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Simple Glam Makeup Look featuring Rimmel London | All Drugstore Products

Posted on February 19, 2016February 11, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I have a makeup look to share with you featuring products from the drugstore brand Rimmel London. I was recently sent a package from Rimmel filled with products to create a glam makeup look. I couldn’t wait to test out all of the goodies and share them with you! In this post I’ll first be sharing each product individually and my first impressions of the product. Then I’ll share my completed makeup look at the end! Let’s go ahead and get started with this simple glam makeup look using all drugstore products!

THE PRODUCTS

Lasting Finishing Skin Perfecting Full Coverage Foundation – $7.99

I was really intrigued with this foundation. It claims to be a long-wearing, 25-hour formula, and it also is formulated to be full coverage. I received the shade Classic Ivory, which is a bit too dark for me right now. The formula is definitely a medium coverage, and I recommend it for those with combination or oily skin, because it does stick to dry patches. That being said, it dries to a beautiful semi-matte finish. I love the feel of it on the skin, and it wears nicely throughout the day. I think this is a good pick for a drugstore foundation!

Rimmel London Natural Bronzer Natural Bronzer – $5.99

I was a bit hesitant to try out this bronzer, but if you’re going for a glam look you might as well go all out! I’m really impressed with this bronzer. It applies so smoothly and blends out beautifully. It truly is a natural bronzer, and I highly recommend it for bronzer newbies like me. I received the shade Sun Bronze, which worked well with my fair complexion. I’m excited to continue using this product!

Rimmel Scandaleyes in Bulletproof Beige Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Stick in Bulletproof Beige – $4.59

I went for this shimmery gold eyeshadow stick for my entire eye look. I applied this cream shadow over the lid and into the crease. It’s a beautiful color, and because it’s shimmery it can stand on its own. I like that this is a no fuss product! Plus, because I was wearing a bold lip, I knew I could go lighter on the eyes.

Scandaleyes Xtreme Mascara – $6.99

I’ve had mixed luck with Rimmel mascaras in the past, but I have to say I am really impressed with this one! The brush has the rubbery texture that I like, and it definitely gives me both volume and length. The formula is a bit on the wet side, but I’m sure once it dries out a bit I will love it even more. I got the shade Black, and I highly recommend this one!

Rimmel London Moisture Renew Lipstick Moisture Renew Lipstick – $7.99

Last but not least is the Moisture Renew Lipstick in Red Alert. While this shade is outside of my comfort zone, I am loving the formula! It definitely feels very moisturizing on the lips, and it applies very smoothly. I often feel weird when wearing lipstick, but I found this one very comfortable to wear. The red color is a bit staining, but I used a makeup remover wipe and that worked well. I will be checking out the other shades in this line for sure!

THE MAKEUP LOOK

Here is my final look! I used all drugstore products in this look, and I’m really happy with how it turned out. I would wear this for a special occasion or a night out, or I would wear a lighter lip color for a day look. All of the products I used will be listed for your convenience.

Rimmel London Lasting Finish Skin Perfecting Full Coverage Foundation in Classic Ivory http://amzn.to/23ZBxvN
Rimmel London Natural Bronzer in Sun Bronze http://amzn.to/1V6Q7LO
NYC New York Color Blush in Riverside Rose http://amzn.to/23ZCnbY
L’Oreal True Match Lumi in Rose http://amzn.to/23ZBNL9
Maybelline BROWdrama Pro Palette in Blonde http://amzn.to/1Q9Z4jc
Rimmel London Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Stick in Bulletproof Beige http://amzn.to/1V6QVQZ
Rimmel London Scandaleyes Xtreme Mascara in Black http://amzn.to/1Kei2cq
Rimmel London Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Transparent http://amzn.to/1V6Rieg
Rimmel London Moisture Renew Lipstick in Red Alert http://amzn.to/23ZD6d8

All in all, I’m so glad I received these products from Rimmel to test out for all of you. I’m quite impressed with the great quality, especially with the mascara and lipstick. Rimmel is often on sale at the drugstore, and coupons can sometimes be found in the Sunday newspaper. I highly recommend trying out these products! Also, please let me know if you’ll be recreating this simple glam look!

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

Makeup I (Almost) Never Use!

Posted on February 17, 2016February 10, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I thought it would be fun if I shared with all of you the makeup products that I almost never use. I review all sorts of beauty products here at Adventures in Polishland, and I really love trying new things. However, the reality of the situation is that in my regular routine I tend to reach for the same products all the time! I’m comfortable with my daily makeup routine, and it’s rare that I step outside the box. Let me share with you the five makeup products that I almost never use!

5. Lipstick

This might sound crazy because I love buying and trying new lip colors, but I rarely wear lipstick! If I’m wearing a lip product I will reach for a tinted lip balm nine times out of ten. I feel really comfortable with a sheer wash of color, but when it comes to lipsticks I shy away. Lipstick is more high maintenance to apply and touch up throughout the day, and I just feel so aware of lipstick when I’m wearing it. There are a few shades that I use regularly, but the rest of my stash sits unused!

4. Eyeshadow

Despite my efforts to wear eyeshadow more often, my palettes still sit unused most days. I’d say I wear eyeshadow perhaps 1-2 days per month, and even that might be a stretch! Part of my problem is that I’m still not good at application, which can only be improved with more practice. I need to go through my stash and get rid of the shadows I never use for sure!

3. Eyeliner

You can tell I keep the eye area pretty basic, because I never wear eyeliner either! I recently paired down my eyeliner collection to one liquid and one (unopened) pencil. I probably wear eyeliner 1-2 times per year – if that! I just feel that it looks so harsh and overdone with my fair complexion. I’ve tried other shades besides black, but it’s just not my cup of tea. I basically keep them for the odd occasion where I reach for the eyeliner!

2. Bronzer

Next up is bronzer, a product that I’ve only tried to use a few times. I just don’t get it! I’ve watched countless YouTube tutorials, but I can’t get the hang of bronzer. Plus, I don’t mind my nice pale skin. I embrace it!

1. Contour

Finally, a makeup product that I never wear is contour! I don’t even own a contour powder to show you, so I grabbed a stock photo of this Anastasia palette. I definitely think contouring is really cool, and I love seeing how makeup artists use it to transform the face. I think one day I will give it a try, but it’s not in the near future for me.

I hope you enjoyed seeing what makeup products I almost never use! Believe it or not, but I am still very new to makeup. Besides wearing it for dance performances my entire life, I didn’t use makeup regularly until my early twenties. I’m still leaning the ins and outs of beauty products every day, and I think it’s a lot of fun! Please share with me in the comments if there are any makeup products that you rarely use! I would love to know!

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

November PLAY! by Sephora Unboxing | $40 Value for $10

Posted on December 14, 2015December 1, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I am so excited to share with you a brand new subscription service from Sephora called PLAY! by Sephora. As you might now, I’ve tried out a few $10 beauty subscriptions in the past, but ultimately cancelled all of them because I wasn’t impressed with the products, or I got the same items all the time. When I heard that Sephora had its own $10 beauty box, I had to try it out right away. I figured that if all the products were found at Sephora, it had to be good. I joined the PLAY! by Sephora wait list, and was able to get the November box. Let me show you what I got inside my first box!

My November box arrived in the cutest packaging! I love the lipsticks on the box. PLAY! comes with a magazine that details the products inside and how to use them. Plus, it comes with a coupon for a free one-on-one learning session at Sephora that also gives you 50 Beauty Insider Points with any purchase!

PLAY! by Sephora is a sample subscription, and I received six samples in my November box. I’ll be sharing my thoughts on each product in turn!

Stella McCartney ‘Stella’ Perfume – $2.70 retail value

The only product that I’m quite disappointed with in my box is this perfume sample. Sephora gives away these samples for free in store and online, and the packaging even says “Free Sample” on the back. I also won’t be using this perfume because it is a floral scent, which aggravates my allergies. Nonetheless, it has a $2.70 retail value and I can give this to a friend.

Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil – $4.52 retail value

Next I got a deluxe sample of Josie Maran Argan Oil. This is an amazing sample, but it’s one I’ve tried before and it doesn’t work for me. This argan oil is just a bit too heavy for my skin, and I tend to break out when I use it. That being said, I know so many people who would love to get this product. I’m giving mine as a gift for Christmas!

Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Primer – $5.76 retail value

I am so excited about this Make Up For Ever primer! I love trying out new primers, and this is a high end product I would never purchase without trying first. I might save this sample for travel, but it’s definitely great to have on hand. This is exactly the type of product I was hoping to get in my subscription!

Sephora Collection Contour Eye Pencil 12h Wear in My Boyfriend’s Jeans – $4.25 retail value

The next item is a blue eyeliner from Sephora’s own brand. This is something I’m not going to use, simply because I never wear eyeliner, and blue eyeliner is definitely not my style. I think it’s great that Sephora included this, though, because many makeup lovers might not want to buy a blue eyeliner, but would perhaps want to try one. It’s a great idea, just not my taste!

Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil in Rhubarb – $13.33 retail value

Sephora included two lip products in this box, which I absolutely love! The first is this lipstick from Bite Beauty. The shade is stunning, and a bit more daring than I usually wear. I am so excited to be able to wear such a high end lippie for such an affordable price. It’s amazing that this sample alone is worth more than the $10 I paid for the box!

Buxom Full-On Lip Cream in Dolly – $9.50 retail value

Last but not least is a Buxom lip product in the most gorgeous shade. I’ve really come to love Buxom products, and this one is no exception. It can be worn alone, or layered over the Bite Beauty lip product, so that’s awesome that they work together if you wish. I’ve worn this lip gloss already, and absolutely love it!

All in all, my November PLAY! by Sephora box is a $40.06 retail value! I am really excited about the two lip products, and the Make Up Forever primer. Even if I just consider the retail value of those three products, that is $28.59 and nearly triple what I paid. I’m super happy with this box, and will continue subscribing for sure. If you’d like to join, head on over to Sephora’s website HERE. Definitely let me know if you sign up for the subscription!

Shop this month’s PLAY! by Sephora box!

September Favorites | Beauty + Lifestyle Loves!

Posted on October 6, 2015July 14, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! I can’t believe September is already over, and we’re nearly a full week into October. Fall is my favorite season, so I’m glad to be enjoying cooler temperatures, warmer clothing, and, of course, pumpkin mania! I don’t have too many beauty favorites, but I do have a bunch of other goodies to share. Let’s jump right into my September Favorites!

Lip Product

Chosungah 22 Flavlorful Lipstick – Chai Tea [BUY]

I got this really intriguing lip product in one of my last Birchboxes. It’s a Korean lipstick that has lip balm qualities. It doesn’t add any color to the lips, but does have a bit of a gloss to it. I haven’t been wearing any lip colors lately, so this product is perfect. It feels so moisturizing, and I just really love it! It’s a bit pricey at $18.00, but if you’re up for a splurge, I highly recommend it!

LIP CARE

Fresh Sugar Lip Polish [BUY]

I’ve loved the Fresh Sugar Lip Polish for a few years now, but I haven’t used it in such a long time. With the cooler weather, though, I’ve needed to exfoliate my dry lips. I got this small tub of Lip Polish at the Fresh store in Las Vegas for free when I signed up for the Rewards program. I’m so glad to be putting it to use! It’s truly an amazing scrub, and very luxurious.

BODY CARE

Bath & Body Works Shower Gel – Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin [BUY]

Here is a huge savings tip – make sure you sign up for Bath & Body Works coupons! Every once in a while I get a coupon in the mail for free products with no purchase required. I recently got one for a full size product, and I picked up the Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin Shower Gel! I love the scent for fall – it is really fragranced and my bathroom smells great even after I’m out of the shower. While I don’t like all of the ingredients in the Bath & Body Works products, I definitely like to use them once in a while.

HAIR CARE

Irresistible Me Diamond Hair Styler [REVIEW] [BUY]

I’ve been completely obsessed with the Diamond since I got it! Make sure you check out my full review with before and after photos if you haven’t already. I’ve stashed my old flat iron away now, and only reach for the Diamond. It’s definitely an investment product, but it’s 100% worth it. My hair has never felt so shiny and glossy, and my straightening time is cut in half. I’m so in love!

BOOK

The Accident Season by Moïra Fowley-Doyla [REVIEW] [BUY]

I’ve been loving creepy books lately, and The Accident Season is an awesome one! This is a young adult book that follows a girl named Cara as she and her family try to survive the month of October. They always experience a lot of accidents in October, and this year seems to be the worst lot of accidents yet. I highly recommend this book if you love magical realism! Check out my full review by clicking the above link.

ETSY SHOP / STICKER SHOP

Oh, Hello Stationery Co. [ETSY] [WEBSITE]

One of my go-to shops for buying planner stickers is Oh, Hello Stationery Co. The brand recently opened up its own website in addition to its Etsy store, and the new site has much more to offer. My favorite thing is the new Poppy Points rewards system that allows you to earn points for every purchase and for referrals! So, if you’d like to get a $5.00 coupon, please sign up using my referral link HERE. This coupon is only for new Oh, Hello shoppers, so if you’ve bought from the store before keep that in mind. I’ve linked one of my recent hauls from Oh, Hello above so you can see the types of stickers I buy from the brand!

FOOD

Dunkin Donuts Pumpkin Coffee

Last but not least, I have to shout out the pumpkin coffee from Dunkin Donuts! I absolute love it and have for years. Step aside Starbucks PSL – I much prefer this sweet concoction. Plus, I’m currently living in Patriots Nation, and every time they win I can get a free coffee. It’s been super successful so far this NFL season! If you haven’t tried pumpkin coffee yet, I highly recommend it.

What were some of you favorites in September? 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.

Makeup by One Direction Limited Edition Tour Case Review

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

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

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

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

EYESHADOW

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

Metallic Mint, Khaki, Graphite, Spark, and Spotlight

Night Sky, Glacial, Poser, Mocha, and Dawn

Quartz, Bronzed, Ultra Violet, Sequin, and Blush

Surfer Blue, Mushroom, Cornflower, Dusk, and Amped

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

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

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

Cityscape, Galaxy, Summer Rain, Lightening, and Twilight

Coffee Bean, Emerald, Sapphire, Amethyst, and Onyx

EYELINER

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

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

NAIL POLISH

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

LIP PRODUCTS

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

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

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

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

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

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

ModelCo Party Proof Matte Lipstick Review | Get Naked & Kitty

Posted on October 16, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! Today I wanted to tell you about a line of lipsticks that I’ve been loving! Thanks to Birchbox, I’ve received two of the ModelCo Party Proof Matte Lipsticks in the past few months (one as a bonus with an order and the other in my monthly box). I’m not usually a big lipstick wearer, as I much prefer tinted lip balms, but I’m happily surprised with how awesome this lipstick range is. I thought I would go ahead and review the two I own for all of you!

First up is the shade Get Naked, the perfect peachy nude lipstick. One of the reasons I love these lipsticks is the formula. I love matte lips, but matte products tend to be very drying. The Party Proof line, however, feels very moisturizing and creamy on the lips. It does have a matte finish, but is glossier than other matte lipsticks I’ve tried. I really like that! Get Naked is also the perfect nude shade for my fair skin tone. It’s definitely a must have!

The other Party Proof lipstick I own is Kitty, a rosy mauve shade that is truly a “my lips but better” color. Kitty also has a creamy formula that stays in place all day. I feel much more polished and put together with this lipstick, but at the same time I still have a natural look. It’s a great every day shade, and the matte finish is perfection.

All in all, I’m so glad I discovered the ModelCo Party Proof Matte Lipstick line through Birchbox! These lipsticks are available for purchase on the Birchbox website HERE in sets of three for $24 each. I think that is a decent price for three lipsticks! Both Get Naked and Kitty come in the Neutrals trio along with Dusk Till Dawn. There is also a Classics trio available for purchase. I think at some point in the future I’ll be snagging more of these lipsticks for my collection now that I know how much I love the formula! The sleek white packaging is a pure bonus! Please let me know if you’ve tried any ModelCo products in the comments!

Makeup by One Direction | Up All Night Review

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Milani Limited Edition Bella Blue Collection | Nails, Eyes, & Lips!

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

Happy Saturday! Today I’m excited to bring you a post featuring the limited edition Bella Blue Collection from Milani Cosmetics. I usually keep my makeup simple and natural, but I stepped outside of my comfort zone to test out some blue mascaras and even (gasp!) a blue lipstick! Let me go ahead and show you the Bella Blue Collection!

Milani Bella Blue Collection

NAIL POLISH

Let’s begin with the nail polish in this collection! Bella Blue is a blackened-blue polish that is packed with crystal-like blue glitters. It has a great formula that is opaque in two coats, and looks super rock ‘n roll! I wouldn’t think of this as a standard summer polish, but I love the edgy look it has. I also got compliments while wearing it! Bella Blue is definitely a hit for me in the nail polish department.

MASCARA

There are also three blue-toned mascaras in this collection! Each is a bit different, so let’s take a closer look.

Bella Blue is the first mascara, and it is a metallic, ocean blue with hints of blue and purple glitters. The formula is good, but does tend to clump up due to its metallic nature. I also found that the curl on this one is not strong on its own, so you may want to curl your lashes in advance of applying Bella Blue. As you can see, the color is definitely pigmented! I also think this shade looks amazing with my skin tone!

Next up is my favorite of the mascaras, Mediterranean Blue. This mascara is more of a teal shade, and does not contain any glitter whatsoever. The formula is great, and very pigmented. Feel free to layer Mediterranean Blue over a black mascara if you don’t want the color to be as vivid.

Last but not least is Azure, a light blue packed with opalescent sparkle. I like that the formula on Azure still applies well, and that the glitter isn’t too “disco ball.” Instead, you get a nice glimmer when the sun hits your lashes, but it’s not too noticeable otherwise. The color payoff of Azure is similar to Mediterranean Blue, but is definitely more cool-toned.

LIPS

The final product in the Bella Blue Collection is a blue lipstick of the same name. I really like the clear packaging of this lipstick, and I was amazed when I discovered that it smells just like cinnamon rolls! Seriously, it smells amazing! I was a bit nervous to try Bella Blue, but found that I actually liked the color. It is a metallic lipstick, and looks like a bluish-purple on my lips. The formula is light and creamy, but I find that it’s not opaque and I struggled to get a clean edge. I tried Bella Blue over lip primer and with a lip liner, but it actually looks best on its own. I just wish it was opaque! What do you think?!

All in all, I think the Bella Blue Collection from Milani is super fun for summer! I, of course, love the nail polish, and the mascaras are great for a pop of color in any makeup look. You can find the Bella Blue Collection at select Walgreens, Kmart, and Fred Meyer stores this summer. Make sure to look for the limited edition displays before these products sell out!

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

Red Lip Colors for July 4th from NYC New York Color!

Posted on July 3, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! Yesterday I showed you a fabulous and affordable manicure for July 4th (see that post HERE), and today it’s time for some festive red lips! If you’re looking for some great lip colors that you can grab at your local drugstore, this is the post for you!

CITY PROOF TWISTABLE INTENSE LIP COLOR

Roosevelt Island Red – $2.99

The City Proof Twistable Intense Lip Color is designed to be lightweight, soft, and silky. It applies really easily thanks to the crayon-like applicator, and smells just like fruit punch! I find Roosevelt Island Red to be very glossy and moisturizing. It has a good color payoff, but is not completely opaque. If you’re going for a more natural look, I highly recommend this lip color! You can also wear it on top of a lipstick for added shine.

EXPERT LAST LIP COLOR

Traffic Jam – $1.99

I’ve tried one Expert Last Lip Color in the past, and didn’t have a great experience (see that review HERE), but I’m happy to report that I’m loving Traffic Jam! It is extremely moisturizing, and glides on with ease. The formula is creamy, and extremely pigmented. With one coat I got an opaque look! Traffic Jam is actually quite a wearable shade, especially with my fair skin tone. This lip color definitely stains your lips, though, so be careful during application!

All in all, I’m very impressed with these new lip colors from NYC New York Color! Not only are they incredibly affordable, but they are high quality as well. If you’re looking to rock a red lip this Fourth of July, stop by your local drugstore to grab one (or both!) of these. I’ll definitely be checking out more shades from these lines in the future!

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

NYC New York Color Expert Last Lipstick in Forever Fuchsia

Posted on April 29, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! Today I have a quick review of the NYC Expert Last Lipstick from my Influenster Uni VoxBox (see my unboxing HERE). I’ve never tried a lip product from NYC before, but I love the brand’s nail polish and blush. Let me go ahead and show you Forever Fuchsia!

NYC Expert Last Lipstick in Forever Fuchsia

As you can see, Forever Fuchsia is a bright pink lipstick. Here is the blurb in NYC’s advertisement describing the product:

Ready to take your lips to the next level? Try our NEW Expert Last Lip Color in twenty tantalizing shades. Get intense amplified color and shine that lasts up to 6 hours! Our moisturizing formula glides of easily for a silky, smooth, velvety finish for all day wear.

I swatched Forever Fuchsia both on my arm and on my lips so you can see the color. I do love how opaque this lipstick is, and the fruit punch scent. However, it clung to the dry patches on my lips, and did not leave a smooth, velvety finish. Forever Fuchsia did feel moisturizing, but I definitely recommend using a lip scrub before applying it as any imperfections will show up quite visibly. As for the color, the bright pink is a bit much for me personally, but if you love bold lips this is the shade for you!

All in all, I would give this lipstick a 3 out of 5 stars. It’s affordable at just $1.99 at drugstores, but does not have the advertised finish. I would definitely consider testing out other shades from this line to see how they compare. Let me know your thoughts on the NYC Expert Last line in the comments!

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