comparison – Adventures in Polishland

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Dare to Compare | Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush Royal vs. Insightful

Posted on July 19, 2017July 16, 2017 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I’m excited to share with you a comparison post between two Tarte blushes. Tarte has quickly become one of my favorite makeup brands. While the products are a bit more expensive than I would normally like, the quality is amazing and I appreciate that Tarte offers many vegan products. I recently purchased the No Shower Happy Hour kit at Sephora, and one of the items it came with is an Amazonian Clay 12-hour Blush in the shade Insightful. I realized this blush looks very similar to Royal, another Tarte blush that I already owned. I wanted to share these blushes side-by-side so you can decide if Insightful is a must-have in your collection.

The Amazonian Clay 12-hour Blush in Royal was released in the limited edition Sculpted Cheeks set for the 2016 holiday season and is no longer available for purchase. Similarly, Insightful is only available in the No Shower Happy Hour kit. I thought this post would be helpful for those of you who own the Sculpted Cheeks set and may be interested in purchasing the No Shower Happy Hour kit.

When I added Insightful to my beauty stash, I noticed the packaging color was exactly the same as Royal’s. I took a closer look at the blushes next to one another, and while I thought I could see a slight difference, I knew the shades were quite close.

Here are swatches of Royal and Insightful side-by-side. While it is clear they are not exact duplicates of one another, the shades are quite close. Royal is described by Tarte as a Nude Mauve, and Insightful is described as Peachy Pink. I definitely agree that Royal feels like more of a brown shade, while I can see orange undertones in Insightful. That being said, if you do own Royal, I don’t think it’s necessary to buy Insightful. However, if you are wanting to get the No Shower Happy Hour kit to try the other products, it is worth it for the value of the other items included. Plus, both of these blushes are amazing quality. I love how smoothly they apply to the cheeks.

All in all, I hope you found this comparison post helpful if you were interested in purchasing the No Shower Happy Hour kit. I think it is an amazing value for the money, and am so glad I didn’t get a duplicate blush shade. Make sure you buy this limited edition kit HERE before it is discontinued!

What is your favorite Tarte product? Let me know in the comments!

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

Dare to Compare | Milani Mauve Medley vs Milani Color Statement Mauving Forward

Posted on July 27, 2016July 3, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I am excited to try out two Milani nail polishes side-by-side to see if they are duplicates. I’ve noticed while decluttering my nail polish collection that many of my nail polishes from Milani are very similar in shade. This is completely understandable, as Milani revamped its entire nail polish line a few years ago. Nonetheless, I don’t need to keep polishes if they are the same shade. Let me share two mauve polishes with you and let you which I’m keeping!

First up is Milani in the shade Mauve Medley, a deep mauve that leans towards a brown shade. Mauve Medley has a good formula, but it is a bit on the streaky side. It does even out well in two opaque coats, and is very rich in pigmentation. Mauve Medley is not a nail polish shade that I reach for, but it is a beautiful polish.

Next up is Mauving Forward from Milani’s current Color Statement line. Mauving Forward is a lighter mauve shade with purple undertones. This polish has a good formula that is opaque in two coats. It applies smoothly and has a very rich pigmentation. Mauving Forward is a great neutral polish for everyday wear!

Here is a side-by-side look at these two polishes, with Mauve Medley on my pinky and ring fingers and Mauving Forward on my middle and pointer fingers. It is clear that these polishes are not exact dupes, and are instead quite different in shade. Yes, they are both mauve shades, but Mauve Medley is quite darker than Mauving Forward. That being said, I’ve decided to declutter both of these nail polishes. I just never reach for a mauve shade, and there is no reason to keep these if I’m not wearing them.

All in all, I’m glad I tested out these polishes together to discover that they are actually a bit different despite both being mauve shades! While Mauve Medley is no longer available for purchase, you can pick up Mauving Forward at your local drugstore or on Milani’s website HERE. Please let me know in the comments if you have a favorite mauve nail polish, or if you prefer to wear another neutral shade!

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

Dare to Compare | Comparing 4 Bright Pink Nail Polishes

Posted on July 20, 2016June 7, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! I told you in my last Dare to Compare post that my love for pink polishes is strong, and bright pink is one of my favorite shades to wear. In fact, one of my first ever Dare to Compare posts back in 2013 featured three bright pink polishes (read it HERE). Today I have four more polishes to compare with all of you. I’ll be reviewing each polish individually, and swatching them side-by-side to see the colors together.

First up is Hot Pink Rage from Milani’s Color Statement line. Hot Pink Rage has a perfect formula that is opaque in one coat! I did apply two in the photos above to see if I could achieve a richer pigmentation, but one coat is definitely all you need. Hot Pink Rage is definitely a deeper pink in shade, while still being very bright.

Next up is Raspberry Delight from Milani’s older nail polish line that is now discontinued. Raspberry Delight has a good formula, but it did get a bit streaky during application. I applied two coats for opacity, and I can see some uneven texture in the finish. This is a gorgeous pink, and a bit lighter in shade than Hot Pink Rage. Raspberry Delight does have a very subtle shimmer in the bottle, but I can’t see it on my nails at all.

Tickled Pink from Covergirl is up next, another polish I’ve owned for several years now. Tickled Pink has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats. It applies really smoothly, and just looks amazing on my nails. I’ve had great luck with Covergirl polishes, and Tickled Pink is one of my favorites!

Last but not least is Nice Gal Peony from Priti NYC. Nice Gal Peony also has an excellent formula. It applies well and is opaque in two coats, and just so pretty! I also like that this polish is made in the USA by a smaller brand. I do take those things into consideration when buying products, because it’s always nice to support companies in my own country.

Here is a look at all four polishes together. From left to right are: Milani Color Statement in Hot Pink Rage, Milani in Raspberry Delight, Covergirl in Tickled Pink, and Priti NYC in Nice Gal Peony. It is obvious from the comparison that these polishes are not exact duplicates for one another despite being very similar. Hot Pink Rage and Tickled Pink are almost dupes, but they are slightly different. It’s so difficult for me to declutter any of these polishes, because they all have such great formulas. However, there is no need for me to keep all four, so I’m letting go of Raspberry Delight and Tickled Pink.

All in all, I’m surprised that these bright pink polishes are more different in shade than I first anticipated! Sometimes the way a polish looks in the bottle is not exactly how it dries on the nails. That is certainly the case with some of these pink shades! As always, I would love to know what bright pink polishes are your favorites. Please share in the comments!

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.

Dare to Compare | Comparing 5 Coral Nail Polishes

Posted on July 15, 2016June 6, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today’s nail polish comparison is going to be the biggest yet. I own five coral nail polishes that all look extremely similar in the bottle, and I just had to test them out together to see if any were dupes. Coral is the perfect shade to wear in the summertime, so I hope you’ll find these swatches helpful if you’re on the lookout for a coral shade. Let’s jump right into the individual reviews and side-by-side comparison!

First up is Coral Reef from the Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear line. This is the most affordable polish of the bunch, and it also has one of the best formulas. Coral Reef is a bit on the watery side, but it applies smoothly and is opaque in two coats. If you’ve been following my blog since its beginning, you’ll know that I am a huge fan of the Xtreme Wear line. While some of the formulas are duds, most of them are excellent and can fit nearly any budget. Coral Reef is a great option!

Next up is Splendid Strawberry from Milani’s older nail polish collection that is now discontinued. Splendid Strawberry looks a bit more pink-toned in the bottle, but dries to a beautiful coral shade. This polish has a very good formula, but is again a bit on the watery side. I really like the flat brush that came in this Milani line, as it makes application easier than thicker brushes.

Another polish from Milani is Corrupted Coral from its newer Color Statement line. Corrupted Coral’s formula is okay, but quite thick. I found that it dragged upon application, so make sure to let each coat dry completely before adding another layer. I also recommend thin coats as this polish can be very tacky.

The next polish is Peachy Breeze from the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri line. Peachy Breeze is a go-to polish for me, and my most used coral polish for sure. The formula has gotten a bit tacky over time, but it is still easily workable. I applied two coats to achieve opacity, and as promised, this polish dried extremely quickly.

Last but not least is China Glaze Surreal Appeal. This polish has a wonky formula. It is very watery, and then when it dries it becomes very uneven. I applied two coats in the photos above, and you can definitely see the uneven texture. I just don’t have much luck with the China Glaze brand!

It’s time to look at all of these polishes together! I’m wearing a different polish on each finger in the photos above, and I think it is fair to say that these are all dupes for one another. I cannot tell a difference between these five shades! I can’t believe I own so many of the same polish color. That being said, I am going to declutter all but one of them. I will be keeping Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Peachy Breeze, because although the formula is not perfect, it is my favorite out of the bunch since it applies well and dries fast.

All in all, I can’t get over the fact that I had five coral nail polishes that are virtually identical in my collection! I hope you found this post helpful if you are looking to find a coral, or if you already own one of the above. Now you won’t be wondering if a polish is a dupe when nail polish shopping! Definitely let me know in the comments if you have a favorite coral shade. I would love to hear your polish picks!

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.

Dare to Compare | Milani Popping Pink vs Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Fuchsia Flare

Posted on July 8, 2016June 3, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! I am so excited for today’s Dare to Compare post because I’m sharing two of my favorite pink nail polishes. Pink polishes are definitely one of my most owned in my collection. I think it’s because bright pink looks great on me, and it goes with almost everything. Even though I wear it quite often, there is no reason for me to hoard multiple bottles of the same color. Thus, it’s time to test out Milani Popping Pink and Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Fuchsia Flare together to see if it’s necessary to own both.

First up is Milani in the shade Popping Pink, a bright pink polish with peachy undertones. Popping Pink has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. It can be a bit streaky, but it evens out well. Popping Pink is a discontinued nail polish, so that always makes it difficult to declutter a polish. When I know I can never but it again, I always feel the need to keep it!

Next up is Fuchsia Flare from the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Collection. Fuchsia Flare is one of my most worn nail polishes for sure. The formula can be a bit streaky, but it is opaque in two coats and dries insanely quickly. In fact, I once applied this mere minutes before I had to meet a friend, and it didn’t smudge or ding once on my subway trip. Fuchsia Flare is my old faithful!

Here are the polishes side-by-side, with Popping Pink on my pinky and ring fingers and Fuchsia Flare on my middle and pointer fingers. It is very difficult to see any difference between the polishes in the photos, but in person Popping Pink is just slightly more peach-toned than Fuchsia Flare. Nonetheless, these polishes are nearly identical and there is no reason for me to own both! While I love both these polishes, I am going to declutter Popping Pink. I am sold by Fuchsia Flare’s quick dry formula!

All in all, I’m glad I tested out these polishes together to discover a near dupe for all of you! I know Popping Pink is discontinued, but you might still be able to find Fuchsia Flare at your local drugstore. Definitely let me know in the comments what your favorite bright pink nail polish is! I am always happy to learn your nail polish loves both here and on social media.

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

Dare to Compare | Comparing 4 Midnight Blue Nail Polishes

Posted on June 6, 2016May 9, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today’s Dare to Compare post is going to be a big one. I own four nail polishes in my collection that are midnight blue shades, meaning they are almost black, but have a blue pigmentation. I knew I had to try them out side-by-side to see if they are exact duplicates of one another. The polishes range from the affordable price of $5 to the higher end price of $14, so I have a polish for every budget to share. Let me show you these polishes individually, and then side-by-side.

First up is Milani Color Statement in the shade Ink Spot. This is a highly pigmented polish that can be worn in just one coat. I added two coats for this blog post, just to ensure an opaque finish. Ink Spot is a great polish, and one that is super affordable. I recommend this polish if you are on a budget and looking for a solid one-coat formula.

Next up is Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Night Flight. This polish has been my go to for a while when it comes to midnight blue polishes. The formula is excellent, and it is opaque in two coats. Plus, it does dry very quickly, which I really appreciate. I reach for Night Flight because it does dry so fast. This is one is also super affordable at around $5.00 at the drugstore.

The third midnight blue polish I own is Madam Glam’s Endless Night. In the bottle this looks much more blue than it is black, but once I apply two coats it takes on the same blue-black look. Endless Night also has a good formula, but it is a stainer! Make sure to wear a healthy base coat if you own this polish. Madam Glam polishes retail for around $8.00, but Endless Night is discontinued.

Last but not least is Julep Kristy. This polish has a good formula that is opaque in two coats, but it does have a tendency to stain as well. I’m not sure if I’ve ever worn Kristy before, but it is a nice polish. If you’re looking for a splurge polish this might be a good one for you!

Here is a look at all four polishes side-by-side. From left to right are: Milani Ink Spot, Sally Hansen Night Flight, Madam Glam Endless Night, and Julep Kristy. As you can see, these polishes are all nearly identical. In person both Endless Night and Kristy are a touch more blue than Ink Spot and Night Flight, but honestly there is no need for me to own all four of these polishes! I’m going to keep only Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Night Flight, just because I love the quick dry formula.

All in all, I hope you found this post helpful if you are looking for a midnight blue polish. I think all of the polishes mentioned here are great options, but I definitely recommend Night Flight. It is available at the drugstore or online HERE for a fabulous and affordable price! Please let me know in the comments if you own any of these polishes, or if you have a favorite midnight blue. I would love to hear your thoughts!

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

Dare to Compare | Covergirl Sapphire Flare vs Julep Char

Posted on June 1, 2016May 4, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I have another nail polish comparison to share with you, this time a good matchup between a drugstore polish and a higher end brand. I’ve been really impressed with the Covergirl Outlast Stay Brilliant line ever since it hit stores, so I just had to see how close in shade it is to a Julep polish I own as well. Let me share these polishes with you individually, and then side-by-side.

First up is Sapphire Flare from Covergirl, a deep navy blue creme polish. Sapphire Flare is an excellent polish. It is opaque in one coat and applies smoothly to the nail. I am wearing two coats in the photos above, just because adding a second layer adds to the high-gloss finish and deepens the pigmentation just a bit. Sapphire Flare is a great navy to have in your nail polish collection.

Next up is Julep Char, another navy blue creme, but with a brighter blue shade. Char also has a really good formula that is opaque in two coats. It tends to be a bit streaky, but nothing unmanageable for sure. Char is a gorgeous polish, and a good one to get from Julep if you’re picking out a polish for your monthly Maven subscription.

Here is a look at Sapphire Flare and Char side-by-side. I’m wearing Sapphire Flare on my pinky and ring fingers and Char on my middle and pointer fingers. As you can see, the colors are very, very similar, but not exact duplicates. Sapphire Flare is almost a black, while in Char you can see the blue quite clearly. These are both great polishes, but I much prefer the shade of Sapphire Flare, and will be keeping that one in my collection.

All in all, I’m glad I tested out these polishes together so I can recommend them both to you. My top choice is definitely Sapphire Flare, which can be purchased at the drugstore or on Amazon HERE for around $5.00. I’m excited to wear this navy shade when fall rolls around! Definitely let me know your favorite navy polish in the comments!

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

Dare to Compare | Julep Eloise vs Color Club Baldwin Blues vs ncLA Malibu Beach Babe

Posted on May 27, 2016May 3, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! It’s time for another round of Dare to Compare where I test out similar nail polishes to see if they are duplicates of one another. I am still working through all the blue polishes in my collection, and I can’t believe I own three indigo blues. While it’s evident just by looking at the polishes they are not going to be exact dupes, I still wanted to test these out together. Let’s take a look at these indigo blues both individually and side-by-side!

First up is Eloise, what Julep calls a smoky indigo creme. Eloise has a good formula that is opaque in two coats. It can be a bit on the streaky side, but it evens out nicely when it dries. I really like how richly pigmented Eloise is. It’s such a fall staple!

Next up is Baldwin Blues from the brand Color Club. I received this mini bottle in a Birchbox a few years back, and really love the deep indigo shade. The formula on this polish is excellent! It can be worn in one coat, but I did apply two in the photos above to really achieve a glossy finish. I absolutely love Baldwin Blues!

Last but not least is ncLA Malibu Beach Babe. This polish is more of a teal than an indigo, and is thus lighter in pigmentation. Malibu Beach Babe has an okay formula. I find that it is quite messy during application due to its watery formula. It’s definitely my least favorite of the bunch, and the most expensive.

Here are the polishes side-by-side. From left to right are: Julep Eloise, Color Club Baldwin Blues, and ncLA Malibu Beach Babe. These polishes are all very similar, but none of them are dupes. My favorite of the bunch is definitely Baldwin Blues. It has the best formula of the three, and is also my favorite shade. Julep Eloise is also a good choice, but I don’t recommend Malibu Beach Babe. I will be destashing both of those to keep Baldwin Blues!

All in all, I was surprised to find three indigo polishes in my collection that are so similar! I wear this shade primarily in the fall months, so I’m glad I found the one perfect for me. You can purchase Baldwin Blues on Amazon HERE for a discounted price. As I’m writing this post it’s only $5.50! Definitely let me know in the comments if you have a favorite indigo shade. I would love your recommendation!

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

Dare to Compare | Milani Blue Print vs Milani Blue Jay vs Essie Butler Please

Posted on May 23, 2016May 23, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I have another nail polish comparison post featuring three blue polishes. This post is pretty exciting for me, because it contains my all-time favorite nail polish, Essie Butler Please. I just drool over bright blue polishes, and that is reflected in my collection. Nonetheless, it’s time to pare down my blues to the best of the best. I noticed that Butler Please looks very similar to two of my Milani polishes, so I had to test them out side-by-side. Let’s take a look at each blue individually, and then compare the shades.

First up is Milani Color Statement in Blue Print. This is a bright blue polish that dries to a glossy finish. Blue Print has an excellent formula that is opaque in two coats. This polish is part of Milani’s permanent collection, and available at the drug store for a fabulous and affordable price. I highly recommend this polish if you’re looking for something really budget-friendly.

Next up is Milani in Blue Jay. This was a limited edition nail polish from the Fantastical Plumage collection and no longer available. Blue Jay has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats. I absolutely love this polish! In fact, I’m a big fan of that entire collection. I’ve held onto all the polishes, but unfortunately you cannot purchase them any longer. Nonetheless, I thought it would be helpful to include Blue Jay in this comparison if you do own it!

Last but not least is Essie Butler Please, my favorite polish! Butler Please has a unique formula that dries to a semi-matte finish. It applies rather smoothly, and it does take two coats to achieve opacity. There is just something about this polish that I am forever obsessing over, and I definitely compare other blue polishes to this one. The formula isn’t perfect, but the end result is worth it to me.

Here is a look at all three polishes side-by-side. From left to right are: Milani Color Statement Blue Print, Milani Blue Jay, and Essie Butler Please. It is clear that we don’t have any exact duplicates with any of these polishes, but they are very similar. Blue Jay is the deepest blue of the three for sure. Blue Print and Butler Please are nearly identical in shade, but of course vary in terms of finish. I’ve decided to destash Blue Print, because although I love it, I’m always going to reach for Butler Please over it. Plus, I know I’m keeping the other two, so one has to go.

All in all, while I didn’t find a dupe in this Dare to Compare, I was glad to test out these polishes together. If you are looking for the perfect blue, I highly recommend any of the polishes mentioned today. Essie Butler Please is available on Amazon HERE for $8.50, and check your local drugstore for Milani Blue Print. Please let me know in the comments what your favorite bright blue nail polish is, and if you prefer a glossy or matte finish.

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

Dare to Compare | Covergirl Out of the Blue vs Priti NYC Canterbury Bells

Posted on May 18, 2016April 13, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I am continuing my nail polish comparison series with a look at two true blue polishes. Sometimes polishes look exactly the same in the bottle, but then end up being different once applied to the nails. I find that really interesting, and that is the case with the polishes I’m trying out today! This is my most challenging Dare to Compare yet, because I love both Covergirl Out of the Blue and Priti NYC Canterbury Bells. Let me share individual reviews of these polishes with you, and then share a side-by-side look.

First up is Out of the Blue from the Covergirl Outlast Stay Brilliant nail polish line. Out of the Blue is an amazing nail polish! The formula is excellent, and a one-coat formula. I did apply two coats in the photos above out of habit, but if you’re in a rush one coat will definitely suffice. I love that Out of the Blue is super fabulous and affordable. Covergirl polishes retail for around $5.49, plus you can shop during sales and use coupons for added savings!

Next up is Canterbury Bells from the boutique brand Priti NYC. Canterbury Bells also has an excellent formula, but two coats are definitely required with this one. I love how richly pigmented this polish is. There is just something about a true blue polish that I obsess over all the time. The only drawback with this polish for me is the $15 price tag, but you are supporting a small company that creates vegan nail polish right here in the USA!

Here is a look at Out of the Blue and Canterbury Bells side-by-side. I have Out of the Blue on my pinky and ring fingers and Canterbury Bells on my middle and pointer fingers. It is clear that these polishes are not exactly the same. Canterbury Bells is a bit darker than Out of the Blue. Of course, they are extremely similar, and there really isn’t a reason for me to own both of these polishes. As I type this post I am still deciding which polish to keep. I love them both for different reasons,but I think I’m going to hang onto Out of the Blue. That one coat formula is just calling out to me!

All in all, I’m glad I tested out these polishes side-by-side. I love both of these polishes and definitely recommend them to all of you. If you would like to splurge on a higher end polish, Canterbury Bells is a great one, and can be purchased online HERE. If you’re looking for a budget friendly polish, Out of the Blue is perfect for you! Let me know in the comments what your favorite true blue polish is, as I would love to know!

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.