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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 | Wet ‘n Wild Fergie Miami Spirit vs Julep Lena

Posted on May 6, 2016April 6, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today’s Dare to Compare post is one featuring two nail polishes that I’ve absolutely loved for years. I never thought that they would be so similar until I held the bottles next to each other! Wet ‘n Wild Fergie Miami Spirit and Julep Lena are both teal polishes, and I knew they weren’t exact duplicates because one of these dries to a matte finish while the other does not. Nonetheless, I wanted to swatch them side-by-side to see if it was really necessary to keep both in my collection. Let me review each polish for you, and then share the comparison results!

First up is Wet ‘n Wild Fergie in Miami Spirit. This is a teal polish with teal and silver shimmer that dries to a matte finish. I applied two coats to achieve opacity, and really like the result. This line of polishes comes with a wide, flat brush that I enjoy using. Miami Spirit is a fun and affordable polish!

Next up is Julep Lena, a teal polish with gold and green shimmer that dries to a glossy finish. Lena has an excellent formula that is opaque in two coats. I absolutely love this polish, and I even did a full wear test on the blog HERE a few years back. I’m so glad I rediscovered Lena, because I forgot how great is.

Here is a side-by-side look at Miami Spirit and Lena. I am wearing Miami Spirit on my pinky and ring fingers, and Lena on my middle and pointer fingers. I did apply a glossy top coat over Miami Spirit so I could really see how these polishes compare. The teal shade is almost identical, but I find that in person Miami Spirit has a much stronger shimmer effect than Lena. I prefer creme polishes, and so I’ve decided to keep Lena in my nail polish collection and destash Miami Spirit.

All in all, I’m so glad I tested out these polishes side-by-side, because I might not have discovered how similar they are otherwise. I highly recommend both of these polishes, and have worn them both many times over the years. There is just no reason for me to keep both of them, especially as I’m paring down my collection. I would love to know in the comments what your favorite teal polish is, or if you’ve tried either of these!

Dare to Compare: Maybelline Baby Skin vs Too Faced Primed & Poreless

Posted on January 17, 2014March 5, 2017 by Adventures in Polishland

Too Faced Primed & Poreless vs Maybelline Baby Skin

Happy Friday! I was so excited when I saw that Maybelline released the new Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser, and knew I just had to pick it up. If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you’ll know that I just love Baby Lips, so my fingers were crossed that Baby Skin would be just as great. After trying it out, I couldn’t believe how much I liked it, and how similar it is to the Too Faced Primed & Poreless primer that I use every day. Today’s post is going to compare these two primers, and see which one is the best option.

MAYBELLINE BABY SKIN

Price: $6.99 (or $10.43 per oz) [BUY]

TOO FACED PRIMED & PORELESS

Price: $30 [BUY]

SIDE BY SIDE

As you can see from the swatches, the main difference between Baby Skin and Primed & Poreless is the formula. Baby Skin has a clear gel formula, and Primed & Poreless starts out as a nude tone with an almost lotion-like formula that becomes invisible once applied to the skin. Baby Skin is a bit thicker in consistency, but after application both are extremely similar. Are you ready for the results?

Voila! I seriously cannot tell the difference between these two primers! Once applied they both have the same exact smoothing effect on the skin, and both are amazing primers to wear under foundation. I find that both Baby Skin and Primed & Poreless last just as long throughout the day, and my foundation glides over each with ease during application. The only real difference in wear between the two is that Primed & Poreless is definitely better on its own than Baby Skin. Thus, if you’re looking for a primer that you can wear alone on no makeup days, I would recommend Primed & Poreless. Otherwise, Baby Skin is just as amazing as the high end primer I’ve spent a lot of money on!

All in all, I’m so glad I’ve discovered Baby Skin! I still love my Primed & Poreless, but will definitely be reaching for Baby Skin on days that I’m wearing makeup. Thanks to Maybelline for creating an affordable primer at the drugstore! I will be sure to stock up during sale events. Let me know in the comments what your favorite face primer is, and if you’ve tried Baby Skin yet!

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

Dare to Compare | BeautyBlender vs Rickycare Original 3D Blender

Posted on November 9, 2013December 5, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Adventures in Polishland is dedicated to everything fabulous and affordable, but I’m also for splurging on products that are great quality. When I first heard about the BeautyBlender, also known as the $20 makeup sponge, I didn’t understand the hype. Instead of dropping some serious cash, I went to my local Ricky’s NYC store and picked up what I thought was a BeautyBlender dupe. To my surprise, I received the real deal in a PopSugar MustHave Box, and after months of testing (seriously!) I’m ready to answer the question: is the BeautyBlender worth the money?

What: BeautyBlender

How Much: $19.95 [BUY]

Attributes: The BeautyBlender is as soft as can be. It can be used wet or dry, and applies liquid foundation with ease. Oh, and it’s hot pink!

What: Rickycare Original 3D Blender

How Much: $8.00 [BUY]

Attributes: The Rickycare sponge is dense and firm. It’s texture is nice for evenly distributing makeup, however it absorbs product and is difficult to clean.

SIDE BY SIDE

Dry

Wet

Similarities:

Size/Shape – When dry, the BeautyBlender and Rickycare Blender are identical in size and shape.
Durability – Both the BeautyBlender and Rickycare Blender are long-lasting products that have not yet shown signs of wear (besides discoloration).

Differences:

Size/Shape – When wet, the BeautyBlender absorbs more water, and is slightly larger than the Rickycare Blender.
Texture – The BeautyBlender is very soft to the touch while the Rickycare Blender is much more firm.
Application – The BeautyBlender applies makeup very well by distributing it evenly and transferring product onto the face. The Rickycare Blender applies makeup very well, but a lot more product is needed since it absorbs makeup.
Cleanliness – The BeautyBlender does not stain as much as the Rickycare Blender.
Experience – I personally prefer the feel of the BeautyBlender on my skin rather than the Rickycare Blender, as it is much softer.

THE VERDICT

You may have guessed it, but the BeautyBlender is absolutely worth the money! The Rickycare Original 3D Blender is still a good product, and if $19.95 is out of the question for you, definitely spend the $8.00. However, I would highly recommend investing in a BeautyBlender. It will last you a very long time (I see no signs of wear in mine), and it makes all the difference in my daily makeup routine. I know it sounds silly that this is a $20 sponge, but once you’ve tried it you will understand the hype! I also recommend the BlenderCleanser to clean your BeautyBlender. Both products can be purchased at Sephora HERE.

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

Try it on Tuesday | Icing Hey Sailor Boy & HK Girl Top Coat

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

Happy Tuesday! I haven’t written a Try it on Tuesday post in quite some time! Try it on Tuesday is when nail bloggers and nail polish lovers alike try on a polish from their collection that has been sitting there untried for a great deal of time. Yesterday I decided to grab a polish called Hey Sailor Boy from the Icing, and sealed it with one of the most talked about top coats in the nail polish community, HK Girl from Glisten and Glow. Let me show you this awesome combination!

Up first is Hey Sailor Boy! It is a gorgeous, dark blue jelly polish filled with blue micro glitter and blue and green hexagonal glitters. I received this polish as a gift, and I am so thrilled I did! Not only does Hey Sailor Boy have an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats, but it is a dupe for the beloved Deborah Lippmann Across the Universe! I just love the dimensional look with this polish — it appears to be a jelly sandwich manicure without the extra work! Hey Sailor Boy is also so shiny and glittery that my camera had a difficult time capturing its amazingness. My photos do not do this polish justice!

To complete my manicure, I reached for the Glisten and Glow HK Girl Top Coat. I received this bottle as a gift from Jill, the owner of Glisten and Glow, for helping her judge a nail art competition, and had yet to use it. I typically use up one top coat at a time, but I was unhappy with the results I had been getting with my other top coats, so I decided to switch it up and reach for this one. I’m so glad I did! HK Girl is the shiniest top coat I’ve ever used — it looks like I got a gel manicure done at the salon! It also dries extremely quickly. The one drawback of HK Girl is that it does have a stronger odor than most nail polishes, but I’m willing to put up with that for the results I got. I was also pleasantly surprised to discover that HK Girl retails for just $6.95 on Glisten and Glow’s website HERE! That is a very good price for an indie top coat!

All in all, I am loving my current manicure. Not only did I get to try out a polish and a top coat that have been sitting in my collection for several weeks, but Hey Sailor Boy is perfectly themed for the Fourth of July! You can stop by your local Icing store to grab a bottle of Hey Sailor Boy for just $4.50. Be sure to leave me a comment below with your favorite top coat as well!

The products in this post were given to me as gifts from two separate people. This post contains some affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Dare to Compare Week! Day Four — Multi-Colored Glitter

Posted on April 4, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! It is Day Four of Dare to Compare Week, and today’s post deals with glitter, something any nail polish aficionado loves! While indie brands do glitter top coats best, many boutique and drugstore brands are now creating some glitters that are just as eye-catching. Since my favorite muli-colored glitter from the indie AbsolutLacquer is now discontinued, I wanted to see how some available polishes compared. Let me show you what I discovered!

From left to right, the polishes are AbsolutLacquer in Maybe I’m Crazy, Lex Cosmetics in Arcoiris, and Milani Jewel FX in Gems. They do look a bit different in the bottle, but let’s see what they look like on the nail. I applied one coat of each polish over white in all the photos you are about to see.

Polish Name: Milani Jewel FX in Gems

Price: $4.99 [Buy HERE]

Formula: Surprisingly great!

Color Description: Multi-colored glitter with small and medium hexagons.

Bonus: So fun, and can be purchased at the drugstore!

Polish Name: Lex Cosmetics in Arcoiris

Price: $10 [Buy HERE]

Formula: Great formula! Some reflective curling, but lays perfectly flat on the nail.

Color Description: Multi-colored glitter with small, medium, and large hexagons.

Bonus: The formula does separate in the bottle, but with a few shakes it is good to go!

Polish Name: AbsolutLacquer in Maybe I’m Crazy

Price: Discontinued! This polish is no longer created or sold.

Formula: This bottle needs a good shake to ensure the glitters are mixed and ready for application!

Color Description: Multi-colored glitters in all shapes and sizes!

Bonus: This was my very first indie polish!

Here we have each polish shown side by side. From left to ride is the Milani, the Lex, and the AbsolutLacquer. While my personal favorite of the bunch is Maybe I’m Crazy from AbsolutLacquer, I would definitely find one of the other two to be an acceptable substitute. Both have an excellent formula! I would choose Milani Gems due to its $4.99 price tag over the Lex, but if you are a sucker for the large hexagonal glitter that would be your new go to. This comparison gives me hope that I will be able have a back-up for my Maybe I’m Crazy once my bottle is empty!

What do you do when a favorite polish is discontinued?! What is your favorite glitter top coat?!

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 Week! Day Three – Mint Green

Posted on April 3, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Dare to Compare Week here at Adventures in Polishland continues with one of my nail polish obsessions, mint green. Mint is such a trendy color for spring that I made sure to include it in this week’s comparison extravaganza. I’ll let you know up front that I didn’t find any dupes, but I did discover some beautiful options! Let’s see what is up in the mint green color family.

From left to right, the polishes are Julep in Susie, China Glaze in Keep Calm, Paint On, and Zoya in Neely. These polishes do look similar in the bottle, but I could tell they wouldn’t be exactly the same on the nail. I still wanted to see the comparison, though. First I’ll show each polish alone, and then I’ll show them side by side.

Polish Name: China Glaze in Keep Calm, Paint On

Price: $6.99 at beauty stores, or $3.32 on Amazon [Buy HERE]

Coats Needed for Opacity: 2

Formula: Good, but on the thick side.

Color Description: Mint green with green and pink shimmer.

Bonus: I love the name of this polish!

Polish Name: Zoya in Neely

Price: $8 [Buy HERE]

Coats Needed for Opacity: 2

Formula: Good, but a bit patchy.

Color Description: Dusty mint green.

Bonus: Zoya is a vegan friendly, and long-lasting brand!

Polish Name: Julep in Susie

Price: $14 [Buy HERE]

Coats Needed for Opacity: 3

Formula: Okay — formula a bit streaky and patchy, but evens in three coats.

Color Description: Pale mint green

Bonus: I got this in my first Julep Maven Box! It’s an all-time favorite.

Now we have all three side by side! From left to right is the Zoya, the China Glaze, and the Julep. Susie from Julep stands out as the lightest shade of the bunch right away. Zoya Neely and China Glaze Keep Calm, Paint On are very close, but the shimmer in Keep Calm really makes it stand out. I personally prefer the light shade of the Julep, but would choose Zoya Neely over the shimmer in the China Glaze. I prefer a pure, creme finish! In the end, when it comes to mint green I don’t think you can go wrong no matter what shade you choose!

Which do you prefer, bright pastels or dusty greens?! Do you like polishes with an added shimmer?!

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

Dare to Compare Week! Day Two — Bright Pink

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

Happy Tuesday! It is Day Two of Dare to Compare Week here at Adventures in Polishland. To celebrate the start of spring, I am comparing three bright pink nail polishes today. I just love pink, and I feel like pink nails never go out of style! I hope you enjoy this comparison as much as I do! Let me show you what’s up today.

These bright pinks look quite similar in the bottle! From left to right, they are: Julep in Niecy, Chick in Flicker, and Wet ‘n Wild Wild Shine in Pom Pom Kelly. First I’ll show you each polish alone, and then I’ll compare them side by side.

Polish Name: Wet ‘n Wild Wild Shine in Pom Pom Kelly

Price: $0.99 [Good luck finding it!]

Coats Needed for Opacity: 3

Formula: Great application! Jelly formula with sheer coverage and a satin finish.

Color Description: Bright pink that leans towards neon, but isn’t too “out there”.

Bonus: This is from the limited edition Saved by the Nail collection! I was able to score myself a set, but they were very hard to find. I did hear that they were spotted at Ocean State Job Lot stores recently!

Polish Name: Chick in Flicker

Price: $8.00 [Buy HERE]

Coats Needed for Opacity: 2

Formula: Good — there was something “off” but I can’t explain it! Beautiful high gloss finish.

Color Description: Bright pink creme

Bonus: Chick is made in the USA and vegan friendly!

Polish Name: Julep in Niecy

Price: $14 [Buy HERE]

Coats Needed for Opacity: 2

Formula: Great formula and application! Glossy finish!

Color Description: Bright pink that is almost neon.

Bonus: This came in my first ever Julep Maven box! It’s one of my all-time favorites!

Now let’s take a closer look at these polishes side by side! From left to right is the Wet ‘n Wild, the Chick, and the Julep. While they are not dupes for each other, they are quite similar. Pom Pom Kelly from Wet ‘n Wild is definitely the brightest and most neon of the bunch, with Chick Flicker the darkest. It’s unfortunate that the most affordable polish in this bunch is also the hardest to find, because Pom Pom Kelly is my personal favorite of the three even though I need three coats for opacity. However, I would happily settle for the $8 price tag of Chick’s Flicker since it is vegan and made in the USA. All in all, you can’t really go wrong with any bright pink, especially in the warmer months!

Which bright pink nail polish is your favorite?! Would you pay more for a nail polish if it were vegan?!

Dare to Compare Week! Day One – Dark Purple

Posted on April 1, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! I’m very excited because this week is Dare to Compare Week here at Adventures in Polishland! One of my highest requested blogs is the comparison post, so I figured I would dedicate this week to that. From today until Friday I will share three nail polishes from a color family each day and see how they match up. I tried to pick a variety of colors from a mix of brands so that everyone can find something within budget. First up is dark purple, a color I have a lot of in my collection. Let’s see how the first three compare!

Today’s Dare to Compare polishes are (from left to right) OPI in Lourve Me Lourve Me Not, Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Pronto Purple, and elf in Royal Purple. As you can see, they look quite similar in the bottle. Each is a dark purple with shimmer. The true test comes when they are on the nails! First I’ll show you each polish individually, and then how they look side by side.

Polish Name: elf in Royal Purple

Price: $2.00 [Buy HERE]

Coats Needed for Opacity: 2

Formula: Good — brush strokes visible

Color Description: Dark purple that leans towards magenta, with magenta and silver shimmer

Bonus: Very strong shimmer effect!

Polish Name: Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Pronto Purple

Price: $4-6 in drugstores and department stores [Buy HERE]

Coats Needed for Opacity: 2

Formula: Amazing! Lives up to fast dry name.

Color Description: Very deep purple with magenta shimmer

Bonus: I love the wide brush!

Polish Name: OPI in Lourve Me Lourve Me Not

Price: $8 at Nordstrom Rack or on Amazon [Buy HERE]

Coats Needed for Opacity: 2

Formula: Flawless! High gloss shine when dry.

Color Description: Dark purple with magenta shimmer

Bonus: This is the first OPI I ever owned and is from a discontinued collection!

Above you can see each polish side by side. From left to right is the elf, the Sally Hansen, and the OPI. These polishes are not dupes [“dupe” = duplicate in nail polish lingo!], but they are very close. Elf’s Royal Purple is definitely the lightest shade of the bunch, and has the most shimmer. Pronto Purple from Sally Hansen is clearly the darkest of the three. Although these do vary from one another in terms of color, you may find you prefer one shade over the rest. However, if you are looking for a great dark purple in general, I don’t think you can go too wrong with any of these! The elf formula wasn’t the best, but with a $2 price tag it is not much of a compromise. If I had to choose just one, I would personally go with Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Pronto Purple, for the great formula and mid-range price tag!

Which dark purple nail polish is your favorite?! What is more important to you, price or formula?!

Some of the links above are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. Please see my Disclosure Policy for more information.