indie – Page 3 – Adventures in Polishland

Tag: indie

My Holy Grail Manicure: Essie Butler Please and Different Dimension Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock

Posted on May 5, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Sunday! Today I wanted to share with you one of my favorite manicures of all time. I love it so much I am calling it my Holy Grail Manicure! In other words, this is the best of the best in terms of formula, color, polish names, and so on. Let me get right into the goodness and show you the polish!

First up is the gorgeous Butler Please from the Essie Winter Collection of 2012. Back in March I was in a bit of a “polish funk”. Nothing that I put on my nails was exciting me. Then, I got Butler Please, put it on, and my funk officially ended! Butler Please has a flawless formula that applies like a dream and is opaque in two coats. It is also a bright blue color that is just stunning! I am still blown away by how beautiful this color is. Butler Please has been compared to Nails Inc Baker Street, but this is truly unlike anything I own in my personal collection. This will definitely be my go to blue polish from now on. I can’t wait to use it again!

I was loving Butler Please so much that even when the tips were starting to show wear after several days, I made my manicure last longer by adding an amazing glitter top coat from the indie brand Different Dimension. I am a huge fan of the TV show the Big Bang Theory, and my mom kindly gave me the entire Big Bang collection that Different Dimension makes. I had a good feeling that Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock (RPSLS) would look great over Butler Please, and I think I made a great choice! RPSLS is a glitter top coat with a just a slightly blue tinted base, and filled with fine white glitter and white, light blue, light green, and grey hexagonal glitters. The formula is great, and the glitters apply with ease. I layered just one coat of RPSLS over Buter Please, and the result was just phenomenal! I could not stop staring at my nails when I had this manicure on.

All in all, I hope you enjoy my Holy Grail Manicure as much as I do! I love when nail polishes not only have a beautiful color, but a great formula as well. I also love that RPSLS is part of a collection based off of one of my favorite TV shows! There is just so much to love! Although Butler Please is no longer available in drugstores, you can purchase it on Amazon HERE. Make sure you head on over to the Different Dimension Etsy shop to purchase RPSLS and the other Big Bang Theory polishes HERE.

Let me know what your Holy Grail Manicure is in the comments!

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

Keep Calm and Add Glitter!

Posted on April 28, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Sunday! Today I thought I would share with you one of the manicures I wore at the beginning of the spring season. Even though I love trying out new nail polishes all the time, I enjoy it when I have the chance to search through my stash for a favorite polish. For this manicure, I decided upon a pastel mint green, and one of my favorite glitter top coats. Let me show you this fun manicure!

First I began with a base of Keep Calm, Paint On from China Glaze. This is a mint green pastel with green and pink shimmer mixed in, so it has just a touch of sparkle on its own. Keep Calm, Paint On has a good formula that is opaque in two coats. It is a bit on the thick side, so there is a little streaking, but not much. I love this nail polish because of the name, but the color is also stunning. You can also snag this on Amazon for just $2.19 at the moment! There are only seven bottles left in stock, so grab yours HERE!

I completed my manicure by adding two coats of Kite Island from A Rhyming Dictionary Polish to my mint base color. Kite Island is a glitter top coat filled with fine glitters in pink and green, hexagonal glitters in orange, blue, pink, and green, small green squares, and large white squares. I think this glitter is so fun, and it really livens up my nails. The white square glitters are so unexpected, but they are my favorite part of the polish! As with all polishes from A Rhyming Dictionary, Kite Island has an amazing formula, and the glitters apply with ease. You can purchase this on Etsy for $7.50 HERE.

All in all, I hope you liked seeing one of the manicures that I wore for spring! Mint green and glitter are definitely the perfect combination in my book. Plus, I love being able to reach into my nail polish collection for a polish I haven’t worn in a long time. If you liked seeing this manicure, please let me know in the comments!

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

Indie Spotlight: Tillie Polish in Fierce and Fabulous

Posted on April 24, 2013July 13, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today’s post is a review of a fun polish that is perfect for summer. It’s from the indie nail polish brand called Tille Polish, which is run by a trio of sisters! I discovered the brand by watching the oldest sister’s YouTube channel (see Andréa’s videos HERE), and I’m so glad I did! She graciously sent me this polish and I could not wait to get it on my nails. Let me show you Fierce and Fabulous!

Here is the beautiful bright pink called Fierce and Fabulous (and it truly lives up to its name)! This polish has an amazing formula. Application was smooth and even, and it was opaque in two coats. Fierce and Fabulous dries matte, and has a hint of silver shimmer mixed in as well. It looks just stunning on the nail, and is perfect for the summer sun. The matte look is unexpected, but I loved it! You can easily achieve a glossy finish by adding your favorite top coat as well. I did notice that removal took a bit more effort than usual, but when I switched to an acetone based remover instead of an acetone free one it came off much better. I also suggest a healthy layer of base coat!

All in all, I am loving Fierce and Fabulous from Tille Polish! As a pink aficionado, it is great to have this in my collection. The silver shimmer and matte finish really make it unique! You can purchase Fierce and Fabulous on the Tillie Polish website HERE for $8.00. This is a special edition polish that is officially launching on May 15th, but is available for pre-order now. You can also “like” Tillie Polish on Facebook HERE.

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

Indie Spotlight: The Escape Collection from Rainbow Polish

Posted on April 18, 2013July 13, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! Today I am very excited to be sharing three beautiful polishes from the indie brand Rainbow Polish’s new Escape Collection. I have never tried Rainbow Polish before, and I am so impressed with the ones I’m about to show you today. Even the packaging is great — the bottles and labels are professionally done. Here is a quick look at the polishes in the bottle, and then a detailed review!

First up is Wild Orchid, a beautiful pink jelly polish with scattered holographic glitter and blue and purple hexagonal glitters. Wild Orchid is opaque in two coats and has a great, full coverage formula. The polish glides on so easily, and I just love the color combination. Wild Orchid is like a jelly sandwich manicure in one polish!

Next up is Stinging Jellyfish, a multicolored glitter top coat with holographic bar glitters mixed in! I layered one coat over Spoiled in Plastic Flamingo. Stinging Jellyfish has a great formula, and is absolutely stunning! It can make any nail polish color have an instant rock star quality! The photos above don’t do the sparkle justice — when the holographic glitters hit the light it looks amazing!

Last but not least is Tahitian Waters, a light blue jelly base with holographic grains, medium pink hexagons, large holographic hexagons, and holographic squares. I layered one coat over Sally Hansen Barracuda since the formula is too sheer to be worn alone. Once again I am so impressed with the formula of this polish! The glitters apply with ease — absolutely no fishing for them whatsoever! Tahitian Waters is such a unique polish, and perfect for summer!

All in all, I am loving these polishes from the Rainbow Polish Escape Collection. These are just three of the eight available, so be sure to head on over to her Etsy shop HERE to see the full collection. Each polish retails for $8.50, but you get a discount when you buy the whole collection at $49. You can also stay up to date with Rainbow Polish on Facebook HERE.

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 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.

Indie Spotlight: Shimmer Polish Part IV

Posted on March 15, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I have the final installment of my Shimmer Polish posts for all of you. Shimmer Polish is an indie brand featuring a line of beautiful glitter nail polishes. Each polish is unique and versatile, and can be worn in a number of ways. In Part I and Part II, I wore each polish alone, and in Part III I layered each polish over a base color. Today, I used some Shimmers to create some fun nail art looks! Let me show you the manicures I created using Shimmer Polish.

For my first look, I asked my Facebook followers how I should use the glitter. Stephanie suggested a glitter gradient, and it worked out perfectly that the name of the polish is also Stephanie! I began with a base color of Sally Hansen Virtual Violet, and then added on Shimmer Polish Stephanie for the gradient effect. Stephanie is full of blue and purple glitters, with some pink thrown in as well. To achieve the gradient, I lightly tapped the brush across the top of my nails and lightly dragged the glitter down to about the middle of each nail. I found this technique to be much simpler than using a cosmetic sponge, and the glitter is very forgiving! Make sure to follow up with a layer of top coat to even out the finish.

Next I decided to do some geometric nails using the scotch tape method. I began with a base of Wet ‘n Wild in Fashionista Lisa, and let that dry completely. Then, I placed tape on my nails and rotated it to get a triangle cut out on either the top, bottom, left, or right of my nail. Finally, I applied two coats of Shimmer Polish in Tracy on top and peeled off the tape while the polish was still wet. Tracy is a gold, holographic glitter polish. I think it looks great against the purple shade of Fashionista Lisa! I also used my Butter London Matte Finish top coat to complete the look. I just love the combination of matte glitter and the geometric shapes!

I was loving the look of matte glitter, so I used the matte top coat again for my next manicure. First, I applied Julep Morganas my base color. Then I grabbed Shimmer Polish in Tammy, a glitter filled with gold, purple, black, and silver! I didn’t want a lot of glitter on my nails, so I applied the polish a bit differently. Instead of brushing on the polish, I dabbed the tip of the brush all over my nail. It spread out the glitter quite nicely! Finally, I mattified the whole look. I think this is the perfect manicure!

Last but not least is a funky manicure of my own creation! I began with black as my base using Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics in Tarred. I was hoping to create a jelly sandwich manicure, and applied a layer of Shimmer Polish in Vanessa. Vanessa is a cool mix of silver, red, and black glitters, with hints of many other colors as well. My manicure went a bit crazy when I attempted to use another coat of Tarred for the top of the jelly sandwich. The glitter was almost completely hidden! I got creative and dabbed a tissue over the wet polish to remove some of the black. The result was this neat look! It’s unconventional, but I love the rock star look I achieved. It’s also similar to a galaxy manicure! Sometimes our nail polish mistakes can lead to fun looks after all!

All in all, I am still so impressed with Shimmer Polish. You really can’t go wrong with polishes that can be worn alone, layered, and used in nail art. These versatile polishes can be purchased on Etsy HERE. You can also like Shimmer Polish on Facebook HERE.

What do you think of these nail art looks?! How do you use glitter to spice up your manicure?

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

Indie Spotlight: The Divine Collection by Cameo Colours Lacquers

Posted on March 11, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I have a review of the new Divine Collection by the indie brand Cameo Colours Lacquers. This collection features six holographic polishes in the perfect shades for spring. I apologize in advance, for the photos in this post do not capture the holographic effect as well as I would like. Rest assured that in real life the holo truly does shine! Let me show you the polishes from the Divine Collection.

First up is Athena, a light purple holo that can be classified as a lilac shade. It is opaque in three coats, as the formula is sheer but easy to work with. I love the more subdued of look of Athena. This polish is so pretty and feminine! I was impressed with how quickly Athena dried.

The next Divine polish is Brighid, a pastel yellow holo. It was not quite opaque in two coats, so I added a third to ensure it was full coverage. Brighid has a great formula that is a bit on the sheer side. This polish reminds me a bit of Zoya Piaf, but with more of a holographic look instead of a shimmer. Brighid is so light and dainty! I personally don’t think it goes well with my skin tone, but it sure is pretty.

Next up is Hathor, a gorgeous light blue holo. Hathor is opaque in two coats. The formula was a bit patchy with the first layer, but evened right up on the second. Hathor has a very strong holographic effect. I love this one so much! It reminds me of the coveted Color Club Halo Hues. I think Hathor is my favorite from the Divine Collection.

Ishtar is the mint green of the Divine Collection! Opaque in three coats, Ishtar has a green formula that is on the sheer side. The holographic effect is very strong with this polish, and is quite stunning. Ishtar is absolutely perfect for spring, and could be work for a Saint Patrick’s Day look for sure!

Next up is Pele, a pastel orange holo that I would call a tangerine shade. Pele is opaque in two coats. The color is very subtle, but the holo stands out strong. This is the perfect color for summer, or an alternative to a nude nail polish shade. The pastel look is great for those who don’t like “loud” nails.

Last but not least is Venus, a pale pink holo. The formula on this polish was a little patchy, and was opaque in three coats. Venus leans towards a purple shade, and is very feminine. This is a great holographic for an every day look!

All in all, the Divine Collection by Cameo Colours Lacquers provides a great holographic collection with beautiful spring shades! I love the pastel colors that still have a holographic effect. It’s the perfect combination in my book! The Divine Collection is being released on March 15, 2013 on the Cameo Colours Etsy site HERE. Let me know what you think of these polishes!

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

Indie Spotlight: The Land Before Time Collection by LynBDesigns

Posted on February 26, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! I have a really fun review today featuring a collection of polishes based off the animated movie series the Land Before Time from the indie brand LynBDesigns. If you loved those dinosaurs back when you were younger, then I know you are going to adore this nail polish collection! It’s cute and whimsical, yet very versatile. Let me show you these great polishes!

First up is Cera, a light orange base filled with pink, orange, and yellow fine glitters and yellow square glitters. Cera is opaque in two coats, but the formula was a bit uneven so I added a third coat to get the perfect finish. I surprisingly love this polish! It’s more of a subdued orange that I think is a great alternative to a nude nail polish. It also captures the character Cera quite well! The added sparkle from the glitter is a great touch.

The next polish is Ducky, a metallic lime green base with green, gold, and yellow glitters mixed in. The formula was great! It was a bit sheer so I needed three coats to achieve opacity, but Ducky is very buildable. This polish is perfect for Saint Patrick’s Day and for the spring season! It dries very quickly. I also think it’s just as cute as Ducky is in the movies!

Littlefoot is the next polish from the Land Before Time collection! It is a grey base with small white hexagonal glitter and various silver glitters. It has a good formula that is opaque in three coats. This grey leans a bit towards purple for me, which I loved in conjunction with the white and silver glitters! Littlefoot is a stunning and lively neutral polish! Add a pop to your normal grey manicure with this one.

Up next is Petrie, my favorite polish from the bunch! Petrie is a white based polish with black hexagons, bar glitters, diamonds, and green, gold, and holographic glitters sprinkled in. I layered two coats over a plain white polish. Petrie is just gorgeous! I love the formula, as I did not have to fish for any glitters, and I love the look of the multi-shaped black glitters. This polish is just as quirky and cute as the character Petrie!

Last but not least is Spike, a glitter top coat filled with green squares, gold and silver hexagons, gold flowers, and more! I layered one coat over China Glaze Agro for the look above. I was very impressed with Spike — the glitters came out so easily during application! Just one coat alone provided my nails with lots of sparkle! Spike also has a holographic shimmer to it that is a beautiful touch. This is such a fun and spunky top coat!

All in all, I love the Land Before Time collection from LynBDesigns! Not only do the polishes represent the characters well, but they are unique and wearable at the same time. I definitely recommend this collection if you are a fan of this movie franchise, or simply if you are looking for some great new polishes! You can purchase LynBDesigns on Etsy HERE. Full size bottles are $8.00.

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

Indie Spotlight: Glitter Me This Review and a Naming Contest!

Posted on February 22, 2013March 16, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I have a review of a new indie brand called Glitter Me This. Not only are these polishes gorgeous, but make sure you read the entire entry for your chance to name them! First, I’ll show you how I wore the polishes, and then I’ll leave the rules for entering the contest. I hope you find this as fun as I do!

Up first is this pink jelly polish filled with fine pink and silver glitter, silver bars, small lilac hexagons, and large pink hexagons. I layered two coats over L’Oreal Sweet Nothings to get the look in the photos. This beautiful pink has a very good formula. It is a bit on the thick side, but it’s not goopy at all. In fact, the thickness helps to ensure the glitters get spread out well on the nail! I love this pink, as it is very girly and cute. It reminds me of a ballerina or a princess!

The other Glitter Me This polish is a light, frosted purple with medium purple hexagons, small pink and silver hexagons, and tiny teal hexagons. There are also some holographic shards thrown in! I layered two coats over ncLA Malibu Beach Babe to get this funky look! The polish was sheer on its own, so I decided layering would be fun. This purple has a great formula and the glitters apply easily. I love this manicure, as it has a galaxy feel without the hassle of nail art! I also used a matte top coat to make the glitters stand out more. For a more feminine look, layer this purple over white!

Name These Polishes!

Now is your chance to win a full size bottle of these polishes! All you have to do is name them! Please read the rules below carefully to make sure your entry counts. I will also post a photo of the nail polish bottles so you can see the polish in its natural state before layering. Have fun, and good luck!

To enter, leave one comment on this entry with the names you came up with for these polishes.
There is only one entry per person. You may choose one name for each polish, for a total of two names.
You must have a USA address to enter.
You must be 18 or older, or have your parents permission to enter.
This contest will run until midnight EST on Friday, March 22.
I have the right to change or add to the rules at any time during the giveaway.
The winners will be chosen by Glitter Me This and me based on creativity and how well it matches the look of the polish.
Winners will receive one full size bottle of the polish they named.
Make sure you like Adventures in Polishland and Glitter Me This on Facebook to see if you’ve won!

Thank you for entering! Make sure you stop by the Glitter Me This Etsy shop HERE to purchase her polishes!

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

Indie Spotlight: Shimmer Polish Part III

Posted on February 12, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! Today I have Part III of my Shimmer Polish review! In Part I and Part II, I wore each polish on its own. In this entry, you will see the polishes layered over another color. I used one very thin coat of each Shimmer to create the looks you see here. I love that these polishes are so versatile! Let me show you these gorgeous glitters.

First up is Jennifer, a mix of multi-colored pastel glitters with pops of orange and turquoise. I layered one coat over Zoya Blu. The pastel blue base really highlighted all of the glitters in Jennifer, and I think the two are a perfect combination. This manicure is perfect for springtime with an extra sparkle!

Up next is Karen, a mix of pink and purple glitters with flashes of holo hexagons. I layered one coat over Pronto Purple. Karen’s formula was a bit on the thick side, but I didn’t have problems with application. I thought a purple base color would be very complimenting. In the first two photos, you see my manicure with a regular, glossy top coat. On day two, I wanted to change things up a bit, and added my Butter London Matte Finish on top. I just love the matte result! It makes the glitters stand out even more.

Karina is a red and black glitter mix, with sprinkles of purple and holographic grains. I layered this polish over Julep Claudette, and it is the perfect combination! I think it looks like one complete polish. It’s a great manicure for Valentine’s Day, and for those of you who like darker colors. The black glitters really make this red color unique and edgy.

Last but not least is Linna, a gorgeous mix of green, red, blue, gold, and silver glitters. I layered Linna over Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics in Chlorophyll. The application was great! This is my favorite manicure from this post. I think these polishes are perfect together, and I have been loving green nails lately. I would definitely wear this look again in the future!

All in all, I love how versatile Shimmer Polish is! Each color can be worn alone as an opaque glitter in just 2-3 coats, or you can layer one coat over another polish for a unique look. Shimmer Polish sells on Etsy for $12 per bottle HERE. You can also like the brand on Facebook HERE.

Stay tuned for Part IV, the final post in the Shimmer Polish series!

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