manicure monday – Page 3 – Adventures in Polishland

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Manicure Monday | SquareHue High School Crush

Posted on March 23, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Manicure Monday! It’s time for me to show you the next polish in the Alphabet Challenge. We are on H this week, and I decided to pick up High School Crush from the brand SquareHue. I purchased this polish in a Facebook nail polish group right after its release in February 2013. I absolutely loved the color when I saw it online, but heard bad things about the formula after purchasing it and was scared to try it for myself. I decided it was time to put it to the test!

High School Crush is a beautiful pale pink creme polish. The formula was unfortunately horrible for me – I needed three coats to achieve opacity, and I experienced a lot of streaking and patchiness. When I added a top coat, the polish did look much better, but I still don’t want to work with it again. This will definitely be a destash for sure.

Before I wrap up this post, I do want to mention that I first tried SquareHue back in December of 2012 when the brand launched. You can read all about that experience HERE. I did enjoy those polishes, so even though High School Crush is a flop for me, I don’t want to claim the entire brand is bad quality. In fact, it’s definitely a fabulous and affordable polish line – you get three polishes a month in this subscription service for just $14.99! You can learn everything you need to know about SquareHue on the company’s website HERE. Please let me know in the comments if you are a SquareHue subscriber and what you think of it!

Manicure Monday | Glitter Me This Purple Galaxy

Posted on March 16, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Manicure Monday! This week we are on letter G in the Alphabet Challenge, and I have to say this was a difficult letter as well. I finally spotted a G brand in my collection – a small indie label called Glitter Me This. A couple years back, I teamed up with Glitter Me This to host a naming contest for this polish (you can read that post HERE). I decided it was time to give Purple Galaxy some love again!

Purple Galaxy is a very sheer purple base filled with a mix of glitters in all colors and sizes. I layered one coat over Wet ‘n Wild Megalast in On a Trip (see that polish HERE). The result is a fun and frosty purple manicure that reminds me of a speckled Easter egg! I love how versatile Purple Galaxy is. I got such a different look this time around, because I used it over a dark polish in the past. I’m glad I tested it out again!

All in all, I’m so proud of myself for continuing on in the Alphabet Challenge! We are about a third of the way there! Make sure to leave me some H nail polish brands in the comments, because I don’t have the assigned Hard Candy for next week. Also, you can visit Glitter Me This on the web on Etsy and Facebook. She is currently selling glitter packets!

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

Manicure Monday | Julep Florence

Posted on March 9, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Manicure Monday! Last week all of you were so helpful when I asked if you knew of any nail polish brands that began with the letter F. Unfortunately, I didn’t own any of those brands (which I know is hard to believe)! I searched through my collection and finally found a polish whose name begins with an F, so I decided that would have to suffice for this week’s entry into the Alphabet Challenge! Let me show you Julep Florence!

Florence is a beige nude polish with a creme formula. It applies well in two coats, but is a bit on the streaky side. I received Florence in my Julep Maven box way back in September 2013 (see that post HERE) and haven’t used it since then! I do really like this shade with my skin tone, but the formula definitely wasn’t the best. Nonetheless, I’m glad I was able to use it again for the Alphabet Challenge!

I have decided to destash Florence, as I have plenty of other nude polishes in my collection with better formulas. As I sit here looking at how gorgeous Florence is in the photos, though, I’m almost rethinking my decision! If I wasn’t so desperate to shrink my polish collection before I move in a few months, I’d definitely hang onto this one. What do you think – is Florence a keeper for you?!

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

Manicure Monday | Essie Stylenomics

Posted on March 2, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! I apologize for taking a week off from blogging. This year is a crazy one for me – I’m graduating in a few months, will be taking the bar exam in a few more, and am in the process of finding a job and new apartment. I am still dedicated to this blog, but please bear with me if my upload schedule goes a bit haywire. With that said, I’m moving on in the Alphabet Challenge with the letter E! This week’s assigned brand is Essie, and I dug out one of the first Essie polishes I ever owned.

– Stylenomics is a dark green shade that appears almost black on the nail. It has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. I received this polish from Klout over two years ago now, and I haven’t used it since then. I’m so glad I pulled it out of my stash to try out again! Stylenomics is the perfect dark creme polish, and it’s great if you don’t want to wear a true black.

All in all, I’m really loving Stylenomics. It’s from an older collection, but available on Amazon HERE for $8.50. Essie polishes are definitely some of my favorites, but I don’t buy them often because of the higher price point. I do want to add to my Essie collection soon, so tell me your favorite Essies in the comments! Also tell me in the comments what nail polish brands begin with the letter F – I’m having trouble planning for next week!

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

Manicure Monday | China Glaze Stone Cold

Posted on February 16, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! As you may have noticed, I took a bit of a break from my blog this past week. I’ve just been so busy with school and my internship this semester! Luckily I had a long weekend thanks to President’s Day, and I’ve gotten in some much needed rest. Now I’m here to show you this week’s manicure in the Alphabet Challenge. We’re onto letter C, and I’m trying on a China Glaze polish. Please forgive my winter cuticles in the photos – the NYC temperatures have not been good to my hands!

This is Stone Cold, one of the polishes released in the Hunger Games collection a few years back. Stone Cold is a slate grey polish with a matte formula. It contains a silver shimmer in the base that really makes it look like solid rock! Stone Cold has a really great formula that is opaque in one coat. I applied two above just to test it out. I can’t believe this beauty has lived in my nail polish collection for nearly three years without me using it!

All in all, I am so glad I finally pulled out Stone Cold! It has a really unique color and formula, and I’m certainly a sucker for matte finishes. I do wish clean-up on my cuticles was easier, but now I know to be super careful during application with this one. While Stone Cold was a limited edition shade from China Glaze, it is available on Amazon HERE for $6.49! Make sure to snag it if you want it, though, as there are only four bottles left as I type this!

Please let me know your favorite China Glaze shades in the comments! I love your recommendations!

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

Manicure Monday | Butter London Queen Vic

Posted on February 9, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! It’s time to continue on with the Alphabet Challenge! This week is the letter B, and I reached for a butter LONDON polish that I haven’t worn in quite some time. butter LONDON is definitely a bit outside of my normal price range at $15.00 each, but sometimes I can find them at Nordstrom Rack or other discount stores for a great price. I actually received Queen Vic for review back in 2013 (see that post HERE), but it was fun to use it again!

Queen Vic is a gorgeous deep berry shade with a creme formula. It has a great formula that is opaque in two coats, and dries to a glossy finish without the need of top coat. Queen Vic is a great staple to have in your nail polish collection. It is work appropriate, but still a nicely pigmented shade. Queen Vic is also perfect for any time of year.

All in all, Queen Vic is a great, all-around nail polish! If you feel like splurging on a new polish, I definitely recommend Queen Vic. You can purchase it direct from butter LONDON’s website HERE. Be sure to let me know in the comments what your favorite polish is from butter LONDON!

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

Manicure Monday | Anise Bronzed Babe

Posted on February 2, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! I’ve been enjoying showing you my manicures each week, so I think I’m going to continue with that this year. One of the nail polish groups I’m a member of on Facebook is hosting an Alphabet Theme Week for the next 26 weeks. I thought this would be really fun to take part in, and so this week I’m joining with the letter A! This week’s brand was A-England, but I don’t own any A-Englands at this point, so I rummaged through my collection to find another A brand. I decided to go with an Anise polish I got three years ago when I first started blogging!

Bronzed Babe is a gorgeous metallic polish that lives up to its name in a bronze shade. It is opaque in two coats and has a great formula that applies with ease. I love the golden shimmer that is mixed throughout Bronzed Babe. It really gives a shiny and liquid metal feel to the look. I did apply a glossy top coat to finish the manicure, and I love the result!

I’m so glad I had an excuse to pull this Anise polish out of my collection to use again. I purchased it almost three years ago in the summer of 2012 and haven’t used it since then! You can purchase Anise polishes at your local DSW store. They are usually located near the cash register, and are often on sale for Buy One Get One 50%. In addition, you can use your DSW coupons on them! I definitely will be checking out my DSW soon now that my love for this brand has been rekindled.

Please let me know in the comments if you’ve tried any Anise polishes, and what shades you recommend!

Manicure Monday | Essie Play Date

Posted on January 26, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I wanted to share with you my current manicure. I’ve been digging through my nail polish stash lately, and discovered an entire box of purples that I haven’t seen in a long time (yes….a whole box!). I looked through that box and decided to go with one of my old favorites. Let me show you Essie Play Date!

Play Date is a stunning purple creme polish in the lilac and lavender color family. It is opaque in two coats, and has a perfect formula. I think Play Date looks amazing with my skin tone, but I bet it would look great on anyone! I did follow up with a coat of Essie’s Good to Go top coat for some added shine, and because I want this manicure to last the week. However, Play Date has a nice, glossy finish on its own. It’s all-around one of my favorite purples in my entire collection!

You can purchase Essie Play Date on Amazon HERE for $8.50. You can also check your local drugstore and save some cash by using store coupons. For example, CVS often offers a percentage off or a dollar off coupon on anything in the store. Please let me know your favorite Essie polish in the comments!

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

Epica 18-Loop Scarf Hanger Review & Matching Nail Art!

Posted on September 22, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! I have a fun review for all of you today! I got the opportunity to test out a scarf hanger from the brand Epica, and was inspired to create a nail art look as soon as I got it in the mail. I’ve definitely been in an organizational mood lately, so anything that helps me declutter and keep things in order is a win in my book. I had been storing my scarfs in a plastic drawer set under my bed, but I often forgot about them. This hanger gave me the opportunity to move all of my scarves into my closet! Let me show you how it works!

EPICA 18-LOOP SCARF HANGER

The Epica Scarf Hanger is a ready-to-use hanger made out of a heavy metal with a chrome finish. There are 18 loops in varying sizes designed to keep all of your scarves together in one place. This hanger is snag-free, so it can hold your more delicate scarves, and works for ties and belts, too. I was really impressed with how heavy duty this was when I got it! I wasn’t afraid to start stacking on my scarves!

Epica Scarf Hanger | Adventures in Polishland

Here is the hanger with all of my scarves on it. I own some large pashminas, but also some thinner spring scarves. I was able to fit them all on with room for more! I like how I can see the scarves easily, and how they are less likely to be wrinkled when I have them hanging up instead of folded in a drawer. While the hanger did feel bulky once I loaded it up, I was impressed with how compact it was in my closet. As you can see in the photo on the right, the scarf hanger takes up a little extra room than your average hanger, but not too much. This is the perfect hanger for the tiny closet space I have!

NAIL ART

I knew I wanted to create a nail art look to go along with this blog post, and thought this was the perfect opportunity to get more practice with my dotting tools. First, I started out with a base of Zoya Genevieve and let that dry. Then, I grabbed my dotting tools set, and picked a large dot for the first round. I wanted to capture the metallic look of the hanger, so I used Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Celeb City as my large dots. I applied them in any way that I thought would fit onto my nails, knowing that I didn’t have to exactly mimic the hanger’s design. I let that layer dry, and then grabbed a smaller dotting tool to finish out the look. I grabbed Genevieve again, and made a dot in the center of each silver dot to make the holes look like loops. I really love how my manicure came out! It looks so fun and abstract, and I’d definitely recreate it again.

All in all, I definitely recommend picking up the Epica 18-Loop Scarf Hanger if you need some organization in your life. With winter right around the corner, I know it will be really helpful to have my scarves within reach in my closet instead of living under my bed. This hanger retails for just $19.95, but is on sale as I type this for just $8.95! That is such an amazing deal, so make sure to snag it on Amazon HERE. Let me know what gadgets you use to organize at home, and what you think of my nail art in the comments!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Manicure Monday | Wet ‘n Wild Fergie in Miami Spirit

Posted on July 14, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I thought I would share with you the nail polish that I am currently wearing as a manicure. I first got this polish, Wet ‘n Wild Fergie in Miami Spirit, two years ago when I first start blogging from fellow nail polish blogger Polish Monster. I wore it once, and then put it back into my collection where it’s hid for the past two years. I recently re-discovered this polish in my nail polish bins, so I decided to try it out again. Let me show you the gorgeous Miami Spirit!

Miami Spirit is a teal polish packed with teal and silver shimmer. I applied two coats to achieve opacity, and I’m impressed with the smooth and flawless formula of this polish. Miami Spirit dries to a satin finish, so it’s definitely great if you love a matte look.

I decided that I wanted something shiny at the moment so I reached for my Essie Good to Go top coat. I love how Miami Spirit looks with a shiny top coat! The shimmer becomes much more prominent, and I feel like I just walked out of the salon. Plus, I think this teal shade is great for summer. It reminds me of mermaids!

All in all, I’m so glad I reached for an oldie but goodie in my nail polish collection! When I first tried Miami Spirit, it was brand new in the nail polish world, but now it’s part of the Wet ‘n Wild permanent line and can be purchased at your local drugstore for just $3.49! Whether you wear Miami Spirit matte or glossy, you’ll be looking fabulous at an affordable price!

Have you tried out any polishes from the Wet ‘n Wild Fergie line? Let me know in the comments!