beauty – Page 17 – Adventures in Polishland

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Winter Wonderland Week | Gift Guide – Beauty & Skincare!

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

Happy Tuesday! Today I wanted to share some gift ideas with all of you. Whether you’re shopping for someone special, or simply looking for items to put on your own wish list, here are some ideas that I have! This post will be all about beauty and skincare products, but later on this week I’ll have even more ideas to share. Let’s get into the goodies!

L’OCCITANE Hand Indulgences

What:

Trio of 3 shea butter hand creams in the scents Fleur D’or, Cherry Blossom, and Shea Butter.

Price:

$28 (Retail Value: $36) [BUY]

Why I recommend it:

These luxurious hand creams are perfect for the winter season (especially if you have a nail polish aficionado for whom to shop!). Give the entire set to one person, or split them up for stocking stuffers.

Sigma Essential Kit

What:

A set of 12 professional makeup brushes, including face and eye brushes.

Price:

$139 – save 10% with code NOV2013 [BUY]

Why I recommend it:

All makeup lovers need great brushes! Sigma offers amazing brushes that are more affordable than other high end companies. Spoil your loved one with a set of these brushes, and she will appreciate it for sure.

bhCosmetics Eyes on the ’60s Palette

What:

An eyeshadow palette complete with 30 shades in all colors of the rainbow.

Price:

$9.95 (Retail Value: $19.95) [BUY]

Why I recommend it:

bhCosmetics is a favorite of YouTube Beauty Guru Carli Bybel. She uses the shadows so often, it prompted me to purchase a palette from the brand, and I highly recommend it! Plus, the prices are perfect for everyone’s budget.

Sephora X The Twenty-Two

What:

Set of 22 mini nail polishes from Sephora’s new Sephora X collection. Contains creams, neons, chromes, and glitters!

Price:

$55 (Retail Value: $103) [BUY]

Why I recommend it:

Sephora X polishes have an amazing formula, and are great for any nail polish lover. This is another set that can be given as a large gift, or opened up and split up into many gifts. Plus, it’s a fabulous value!

Sephora Favorites Fragrance Sampler For Her

What:

A set of 14 perfume samples, a clutch, and a voucher for a free full-sized fragrance.

Price:

$70 (Retail Value: $140) [BUY]

Why I recommend it:

Picking out the perfect fragrance can be difficult. Sephora makes your job as gift-giver easier with this sampler by providing an array of perfumes.

Wantable Makeup Box

What:

A box filled with 4 to 5 full-sized makeup products. What’s inside is a surprise!

Price:

$40 [BUY]

Why I recommend it:

If you really have no clue what to buy the makeup lover on your list, get her a mystery box! Wantable offers amazing high end products that she is sure to love.

These are all of my top gift picks for beauty and skincare this holiday season! There are, of course, many more great brands and options to choose from, but I hope you can draw inspiration from this Gift Guide as you head to the stores. Happy Shopping!

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

Subscription Sunday | November Birchbox

Posted on November 17, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! I am excited to be showing you what was inside my November Birchbox today! I haven’t added up what the retail value is yet, but I’m guessing it is one of the best I’ve ever received! Let me go ahead and show you what was inside my box, and we can discover the retail value together.

This month, Birchbox’s theme is More Good. Going hand in hand with the Thanksgiving season, Birchbox is donating a portion of its proceeds to No Kid Hungry, an organization that works to end childhood hunger. I think that is a great cause! You can also use hashtag #MoreGood all month to share how you are doing good for others this season.

Here is the first set of products in my November Birchbox! I’ll tell you a bit more about each product from left to right, including the retail value of each sample.

theBalm Cosmetics Stainiac in Beauty Queen – $2.27 – This is a lip and cheek stain that has a unique gel formula. Unlike other stains, it feels a bit glossy, and not as drying. I really like that the color is not a bright red, but a more wearable berry shade. I may give it a go!
DDF Amplifying Elixir – $20.59 – Wow! Talk about a deluxe sample! This skin serum is designed to help strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier. With the full size product at $70, I love that I can try this product with Birchbox. Plus, the sample size will last me a long time!
Folle de Joie Eau de Parfum – $1.73 – I’m not quite sure why I’m receiving a perfume sample, since I opted out with my Birchbox profile. Nonetheless, this one smells amazing and is so long-lasting! I love it!
Color Club in Baldwin Blues – $2.00 – I love receiving polishes in subscription boxes! This mini is from the Harlem Lights collection, and I’m loving the color. Stay tuned for a full review on Adventures in Polishland very soon!

Still two more items to go! Wow!

Mighty Leaf Tea – $1.99 – Birchbox included three bags of Mighty Leaf tea this month! I love trying out new teas, so I’m quite excited about these. I got the flavors Vanilla Bean, Green Tea Tropical, and Organic African Nectar. This is perfect for the winter months!
Mox Botanicals Bath Milk in Jasmine Petal – $1.68 – Last but not least is a single-used packet of bath milk. I’ve never tried this kind of product before, but it’s supposed to make your bath smell wonderful. Interesting!

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $30.26

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

OVERALL OPINION: While the retail value wasn’t as high as I expected, I am still very happy with my Birchbox this month! I got six sample products, and a great variety at that. I got skincare, makeup, nail polish, perfume, and even tea! I’m very excited to use all of these samples!

As always, you can join Birchbox for just $10 per month HERE. I highly recommend this program, especially if you love getting a good mix of products. Stay tuned for more Subscription Sunday posts in the future!

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

How to Get the Most for Your Money at Sephora – Part 2

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

Happy Thursday! After posting a spoiler of my recent Sephora haul on my Facebook page, I knew I had to share more about the products I purchased, and the great deals I got. Back in March, I shared with you six simple steps to get the most for your money at Sephora (you can see that post HERE). Today, I’m going to change those steps up just a bit for even more savings. Let’s get started!

1. Start at Ebates.com and shop online!

For a long time, I thought that Ebates was some sort of gimmick or spam website, but now I’ve been a member for a few months, and it is totally legitimate! Sign up, and you’ll earn cash back for almost all of your online purchases. I’ve already received my first check, so I know it’s safe to use. Sign up HERE. All Sephora purchases get 4% cash back!

2. Spend $50 to get free shipping!

I only shop at Sephora a few times per year, so I think it is fine to splurge and spend the big bucks! To get to the $50 limit for free shipping, I got the Sephora Collection Base Coat at $6, Philosophy Vanilla Birthday Cake Shower Gel at $16.50, and Too Faced Primed & Poreless at $30. I am running out of Primed & Poreless, and it is easily a holy grail product for me (see a full review HERE). I also love the Sephora base coat, and the Philosophy Shower Gel was my bonus product. It will last me a very long time, and I’ve been hearing so many beauty gurus talking about it lately that I needed it in my life!

3. Add on the bonus products!

The bonus round is definitely my favorite part of shopping on Sephora’s website! This is the key to getting the most for your money. There are three ways to get bonuses added to your order:

The annual birthday gift: Every Beauty Insider member gets a free birthday gift! This year is was the Benefit Real Birthday Turn-Ons duo with a mini They’re Real mascara and Watt’s Up highlighter. This set retails for $14.41!
Weekly Specials promo code: You can always add a promotional code to any order over $25 – a true bonus that you cannot claim in store! The specials change weekly, and feature amazing deluxe samples of high end products. I got the Clinique Acne Solution Cleansing Foam, which has a retail value at $7.89!
Claim a perk: Use your Beauty Insider points to grab a freebie! Perks start at 100 points, and feature great deluxe samples. I grabbed a mini Sephora X nail polish in the shade Pyrotechnic. Its retail value is $4.20! Don’t forget, the Beauty Insider program is free, so there is no reason not to join!

4. Grab your free samples!

Every Sephora order comes with three free samples! They rotate all the time, but here’s what I grabbed with this order: Flash by Jimmy Choo perfume, Smashbox Photo Finish Primer, and REN Hydra-Calm Day Cream. These three samples together have a retail value of $8.29!

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $87.29

TOTAL SPENT (including tax!): $57.16

SAVINGS: $30.13 + $2.29 cash back from Ebates

All in all, I am really happy with my latest Sephora haul! I got great savings and some amazing products. When you’re on a budget, it’s definitely difficult to shop at Sephora on a regular basis, but by using these steps you can make each haul worth it. I hope you find this post helpful. Let me know what deals you’ve gotten at Sephora lately!

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

Subscription Sunday | Wantable October Box

Posted on October 6, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! Today I have a new to me subscription box to share with you from Wantable.com. If you are tired of receiving sample size products in your beauty subscriptions, I definitely suggest Wantable. After taking an in depth beauty profile quiz, Wantable will put together a box of 4-5 full size products for you every month from high end beauty brands. Let me show you what I got in my October box!

Here is the first peek inside my first Wantable box! I couldn’t believe how fast it arrived to me as well – I placed the order on a Monday and it was in my mailbox on Thursday! My order also came with a detailed print out that listed the answers from my style quiz, as well as information for all of the products I received. I found the sheet very helpful!

The first item in my box is the Japonesque Angled Foundation Brush. This brush retails for $25, and is perfect for traveling or every day use. I’ve never used a foundation brush before, so I’m excited to try this one one. It looks like it is amazing quality!

The next product I received is the Bésame Cosmetics Brightening Violet Powder. This is a translucent loose powder that completes any makeup look. I just love the cute packaging, and this even comes with a little powder puff! The retail price is $22.

I always love receiving nail polish in my subscription boxes! This one is Michael Marcus Once You Go Matte, and is a black nail polish with a matte finish. I’ve tried a few polishes from this brand, and I do like it. Michael Marcus retails for $15 per polish.

Next up is the Manna Kadar Extreme Curl Mascara in Black. At first I was a bit disappointed to receive a mascara, since now I have way too many, but when I tried this one I was stunned! I’m loving it! This is one of the best mascaras I’ve tried in a long time, and I can’t wait to use it more. This product retails for $19.

The last full size product in my box is the Cailyn Cosmetics Red Tint lip stain. I like that this product is more of a berry shade than a bright red, and that it is so easy to apply. Beware, though, because this truly is a stain and doesn’t even come off with makeup remover! This product retails for $13.

As a bonus, Wantable through in a sample of the Skiin Instant Skin Tightener and Line Filler. This product is supposed to tighten skin and be an alternative to cosmetic surgery. I’m not sure what I think about that, but it’s great to have a bonus sample nonetheless!

All in all, I’m impressed with my October Wantable box! The retail value of my box is $94! What I really like about Wantable is that you are getting items really tailored to your personal likes and dislikes, and you know that everything will be full size. You can also choose to subscribe to Wantable for $36 per month, or buy a box whenever you wish for $40. I really think this is a great value, and I highly recommend it! Wantable also offers an accessories box, an intimates box, and a limited edition Halloween box! To shop, simply click the image below. Let me know what you think of Wantable in the comments!

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.

Zoya Zenith Collection for Holiday 2013

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

Happy Friday! Today I have a review of the complete Zenith Collection from Zoya Nail Polish.The Zenith Collection will be released in just a few days on October 1, and contains six beautiful shades for the holiday season. Let me show you these gorgeous polishes!

First up is Belinda, a dark purple polish with blue and magenta shimmer. Belinda has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. It was difficult to capture the shimmer on camera, but in real life this polish shines so beautifully. Belinda is definitely one of my favorites in this collection.

Next is Seraphina, a silver metallic polish. Seraphina has a good formula, but I found it very difficult to apply due to its color. The silver is very sheer, and was hard for me to see during application. I therefore had to be really careful to make sure I was staying inside the lines. Besides that, Seraphina is opaque in two coats, and is a nice silver for the holidays!

Cassedy is up next, and it is a stunning pewter polish that shifts to blue and green depending on the light. Cassedy has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats, and I am loving how unique it is! I wouldn’t necessarily call this a duochrome, but it clearly has a color-changing quality. Cassedy is very edgy, and would look great for a rock star look. Next is Payton, a cranberry jelly polish with scattered holographic glitter. Payton has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats. Plus, application is amazing! Payton is such a beautiful polish, and it is a great alternative to the bright, Christmas red around the holiday season.

Dream is up next, and is a blue jelly polish with scattered holographic glitter. Dream is literally a dream polish. It has the perfect formula, and is opaque in two coats. Dream is definitely my favorite polish in the collection, and I think it is so gorgeous. I love the dimension and sparkle!

Last but not least is Mosheen, a glitter top coat mixed with holographic bars and grains. The base is just slightly blue, so I layered two coats over Zoya Blu to get the look in the photos. Mosheen does have a good formula, and I had no problems with application. Mosheen is a nice polish to add a bit of sparkle to any manicure!

All in all, I’m loving the Zoya Zenith Collection! I love that the polishes are unique, and different from typical holiday collections. I would also like to see more polishes like Dream and Payton in the future! You can purchase these polishes starting October 1 on Zoya’s website HERE for $8 each.

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: 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.