glitter – Adventures in Polishland

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Dare to Compare | Comparing 6 Sparkly Purple Nail Polishes

Posted on April 6, 2024 by Adventures in Polishland

A few months ago, I reorganized my entire nail polish collection by color. Doing so made it obvious that I own a lot of purple nail polishes that have glitter, sparkle or some other special effect. Even though these polishes are all different, I realized I just don’t reach for these shades when I go to paint my nails. I decided it was time to swatch a handful of the sparkly purple nail polishes in my collection to see what I can keep, and what I can declutter. This comparison post will review six purple polishes, and I will let you know which one I decided to keep for future use!

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

All of the swatches in this blog post were photographed in natural lighting. I used Holo Taco Peely Base as my base coat, and Zoya Naked Manicure Super Glossy Seal as my top coat. As it turns out, all of these polishes are from Zoya. I’ll let you know what collection they are from in each polish description.

Andrea

First up is Andrea from the Fall 2020 Luscious Collection. Andrea is a purple metallic polish with a green duochrome shift. It is opaque in two coats, and the formula is a bit streaky due to the metallic finish. I also had an issue where my top coat pulled the base polish a bit, which can be seen on my ring finger in the swatches. Andrea looks really cool, but I don’t really like how it looks on me. I knew right away I could declutter this polish.

Neve

Next up is Neve, which is technically a blue nail polish but certainly leans towards purple. Neve has a metallic formula that is opaque in two coats. I really love this polish. The formula is smooth and pigmented, and I love the subtle purple shimmer. Neve is from the Fall 2013 Satins Collection, and still performs well to this day. I love this polish, so I couldn’t declutter it right away.

Nisha

Shifting gears slightly, we have Nisha from the Holiday 2020 Intriguing Collection. Nisha is very similar to Neve, but with a deep purple metallic base shade rather than blue. This polish is opaque in one coat, and applies beautifully to the nails. It’s rare that I find a true one coat polish, especially a metallic formula with a shimmery base. I set Nisha aside to consider keeping.

Gardner

Next up is Gardner from the Fall 2018 Element Collection. Zoya describes Gardner as a deep periwinkle shade with a vibrant magenta shimmer in a foil finish. This polish is opaque in two coats. The formula is a little tricky, as it tends to bunch up during application. I do like how sparkly Gardner is, but I’m not a huge fan of foil nail polishes. As such, Gardner is a polish I am decluttering.

Isa

The next purple polish is Isa from the Summer 2015 Paradise Sun Collection. Isa has a metallic-pearl finish with an aqua shimmer. The formula is on the thinner side, but it is opaque in two coats. I did find that Isa was a bit uneven, but the top coat really helped to smooth out the look. I really like this polish, so I set it aside while swatching.

Adara

Last but not least is Adara from the Winter/Holiday 2023 Enchanted Collection. Zoya describes Adara as a lapis blue with rose gold and blue glitters, but to me it looks like a royal purple. This polish is opaque in two coats. It has a pigmented formula that is on the thicker side. While I think Adara is a beautiful polish, I personally wish it would dry to a more even texture. Even with top coat, it looks bumpy to me. For that reason, I am decluttering Adara.

Side by Side Comparisons

After swatching, I narrowed down my top three choices to Neve, Nisha, and Isa. I tried on those polishes side by side in that order. It immediately became clear to me that I could declutter Isa. While I do like how the polish looks on me, the formula just isn’t as good as the other two. In the end, it came down to whether I wanted more of a blue or purple polish. While I do really love Neve, I decided to keep Nisha since it does have a one coat formula. I also think the purple shade looks a bit better with my skin tone.

I’m so excited that I was able narrow down my sparkly purple nail polish collection quite a bit. While all of these polishes were unique from each other and not dupes, at the end of the day if I am in the mood for a glittery or metallic purple, I’m only going to need one. That being said, this post only featured a portion of the sparkly purple polishes in my stash. I could probably do another entire blog post with more! If you would like to see more comparison posts, either of dupes or just similar colors like this, please let me know in the comments.

Zoya Nail Polish Love | February Color of the Month

Posted on February 21, 2024 by Adventures in Polishland

February is coming to a close, and I want to share with you the Zoya Nail Polish Color of the Month while you still have time to purchase it. Each month Zoya releases a nail polish that is only available during that month. When you buy that shade and use the applicable coupon code, you get free shipping on your entire order! February’s nail polish is aptly named Love for Valentine’s Day. Let me share with you this stunning red polish!

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

Love is a red nail polish filled with red micro and macro glitters. I am very impressed with the formula, as it applies smoothly and is opaque in two coats. I love that the glitters match the base shade perfectly, giving the nails a multidimensional look. To complete my manicure, I added one layer of the Zoya Naked Glossy Seal Top Coat.

I wore Love for Valentine’s Day week, and was very happy with the wear time. By the time a week had elapsed, I only had minor wear on the edges of my nails. That is longer than most nail polish lasts on me without chipping. I also received compliments on my manicure at work, so Love is seems to be a crowd favorite as well.

Love is definitely a new go to polish for me. I can see myself wearing it during the Christmas season, and it can work for the Fourth of July as well. You can purchase Love on the Zoya website for $12.00 through the end of the month. Use code LOVE24 to get free shipping when you buy Love or any of the Love Bundles.

Blue Glitter Nails featuring Nail-Venturous Floam

Posted on January 4, 2024 by Adventures in Polishland

When I first discovered the nail polish community in 2012, Pinterest was all the rage. One of the earliest nail polish Pins that I saved was this one featuring Floam from the indie brand Nail-Venturous. At the time, I had no idea that indie nail polish brands were a thing, and I was just finding out about nail polish bloggers. I soon realized Floam was one of the most coveted polishes in the community, and it was not easy to purchase! At some point, I was part of a nail polish Secret Santa, and received a bottle of Floam as a gift. I was so excited, but for some reason, I was afraid to use it. I finally decided 2024 was the year I would wear Floam.

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

I began my manicure with a base color of Zoya Ling. This is a bright blue shade that is opaque in two coats. I wanted to use a cream polish as a base so that my natural nail did not show through the glitters in Floam. Ling is very similar to the blue glitters in Floam, so I knew it would combine really well. This is one of my favorite nail polishes in general, so I always like using it!

It was then time to add Floam! This polish has a clear base filled with blue and yellow glitters, just like the slime product many of us loved as kids! I applied two coats, and am impressed with how nice the formula is even though this polish is over a decade old at this point. The glitters spread out evenly, but I’m definitely glad I had Ling as a base, because a lot of it does show beneath Floam.

Floam itself dries to a matte finish, so I completed my manicure by adding two coats of Zoya Naked Glossy Seal Top Coat. The first layer evens out the glitters, and the second adds a high gloss shine. I am so thrilled with the completed result! I feel like I’ve finally achieved the Floam manicure of my dreams that I first saw on Pinterest twelve years ago.

I hope that you enjoyed this story time and little adventure back to my early days in the nail blogging world. It’s a bit sad to think that the blog I’m Feeling Nail-Venturous no longer exists, and if its creator Amy ever reads this, I hope she knows I’m still loving the polish she created to this day. While Floam is no longer sold, someone does have a bottle for sale on eBay right now for $42.50 (I told you it’s hard to find!).

Join me on Instagram @adventuresinpolishland to see more nail polish content!

Zoya Nail Polish Y2K Collection | Swatches + Review

Posted on November 11, 2022 by Adventures in Polishland

Today I am excited to share swatches and a full review of the Zoya Nail Polish Y2K Collection for Winter/Holiday 2022. This trio features liquid holographic jelly formulas designed to bring us back to the early 2000s era. I find these polishes so much fun, and was reminded of sleepover parties growing up when we would listen to pop music on CDs and use roll-on glitter until we sparkled all over. Even if you’re not nostalgic about the Y2K era, this Zoya collection is a lot of fun for any age!

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

I swatched the nail polishes in this post over the Holo Taco Peely Base, and sealed in each manicure with the Zoya Naked Manicure Glossy Seal Top Coat. The swatches are all photographed in natural lighting.

Sparrow

First up is Sparrow, a bright cyan blue jelly nail polish with holographic glitters. I applied three coats to achieve opacity. I recommend applying thin layers of each polish and letting them dry completely between coats so that you don’t drag the jelly consistency during application. Sparrow is such a beautiful color, and I love how the glitters pop!

Malana

Next up is Malana, a bubblegum pink jelly polish with holographic glitters. I again applied three coats to achieve opacity with this polish, and I love the result! I’ve always loved bright pink nails, and to have the glitter built into Malana makes it so much fun.

Tamiah

Last but not least is Tamiah, a grape purple jelly polish with holographic glitters. I applied three coats of Tamiah to get full coverage. I do like this purple shade, but I wish the purple was a bit brighter on the nails. I would consider layering this over a more pigmented purple for a bit more oomph!

Zoya Y2K Trio Over Black Nail Polish

One of my favorite things about jelly formulas is that they can be used in a variety of ways. I decided to layer one coat of each polish in the Y2K Collection over black to see how they would work as toppers. I love the unique galaxy, duochrome result of each polish! I even did a bit of abstract nail art on my ring finger with little swipes of all three polishes. It’s so fun to experiment with jellies!

All in all, the Zoya Nail Polish Y2K Collection is a unique trio of polishes that I really enjoyed trying. I think this is a great gift idea for the younger nail polish lovers on your holiday list, but of course any holo glitter fan will find this fun! You can purchase these cruelty free and vegan nail polishes on the Zoya website for $12.00 each.

#ManicureMonday | Green Iridescent Nails with Holo Glitter

Posted on February 7, 2022February 2, 2022 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I’m excited to share with you the green iridescent manicure I wore last week. This nail polish look is a combination of a cream polish, a special effects topper, and a glitter topper. I’ve had so much fun layering nail polishes lately. Not only does it give me the opportunity to get more wear out of the polishes in my collection, but each manicure is quite unique. Today I’ll be sharing with you the polishes I used to achieve a sparkly and iridescent look, as well as point out a dupe for a now discontinued product.

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Chlorophyll

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

I began my manicure with two coats of Chlorophyll from the now defunct brand Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics. This is a teal green nail polish with a cream formula. If you are looking for something similar, a great option is Zoya Cecelia. It’s too bad OCC went out of business, because I really love the formula of their polishes. I’ve had Chlorophyll for nearly a decade now, and it still applies wonderfully.

Once Chlorophyll was dry, I added a coat of Zoya Leia. Leia is a sheer opalescent polish with flecks of fuchsia, green, and gold. It is such a beautiful, shimmery polish that reflects in the light. I will 100% admit that I reached for Leia this week because Holo Taco released the Winter Shimmers Collection, and I wanted to see if I had a similar option in my stash. This gives me Celestial Lights vibes for sure!

I finished the manicure by adding one coat of Holo Taco Flakie Holo Taco. I use this polish so often that I will probably be repurchasing it before the end of the year! It levels up nearly every manicure, and I just love the rainbow sparkle. You can really see how the look pops once I add this glitter topper. If you are looking for a versatile holo glitter, I highly recommend this one. Of course, I sealed in the look with two coats of Holo Taco Super Glossy Taco for a glass-like finish.

Tag me in your #ManicureMonday posts on Instagram @adventuresinpolishland!

Rose Gold Holographic Nails featuring Zoya Polaris

Posted on June 27, 2021 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Sunday! Today I wanted to share with you my current manicure using cruelty free and vegan nail polishes from Zoya Nail Polish and Holo Taco. I was inspired by the recent Zoya Cosmic Pop Trio to create a rose gold holographic look featuring the polish Polaris. I decided to add even more holo bling with a nail polish topper, and I’m loving the result! Let me share with you how I achieved these rose gold holographic nails.

Some of the products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own.

This stunning manicure layers three nail polishes and finishes up with a top coat for a glossy finish. I began with two coats of Zoya Rue, a blush cream polish that is one of my all-time favorites. This first step is optional, but I wanted a base color that is very similar to a rose gold so that I knew my manicure would be opaque without the need for multiple glitter layers. Next, I added one coat of Zoya Polaris, which is the rose gold holographic glitter polish that is the true star of this manicure. Then, to add a bit more sparkle and shine, I applied one coat of Holo Taco Flakie Holo Taco. This is a nail polish topper with asymmetrical holographic flakes. I love adding Flakie Holo Taco to any manicure for some bling!

My final step was adding two coats of Holo Taco Super Glossy Taco. Whenever I wear glitter polishes, I like to use one layer of top coat to even out the glitters. Then, the second layer gives me the high-gloss shine I love. Super Glossy Top Coat also dries quickly, which I really appreciate.

I’m loving my rose gold holographic nails, and I hope you enjoyed learning how I achieved this stunning look. I just love the rainbow colors that are reflected in the glitter whenever direct sunlight hits my nails! Plus, I think it’s really fun to try out different nail polish combinations to get a custom manicure.

Want to see more blog posts featuring my current manicure? Let me know in the comments!

Manicure March | NYC New York Color Crystal Couture in Fashion Queen

Posted on March 31, 2016March 11, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! It’s the last day of Manicure March, and I have the 31st nail polish review to share with all of you today! I’m closing things out with a polish from the fabulous and affordable brand NYC New York Color. I’m really trying to cut down on the amount of glitter polishes in my collection because I just don’t wear them regularly. I decided to test out Fashion Queen from the Crystal Couture line, so let’s jump right into the review!

Fashion Queen is a yellow gold polish in a gold base. The formula is okay, but it is a bit on the watery side. I applied two coats, and my nail line was still visible. However, I didn’t want to add another coat because the polish was so goopy. As you can probably guess, I’ve destashed Fashion Queen. The gold was really pretty, but the formula isn’t worth it. Another nail polish hits the declutter bin!

All in all, I’m glad I am working towards minimizing my glitter nail polishes. I still have an entire box of glitters, so it’s not like I only have a few left. NYC New York Color is a great drugstore brand, and I still highly recommend it even though Fashion Queen isn’t my favorite. If you use NYC New York Color, please recommend you favorites to me in the comments! Also, make sure to check back here tomorrow for my Manicure March wrap up!

Join in #ManicureMarch by using the hashtag on social media and by tagging me in your photos on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or Twitter!

Manicure March | Milani Color Statement Nail Lacquer in Crimson Jewel

Posted on March 19, 2016February 29, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Manicure March continues with another Milani Color Statement polish. As I’ve mentioned earlier in this series, I own a lot of Milani nail polishes because I was sent the entire line for review a couple years ago. I think the line is really great quality, but not all of the colors are my cup of tea. One of those is Crimson Jewel, a red glitter polish. I don’t wear glitter very often, so I’m really trying to cut down on the glitters in my collection. Let me share my thoughts on Crimson Jewel with all of you!

Crimson Jewel is a red glitter polish with a red base. It has a great formula that applies easily and is opaque in two coats. I’m really impressed with how this polish can be worn alone without the need for another base color. I didn’t expect to really like Crimson Jewel, but when I was wearing it, I thought I had to have it! I can picture it for the holiday season for sure.

All in all, Crimson Jewel is one of the polishes I’m keeping in my collection, even though it’s not one I’m going to wear often. I’m going to be interested to see if this will make it past the next round of my declutter. My first declutter round is focusing on each polish individually – whether I like the color and whether the formula is good. My next will compare my polishes to see if any are so similar that I can get rid of them. I’ll explain more about that at the end of Manicure March, so make sure to stay tuned!

Join in #ManicureMarch by using the hashtag on social media and by tagging me in your photos on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or Twitter!

Manicure March | NYC New York Color Crystal Couture in Queen’s Jewels

Posted on March 12, 2016February 20, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! We’re getting a bit Christmassy here in Manicure March today, because I have a green glitter to review. When I first began my blog, I was all about the glitter nail polish. In fact, I wore glitter nail polish almost every day! I slowly began to wear glitter less and less in my everyday life, but I still like to have a good glitter selection in my stash, especially for the holidays. I decided to try out Queen’s Jewels from NYC New York Color’s Crystal Couture line again to see if I should hold onto it. Let me show you this glittery goodness!

Queen’s Jewels is a green glitter nail polish in a green jelly base. The formula is excellent, and it is opaque in two coats. I’m a huge fan of glitter polishes that can be worn alone. It just makes painting my nails a quicker and easier process! Queen’s Jewels is such a stunning polish, and while I won’t be putting it on often, I can’t get rid of it. I know this is perfect for Christmas, even if just as an accent nail. Plus, this is a limited edition polish that can no longer be purchased, so once I give it away it’s gone for good. I’m holding onto Queen’s Jewels for sure!

All in all, while I only plan on wearing Queen’s Jewels for specific occasions, this is definitely a polish I need to keep. I do find myself pressured to keep discontinued polishes, because I know I won’t be able to purchase them again if I regret destashing them. I would love to know in the comments if you hold onto discontinued polishes for that reason as well. I’m slowly becoming better at decluttering polishes I won’t wear, but it’s definitely a challenge!

Join in #ManicureMarch by using the hashtag on social media and by tagging me in your photos on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or Twitter!

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

Manicure March | JulieG Nail Polish in Blueberry Fizz

Posted on March 10, 2016February 18, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! I’m revisiting another textured nail polish line in today’s Manicure March review. I own a few collections from JulieG beauty that I purchased on Groupon a couple years back. I love these polishes, or at least I love the ones that I’ve tested. Yes, let’s be real, I haven’t tried all of them. I purchased the polishes because I knew I would like them and because I wanted to support Julie (she’s a YouTuber if you were unaware!). Let me share Blueberry Fizz with all of you!

Blueberry Fizz is a textured nail polish with a blue base and silver glitters. The formula is amazing! The polish applies with ease and is opaque in two coats. Plus, Blueberry Fizz dries really quickly. I fell in love with this polish as soon as I swatched it. I immediately pictured snow and winter, and knew I had to keep this polish. While I won’t wear Blueberry Fizz regularly, I can see certain times of year where I will pull it out of my stash. I think it’s okay to keep a few situational polishes in my collection, and this is going to be one of them.

All in all, I am so glad I swatched JulieG in Blueberry Fizz. This polish is beyond stunning! I know textured polishes aren’t popular anymore, but I can see this polish as a staple in my collection for years to come. Please share with me in the comments if you ever hold onto a nail polish because you know it will work for a specific situation, whether it be a holiday or nail art look. I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Join in #ManicureMarch by using the hashtag on social media and by tagging me in your photos on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or Twitter!