today is Saint Patrick’s Day, I thought I would put together a quick post featuring simple nail art. If you’re still looking for a festive manicure idea, this look is perfect for you! Plus, if you’re like me and you don’t celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day, you can wear this manicure to cheer on my favorite NBA team – the Boston Celtics! Let me show you the nail art I created.

To create this manicure, I grabbed two polishes from my collection – Julep Payton as the perfect Saint Pat’s green, and Zoya Jacqueline as the base for my accent nail. I applied two coats of Payton on all of my nails, except for my ring finger, where I applied three coats of Jacqueline. Once my manicure was completely dry, I carefully used a dotting tool (I got mine on Amazon HERE) to create a shamrock. I then finished up with Essie Good to Go top coat.

I hope you like this super fast and simple manicure! I recently purchased my dotting tools, and am still getting the hang of using them, so I hope to have more nail art looks coming up soon. I hope those of you who celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day are having a fun and safe day!

Some of 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.

L’Oreal Les Blancs Collection | Spot Me & Le Pastille

Posted on March 15, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I’m excited to share with you some brand new polishes for spring. I am so ready for winter to be over, that yesterday I ran to Duane Reade with the mission of getting some new beauty products for the spring season. When I spotted the new L’Oreal Les Blancs Collection, I knew I had to grab a couple. I picked up the two glitter shades, and ran home to test them out. Let me show you these gorgeous polishes!

First up is Spot Me, a pale blue polish with black hexagonal glitters from small to large mixed throughout the base. Spot Me has a great formula! It applies easily, and there was no fishing for glitters. I was really impressed with the coverage in two coats as well. The finish reminds me of a robin’s egg. I really like it!

Next up is Le Pastille, a pink version of Spot Me. Le Pastille also has a flawless formula. I cannot stress how easily these polishes apply! It always makes me happy when I don’t have to do anything special to get glitters out of the bottle and onto my nails. I applied two coats of Le Pastille, and finished up with a layer of butterLONDON Hardwear top coat (as I did with Spot Me as well). I love the juxtaposition of the black glitters on a baby pink base.

All in all, I’m loving these two glitter polishes from the new Les Blancs Collection from L’Oreal! In fact, I might go back to the drugstore and purchase the creme polishes from the collection, too. As I mentioned above, I scored these polishes at my local Duane Reade, but be on the lookout for the spring display at your drugstore. The polishes retail for $6.49 each in NYC, but I noticed a $4.99 price tag over on Nouveau Cheap’s blog. Let me know what you think of these polishes in the comments!

Sibu Beauty Sea Buckthorn Balancing Facial Cleanser Review

Posted on March 13, 2014August 8, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! Today I’m excited to bring you the first skincare review on Adventures in Polishland. I was contacted by Sibu Beauty, and asked if I wanted to test out the brand’s Sea Buckthorn Balancing Facial Cleanser. When I saw that Sibu is an all natural brand dedicated to ethical beauty, I knew I had to give it a try. Let me show you the cleanser I tried, and tell you a bit more about Sibu!

ABOUT THIS PRODUCT

I decided to share with you the direct language from Sibu’s website so you can get the full idea of what the Sea Buckthorn Balancing Facial Cleanser is all about. My own personal experience is more helpful when you know the product’s exact claims!

“Deep yet gentle cleansing is the foundation of effective facial care at every age. This all-natural balancing facial cleanser gently removes dirt, impurities and make-up while maintaining a healthy balance in your skin without compromising its natural protective nutrients. This lightly exfoliating facial cleanser will leave your face fresh, clean, and perfectly balanced. Your skin will look and feel radiant.

Leaves skin looking and feeling radiant and refreshed
Removes excess oil and impurities
Contains micro-particles for a gentle exfoliation
Great for removing make-up
Non-foaming gel formula for all skin types

This all-natural balancing facial cleanser gently removes dirt, impurities and make-up while maintaining a healthy balance in your skin without compromising its natural protective nutrients.”

MY EXPERIENCE

I’ve been using this cleanser both morning and evening for a couple weeks now, and I am beyond happy with it! I typically use 1-2 pumps of the product, and apply as directed by working it into a lather in my moistened hands, and gently massaging it over my face. This product is definitely very gentle, and even with the exfoliating beads my skin does not feel tight or raw after I use it. My skin is usually left a bit red after cleansing, so it’s amazing that it just appears clear after using this cleanser.

I am also impressed with how well it removes my makeup at night. Even my stubborn mascara comes off with this cleanser! I don’t have any need for makeup remover wipes when I’m using this Sibu cleanser.

As for the scent, it is very light and a bit citrusy. I barely notice it, and I don’t think it is bothersome at all. My only complaint with the product is in the packaging – because the bottle is opaque, I won’t be able to see how much is left. Other than that, I’m loving this cleanser! My skin feels clear and balanced, and I noticed that my breakouts decreased when I began using it. I also love that it exfoliates and cleanses at the same time, as that cuts a step out of my skincare routine and saves money. I think it lives up to the hype, and I plan on making this my daily cleanser as soon as I finish up the others in my stash.

WHERE TO BUY

You can purchase the Sea Buckthorn Balancing Facial Cleanser directly from the Sibu Beauty website HERE. It retails for $17.95 for a 4oz bottle. While that is a bit more than I typically spend on my skincare products, I think it is 100% worth it. Since the product is all natural, cruelty free, and GMO free, I don’t mind spending a bit more, especially since my skin loves it. I am also thinking about trying other products in this line, so please let me know if you’ve tried any Sibu Beauty products and what you think of them 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.

Does it Work? | Ruby Wing Color Changing Polish in Kitten Heels

Posted on March 11, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! This past Sunday, I shared my February Birchbox with all of you. One of the products was a Ruby Wing Color Changing nail polish. I received another polish from this line in a Birchbox last year, and unfortunately I couldn’t get the polish to change color (see that post HERE). I was excited to try out another in hopes that I could get the color changing effect to work for me. Let me show you what happened this time around!

Kitten Heels is a gorgeous, bright pink creme polish. It has a great formula, and is opaque in two coats. I truly love the color! But, as you can guess by me only showing one shade, this polish just didn’t change colors! According to the label, Kitten Heels is supposed to change to a red when I go outside. I was outside in direct sunlight for several minutes on different days and never saw any type of change in this polish. Part of me wonders if it is my body chemistry that is preventing this polish from changing color. I’ve noticed others on Instagram aren’t having issues, so I either got a bad bottle, or it’s just me!

While I am disappointed that I didn’t get the color changing effect to work, I still love the color of Kitten Heels. It has a great formula, and I’ll still wear it for sure. Please let me know in the comments if you’ve tried any of the Ruby Wing Color Changing polishes and if they’ve worked for you. You can purchase the full size bottle of Kitten Heels on the Birchbox website HERE.

Subscription Sunday | February Birchbox

Posted on March 9, 2014February 22, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! March may have just begun, but unfortunately due to winter storms here in NYC my February Birchbox was a bit delayed. I was so happy when it finally arrived! Let me go ahead and show you what I got this month.

Birchbox teamed up with Us Weekly in February to prep us for awards season. Our items this month are inspired from celebrity makeup artists who have great tips for their clients.

Now onto the products! You know the drill by now!

Dr. Brandt Pores No More Pore Refiner – $11.25 – This product reminds me of the Too Faced Primed & Poreless that I love so much! I think I’m going to save this perfect travel size for one of my next adventures.
Beauty Protector Protect & Oil – $2.00 – I had to estimate this price a bit because there is no size on this sample. Nonetheless, this is a great sample size for a hair oil, since a few drops will do the trick. It smells divine!
Ruby Wing in Mini Kitten Heels – $4.67 – While I’m always excited to get a nail polish in a beauty box, I’m hesitant with this one since the last Ruby Wing Color Changing polish I tried didn’t work (read about it HERE). I’ll see what happens, though!
Juicy Couture Couture La La in Malibu – $1.44 – Perfume samples can be a bit disappointing, but I love everything I’ve tried from the Couture La La line, so I’m sure I’ll like this one, too. I’ll be sure to use this up!

Last but not least, I got two packets of the 32 Oral Care Effervescent Breath Crystals retailing for $0.98. These are pretty interesting. They remind me of pop rocks! I wonder what these will be like.

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $20.34

RATING 1-5 (1 BEING WORST AND 5 BEING BEST): 4

OVERALL OPINION: While this month’s retail value isn’t as high as I’d like it to be, I’m still really happy with all of the products I got. I’ll be using everything in my box for sure. Plus, I know that the Pore Refiner, hair oil, and nail polish can each be used multiple times.

You can subscribe to Birchbox for just $10 per month HERE. If you’re already a member, let me know what you got in your February box!

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

Wet ‘n Wild Limited Edition “Walking the Red Carpet” Eyeshadow Palette Review

Posted on March 8, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! I’ve been wanting to try out the Wet ‘n Wild Color Icon eyeshadows for a long time now. Despite the affordable price tag, they have a great reputation in the beauty community. I spotted a limited edition display at my local Duane Reade last week, so I picked up the palette in Walking the Red Carpet. At only $5.49, I knew I had to grab it!

Walking the Red Carpet comes with eight neutral eyeshadows. I love that the palette is labeled, so that makeup newbies like myself have some guidance in applying the shadow. The shadows on the left create more of an every day look, while those on the right are definitely a bit fancier and perfect for a night out.

Let’s take a closer look at the shadows and at some swatches! I’ve numbered the shadows and swatches so you can see how they match up.

I swatched all of the shadows over my Manna Kadar Eye Primer so the colors would show up on camera (feel free to click on the photo above for a close-up of the shadows). I typically prime my eyes if I’m wearing eyeshadow, but you can still get a great look without primer as the shadows in this palette are nicely pigmented. The two browbone shades (1 and 5) are very light, but show up as a faint highlight. All of the shadows have a shimmer formula, and shadows 6 and 8 have some glitter mixed in as well. The shadows feel nice and buttery, and I only experienced fall out with shade 6. I’m impressed with how nicely they apply and wear!

If you’re looking for a great neutral palette at the drugstore, I definitely recommend Wet ‘n Wild’s Walking the Red Carpet. Make sure you visit the drugstore right away, as these limited edition palettes are flying off the shelves! If you would like to see a full makeup look featuring these shadows, please let me know in the comments! Also let me know what other Wet ‘n Wild products you love!

Zoya Monet Special Effect Topper | Swatches & Nail Art

Posted on March 6, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! Earlier this week, I showed you the complete Zoya Awaken Collection (see that review HERE). In addition to those stunning polishes, Zoya also released a new special effect top coat called Monet. Zoya describes Monet as a multi-colored, cellophane holographic topper, and I completely agree! I decided to try it with all of the Awaken polishes, and in a nail art look as well. In each of the manicures below, I applied one coat of Monet, followed with one coat of the butter LONDON Hardwear top coat.

Monet over Dot

Monet over Cole

Monet over Hudson

Monet over Dillon

Monet over Rebel

Monet over Brooklyn

Before I show you the nail art I created, I just wanted to mention Monet’s formula. It is a bit thick, but it’s very easy to work with. The glitters apply with ease, and as you can see, one coat provides a great amount of glitters.

Last but not least is a nail art look I created using Dot, Cole, and Monet. I finally found an easy gradient technique, so I began with that and applied Monet on top. I’m loving it so much! If you would like to see a tutorial on this manicure, please let me know in the comments!

All in all, Monet is a gorgeous top coat that goes with basically any and every nail polish! It retails for $10 on Zoya’s website HERE. While a bit more than I usually like to pay, Monet is a great investment polish. I highly recommend it, and will be sure to wear it often!

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

Zoya Awaken Collection for Spring 2014

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

Happy Tuesday! While it’s still cold and snowy here in NYC, the spring nail polish collections are arriving, and I’m so glad to see them! In addition to the Magical Pixie Collection, Zoya released the Awaken Collection. This six-piece line has something for everyone – cremes, shimmers, and even a metallic shade. Let me show you these gorgeous polishes!

First up is Dot, a pastel pink polish with a creme formula. Dot has a good formula, though it can be a bit patchy. I applied two coats to achieve opacity, and applied the polish with a careful hand to get a flawless finish. Dot is just a beautiful light pink! I think it would look nice on everyone.

Next up is Cole, a tangerine creme polish. Cole has a very similar formula to Dot, though I applied three thin coats to even out the slight patchiness. I’m loving this orange shade! It’s very on trend for spring, and quite wearable.

Hudson is the first shimmer in the Awaken Collection, and is a beautiful purple. Hudson has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats. I love how sparkly it is, and I’m impressed with the smooth application. I wasn’t expecting Hudson to be as shimmery, and I’m pleasantly surprised!

Next up is Dillon, a mint green shimmer polish. Dillon also has a great formula, and is opaque in two coats. As you know, I love mint green nails, and I don’t have one in my collection quite like this! Dillon is packed with lots of shimmer that shines in the light.

Zoya Rebel is the last of the shimmers, and is a blue shade. Rebel is definitely my favorite in the Awaken Collection! The formula is flawless, and opaque in two coats. Plus, this just reminds me of a mermaid for some reason. I’m obsessed!

Last but not least is Brooklyn, a metallic yellow gold polish. Brooklyn has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. Some brush strokes are visible due to its metallic nature, but I don’t think it detracts from the polish at all. I would never have thought to include Brooklyn in a spring collection, but I’m glad Zoya did! It’s unexpected, and looks so nice.

All in all, I’m loving the Zoya Awaken Collection. There really is a polish for everyone in this line! I definitely recommend all of these polishes, but Rebel is my personal favorite, followed by Dot. You can purchase the Awaken Collection on Zoya’s website HERE for $9 each. Stay tuned to see all of these polishes with Zoya’s new special effect topper Monet later this week!

Which polish in the Awaken Collection is your favorite? Let me know 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.

Subscription Sunday | February Beauty Army Kit!

Posted on March 2, 2014February 22, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! Today I have another new-to-me subscription service to share with all of you. Beauty Army is a $12 per month kit of up to six beauty samples. Unlike other services where your goodies are a complete surprise, Beauty Army permits each user to take a survey, and then curates samples that match your own individual profile. Once you get your results, you can choose up to six samples that are then mailed to you. Let me show you the samples I got in my first kit!

Here is the box when it arrived in the mail! I love the pink camouflage print box, and the packaging is really nice. Because of the crazy winter storms we’ve been getting in NYC, it actually took so long to get to me that I forgot what samples I had picked out.

Let me tell you more about these samples from left to right, and let you know the retail value of each one.

Menza Daily Face Wash – $11.76 – Wow, this 1oz sample is sure worth a lot! This face wash is supposed to be great for sensitive skin, so I can’t wait to try it.
Every Beauty Makeup Remover Pads – $0.70 – I’m really excited to try these makeup remover pads! They are super affordable – a pack of 50 costs just $6.99! If I like them, I might buy a big pack since they are more affordable than the makeup remover wipes I’m currently using.
Phyto 5 Jojoba and Shea Butter Nourishing Cream – $7.99 – This stuff must be good – the full size is nearly $80! I can’t wait to test out this high end cream. So fancy!

Amala Hydrating Cream Cleanser, Face Cream, and Yogurt Mask – $4.49 – Onto the foil packets! I’ve never tried Amala before, and it’s definitely a luxury line. It will be interesting to give these a try.
Miracle Skin Transformer Tinted Acne Treatment Lotion – $0.64 – This looks like a primer that is specifically made for acne prone skin. I hope I can get at least one use out of this packet!
Michael Todd samples – $3.99 – I love the Michael Todd products that I’ve tried, so I’m glad to test out even more. I wish that I got one, deluxe sample instead of a variety of foil packets.

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $29.57

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

OVERALL OPINION: While I am disappointed that half of my samples are foil packets, the deluxe samples are awesome! I am especially excited to try the Makeup Remover Pads. I also really like that I can pick out my samples each month, so I won’t get anything that I really don’t want. If my Beauty Army kit had more deluxe samples, I would love it!

You can join Beauty Army for $12 per month HERE. Are you already a member? Let me know what you think of this subscription 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.

February 2014 Favorites!

Posted on March 1, 2014February 28, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! February has come to a close, and it’s time for me to share my favorites of the month with you. Before I do, I just wanted to say a big thank you! February was my best month traffic wise since I moved to my own URL, and while it’s not all about the numbers, it’s definitely exciting to see my blog grow. I really appreciate your support, and I’m always working to make Adventures in Polishland better. And after that sappy moment, onto my February favorites!

FOUNDATION

Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation [REVIEW]

I’ve really been loving this new Rimmel Foundation! Make sure to check out my review for all the details, but if you’re looking for an affordable foundation I highly recommend this one. I have no complaints with this product at all!

HAIR CARE

Redken Anti Frizz Polishing Milk

I got this sample in a Little Black Bag a really long time ago, and am finally using this on a regular basis! This month my hair has been extra dry and frizzy (not to mention staticky), and a pea size drop of this Polishing Milk helps to smooth everything out. Check your local salon if you’d like to buy it!

SKINCARE

Almay Lash Care Eye Makeup Remover Pads [BUY]

My mom gave me these back in December, and I’ve been using them a lot this month. They do a great job of taking off my mascara, and don’t irritate my skin. If you have sensitive skin, I think you should give these a try!

BEAUTY TOOL

Travel Spray Bottle

I got this spray bottle so I could keep water in it for my BeautyBlender. I love to use my BeautyBlender when it’s damp, but I don’t put on makeup in the bathroom. Thus, this bottle comes in handy! I grabbed it at Duane Reade in the travel section, and I’m sure you can get one at any drugstore.

FOOD

Enjoy Life Soft Baked Snickerdoodles

My sweet tooth has been out of control lately, and when I saw these on sale at Whole Foods I just couldn’t resist! These snickerdoodles are all natural, gluten free, and dairy free, but amazingly still taste just wonderful! I don’t feel guilty when eating these cookies either. Yum!

APP

Flappy Bird

Poor, Flappy Bird! He got so much hate this month that the app is no longer available. Well, let me tell you, I love this game! It was hard at first, but I worked myself up to a high score of 60. I’m so glad I downloaded this game before it was pulled from the app store. If you love Flappy Bird too, tell me your high score in the comments!

EXPERIENCE

Chicago on Broadway

February was full of fun things for me! I had friends come to visit, ate at great restaurants, and saw four Broadway shows! My favorite experience was definitely a classic – Chicago. It’s not my favorite Broadway show of all time, but I had third row seats and a very fun night. I definitely recommend it the next time you’re in NYC!

That wraps up my February favorites! As you can see, I wasn’t very adventurous with new beauty products, but I still had a great month that I wanted to share with all of you. I hope your February was just as good. Share some of your favorites with me in the comments or use the hashtag #PolishlandFaves on social media!

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