dupes – Adventures in Polishland

Tag: dupes

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.

Dare to Compare | Sally Hansen Blue Me Away vs Milani Water Front vs Sally Hansen Dive Bar

Posted on May 16, 2016May 10, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I have another nail polish comparison post, this time looking at three different polishes. As I mentioned in my last Dare to Compare, I own a ton of blue polishes, and many of them are similar in color. I had to laugh when I found three polishes in a light blue shade, all from the drugstore. I knew I had to see if these polishes are dupes, so let me share them with you!

First up is Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear in Blue Me Away!, a light blue creme polish. Blue Me Away! is one of the oldest polishes in my collection, but the formula is still excellent. I applied two coats to achieve opacity, and the polish still applied smoothly to my nails. Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear is one of my all-time favorite lines of nail polish, as it is super fabulous and affordable. Blue Me Away! is one I’ve gotten a lot of use out of over the years.

Next up is Milani Color Statement in Water Front, another blue creme polish. Water Front has a good formula, but it is a bit on the watery side so I found it a little messy during application. This is still a great choice of polish, though, so if you see it at the drugstore I do recommend it. Just be prepared to clean up the cuticles a bit!

Last but not least is Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Dive Bar. I’ve found that a lot of the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel polishes have a match in one of the less expensive Xtreme Wear polishes. Dive Bar has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. I absolutely love this polish! The Miracle Gel line comes with a large flat brush that makes application super easy, which I always appreciate.

Here is a look at all of the polishes side-by-side. From left to right are: Blue Me Away!, Water Front, and Dive Bar. Blue Me Away! is definitely the most pigmented of the three polishes, but Water Front and Dive Bar look exactly the same to me. I knew based on my swatches that I would destash Water Front, since it does have that watery formula and is a dupe of Dive Bar. I’ve decided to keep the other two polishes, since they are slightly different, and because Blue Me Away! is so used that I really can’t give it to anyone else.

All in all, I’m glad I tested all three of these polishes together. It’s always fun to find a dupe! Each of these polishes is worth purchasing, but my favorite is definitely Blue Me Away! due to its price and quality. You can find it at your local drugstore or online HERE for under $3.00. Definitely let me know in the comments what your favorite light blue nail polish is. 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 | Julep Claire vs Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Rhythm & Blue

Posted on May 11, 2016April 12, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! It’s time for another nail polish comparison post, and today I’m starting with the blue polishes in my collection. Blue is one of my most-owned nail polish shades, and I have a lot of comparisons to share with you. I’m kicking things off with one of my oldest nail polishes paired up against a newer shade. I got Julep Claire in one of my first Julep Maven boxes back in 2012. I’ve used this polish a lot over the years, so I’m excited to see if it compares with a limited edition from Sally Hansen Miracle Gel called Rhythm & Blue. Let me show you these polishes individually and then side-by-side!

First up is Julep Claire, a sky blue creme polish. Claire has a great formula that applies smoothly and is opaque in two coats. When I first subscribed to Julep, I absolutely loved the polishes. Once Julep changed the brush and polish formula, the quality definitely went downhill. However, my older polishes like Claire have held up well over the years. This is such a beautiful polish!

Next up is Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Rhythm & Blue. This is also a light blue creme polish that has a good formula and is opaque in two coats. I received Rhythm & Blue for review this past fall, so it’s definitely a newer polish. This was part of a limited edition collection, though, so it can’t be purchased again.

Here is a look at Claire and Rhythm & Blue side-by-side. I’m wearing Claire on my pinky and ring fingers and Rhythm & Blue on my middle and pointer fingers. It is clear that these polishes are not exact duplicates, but the shade is very, very similar. I would say that Rhythm & Blue contains a bit more blue pigmentation than Claire does. There is definitely no reason to own both of these polishes in my collection, so I’ve decided to destash Claire simply because the bottle is already half empty, and I prefer a richer pigmentation.

All in all, I’m glad I decided to test out these polishes side-by-side. I own so many light blues that these are just a couple of the bunch. Make sure to stay tuned to Adventures in Polishland for more nail polish comparisons as I continue to clean out my nail polish stash. Definitely let me know in the comments what your favorite sky blue nail polish is! I recommend both of the polishes shown here, and you can pick up Julep Claire online 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.

Dare to Compare | Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Wine Stock vs Madam Glam High Standards

Posted on May 4, 2016March 29, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! I’m excited to share another nail polish comparison post with all of you. I didn’t find too many duplicate shades in my red stash, seeing as I don’t wear red nail polish often. However, I definitely am a fan of the oxblood trend that seems to take place every fall. Deep red nails are easy to pull off and look good on just about everyone! I own two oxblood shades, one from Sally Hansen and the other from Madam Glam, that look nearly identical in the bottle. I just had to test these out side-by-side to see if they are exact dupes! Let’s get swatching!

First up is Wine Stock from the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel line. Wine Stock has a great formula, but it is on the sheer side so I layered three coats for full opacity. I love the wide and flat brush that comes with all Miracle Gel polishes. It makes application a breeze once you get used to a bigger brush. Wine Stock is a stunning polish, and one that is a staple in my fall nail polish wardrobe.

Next up is Madam Glam High Standards, which is another oxblood creme polish. High Standards has a good formula, but it is a bit on the goopy side. I applied two coats for full opacity, and it does dry to a beautiful finish. High Standards is a bit messier to work with than Wine Stock, but it looks just as gorgeous.

Here is a look at Wine Stock and High Standards side-by-side. I’m wearing Wine Stock on my pinky and ring fingers, and High Standards on my middle and pointer fingers. I cannot see any difference whatsoever between these two polishes. I can definitely say these are dupes! Personally I prefer Wine Stock by Sally Hansen because of the brush and smooth formula. High Standards is still an excellent polish, but I will be destashing it because of the goopy formula. Thankfully, Wine Stock is part of Sally Hansen’s permanent line, and available for purchase for under $10 at your local drugstore or online HERE. High Standards is currently out of stock on Madam Glam’s website.

All in all, I’m so glad to have found another dupe in my collection. I’m so excited to wear Wine Stock more in the fall months, as it truly is a perfect oxblood shade. I’m also excited that I can recommend it as the more affordable and available option. The Sally Hansen Miracle Gel line is a bit more expensive than most drugstore nail polishes, but keep an eye out for sales and coupons. There is almost always a way to save! Definitely let me know your favorite oxblood nail polish in the comments!

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 Week! Day Five — Red Orange

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

Happy Saturday! Today I have the final installment in Dare to Compare Week here at Adventures in Polishland. I have saved the best for last! If you are looking for a dupe, you have come to the right place, especially if you love red orange polishes! Let me show you the polishes up for comparison today.

From left to right, the polishes are Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics in Grandma, Milani High Speed in Flaming Race, and Sinful Colors in Timbleberry. As soon as I lined these polishes up next to each other I was very excited. They already look like the same shade! Let me show you these polishes on the nail, first alone and then side by side.

Polish Name: Sinful Colors in Timbleberry

Price: $1.99 at drugstores

Coats Needed for Opacity: 2

Formula: Amazing formula and perfect application!

Color Description: Bright red orange creme.

Bonus: This is the perfect nail polish for summer!

Polish Name: Milani High Speed in Flaming Race

Price: $4.99 [Buy HERE]

Coats Needed for Opacity: 1

Formula: Great, one coat formula!

Color description: Bright red orange creme.

Bonus: Lives up to its fast dry, one coat name!

Polish Name: Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics in Grandma

Price: $10 at Sephora or $8 on Amazon [Buy HERE]

Coats Needed for Opacity: 1

Formula: Great, high gloss formula!

Color Description: Bright red orange creme.

Bonus: This is a 100% vegan and cruelty free brand!

Here we have each polish side by side. From left to right is the Sinful Colors, the Milani, and the Obsessive Compulsive. I cannot tell the difference between these three at all! Can you?! I honestly think this looks like the same polish. I think this is officially a dupe alert! I think the obvious choice is the $1.99 Sinful Colors nail polish, but if you prefer a one coat formula then the Milani may be for you. Of course, if you are a vegan then you will be purchasing the Obsessive Compulsive. The choice really is yours!

This concludes Dare to Compare Week! Have no fear, I will still do comparison posts when I find polishes that appear similar in the bottle. I hope you have enjoyed these posts as much as I have!

Some of the products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. Some of the links are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. Please 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?!