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2018 Nail Polish Project Pan | Nail Polish I Want to Use Up This Year

Posted on February 13, 2018May 24, 2018 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! I recently did another round of decluttering my nail polish collection, and I found a few polishes that I’ve used up quite a bit. It inspired me to do a Project Pan with some nail polish this year! If you are new to the concept of a Project Pan, it is when you pick some products in your beauty collection to focus on using for a specific period of time. My goal is to empty the polishes in this blog post by the end of the year! Let me show you the seven nail polishes I picked for my 2018 Project Pan!

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

Please note that I used a black marker to draw a line on each product so I can see my progress throughout the year.

Ruffian Nail Lacquer in Hedge Fund

One of the polishes that inspired this project is Hedge Fund, a gorgeous army green with a metallic gold shimmer. This is one of my all-time favorite nail polishes, and I’ve used about a third of the bottle already! I want to use this up because I don’t think this nail polish is vegan, and this polish is also discontinued. I will probably focus on this polish a lot during the fall.

Julep in Susie

I also have another green polish in my project, this time a mint green from Julep. Susie is one of the first Julep polishes I ever owned, and I absolutely love it. Now that I’ve owned it for almost six years (wow!), I think it’s time to finish this up once and for all. It should be easy to empty this, as the bottle is small and I’ve already used about one third of it.

Julep in Brandt

I am also including the Julep shade Brandt from the Fall 2012 Trina Turk Collection. This is a beautiful off-black nail polish, and I feel like I haven’t used it because I am saving it. However, this is such an old polish that I’m ready to enjoy what’s left of it. I might use this polish a bit this winter, but this is another one I will focus on in the fall.

Zoya in Arizona

I wanted to include a Zoya nail polish, so I went for the one mini polish I have in Arizona. This is a bright orange cream, and I think I can get a lot of use out of this in the summer. Arizona will be a bit of a challenge since it is almost full, but I think I can do it!

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics in Grandma

The next polish is also a fun and bright shade in Grandma from Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics. I love this nail polish, but I also own another one in my collection that is nearly identical. Since this polish is quite old, and I’ve already used a bit of it, I decided to include it in this project.

Milani in White

Similarly, I own two bottles of white nail polish, so I’m including one of them in this project. My favorite white of all time is Fantom from the brand LVX. Thus, I’m holding onto that one and hoping to use up this white from Milani. It is going to be a challenge to empty this nail polish, but I’m hoping to wear it in combination with other polishes to get some good use out of it.

Milani in Blue Jay

Last but not least is another Milani polish in Blue Jay. I also tend to hoard blue polishes, so it’s time to use up one of them. I absolutely love this polish, but it’s from an old and discontinued collection, so it’s time for it to go. I chose this shade of blue because it is a bit more muted than many of the others in my collection, so I think that makes it more wearable for any time of year.

That wraps up my introductory post for my 2018 Nail Polish Project Pan! I’m so excited to see if I can empty these seven polishes by the end of the year. I also think this will be a great learning opportunity for me, as I get to see how much use I can get from a single bottle of nail polish. I will make sure to check in a few times throughout this year to let you know how my project is going!

Join my Project Pan by using the hashtag #PolishlandProjectPan on social media!

5 Nail Polishes for a Job Interview

Posted on August 29, 2016August 23, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! With the new school year right around the corner, I thought it would be helpful to share with you my favorite nail polishes for a job interview. Whether you are interviewing for an internship or a full time gig, or simply looking for more office appropriate shades, this post is for you! You’ve probably heard it before, but whenever you head to a professional job interview, you want to make sure the interviewer is focused on you, and not on your makeup, nails, or fragrance. I personally like to wear neutral shades of nail polish that look very clean and subdued whenever I’m in a professional environment. This post will share my top five nail polish picks for a job interview that work with all skin tones!

Quick disclaimer before I jump right into the post – make sure to use your own judgment before heading into your job interview! What polish is appropriate will depend on the job itself. For example, if you’re applying for a job at a beauty store you can probably get away with something more daring! I wanted to focus solely on the professional world in this post.

Julep – Alexandra [BUY]

First up is Julep Alexandra, an off-white cream polish. I think this yellow-toned polish is perfect because it is really understated, and not bright like a true white polish is on the nails. Alexandra’s formula is great, and I applied three coats for an even, opaque manicure. If you like lighter colors, a cream shade will work really well for you no matter your skin tone. It always looks sophisticated in my opinion!

Zoya – Rowan [BUY]

Next up is Zoya Rowan, a taupe polish that dries to a satin finish. Rowan is a stunning polish, and I love how soft the finish is. Rowan’s formula is excellent, and opaque in two coats. It also dries really quickly if you’re in a bit of a rush. Taupe is a great color family for professional nail polish, so pick the shade that you prefer!

LVX – Cashmere [BUY]

This next polish is an interesting one, because whenever I look at the bottle I’m unsure of how to describe the color. LVX Cashmere is, according to the brand’s website, a cool grey polish. I find that it has a pink undertone, which I really like. Cashmere also has a nice formula that is opaque in two coats. If you want an off-white polish that isn’t a cream shade, then try a cool grey!

Wet ‘n Wild Megalast – Bit the Bullet [BUY]

If you would like a bit more color on your nails, go for a mauve shade. I love Wet ‘n Wild Megalast’s Bite the Bullet. Not only is it super affordable, but it has a great formula as well. Mauve is another color family where the shades can vary widely. I really like the purple-toned mauves, but if you prefer the pinks that works well, too!

Zoya – Aubrey [BUY]

Last but not least is Zoya Aubrey, a deep plum purple shade. If you really want to wear color during your interview, I recommend choosing a deep purple. This can be a purple like Aubrey, with a brown undertone, or something with more of a red undertone. I think Aubrey is a great choice, as the formula is awesome and opaque in two coats. Plus, the purple isn’t too noticeable. It’s a great, happy medium for when you want a color, but don’t want it too bright!

That wraps up my picks for job interview appropriate nail polish! I hope you found this post helpful whether you are a first-time interviewee or a seasoned veteran looking to change things up on the nails. I wish you all the best of luck on your interview!

What nail polish shade did you wear to your last job interview? Share in a comment!

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

July Empties | #365DaysofEmpties Update

Posted on August 1, 2016July 26, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! It’s now August, and it’s time for me to share an update on my #365DaysofEmpties project. July was unfortunately a bit of a fail for me. I only used up three products! I think because I emptied so many products in June, I just wasn’t close to finishing that many others in my collection in July. Nonetheless, I’m happy to be sharing my mini reviews on these products with you!
I typically separate my empties out into different categories, but with only three products this month, I’ll discuss them all together. Also, I won’t be repurchasing any of these products for reasons I discuss in yesterday’s Upcoming Adventures, so you’ll get my mini reviews only this month.

Maybelline Fit Me Shine Free Foundation Stick – 1 tube [BUY]

Mini Review: I really like this foundation stick because it does a great job at providing my skin some coverage while being no fuss to apply. It does cling to dry patches, so I recommend only using this if you have normal or oily skin. I used it with a primer and set it with powder, and found that it lasted all day. It inspired me to look for other foundation sticks that I may enjoy more!

Julep Conditioning Nail Polish Remover – 1 bottle [BUY]

Mini Review: This is one of my all-time favorite nail polish removers. It takes off all my polish while not drying out my nails or cuticles. Plus, it doesn’t smell. Unfortunately, it is quite expensive and is often out of stock on Julep’s website. If you are looking to splurge on a remover that you know will work wonders, definitely check this one out!

Bath & Body Works Merry Cookie Hand Soap – 1 bottle [BUY]

Mini Review: It took me so long to finish up this hand soap because I had it in a bathroom I don’t use as much. I finally ran out of this Christmas soap, and I have to say there was nothing really special about it. Basically, the soap smelled like vanilla and cinnamon, which is nice but not so nice I’d rush out for it again. Sometimes I get sucked into the festive products that stores offer just because of the packaging!

JULY EMPTIES: 3

TOTAL 2016 EMPTIES: 58

Unfortunately I am now just slightly behind on my goal of finishing up 100 products this year. I hope next month I will use up more products in my stash! I know I am running low on dry shampoo and night cream, so perhaps you’ll be seeing those in my next empties post! Please let me know in the comments what you finished up this month. I would love to know what you liked or didn’t like! Here’s to using up more products in August.

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

Dare to Compare | Madam Glam So Nude vs Julep Lynn

Posted on July 1, 2016May 15, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! It’s been a little while since my last Dare to Compare post, and today I am moving onto the pink nail polishes in my collection. I began my declutter project with more pink polishes in my collection than anything else, so I’ve been really focusing on only keeping the pinks that I absolutely love. Today I’m comparing two pink nudes, one from Madam Glam and the other from Julep. While it was evident to me that these polishes are not exact duplicates, I still wanted to try them side-by-side. Let me share the results with you!

First up is So Nude from the brand Madam Glam. So Nude is a pale pink with peachy undertones, and a rich pink, silver, and gold shimmer that I just couldn’t seem to capture on camera. This polish has an okay formula, but I found it to be quite patchy upon application. So Nude’s formula has definitely changed over time, and not in a good way unfortunately. I do love the end result once I layer on three coats, as the shimmer is just gorgeous in person.

Next up is Julep Lynn, a peachy-pink polish with a metallic formula. Lynn has a good formula that is opaque in two coats, but you can see a lot of brush strokes due to the metallic nature of this polish. I do like Lynn, but my nail polish tastes just don’t extend to metallics much. I loved this polish a lot when I first got it, but my tastes have changed over the years.

Here is a look at the polishes side-by-side, with Madam Glam So Nude on my pinky and ring fingers, and Julep Lynn on my middle and pointer fingers. These polishes are definitely different shades, but they are quite similar. I’ve decided to declutter both of these polishes, just because I don’t find myself wearing them in the future. I do recommend Julep Lynn, it’s just not for me!

All in all, I’m glad I tried out these polishes together even though they aren’t as similar as I originally thought based on how they look in the bottle. I don’t have the best luck with lighter pinks, especially those with peachy undertones. Please let me know in the comments what your favorite polish in this color family is! I’m definitely going to keep an eye out for a good one.

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 | Julep Evelyn vs butter LONDON Queen Vic

Posted on June 20, 2016May 14, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I have my last nail polish comparison in the purple color family. I’m surprised I don’t own more purple nail polishes, as I really love the way they look! Nonetheless, I noticed both Julep Evelyn and butter LONDON Queen Vic look very similar in the bottle. I figured I didn’t need to own both of these polishes, so I decided to swatch them to see which one I like better. Let me share the results with you!

First up is Julep Evelyn, a deep purple polish with a hint of red pigmentation. Evelyn has a good formula that is opaque in two coats. It does have a thicker formula, so prepare for that by wiping most of the product off the brush before applying the polish to the nails. Evelyn looks amazing on my nails, and it is a great shade for the fall months.

Next up is butter LONDON in Queen Vic. This polish is also a deep magenta purple. Queen Vic has a good formula, but it does tend to be streaky. I needed to apply three coats to achieve opacity and get a smooth finish. I think Queen Vic’s formula changed over time, because in the past I only needed two coats. Sometimes polish formulas can definitely get wonky over time, so unfortunately I think that happened to Queen Vic.

Here is a look at the polishes side-by-side, with Julep Evelyn on my pinky and ring fingers and butter LONDON Queen Vic on my middle and pointer fingers. Evelyn is just slightly darker than Queen Vic, but this difference is very miniscule. If you own one of these polishes, there is no need to purchase the other! I’ve decided to declutter Queen Vic since I prefer Evelyn’s formula.

All in all, I am surprised to see how similar these polishes are to one another! I know Julep often gets a bad rep, but while I’ve definitely found some Julep duds, there are a lot of Julep products I really enjoy. The opposite goes for butter LONDON polishes – they are well loved, but they just don’t always work the best for me. I would love to know in the comments if there are any popular polish brands that you don’t like. It’s such an interesting conversation!

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 | Comparing 4 Midnight Blue Nail Polishes

Posted on June 6, 2016May 9, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today’s Dare to Compare post is going to be a big one. I own four nail polishes in my collection that are midnight blue shades, meaning they are almost black, but have a blue pigmentation. I knew I had to try them out side-by-side to see if they are exact duplicates of one another. The polishes range from the affordable price of $5 to the higher end price of $14, so I have a polish for every budget to share. Let me show you these polishes individually, and then side-by-side.

First up is Milani Color Statement in the shade Ink Spot. This is a highly pigmented polish that can be worn in just one coat. I added two coats for this blog post, just to ensure an opaque finish. Ink Spot is a great polish, and one that is super affordable. I recommend this polish if you are on a budget and looking for a solid one-coat formula.

Next up is Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Night Flight. This polish has been my go to for a while when it comes to midnight blue polishes. The formula is excellent, and it is opaque in two coats. Plus, it does dry very quickly, which I really appreciate. I reach for Night Flight because it does dry so fast. This is one is also super affordable at around $5.00 at the drugstore.

The third midnight blue polish I own is Madam Glam’s Endless Night. In the bottle this looks much more blue than it is black, but once I apply two coats it takes on the same blue-black look. Endless Night also has a good formula, but it is a stainer! Make sure to wear a healthy base coat if you own this polish. Madam Glam polishes retail for around $8.00, but Endless Night is discontinued.

Last but not least is Julep Kristy. This polish has a good formula that is opaque in two coats, but it does have a tendency to stain as well. I’m not sure if I’ve ever worn Kristy before, but it is a nice polish. If you’re looking for a splurge polish this might be a good one for you!

Here is a look at all four polishes side-by-side. From left to right are: Milani Ink Spot, Sally Hansen Night Flight, Madam Glam Endless Night, and Julep Kristy. As you can see, these polishes are all nearly identical. In person both Endless Night and Kristy are a touch more blue than Ink Spot and Night Flight, but honestly there is no need for me to own all four of these polishes! I’m going to keep only Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Night Flight, just because I love the quick dry formula.

All in all, I hope you found this post helpful if you are looking for a midnight blue polish. I think all of the polishes mentioned here are great options, but I definitely recommend Night Flight. It is available at the drugstore or online HERE for a fabulous and affordable price! Please let me know in the comments if you own any of these polishes, or if you have a favorite midnight blue. I would love to hear your thoughts!

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

Dare to Compare | Covergirl Sapphire Flare vs Julep Char

Posted on June 1, 2016May 4, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I have another nail polish comparison to share with you, this time a good matchup between a drugstore polish and a higher end brand. I’ve been really impressed with the Covergirl Outlast Stay Brilliant line ever since it hit stores, so I just had to see how close in shade it is to a Julep polish I own as well. Let me share these polishes with you individually, and then side-by-side.

First up is Sapphire Flare from Covergirl, a deep navy blue creme polish. Sapphire Flare is an excellent polish. It is opaque in one coat and applies smoothly to the nail. I am wearing two coats in the photos above, just because adding a second layer adds to the high-gloss finish and deepens the pigmentation just a bit. Sapphire Flare is a great navy to have in your nail polish collection.

Next up is Julep Char, another navy blue creme, but with a brighter blue shade. Char also has a really good formula that is opaque in two coats. It tends to be a bit streaky, but nothing unmanageable for sure. Char is a gorgeous polish, and a good one to get from Julep if you’re picking out a polish for your monthly Maven subscription.

Here is a look at Sapphire Flare and Char side-by-side. I’m wearing Sapphire Flare on my pinky and ring fingers and Char on my middle and pointer fingers. As you can see, the colors are very, very similar, but not exact duplicates. Sapphire Flare is almost a black, while in Char you can see the blue quite clearly. These are both great polishes, but I much prefer the shade of Sapphire Flare, and will be keeping that one in my collection.

All in all, I’m glad I tested out these polishes together so I can recommend them both to you. My top choice is definitely Sapphire Flare, which can be purchased at the drugstore or on Amazon HERE for around $5.00. I’m excited to wear this navy shade when fall rolls around! Definitely let me know your favorite navy polish in the comments!

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

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 | 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 | Wet ‘n Wild Fergie Miami Spirit vs Julep Lena

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

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

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

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

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

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