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Milani Color Statement Nail Lacquer | Glitters

Posted on August 9, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I have the last of the polishes in the new Milani Color Statement line to share with all of you. I will be doing a complete review of the top coat as well, but the glitters are the last of the swatches. I can’t believe it! Anyway, I’m so glad that Milani included some glitters in this collection, as every girl needs some sparkle in her life. Let’s go ahead and get glittery!

First up is Rainbow Prisms, a glitter top coat filled with silver and holographic glitters. I layered one coat over Tattle Teal, and I’m loving the result! There is absolutely no need to fish for glitters with this polish, as a ton comes out with each coat. Plus, it applies easily and smoothly. I am loving the rainbow effect with this glitter! It would look great over nearly any base color.

Next up is Gilded Rocks, a glitter polish with a yellow gold base and pink, rose gold glitters. I am wearing two coats of Gilded Rocks in the photos above, and it looks opaque to me! I love how fun and fancy this polish is, and anything with rose gold is a win in my book.

Club Lights is the pink version of Rainbow Prism. I’ve layered one coat over Modern Rouge, and as you can see one coat provides a ton of glitters! I tested this to see if it could be worn without a base color, and I couldn’t get it opaque in 2-3 coats. Nevertheless, Club Lights is great for layering!

Gold Plated is my favorite of the glitters! It is a liquid metal gold, that is super sparkly and opaque in two coats. The formula is phenomenal as well. Gold Plated is my new favorite gold polish of all time!

Last but not least is Crimson Jewel, a stunning red glitter polish that is opaque in two coats. I feel like I’m wearing the ruby slippers on my nails with this polish! The formula is fantastic, and it looks so beautiful. Crimson Jewel is certainly a gem (pun intended)!

All in all, Milani included some lovely glitter polishes in the new Color Statement line. I’m obsessed with Gold Plated, and Rainbow Prism is super fun as well. As always, you can purchase this line at your local CVS store or on Milani’s website HERE for the fabulous and affordable price of $3.99 each.

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

Milani Color Statement Nail Lacquer | Reds

Posted on August 7, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! Today I have a full review of all of the red polishes in the new Milani Color Statement line. The reds get their own post, because there are seven of them! I rarely wear red nails, but I know it’s the staple shade for many women. Let’s get right into the reds!

First up is Corrupted Coral, the most pink-toned of the reds! Corrupted Coral is the perfect coral creme, and has an amazing formula. This is one of those polishes that looks great on everyone no matter your skin tone. I think you need a polish like this one in your collection!

Next up is Mango Tango, a bright red-orange shade. Mango Tango has a super fun name, and an amazing formula. This polish just looks perfect on the nails!

Red Label is a true red creme, and such a classic shade. It reminds me of Louboutin bottoms for sure. Red Label has a great formula and is opaque in two coats. If you are in search of the perfect red polish, Red Label is the one to get.

Next up is Modern Rouge, a fuchsia red polish with a crelly (creme and jelly) formula. It is quite sheer, and I needed three coats to achieve opacity. Modern Rouge is a bit lighter than Red Label, and perfect if you don’t want a drastic red.

Iconic Red is next, and it is a deep cherry shade. It also has some plum undertones, which makes it a unique polish. Iconic Red has a good formula that is opaque in two coats. It reminds me of autumn leaves and football games for some reason. What do you think?

Next up is Ruby Stone, a shimmering deep red that is absolute perfect for the holidays. Whether you use it in nail art, or on its own, Ruby Stone is beautiful. The formula is great as well, and is opaque in two coats. I highly recommend this one!

Last but not least is Enchanting, a very dark bordeaux red. Enchanting is nearly black, and has a bit of a patchy formula. Luckily it evens out in two coats, and looks very vampy and mysterious. I feel like a daring woman would wear this shade, and I’m not sure that is me!

All in all, there is a great range of red polishes in the new Milani Color Statement line. If you’re in need of a new red, I guarantee you can find the perfect one for your collection here. At just $3.99 each, you can’t go wrong with these polishes. They are available for purchase at your local CVS store and on Milani’s website HERE. I’m almost done showing you the Milani polishes, so make sure to stay tuned for the final posts!

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

My Summer Skincare & Hair Care Essentials for Natural Beauty! #WalgreensBeauty

Posted on August 6, 2014August 8, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #WalgreensBeauty #CollectiveBias

Happy Wednesday! Today I’m excited to share with you some of my summer beauty essentials in both skincare and hair care. When the weather gets hot and the sun is baring down, I need to make a few changes in my every day routines to ensure that I’m protecting myself from UV rays, and feeling great, too. You all know I love a good drugstore haul, and I headed to Walgreens to pick up a few needed items. The Walgreens location by Union Square is definitely one of my personal favorites. It has an amazing food bar on the first floor where you can get snacks and more (there’s fro-yo available… #winning), and the second floor is home to a huge beauty department. Let me take you on a virtual shopping trip through Walgreens, and share my summer essentials!

LET’S GO SHOPPING!

Here’s my view from the top of the escalator in Walgreens! This is just a snippet of the amazing beauty department. I love this Walgreens because it has tons of limited edition displays and brands I can’t find anywhere else. During this particular shopping trip, I was on the hunt for sunscreen and hairspray.

My first stop was the suncare aisle to find the new Banana Boat Protect & Hydrate SPF 30. I was beyond excited when I found a stack of $1.00 off coupons right in front of the product! Woo hoo!

Finally, I perused the hair care aisle, and grabbed the Mark Hill Fabulous Finish hairspray. I love the Mark Hill line, and it is exclusive to Walgreens!

MY SUMMER SKINCARE ESSENTIALS

Here are four of my favorite skincare products to use in the summer! I’ll tell you a bit about each item, and why I like it!

Banana Boat Protect & Hydrate SPF 30 – Sun protection is vital, especially in the summer! One reason I avoided sunscreen when I was younger is because it smelled, was greasy, and just a huge mess to put on. This new sunscreen from Banana Boat is anything but those things! It comes it an easy-to-apply spray-on bottle, and does not have that typical “sunscreen” scent. It also dries really fast, and leaves the skin soft and not greasy. In fact, this is a special 2 in 1 formula that includes a moisturizer! That way, you’re applying your aloe before the sun penetrates your skin. No need for a separate moisturizer!
Maybelline Baby Lips in Quenched – Did you know your lips can get sunburned, too? Avoid that by using lip products with SPF! I’m addicted to Baby Lips, and my all-time favorite is Quenched, the clear lip balm. It has SPF 20 in it, and moisturizes my lips really well.
Simple Revitalizing Eye Roll-On – To stay refreshed, I love using this roll-on under my eyes. It has a cool, metal ball that instantly makes me feel more awake. Plus, it contains vitamins to keep your skin looking naturally beautiful. If you need some extra cooling, keep this in the fridge!
Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes – I love face wipes all year long, but in the summer nothing feels better than cleaning my face with a nice cool wipe! Whether it’s to remove makeup or simply refresh my skin, these Simple wipes are some of my absolute favorite!

MY SUMMER HAIR CARE ESSENTIALS

Now onto my hair care! I switch up my shampoos and conditioners all the time, but here are some things I always need!

Mark Hill Gorgeous! Fabulous Finish Hairspray – I’m not usually a hairspray girl, but I’m glad I tried out this one from Mark Hill! It’s amazing! It smells great, gives my hair volume, and tames all the fly-aways before the summer humidity takes control. It also doesn’t give my hair that stiff feeling that other hairsprays do. In fact, Mark Hill designed this so it can brush out with ease. Genius!
Goody Tangle Fix Brush – My go-to summer brush is this one from Goody. It is extremely gentle, and perfect whether your hair is wet from swimming or dry from the heat. If you have this hair like I do, this brush is wonderful. And yes, I got the children’s design because I like purple and leopard print!
Mark Hill MiracOILicious 2 Minute Intensive Treatment – This is my all-time holy grail hair product, so I had to include it! This treatment contains Moroccan Argan Oil, and makes my hair feel soft and hydrated no matter what time of year. I use it about 2-3 times per week in place of my regular conditioner. It’s better than some of those luxury hair masks at a fraction of the price!
Psssst! Instant Dry Shampoo – Dry shampoo is also a must. I use it every other day to keep my hair refreshed and grease-free. I recently picked up Psssst!, the original dry shampoo, because I wanted an affordable option. I’m loving it! Not only does it smell amazing, but it gets rid of any oil in a couple minutes.

These are all of my summer skincare and hair care essentials! I hope you found this helpful! Next time you go to Walgreens, be sure to bring THIS coupon. You can get a free gift with any $20 beauty purchase from now until August 30, 2014. Be sure to let me know in the comments what your summer essentials are. I hope you are having a wonderful summer! Stay cool!

Milani Color Statement Nail Lacquer | Earth Tones

Posted on August 5, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! I’m here to share the next installment in my Milani Color Statement Nail Lacquer series with all of you. Today I’ve got what I’m calling the Earth Tones. They are all gorgeous neutrals, and perfect for the fall months. Without further ado, let’s get started!

First up is Spotlight White, the perfect white polish. Spotlight White has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. It’s difficult to get the formula of a white polish just right, and Milani’s done it! If you’re looking for an affordable white for your collection, I highly recommend Spotlight White.

Next up is Bronze, a metallic bronze polish with hints of pink and purple undertones. Bronze’s formula isn’t perfect, and as with most metallic polishes it tends to bunch up a bit. I recommend thin coats, and definitely let each coat dry thoroughly before adding your next one. Bronze is a unique polish, and it looks different depending on the light!

My favorite of the Earth Tones is Pink Beige, a dusty rose that almost has a peachy tint to it. Pink Beige has a flawless formula that is opaque in two coats. It is great for an every day look, especially if you work in a professional setting. I think it’s just beautiful!

Next up is Silhouette, a grey-green polish with a subtle green and brown shimmer. Silhouette is the perfect army green, and I can see it being used in camouflage nail art looks for sure. The formula is perfect, and is opaque in two coats. I’m surprised that I love Silhouette, but it’s an awesome polish!

Last but not least is Charcoal Charm, a beautiful charcoal metallic polish with green and purple shimmer. Charcoal Charm has a good formula, and is opaque in two coats. It looks so cool on the nails – almost like I dipped my nails in liquid metal. It reminds of a high fashion manicure, and it is just perfect to match with your leather jackets and fall boots.

All in all, I think these Earth Tones are a great addition to the Milani Color Statement line. I’m quite impressed with Spotlight White, and really love Pink Beige. I do wish there was a black creme polish in the collection as well, but maybe that is to come in the future! You can, of course, purchase the Color Statement line at your local CVS store for just $3.99, or shop online from Milani’s website HERE. I’ve still got more Milani polishes to show you, so make sure to follow my blog to see them!

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

Milani Color Statement Nail Lacquer | Greens & Blues

Posted on August 3, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Sunday! It’s time for the third installment of my Milani Color Statement Nail Lacquer series. Today I have all of the greens and blues in the new line to share with you. Unfortunately, there are only two green shades in the collection, which I find very disappointing because green nail polish is one of my favorites! Nonetheless, I have some beautiful polishes to show you today. Plus, don’t forget to use the toolbar at the top of this post to see the other polishes in this new line.

First up is Mint Crush, a pastel mint polish. Milani describes this as a mint green, but I’m seeing a lot of blue undertones in this polish. Let me know if you see this as green or blue in the comments! Mint Crush has a thin formula, and I needed three coats to get an even and opaque finish. The color is definitely beautiful.

The other green shade in the line is Tattle Teal, a beautiful teal creme that has an amazing formula. This polish glided on like butter, and looks stunning. I love how pigmented Tattle Teal is. I also think it’s perfect for the fall!

The first of the blues is Water Front, a highly pigmented sky blue creme. Water Front has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. It does remind me of a few other polishes in my collection, but it’s definitely a beautiful polish.

Next up is Peri-Wink, a gorgeous periwinkle blue polish with undertones of purple. Peri-Wink has a slight, holographic shimmer running throughout the base, and is just a dainty polish. The formula is flawless, and opaque in two coats. Peri-Wink reminds me of twinkling snow!

Blue Print is next, and one of my favorites in the entire Color Statement line. It is a deep, royal blue with the perfect formula. Blue Print is opaque in two coats, and just looks amazing. I am a sucker for blue polishes like this one, and actually wear them quite often.

Last but not least is Ink Spot, a navy polish that appears nearly black. Ink Spot has a good formula, but I definitely needed two coats to even out the first, which was quite streaky. I personally like my navy polishes to have more blue pigmentation, but if you’re looking for an off-black type of shade, Ink Spot is for you!

All in all, I am really liking the blues and greens in the new Milani Color Statement line. Blue Print is beyond amazing, and Peri-Wink is just beautiful. I do wish there were more green shades, but perhaps Milani will expand the line in the future. You can purchase these polishes at your local CVS store for just $3.99 each, or on Milani’s website HERE. Stay tuned for even more Milani reviews!

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

Red Lip Colors for July 4th from NYC New York Color!

Posted on July 3, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! Yesterday I showed you a fabulous and affordable manicure for July 4th (see that post HERE), and today it’s time for some festive red lips! If you’re looking for some great lip colors that you can grab at your local drugstore, this is the post for you!

CITY PROOF TWISTABLE INTENSE LIP COLOR

Roosevelt Island Red – $2.99

The City Proof Twistable Intense Lip Color is designed to be lightweight, soft, and silky. It applies really easily thanks to the crayon-like applicator, and smells just like fruit punch! I find Roosevelt Island Red to be very glossy and moisturizing. It has a good color payoff, but is not completely opaque. If you’re going for a more natural look, I highly recommend this lip color! You can also wear it on top of a lipstick for added shine.

EXPERT LAST LIP COLOR

Traffic Jam – $1.99

I’ve tried one Expert Last Lip Color in the past, and didn’t have a great experience (see that review HERE), but I’m happy to report that I’m loving Traffic Jam! It is extremely moisturizing, and glides on with ease. The formula is creamy, and extremely pigmented. With one coat I got an opaque look! Traffic Jam is actually quite a wearable shade, especially with my fair skin tone. This lip color definitely stains your lips, though, so be careful during application!

All in all, I’m very impressed with these new lip colors from NYC New York Color! Not only are they incredibly affordable, but they are high quality as well. If you’re looking to rock a red lip this Fourth of July, stop by your local drugstore to grab one (or both!) of these. I’ll definitely be checking out more shades from these lines in the future!

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

Drugstore Hauls Just Got Better with the Duane Reade Mobile App!

Posted on May 7, 2014May 12, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser. #CollectiveBias

Happy Wednesday! As you know, Adventures in Polishland is about all things fabulous and affordable, and that includes drugstore makeup! When I heard Duane Reade was relaunching its mobile app to Version 2.0 which includes new features to help me shop easier and save more in the store, I couldn’t wait to test it out. Let me tell you a bit more about the app, and show you my mini drugstore haul!

ALL ABOUT THE APP

The Duane Reade mobile app is free to download from the iTunes app store. Here is what it looks like upon opening.

The loading screen (left) displays the Duane Reade logo as the app launches. I quickly took a screenshot of what it looks like just so you could see! On the right is the app home screen. There are so many awesome features with this app. Here is a brief overview of what each icon on the screen does –

Pharmacy: refill your prescriptions, transfer your prescriptions, see your prescription history, set up a pill reminder, and schedule a vaccination.
Photo: print photos from your iPhoto or social media accounts and create prints, posters, or cards.
Store Locator: find the store closest to your current location or search for one near a specific address.
Weekly Ad & Coupons: see the items on sale this week, and clip virtual coupons for use in the store.
Refill by Scan: a quick way to refill your prescriptions – just scan the barcode!
Scanner: scan any product in the store to get more information about it.
Pill Reminder: set up daily reminders for all your medicines.
Rewards: easy access to your Balance Rewards card.
Shopping List: your Duane Reade “to buy” list is right on the app for easy shopping in store.
Shop: you can also shop directly from the app if you don’t want to leave the comfort of your own home!
DR Walk-In: information about the walk-in clinics nearby and their contact information.
Steps: keep track of your fitness and weight loss goals right from your phone.
Settings: where you can log-in and get help with the app if needed.

My favorite feature on the app is the coupon clipper! I immediately scrolled through the beauty tab and clipped some awesome Revlon coupons. The best thing about the app is that you don’t need to have a physical coupon. The app is green and convenient!

MY SHOPPING EXPERIENCE

Of course, I had to test out this awesome app and use the Revlon coupons I clipped. I headed to the store at 22W 48th Street to use the special iBeacon technology that is only available at 10 Midtown Manhattan Duane Reade locations. iBeacon is so cool! When you get to Duane Reade, it recognizes your location, and helps you shop in the specific store you’re in. Here’s a look at what the app looked like when iBeacon was activated.

Not only was a floor map and product locator available for me to use, but the coupons showed up right away! The barcode you see at the top is what the cashier scans at checkout, and all applicable coupons are used at once. Shopping is so much easier when I don’t have to organize all my coupons by hand!

It was fun to shop from the Revlon section! I almost never get tangible coupons for Revlon products, but I had $1 off a lip product and $2 off any face product (foundation, concealer, etc.) to use. I grabbed the Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey that everyone talks about, as well as the ColorStay Under Eye Concealer in Light. I’m so excited to test out these products! Let me know if you’d like a review on either one.

All in all, I am loving the relaunched Duane Reade mobile app! It makes shopping in this busy city much easier, and saves me money, too. Plus, it is environmentally friendly – no need for a plastic rewards card or paper coupons! I’ll be sure to use this app whenever I’m in the mood for a drugstore haul.

Have you downloaded the Duane Reade mobile app yet? Let me know by using the #DRMobileApp hashtag on social media and share your hauls with me! Also make sure to Follow Duane Reade’s social media accounts: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

L’Oreal Les Blancs Collection | Spot Me & Le Pastille

Posted on March 15, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I’m excited to share with you some brand new polishes for spring. I am so ready for winter to be over, that yesterday I ran to Duane Reade with the mission of getting some new beauty products for the spring season. When I spotted the new L’Oreal Les Blancs Collection, I knew I had to grab a couple. I picked up the two glitter shades, and ran home to test them out. Let me show you these gorgeous polishes!

First up is Spot Me, a pale blue polish with black hexagonal glitters from small to large mixed throughout the base. Spot Me has a great formula! It applies easily, and there was no fishing for glitters. I was really impressed with the coverage in two coats as well. The finish reminds me of a robin’s egg. I really like it!

Next up is Le Pastille, a pink version of Spot Me. Le Pastille also has a flawless formula. I cannot stress how easily these polishes apply! It always makes me happy when I don’t have to do anything special to get glitters out of the bottle and onto my nails. I applied two coats of Le Pastille, and finished up with a layer of butterLONDON Hardwear top coat (as I did with Spot Me as well). I love the juxtaposition of the black glitters on a baby pink base.

All in all, I’m loving these two glitter polishes from the new Les Blancs Collection from L’Oreal! In fact, I might go back to the drugstore and purchase the creme polishes from the collection, too. As I mentioned above, I scored these polishes at my local Duane Reade, but be on the lookout for the spring display at your drugstore. The polishes retail for $6.49 each in NYC, but I noticed a $4.99 price tag over on Nouveau Cheap’s blog. Let me know what you think of these polishes in the comments!

Wet ‘n Wild Limited Edition “Walking the Red Carpet” Eyeshadow Palette Review

Posted on March 8, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! I’ve been wanting to try out the Wet ‘n Wild Color Icon eyeshadows for a long time now. Despite the affordable price tag, they have a great reputation in the beauty community. I spotted a limited edition display at my local Duane Reade last week, so I picked up the palette in Walking the Red Carpet. At only $5.49, I knew I had to grab it!

Walking the Red Carpet comes with eight neutral eyeshadows. I love that the palette is labeled, so that makeup newbies like myself have some guidance in applying the shadow. The shadows on the left create more of an every day look, while those on the right are definitely a bit fancier and perfect for a night out.

Let’s take a closer look at the shadows and at some swatches! I’ve numbered the shadows and swatches so you can see how they match up.

I swatched all of the shadows over my Manna Kadar Eye Primer so the colors would show up on camera (feel free to click on the photo above for a close-up of the shadows). I typically prime my eyes if I’m wearing eyeshadow, but you can still get a great look without primer as the shadows in this palette are nicely pigmented. The two browbone shades (1 and 5) are very light, but show up as a faint highlight. All of the shadows have a shimmer formula, and shadows 6 and 8 have some glitter mixed in as well. The shadows feel nice and buttery, and I only experienced fall out with shade 6. I’m impressed with how nicely they apply and wear!

If you’re looking for a great neutral palette at the drugstore, I definitely recommend Wet ‘n Wild’s Walking the Red Carpet. Make sure you visit the drugstore right away, as these limited edition palettes are flying off the shelves! If you would like to see a full makeup look featuring these shadows, please let me know in the comments! Also let me know what other Wet ‘n Wild products you love!

Drugstore Foundation Review: Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse

Posted on February 19, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I have a review of the brand new Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation. I’ve been using the Stay Matte Pressed Powder for years now, so when I saw that Rimmel expanded the Stay Matte line I had to try it out. Since I have combination skin that gets oily throughout the day, I hoped this new foundation would help control that shine and keep me fresh faced all day long. Let me share my thoughts on this foundation with you!

The Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation comes in a squeeze tube at the standard foundation size of 1oz. There are eight shades in the line, and I got shade 091 Light Ivory. This foundation is advertised to be lightweight and control shine, as well as blend flawlessly for a natural look. It retails for around $5.49 at drugstores (I got mine at Duane Reade!).

As for the formula, I find it to be a bit on the thick side. It’s definitely a heavier consistency than I expected, but it blends out flawlessly. I’ve tried it both with and without primer, and I do prefer to use a primer just to have a smooth and flawless base. To apply the foundation, I use a damp BeautyBlender, which works perfectly! This is definitely a full coverage foundation, but it does not feel heavy on this skin. No cake face here!

The Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation also has an amazing wear time! I’ve tested this for about two weeks now, and when I get home after an eight to ten hour day, my skin still looks great. While I do get a bit shiny without any touch ups or oil absorbing sheets, I see a huge improvement when I use this foundation. It is definitely one of my new favorites!

All in all, I am really impressed with the new Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation. It is so affordable, and my skin loves it! I highly recommend it, and now want to try the other new products in the Stay Matte line. Let in me know in the comments if you’ve tried the Stay Matte BB Cream or Primer!