beauty blogger – Adventures in Polishland

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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.

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.

BB, CC, & DD — How Do They Compare? | Featuring Olay Fresh Effects, Juice Beauty, and Julep

Posted on July 5, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I have a new beauty comparison post to share with all of you. I often get questions about what the difference between BB and CC cream is, and now that Julep has released the first ever DD cream, I thought it would be fun to see how they compare. While these creams will vary from brand to brand, the ones I am reviewing are ones that I have used several times before, and are widely available to purchase. First I will give a general overview of each product, and then I’ll show them side by side.

BB Cream = Beauty Balm

Olay Fresh Effects BB Cream

This BB cream is a “skin perfecting tinted moisturizer with sunscreen” that offers six skincare benefits in one step. It smells just like sunscreen, which I happen to like very much (though I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea). I find that this cream is very lightweight, and helps to control the oily skin I get in the summertime. It provides light coverage, so it may not be good if you prefer a thicker foundation. I find the only drawback for me is that this BB cream only has SPF 15, so it needs to be reapplied quite frequently throughout the day if it is your main sunscreen for the face.

Buy Olay Fresh Effects for $12.99: Olay Fresh Effects | Amazon | Drugstores

CC Cream = Color Correcting

Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Repair CC Cream

This CC cream is “the ultimate color correcting 12 in 1 multi-tasker” with SPF 30. Juice Beauty is certified organic, and is a great option if you are looking for natural beauty products. My feelings on this CC cream are mixed. On the one hand, it makes my skin look flawless when I wear it, and it it lasts all day looking great. The downside is, I cannot stand the smell, and it also is not blendable with other makeup. If you are looking to use this as a foundation substitute with a full face of makeup, I would not suggest it. However, if you are looking for simply natural and beautiful skin, I think you would love this cream.

Buy Juice Beauty CC Cream for $39.00: Juice Beauty | Amazon | Birchbox

DD Cream = Dynamic Do-all

Julep DD Creme

Julep came out with the first DD cream a few months ago. It is designed to diminish skin damage and give the skin a dewy finish. It also has SPF 25 to help with sun protection. This cream definitely stands out from the others — it has golden undertones to give the skin a bronzed, sunkissed look. The benefits of this product is that it is extremely blendable, and can truly be worn as a foundation. I really like this DD creme for the summer months. I love that it is odor free, and transforms the skin to a perfect canvas. While I am not a fan of the dewy look, this is the perfect solution for those that do.

Buy Julep DD Creme for $36: Julep | Amazon

Side-by-Side Swatches

From left to right: Olay Fresh Effects BB Cream in Fair to Light, Juicy Beauty CC Cream in Natural Glow, and Julep DD Creme in Light. It is very clear that the Julep DD Creme is the most golden and bronzed of the bunch!

Each cream has a similar texture, but the Julep DD Creme is definitely the most liquidy, and the Juice Beauty CC Cream is the thickest.

After each cream has been blended, I can only see that the Julep DD Creme has left a golden look to my skin. Both the Olay Fresh Effects BB Cream and the Juice Beauty CC Cream have completely blended into my skin for a light and beautiful coverage.

The Final Verdict

When it comes down to which cream I prefer and would recommend to all of you, it has to be the Olay Fresh Effects BB Cream! It has a stunning finish, it smells great, and it is super affordable. It is definitely the product that I have been reaching for all summer long, and I’m sure it will be perfect during the colder months when I just want to have light coverage. While Juice Beauty and Julep have great products as well, I think BB cream is the original and the best. Let me know which product you love the most, BB, CC, or DD, and what brand is your favorite.

Some of 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.

Stay Bright this Summer with Priti NYC Nail Polish!

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

Happy Saturday! Today I am beyond excited to review some polishes from the brand Priti NYC. In the summer months, I love wearing brightly-colored nails, so I decided to build my own summer collection by picking my favorite polishes from the Priti NYC Flowers Collection. Let me share with you these stunning, 5-free polishes, and make sure to read the entire post for an exclusive coupon code!

First up is Fireglow, a bright orange creme. Fireglow is opaque in two coats, and has an amazing formula. I find that all of these Priti NYC polishes really glide over the nail during application for that perfect, glossy finish. I love orange nails in the summertime, and Fireglow is a fun shade. It is very wearable, and I think it would look great with almost any skin tone!

Next up is Love Patt, a bright lime green creme. Love Patt has a great formula, but it is a bit on the sheer side. I applied three coats to achieve opacity. I am absolutely loving Love Patt! It is bright without being over-the-top, and the shade of green is just perfect. Love Patt will definitely be on my nails a lot this summer!

Nice Gal Peony is the next polish! It is a bright pink creme, and has the perfect formula! Nice Gal Peony is opaque in two coats, and is one of my all-time favorite pink polishes. This polish is work appropriate, but super fun as well. I knew I had to include a bright pink in this post, and Nice Gal Peony is stunning!

Last but not least is Canterbury Bells, a stunning royal blue creme. Canterbury Bells has an amazing one coat formula! That’s right, only one coat is needed to achieve opacity! I love how pigmented this polish is, and blue nails never go out of style in my opinion. I love this shade for the summer, but I think Canterbury Bells can be worn all year long, too. Plus, if you’re in a hurry this one-coater will save you some time. I was too excited about this one!

All in all, I am loving these polishes from Priti NYC! They all have fabulous formulas, and the colors are just beautiful for summer. Priti NYC nail polishes retail for $13.50 each, but you can save 10% by using the code PRITISPECIAL from now until August 1st! You can shop online HERE and follow Priti NYC on Facebook HERE. Be sure to let me know which Priti NYC polishes you grabbed for summer!

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

Urban Outfitters Freakin Pink — My Favorite Clearance Find Ever!

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

Happy Tuesday! As you know, Adventures in Polishland is dedicated to fabulous and affordable nails, so I am always hunting for nail polish bargains. A few weeks back I got an email from Urban Outfitters letting me know it was time for the 50% off clearance sale. That means that everything on clearance was an additional 50% off the sale price. I headed to the nearest store and found that several nail polishes were marked down to just $0.49 with the extra discount! I had to grab a few for myself, and I am so glad I did. Let me share with you my favorite clearance find of all time!

Here is Freakin Pink in all its glory! Not only is this polish a neon, bubblegum pink, but it dries to a matte finish! I surely did not expect this polish to have a matte look, but it was a fantastic surprise. Plus, Freakin Pink has an amazing formula that applies with ease. It is opaque in two coats, and doesn’t require top coat due to its unique finish. Freakin Pink is perfect for the summer and is on trend with the neon craze!

All in all, I love everything about this polish, from its bright color to its colorful name! I am beyond happy to have found this polish in the clearance section at Urban Outfitters for just $0.49, especially when the regular price is $5! Talk about fabulous and affordable nails! You can still find Freakin Pink online for the regular price as part of the Urban Outfitters Basics Collection HERE. Stop by your local store to see if you can snatch one up for a discounted price, too!