Adventures in Polishland

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.

Indie Spotlight | Beginner’s Luck Collection from Dream Designer Nail Kit

Posted on February 27, 2014February 25, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! It’s been a little while since my last indie spotlight post, but I’m super excited to share with you a brand new indie brand! Dream Designer Nail Kit, or DDNK for short, just launched this year. DDNK’s first collection is called Beginner’s Luck, inspired by a weekend in Las Vegas. I think that’s a really fun idea for a collection! Let me share the five gorgeous polishes with you!

Of course I had to show you the unique bottles that each DDNK polish comes in. I’ve never seen any other brands with bottles like these before! The shape reminds me of coins, which coincidentally goes well with the Vegas theme.

First up is Go-Go Getter, a burnt orange glitter polish with blue glitters just sprinkled in. I was so impressed with Go-Go Getter’s formula! It applies like a dream, and is opaque in two coats. This polish is super sparkly, and would be great for the fall season.

Next up is Going Home Blues, a royal blue polish that dries to a statin finish. Going Home Blues has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. It has a bit of a “crelly” formula (mix between a creme and jelly), and that makes for a unique polish. I think this is my favorite in the collection!

Next is Royal Flush, a purple polish with silver and holographic glitters. Royal Flush also has an awesome formula that is opaque in two coats. I really love this one! I could see myself wearing this quite often.

Sunset on the Strip is next, and it’s a gorgeous black base filled with bronze glitters. It applies really well, and is opaque in two coats. Sunset on the Strip is really unique! I love that the glitters make the black base sparkle when the light hits them just right.

Last but not least is Vegas Night Sky, a glitter polish with charcoal, gold, blue, and purple glitters. This polish is opaque on its own in two coats, and applies with ease. I’m always happy when I don’t have to layer a glitter polish! I love the combination of colors as well.

All in all, I’m really impressed with these polishes from Dream Designer Nail Kit! They all have great formulas, and the colors are rather unique. Each polish retails from $8.99-9.99, and you can purchase this complete collection for $37.99. Shop on Etsy HERE or on eBay HERE. Also make sure to like DDNK on Facebook HERE to stay in the loop about upcoming collections! Let me know what you think of DDNK 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 Magical Pixie Collection for Spring 2014!

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

Happy Tuesday! Today on the blog I have a review of the new Zoya Nail Polish trio for spring called the Magical Pixie Collection. These new polishes are a continuation of the textured PixieDust line, but they include larger glitters and a holographic sparkle. It was very difficult for me to capture just how sparkly these polishes are on camera. Please know that the Magical Pixies will be much more glittery in person if you purchase them! Let me share these polishes with you!

First up is Cosmo, a silver textured polish. Cosmo is opaque in two coats, and has a surprisingly easy-to-work-with formula! This polish is literally like a disco ball on my nails! It would be so perfect for a night out on the town, or anyone who just loves glitter and sparkle. I think this is great for New Year’s Eve as well!

Next up is Vega, a light blue textured polish. Vega is quite full coverage, and I could almost get away with one coat, but added a second for opacity. I really like how the dusty blue color is mixed with the holographic sparkle. Vega is so unique!

Last but not least is Lux, a baby pink textured polish. Lux is my favorite polish in this trio! It reminds me of ballerinas and tutus. Just like the other polishes in this collection, Lux is opaque in two coats and quite easy to apply. It dries very quickly, and is oh-so-sparkly!

All in all, the Magical Pixie Collection is unlike anything else in my own personal stash! I know these won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but I think they are really fun, and perfect for fancy occasions. You can purchase these polishes on Zoya’s website HERE for $10 each. Let me know what you think of the Magical Pixies 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 | My First Beauty Box 5!

Posted on February 23, 2014February 22, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! Today I am super excited to bring you my first unboxing of Beauty Box 5. It’s been a while since I’ve opened up a new-to-me subscription box, so I was really curious to see what would be inside. Similar to some other beauty boxes, Beauty Box 5 is a subscription service that sends you five cosmetic samples per month. Let me show you what is inside my box!

Beauty Box 5 comes in a Tiffany blue box, which I just love! Inside I found an informational card on top. On the back it explains more about how the service works, and I’m guessing they put this in every welcome box since I didn’t get the exact products pictured. Now onto the goodies!

I’ll tell you a bit more about each product from left to right, and mention the retail value of each sample.

La Fresh Travel-Lite Facial Cleansing Wipes – $2.49 – I love these wipes! This is an 8-pack that is perfect for your purse. I’ll be saving this pack for my next trip!
H2O+ Face Oasis Hydrating Treatment – $5.76 – I’ve never tried anything from this brand before, but I’m excited to use this oil-free moisturizer. This is a decent size skincare sample as well!
Ofra Lipgloss Plumper in Sultry – $12.95 – This is a full size lip gloss! The shade looks nice, and I’m interested to test it out. I’ve never tried a lip plumper before, so we’ll see what happens!
Nubar Nail Polish in Kristal – $4.00 – Believe it or not, I’ve never tried a Nubar polish before! Kristal looks gorgeous, and I’ll have a full review of it on my blog very soon.
Bellápierre Cosmetics Eyeshadow in Celebration – $14.99 – This is a full size Mica powder eyeshadow in a beautiful gold shade. It’s not something I would typically use, but it’s fun to give it a try.

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $40.19

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

OVERALL OPINION: I’m really impressed with my first Beauty Box 5! I got a great variety of items, including three full size products. Plus, the retail value is over three times the cost of the box. The only item that I’m not too excited about is the Bellápierre eyeshadow, but otherwise I’ll be using everything else!

You can subscribe to Beauty Box 5 for $12 per month HERE. Already a member? Let me know why you love Beauty Box 5, and if you think I should subscribe!

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

Gala’s Gems Collection from Color Club | Release & Review!

Posted on February 22, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I’m excited to tell you all about a fun event I attended last week with Birchbox. Despite a very snowy day, I joined other Birchbloggers at the Mondrian Soho Hotel for hot chocolate, manicures, and a Q & A with blogger Gala Gonzalez. Gala runs the blog Amlul, and partnered with nail polish brand Color Club to create the new collection Gala’s Gems. Let me tell you a bit more about the event, and share the nail polishes with you!

Birchblogger Event

To celebrate the release of Gala’s collection, Birchbox was kind enough to host an event with local bloggers so we could try out the polishes and learn more about Gala. We had the chance to get our nails done (shoutout to my manicurist Kenyetta!) and then heard from Gala, who was interviewed by Birchbox co-founder Katia. Gala is so beautiful and down-to-earth. She let us in on some of her blogging secrets, and shared about her journey in the fashion industry. I highly recommend you check out her blog if you haven’t before – it’s professionally done, and a must read for fashion lovers!

You can also find more photos from this event on my Facebook page HERE.

Gala’s Gems Review

First up is Heirloom Pearls, a pearlescent white polish. All of the polishes in the Gala’s Gems Collection have a metallic finish, which I think is perfect for the transition from winter to spring. Heirloom Pearls has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. It looks flawless on my nails, and would go with pretty much any outfit. I highly recommend it!

Next up is Breakfast At…, a mint green metallic polish. I love the clever name of Breakfast At…, and the green color is right up my alley. The formula is very good, though a bit prone to streaking due to its metallic nature. This is the color I got for my manicure at the event. I just love it!

Aquamarine Azulino is up next, and it is a gorgeous baby blue polish. This has a great formula that is opaque in two coats, and I just adore the pastel blue shade. The shimmer throughout the polish makes it perfect for snowy days, yet the pigmentation is also nice for the warmer months. Aquamarine Azulino is an all around great blue!

Last but not least is Gold Struck, a rose gold metallic polish. I was a bit disappointed that Gold Struck is so streaky, but that can happen with any metallic polish. I still really love the color, and this is a great option for those of you who didn’t grab Sally Hansen’s Gold Roses (review HERE). Gold Struck really has that liquid metal look!

All in all, I had a great time at the Birchbox event, and I really like the Gala’s Gems Collection from Color Club. This collection will be available very soon, so keep an eye out for it! I’ll be sure to post on Facebook when these polishes are available, as well as the price point. Let me know in the comments what you think of the Gala’s Gems Collection!

UPDATE: You can now purchase this collection for just $13 on the Birchbox website HERE.

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

Drugstore Foundation Review: Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse

Posted on February 19, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I have a review of the brand new Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation. I’ve been using the Stay Matte Pressed Powder for years now, so when I saw that Rimmel expanded the Stay Matte line I had to try it out. Since I have combination skin that gets oily throughout the day, I hoped this new foundation would help control that shine and keep me fresh faced all day long. Let me share my thoughts on this foundation with you!

The Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation comes in a squeeze tube at the standard foundation size of 1oz. There are eight shades in the line, and I got shade 091 Light Ivory. This foundation is advertised to be lightweight and control shine, as well as blend flawlessly for a natural look. It retails for around $5.49 at drugstores (I got mine at Duane Reade!).

As for the formula, I find it to be a bit on the thick side. It’s definitely a heavier consistency than I expected, but it blends out flawlessly. I’ve tried it both with and without primer, and I do prefer to use a primer just to have a smooth and flawless base. To apply the foundation, I use a damp BeautyBlender, which works perfectly! This is definitely a full coverage foundation, but it does not feel heavy on this skin. No cake face here!

The Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation also has an amazing wear time! I’ve tested this for about two weeks now, and when I get home after an eight to ten hour day, my skin still looks great. While I do get a bit shiny without any touch ups or oil absorbing sheets, I see a huge improvement when I use this foundation. It is definitely one of my new favorites!

All in all, I am really impressed with the new Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation. It is so affordable, and my skin loves it! I highly recommend it, and now want to try the other new products in the Stay Matte line. Let in me know in the comments if you’ve tried the Stay Matte BB Cream or Primer!

Products I’ve Used Up #2

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

Happy Monday! It’s time for another “empties” post here at Adventures in Polishland. I think these posts are a great opportunity to learn about a lot of products in a short amount of time. Plus, they serve as a personal reminder since I can always look back and see which products I would repurchase in the future. Let’s get right into all of the products I’ve used up!

HAIR CARE

L’Oreal Paris Triple Resist Reinforcing Conditioner – I’ve been using this L’Oreal system for a while now, and I really like it. My hair seemed to strengthen a bit, and I have no complaints! Plus, this line is really affordable. With sales and coupons, I can find this for around $2-3! [BUY at the drugstore]
Not Your Mother’s Beat the Heat Thermal Styling Shield Spray – I picked up this heat protectant last year, and it lasted forever! This protectant was just okay. It worked to protect my hair, but it left my hair crunchy and has a weird smell. Despite it being an affordable $5.99, I don’t think I would repurchase it again. [BUY]

NAIL CARE

CVS Strengthening Polish Remover – This used to be my go to nail polish remover, and I snagged a couple bottles a few months back during a clearance event for just $0.55! After using pure acetone and the Julep remover, this just doesn’t cut it for me anymore. It’s good, but not the best. [BUY at CVS]
Julep Acetone Free Condition Nail Polish Remover – This is my all time favorite polish remover! It works really well, plus it leaves my nails feeling healthy and it doesn’t have a strong smell. Unfortunately, it is a tad expensive. I would totally buy this in large quantities if Julep had that option! I highly recommend this! [BUY]

SKINCARE

Clean & Clear Foaming Facial Cleanser for Sensitive Skin – This is another product that lasted me a very long time. It’s a great cleanser for sensitive skin, and I used it whenever I wanted a gentle cleansing. I would repurchase it again in the future for sure. [BUY]
Michael Todd Jojoba Charcoal Facial Scrub – I got this scrub in an Ipsy bag a few months back, and I am in love. This is the best scrub I’ve ever used! My skin always felt so clear and healthy after I used it. Although it is a bit on the expensive side, I will definitely be repurchasing it after I run out of the scrub I’m using now. It is seriously worth it! [BUY]
Gold Bond Ultimate Skin Therapy Cream – I talked about this moisturizer in my December Favorites, and it made that list for a reason! This is a great lotion, and I would definitely repurchase it at some point. Read more about it HERE. [BUY]

Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes – I really do like these makeup wipes, and I am working my way through a few packs that my Mom got me for Christmas (thanks, Mom!). You can see all of my thoughts on these wipes HERE. Make sure to grab them during sale events, or shop on Amazon for a great price! [BUY]
Tatcha Aburatorigami Beauty Papers – I got these blotting papers in a PopSugar box, and was happy to try them out. Unfortunately, these were a flop for me. The blotting papers from the drugstore work much better than these high end ones for a much lower price. I wouldn’t repurchase them. [BUY]

MAKEUP

Too Faced Primed & Poreless – I’ve talked about this primer many times on Adventures in Polishland, so I won’t go on forever! This is my first bottle, and it lasted me several months so it is a good investment product. You can see my full review HERE. [BUY]
Revlon Lash Potion by Grow Luscious in Blackened Brown – This mascara was good, but not my favorite. I did like it on days where I wanted natural looking lashes, and I applied it with short and fast strokes. This did clump up rather quickly, but I’ve heard others have really liked it. I’m not sure I would repurchase it, but it’s not a bad product! [BUY]
Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Transluscent – I love this powder, and have repurchased it several times! With coupons and sale events at the drugstore, I get this powder for next to nothing. Plus, it’s a great quality product. I wish I was able to make use of the residual product still left in the container, but at such an affordable price, I don’t feel bad throwing it out as is. [BUY at drugstores]

SAMPLES

REN Hydra-Calm Global Protection Day Cream – I got this as a free sample with a Sephora order, and loved it! It has a bit of an odor, but works so well to moisturize my skin. I considered purchasing the full size, but when I saw it was $45 I had to say no! If you have room for this in your budget, it’s a great product! [BUY]
Taylor Swift Enchanted Wonderstruck Perfume – I may not be a Taylor Swift fan, but I’m a huge supporter of this perfume! I loved this so much I asked for a full size for Christmas. I love the fruity yet musky scent. Plus, you can get a great price by purchasing this on Amazon instead of a department store! [BUY]
Versace Bright Crystal Perfume – I also loved this perfume sample by Versace. It smelled expensive! It also has a great mix of sweet and sultry scents together. I would consider getting the full size if it were more affordable. [BUY]
Benefit It’s Potent! Eye Cream – Finally, I got this eye cream in a Birchbox, and really liked it. It really is potent, so make sure to be careful when applying it so the cream doesn’t go in your eye. I’m using another eye cream now, but I would definitely consider purchasing the full size in the future. [BUY]

Phew! That is a lot of empties this time around! I hope you liked hearing more about these products. I always feel a bit accomplished when I finish up a product, since it makes me feel like I got my money’s worth. Do you agree? Let me know if you’ve tried out any of these products in the comments!

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

Neon Nails featuring Star Studs from Born Pretty Store

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

Happy Saturday! Today I have a really fun manicure to share with you featuring some star studs from Born Pretty Store. When I got the studs in a neon color, I decided to create a nail art look that would be perfect for any 80s throwback party. Let me show you the totally rad manicure!

First, here is a look at the packet of studs. For just $3.37, you get 200 studs! Think of all the nail art looks you can create with this one packet! These studs also come in eight different colors, so you can choose your favorite. I got the lime green, or shade #4. They can be purchased HERE.

As a base for my neon nails, I grabbed Spoiled in Plastic Flamingo, one of my all-time favorite polishes. When the polish was still tacky, I used some long-nose tweezers to place the studs on my nails. I placed one stud on the base of each nail, and three in a diagonal on an accent nail. The tweezers made this process really easy, so I definitely recommend using them as a helpful tool.

All in all, I’m loving this neon manicure! The colors are so fun and vibrant, and the studs are so easy to use. Whether you’re looking for a themed look for a special occasion, or simply want to liven up your normal manicures, I think these star studs are a great choice. You can grab them on Born Pretty’s website for an extra 10% off with code FZL91. Have you tried any nail studs? Show me what you create on my Facebook Page!

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

MAC Box of Chocolates Blogger-Curated Palette Giveaway!

Posted on February 14, 2014February 14, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday, and Happy Valentine’s Day! I’ve teamed up with 29 other bloggers to show love to you, our readers, with a special giveaway treat. An eyeshadow palette is like a box of chocolates – but this one has 30 different flavors inside, each one chosen by a different blogger! We’ve put together a special blogger-curated palette filled with 30 of our favorite MAC shades in a MAC Pro Large/Duo Palette for one of our readers to win! The shades include our favorite neutrals, fun, bold colors, and everything in between You’ll have to win to see what they are! All you have to do is enter via Rafflecopter. US & Canada only! Giveaway starts February 14 – February 28th! Please let me know if you have any questions, and be sure to thank xoNoelle for hosting!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!