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Milani High Speed Fast Dry Nail Lacquer Review & Giveaway!

Posted on March 13, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I have six beautiful nail polishes to show you from the Milani High Speed Fast Dry line. These polishes are designed to have a one coat formula that is perfectly dry in sixty seconds. You may already be familiar with these polishes, but Milani just released some brand new shades! Make sure you read this entire entry, because at the end of the post I will have a giveaway featuring all six of these polishes! Let me show you these High Speed pretties!

First up is Quick Teal, a gorgeous teal green that leans towards blue. Quick Teal lives up to its name — it really is a one coat formula and dries in a flash! I was so impressed with the quality of the formula. Plus, the color is just stunning. I think Quick Teal is my favorite from the bunch!

The next polish is Flaming Race, a bright red-orange polish. Just like Quick Teal, Flaming Race is a one coat formula that dries quickly. I just love this polish on me! It is great for the summer months due to it’s bright nature. It’s definitely on fire!

Next up is Rapid Orchid, a very dark purple polish that looks almost black in real life. I did need two coats for this polish, as the first was a little sheer. While Rapid Orchid isn’t a personal favorite of mine, I think this polish is perfect for fall or winter. What an interesting take on a purple!

Instant Pearl is the next Milani High Speed I have to show you. This polish is a metallic white that also requires two coats to achieve opacity. As with most metallics, brush strokes are visible on the nail. Instant Pearl has a pretty shimmer quality to it, and has strong undertones of pink. This is a very work appropriate nail polish!

Next up is Pink Express, a baby pink polish. The formula on this one was quite streaky, and I applied two coats to achieve opacity. I was disappointed with Pink Express, because the color is very pretty. A third coat would have done away with the streakiness, but for a one coat formula I wasn’t going to apply another layer.

Last but not least is Move on Mauve, a frosted, shimmery pink. I was excited that Move on Mauve had that amazing, one coat formula and dried very quickly. This is also a professional polish, and a shade that I think would look great with any skin tone. It’s quite the staple shade to have in your collection!

All in all, I am rather impressed with these High Speed Fast Dry polishes from Milani. Three of the six were true one coaters, and the only one I’m disappointed with is Pink Express. If you like what you see here, make sure to head on over to Rafflecopter to enter to win all six polishes! Milani sent me an extra set by mistake and is generously permitting me to give these away to one lucky follower. Please see giveaway rules and guidelines below. Also, these can be purchased at your local drugstore, or on Milani’s website HERE for $4.99 each.

Giveaway Rules!

Giveaway is only open to participants with a USA shipping address.
You must be 18 or older to win, or have parental permission.
The giveaway will close at midnight EST on April 1, 2013.
All entries will be verified. False or repeat entries will result in all of that participant’s entries being deleted, and that participant disqualified.
The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond. If she fails to respond, she forfeits the prize and a new winner will be chosen.
I have the right to add or change the rules at any time during the giveaway.

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE GIVEAWAY! GOOD LUCK!

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: The Divine Collection by Cameo Colours Lacquers

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

Happy Monday! Today I have a review of the new Divine Collection by the indie brand Cameo Colours Lacquers. This collection features six holographic polishes in the perfect shades for spring. I apologize in advance, for the photos in this post do not capture the holographic effect as well as I would like. Rest assured that in real life the holo truly does shine! Let me show you the polishes from the Divine Collection.

First up is Athena, a light purple holo that can be classified as a lilac shade. It is opaque in three coats, as the formula is sheer but easy to work with. I love the more subdued of look of Athena. This polish is so pretty and feminine! I was impressed with how quickly Athena dried.

The next Divine polish is Brighid, a pastel yellow holo. It was not quite opaque in two coats, so I added a third to ensure it was full coverage. Brighid has a great formula that is a bit on the sheer side. This polish reminds me a bit of Zoya Piaf, but with more of a holographic look instead of a shimmer. Brighid is so light and dainty! I personally don’t think it goes well with my skin tone, but it sure is pretty.

Next up is Hathor, a gorgeous light blue holo. Hathor is opaque in two coats. The formula was a bit patchy with the first layer, but evened right up on the second. Hathor has a very strong holographic effect. I love this one so much! It reminds me of the coveted Color Club Halo Hues. I think Hathor is my favorite from the Divine Collection.

Ishtar is the mint green of the Divine Collection! Opaque in three coats, Ishtar has a green formula that is on the sheer side. The holographic effect is very strong with this polish, and is quite stunning. Ishtar is absolutely perfect for spring, and could be work for a Saint Patrick’s Day look for sure!

Next up is Pele, a pastel orange holo that I would call a tangerine shade. Pele is opaque in two coats. The color is very subtle, but the holo stands out strong. This is the perfect color for summer, or an alternative to a nude nail polish shade. The pastel look is great for those who don’t like “loud” nails.

Last but not least is Venus, a pale pink holo. The formula on this polish was a little patchy, and was opaque in three coats. Venus leans towards a purple shade, and is very feminine. This is a great holographic for an every day look!

All in all, the Divine Collection by Cameo Colours Lacquers provides a great holographic collection with beautiful spring shades! I love the pastel colors that still have a holographic effect. It’s the perfect combination in my book! The Divine Collection is being released on March 15, 2013 on the Cameo Colours Etsy site HERE. Let me know what you think of these polishes!

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

Zoya PixieDust Special Textured Collection for Spring 2013

Posted on March 8, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I have a review of one of the most talked about nail polish collections of the season. The Zoya PixieDust collection is right on trend with textured nail polishes, and offers an added sparkle with each polish. I love the look and feel of textured polishes, and these are no exception! Let me show you the full PixieDust collection!

First up is my favorite from the collection, Nyx! Nyx is a light, dusty blue that leans towards grey. The formula is great, but very sheer. It took three coats to achieve opacity. As with all of the polishes in the PixieDust collection, make sure you allow each coat of polish to dry completely before following up with another layer. This ensures you get the textured, matte finish! Nyx is so beautiful with its silver sparkle!

Next is Vespa, a mint green polish. Similar to Nyx, Vespa’s formula was quite sheer and required three coats to be opaque. I love the gorgeous color of this polish, but it was very pale in terms of pigmentation. It also smudges easily if it’s not completely dry. I found removal to be difficult with Vespa, especially because I wore it for a few days. Luckily the color is stunning!

Godiva is the next polish from the PixieDust collection, and is a light beige nude. Godiva was also opaque in three coats, and took a very long time to dry. I do love this polish, but unfortunately for me it blended right into my skin tone. This is the perfect nude color if you have darker skin, but I felt weird wearing it! I love that this is a nude with sparkle, though.

Next up is Dahlia, a dark grey that is almost black. Dahlia is opaque in two coats and has a great formula. I love the silver sparkle, as it is very prominent in this polish. Dahlia is very “rock star”. I love this polish! I was very happy that the formula was a standard two-coater as well.

Chyna is my second favorite polish from the PixieDust collection! A deep red with black and red sparkles, Chyna has an amazing formula and is opaque in two coats. Chyna dries very quickly, and looks so fun and edgy! I felt like I was wearing rubies on my nails with this polish. Just gorgeous!

Last but not least is London, a light grey polish with silver sparkles. London is also opaque in two coats and has a great, fast-drying formula. I love the nice sparkle in this polish. It is just like what I picture London fog to be like! London will go great with any outfit.

All in all, I really like the Zoya PixieDust collection. I had a few issus with application and removal, but the polishes are definitely beautiful. This collection is very unique, and you will be sure to impress your friends with your fancy nails! You can purchase the PixieDust collection on Zoya’s website HERE. Polishes are $9 each or $54 for the entire collection.

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

See the Dimension with Sally Hansen Lustre Shine

Posted on March 6, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I have four Sally Hansen Lustre Shine polishes to show you. These came out back in the fall, and I was never able to grab any. I was thrilled when I got the opportunity to review some on my blog! Lustre Shine polishes are very unique, and can be worn either alone or over black. Let me show you how I wore these polishes!

First up is Azure, a gorgeous metallic blue that leans towards purple. I used three coats of this polish to achieve opacity, as two were a bit patchy. Azure’s formula is a little difficult to work with, but sometimes metallic formulas are streaky no matter what. Nonetheless, the finish at three coats is so beautiful. It has a very edgy look, and a high gloss shine. No top coat is needed with Azure!

Next is Lava, a stunning duochrome glitter polish that shifts from pink to orange. Lava has an amazing, full coverage formula that is opaque in two coats. I didn’t have any application issues whatsoever with this one! Lava is a really fun and bright polish. In the photos above you can see how the look of the manicure changes depending on how the light hits. I think it’s gorgeous!

Firefly is the next Lustre Shine polish I have to show you. In the first two photos, you can see Firefly alone. It is opaque in two coats and has a perfect formula. Firefly is a duochrome polish that shifts from bronze to green. On its own it is mostly a light brown polish, so I layered two coats over a black polish to see what would happen. As you can see in the bottom photo, the black base makes the duochrome effect much stronger and more dimensional. I love both looks with Firefly — one is more muted while the other is more rebellious!

Last but not least is Moonstone, an opalescent, pearly white polish. Worn on it’s own, Moonstone is opaque in three coats and leans towards a baby pink. In the first two photos above, you can see how dainty it looks! Then, when I layered two coats over a black polish, Moonstone came alive! It turns into a purple and green duochrome that is just really funky! I never expected those colors to appear!

All in all, I really like the Lustre Shine line from Sally Hansen. The polishes are very unique, and can be worn alone or layered over black for a strong, duochrome look. You can buy Lustre Shine polishes at your local drugstore or department store for around $7. Keep an eye out for coupons and weekly sales to get these fabulous polishes at an even more affordable price!

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

Bimonthly Beauty Post: Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup Review

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

Happy Monday! Today I have a review of the new foundation I bought about a month ago. I posted about it during my beauty haul, and I had a request for a full review. Unlike many of the products I feature on Adventures in Polishland, this one is far from affordable! At $39, the Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup is definitely an investment product. With my experience so far, I am happy to say I feel like I am getting my money’s worth!

I have been using UD Naked Skin as my daily foundation. I love that it is very light and evens out my skin tone without being caked on my face. This product is also very customizable — I wear one layer for a natural look, but you could add another layer for more coverage. UD Naked Skin is also very blendable. A little bit of this product really does go a long way! It’s also very helpful that the bottle comes with a pump, since many drugstore foundations do not.

Above you can see what the foundation looks like on my hand before and after I blend it in. Because I walk outside in the sun a lot, my face is actually a bit darker than my hands, so that is why the foundation looks a bit dark for my skin in the photos. As you can see, just a dab of the foundation evens out to provide light coverage. You can still see any freckles or imperfections (here, my veins), but the overall coloring is evened and improved.

Overall, I am quite happy with my splurge purchase. The only thing I don’t like about UD Naked Skin is that I have to seal it with a powder to reduce shine. Other than that, I’m very impressed. I have also been using this foundation almost every day for a month and there is no visible fill line at all! This is going to last me a very long time!

You can buy UD Naked Skin at Sephora HERE for $39. There are lots of shades to choose from to find the perfect look for you!

DIY Nail Art Featuring the Milani Textured Creams

Posted on March 2, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today’s post responds to many of your requests for nail art! I loved the Milani Textured Creams so much that I decided to use them to create three, do-it-yourself nail art looks. These polishes were so easy to work with! You can see my full review of the collection HERE, but below is a quick reminder of what each polish looks like on its own.

Now, let me show you the nail art I created! The only tool you will need besides the nail polish is scotch tape!

First I did a simple, diagonal look using Tainted in Red and Spoiled in Fuchsia. I painted my nails with Spoiled in Fuchsia, and then waited for the polish to dry completely. Then I took the scotch tape and covered up half of my nail, and painted over the other half using Tainted in Red. Before the polish dried, I carefully peeled off the tape to reveal this fun manicure! This diagonal look is so easy to create, but looks really cool. You can easily add another color as well!

Next I did a cloud manicure using Aqua Splash as my base and Yellow Mark for the clouds. This technique is surprisingly easy to create. All you do is apply your polish in three strokes — a long stroke on the edge, a middle one, and a short one! It’s as simple as that! I love this manicure so much that I’ve recreated in many times. I think the cloud manicure is perfect with these Milani Textured Creams because you get the added dimension from the textured finish!

Last but not least is my take on a half moon manicure using Purple Streak and Shady Gray. First, I painted my nails with Purple Streak. After the polish had dried completely, I placed a piece of scotch tape at the bottom of my nail and painted the rest with Shady Gray. This gave me a half moon manicure with a straight line instead of a curved one. I love the geometric look, and this is an edgy take on the half moon! I also love the color palette!

All in all, these nail are techniques are so simple that I know you can do-it-yourself! I found the Milani Textured Creams to be really easy to work with, as they dry quickly and have the perfect formula. Be sure to see my last entry for my review of this collection!

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

Milani Limited Edition Nail Collection: Textured Creams Specialty Nail Lacquer

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

Today I am extremely excited to share with you the full Textured Creams collection from Milani Cosmetics! This collection is Limited Edition, and features six gorgeous shades of textured nail polish. I was unsure of how I would like this collection when I saw the press release, but I was amazed with the quality and formula of the polishes when I gave them a try. Let me show you these fabulous and affordable nail polishes!

First up is Tainted in Red, a bright red orange polish. All of the Milani Textures apply like a regular cream finish, but then dry to this textured look. This makes the formula amazing! The application is just perfect with two coats. I am loving Tainted in Red. It looked great with my skin tone and is an edgy take on a classic red polish. I think pairing this with a black outfit would be perfect for a night out!

Next is Spoiled in Fuchsia, a beautiful pink polish that is a mix between a fuchsia and magenta color. As with all of these polishes, I applied two coats of Spoiled in Fuchsia. Make sure you let each coat dry before applying a second layer. You will be able to see the polish drying as the textured look appears! Spoiled in Fuchsia is a gorgeous polish for spring. It’s not too bright, and is great for an every day look!

Aqua Splash is the next polish in the Milani Texture collection. It is a gorgeous aqua color that leans toward seafoam green. The brush with this polish was a little wonky, but it thankfully didn’t affect application at all. Aqua Splash is such a beautiful color. It’s perfect for the transition from spring to summer! I’ve been loving greens lately, and this is another one that I find stunning.

Next up is Yellow Mark, a banana yellow polish! This has the same flawless formula as the other polishes in this collection. Yellow Mark is my least favorite polish from the bunch simply because the color is not for me. If you love yellows, this is the polish for you! It’s perfect for a warm, sunny day!

Purple Streak is a dark and true purple polish. This is the only polish in the collection that applied streaky with the first coat. Luckily it evened right up with the second! I love this color polish! It’s not too bright or dark, and it’s great for all seasons. I think dark purple is a great alternative to the classic red nail, and Purple Streak is even edgier!

Last but not least is Shady Gray, what I like to call a graphite color! Shady Gray is a great neutral polish with a smoky look. I love that this is not black, but still a darker shade. That makes it less harsh and dramatic, but it still goes with every outfit. Shady Gray is perfect for the end of the winter season!

All in all, I am super impressed with the Textured Creams Collection from Milani! I was just blown away with the amazing formula, and how great they looked on the nail. I highly recommend this collection! Be sure to stop by your local Walgreens, Fred Meyer, HEB, or Meijer to purchase this collection. You can also buy it online at Milani’s website HERE. Each polish is just $4.99! What an affordable way to stay on trend this season!

Let me know what you think of this collection and textured nail polishes! Plus, stay tuned to see how I used these nail polishes to create some simply nail art looks!

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: The Land Before Time Collection by LynBDesigns

Posted on February 26, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! I have a really fun review today featuring a collection of polishes based off the animated movie series the Land Before Time from the indie brand LynBDesigns. If you loved those dinosaurs back when you were younger, then I know you are going to adore this nail polish collection! It’s cute and whimsical, yet very versatile. Let me show you these great polishes!

First up is Cera, a light orange base filled with pink, orange, and yellow fine glitters and yellow square glitters. Cera is opaque in two coats, but the formula was a bit uneven so I added a third coat to get the perfect finish. I surprisingly love this polish! It’s more of a subdued orange that I think is a great alternative to a nude nail polish. It also captures the character Cera quite well! The added sparkle from the glitter is a great touch.

The next polish is Ducky, a metallic lime green base with green, gold, and yellow glitters mixed in. The formula was great! It was a bit sheer so I needed three coats to achieve opacity, but Ducky is very buildable. This polish is perfect for Saint Patrick’s Day and for the spring season! It dries very quickly. I also think it’s just as cute as Ducky is in the movies!

Littlefoot is the next polish from the Land Before Time collection! It is a grey base with small white hexagonal glitter and various silver glitters. It has a good formula that is opaque in three coats. This grey leans a bit towards purple for me, which I loved in conjunction with the white and silver glitters! Littlefoot is a stunning and lively neutral polish! Add a pop to your normal grey manicure with this one.

Up next is Petrie, my favorite polish from the bunch! Petrie is a white based polish with black hexagons, bar glitters, diamonds, and green, gold, and holographic glitters sprinkled in. I layered two coats over a plain white polish. Petrie is just gorgeous! I love the formula, as I did not have to fish for any glitters, and I love the look of the multi-shaped black glitters. This polish is just as quirky and cute as the character Petrie!

Last but not least is Spike, a glitter top coat filled with green squares, gold and silver hexagons, gold flowers, and more! I layered one coat over China Glaze Agro for the look above. I was very impressed with Spike — the glitters came out so easily during application! Just one coat alone provided my nails with lots of sparkle! Spike also has a holographic shimmer to it that is a beautiful touch. This is such a fun and spunky top coat!

All in all, I love the Land Before Time collection from LynBDesigns! Not only do the polishes represent the characters well, but they are unique and wearable at the same time. I definitely recommend this collection if you are a fan of this movie franchise, or simply if you are looking for some great new polishes! You can purchase LynBDesigns on Etsy HERE. Full size bottles are $8.00.

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

Be Ready in a Flash with Sally Hansen Insta-Dri!

Posted on February 24, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Sunday! Today I have a review of four polishes from the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri line. Before I started blogging, I had a couple of these polishes and they just weren’t for me. They were gunky, and seemed to dry up in the bottle. In recent months I’ve been getting a lot of suggestions from followers about the Insta-Dri polishes. I even heard that Sally Hansen changed the formula to battle the issues I was having. When I got the opportunity to review some Sally Hansen products, I knew I had to give the Insta-Dri line a second chance. I’m very glad I did! Let me show you these beautiful polishes!

First up is Pronto Purple, a gorgeous dark purple nail polish with magenta shimmer. Pronto Purple is opaque in two coats and has a great formula! These Insta-Dri polishes come with a very wide brush. At first it was hard to get used to, but now I love it! It helps to distribute polish quickly and easily. I actually owned Pronto Purple before I started blogging! I was happy to find out how much I love it! Not only did the polish dry quickly, but it has a flawless finish. I’m very glad I own Pronto Purple again!

Next up is Blue-Away, a stunning Tiffany blue creme. Blue-Away is also opaque in two coats, and while the formula is a bit streaky, it evens out well and dries perfectly. One tip to applying this Insta-Dri polish is to let it dry in between coats. Just wait an extra minute or two, and the polish will glide on much easier. I absolutely love Blue-Away, especially for spring. It’s so feminine and chic!

Night Flight is the next Insta-Dri polish I have to show you. It is the perfect navy nail polish, and appears black in some light. Opaque in two coats, Night Flight’s formula was a bit on the watery side. Luckily application was still smooth, and I didn’t have any problems when I applied thin coats. The first coat of Night Flight was very sheer, and that leads me to believe it would be great for a jelly sandwich manicure! I was happy that the polish was buildable, and that it really did dry instantly!

Last but not least is Peachy Breeze, an amazing bright peach polish! Peachy Breeze is my new favorite nail polish. It is opaque in two coats, has the perfect formula, and is just a stunning color! It is perfect for spring and summer, and definitely lives up to its name. I am just in awe of this polish. I feel like my nails even look photoshopped in the pictures (which, of course, they’re not)! I have a feeling this is my new go-to polish. It definitely has a “wow” factor!

Overall, I am so happy I had the chance to try out the Insta-Dri line from Sally Hansen a second time. I am very impressed with these polishes. They are perfect for nail art, too! In fact, make sure you take a look at my Valentine’s Day Skittle Manicure to see Fuchsia Flare in action! Sally Hansen Insta-Dri polishes can be purchased at your local drugstore or department store for around $4. Not only are they fabulous, but they are affordable, too! If you’re a girl who is always on the go, I recommend you have a few Insta-Dri polishes in your collection.

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

Favorite Friday: Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Mellow Yellow

Posted on January 18, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I will be showing you a special polish in my collection — Mellow Yellow from Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear. Although yellow is not usually my favorite, this is the first polish I bought after I started this blog! In fact, you can see it HERE! I have come a long way since then, but I still love when I get the chance to use this nail polish. Let me show you Mellow Yellow!

Mellow Yellow is a banana yellow polish with a creme finish. The formula on this polish is not the best — it is a bit watery and streaky on the first coat. Thankfully it evens out well and is opaque with the second coat. Mellow Yellow dries surprisingly fast, too. For only around $3 at drug stores and department stores, this polish is affordable, and I don’t mind if the formula isn’t perfect. The end result is beautiful! Plus, since I don’t wear yellow a lot, I prefer to buy a bargain brand. Overall, Mellow Yellow is a great polish, and one of my favorites!

What do you think of yellow nail polish? Which yellow is your favorite?