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Huge Makeup Destash! | How to Clean Out Your Beauty Collection

Posted on June 6, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! I recently went through my entire makeup collection and decided to get rid of a lot of products. My main focus was throwing away things that were expired, but I also tossed products that I never use and couldn’t be given away to a friend. I’m moving in about two months, so the less I have to pack the better. I thought it would be fun to quickly show you all of the products I destashed, and share some tips on how I choose to get rid of things!

Here you can see the big box of products I decided to let go. I’ll show you the products by type so you can get a better idea of what I threw away, but I won’t mention each product specifically (that would take a long time!). Feel free to ask me any questions in the comments about a specific product!

EYE PRODUCTS

The easiest place to start with any beauty destash is with your eye products. Mascaras should be thrown away after three to four months of use. I regularly toss the mascaras I use on a daily basis, but colored mascaras tend to stay in my collection longer because I don’t use them often. It was time to get rid of this Maybelline Great Lash! Similarly, eyeliners tend to dry out even if they aren’t necessarily expired. This occurs most often with gel eyeliners, such as the ones here from Cailyn. I also tossed some pencils that were old and unusable.

It’s a bit more difficult to get rid of eyeshadows. I first destashed what was broken. Here, a NYX shadow was missing a lid, and my NYC palette was broken resulting in a messy compact that I didn’t think was salvageable. Then, I got rid of old eyeshadows, such as the Sephora single. Finally, I took out products I never use. I got the JCat and bhCosmetics palettes in subscription boxes, and they need to go!

LIP PRODUCTS

Lip products also tend to have a long shelf life, especially if they do not contain ingredients like SPF that expire quickly. First, I took out any lip stains and lip glosses because they were clearly expired and separating in the tube (yuck!). Then, I tossed the Cailyn lip products that were dried out. Finally, I simply reached for products that do not suit my skintone. I own more lip products than anything else, so I was really happy to get rid of a bunch!

FACE PRODUCTS AND TOOLS

Last but not least, I threw out a face product that was expired, and some broken beauty tools. This was easy! If they don’t work, throw them away! There is no use to keep products that are taking up space and serve no utilitarian function. Make room for better things!

All in all, I hope you liked seeing what makeup I destashed. The products in this post were not bad products, but they simply needed to be thrown out because they were expired, old, or not in use. I felt so good after getting rid of all these products! It allowed me to see all of the useable products I own better, and gave me a better idea of what products, if any, I need to buy. I highly recommend going through your stash at least 1-2 times per year.

Do you have any tips for destashing your makeup collection? Share them in the comments!

Top 5 Makeup Products Under $5.00!

Posted on March 4, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I’m excited to share with you some of my all-time favorite and most affordable beauty products! I’ve seen this type of post on YouTube countless times, and figured it was about time I go ahead and share my Top 5 Makeup Products Under $5.00 on my blog. After all, Adventures in Polishland is dedicated to fabulous and affordable beauty! Let me share some of my favorite makeup products with you!

Just a quick note before we get into the products – the prices reflect the retail price that I found online. Pricing varies by store and by region, so keep that in mind when you go to your local store. The good news is, you can buy each item online with the links provided!

RIMMEL STAY MATTE PRESSED POWDER

$3.97 on Amazon [BUY]

I’ve loved the Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder for years, and I’ve repurchased it time and time again. It does an excellent job of controlling my shiny skin, and it’s never cakey. I use the shade 001 Transparent, which does not add color to the face. It’s perfect over any makeup look, or on days you just want to reduce shine. I’ve tried other pressed powders, but always go back to this one. I’ll need to purchase a new one soon!

e.l.f. STUDIO BLUSH

$3.00 on e.l.f. [BUY]

This is the first blush I purchased when I started trying out makeup in my everyday life a couple years ago. I grabbed it because of the cheap price, and I’m so glad I did! The shade you see above is Pink Passion, and while it may look very bright and intimidating, it’s actually quite wearable because it blends out flawlessly. I also love the sleek packaging. I hope to try out more shades from this line very soon.

PHYSICIANS FORMULA MATTE EYESHADOW

$4.37 on Drugstore.com [BUY]

I don’t wear eyeshadow often, but when I do I automatically reach for this quad. The matte formula is great, and I can create a complete eye look with these four shadows. In fact, I only use three – the dark grey is not my style. I picked this up during a coupon deal at Rite Aid a while back, and I’m so glad I did! It’s a must if you’re seeking affordable matte shadows.

JORDANA FABULINER EYELINER

$2.49 at Kmart [BUY]

This eyeliner is such an insane bargain! I first learned about it from my favorite YouTubers EleventhGorgeous a couple years back. I have trouble applying eyeliner, and I thought this marker-like tip would be helpful. It’s definitely easier to apply, and it leaves a nice, black line. I appreciate how affordable the Jordana Fabuliner is, because I very rarely use eyeliner and don’t have to worry about wasting my money on a product that’s almost never touched. If you’re looking for a perfect eyeliner, you need to try this one!

BABY LIPS TINTED LIP BALM

$3.68 on Amazon [BUY]

I’m a Baby Lips superfan, and if you’ve followed Adventures in Polishland for a while I’m sure you know that already! Lately I’ve been loving the Dr Rescue line because of the added moisturization (the shade Berry Soft is pictured above), but I honestly love them all and wear them so frequently. I have 13 Baby Lips in my collection, and it pains me that I don’t own them all! The light wash of color is just perfect, and Baby Lips are definitely one of my all-time favorite product lines.

That’s it for my Top 5 Makeup Products Under $5.00! I hope this post helped you discover something new at a great price. Keep in mind that these items often go on sale, plus you can use coupons for an even cheaper price. How awesome is that?! Share some of your favorite affordable products in the comments, and let me know if you’d like a nail polish edition of this post as well!

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

Makeup by One Direction Limited Edition Tour Case Review

Posted on January 17, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I have another review of one of the limited edition products from the brand Makeup by One Direction. If you are looking for an all-inclusive set, look no further. This case includes eyeshadows, eyeliners, mascara, nail polish, lipstick, lip gloss, glitter pots, and stickers! I got to work swatching the products for you so you can see what’s inside. Let me open up the tour case for you!

Here is what the Tour Case looks like before and after opening it. As you can see, it expands to three pop-up drawers. This is really an all-in-one set if you’re a One Direction fan!

Here are close-up looks of each drawer. First is the eye makeup drawer that includes 45 eyeshadows, two eyeliners, and one mascara. Next is the nail polish and lip product drawer that includes six polishes, two glitter pots, one lip gloss, and two lip crayons. There is also a UV light if you’d like to see how the nail polish looks in that kind of light. Finally, the third drawer contains stickers that you can use to decorate the tour case. Now let’s move on to the swatches!

EYESHADOW

This case contains 45 eyeshadows in a variety of formulas. Most are shimmers, but there are also a few mattes thrown in as well as some glitters and creams. The quality of the shadows varies dramatically. Some are amazing, while others are not great at all. The pigmentation also varies. I think this is a fun set for younger girls starting out with makeup who just want to play around with color, but I don’t recommend it for everyday makeup use. I swatched the shadows without a primer, and will let you know the colors from left to right in each swatch picture.

Metallic Mint, Khaki, Graphite, Spark, and Spotlight

Night Sky, Glacial, Poser, Mocha, and Dawn

Quartz, Bronzed, Ultra Violet, Sequin, and Blush

Surfer Blue, Mushroom, Cornflower, Dusk, and Amped

London Sky, Midnight, Center Stage, Irish Luck, and Lime Light

Aqua Mist, Spring, Georgia Rose, Melody, and Harmony

Brick, Sherwood, Terra Cotta, Earth, and Faded Jeans

Cityscape, Galaxy, Summer Rain, Lightening, and Twilight

Coffee Bean, Emerald, Sapphire, Amethyst, and Onyx

EYELINER

This set also includes two eyeliners in silver and black. I think it’s great to have these in any set!

Not pictured is also a purple mascara. If you’d like to see swatches of other colored mascaras from Makeup by One Direction, check out my review HERE.

NAIL POLISH

The first nail polish in this Tour Case is Strobe, a white creme polish. Strobe’s formula was a little tricky, but it evened out nicely in three thin coats. It’s awesome that Makeup by One Direction included the basics in this set!

Next up is Blue a Fuse, a glitter top coat with blue, white, and pink glitters. I applied one coat over Strobe, and I was a little disappointed with how many glitters came out. I would have liked more glitter in one coat, but overall Blue a Fuse is still a great polish!

My favorite polish in the Tour Case is Rebel, a bright fuchsia pink. Rebel has a perfect formula, and it is just stunning. I love my pink polishes, and this is a great one to have!

The next glitter polish in the set is Star Struck, a clear base filled with pink, white, and fuchsia glitters. The glitters were easier to apply with Star Struck than with Blue a Fuse, and I put one coat on top of Rebel. I am really liking this polish combination!

Along with a white, Makeup by One Direction also included a basic black creme. This polish is called Street Punk, and is a good black polish. I applied two coats and didn’t have any issues with the formula.

The last polish in the Tour Case is Graffiti, a glitter polish with black and white glitters. I applied one coat over Street Punk, but in the future I think I’d layer it over a non black polish to see the glitters easier.

Also included in this set are two loose glitter pots that can be used on the nails or even as eyeshadow pigments. They are in the shades Voltage (orange) and Shock (pink).

LIP PRODUCTS

Last but not least, the Tour Case includes three lip products. Here are swatches of all three on my arm, but I have lip swatches for you as well!

The lip gloss in this set is Backstage, a red glitter gloss. It has a nice wash of color without being too dramatic, but the glitter is a bit grainy on the lips. I would love this gloss if it didn’t contain glitter, but if you like glitter you would love this!

Next up is a pink Lip Crayon. I’m really liking the formula of these lip crayons. They apply super easily and have a matte finish. You can, of course, add gloss on top, but I like the matte look. Be forewarned, though – these stain! That’s a benefit if you want it to last though eating and drinking, though.

Finally, there is also a true red Lip Crayon. I’m really impressed with the great quality of this lipstick. I definitely think it’s a highlight in the tour case for sure!

All in all, the Makeup by One Direction Tour Case is chock full of a ton of fun makeup products. I do recommend this case for One Direction fans, or for those who are just getting started with makeup. The quality is not the best on the eyeshadows, and some of the other products could have better formulations as well. However, for a full case that retails $49.95, I would definitely consider whether that price is worth it for you. If you’re looking for a good deal, check out the sale going on right now at Macy’s, where you can snag the tour case for 50% off HERE! As always, you can like Makeup by One Direction on Facebook HERE to stay up to date with the brand. Please let me know your thoughts on the Tour Case in the comments!

This product was provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Makeup by One Direction Limited Edition Beauty Collection Review

Posted on December 10, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I have a review of another amazing beauty collection from the brand Makeup by One Direction. The company released a set of five tins – one for each member of One Direction – that contain some fun beauty products. They make perfect holiday gifts, and are also super affordable at just $12.95 each. Let me show you the tins and the goodies inside of them!

I was sent three of the five tins to review for you– Niall, Harry, and Liam grace the covers! Inside all of the products are the same, so make sure you stay tuned to Adventures in Polishland for giveaways in the future (hint hint!). I decided to open up the Harry palette. He was too STYLE–ing in that hat for me to resist.

Here is a quick overview of everything inside the tin. As you can see, you get six eyeshadows, four lip glosses, two nail polishes, a lip glitter, an eyeliner, and two applicators. I really appreciate that the lip glosses are packaged away from the eyeshadows so any fallout doesn’t get mixed into the glosses. Also, It’s great that the packaging contains the names of each product so I know what the colors are.

NAIL POLISH

The first nail polish is Stole my Heart, a bright pink polish with pink shimmer. Stole my Heart has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. It is such a fun shade, and I love the shimmer formula.

The other polish is Alive, a glitter top coat filled with a mix of multicolored glitters in a variety of shapes. Alive has a good formula, and I applied two coats over Stole my Heart in the photos you see here. I do wish more glitters applied with each coat, but the end look is awesome. I could see this as a New Year’s Eve manicure for sure.

EYESHADOW

Here are swatches of all the eyeshadows in this palette without primer. From left to right, the shades are: Everything About You, Summer Love, I Would, Same Mistakes, Tell Me a Lie, and Nobody Compares. I’m really impressed with the smooth formulas and great pigmentation in these shadows. Each is very shimmery and great for the holidays, but I will say I wish there was at least one matte shade in the palette. I would have to reach for another palette to get a full eyeshadow look. Nonetheless, this collection has some really nice shadows!

EYELINER

The eyeliner in this kit is I Want, a matte black pencil. I am really impressed with this product as well. It applies so easily and has a true matte effect. You can also smudge out this liner for a smokey look.

LIP GLOSS

This palette also includes four lip glosses and a lip gloss top coat. From left to right, the shades are: Over Again (lip gloss top coat), Heart Attack, Irresistible, One Thing, and Loved You First. Each lip gloss gives a subtle wash of color to the lips and has a sheen to it. If you want added glitter, Over Again is perfect. I do recommend using your own lip brush to apply these, as the one included in the kit does not work well at all. Of course, layer over lipstick for a more opaque look.

All in all, I think these Makeup by One Direction tins are great items for any One Direction fan. The nail polish is a huge favorite of mine, and I think the eyeshadows are a nice addition to any makeup lover’s collection. These tins can be purchased at Sears USA, KMart, Target, and Walmart Canada. At just $12.95, I think they are a steal. Let me know which tin you’d pick based on your favorite One Direction member in the comments!

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

Makeup by One Direction | Up All Night Review

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

Happy Tuesday! Today I am excited to share with you one of the limited edition tins from the Makeup by One Direction line! A couple weeks ago, I told you all about the three Looks Collections HERE. Make sure to check out that post for detailed information about all of the tins, and for the US release dates. I was sent the Up All Night palette, which is definitely geared for concert-goers! If you’re headed to a One Direction concert anytime soon, you’ll want to snag this tin!

Here’s what the tin itself looks like. I really love the packaging! It’s very sturdy and organized. Plus, I think it’s a great idea to have some tips on how to use the products right on the inside of the tin. Now, let me show you each of the products!

First up is the Stand Out Eye and Body Crayon in a dark denim shade. This is basically a jumbo crayon that you can use as eyeliner, or for anything else. I tested it as an eyeshadow base, and it worked really well for that. The formula is smooth and creamy, and blends out easily. If you’re using this purely as a liner, I suggest setting it with a powder product to avoid smearing.

Next up is the 4+1 Eyeshadow Palette. I really like how the names of the eyeshadows are right on the back of the palette. It’s so helpful! I swatched each of the shadows above over a primer so that my camera would capture them well. You can go with or without primer in real life, as I find these shadows are nicely pigmented and quite buttery. From left to right, the shades are: Up All Night, Another World, Save You Tonight, Gotta Be You, and More Than This. I do love that there are two neutral shades in this palette, as those are perfect for everyday looks. The blues are beautiful, but definitely more for “going out.” This is a great little palette to stick in your purse if you’re heading straight to the One Direction show after school or work!

To complete your eye makeup, this kit includes the Little Black Dress Volumizing Mascara in Perfect Black. To be honest, this mascara left me a bit underwhelmed. It gives much more of a natural look, which is nice, but it’s not too volumizing as the name suggests.

The Up All Night collection also includes two lip products, with the first being the I Should Have Kissed You lipstick. This is a super bright pink lipstick with a matte finish. The formula is extremely opaque in one coat, and will stay on all night. In fact, I Should Have Kissed You will stain your lips, so you may want to wear a lip liner or primer. The color is so vibrant that I felt a bit silly wearing it, but if you love bright lips this one is perfect for you!

The other lip product is the Taken Liquilights Lip Gloss. This is a bright pink lip gloss that glows to orange under a UV light. Unfortunately I don’t have a UV light so I couldn’t test the color change, but I did give the lip gloss a try. Because it is packed with glitter, it is a little uncomfortable to wear – I can feel the glitter granules on my lips as I wear it. Other than that, the formula is nice, and applies very easily. You can either wear Taken alone, or layered over I Should Have Kissed You to enhance your pink pucker!

My favorite product in the Up All Night tin is, of course, the Na Na Na nail polish! Na Na Na is a gorgeous metallic blue shade with hints of green and gold. The formula is amazing, and is opaque in two coats. I am really impressed with this polish! In fact, I would love to see more polishes come out from this line!

Last but not least we have the Decorator Stencil Set. These stencils are included as a little bonus, and can be used to decorate your limited edition tin, or for whatever your heart desires! There are a bunch of different designs, but I thought I’d share the cute diamonds.

All in all, the Up All Night tin from the new Makeup by One Direction line is a fun collection for any One Direction fan. The quality of the products is pretty good overall, with the nail polish being the stand out product for me. Whether you’re heading out for the night, or simply looking for some bright makeup shades, the Up All Night tin might be perfect for you! Make sure to like the Makeup by One Direction Facebook Page HERE for updates, and let me know what product you would most like to try from the Up All Night tin in the comments!

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

Subscription Sunday | June Birchbox

Posted on June 22, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! Today I have my June Birchbox to share with all of you. When I received my box in the mail this month, I was super excited to open it because it was much heavier than it usually is. Let me go ahead and show you my June products!

This month, Birchbox’s theme is Away We Go! It seems like I’m not the only one with traveling on the brain this month – Birchbox does, too! In fact, the company teamed up with JetBlue to give away a round trip flight. I hope I win!

Here are the first set of products in my June Birchbox. I’ll tell you a bit about each one from left to right:

Coastal Scents Revealed Palette Sampler – $3.20 – This eyeshadow sampler contains four neutral shades from the new Coastal Scents palette. I really like this idea for a sampler, as it lets me test out more than one shadow from a brand, and will last me a long time.
Davines Love Shampoo – $7.50 – This is a great size shampoo sample, and it smells amazing! I can’t wait to try it, as it’s formulated for dry and frizzy hair like mine.
Gilchrist & Soames Body Lotion – $3.00 – I like the idea of this body lotion as it is eco-friendly and spa-worthy, but the fragrance is a bit strong for me. This is still a great size sample!
Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator – $5.67 – It seems like I get a new cleanser every month. I wish there was a bit more variety, but this is a great one for travel because it is an exfoliating cleanser and a good size!

Davines Love Conditioner – $1.41 – I also got a conditioner that matches the shampoo sample I got. Normally I don’t like foil packets, but I think it’s great that I can test this along with the shampoo at least once or twice.
Davines Ol All in One Milk – $0.83 – I also got a sample of the hair treatment from the Davines line! I can’t wait to try out the entire hair care system!
Catherine Malandrino CM Perfume – $0.88 – Finally, I got a perfume sample that actually smells amazing! I’m excited to test it out!

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $22.49

RATING 1-5 (1 IS WORST, 5 IS BEST): 4

OVERALL OPINION: I love this month’s Birchbox! Not only did I get four amazing samples, but I got three smaller ones as well. Even though the retail value isn’t very high, it’s more than double what I paid for the box, and I’m sure to use every single one of these samples. I would definitely like more diversity in my Birchbox, but I can’t go wrong with anything here.

You can join Birchbox for just $10 per month HERE. I really love this subscription service, and highly recommend it! Do you subscribe already? Let me know what was inside your June box 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!

Winter Wonderland Week | Glam Holiday Makeup #DRHoliday

Posted on November 25, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

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Happy Monday! Winter Wonderland Week continues today with a makeup look. To create my festive face, I grabbed some new products to get glam – Duane Reade Holiday shopping is not just for gifts! On an every day basis, I keep my makeup simple and natural, but for the holiday season it’s fun to be a bit more glamorous. If you’re a busy student, a mom on the go, or simply looking to spice up your beauty routine for a holiday party, I have a few tips for you!

My first step was going shopping for some new makeup. I headed to the Duane Reade store at 40 Wall Street here in New York City. If you’ve never been to that Duane Reade location before, definitely stop by. It has a huge beauty department called the Look Boutique, and you can even get a professional manicure right in the store! The photo below is just one section of the Look Boutique! Look at how gorgeous and bright the store is!

I had a difficult time deciding which new makeup products I wanted to purchase for my holiday makeover because there was so much from which to choose. I finally settled on some goodies from the Boots No7 line. This brand is from the UK, and is making its way into Duane Reade stores around the city. The display (shown below) featured testers so I could swatch the colors on my hand before purchasing anything. Let me show you what I picked up from No7!

The first product I picked up is the No7 Lipgloss in Number One History. I’m always hesitant to try a red lipstick, so I thought this lip gloss would be perfect for the holidays and still be in my comfort zone. Plus, the packaging is adorable and was calling my name in the store. As for the formula, it is really nice, and feels creamy on the lips (no stickiness here!). This lipgloss is quite pigmented, so I wore it alone, but you can always layer it over a lipstick if you like. The retail price of the No7 Lipgloss is $9.99.

The next product I picked up was the No7 Natural Blush Tint Powder in Spice. I was sold on this blush as soon as I tried the tester in the store –the formula is so smooth and soft, and is extremely blendable. Spice was also the perfect shade for my skin tone. For just $9.99 I had to pick it up!

The last No7 product I grabbed for my holiday makeover is the Stay Perfect Trio Eye Shadow Palette in Cappuccino. This trio comes with gorgeous neutral and shimmery shadows – a bronze, a silver, and a light highlight shade. Just like the blush, these shadows have a super soft and silky formula. I’m also impressed with how pigmented they are. The shimmer adds a bit of sparkle, which I think is great for the holidays! This trio retails for just $7.99!

I also picked up a new foundation because winter means that my skin is a bit lighter than it was just a few months ago! I’ve heard so many great things about the CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous foundation that I had to pick it up. I got the shade Classic Ivory (or 810 if you use the number system), and it matches my skin quite well. This is definitely a medium to full coverage foundation, and I’m impressed with how flawless my skin looked when I put this on. It’s also an amazing value at just $13.49. This is definitely going to be my new go to foundation!

Here is my completed holiday makeover! As someone who doesn’t wear a lot of makeup on a daily basis, I feel so glammed up! I used all of the products mentioned above, plus the Revlon Grow Luscious Lash Potion in Blackened Brown and Rimmel Stay Matte in Translucent (which can be purchased at Duane Reade as well). For my hair, I just twisted it across my head and secured it with a bow.

All in all, I’m loving my completed look! I used products that are fabulous and affordable, and went a bit outside my every day makeup routine for the special holiday season. If you like, you can spice up this makeup look by adding some eyeliner, darker lipstick, and some bronzer. It’s definitely customizable! These makeup products also make perfect gifts this holiday season, so stop be sure to stop by the 40 Wall Street Duane Reade during your holiday shopping to grab these (and many, many more) cosmetic products. Stay tuned for more holiday posts as Winter Wonderland Week continues tomorrow on Adventures in Polishland!

October 2013 Favorites!

Posted on November 5, 2013November 4, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! I am so excited to bring you my first ever Monthly Favorites post. One of my favorite bloggers, Love for Lacquer, inspired me to start sharing my favorite products with you every month. It’s a great way to share some of the items I use on a daily basis that might not make it onto the blog for a full review, or simply highlight my current obsessions. Let me share my favorites for the month of October!

NAIL POLISH

I received Julep Char in my October PopSugar MustHave Box [review HERE] and I am blown away by its beauty! The dark blue color is stunning, and the formula is flawless. I wore it for nearly a week in October, which is a long time for me. I highly recommend it!

HAIR

I’m also obsessed with The Wet Brush that I got in my October PopSugar Box! It is a miracle for my fine, tangly hair. I even tried switching back to a regular brush after using this, and I could definitely tell the difference. It might sound weird to have a holy grail hair brush, but this is definitely mine!

BLUSH

A splurge product that I’ve been loving is Benefit Hervana, a gorgeous boxed blush that looks really natural. Plus, it has an amazing smell! If I’m reaching for a blush, it’s been Hervana. I definitely want to try out more Benefit blushes, too!

EYESHADOW

You’ve heard me say a million times that I rarely wear eyeshadow. Well, I recently picked up the Physician’s Formula Canyon Classics palette and I can’t get enough! The shadows are great quality for an affordable price, plus they are really natural looking. The colors are swatched above in a clockwise rotation beginning with the top left corner. I’ve never actually worn the grey shade, but the rest are amazing!

MASCARA

I love my drugstore mascaras, but the Manna Kadar Extreme Curl Mascara has been my go to this month! I got it in my October Wantable Box [review HERE] and I can’t get enough of it! The formula is just perfect for my lashes, and I’ve worn it nearly every day in October.

FOOD

I’ve been on a huge peanut butter kick this month! In fact, I devoured over half of this jar in October! You can grab 365 Organic Crunchy Peanut Butter at your local Whole Foods. It’s affordable, and tastes amazing! Plus, if you’re a vegetarian like me, this is a great way to get some protein.

SONG

Maybe it’s the native New Englander in me, but Ylvis’ new song Massachusetts is amazing! The tune is catchy, the lyrics are hilarious, and I just can’t get enough. I’ve had it on repeat since it came out!

EXPERIENCE

One of the most exciting moments of the month was getting to meet one of my favorite YouTubers, Meghan of Strawburry17. She and fellow YouTuber Arden Rose had a meet-up at the Nintendo World store here in NYC, and I just had to go! It was so great getting to talk with them, and both were so nice. If you haven’t checked out their YouTube channels, be sure to do so. I know you’ll love their videos!

And that concludes my October Favorites! Before I go, I wanted to share a new social media site that I joined! It’s called Luvocracy, and is a Pinterest-inspired website that you can shop from! I’ve curated my October Favorites into a collection, making it easy for you to purchase anything you see above. Plus, you’ll get a $10 credit when you sign up! Visit my profile HERE.

I hope you enjoyed this post! Keep a lookout for one of these at the end of every month, and make sure to let me know what your favorites were this October!

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

Ipsy v. Birchbox: Round One! March 2013

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

Happy Monday! Today I have a fun comparison post pairing two of the most popular beauty subscription programs against one another. Both Ipsy and Birchbox are monthly subscription programs that send you samples of beauty products for $10 per month. After doing some research on both programs, I discovered that there is really no consensus on which program is better overall. The only way I would find out which program was best for me was to try them both for myself. Let me show you what I got from both Ipsy and Birchbox for the month of March, and let you know which one wins Round One!

First I will show you my Ipsy Glam Bag! Each month you will get a cute cosmetics bag with all of your products inside. As you can see, March’s theme is The Great Escape! Whether you are traveling on spring break, or simply getting ready for the summer months, all of the products in this bag are perfect for warm weather. I also love the nautical print on the cosmetic bag! The pattern is just adorable, and the bag is rather good quality. It’s also made with a waterproof material so you can throw this in your beach bag without worrying about your products getting wet.

Now onto the products in my Ipsy Glam Bag! Each month you get five items, and they will typically be deluxe samples, with some full size products thrown in. Here is what I got for March. To purchase each product, click on it’s name. I will also list the retail price!

GlamRX Mini Freestyle Palette – $16.50 – This palette is perfect for keeping your eyeshadows with you on the go! The magnetic base holds everything in place, and the palette is definitely great quality. This can easily fit in your purse, and will carry enough eyeshadows for at least one or two looks. I don’t wear a lot of eyeshadow, so this is not great for my life, but it is a good product for the average person.
Juice Beauty Hydrating Mist – $3.26 – This mist is designed to refresh your skin after being out in the sun, or otherwise feeling dry. A spritz will leave you feeling great! Unfortunately for me, rose oil is a main ingredient, and the floral smell bothered my allergies. I would love to use this product, but I can’t. I’m really bummed out about this one!
La Fresh Makeup Remover Wipes – $1.99 – This packet of eight makeup remover wipes is perfect for traveling and sticking in your purse for everyday use! I use wipes like these every day, and I have been searching for the perfect brand. I can’t wait to give these a try, and I will definitely use the entire pack!
Yaby Eyeshadows – $3.15 each – I got these eyeshadows in the shades Azalea Petal and Seashell. They are super tiny and perfect for travel! I gave these a try, and while they are not super pigmented, they are perfect for a natural, beachy look. I appreciate that they are complimentary colors that can be worn together. As you can see, I’ve put them in my GlamRX palette already!

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $28.05

OVERALL OPINION: I think this month’s Ipsy is great for the average person, but the products don’t fit my lifestyle especially well. I cannot use the Juice Beauty mist, and I don’t wear too much eyeshadow. I’m very excited for the La Fresh wipes, however! Plus, I think putting all these items together in a themed cosmetic bag is a great idea!

RATING (1-5, 1 BEING WORST & 5 BEING BEST): 3

Next up is my March Birchbox! With this program you will also get around five samples for $10. I love the box it comes in! Not only are these perfect for mailing, but they are great for organizing, too. The hot pink tissue paper is a fabulous touch. This month’s theme is March Madness, but my products seem to be a mix of all different things.

Before I talk about each product, I want to take a moment to mention that Birchbox has a great reward program that earns you points for every purchase made on their website. You earn one point for every dollar spent, plus, you get 10 points for each item in your box that you review on the Birchbox website! For every 100 points, you get $10 to spend on the Birchbox website. By buying this box and reviewing each product, I already have 60 points! I love that they reward their members for being active. Okay, now it’s time for the product breakdown!

Juice Beauty Skin Cellular Repair CC Cream – $3.90 – I couldn’t believe I got another Juice Beauty product in my Birchbox! Luckily, this CC cream is something I can use. I’ve been wanting to try a BB cream, and this is a step better than that! I’ve already used this sample twice, and I am just blown away. I am so glad I got this sample!
Serge Normant Meta Revive Dry Shampoo – $11.11 – I was also super excited to get a dry shampoo sample, and a good size one at that! I have fine hair that gets oily if I sleep on it even once. I’ve been wanting to try a dry shampoo, but I didn’t want to spend the money if I wasn’t going to like it. I have to tell you, this Serge Normant one is amazing! My hair looks great after I spray this on, and it even smells good. I might purchase the full size when the sample runs out!
Whish Shave Cream – $2.93 – This shave cream is in the Birchbox Exclusive scent of blueberry, and smells amazing in the tube but is quite overwhelming in the shower! I don’t typically use shave cream, but I will definitely give this one a try. After one use, my legs did feel more moisturized than usual, but the smell definitely did me in.
Juicy Couture, Couture La La – $1.32 – I know many people are disappointed when receiving perfume samples in subscriptions like these because you can get them free at stores like Sephora. I personally use perfume samples all the time, and love trying new scents! Because this is the smallest sample in my box this month, I don’t mind getting one perfume sample. I will definitely use the whole thing up!
Madewell for Birchbox Emery Board – $5 – As a nail polish aficionado, I don’t think you can go wrong with an emery board! I love the cute, floral pattern, and I will definitely use this! Although a $5 retail value is a bit much, it is still a great product to get in the Birchbox

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $24.26

OVERALL OPINION: I am loving my first Birchbox! The sample sizes were decent overall, and I got a few items that I have been wanting to try for a long time. I plan on using each and every item in this box! My only woe is that I don’t enjoy the scent of the Whish Shave Cream.

RATING: 4

There you have it! My winner for the month of March is Birchbox! While Ipsy did have a slightly higher retail value, the products in my Birchbox are all things I will use. At this time, I will continue on with both programs until one is the clear standout for me. At just $10 each, I don’t think I can go wrong with either at this point! You can join Ipsy HERE and Birchbox HERE.

Before I close out this post, I have a favor to ask of you! Please vote for me in a contest I entered on Facebook! Rita Hazan is searching for your favorite beauty blog. To vote, simply click HERE and hit the “Like” button! Your support is always appreciated!