Adventures in Polishland

Halloween Week | Easy Pumpkin Nails with Zoya Nail Polish

Posted on October 15, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! One of my favorite parts of Halloween and the fall season in general is all of the delicious pumpkin foods. If it’s pumpkin flavored, I will try it! I thought it would be fun to showcase pumpkins on my nails, so I put together a simple manicure to show homage to the pumpkin. I grabbed three polishes from my Zoya collection, and got to work!

How cute are my little pumpkins?! I know they aren’t perfect, but I like them just the same. To create this look, I started off with Zoya Flynn as a neutral base. Then, I chose Zoya Amy for the pumpkins to give them a bit of added dimension and sparkle. I carefully painted a rounded arc on my nails to get that look. Last but not least, I added a stem and leaf to each pumpkin using Zoya Hunter. Finish up with any glossy top coat and you are all set to wait for the arrival of the Great Pumpkin in your local pumpkin patch!

If you are looking to add some pumpkin flair to your nails this season, try out this simple look! Feel free to post a photo of the completed product on my Facebook page so I can see how yours turned out. To shop for the Zoya Nail Polishes that I used in this post, head over to the Zoya website HERE. Stay tuned for more great manicures during Halloween Week!

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

Halloween Week | Leopard Nails with Sally Hansen Real Nail Polish Strips

Posted on October 14, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Yesterday I kicked off Halloween Week here at Adventures in Polishland with a DIY Leopard Costume complete with a leopard manicure. Today I wanted to review the nail polish strips I used, and give you a close-up of what they look like. If you’re as busy as I am this time of year, don’t let your nails be an extra task. Nail polish strips can really be a help!

While Sally Hansen is my all-time favorite nail polish brand, I’ve actually never tried out any of the Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips before. I grabbed the kit called Kitty, Kitty to complete my leopard costume. This kit comes with 16 strips, an emery board, a cuticle pusher, and instructions. I think this is a pretty good value at $10.99, especially when they often go on sale!

I am loving the final result of Kitty, Kitty! The application process is so easy – peel, stick, file. There really is no drying time needed whatsoever. I found the Sally Hansen strips are packaged almost identically to the Incoco nail appliqués I recently tried out. The main difference was that Kitty, KItty definitely felt more sticky, and more like real nail polish. I think the sealed foil packets held in the moisture a lot better than the plastic wrap Incoco uses. While I have not done a true wear test on these, I am one day in and they still look great! Make sure to follow me on Twitter to see how long they last.

All in all, I think Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips are great for the girl on the go who wants a fancy Halloween manicure. While $10.99 may be a lot for an everyday look, it is more affordable than a professional manicure. Plus, it’s nice to splurge for a special occasion. Stop by your local drugstore or shop on Amazon HERE to sport some feline phalanges on Halloween!

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

Be Boo-tiful this Halloween with Duane Reade Hosiery!

Posted on October 13, 2013October 21, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

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Happy Sunday, and welcome to Halloween Week here at Adventures in Polishland! Every day this week I will be sharing Halloween nail art ideas, and I’m kicking things off with a fun costume. Being a full-time student is busy and stressful, so when it comes to picking out a costume I want the process to be as simple as possible. After hearing about the items available at Duane Reade, I headed to my local store to stock up. My first task was searching through my closet for costume ideas.

When I spotted three leopard print dresses in my closet, I knew I would use one as my starting point. Many women own at least something with leopard print, so whether you have shoes, a scarf, or even a leopard print purse, this is a great piece to build upon. After choosing this dress from Express, I headed to Duane Reade with a leopard agenda!

Check out this amazing hosiery section at my local Duane Reade! Whether you’re looking for something sheer or opaque, nude or black, patterned or plain, you’ll find it here for an affordable price. I actually had a difficult time deciding which tights I would purchase, but finally picked out two pairs.

First, I grabbed a pair of Sheer stockings in the shade nude just to play it safe. Then, I grabbed some black tights with a fancy pattern. These tights retailed for $6.99 and $7.99 respectively, and had a handy size chart on the back (which is actually accurate!).

Here is a close-up of the patterned tights. It reminded me a bit of animal print, so I thought it would go well with my leopard theme. The style number of this pair is 89138A in case you’re looking to grab the same ones!

To complete my outfit, I made a stop in the Halloween aisle and the beauty aisle. No leopard costume is complete without some cat ears! This headband was just $3.99, so I couldn’t pass it up. For an added touch of leopard, I grabbed some Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips in Kitty, Kitty. For $10.99 I couldn’t say no!

Here is my completed Halloween costume! To transform my leopard print dress, I added the patterned tights, black ballet flats, a black cardigan, and the ears! My finishing touches include the Sally Hansen strips and a bit of black eyeliner for a nose and some whiskers. I love the end result! It is so easy to put together this outfit, and I’m feeling Boo-tiful! Plus, I love that this dress has pockets so I don’t need to worry about carrying a purse – I can tuck my essentials easily inside! To recreate this look for Halloween, use any of the leopard print items in your closet. Make it your own with a scarf or belt – the possibilities are endless.

All in all, I’m so glad Duane Reade made putting together a Halloween costume so simple! My grand total for this outfit was just $31.29, a bargain compared to most Halloween costumes. The trick is to use what you have, and then buy the extras. I’m also glad to know that Duane Reade has a full hosiery line for when I need a pair of tights. They are great quality, and so fabulous and affordable!

Make sure you head on over to Duane Reade’s Facebook page and enter the Boo-tiful Legs Contest to share how you are incorporating Duane Reade hosiery into your Halloween costume. You could win a spa weekend in NYC!

Stay tuned for the rest of Halloween Week!

Gold Square Studs from Born Pretty Store!

Posted on October 11, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Now that fall is in full swing, I just love making sure my nails are following the season’s trends. Just like with fashion, I keep my nails fabulous and affordable, so I was too excited to try out some gold studs from Born Pretty Store. Let me show you how the look I created!

First I started out with an on-trend color for fall, RUFFIAN Nail Lacquer in Hedge Fund. You can see a full review of this polish HERE.

I let my base color dry until it got tacky, and then got to work placing the studs. I used a pair of long-nosed tweezers (similar to THESE ones) so that I would have more control. Then, I simply placed one stud at the base of each nail, and for an accent I placed four in a diamond shape. Gently press the studs down and seal with a top coat to ensure they’ll stay in place, and you’re good to go!

All in all, I’m loving my manicure! The army green and gold colors go great together, and this nail art look was so easy to complete. You can purchase these gold studs on Born Pretty Store’s website HERE. For just $5.84 you get a bag of these studs, so you can create lots of different manicures. Don’t forget you can get an extra 10% off with coupon code FZL91, and every order gets free international shipping. I can’t wait to use these studs again soon!

The product in this post was provided for my unbiased review. This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Indie Spotlight: Smitten Polish in Mint Chip

Posted on October 9, 2013October 9, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! If you’re like me, you probably have quite a few polishes in your collection that you’ve had for a long time, but haven’t tried out yet. A couple weeks ago, one of my favorite beauty bloggers, Cosmetic Sanctuary, reviewed the Smitten Polish Fall Collection, and I was in awe! It sparked my memory that I own just one bottle of Smitten Polish, and I just never tried it out. Cosmetic Sanctuary inspired me to test out that polish, and I am not disappointed!

Here is Smitten Polish in Mint Chip, a mint based polish with brown glitters both small and medium sized. Application was great, and I achieved opacity in three thin coats. Not only is mint chocolate chip my favorite ice cream, but I just love mint nail polish, so Mint Chip is perfect for me! I’m so happy I finally gave it a try.

All in all, Mint Chip is a great polish, and I can’t wait to try more from Smitten Polish. You can purchase Smitten Polish on Etsy HERE for $9.00 each. While Mint Chip is not currently for sale, similar polishes are Adeste Fidelis and Groovy Baby. Plus, I’m sure you can’t go wrong with the brands stunning holographics. Be sure to follow Smitten Polish on Facebook as well, and let me know if you own any Smittens in the comments.

Subscription Sunday | Wantable October Box

Posted on October 6, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! Today I have a new to me subscription box to share with you from Wantable.com. If you are tired of receiving sample size products in your beauty subscriptions, I definitely suggest Wantable. After taking an in depth beauty profile quiz, Wantable will put together a box of 4-5 full size products for you every month from high end beauty brands. Let me show you what I got in my October box!

Here is the first peek inside my first Wantable box! I couldn’t believe how fast it arrived to me as well – I placed the order on a Monday and it was in my mailbox on Thursday! My order also came with a detailed print out that listed the answers from my style quiz, as well as information for all of the products I received. I found the sheet very helpful!

The first item in my box is the Japonesque Angled Foundation Brush. This brush retails for $25, and is perfect for traveling or every day use. I’ve never used a foundation brush before, so I’m excited to try this one one. It looks like it is amazing quality!

The next product I received is the Bésame Cosmetics Brightening Violet Powder. This is a translucent loose powder that completes any makeup look. I just love the cute packaging, and this even comes with a little powder puff! The retail price is $22.

I always love receiving nail polish in my subscription boxes! This one is Michael Marcus Once You Go Matte, and is a black nail polish with a matte finish. I’ve tried a few polishes from this brand, and I do like it. Michael Marcus retails for $15 per polish.

Next up is the Manna Kadar Extreme Curl Mascara in Black. At first I was a bit disappointed to receive a mascara, since now I have way too many, but when I tried this one I was stunned! I’m loving it! This is one of the best mascaras I’ve tried in a long time, and I can’t wait to use it more. This product retails for $19.

The last full size product in my box is the Cailyn Cosmetics Red Tint lip stain. I like that this product is more of a berry shade than a bright red, and that it is so easy to apply. Beware, though, because this truly is a stain and doesn’t even come off with makeup remover! This product retails for $13.

As a bonus, Wantable through in a sample of the Skiin Instant Skin Tightener and Line Filler. This product is supposed to tighten skin and be an alternative to cosmetic surgery. I’m not sure what I think about that, but it’s great to have a bonus sample nonetheless!

All in all, I’m impressed with my October Wantable box! The retail value of my box is $94! What I really like about Wantable is that you are getting items really tailored to your personal likes and dislikes, and you know that everything will be full size. You can also choose to subscribe to Wantable for $36 per month, or buy a box whenever you wish for $40. I really think this is a great value, and I highly recommend it! Wantable also offers an accessories box, an intimates box, and a limited edition Halloween box! To shop, simply click the image below. Let me know what you think of Wantable 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.

Incoco 100% Real Nail Polish Strips | An Inconclusive Review!

Posted on October 4, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I have a review of Incoco Nail Polish Strips, nail appliqués made from 100% real nail polish. Incoco sent me a few designs to test out for all of you, and I made sure to do a true wear test since the product is advertised to last up to 14 days. Let me tell you a bit more about Incoco!

Incoco Nail Polish Strips are made from real nail polish, and include a top coat, color coat, and base coat in every strip. These appliqués do not require any drying time, and are 3-free. Each pack contains 16 double-ended strips to ensure you find the perfect fit for your nails and nail shape. I also love that Incoco products are made in the USA!

To apply the appliqués, simply peel a strip, place it on your nail, and use a file in a downward motion to trim off the excess. To remove, use your regular nail polish remover!

The first set I tried was Blazing Pink, a neon pink color that I absolutely love! Blazing Pink was so easy to apply, and I loved the look of my nails. I left on this manicure for one week before removing it. The third photo above shows the significant wear at the end of that one week. While I would have liked a longer-lasting manicure, I had a great experience with Blazing Pink, and would recommend this design!

Up next is Cheers, a black and gold glitter design. I found Cheers much harder to apply – they were thicker and less malleable than Blazing Pink. The edges would not lay flat, and I experienced chipping after a few hours. I ended up peeling off the appliqués in less than 24 hours because the edges were all coming up off my nails. Cheers was thus a big disappointment for me.

Last but not least is Garden Party, a floral design with a cream base and orange flowers. Garden Party applied well – not as good as Blazing Pink, but much better than Cheers. As you can see from the photos, the edges did not lay flat on all my nails. My manicure lasted about four days before I peeled off the strips. I loved the look of Garden Party, but wished it lasted longer!

All in all, I’ve had an interesting experience with Incoco! One set was great, one was bad, and the other was just alright. I can’t really give a final verdict of my Incoco opinion without trying more and seeing what happens, but I can say for sure that Blazing Pink is awesome. If you love neon pink and would like a manicure that lasts about a week, I would got for it. Incoco Nail Polish Strips can be purchased for $7.99-8.99 each online HERE. Be sure to let me know what you think in the comments!

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

Indie Spotlight: Surfer’s Paradise from Sallyface Polish and Potions

Posted on October 1, 2013October 1, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! Instagram really has proven to be a great place to discover new indie nail polish brands. I love perusing the #indiepolish hashtag, and one day Sallyface Polish and Potions appeared on my screen! The brand’s owner generously sent me one of her polishes to review, and I can’t wait to share it with you.

Surfer’s Paradise is a gorgeous aqua polish with just a hint of blue glitters and holographic shimmer. The polish has a great formula that was opaque in two coats and applied well. I was really impressed with the quality of this polish! Surfer’s Paradise is also a beautiful color. While some brush strokes are visible, that is due to it’s metallic quality, and in no way detracts from the look of the manicure. Overall, I’m loving Surfer’s Paradise!

My first experience with Sallyface Polish and Potions is a hit! Surfer’s Paradise is a great polish, and I would definitely recommend it. You can shop for Sallyface Polish and Potions HERE and follow on Instagram HERE. Prices currently range from $4.00-7.00.

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

Ipsy v. Birchbox: Round Seven | September 2013

Posted on September 29, 2013September 27, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! It’s time for the battle of the beauty subscriptions with another Ipsy v. Birchbox post. I’ve really enjoyed these monthly reviews, but this will actually be the last one (at least for a while). Make sure to read through to the end to find out why!

First up is my Ipsy Glam Bag. September’s theme is Classic Beauty, and the cosmetic pouch this month is blue with a black lace print. I definitely think the bag is cute, but not my favorite that I’ve received. Let me show you what is inside!

I will describe these products for you from left to right.

Elizabeth Mott It’s So Big Mascara – $8.00 – I love mascaras, but how many can a girl own? I got another mascara sample from Ipsy just last month. Eventually I will get around to trying this out!
Cailyn Tinted Lip Balmin Big Apple – $19.00 – I’m no stranger to Cailyn now thanks to these subscription services. This is a tinted lip balm in a bright red color. I love that it comes with its own lip brush, but red lips are not my go to. This will be nice for special occasions.
Freeman Beauty Paper Face Masks – $5.97 – I’ve been wanting to try paper face masks for a long time, so I’m super happy I got these. Unfortunately, my first try was a disaster! The mask was dripping everywhere, and it didn’t fit my face well. Plus, my skin burned after just a few seconds of having it on. I will give the others a try, but I did not like my first experience!
NYX Eyeshadow in Pure Gold – $4.50 – This eyeshadow is a nice, shimmery gold color, and I have been wanting to try more NYX cosmetics. I don’t wear eyeshadow often, but I’m happy to try this out.
Starlooks Obsidian Kohl Eye Pencil – $12 – This is the second black eyeliner I’ve received from Ipsy, so now I am stocked up for a while, especially since I rarely wear eyeliner. I’m debating whether or not to even open this to be honest!

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $49.47

OVERALL OPINION: I’m pretty bummed with this month’s bag, even though it has a high retail value. I keep getting the same items over again, and the same brands. I am very happy to get the face masks, even though I didn’t like the first one. Now I know what I think of them!

RATING (1-5, 1 BEING WORST AND 5 BEING BEST): 2

Now moving on to my September Birchbox! This month the theme was Heritage, but I find that Birchbox themes are pretty open ended.

Again, I’ll describe the goodies from left to right.

Caudalie Hand and Nail Cream – $6.00 – I have wanted to try this hand cream for so long after hearing a bunch of beauty bloggers rave about it. I’m not disappointed! It smells amazing, and is not greasy. I might have to save up my Birchbox points to get the full size.
Davines This Is a Sea Salt Spray – $10.80 – This product really intrigues me! After one try, I’m pretty impressed. It helps give your hair beachy waves without looking frizzy. I’ll have to give this another go soon!
Yes to Blueberries Cleansing Facial Towelettes – $2.13 – I love makeup remover wipes, and can’t wait to try these. The sample size is great, with eight wipes. I think I’ll save this for travel! I know I love the Yes to Cucumbers towelettes, so these should be nice, too. Plus, I love getting a product I can easily repurchase at the drugstore if I like it.
RUFFIAN Nail Lacquer in Hedge Fund – $10 – You already know how much I love this polish! I wrote an entire review on it HERE.
Yes to Grapefruit CC Cream – N/A – While foil packets are never my favorite item, this CC cream is my monthly extra, so I guess I can’t complain! I’m not able to determine the value, since there is no size amount on the packet, but the full size is $15.99.

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $28.93

OVERALL OPINION: The retail value of this month’s box may not be as much as Ipsy’s, but I am loving the products! The nail polish is amazing, and I really wanted to try the hand cream. Plus, I know I will use the makeup wipes.

RATING: 4

There you have it! My winner for the month of September is Birchbox! After seven months of subscribing to both Ipsy and Birchbox, I’ve decided to cancel my Ipsy subscription. Not only did it only win my battle round one time, but I am not enjoying the products as much. My decision to cancel was made easy – when my credit card information changed, I was never ever to change it on Ipsy’s website! It seems every time I check, they are always in “Billing Mode”. I took this as the opportunity to cancel and move on. I will still be continuing with Birchbox, and will post those unboxing reviews each month!

You can subscribe to Ipsy HERE and Birchbox HERE. Each service is $10 per month.

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

Zoya Zenith Collection for Holiday 2013

Posted on September 27, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I have a review of the complete Zenith Collection from Zoya Nail Polish.The Zenith Collection will be released in just a few days on October 1, and contains six beautiful shades for the holiday season. Let me show you these gorgeous polishes!

First up is Belinda, a dark purple polish with blue and magenta shimmer. Belinda has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. It was difficult to capture the shimmer on camera, but in real life this polish shines so beautifully. Belinda is definitely one of my favorites in this collection.

Next is Seraphina, a silver metallic polish. Seraphina has a good formula, but I found it very difficult to apply due to its color. The silver is very sheer, and was hard for me to see during application. I therefore had to be really careful to make sure I was staying inside the lines. Besides that, Seraphina is opaque in two coats, and is a nice silver for the holidays!

Cassedy is up next, and it is a stunning pewter polish that shifts to blue and green depending on the light. Cassedy has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats, and I am loving how unique it is! I wouldn’t necessarily call this a duochrome, but it clearly has a color-changing quality. Cassedy is very edgy, and would look great for a rock star look. Next is Payton, a cranberry jelly polish with scattered holographic glitter. Payton has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats. Plus, application is amazing! Payton is such a beautiful polish, and it is a great alternative to the bright, Christmas red around the holiday season.

Dream is up next, and is a blue jelly polish with scattered holographic glitter. Dream is literally a dream polish. It has the perfect formula, and is opaque in two coats. Dream is definitely my favorite polish in the collection, and I think it is so gorgeous. I love the dimension and sparkle!

Last but not least is Mosheen, a glitter top coat mixed with holographic bars and grains. The base is just slightly blue, so I layered two coats over Zoya Blu to get the look in the photos. Mosheen does have a good formula, and I had no problems with application. Mosheen is a nice polish to add a bit of sparkle to any manicure!

All in all, I’m loving the Zoya Zenith Collection! I love that the polishes are unique, and different from typical holiday collections. I would also like to see more polishes like Dream and Payton in the future! You can purchase these polishes starting October 1 on Zoya’s website HERE for $8 each.

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