Adventures in Polishland

Adventures in Polishland Across the Web!

Posted on June 2, 2013July 12, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Sunday! Today I just wanted to share with all of you two exciting websites that I have been featured on this past week.

First, I was interviewed by the nail polish blog So Nailicious. You can see my interview HERE. Please be sure to subscribe to her blog for amazing reviews and nail art. You can also follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Second, I wrote a guest post for fellow WordPress blogger Zenorah. My post shows you how to use holiday themed nail polishes all year round. I absolutely love the manicures I created, so I hope you will check out the post and follow Zenorah’s blog while you’re there. You can see my guest post HERE. As a little sneak peek, take a look at how I used a red and white Christmas glitter in this jelly sandwich manicure!

That’s all I have for today! Stay tuned for more nail polish and beauty reviews, and as always, a huge thank you to all of my followers for supporting me on my Adventures in Polishland.

3D Heart Rhinestones from Born Pretty Store!

Posted on May 31, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! If you love to add bling to your nails, then today’s review is perfect for you! Born Pretty Store, the best place for affordable nail art supplies online, recently came out with some new 3D heart rhinestones in twelve stunning colors! I put some of these to the test, and I can’t wait to share the fancy manicure I created!

First off, here is a quick picture of the set of rhinestones as you receive them. They come in a cute wheel that is separated by color and is very easy to store in your nail polish collection. This set comes with twenty-four rhinestones total, with two of each color. I love this wheel because it ensures that the rhinestones don’t get lost anywhere, but I can still see the available colors through the clear plastic.

I decided to choose two of the rhinestones for my manicure as double accent nails! Since I was wearing Zoya Bobbi, I chose a light pink and a light purple to act as complimentary colors. To apply the rhinestones, simply press them onto your nails before your nail polish has dried completely and finish up with a top coat. The rhinestones stuck on my nails rather well, but you can always use a bit of nail glue to ensure they don’t fall off if you wish. Another great thing about these 3D rhinestones is that they can be reused! They don’t get ruined upon removal, and can thus be applied for more than one fancy manicure!

All in all, these heart rhinestones are super cute and very easy to apply. I am not one to have bling on my nails all the time, but these are great for an accent nail or a special occasion! Plus, since there are twelve different colors, you can pair the rhinestones with many different nail polishes. This set of rhinestones retails for just $4.14 HERE, and as always Born Pretty Store offers free international shipping. You can also get 10% off of your order with the discount code FZL91. Click the photo below to start shopping now!

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

Zoya Irresistible Collection for Summer 2013!

Posted on May 29, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I have the last of the three Zoya collections for Summer 2013 to review for you. The Irresistible Collection is for the metallic-loving lady! With six gorgeous shades, this collection truly is irresistible. I am blown away with how stunning each of these nail polishes is, and I’m even happier to report that the formulas are all spot on! Let me show you these must have shades for summer.

First up is Kerry, a golden yellow metallic polish. Kerry is opaque in two coats and has a great application. I suggest thin coats with each of these polishes, as metallic formulas can bunch up if you have too much polish on the nail. Kerry truly is a golden hue, and sparkles just beautifully. If you are looking for a great base for your next ruffian manicure, you better get Kerry!

Next up is Amy, a burnt orange metallic polish. Amy is also opaque in two coats, and has the same great “irresistible” formula. This polish has a golden shimmer throughout, and is more wearable than most oranges. I think Amy will go well with any skin tone, and can work during the autumn season as well as the summer. I’m surprised at how much I love Amy on my own nails!

Tinsely is the next polish in this collection, and is a unique rose colored shade. Tinsley is quite different, and has a duochrome feel to it. It’s not quite pink, and it’s not quite purple, but it is very pretty! I love the golden shimmer throughout this metallic finish as well. Tinsley is office appropriate, yet still fun and summery for beach days. Talk about a versatile polish!

Bobbi is next, and my favorite polish in the Irresistible Collection! Bobbi is a bright, magenta polish with silver shimmer. Bobbi is opaque in two coats, and has a great formula and application. The color is just absolutely stunning, too! Bobbi is the perfect nail polish for any pink fan, and I think it can be worn all year long. I can’t wait to put this on my nails again!

Next up is Hazel, a metallic polish that is a mix of blue and silver. This cool color combination creates a unique polish that is like nothing else in my collection. Plus, Hazel has an amazing formula and is opaque in two coats. Hazel is also a great transitional polish to take your nails from summer to fall. If you love blue polish, this is a must have for you!

Last but not least is Rikki, a light green metallic polish. If you loved Logan from the Ornate Collection, then you will love Rikki as well! It is a lighter version of that winter favorite, and has the same great application that is opaque in two coats. Rikki also is replete with gold shimmer that truly shines in the summer sun. It is a fabulous finale to the Irresistible Collection!

All in all, I am really impressed with Zoya’s Irresistible Collection. I am not always the biggest fan of metallic polishes, but this collection changed my mind! With fabulous formulas, and beautiful colors, I think I will be grabbing for these polishes quite often. You can purchase the Irresistible Collection for $8 each on Zoya’s 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.

What’s Under There? Part Two

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

Happy Monday! Today I have another edition of What’s Under There? In this series I share with you some of the nail polishes I used as the base color for glitter manicures. You can see Part One of this series HERE, and make sure to stay tuned for new installments on a regular basis! Let me show you the polishes on today’s agenda.

First up is Sally Hansen Complete Manicure in Barracuda, a beautiful pastel blue. Barracuda is a great polish that is opaque in two coats. The formula is spot on, and applies with ease. I layered Rainbow Polish in Tahitian Waters over Barracuda (see that post HERE), but it is beautiful on its own as well. The Complete Salon Manicure line is one of the more expensive collections from Sally Hansen, but it often goes on sale. Keep an eye on the weekly fliers and coupon inserts in the newspaper!

Next up is Surreal Appeal from China Glaze, a vibrant red orange polish that leans towards pink. Surreal Appeal is from the Cirque du Soleil collection, and is the perfect color for summer. I needed three coats of this polish, as the formula was a bit uneven in two coats alone. Otherwise, Surreal Appeal is just a fabulous polish! I layered Different Dimension in Wish You Were Here over this polish in THIS review for a manicure with even more pop. You can find Surreal Appeal at your local beauty supple store, or on Amazon HERE (it is currently just $3.05, so snag it before the price goes up!).

Last but not least is Zoya Arizona, a beautiful orange creme polish. I’ve wanted Arizona for the longest time, and when I tried it for the first time I understood why. This polish has a perfect formula that is opaque in two coats. The orange color is not too bright, but just a true orange. I used it as the base color for Different Dimension’s Comfortably Numb to create the neon look seen HERE. Arizona is such a flattering polish, and can be purchase on Zoya’s website HERE for $8.

All in all, these polishes are stunning on their own as well as layered with a glitter nail polish! I find that these shades are great for the spring and summer seasons as well, and are definitely fabulous and affordable. Let me know which of the three is your favorite!

Some of the links above are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Bimonthly Beauty Post: New York Jazz Lipstick Trio by Julep

Posted on May 25, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! If you’re a regular follower of mine, you may have noticed that I am a bit behind on my Julep Maven posts. It’s not because I’m no longer subscribed, but just because I didn’t get the chance to review them. I will have the polishes on the blog soon, but today I have a review of the New York Jazz Lipstick Trio that came in my May box. I was so excited to receive a lipstick trio in my box, but was a little disappointed when it arrived. Let me show you the New York Jazz trio!

The trio arrived in adorable packaging. I love the black and gold designs, as it fit with the Roaring Twenties theme that Julep aimed for. As expected, the trio was three mini lipsticks. Although Julep marketed them as full size, my mom picked up that the item description noted they were “little” lip colors. It turns out she was right! These are definitely mini size, but they come in a great little cigar-style box.

The trio came with two sheer lip colors, and one statement red lipstick. From left to right, the shades are Tea for Two, Satin Doll, and Lady in Red. Tea for Two is a very sheer nude lipstick with shimmer. It is so sheer, in fact, that I can barely see any color payoff whatsoever. Since it is not very moisturizing, I don’t think Tea for Two will work as a tinted lip balm or a lip color. It is my least favorite of the trio. Satin Doll is a very pretty coral shade, and a flattering color for me. While still very sheer, it is pigmented just enough to provide a nice color that is perfect for daytime. Last but not least is Lady in Red, a bold red lipstick with a matte finish. Lady in Red is quite drying, but it is the perfect red shade. I won’t be wearing it often, but it is a great red to have in my makeup collection!

All in all, I am a bit disappointed that the New York Jazz Lipstick Trio was mini size, but I am absolutely loving Satin Doll. I wish Tea for Two was more pigmented, but other than that the lipsticks are decent quality. I was quite happy to receive this trio in my May Maven Box even if it wasn’t exactly what I was expecting. You can join Julep today and get your first box for free with code FREEBOX HERE. Stay tuned for my nail polish review for the April and May shades!

Indie Spotlight: Echoes Collection from Different Dimension

Posted on May 22, 2013July 12, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Calling all Pink Floyd fans! Today I have a review of the Echoes collection from the indie brand Different Dimension. This set of six unique polishes perfectly represents the band’s iconic image from the album The Dark Side of the Moon, and is super fun for summer. Let me show you this totally rad collection!

First up is Wish You Were Here, a glitter top coat that I layered over China Glaze Surreal Appeal. Wish You Were Here is full of lots of fun glitters in the colors pink, fuchsia, blue, and silver. I absolutely love the large circle glitters and the squares! I applied one coat in the photos above. As you can see, the large circles reflect the light and create a holographic effect. Wish You Were Here is very unique, and perfect for the summer sunshine.

Next up is Another Brick in the Wall, a glitter top coat that I layered over Urban Outfitters Freakin Pink. Another Brick in the Wall is comprised of white and black fine glitters, white, black, and pink rectangles, and hot pink hexagonal glitters. There is also a sprinkling of silver holographic glitters for that extra shine. I applied one coat in the photos above. Unfortunately the pink glitters got a bit washed out in the photographs, but in real life they stood out great on the pink background. If bright colors aren’t for you, wear Another Brick in the Wall over a neutral polish for a toned down look!

Money is the next polish in the Echoes collection. It is a white base filled with neon green, neon yellow, blue, black, and gold glitters in a variety of shapes and sizes. Money can be worn alone as it is opaque in three coats, but I wanted the neon glitters to really stand out, so I layered two coats over a white polish. Money has a great formula that is easy to apply in layers, and once again the circle glitters make a very cool statement in this polish. The color combination also lives up to the money theme quite well!

Next up is Time, a glitter top coat that I layered over Essie Play Date. Time is full of black, silver, and purple glitters in all shapes an sizes, including diamonds, stars, squares, and large circles. I applied one coat to get the look in the photos above. It should be noted that the large circle glitters do appear curled, but that is just reflective curling. They lay perfectly flat on the nail! The star shaped glitter also has a stunning holographic shine when it hits the light. Time is definitely a rock star polish!

Comfortably Numb is the next polish in the Echoes collection, and is a glitter top coat will hot pink and yellow glitters. I layered one coat over Zoya Arizona in the photos above. The yellow glitters are hard to see in the photos, but my manicure looked amazing in person with all of the neon colors together. To make the neon glitters really pop, layer Comfortably Numb over a white polish. I think this polish would also look great with a matte top coat!

Last but not least is my favorite polish from the bunch, Hey You. Hey You has a light purple base and is full of pink and purple glitters with a sprinkle of holographic shine. I layered two coats of Hey You over Sally Hansen Lacey Lilac, as it perfectly matched the base color and I wanted to ensure opacity. I just adore the final product! The colors are stunning, and I love the pastel base. Hey You can easily transition from spring to summer, and is such a feminine polish.

All in all, I am loving the Echoes collection from Different Dimension! Each polish has an amazing formula, and the glitters apply with ease. I also find that these polishes are so unique, and offer glitter shapes that many other brands don’t incorporate. I think these polishes are a must for Pink Floyd fans and polish fans alike! Shop the collection on Etsy HERE for $8.50 each. You can also follow Different Dimension on Facebook HERE.

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

Ipsy v. Birchbox: Round Three! May 2013

Posted on May 19, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Sunday! It is round three of Ipsy v. Birchbox here at Adventures in Polishland. Even though Birchbox won the first two rounds (see Round One HERE and Round Two HERE), I felt that I needed at least three months of each subscription service to really test the waters for good. At $10 each, I am getting some great new products for an affordable price. I’ve already used up quite a few of the samples! This month I got some really nice products as well. Let me show you what was inside!

First up is my Ipsy Glam Bag! This month’s theme is Spring Fling, and I am just adoring the cosmetic bag we got this month. I love the bright chevron pattern, and it is a waterproof material that will be perfect for the summer months. I’m quite impressed with the quality of the bag as well — it feels nice and sturdy! Let me describe the products I got from left to right!

Juice Beauty Reflecting Lip Gloss in Champagne – $7.50 – Juice Beauty is a very popular brand in these subscriptions! This month I got a really pretty lip gloss in a nude color. I tried this out a few times, and I do like it. It is very sheer, and although it looks very glittery in the tube it doesn’t make my lips look like a disco ball. Instead, it has a nice shine. What I don’t like is the smell! It smells strange, but I think it is because it’s organic and has natural fragrances only. Also, though this is packaged like a full size lip gloss, it is exactly one half of the full size that Juice Beauty sells online. Nonetheless, this is a great sample with a great value!
Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment – $13.50 – I have been wanting to try some of the hair cair products from Macadamia, so I am beyond excited for this product! It smells divine, and I already see a big difference in my hair since I started using it. I apply the tiniest amount from my ears down after I get out of the shower, and my hair is much softer and less frizzy than usual. This sample size retails for $13.50, and will last me a while since a little bit goes a long way. I am so happy with this sample!
Zoya in Julie – $8 – This month each Ipsy subscriber got a full size nail polish from the Zoya Lovely collection. I got Julie, but unfortunately I already own the entire Lovely collection. While I do think it is great to get a full size polish in these subscription services, the Lovely collection came out back in December, and many nail polish aficionados already own the colors they want. Similarly, my bottle came a bit damaged, and I noticed that many other subscribers received damaged bottles as well. Part of my thinks Zoya sent Ipsy all of the bottles they didn’t want to sell themselves! I love the idea behind this polish, but I wish we got something from a newer collection that wasn’t damaged.
St. Tropez Instant Glow Body Lotion – $6.27 – Next up is a self-tanner body lotion. I’ve tried the one from Jergens before, and loved the results yet hated the smell. This one is just the opposite! There is no smell, yet the color is way too dark for my pale skin, and I wasn’t able to achieve a natural look. I think this is a great sample size, but unfortunately it didn’t work for me. I’m going to try it again once I have more of a natural tan.
Yaby Concealer Refill in Buff – $4.85 – I am also very excited for this concealer from Yaby, another brand that Ipsy seems to like a lot as well! I’ve been needing a new concealer, and I’m glad Ipsy sent me one that seems like the perfect shade for me! I know some subscribers received incorrect colors in their glam bag, but make sure you go to the Ipsy website to edit your profile. I can’t wait to use this concealer, and it will fit in the Glam RX palette I got back in March.

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $40.12

OVERALL OPINION: I’m very happy with my Ipsy glam bag this month! The value is great, and I got three products I will definitely use. Unfortunately I already had the nail polish, and the St. Tropez lotion isn’t really my thing. Other than that, I will get a lot of use out of the other products. I am most excited about the Macadamia hair treatment!

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

Now onto my May Birchbox! This month there wasn’t really a theme, but each box came with a fun Mad Libs type activity. Fill in the Beauty Diaries phrase and tweet it to Birchbox, and you could win a full size product of everything in your box! See my Tweet HERE! Now I will tell you more about the products I got this month.

Amika Nourishing Mask – $1.60 – First up is a foil packet of a deep conditioner for hair. This mask is supposed to repair damaged hair with its special sea buckthorn berry ingredient. I will probably get 2-3 uses out of this packet, although it will be difficult to use in the shower. I would have liked different packaging to make this sample more user friendly. I also appreciate being able to try a high end hair product, but this packet just doesn’t excite me!
Runa Tea Bag Sample Box – $1.75 – My favorite product this month is a sampler box of four teas from Runa. I got four tea bags in these flavors: traditional, ginger-citrus, mint, and cinnamon-lemongrass. The tea bags smell amazing, and are supposed to have twice the antioxidants as green tea! It’s nice to get a little snack item in a beauty box. Even though the retail value isn’t high, I know I will be able to afford a box of the tea if I decide I like it and want more!
Sumita Color Contrast Eye Pencil in Suman – $5.25 – Each Birchbox subscriber got a mini Sumita eyeliner this month, and I luckily got it in a black color! I rarely wear eyeliner, but this one seems very nice. It is a very creamy consistency, and glides on easily. It is definitely smudge-proof as well. Even though I won’t use it often, this is a nice product to get in a box like this!
Coola Classic Sunscreen for Face – $4.32 – This tiny sunscreen sample from Coola was mostly empty when I got it, and exploded a bit when I opened it. Unfortunately there is not much for me to try! I admit it smells great, but I’m very disappointed with this sample. I cannot fathom spending $32 on the full size product. I understand that it is organic and high end, but that is quite a lot for sunscreen. I hope to get at least once use out of this tube.
Marvis Classic Mint Toothpaste – $1.40 – I’m not sure how I feel about getting a “luxury” toothpaste in my Birchbox. I will definitely use it up, of course, but I typically spend $1.40 or less on my regular toothpaste when it is on sale! I do love that this is an Italian import, since I am part Italian, but this is another product that I won’t be buying the full size of. The tube is great for travel, though, and it smells minty fresh!

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $14.32

OVERALL OPINION: I am so disappointed this month! This is the first time Birchbox provided me with samples that can really only be used 1-2 times each with the exception of the eyeliner, and perhaps the toothpaste. My box was considerably lighter this month, and the retail value of these items really stinks. It’s always nice to try high end products that I can’t afford to buy regularly, but I wish I could get more out of them. These products won’t even last until next month’s Birchbox.

RATING: 2

There you have it! My winner for the month of May is Ipsy by a landslide! After being beat out by Birchbox for two months, Ipsy finally provided me with some great products. At this point I am going to give each subscription another go. I sure hope that this was just a fluke with Birchbox, since my last two months were amazing. I am still an undecided girl when it comes to which program is better! Which one do you like more?! If you have yet to join, you can sign up for Ipsy HERE and Birchbox HERE.

Some of the above links are affiliate links. Subscription boxes purchased with my own money. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Sport Royal Nails with butter LONDON’s Queen Vic!

Posted on May 17, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I am excited to share with you a gorgeous polish from the brand butter LONDON. If you have been searching for a color that is professional and sophisticated yet modern at the same time, Queen Vic is the polish for you! Let me show you this stunning nail polish!

Queen Vic is a gorgeous deep purple polish that leans towards red. It is opaque in two coats, and has an amazing formula! I had no application issues whatsoever, and thought the long, slender brush was easy to use. Queen Vic dries to a shiny finish, so I didn’t even apply top coat! I just love the color as well. I find that it is classy, but it’s also not too “mature” for younger women to wear. Queen Vic is the perfect shade for any businesswoman that loves to stay trendy outside of the office. It is also a polish that can be worn all year round, since the color is neither too bright nor too dark.

All in all, I am loving Queen Vic from butter LONDON! It is definitely a splurge nail polish, as it retails for $15, but I think this is definitely a great polish to pay a little extra for. I will be sure to get a lot of use from this beautiful color, and feel royal while wearing it! You can purchase Queen Vic directly from butter LONDON HERE, or on Amazon HERE.

The product in this post was sent for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. Some of the above links are affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Zoya PixieDust Summer 2013 Collection

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

Happy Wednesday! I am back today with a review of the full PixieDust Collection for this summer. A few months back, Zoya came out with the first PixieDust collection (see that review HERE), but they recently released six new shades that are bright, fun, and perfect for the hot summer sun! I am really enjoying the textured nail polish trend, and these polishes are some of my favorites so far. Let me show you the summer PixieDusts!

First up is Destiny, my favorite from the collection! Destiny is a bright red orange color, and has gold shimmer throughout. It is opaque in two coats and has an amazing formula. Destiny was the first from this collection that I tried, and I didn’t take it off for almost a week! The PixieDust formula is very long lasting, even without the top coat!

Next is Stevie, a gorgeous light purple polish with silver shimmer. Stevie is also opaque in two coats and has the same perfect formula. I think it is really cool how the polish applies like a cream, but dries textured! It makes painting my nails even more fun. I also like that Stevie is brighter than a normal light purple so it doesn’t look pale against my light skin tone. It’s perfect for the transition from spring to summer!

Beatrix is next up, and is a gorgeous light orange polish with gold shimmer. Beatrix is opaque in two coats, and has a flawless application as well. Upon removal I did end up with the gold shimmer all over my hands, but after a few thorough washings it came off. I’m not usually fond of orange nail polish, but Beatrix and Destiny from this collection are just amazing! I am sure to grab these often during the summer.

Next up is Solange, a yellow gold polish. Solange has an amazing one coat formula! It is also the most textured looking of the bunch. Solange isn’t a good match for my light skin, but I think it would look stunning with darker skin tones! While it is not my personal favorite, Solange is definitely a great polish for summer.

Miranda is the next PixieDust, and it is what Zoya calls a rose color. I love that it is a darker pink shade, but the silver sparkle still livens it up. Miranda is opaque in two coats, and has a great formula. I found this polish to not be as textured as the others, but it is still very pretty. Miranda is perfect for a more subdued look if you are looking to try out textured polish, but aren’t sure what to expect.

Last but not least is Liberty, a bright blue polish with silver shimmer. Liberty is just gorgeous, and looks flawless on the nail. It is opaque in two coats and has an amazing formula. I heard rumors that Liberty stains, so I made sure to wear a healthy layer of base coat and to stay away from the cuticle. My techniques worked — I did not have any staining whatsoever! Liberty is definitely a bold polish, but I just love it!

All in all, I am very impressed with the Zoya PixieDust Summer collection! All of the formulas were spot on, and the colors are beautiful. I think this collection is a must have for summer! These polishes look stunning in the sunlight! You can purchase the Zoya PixieDust polishes online HERE for $9 each.

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

DIY Chalkboard Nail Art – Fabulous & Affordable Edition!

Posted on May 10, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! If you are a nail art enthusiast, you may have heard about the new Chalkboard Manicure kit that Ciaté recently released. This kit comes with black nail polish, four water-soluble nail art pens, and a matte top coat, and retails for a whopping $25 on Sephora’s website HERE. I thought the idea behind the kit was cute and creative, so I decided that I would recreate the look using nail polishes that I already have in my collection. There is no need to go out and spend $25 on this kit when you already have the necessary tools! Let me show you how you can create a fabulous and affordable chalkboard manicure.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

Any base coat
Any black nail polish
Various nail art pens
Any matte top coat

I am using, from left to right, the Sephora Collection base coat, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics in Tarred, Revlon Nail Art Expressionist duos, L.A. Colors Art Deco, and butter LONDON Matte Finish. You can use products from any brand you choose, but these are the just items I have in my personal collection. That’s what makes this so great — I didn’t need to buy any additional materials! Now, onto step one!

The first step in creating your chalkboard manicure is applying your base coat and the black nail polish. I used two coats of Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics in Tarred, but any black will be just fine. Make sure you let the black polish dry completely before moving on to step two.

Once the black polish has dried, take your nail art pens and add some fun designs to your nails. I stuck with the basics — a smiley face, a heart, and some abstract designs. You can use any colors that you wish for the “chalk” part of your manicure. I used white, pink, and blue since those are the colors I owned! After you paint on your designs, make sure you let them dry completely before moving on to the final step. You don’t want to smudge your nail art!

Last but not least, apply your matte top coat. Your nails will now have a super cool, chalkboard look! The best part is you didn’t have to purchase a kit for $25, but instead used affordable items, or better yet, polishes already in your nail polish stash. The only difference between this fabulous and affordable version and the Ciaté kit is that you can’t wash off the “chalk” art if you make a mistake. Other than that, the look is the same, and you will have just as much fun painting your nails and showing them off to friends. Who said having fabulous nails had to come at a high price?!

Let me know what you think of my chalkboard manicure in the comments!