beauty – Page 23 – Adventures in Polishland

Tag: beauty

Bimonthly Beauty Post: Baby Lips Review and a Giveaway!

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

Happy Monday! Today I have a review of my latest beauty obsession — Maybelline Baby Lips! I am a sucker for a great lip balm, and after hearing a lot about Baby Lips, I just had to give them a try. I picked one up back in early January and soon found that I needed to have them all! Let me show you my Baby Lips collection, and tell you a little more about the product.

Above is my coveted Baby Lips collection! From left to right, the colors are Quenched, Cherry Me, Grape Vine, Pink Punch, Peach Kiss, and Yummy Plummy. All of them, with the exception of Quenched, are tinted lip balms that hydrate your lips while adding subtle color. Quenched is a just a clear balm, and was the first I tried. I was unsure about trying a tinted balm, but was absolutely blown away with the effect Quenched had on my lips! Baby Lips is advertised to protect and moisturize lips for up to eight hours, and I have found that claim to be true. Quenched is absolutely perfect for dry lips, as it includes SPF 20 to reduce extra drying from the sun. After trying it, I decided to go back to the drugstore and try the tinted shades.

But alas, I couldn’t find Baby Lips in any local drugstores! The displays were completely empty! Thankfully, my mom was able to find four of the shades for me and shipped them out as soon as she could. In the meantime, a friend from school found one for me as well! I also spotted another at the drugstore the other day and grabbed that off the display as soon as possible!

Above you can see all of the shades the Baby Lips come in. They are in the same order in all photos. I am very natural with my makeup, and stay away from lipsticks, so I love that the tinted Baby Lips are so wearable! They provide subtle coloring that looks perfect on any skin tone due to its sheer nature. I also find that the coloring of Baby Lips works like a lip stain. In other words, I can apply Baby Lips in the morning and the color is still visible on my lips when I get home from school. I can even add my regular lip balm on top to keep my lips hydrated during the day without losing the color from the Baby Lips. All in all, my lips feel healthier and more moisturized since using Baby Lips, and I love that the tinted shades look great and natural on my lips! Baby Lips sell for around $3-4 in drugstores. Check for coupons and sales before shopping!

Giveaway!

In order to share the Baby Lips love with all of you, I am having a small giveaway! I have an extra Pink Punch that will soon belong to one of my followers. Since these are so hard to find now due to the increased demand, I figured someone would love to win it! Pink Punch is my favorite color as well. Four people complimented me the first day I work it! Thanks for entering, and good luck!

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 March 18, 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 THE LINK BELOW TO ENTER!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Simple Saturday: L’Oreal in Sweet Nothings

Posted on February 16, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I have a quick post reviewing the polish Sweet Nothings from the L’Oreal Colour Riche nail polish line. I used it as the base for a glitter manicure that will be featured on Adventures in Polishland very soon! Let me show you this L’Oreal.

Sweet Nothings is just what the name describes! This is a very pale pink polish with an extremely sheer formula. I applied three coats and the polish still did not reach opacity. The formula was good — not watery, but it was streaky. Sweet Nothings is a gorgeous neutral and is perfect for professional occasions. It is also great for layering when you don’t want a bright white polish as your base color. It makes me laugh to think that this polish really is Sweet Nothings!

L’Oreal polishes are sold in drugstores for around $6 per bottle. Keep an eye out for coupons in the local paper, and for weekly sales. I love L’Oreal polish and can’t wait to use the others that I have. See my post on Greycian Goddess HERE, and stay tuned to see how Sweet Nothings became a glitter manicure!

New Subscription Service: Nail Art Society!

Posted on February 14, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Valentine’s Day! Today I have an exciting post reviewing the new monthly subscription service Nail Art Society! Similar to Julep, Nail Art Society will send you a package each month for $19.95. Inside you will find nail polish and other nail art tools that you need to create a complete manicure. If you are just getting into nail art, this is definitely the program for you. Stick around because at the end of this post I’ll let you know how to lock in your membership for just $9.95 each month!

Here is everything that came in my first Nail Art Society bag. In the first photo, from left to right, is a Cherimoya Nailed It Nail Art Pen in Black, Layla Magneffect in Turquoise Wave, a container of Swarovski crystals, and tweezers from Stella Beauty Products. There is also a card that gives you step by step instructions on how to use all of the products for the month. The second picture just highlights the other literature in the bag. On the left is detailed instructions from Layla about applying the magnetic nail polish, and on the right is a card showcasing the current nail art trends. Let me show you the manicure I created with all of these goodies!

I decided to follow the manicure idea that Nail Art Society provided subscribers with this month. First, I started off with the magnetic polish from Layla in Turquoise Wave. I was very impressed with this polish. I’ve tried one other magnetic from this line, but Turquoise Wave was much more user friendly! It is a gorgeous light, metallic blue when you first apply it, but with the magnetic effect it adds a dark dimension. The easiest way to apply this polish to to first paint one coat on all of your nails like you would normally do. Then, add a thick coat of polish to one nail and quickly turn around the brush to hold the magnet right above the nail for a few seconds. If you work quickly you will get a great result!

To complete my manicure, I used the Cherimoya Nail Art Pen to create a tiger pattern on my ring finger. Then I used the tweezers to place some of the crystals on my pointer finger in a vertical stripe. To do so, layer a think coat of top coat on your nail, and then carefully press the crystals down firmly. Follow up with another layer of top coat to finish the look!

What do you think of my manicure? It is definitely funky! I’m not sure that I would wear this every day, but it was fun to try out the look and learn some new nail art techniques. Plus, I think it is great that Nail Art Society shows you how to create a complete manicure using all of the tools they give you in the bag each month. I do wish they had included the value of everything in the bag, because when I tried to research the price of some of the products I didn’t have much luck. I do know that Layla Magneffects sell for around $15, so that’s a great value on its own!

If you like what you see, make sure to sign up for the Nail Art Society program! You can lock in your membership for $9.95 each month by using the promo code PUREICE when you sign up. I am not aware of the coupon’s expiration date, so be sure to use it before it’s too late! Simply click HERE to join!

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: Shimmer Polish Part III

Posted on February 12, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! Today I have Part III of my Shimmer Polish review! In Part I and Part II, I wore each polish on its own. In this entry, you will see the polishes layered over another color. I used one very thin coat of each Shimmer to create the looks you see here. I love that these polishes are so versatile! Let me show you these gorgeous glitters.

First up is Jennifer, a mix of multi-colored pastel glitters with pops of orange and turquoise. I layered one coat over Zoya Blu. The pastel blue base really highlighted all of the glitters in Jennifer, and I think the two are a perfect combination. This manicure is perfect for springtime with an extra sparkle!

Up next is Karen, a mix of pink and purple glitters with flashes of holo hexagons. I layered one coat over Pronto Purple. Karen’s formula was a bit on the thick side, but I didn’t have problems with application. I thought a purple base color would be very complimenting. In the first two photos, you see my manicure with a regular, glossy top coat. On day two, I wanted to change things up a bit, and added my Butter London Matte Finish on top. I just love the matte result! It makes the glitters stand out even more.

Karina is a red and black glitter mix, with sprinkles of purple and holographic grains. I layered this polish over Julep Claudette, and it is the perfect combination! I think it looks like one complete polish. It’s a great manicure for Valentine’s Day, and for those of you who like darker colors. The black glitters really make this red color unique and edgy.

Last but not least is Linna, a gorgeous mix of green, red, blue, gold, and silver glitters. I layered Linna over Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics in Chlorophyll. The application was great! This is my favorite manicure from this post. I think these polishes are perfect together, and I have been loving green nails lately. I would definitely wear this look again in the future!

All in all, I love how versatile Shimmer Polish is! Each color can be worn alone as an opaque glitter in just 2-3 coats, or you can layer one coat over another polish for a unique look. Shimmer Polish sells on Etsy for $12 per bottle HERE. You can also like the brand on Facebook HERE.

Stay tuned for Part IV, the final post in the Shimmer Polish series!

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

Your Guide to Buying and Swapping Nail Polish Online

Posted on February 10, 2013November 30, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

The internet is an amazing platform that provides us nail polish addicts with great ways to acquire nail polish from all over the world. With so many indie brands and Facebook swap groups to choose from, it can sometimes be confusing, and at times quite scary, to purchase nail polish online. After a recent, negative experience I had with an indie brand, I was reminded of the precautions we must take to protect ourselves and our purchases. I have put together this guide to help those in the nail polish community stay safe when buying and swapping.

Do your research! You’ve finally found that perfect polish you were looking for, but before you hit the “checkout” button, head on over to Google. Type in the indie shop you are hoping to purchase from and see what pops up. This simple step can provide you with lots of helpful information regarding a seller’s reputation that you can easily miss without doing your research. An indie’s name can bring up feedback, blog posts, online forums, and other useful tools to shed light on the product you wish to buy. Along the way you could find out that the quality of an indie polish is not what you want it to be, or that the seller simply does not ship items. If I did my research I would have found a Facebook post letting me know the seller I had trouble with is known for not shipping packages!
Pay with PayPal! Always ensure that you are protecting your money by using PayPal when shopping. Almost all indie brands sell on websites like Etsy and BigCartel that use PayPal, but if you are buying from a seller on Facebook or through a blog sale that may not be the case. Always request a PayPal invoice. An invoice will outline your purchase as an itemized list, and it is the only way you can file a claim for goods you never receive. If a seller refuses to create an invoice for you, that is a red flag that she is not reputable.
Get Delivery Confirmation! Almost all sellers provide delivery confirmation, otherwise known as a tracking number, with every purchase. If you are swapping, however, it is imperative that you and your swap partner use delivery confirmation. This is your “insurance” that your package has been mailed. Make sure your swap parter sends you the tracking number as soon as your polish has been mailed.
Keep your personal information private! This may go without saying, but do not give out your home address or other personal information if you do not trust the person from whom you are buying or swapping. If possible, get a PO Box to use when you are shopping online. You can also give out your work address if it is permitted by your employer. Otherwise, only give out your home address if you have done your research and trust the seller.
Be active in the community! If you plan on doing a lot of nail polish shopping online, join some Facebook groups dedicated to nail polish chat. By actively engaging with other nail polish aficionados you will soon learn which indie brands are great, and which to avoid. You will also learn who trusted swappers are. ~~If you would like to know of some Facebook groups I recommend, please email me at adventuresinpolishland@gmail.com.~~ I am not actively participating in any Facebook groups for buying/swapping nail polish that I recommend as of 9.9.15.
If swapping, invoice each other! This is a tip that I recently learned. If you are doing a swap, you and your partner should invoice each other on PayPal for the same amount of money. For example, if you are swapping a $5 nail polish, invoice each other for $8 to cover shipping. That way if one person does not follow through with the swap, you can file a claim on PayPal.

“I never received my polish! What do I do?”

If you followed the steps above and you find yourself without your purchase, you can still rectify the situation!

Contact the seller! If a few weeks go by and you never receive your polish, the first thing to do is to get in contact with the seller. Most sellers have an email address, but others can be contacted directly through Etsy or social media. Every once in a while, a seller can simply overlook an order, or something may come up in her life that causes a shipping delay. Whatever the reason, politely ask the seller why your order is taking so long. Usually this step will clear up any issues.
File a PayPal Dispute! If the seller does not respond to your message in a timely manner, file a dispute with PayPal in the Resolution Center. Doing so will alert PayPal that you never received your purchase, and will also contact the seller an additional time. If a seller does not respond to your dispute, your money will be refunded. If she does respond, your purchase will either be fulfilled, or the seller may choose to refund your money. If you properly used PayPal to purchase your item, you will always be protected!
Contact the admin of the Facebook group! Many sales and swaps occur in Facebook groups. If you try to contact the seller or swapper to no avail, message the admin of the Facebook group. She will be able to help you resolve the problem, and will warn others from dealing with that person in the future.

I hope you have found this guide to buying and swapping nail polish online helpful! I love indie nail polishes and will continue to buy them, but I will be doing my research from now on. Out of all the brands I have dealt with thus far, I have only had issues with one. Keep an eye out for the bad eggs and you will be good to go! If you have any questions, or would like to add a tip to this list, please email me at adventuresinpolishland@gmail.com.

Stay Safe & Happy Polishing!

Valentine’s Day Skittle Manicure!

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

Happy Sunday! Today I have a fun post for all of you featuring a Valentine’s Day skittle manicure. What is a skittle manicure, you ask? It’s when each nail is painted differently from all the rest, whether it be all different colors or patterns. I thought a skittle would be a cute idea for Valentine’s Day, and it would help me practice some nail art techniques! Let me show you my Valentine’s manicure!

I used Sally Hansen Fuchsia Flare as the base color for my manicure, and an accent nail of Zoya Jacqueline. Fuchsia Flare is a beautiful bright pink nail polish that is opaque in two coats. The formula was easy to apply, and spread out evenly. I thought it would make the perfect base for some nail art, especially for Valentine’s Day! I also used a fast dry polish so that I could get to work on the nail art as soon as possible — I don’t like waiting for polish to dry!

The next step was to begin the skittle! I first started out with Fuchsia Flare again, and ever so carefully did a free-hand heart on the accent nail of Zoya Jacqueline. To do so, I wiped off almost all the polish from the brush, and made two sweeps of the polish in a V shape. It was rather simple to do with a steady hand, and I’m thrilled the way it came out!

Next, I completed my manicure using all of the other polishes. It’s very important to make sure your base color is dry before beginning these next steps, or you will experience smudging. Working from pinky to thumb, I first did a french tip with an unnamed red OPI. To do so I used scotch tape as a guideline. Next, I did a glitter gradient on my middle finger using Equinots from A Rhyming Dictionary. I put a dab of the glitter polish at the bottom of my nail near the cuticle, and slowly dragged up the glitters until about half of the nail was covered. On my pointer finger I used Milani Digital to do another scotch tape design, this time in a vertical stripe. The result here wasn’t very good — Digital was not opaque over Fuchsia Flare, and I didn’t get a clean line after removing the tape. Nonetheless, I completed the manicure with a thin coat of Elixir Lacquer A Cool Fool on my thumb nail. This gave that nail a beautiful, holographic shine.

Overall I am loving my Valentine’s Day manicure! There are some imperfections, but that is fine by me. Be sure to try out your own skittle manicure by wearing a different color or design on each nail. It’s a fun way to experiment with new styles and impress your friends. Be sure to share your Valentine’s Day manicures with me on my Facebook page HERE!

Some of 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: LASplash in Blowfish Pink

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

Happy Friday! I hope those of you affected by Nemo are staying safe! Today I have a quick post reviewing one of my favorite polishes that I got when I first started blogging. I was thrilled to be able to use it again as the base for one of my I Love Nail Polish manicures, and now I’ll show it to you on its own. I hope you love it as much as I do!

LASplash in Blowfish Pink is a gorgeous peachy pink with a gold shimmer throughout. It is opaque in just two coats, and has a great formula. The formula is a bit on the thick side, but it still applies evenly and cleanly. The brush did look more fanned out than I remember, but it didn’t affect application. I absolutely love Blowfish Pink! The color is stunning, and I love the gold shimmer. LASplash nail polish is also really affordable! It’s just $3.99 online HERE. I am so happy I was able to use it again! I hope to use Blowfish Pink many more times in the future!

The product in this post was sent for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. Please see my Disclosure Policy for more information.

My January Julep Maven Box!

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

Happy Wednesday! Today I have a review of my January Julep Maven Box. Better late than never, right? January was the month of neons and nudes over at Julep, and for the first time since I joined the program I was a bit disappointed with the polishes. Let me show you what was in my box.

Here is a quick Instagram photo of my box and its contents. I chose the It Girl style, which guarantees three nail polishes. My extras were “swatch me” stickers to put on the top of the polishes with a dab of polish, and three yoga hair ties. I love the hair ties so much and have been using them every day since I got the box! Since I was home for the holidays at the time, my mom even gave me two of hers. That was a great bonus. The polishes, on the other hand, were not as thrilling.

Up first is Amelia, what Julep calls a “light champagne frost”. This polish, as I’m sure you can tell from the photos, was just awful. I needed three coats to achieve opacity, and each layer was uneven and extremely streaky. Amelia’s formula was goopy, and hard to see during application due to its opalescent nature. It did have a nice shimmer quality to it, but this was so hard to work with I’m not sure if I would ever use it again. Amelia is the first dud I have ever received from Julep!

Nikki is the first of the two neon shades in my January box. According to Julep, Nikki is a highlighter yellow polish, but in reality is is a mix between pea soup green and mustard. I needed three coats to achieve opacity with Nikki, as it was very sheer. Formula wise I didn’t have any problems, and it actually dries really quickly. I am really disappointed with the color, as it is not neon on its own as advertised. I definitely would need a white base underneath to bring out the color. Nikki also has a satin finish instead of a creme look. Finally, it stained my nails upon removal! I’m not too happy with Nikki either.

Last but not least is Nina, a tangerine orange neon. Finally! A polish I love! Nina is opaque in two coats, and while the formula is a bit goopy, it’s not streaky and dries quickly. Nina also has a satin finish, and reminds me a bit of macaroni and cheese color. It is definitely my favorite from the box.

Overall, I was a bit disappointed with my January Julep Maven box. This was the first month since I joined the program that my polishes were not top notch. I do have to say that with all of the Juleps I’ve tried to date, I am more than okay to accept a few duds and move on. Spoiler alert: I’ve already tried the polishes from my February box, and those formulas are great quality! I still support the Maven program, and will continue to receive a box each month even after one bad experience. If you’d like to join the program for $19.99 per mont, go to the Julep website HERE. You can also get your first month for FREE with the code FREEMAVEN at checkout!

Zoya Lovely Collection for Spring 2013

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

Happy Saturday! It’s Groundhog Day, and Punxsutawney Phil is predicting an early Spring! That means it is time to break out the Spring nail polishes! Today I have the Zoya Lovely Collection to show you. It’s a a fabulous collection with three shimmer polishes and three creme polishes. Let me show you everything that is Lovely!

Up first are the shimmer polishes! GeiGei is a bubblegum pink with a shimmery finish. It is opaque in two coats and has an amazing formula. I had no problems whatsoever with the application. GeiGei has a very smooth finish that sparkles in the sunlight. I love this play on a pastel pink! GeiGei also has a frosted look, so it’s perfect for the transition from winter to spring.

Zoya Julie is the next shimmer in the Lovely Collection. Julie is a lilac purple with pink and silver shimmer mixed in. It is opaque in just two coats. The formula was a bit on the thin side, but it wasn’t runny so it didn’t cause me any problems. Julie is a very light shade that is classy and feminine. It is a bit too light for my personal taste, but it is a beautiful purple.

The last of the shimmers is Piaf, a light yellow with green and gold undertones. Piaf’s formula was a bit thin and sheer. I needed three coats for opacity, as two coats seemed a bit patchy. I didn’t think I would like Piaf, but it is a very unique polish! It is not the best shade for my fair skin, but the shimmer in the yellow is beautiful. Piaf is a great alternative to a neutral shade.

Zoya Jacqueline is the first of the creme polishes. Jacqueline is a light beige color. It is very streaky with the first coat, but evens out and is opaque in two. I wanted to love this polish because it looks so pretty in the bottle. For some reason it just looks odd on my nails. I think it would be great for layering, but I’m not sure I would wear Jacqueline on its own. Again, it may be the wrong shade for my skin tone. My favorite thing about Jacqueline is that it dries instantly! I was very impressed with that.

Neely is a mint green creme, and my absolute favorite from the Lovely Collection! Neely has a great formula and is opaque in two coats. Mint green is my favorite polish color, and I plan on wearing this one as often as possible! Neely is classy and trendy. An all around perfect nail polish! Have I mentioned that Neely is awesome?!

Last but not least is Blu, a gorgeous light blue creme. Blu has an amazing formula — I had no application issues whatsoever. It is also opaque in two coats. I love that this polish has just a “dash” of blue pigmentation. It is almost off-white, with just the perfect shade of blue. I love this polish, and even used it as the base for a glitter manicure that you will see soon. If you are looking to try out blue nail polish, I would start with this one!

All in all, the Zoya Lovely Collection is a beautiful choice for Spring. Whether your prefer shimmers or cremes, this collection has something for you! You can purchase the entire Lovely Collection for $48 or each bottle separately for $8 apiece on the Zoya website HERE. Make sure to follow Zoya on FACEBOOK where the company often shares promotional codes to save you money! Stay Lovely this Spring!

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: I Love Nail Polish

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

Happy Thursday! Today I have a very exciting review of three polishes from the indie brand I Love Nail Polish. The first thing I noticed about I Love Nail Polish, is the fabulous presentation. They come in really cute boxes, and are very professionally made. I was already impressed before I even tried them out! Having such cute boxes makes me have more faith in the brand from the get go. The best part is, the polish lives up to the hype! Let me show you these gorgeous glitters!

Up first is Fully Turqued, a clear glitter top coat. Fully Turqued is full of a variety of black and white glitters in all shapes and sizes, and turquoise square glitters. I layered two coats over Milani Cyberspace (see that polish HERE). Fully Turqued has a great formula — it was easy to apply and the glitters came right out of the bottle and onto the nail. I love the look I got while layering Fully Turqued over a holographic polish in a complimentary color! My first thought was to use a sky blue as the base, but the added sparkle added a “wow” factor for sure. I also love square glitter, so the pop of turquoise was my favorite part of this polish!

Up next is Once Upon a Starry Night. This polish is also a glitter top coat, and is filled with white, blue, and silver glitter. The highlight of this polish is the silver, holographic stars! I added in an extra photograph so you can see how the stars reflect a rainbow of colors in the light. Simply gorgeous! Plus, they were surprisingly easy to get out of the bottle! No fishing for stars here. I layered two coats of Once Upon a Starry Night over L’Oreal Greycian Goddess (see that polish HERE). At first the silver glitters blend in with the background, but they sparkle in the light! If you want more of a “nighttime” feel, I suggest layering Once Upon a Starry Night over a true black.

Last but not least is my favorite polish from the bunch, All Gold Everything. This is a clear glitter top coat filled with gold glitters in all shapes and sizes. I have so many gold glitter polishes that I wasn’t too excited to try this one out, but All Gold Everything is stunning! I layered two coats over LASplash Blowfish Pink, and that was the perfect base color. Many thanks to my Facebook follower Roberta for suggesting a peach as a base! All Gold Everything has a fabulous formula, and I especially love the circle glitters! Overall, I find this manicure to be really fabulous and classy. I’ve even been wearing it for four days now! From now on this will be my go-to gold glitter.

All in all, I love these polishes from I Love Nail Polish! They all have great formulas, and the glitters were really easy to apply. You can shop for these polishes on Etsy HERE and follow on Facebook HERE. Full size bottles are $10 each.

P.S. You can always click on a photo to see it larger and in more detail!

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