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Manicure March | Julep in Janel

Posted on March 29, 2016March 11, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! It’s time to swatch the last Julep nail polish of Manicure March. This time it is a polish that doesn’t look too exciting in the bottle, but I still felt the need to swatch it before decluttering it right away. I do find that sometimes nail polish looks really different on the nails than it does in the bottle. That can be frustrating at times, but I do love when the polish is even better than I expected! Let me share my thoughts on Janel with all of you.

Janel is a berry red polish with a slight magenta shimmer. The formula is excellent, and opaque in two coats. I’m not usually a big fan of shimmer polishes, but because the shimmer in Janel isn’t very strong I really like it. I also noticed that Janel looks lighter on the nails than it does in the bottle. I’m glad about that, because otherwise I wouldn’t like it with my skin tone as much. I’m keeping Janel in my stash for sure!

All in all, I’m so glad I decided to give Janel a swatch. It is a stunning fall color, and I think I’ll get some use out of it in the summer, too. During Manicure March I kept two Julep polishes and destashed two as well. Please let me know in the comments if you still like Julep nail polish, or have you been decluttering it as well.

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 | Julep in Alfre

Posted on March 18, 2016February 29, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today’s nail polish review is a really interesting one. Back when I first started blogging, I fell in love with Julep nail polishes. For some reason, I just had to have the polish Alfre, which is a metallic purple. I ended up doing a swap for it, and I think I wore it once. I’ve never been a big fan of metallic nail polishes, so I’m not sure why I wanted Alfre so much. I decided to swatch it during my declutter project to see it on my nails. Let me share my thoughts on Alfre with you.

Alfre is a metallic purple polish with silver shimmer. The formula is, unfortunately, horrible! It is watery, and that made application a big mess. Alfre is also very streaky, which can often happen with metallic polishes. I don’t know why I loved this so much a few years ago! Perhaps the formula changed over time, but there is no way I can keep this. Alfre needs to go!

All in all, I’m so glad I tried out Alfre again. I honestly don’t remember why I needed this nail polish, but I’m glad it is no longer taking up space in my collection. I would love to know in the comments if you’ve ever purchased a polish, and then years later you’re not sure why. Perhaps the color isn’t your taste, or the finish is not what you usually wear. Definitely share your polish story with me!

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 | Julep in Teri

Posted on March 17, 2016February 25, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! It’s time to swatch another Julep nail polish! I wasn’t kidding when I said I owned a lot of them. Today I’ll be reviewing Teri, which is a polish that has survived a few declutters in the past. I’m know I’ve tested this polish a few times before, and it’s always stuck around because there is a lot missing from this bottle. Let me go ahead and show you this polish, and let you know if I’m keeping it this time.

Teri is a peachy pink nail polish with a creme formula. The formula is okay, as it is very opaque, but is too thick to get a smooth application. You can see in the photos above that the polish is uneven. Despite the pretty color, it’s time to say goodbye to Teri. I just have no need for nail polishes that have less than good formulas. This is especially true when the polish shade is not unique.

All in all, I’m glad to be finally destashing Teri. The color is very pretty and looks good with my skin tone, but I’m sure I own something very similar in my collection. I’ll have to be on the lookout for it in the next stage of my declutter project, which you will find out more about at the end of Manicure March. Please let me know in the comments if you have any polishes that have survived multiple declutters. Why did you hold onto it? Did you eventually get rid of it? I’d love to know!

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 | Julep in Bergen

Posted on March 14, 2016February 25, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I am reviewing another nail polish from the brand Julep. I own so many Julep nail polishes that sometimes I can’t even remember if I’ve ever used them. Bergen is one of those polishes, but when I searched my blog I found that I used it back in 2014 (see that post HERE)! I was interested to give this nail polish another swatch to see why it wasn’t memorable. Let me share a review of Bergen with you!

Bergen is a really unique nail polish. The shade is a silvery blue, and there is a silver shimmer running throughout the base. Bergen has a really good formula that is opaque in two coats. I recommend letting each coat dry completely before adding on another, as the polish can bunch up when it’s still tacky on the nail. Bergen is not the polish shade I typically reach for when doing my nails, but I have to say I really love it! I’ve decided to keep this one in my collection in hopes that I’ll wear it more often.

All in all, sometimes a nail polish isn’t very memorable when it’s just one of many in your collection. While that can mean it’s got a bad formula or a boring color, other times it’s just that the polish isn’t your usual cup of tea. I’m so glad I rediscovered Bergen from Julep. I own nothing else like it in my stash, and I’m glad it has a great formula. I’d love to know in the comments if you’ve ever found a nail polish in your collection and had no recollection of using it. Please tell me I’m not alone in doing that!

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 | Julep in Katie

Posted on March 4, 2016February 16, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Manicure March continues today with a review of one of my many Julep nail polishes. I own dozens of Julep polishes after subscribing to the service so long, and also from purchasing mystery boxes. I absolutely loved Julep when the site first launched. Unfortunately, Julep changed its brush and formula over time, and I don’t think the quality is as great anymore. I’ve decided I’m only going to keep Julep polishes that I absolutely love. Let me show go ahead and show you Katie!

Katie is a magenta polish with blue and magenta shimmer. The formula is good, but it does pull. I was really sad when the polish pulled upon application (meaning it bunched up on the nail instead of going on smoothly). The color is absolutely stunning, and I was thinking about keeping it in my stash. However, because the formula isn’t great, I decided to let it go. I’m sure I can find another polish in a similar color that has a better formula. Let’s be real – I probably already own one!

All in all, while I think Katie is a beautiful polish, I’m destashing it due to its wonky formula. Sometimes I do keep nail polish with imperfect formulas if I really love the color, but to be honest I wouldn’t wear Katie often anyway. Please let me know in the comments if you keep polishes purely for the shade, even if the formula isn’t the best. I would love to know!

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

Silver and Gold Christmas Manicure | Sally Hansen Celeb City and Julep Vivien

Posted on December 21, 2015December 18, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! I can’t believe Christmas is just a few days away! I thought I would share a simple manicure to put together to help celebrate the season. I recently watched Rudolph and the Island of Misfit Toys, and I’ve been humming the song Silver and Gold. I don’t see many silver and gold manicures, so I created my own! Let me show you my silver and gold nail polish look!
Silver and Gold Christmas Manicure | Adventures in Polishland I began my silver and gold manicure with a base of Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Celeb City. I applied two coats and let that dry before applying my gold glitter. For my silver and gold effect, I looked for a gold chunky glitter, and found the perfect polish in Julep Vivien. I applied two coats of Viven and let that dry before using a glossy top coat. This manicure is so easy to create, but it looks so festive! If you’re not a fan of the typical red and green color scheme during Christmas, definitely try this out for yourself. You can use any silver and gold polishes you own!

All in all, I’m loving my silver and gold manicure. It is quick if you’re in a rush, and can go with any outfit this holiday season! Plus, if you have long-wearing polish it can last all the way through until New Year’s! Definitely let me know if you’ll be trying out a silver and gold manicure in the comments.

My Top 5 Dark Nail Polishes for Fall | #FallintoPolishland

Posted on September 28, 2015September 16, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! My fall nail polish series #FallintoPolishland continues today with my top five dark nail polishes. When I first began my blog three and a half years ago, I absolutely avoided dark polishes! I was into brights and neons, but when I first received dark nail polishes for review I was converted. I now absolutely love dark polishes, especially in the colder months. Let me go ahead and share my favorites with you!

LVX – Dahlia [BUY]

First up is Dahlia from the high end brand LVX. This is a deep crimson polish that has a great formula. Dahlia is perfect for those of us who don’t like the traditional red nail. It looks beautiful even on those with the fairest skin tone. LVX is a vegan brand, so I think it’s worth the higher price tag!

Covergirl – Sapphire Flare [BUY]

I, of course, have to include a couple dark blue polishes, as blue is my go-to shade in the fall. Sapphire Flare from Covergirl is a great option from the drugstore. It is a navy polish that is opaque in two coats. While dark, the polish is still very blue in color. Plus, this shade is great for nail art as well!

Milani – Ink Spot [BUY]

Next up is Ink Spot from Milani, an even darker blue polish. Ink Spot has an amazing, high-gloss formula. It is nearly black, but still has a rich blue pigmentation. Ink Spot also has undertones of purple, so take that into consideration when you’re deciding between it and Sapphire Flare!

Julep – Brandt [BUY]

One of my all-time favorite Juleps is Brandt, an off-black polish from the Trina Turk collection. Brandt has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats. It looks good with any outfit because the color is not a stark black. Brandt looks great layered under glitter, or on its own! It’s been a staple of mine for the past three years.

Michael Marcus – Once You Go Matte [BUY]

Last but not least is Once You Go Matte from Michael Marcus. I really love matte nail polish, and it’s always a bonus when a polish has a matte formula because I don’t have to reach for a separate top coat. Once You Go Matte has an amazing formula that dries quickly. I’ve worn it countless times since I got it!

That wraps up another #FallintoPolishland post! I hope you were inspired to grab some of your dark nail polishes out of the back of your collection to wear this season. If you’ve shied away from darks in the past, now is the perfect time to try them out! Of course, please share your favorite dark nail polishes with me in the comments!

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.

My Top 5 Metallic Nail Polishes for Fall | #FallintoPolishland

Posted on September 21, 2015September 21, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! My fall nail polish series called #FallintoPolishland continues this week with my top five metallic nail polishes. I’m usually not a big fan of metallic nail polishes, but there is something about the fall season that makes me want to wear them! I usually associate fall with nature, so I guess it makes sense that I go for polishes styled after elements. I reached into my nail polish collection to find my favorite metallics that are still available for purchase. Let me go ahead and share them with you!

Julep – Isla [BUY]

First up is Julep Isla, a white metallic polish. Isla has a good formula that is opaque in three coats. I’ve used this polish a ton over the years! It’s great on its own, but I’ve used it under a lot of glitter top coats. The metallic finish adds a lot of shine, and is the perfect base. Isla is also a good transitional polish to take you from fall into winter.

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear – Celeb City [BUY]

Next up is Celeb City from Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear. Celeb City is the perfect silver polish, and is the only polish in my entire nail polish collection for which I keep a back-up bottle. The formula is perfection, and is opaque in two coats. I highly recommend Celeb City!

Zoya – Brooklyn [BUY]

While I have tried a lot of gold polishes over the years, Zoya Brooklyn is the best metallic gold for sure. The formula is good, and is opaque in two coats. Brooklyn does show a lot of brush strokes, and while that is normal for metallic formulas, I recommend being precise in your application for a cleaner look. Brooklyn also has a stunning holographic shimmer, which adds a lot of dimension.

Milani Color Statement – Bronze [BUY]

Next up is Bronze from Milani, which is a pink-based bronze polish. Bronze has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. I really love the liquid metal effect in Bronze. Plus, the pink undertones give the polish an almost rose gold look. Bronze can be paired with any outfit this fall as well.

Zoya – Claudine [BUY]

Last but not least is Claudine from Zoya, a graphite metallic polish. Claudine is absolutely stunning, and has an awesome formula. I love how glossy Claudine is without top coat, too. Claudine is perfect to pair with leather jackets and cozy sweaters. I think this is a must have in your collection!

That wraps up today’s #FallintoPolishland post! Make sure to let me know in the comments what your favorite metallic nail polishes are, and stay tuned for another installment of #FallintoPolishland post next week!

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.

My Top 5 Green Nail Polishes for Fall | #FallintoPolishland

Posted on September 14, 2015September 5, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today starts off a brand new series on my blog called #FallintoPolishland! Fall is my favorite season, and there are a lot of nail polishes that I especially enjoy wearing in the fall months. I decided to put together a few blog posts each featuring a particular nail polish family. Today I’m showing off my top five green nail polishes for fall. Green is one of my favorite colors, and I especially love it in nail polish form. Let me show you the polishes I picked out to share with all of you!

OPI – Stranger Tides [BUY]

OPI Stranger Tides is a beautiful muted green from the On Stranger Tides Collection that came out a few years back in celebration of Pirates of the Caribbean. Strander Tides has an awesome formula that is opaque in three coats. The muted shade is great for transitioning from summer to fall, and is perfect for those who don’t like dark shades. Stranger Tides is also office appropriate, as it can pass for a neutral shade.

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics – Chlorophyll [BUY]

Next up is Chlorophyll from Obsessive Compulsive Cosemtics. This is a richly pigmented teal polish. Chlorophyll has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. This nail polish will look great on every skin tone, and looks beautiful when paired with a gold glitter. While Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics is more of a higher end brand, the entire brand is 100% vegan and cruelty free. I highly recommend it!

Essie – Stylenomics [BUY]

The last creme formula I have to share is Stylenomics from Essie. Stylenomics is a very dark green that is nearly black. The formula is amazing and opaque in two coats. I really love Stylenomics, and wear it every fall. While this polish is from an older Essie collection, I found it on Kohl’s website! You never know where you’ll find older collections.

RUFFIAN – Hedge Fund [BUY]

Next up is Hedge Fund from the Birchbox Exclusive brand RUFFIAN. I’ve been in love with this polish ever since I received it, so if you’ve been an Adventures in Polishland reader for a while you’ve probably seen me gush over this in the past. Hedge Fund is an army green with gold shimmer. The formula is perfection, and so is the wear. It’s now only available for purchase in a kit, but if you’re interested I say go for it!

Julep – Marion [BUY]

Last but not least is Julep Marion, a deep teal polish with silver shimmer. Marion has an excellent formula that is opaque in two coats. It’s perfect for fall, and for the holiday season. Marion has a super glossy finish, so you can skip the top coat and save time. Make sure to shop using Ebates to earn 5% cash back when you shop on Julep’s website.

That brings us to the end of the first #FallintoPolishland post! I hope you liked seeing my favorite green nail polishes for fall. Next week this series will continue, so make sure to follow my blog to see when those posts go live!

What are your favorite green nail polishes for fall?! Let me know in the comments!

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.

Julep Mystery Box Swatches | High End Nail Polish for $2

Posted on September 7, 2015September 4, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! It’s been a very long time since I received a Julep Maven box, or even purchased anything from Julep. I’ve been on a pretty tight budget lately, and nail polish is one of those things I can easily stop buying. That being said, Julep had an amazing sale a couple weeks back called Savvy Deals. This sale included a Mystery Box with 10 polishes for $20. I was on the fence about purchasing a box, but then my mom mentioned she was interested in the box, too. We decided to each put in $10 and split the polishes! I just couldn’t resist scoring some Julep polishes for $2 each when the regular retail price is $14. Let me go ahead and show you the five polishes I picked out.

First up is Kelsey, a light peach creme polish. Kelsey’s formula is a bit difficult to work with, as were all of the creme polishes I received. It is thick, tacky, and took a long time to dry. That being said, the end result is gorgeous! I absolutely love how Kelsey looks with my skin tone. It is worth dealing with a troublesome formula for this stunning result.

Next up is Jules, a pastel pink creme. Jules also has a finicky formula, but it does dry nicely in two coats. I recommend using thin coats, and letting the coats dry completely before adding another layer. I do have other polishes in my collection that I would reach for over Jules considering the formula, but it’s still a gorgeous pink!

Julep – Princess Grace The last creme I received is Princess Grace, what Julep calls a Papaya color. Princess Grace is the biggest disappointment for me, because I love the shade, but the formula is too much trouble. Unlike Kelsey and Jules, which I could work with, Princess Grace’s formula is too tacky and thick. I had to redo my nails to get a clean look, and they still aren’t perfect. I’d stay away from this polish!

Next up is Paula, my favorite of the bunch! Paula is a purply-blue polish with gold shimmer. It has a great formula that is opaque in two coats, and is just beautiful. I can’t wait to wear this again!

Last but not least is Glam Roc, a dark purple polish with multi-colored matte glitter. Glam Roc has a Stardust Finish, which means it is a textured polish. While textured polish isn’t trendy anymore, I still really like it and was glad to receive Glam Roc in the mystery box. Glam Roc has a great formula that is opaque in two coats, plus it dries really quickly. I’m going to wear this in the fall months for sure!

All in all, I’m pretty happy with my Julep Mystery Box! I only spent $10, but I got two polishes I really love, two that are okay, and only one dud. I still consider that a win seeing as Julep retails for $14 per polish. Plus, I used Ebates and got 5% cash back! The moral of the story is, you can still own high end polishes without paying the high end price. Simply keep an eye out for deals!

How often do you shop for high end nail polish? What are your savings tips?