Adventures in Polishland

Beautiful NYC | Birchbox Local

Posted on September 13, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I am very excited to launch a brand new series here at Adventures in Polishland called Beautiful NYC. I’ve been a New York City resident for just over a year now, and I sometimes find it difficult locating unique places to shop for nail polish and all things beauty. I thought it would be fun to highlight shops and events around the city and share them with all of you! To kick things off, I headed to the first ever Birchbox Local shop.

Birchbox Local is located at Chelsea Market, a super hip, indoor market with food, shopping, and more. I’ve never been there before, so I loved being able to visit a new part of the city on this Birchbox adventure! I planned on taking lots of photos of the shop once I got there, but it was so busy inside I couldn’t get any good pictures! Let’s just say this shop is super cool. In the front is the bar where you can build your own box (pictured below), and then the rest of the space is dedicated to more beauty products, and even a section for hair and makeup services. The Birchbox online shop literally came to life!

Of course, the main reason I wanted to head to Birchbox Local was to build my own Birchbox! For $15, you can customize your own box with a total of five samples. I couldn’t wait to pick out some goodies! There are literally 45 different samples to choose from!

Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow – $22 – Gimme Brow is a brow-volumizing fiber gel to fill in eyebrows while keeping them groomed at the same time. I got the shade light/medium, and imagine my surprise when I discovered that this is the full size product! This one item alone is already worth more than I paid for the box!
Color Club in Savoy Nights – $2 – I couldn’t leave without putting a nail polish in my box! I grabbed this gorgeous silver glitter from the soon-to-be-released Winter 2013 collection from Color Club. Yes, this nail polish isn’t even released yet! I estimated the price compared to other Color Club minis.
Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment – $3.23 – This oil is now one of my go-to hair products! I am running low on the 1oz bottle I got in an Ipsy bag, so I grabbed this sample size to last me even longer. I know I’ll love this product! It’s amazing!
Smashbox Photo Finish Primer in Light – $10 – I’ve heard so many great things about Smashbox primers that I knew I had to grab one! The shop had every variety, but I decided to get the oil free one because my skin gets oily throughout the day. I can’t wait to try it!
beautyblender – $19.95 – I almost fell on the floor when I saw that we could add beautyblenders to our box! Plus, when I checked out the sales girl gave me a sample size of the blendercleaser to go with it! I absolutely love my beautyblender, and I could not pass up the opportunity to grab another at such an amazing value.

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $57.18

Wow! What an amazing value for just $15 + tax! Not only did I get some amazing products, but I had a great time, too. All of the sales girls at Birchbox Local were really nice, and I honestly wish this shop was open all the time! If you live in or are planning to visit New York City this weekend, I highly recommend stopping by Birchbox Local. All the information you need to know is located on the Birchbox website HERE. Keep in mind they only take cards (no cash).

I hope you enjoyed this post, and stay tuned for more Beautiful NYC reviews! Let me know in the comments if there is a specific place you would like me to visit and write about.

Candy Color Nail Polish from Born Pretty Store

Posted on September 9, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! I hope you all enjoyed your weekend and didn’t mind that I took a few days off from blogging. Today I’m back with a review of a nail polish from Born Pretty Store, my favorite online retailer for all things nail art (and so much more!). Recently Born Pretty came out with a line of nail polishes that remind me of indies, and I couldn’t wait to try them! While I love supporting small businesses, sometimes my bank account would be much happier with an indie dupe. Let me show you a polish I tried out from Born Pretty’s Candy Color line!

Here is Candy Color Polish in Number 17 (Born Pretty doesn’t have polish names, just numbers!). The first thing I noticed was that the bottle I received looks nothing like the picture on the website — it is a different shape and brand name. Yet the polish color looks the same and that’s all that matters!

This polish is a milky yellow base filled with red and gold hexagonal glitters and fine gold glitters. It applied very well, with glitters easily laying flat on the nail without any special effort. I applied three coats to achieve opacity, but this could be layered over another color as well. I was rather impressed with the formula, and I actually like the color combination. This is a really unique polish!

All in all, I am really liking the Candy Color Nail Polish from Born Pretty Store. This line contains 10 polishes, each of which is just like an indie nail polish. The best part is, these polishes retail for just $4.36 each, or $38.80 for the entire, 10-piece collection. You can purchase this fabulous and affordable polish HERE and don’t forget to use coupon code FZL91 to get an additional 10% off your purchase. As always, Born Pretty Store offers free international shipping. Let me know if you have tried any Candy Color shades!

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

Indie Spotlight: Daphine Polish in Watermelon Taffy & Sick, Sad World

Posted on September 5, 2013September 1, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! Today I’m back with a review of some more polishes from the indie brand Daphine Polish. If you missed my first review of this brand, you can see it HERE. The polishes I’m reviewing today are from different collections, but they are equally as great! Let me show you these beautiful polishes.

First up is Watermelon Taffy, a pink jelly polish with black, green, and holographic glitters. I am amazed at how easily Watermelon Taffy applied to my nails — it glided right on and there is no need to fish for glitters! I layered two coats of this polish to achieve opacity, and then I added a matte top coat for the bottom photo. Not only is Watermelon Taffy a sweet candy, but it’s an awesome polish!

Next up is Sick, Sad World, a metallic green polish with blue, gold, and green square glitters. Sick, Sad World has a great formula, and is opaque in two coats. I love how it shifts from green to gold depending on the light! I couldn’t resist adding a matte top coat to Sick, Sad World as well. Doesn’t it look great?!

All in all, I am loving these polishes from Daphine Polish! I’m so glad I found out about this indie nail polish brand. The quality here is great, and like I said in my previous post, the polishes were packaged so well when they arrived. Make sure you check out the Daphine Polish Etsy shop HERE, and like the Facebook page HERE. Let me know what your favorite indie brands are 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.

Try it on Tuesday | Zoya Nail Polish in Wednesday, Lola, & Charisma

Posted on September 3, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! I’ve acquired some new Zoya polishes lately, so I thought it would be fun to do a review of my untried Zoyas for this week’s Try it on Tuesday. I can’t believe that it’s been just over a year now that I’ve known about Zoya — it’s become one of my favorite brands! Let me show you some polishes that surely don’t disappoint!

First up is Wednesday, a dusty turquoise creme. While I’ve used Wednesday on my toes a few times, I’ve never tried it out as a manicure. The formula is a bit on the thick side, but easily manageable and opaque in two coats. I love this shade, and think it’s perfect all year long.

Next up is Lola, a bright pink polish with purple duochrome shimmer. Lola is a dream nail polish! Not only does it have an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats, but it is so beautiful. The color is just so unique, and I love how bright it is. Plus, it is multidimensional due to its duochrome effect. Lola is one of my new favorite nail polishes!

Last but not least is Charisma, a vibrant magenta polish that dries to a matte finish. Charisma also has a great formula, but make sure you apply it carefully or streaks will appear when the polish dries. I applied two coats to achieve opacity, and I’m just loving the result. Matte polishes are a favorite of mine, and Charisma’s color is just amazing!

All in all, these three Zoya polishes are just fabulous. I honestly love each of them, and plan on wearing them again and again! If I had to pick one favorite from this bunch, it would be Lola. What about you?! As always, you can purchase Zoya’s polishes online HERE for $8 each.

Subscription Sunday | My September Julep Maven Box

Posted on September 1, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! As you may know, I love Julep nail polish. Julep was the first subscription service I ever joined, and it is still one of my favorites. One of the program’s best features is being able to skip any month without having to cancel your subscription. I ended up skipping both July and August to make more room in my budget, but I went for the September box, and I was so excited to get it in the mail! Let me show you everything that was inside.

As always, my Julep Maven Box was packaged quite nicely. I did notice there was no informational card like there usually is, but I still got the quote that matches up with this month’s theme, the Cityscape Collection. I went with my signature style, Classic with a Twist, which included two nail polishes and the Bare Face Cleansing Oil. As a little bonus, Julep added a nail polish remover pad.

Julep’s nail polishes also got a new look! I think the new packaging sure is cute, but a little unnecessary in the long run. I’ll be putting these in the recycling bin!

Florence is the first nail polish from my September box, and is a nude creme. The formula was a bit streaky, but Florence is opaque in two coats. This is really the perfect neutral color, especially for my skin tone. If you want to simply look polished and professional, Florence is the way to go!

The other polish I got is Padma, a deep purple creme. Padma is a dream polish! It has a one coat formula and the color is just stunning. This polish is super pigmented, and almost looks black. Padma is just perfect for when you want a dark color. I was surprised how much I loved it!

All in all, I’m really happy with my September Julep Maven Box! I can’t wait to try out the Bare Face Cleansing Oil as well. For $19.95 per month, Julep is a great bargain. Plus, Maven subscribers get special discounts and other goodies, and can skip or cancel at any time. If you’re not a member yet, be sure to join HERE and get your first month for free with code FREEBOX at checkout (you just pay shipping). Be sure to let me know what you think of Julep in the comments below!

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

Indie Spotlight: Goddess of the Two Lands Collection from Daphine Polish

Posted on August 30, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! I always love discovering new indie nail polish brands, and today I have a review of one that I found on Instagram. Daphine Polish graciously sent me some polishes to review for all of you. Not only were the polishes packaged extremely well, but the bottles themselves are cute, too! Today I’ll be reviewing three polishes from the Goddess of the Two Lands Collection. Let me show you these gorgeous polishes!

First up is Bast, a dark grey polish with multi-colored glitters. Bast has an amazing formula that applies very well and is opaque in two coats. I am loving this one, especially for fall. The multi-colored glitter makes Bast really unique, and I love the added dimension it gives this polish. I definitely recommend this one!

Next up is Isis, a dark purple polish with pink glitters and a scattered holographic shine. Isis also has a great formula and is opaque in two coats. This polish is just beautiful, especially if you like purples. It has a satin finish, which I’m always happy to see. I love Isis just as much as Bast!

Last but not least is Sekhmet, a brown polish with red and purple glitters. Sekhmet is a bit patchy formula wise, so I strongly suggest thin coats. I applied two coats to achieve opacity. Despite the tricky formula, Sekhmet is gorgeous. The glitters really stand out against the base, and make for a sparkly manicure!

All in all, I am really liking these polishes from Daphine Polish! These jewel tones are great for fall, and I love that mini bottles come with a full sized brush. You can purchase the Goddess of the Two Lands Collection on Etsy HERE. The full collection of six polishes is $55, or each full-sized polish is $10. Be sure to follow Daphine Polish on Facebook HERE, and stay tuned for another review on this brand soon!

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

Review & Giveaway | Too Faced Primed & Poreless Face Primer and Smashbox It’s a Wrap! Waterproof Makeup Remover

Posted on August 28, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I have a review of some beauty products sold at the beauty retailer Planet Beauty. They graciously sent me these products for review, and are even giving them away to you, my readers. Be sure to read this entire post to find out how to be eligible for the giveaway!

First up is the Too Faced Primed & Poreless Face Primer. I’ve been wanting to try a primer for a long time, and this one is perfect for me because I have enlarged pores on my face, especially in the T zone. A primer is just what it sounds like — it is the product you put on your face before you put on any makeup. In essence, it primes your skin to prepare it! In addition to being worn under makeup, you can also wear Primed & Poreless on its own.

Above is a swatch on my hand of Primed & Poreless both before I massaged it in, and after. As you can see, the primer is lightly tinted, but it matches my skin tone perfectly when blended in. I am amazed at how smooth my skin feels after applying this primer! It literally changes the whole look and feel of my skin, and gives me the perfect matte face. There is a very subtle shimmer to this product, but it is barely noticeable, and just adds a bit of definition. Even without any additional makeup, Primed & Poreless makes my skin look even and flawless!

When applying makeup over this primer, I find that I need a lot less foundation than I usually put on. I also really blend my foundation in with a BeautyBlender to get an amazing finish. Really be careful not to put on too much foundation or you will end up looking cakey. I made that mistake the first time I used Primed & Poreless, but now I’m thrilled that I can conserve my foundation and use less with this primer! Overall, I’m absolutely loving Primed & Poreless! It has become a part of my every day routine.

Next up is the Smashbox It’s a Wrap! Waterproof Makeup Remover. I also desperately needed a good makeup remover to take off my waterproof mascara that seems to like living on my lashes. It’s a Wrap! is definitely what I was looking for! It’s very gentle, yet takes off my makeup flawlessly. Make sure to give the bottle a good shake, then apply a small amount to a cotton round and voila! No more makeup!

It’s a Wrap! works much better than the Sephora remover I was using before. It really takes off my mascara without leaving my eyes feeling dehydrated. You also only need to use the smallest amount, so this bottle will last you a long time! I highly recommend it if you are in the market for a new makeup remover.

All in all, I loved both of these products from Planet Beauty! They are definitely more on the high end side of the cosmetics counter, but since these are both daily staples in a makeup routine, I know I wouldn’t mind spending a bit more for them. You can buy the Too Faced Primed & Poreless primer for $30 HERE and Smashbox It’s a Wrap! for $25 HERE. Also, make sure to enter the giveaway that Planet Beauty is sponsoring! There will be two winners: one for each product reviewed here. Please read all of the Terms & Conditions listed in the Rafflecopter, and email me with any questions. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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.

Subscription Sunday | Top 10 Julep Polishes for Fall

Posted on August 25, 2013August 25, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! Back in July I shared with you my favorite Julep nail polishes for summer (see that post HERE). Now that it’s getting cooler and September is just around the corner, I thought it would be fun to post my top 10 Juleps for fall! If you’re a Julep Maven subscriber like I am, you probably have some of these polishes in your collection already. Get ready to bust out these great polishes again!

First up is Eloise, a dark blue creme polish. Eloise has an amazing formula that applies well and is opaque in two coats. I love how pigmented Eloise is. While this polish is very dark, the blue tone shows up really well. It’s a great alternative to a neutral shade!

My next pick is Helen, what Julep describes as a “smokey lavender creme.” I see Helen as a pink shade, and I sure love it! This polish has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. Plus, it is work appropriate, and quite feminine. Helen is such a classy nail polish, and I can see it paired with cozy sweaters this fall.

Next up is Janel, a raspberry pink metallic polish. Janel also has a great formula and is opaque in two coats. I just love the high gloss finish, and think the metallic sheen is perfect for the fall. I like that it is edgy but girly at the same time. Janel is definitely an underrated Julep polish!

Another Julep that is perfect for fall is Keira, a deep red creme that leans towards purple. Keira has a good formula, but is prone to streaking so careful application is key. Besides that issue, Keira is a great polish. The color is stunning, and the polish is opaque in two coats. I wore this polish at least twice last year, and I’ll be sure to use it this year, too!

Next up is Lisa, a grey creme polish with a hint of green. Lisa has a flawless formula that is opaque in two coats. It is the perfect neutral color, and also works well in nail art! Sometimes I just don’t want loud nails, and Lisa is a great option. It is also work appropriate, and looks quite polished.

Melissa is next, and is a gorgeous opalescent polish. I got Melissa gifted to me from the blogger My Vanity Basics way back when I first started blogging. Melissa is one of the most popular Julep polishes, and it is stunning! I applied three coats to achieve the look in the photos. I love that this polish reflects every color of the rainbow depending on the light. Melissa is a must have in every polish collection!

Up next is Nikki, a green-yellow creme polish. Nikki doesn’t have the perfect formula, but it is still a really unique color. I applied three coats to achieve opacity. Nikki is definitely a different kind of polish! I think it is great for the fall, and can be layered over a white if you would like a brighter result.

Next up is Nora, one of the suede finish polishes from Julep in a purple color. As you can see, the suede polishes dry to a matte finish, and look just like suede fabric! Formula wise, Nora is a great polish. I applied two coats to achieve opacity. If you love matte finishes, Nora is definitely a great one! It’s so pretty for the fall.

My next pick is Piper, a mint green metallic polish. Piper has a great formula, but it is a bit sheer. I need three coats for an opaque finish. I got Piper in my August Julep Maven Box last year, and it is such a great transitional polish from summer to fall. I love anything mint green, and Piper is no exception!

Last but not least is Raegan, a pink creme polish. I absolutely love pink cremes, and I feel like they are always in season. Raegan is truly the perfect bright pink, and the formula is fabulous as well. I could wear this polish on a daily basis — it’s great for every occasion!

All in all, I hope you found this post helpful! I love Julep nail polishes, and I’ve acquired so many since I’ve become a Maven that I try to reuse them all the time. I highly suggest joining the Julep Maven subscription program if you are not a member already. It is only $19.95 per month for a mix of nail polishes and beauty products, and the best part is you can skip any month you do not want to purchase. Julep also offers great discount codes and sales all the time. In fact, you can get your first Maven box for free with code FREEBOX at checkout HERE. You’ll just have to pay for shipping, but this is a fabulous deal!

Let me know in the comments what your favorite Julep polish is for fall!

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

What’s Under There? Part Three

Posted on August 22, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! It’s time for another edition of What’s Under There?! In this series, I share with you polishes that I layered under glitters, or used in nail art. Today I’ll be showcasing the polishes that served as the bases in my Kawaii Nail Lacquer post. You can see that review HERE if you missed it. Let me show you what was under those glitters!

First up is L’Oreal Breaking Curfew, a super dark, plum jelly polish. Breaking Curfew is definitely outside of my comfort zone! I got it at Rite Aid a few months ago because I wanted to try something new. Unfortunately, the formula is a bit difficult to work with, but three coats is a full coverage, opaque look. I do love the color, and I think it’s perfect for fall. I might have to try this as a jelly sandwich at some point!

Next up is OPI Skull & Glossbones from the Pirates of the Caribbean Collection! Skull & Glossbones is a gorgeous off-white polish with a hint of green. It is the perfect neutral shade, and applies really nicely. I need two coats to achieve opacity. I really love how Skull & Glossbones is understated and classy at the same time. Even though it is from a retired collection, it is still available on Amazon!

ncLA’s Malibu Beach Babe is up next. This is a deep teal creme polish that just screams “fall” when I put it on despite its summery name. Malibu Beach Babe has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. I’ve worn it twice now, and I’m sure I’ll continue to get even more use out of it. ncLA polish retails for $16, but it is worth the splurge for this one!

Last but not least is Julep Brandt, an off-black creme polish. Brandt is one of my favorite dark polishes of all time. It has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats, and is edgy without being a harsh true black. Brandt is great on its own, but I’ve also used it for nail art. This is just an all-around fabulous polish!

All in all, I hope you liked finding out more about these polishes! Make sure to stay tuned for more What’s Under There? posts in the future! Also, don’t forget to enter my Back to School Giveaway HERE. Leave me a comment telling me your favorite polish in this post!

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

Spreading the News About Colour Gossip Nail Lacquer

Posted on August 20, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! Today I have some gorgeous polishes from the boutique brand Colour Gossip Nail Lacquer to share with you. I first discovered this brand on Instagram, and couldn’t wait to try out some of their polishes! Colour Gossip graciously sent me a few polishes to review, and I am really impressed with them. Let me show you these amazing polishes!

First up is Just a Tease, a bright pink creme polish. Just a Tease has a perfect formula that is opaque in two coats. I love pink nail polishes, and this one is everything I could ask for from a polish! It is totally work appropriate, yet still girly and fun. If you have been searching for a great pink, I definitely recommend Just a Tease!

Next up is All About Me, a sky blue creme polish. All About Me has a very good formula that is opaque in two coats. The light, milky shade is prone to streaking, so paint with a bit of extra care to avoid that problem. I am truly loving All About Me! It’s not a polish color I typically reach for, but it’s quite pretty! I’m so glad to have All About Me in my collection.

Last but not least is Red Bottoms, a stunning red creme polish. Red Bottoms, of course, alludes to the famous shoes every girl dreams of owning, Christian Louboutins! Whether you wear this on your hands or your feet, I have good news for you. Red Bottoms is a one coat formula! I needed just one coat to get the flawless finish seen in the above photos. Red Bottoms truly is the perfect red nail polish, and I highly recommend it!

All in all, I am loving these polishes from Colour Gossip Nail Lacquer! I’m so impressed with the formulas, and how easily they apply to the nails. The cheeky polish names are a huge bonus as well! You can purchase these polishes on the Colour Gossip Nail Lacquer website HERE, and follow the brand on Facebook HERE. Each polish retails for $9 each.

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