Beauty Favorites – Adventures in Polishland

Tag: Beauty Favorites

Beauty Favorites | Spring 2017

Posted on May 29, 2017May 27, 2017 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I am excited to share with you the beauty products I’ve been loving this spring. I’m slowly trying new-to-me products as I use up what I already own in my beauty stash, and it’s always nice to discover something great. While I’m still using many of the same makeup products, I’ve found some nice skincare and hair care goodies these past few months. Let’s jump right into my current beauty favorites!

MAKEUP

e.l.f. Baked Highlighter in Blush Gems [LINK]

The one makeup product in this post is the e.l.f. Baked Highlighter in the shade Blush Gems. I tried and loved the shade Moonlit Pearls last summer, and I decided to purchase Blush Gems so I could have a pink-toned highlighter in my collection. These highlighters are great because they can be applied in two ways – with a dry brush for a light illumination, or a wet brush for a more intense highlight. I’ve been applying Blush Gems with a damp Beauty Blender and absolutely loving the result! Plus, I find the pink tone to be perfect for the spring season.

SKINCARE

Pacifica Kale Detox Deep Cleansing Face Wash [LINK]

My skincare favorite this season is a cleanser from the brand Pacifica. I keep the Kale Detox in my shower, and I really like using it with my FOREO Luna to get an even deeper clean. This cleanser has a calming scent that is quite fresh and earthy. I also feel like my skin is a lot softer after each use. This is the first skincare product I’ve tried from Pacifica, and it definitely won’t be my last!

BODY CARE

Sun Bum SPF 50 Original Spray Sunscreen [LINK]

I was on the hunt for a vegan sunscreen this year, and discovered the Sun Bum brand on a whim! What prompted me to purchase this sunscreen is that it is recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation and also dermatologist tested. I also love it when sunscreen comes in a spray variety, as it makes it much easier to apply and encourages me to take the time to use sunscreen. I’ve worn this product a few times so far, and it appears to be working as I haven’t been burnt! If you are looking to buy Sun Bum, I found mine at my local Target.

HAIR CARE

Tarte Hair Goals Dry Shampoo [LINK]

Tarte recently released some new vegan products, and I wanted to try the dry shampoo and deodorant in particular, but I didn’t want to spend a lot of money. Luckily, Sephora has a value pack called the No Shower Happy Hour Kit (LINK) that included sample sizes of some of these products. I am so far really happy with the Hair Goals Dry Shampoo. Not only does it zap the oil out of my hair and not leave a white cast, but it smells amazing! I’m not sure what the fragrance is, but it lasts all day and really smells great. While the full size is $19, if you are looking to splurge this is a nice product to try.

IGK Mistress Hydrating Hair Balm [LINK]

My last favorite is another hair care product, and that is a hair balm from the brand IGK. I got a deluxe a sample of Mistress in my last Sephora order using my Beauty Insider points, and I’m really enjoying it! This hair balm is designed to boost hydration, detangle, and smooth the hair. I’m really amazed that this product does not weigh down my fine hair, nor does it make it appear oily. My hair is always a bit shinier after using this product! I’m not sure that I would purchase the full size, as it is $27, but once I use up the sample I will report back in an empties post.

That wraps up my beauty favorites for this spring! I hope you enjoyed seeing the products I’m loving at the moment. As always, I would love to know your current favorites, and your thoughts on the products I showed today if you’ve used them in the past. I’m excited to see what new products I will discover now as summer begins!

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

Beauty Favorites | Winter 2017

Posted on February 28, 2017February 23, 2017 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! As February comes to a close, I want to share the beauty products I’ve been loving all winter long. I’m slowly trying out new products again after working through a lot of the things I already had in my beauty stash. I’ve really enjoyed buying less products and focusing on what’s in my collection, but it’s always nice to try something new, too. Let me share the beauty products I’ve been favoriting the past few months!

MAKEUP

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hour Blush in Royal [BUY]

I received the Tarte Sculpted Cheeks set for Christmas, and I am in love with the blush Royal. I didn’t think this shade would work with my fair skin, as it is a mauve shade that looks almost brown. However, Royal turns out to be the perfect, natural-looking color for my skin. I wear it almost every day! It applies beautifully with the ELF Angled Blush Brush, and I love its smooth formula. I highly recommend purchasing this limited edition blush set before it’s sold out!

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara [BUY]

Another product from Tarte that I’ve really enjoyed lately is the Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara. I don’t usually buy high end mascaras, but I was frustrated with the vegan mascara options from the drugstore, so I splurged during a Sephora sale. While Lights, Camera, Lashes is not the best mascara I’ve ever tried, it does do a great job at giving me full lashes. I love a lot of length and volume, but I also like a drier formula. Lights, Camera, Lashes, is a bit wetter and heavier than I would like, but it’s still a great option. I’m going to try out more drugstore options next, but if you can afford this higher end mascara, it is worth it!

ELF Beautifully Bare Satin Lipstick in Touch of Pink [BUY]

I recently purchased one of ELF’s new lipsticks from the Beautifully Bare line in the shade Touch of Pink, and I’m really loving it! This lipstick is extremely comfortable to wear, and is a “my lips but better” shade for me. It smells like vanilla cake as well, which is a bonus. I think I’m going to try other lipsticks from this line, because the formula is great. You can’t beat the $5.00 price tag, either!

SKINCARE

Derma E generously provided me with some of their new products, and so far I’ve tried the Hydrating Serum. This serum contains hyaluronic acid, which always works well with my skin type. I also have great luck with hydrating serums in general because my skin gets too oily if I put on too much moisturizer, so if I can get away with just a serum that is awesome. The Derma E serum is lightly fragranced, but that goes away once the product settled into the skin. I love how firmed and smooth my skin feels after each use.

HAIR CARE

Acure Hydrating Conditioner [BUY]

I was on the hunt for a new shampoo and conditioner system to have when guests were visiting during the holidays, and found the Acure line at Target. I am obsessing over the Hydrating Conditioner! It contains Moroccan argan stem cell oil and argan oil to provide moisture to dry and damaged hair. Not only does this conditioner smell absolutely amazing, but it is bringing my hair back to life. It is so soft and it looks shiny without being greasy. I highly recommend trying out the Acure brand at Target. It is an affordable price range, and I’m going to continue to try products from the line in the future.

That wraps up my beauty favorites for this winter! I would love to know in the comments if you’ve tried any of these products and what you think of them. Also let me know what your current favorites are! I hope you all enjoy the rest of your winter, and that you have a great start to spring.

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

October 2014 Favorites!

Posted on November 4, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! November is now in full swing, so it’s time for me to show you the products that I loved all October long. I didn’t test out too many new things this month, but I did find some great products to share with you. Let’s jump right into my October favorites!

NAIL POLISH

NYC New York Color – Black Elixir [REVIEW]

I’m really impressed with this black creme polish from NYC New York Color! At $1.99, it’s an awesome staple to have in my nail polish collection. I plan on using it for nail art looks in the future for sure! Make sure to run to your nearest drugstore to pick it up since it is part of the limited edition Midnight Beauty collection and won’t be on the shelves perpetually.

MAKEUP BRUSH

Real Techniques – Setting Brush Real Techniques Setting Brush [BUY]

I got a set of Real Techniques brushes for my birthday, and I am particularly loving the Setting Brush. It is absolutely perfect to apply highlighter to the tops of my cheekbones, but can be used to set concealer as well. It’s light and fluffy, and easy to use. Plus, I appreciate how affordable Real Techniques is!

HAIR

Macadamia Healing Oil Spray [BUY]

I’ve loved Macadamia products for a while now, and was super excited when I got this deluxe sample in a Birchbox. This spray is perfect for adding shine and reducing frizz without making my hair greasy. If oil weighs your hair down too much, definitely test out this spray. It also smells amazing!

FRAGRANCE

Taylor Swift Enchanted Wonderstruck [BUY]

I think I’ve featured this perfume in a favorites post before, but I’ve rediscovered my love for Taylor Swift’s Enchanted Wonderstruck this month! The scent is rich and perfect for the colder months. I’ve used about half of my bottle now!

SONG

Classic by MKTO [BUY]

I am a sucker for catchy pop tunes, and this one is no exception! I love the fun beat and lyrics, and have had it playing on repeat this month. I definitely want to check out more songs from MKTO. Let me know if you love this artist and what songs you recommend!

EXPERIENCE

One of the most exciting parts of my month was meeting Grace Helbig at her NYC book signing! She just released her first book called Grace’s Guide (buy it HERE), and I made sure to head on over to Housing Works Bookstore Cafe to meet her. She signed my book and took selfies. It was awesome! Make sure you check out her YouTube Channel HERE if you haven’t subscribed yet (she’s at nearly 2 million!).

That’s all I have to share with you this month! I hope you enjoyed hearing about the things that made my October a memorable one. Please let me know your favorites in the comments, or use the hashtag #PolishlandFaves on social media so I can find your posts. Here’s to a great November!

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

Summer 2014 Favorites | Beauty, Lifestyle, & More!

Posted on September 6, 2014August 31, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! You may have noticed that this summer I didn’t post my usual monthly favorites. By the end of June and then July, I realized that I was reusing the same products over and over, and thought a combined summer favorites would be the best way to share my new favorite products with you. Plus, it’s a great way to reflect over the past few months! This was probably the last summer vacation I’ll ever have, since I’ve just embarked on my final year of school. Let me show you everything I loved the past few months!

NAIL POLISH

L’Oreal Jean & Tonic [REVIEW]

I wore this textured shade from L’Oreal a ton this summer! In fact, I made a dent in the bottle because I loved it so much! Make sure to check out my review for more details. If you like this polish, make sure to check the limited edition displays at your local drugstore ASAP.

MASCARA

CoverGirl Clump Crusher Mascara in Black [BUY]

I finally tried the famous Clump Crusher and I’m so glad I did! It really separates my lashes for a full look. I do wish it had a bit more “va va voom,” but I can always layer a thicker mascara on top for a more dramatic look. If you’re looking for a great mascara to use on the daily, I recommend this one.

EYEBROWS

Milani Brow Fix Brow Kit in Light [BUY]

I rediscovered this brow product over the summer, and pulled it out from the depths of my makeup collection! I’ve used it a ton, and I’ve found that the powder looks really natural and is easy to apply. I still use my eyebrow pencils sometimes, but in the hot summer sun, powder was the best option. Plus, this stuff lasts forever!

BLUSH

NYX Cream Blush in Natural [BUY]

I finally reached for cream blush this summer, and I’m happy I got over my cream blush fear! It’s lightweight and extremely blendable, so I don’t look cakey. I definitely need to pick up more cream blushes for my collection, so let me know your favorites in the comments!

PRIMER

Dr. Brandt Pores No More Pore Refiner [BUY]

I brought this sample size primer with me when I was traveling and fell in love! It’s just like my beloved Too Faced Primed & Poreless, but even better. Unfortunately, the full size is $45 (yikes), so I’ve been making this sample last as long as possible. If your budget allows for Pores No More, I say get it!

FRAGRANCE

Coconut Lime Breeze Body Spray [BUY]

I love lighter scents in the summer, and reach for body sprays more than perfumes. I got this one during the Bath & Bodyworks semi-annual sale for just $1.50, and I love it! It’s sweet, but not sickening. I pretty much love anything with a coconut scent, though!

TV SHOW

Big Love

I watched a lot of shows on Amazon Prime this summer, one of them being the complete series of Big Love. I don’t get HBO, so it was great to be able to watch some HBO shows for free this summer with my Prime subscription. Big Love was so addicting! It’s about a polygamist family in Utah. There is serious family drama, and it always kept me at the edge of my seat. I highly recommend it, but ask your parents if you’re under 18 since it has a lot of violence and some adult content.

BOOK

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa [BUY]

I also read a lot this summer, and one of my favorites was the Blood of Eden trilogy by Julie Kagawa. I’m always hesitant when it comes to vampires because of the whole Twilight thing, but gave this series a try, and I’m so glad I did! Kagawa does an amazing job of combining vampires into the dystopian genre. The trilogy follows teenager Allison as she decides to become a vampire, and the new life she must lead. The first book in the series is called The Immortal Rules (liked above). I highly recommend it!

EXPERIENCES

West Coast Adventures – Los Angeles & Las Vegas

I had the amazing opportunity this summer to visit both Los Angeles and Las Vegas. My brother and sister-in-law live in LA, so I made sure to visit them and meet my new nephew for the first time! It was wonderful to see them! I also met up with my grandma and cousin out there, and we took a road trip to Vegas. I’ve never been to Vegas before and it was an unbelievable experience. I thought NYC was big! If you ever get the change to visit Las Vegas, go! There is something for everyone!

All in all, I had a great summer even though it went by super quickly! Please let me know in the comments some of the products you loved these past few months. Also let me know what your favorite moment of the summer was. Feel free to tag me on social media using the hashtag #PolishlandFaves so I can see your photos!

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

May 2014 Favorites!

Posted on May 30, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! May is coming to a close, and that means it’s time to share my monthly favorites with all of you! It’s been a busy month, and I’m so glad that it’s summer. Let me go ahead and share the products I’ve been loving!

NAIL POLISH

Zoya Nail Polish in Wendy [REVIEW] [BUY]

I absolutely love Wendy from the new Zoya Tickled Collection! It’s a wearable pink shade, and I wore it for about a week this month. I think it would look great on absolutely everyone, so definitely pick it up!

LIP BALM

Noya Lip Balm in Cherry [BUY]

I received this lip balm in a Birchbox a while back, and decided to bring it along with me on my recent trip to Los Angeles. I’m so glad I did! Not only is this 100% natural, but it smells amazing and does a great job at moisturizing my lips. I’m making this my go-to lip balm for sure.

SKINCARE

Neutrogena Clear Face Sunscreen [BUY]

After attending the Duane Reade event with Dr. Jaliman earlier this month, I decided that I really need to wear sunscreen on a daily basis. I decided to get this one from Neutrogena because it’s advertised to not cause breakouts. I’ve used it a few times now, and it’s true! This sunscreen has a semi-matte finish, and is a lot less greasy than other sunscreens. I definitely recommend it.

BODY CARE

Jergens BB Body Perfecting Skin Cream [BUY]

I got two samples of this BB cream so I decided to just give it a try! I won’t say that this is going to change the appearance of your skin drastically, but I’ve noticed that it does make my legs look a bit nicer and ready for summer. Plus, it smells really good! I do really like this stuff, and would recommend it if you want to even our your skin tone.

MUSIC

Love Never Felt so Good by Michael Jackson & Justin TImberlake [BUY]

My new favorite song is definitely the MJ & JT single! It’s so fun, and it’s awesome to hear two of my favorite artists together thanks to the power of technology. It’s definitely got a vintage, MJ vibe, which I personally love. Definitely check it out!

That’s it for my favorites this month! I didn’t end up trying too many new products, but I hope to do that this summer when I don’t have as much work on my plate. As always, feel free to share your favorite products of May in the comments or on social media with the hashtag #PolishlandFaves. I hope you had a great May, and here’s to June!

Some of 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.

February 2014 Favorites!

Posted on March 1, 2014February 28, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! February has come to a close, and it’s time for me to share my favorites of the month with you. Before I do, I just wanted to say a big thank you! February was my best month traffic wise since I moved to my own URL, and while it’s not all about the numbers, it’s definitely exciting to see my blog grow. I really appreciate your support, and I’m always working to make Adventures in Polishland better. And after that sappy moment, onto my February favorites!

FOUNDATION

Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation [REVIEW]

I’ve really been loving this new Rimmel Foundation! Make sure to check out my review for all the details, but if you’re looking for an affordable foundation I highly recommend this one. I have no complaints with this product at all!

HAIR CARE

Redken Anti Frizz Polishing Milk

I got this sample in a Little Black Bag a really long time ago, and am finally using this on a regular basis! This month my hair has been extra dry and frizzy (not to mention staticky), and a pea size drop of this Polishing Milk helps to smooth everything out. Check your local salon if you’d like to buy it!

SKINCARE

Almay Lash Care Eye Makeup Remover Pads [BUY]

My mom gave me these back in December, and I’ve been using them a lot this month. They do a great job of taking off my mascara, and don’t irritate my skin. If you have sensitive skin, I think you should give these a try!

BEAUTY TOOL

Travel Spray Bottle

I got this spray bottle so I could keep water in it for my BeautyBlender. I love to use my BeautyBlender when it’s damp, but I don’t put on makeup in the bathroom. Thus, this bottle comes in handy! I grabbed it at Duane Reade in the travel section, and I’m sure you can get one at any drugstore.

FOOD

Enjoy Life Soft Baked Snickerdoodles

My sweet tooth has been out of control lately, and when I saw these on sale at Whole Foods I just couldn’t resist! These snickerdoodles are all natural, gluten free, and dairy free, but amazingly still taste just wonderful! I don’t feel guilty when eating these cookies either. Yum!

APP

Flappy Bird

Poor, Flappy Bird! He got so much hate this month that the app is no longer available. Well, let me tell you, I love this game! It was hard at first, but I worked myself up to a high score of 60. I’m so glad I downloaded this game before it was pulled from the app store. If you love Flappy Bird too, tell me your high score in the comments!

EXPERIENCE

Chicago on Broadway

February was full of fun things for me! I had friends come to visit, ate at great restaurants, and saw four Broadway shows! My favorite experience was definitely a classic – Chicago. It’s not my favorite Broadway show of all time, but I had third row seats and a very fun night. I definitely recommend it the next time you’re in NYC!

That wraps up my February favorites! As you can see, I wasn’t very adventurous with new beauty products, but I still had a great month that I wanted to share with all of you. I hope your February was just as good. Share some of your favorites with me in the comments or use the hashtag #PolishlandFaves on social media!

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

December 2013 Favorites!

Posted on January 3, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! It’s officially 2014 now, and that means I need to share my December 2013 favorites with all of you. December was an interesting month – it started quite stressful with finals, and then ended with the holidays and spending time with family. I even spent half of December without any nail polish on at all (okay, to be honest I’m STILL not wearing any, but that will change soon!). Despite my nontraditional month, I managed to love some certain things. Here are my December 2013 favorites!

HAND SOAP

Bath & Bodyworks Fresh Sparkling Snow Foaming Soap [BUY]

I don’t typically buy foaming soap, but my mom gave this to me when I visited for the holidays, and I’m obsessed with it! The scent of Fresh Sparkling Snow is so yummy! Bath & Bodyworks describes it as snow-covered pine, musk, and moss, and I think it’s the perfect combination. I’m thinking of stocking up during the clearance sale to make sure I’ll have enough to last me the year!

LIP BALM

eos Lip Balm in Summer Fruit [BUY]

Every night before bed I’ve been applying this lip balm, which I recently discovered is pronounced ee-ohs (that blew my mind!). While this isn’t my favorite lip balm of all time, I’m definitely a sucker for the unique packaging and application. Plus, I really like the Summer Fruit flavor!

CONCEALER

Manna Kadar Concealer Trio in Warm Front [BUY] [FULL REVIEW]

I’ve been loving this concealer trio since I first tried it! The light shade is just perfect for my skin tone, and it applies flawlessly. I’ve even worn it alone without foundation on days when I’m not wearing much makeup at all. It’s a bit expensive, but 100% worth it!

BODY LOTION

Gold Bond Ultimate Skin Therapy Cream [BUY]

My mom gave me this mini size Gold Bond, and I’ve already used up the entire thing! It is so amazing – no scent, very moisturizing, and not greasy. I definitely still love my Nivea lotion, but this one is fantastic as well. It is very healing and perfect for the winter months. I highly recommend it (and yes, it would be great for swatching!).

BAR SOAP

Wisalya Soap [BUY]

Last year my brother and sister-in-law gave me a trio of Wisalya soaps for Christmas, and I knew I wanted more this year! I got a variety of scents as gifts, and this month I’ve been loving Black Raspberry Vanilla (but took a picture of Apple Jack since the other is half used in my shower!). I really love Wisalya soaps – they’re handmade with natural ingredients and smell wonderful. Plus, you support a small business with your purchase! Definitely check out the shop!

EXPERIENCE

Julie G NYC Meet Up [FULL DETAILS]

One of the highlights of December was meeting Julie G of YouTube. I wrote a full blog post about the experience, but I definitely wanted to include it in my favorites post. It was truly a wonderful time, and it brightened up the middle of my final exams.

What were your favorites in December? Share them with me in the comments or use hashtag #PolishlandFaves on social media!

Some of 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.