manicure – Adventures in Polishland

Tag: manicure

Springing into March with Zoya Nail Polish Blu

Posted on March 4, 2024 by Adventures in Polishland

With the official start of spring just a couple weeks away, I’m ready to transition into more pastel colors when it comes to my nails. I looked at my nail polish collection and immediately spotted Zoya Nail Polish Blu from the 2013 Lovely Collection. This is one of the first collections I received from Zoya to review, and it’s hard to believe that was 11 years ago now! I decided to pair Blu with an indie glitter polish from my collection for a fun, springtime manicure.

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

Blu is a baby blue cream polish. It has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats. I’m impressed with how easily it applies, especially considering my bottle is over a decade old! While there were a few minor streaks when the polish dried, as soon as I applied one coat of the Zoya Naked Glossy Seal Top Coat I got a super smooth and glasslike result!

To complete the manicure, I added an accent nail of KBShimmer Toying Around on my ring finger. This polish has a clear base and is packed with multicolored glitters of all different shapes and sizes. Toying Around was part of the Winter 2015 Collection and is no longer available. However, you can certainly use any glitter topper in your nail polish stash for a similar result!

I am really enjoying how my manicure turned out this week! It’s rather simple, but the glitter accent nail dresses it up a bit. Plus, sometimes it can be nice to wear a classic, cream nail polish shade for a change. I do love all of the fancy glitters, shimmers, etc., but Zoya Blu is reminding me how polished a cream can look!

Purple Party Nails featuring Zoya Soraya and Holo Taco Everything Taco

Posted on January 30, 2024 by Adventures in Polishland

Whenever I have time off from work, I like to paint my nails with the brightest colors and sparkliest glitters. That almost always means I’m grabbing for Holo Taco Everything Taco, which has easily become my favorite special effects top coat. I do mix up the base color, and this week I reached for Zoya Nail Polish Soraya from the Summer 2023 Beachy Brights Collection. As expected, I am absolutely loving this nail polish combination!

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

Zoya Soraya is a bright fuchsia cream polish. It has a great formula that is opaque in two coats, and it dries to a matte finish. Soraya looks much more purple in real life than it does in the photos. The swatches are photographed in natural light, but for some reason the camera did not capture the beautiful purple shade. Please keep that in mind if you are interested in purchasing Soraya.

I then completed the look by adding one coat of Everything Taco, and two coats of the Zoya Naked Seal Glossy Top Coat. I just love how Everything Taco is so easy to apply, and really transforms any manicure! It contains six Unicorn Skin iridescent flakies, and three holographic toppers. I definitely think it is worth the $13.00 price tag on the Holo Taco website! I could easily use this polish on a weekly basis!

Zoya Soraya and Holo Taco Everything Taco

Overall, I’m loving my bright purple and sparkly nails! I definitely look and feel ready for a vacation. You can purchase Soraya from Zoya’s website for $8.00. Use my referral link to save $5.00 off your first Zoya purchase. Also, let me know in the comments what your go to manicure is when you go on vacation!

Blue Ombré Skittle Manicure featuring Holo Taco Everything Taco

Posted on March 6, 2022 by Adventures in Polishland

After missing out on the first two launches, I finally snagged a bottle of the coveted Everything Taco from Holo Taco. I placed my order on a Monday, and to my happy surprise my new nail polish arrived that Thursday. Of course, I had to get this unique, special effects topper on my nails as soon as possible. What better way to wear it with than my favorite nail polish color, blue. I grabbed five blue nail polishes from Zoya Nail Polish in my collection, and came up with a blue ombré skittle manicure that I’m excited to share with you today.

Zoya Nail Polish Blue Cream Nail Polishes

The Zoya polishes in this post were provided for my unbiased review. This post includes affiliate links. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

My first step in creating this manicure was choosing the blue nail polishes for the ombré. Unsurprisingly, I had many options in my collection. I decided to go with more muted blue shades. From left to right, I chose Zoya Blu, Zoya Val, Zoya Austin, Zoya Brett, and Zoya Ryan. It looks like Brett is no longer available for sale, but you can use whatever polishes you have on hand as long as you get an ombré effect.

Blue Ombré Manicure featuring Holo Taco Everything Taco

To create my manicure, I began with Holo Taco Long Lasting Base. I then applied two coats of each cream polish, and let my nails dry. Next up I added one coat of Holo Taco Everything Taco. This nail polish topper is so much fun! It has a mix of iridescent flakie Unicorn Skins, as well as holographic glitters. It truly combines everything that Holo Taco has to offer when it comes to special effects toppers!

Holo Taco Everything Taco Review by Adventures in Polishland

Not only do I love how blingy Everything Taco looks on the nails, but I love how user friendly it is. I remember back when I started this blog, one thing often discussed in the nail polish community was “fishing for glitters.” There is absolutely no fishing with Everything Taco. All of the glitters apply easily onto the nails without any effort during application. Holo Taco has truly perfected the glitter nail polish topper!

Blue Ombre Manicure with Everything Taco

Last but not least, I applied two coats of Holo Taco Super Glossy Taco to seal in my manicure. I like using one coat to even out all the glitters, and the second for that smooth, glass-like shine. I am absolutely loving the result! I may have missed Everything Taco during its first two releases, but third time was the charm, and I cannot wait to use this polish over and over again.

Follow me on Instagram @adventuresinpolishland for more!

Northern Lights Nails featuring Zoya Lou and Holo Taco Aurora Unicorn Skin

Posted on January 26, 2022January 26, 2022 by Adventures in Polishland

After my recent purchase from Holo Taco, I’ve really enjoyed trying out the Aurora Unicorn Skin special effects topper on different manicures. I decided to test it over a beautiful blue nail polish shade from Zoya Nail Polish called Lou. The result is a stunning northern lights inspired manicure that is perfect for fighting the winter blues!

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.

I began by applying two coats of Zoya Lou over the Holo Taco Long-Lasting Base. This polish was released in the Luscious Collection of Fall 2020, and is described as a deep spruce blue cream with a hint of green. Lou is opaque in two coats and has a fantastic formula.

Northern Lights Nails by Adventures in Polishland

I then completed the look by adding one coat of Holo Taco Aurora Unicorn Skin, and sealed in the manicure with two coats of Holo Taco Super Glossy Taco. I love how the flakes in Aurora really shift from blue to purple to pink in different lighting! This topper really compliments the blue base color well.

As someone who loves nail polish but isn’t that great at nail art, I really love having special effects toppers in my nail polish collection. Iridescent flakies like Aurora Unicorn Skin really help to add dimension to any manicure. I’m excited to continue building my collection of glitters and toppers so that the manicure combos can be seemingly endless!

What’s your favorite nail polish topper? Let me know in the comments!

Purple Skittle Manicure featuring Zoya Nail Polish

Posted on August 1, 2021 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Sunday! Today I want to share with you the manicure I’ll be wearing this week. I’m finally in a great routine where I paint my nails every weekend, and I’m really enjoying the process of choosing my polishes and color combinations. I share all of my manicures on Instagram, but wanted to do a quick blog post as well since I’m using four different nail polishes today. I was in the mood for some purple nails, so I decided to grab a handful of different shades and finishes from my nail polish stash. Let me share with you how I created this purple skittle manicure using Zoya Nail Polish!

Purple Skittle Manicure featuring Zoya Nail Polish

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. This post includes affiliate links.

To create this purple skittle manicure, I used the following nail polishes from Zoya from left to right:

Margo, a plum purple cream polish with red undertones | BUY
Payton, a cranberry purple polish with holographic glitter | BUY
Aurora, a sugarplum purple polish with holographic glitter | BUY
Abby, a lavender purple cream polish | BUY

I applied two coats of Abby, but three coats of the other polishes to achieve opacity and an even finish. I sealed my manicure using the Zoya Naked Manicure Ultra Glossy Seal Top Coat. I’m really loving the result! It’s fun to have four different purples in one manicure, plus two cream formulas and two glittery formulas. I also applied Abby on the thumb to balance out the dark shades in the center.

That wraps up this quick post on my purple skittle manicure! I really love how it came together, and I look forward to wearing it this week. If you’d like to see more of my weekly manicures, make sure to follow me on Instagram HERE!

Rose Gold Holographic Nails featuring Zoya Polaris

Posted on June 27, 2021 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Sunday! Today I wanted to share with you my current manicure using cruelty free and vegan nail polishes from Zoya Nail Polish and Holo Taco. I was inspired by the recent Zoya Cosmic Pop Trio to create a rose gold holographic look featuring the polish Polaris. I decided to add even more holo bling with a nail polish topper, and I’m loving the result! Let me share with you how I achieved these rose gold holographic nails.

Some of the products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own.

This stunning manicure layers three nail polishes and finishes up with a top coat for a glossy finish. I began with two coats of Zoya Rue, a blush cream polish that is one of my all-time favorites. This first step is optional, but I wanted a base color that is very similar to a rose gold so that I knew my manicure would be opaque without the need for multiple glitter layers. Next, I added one coat of Zoya Polaris, which is the rose gold holographic glitter polish that is the true star of this manicure. Then, to add a bit more sparkle and shine, I applied one coat of Holo Taco Flakie Holo Taco. This is a nail polish topper with asymmetrical holographic flakes. I love adding Flakie Holo Taco to any manicure for some bling!

My final step was adding two coats of Holo Taco Super Glossy Taco. Whenever I wear glitter polishes, I like to use one layer of top coat to even out the glitters. Then, the second layer gives me the high-gloss shine I love. Super Glossy Top Coat also dries quickly, which I really appreciate.

I’m loving my rose gold holographic nails, and I hope you enjoyed learning how I achieved this stunning look. I just love the rainbow colors that are reflected in the glitter whenever direct sunlight hits my nails! Plus, I think it’s really fun to try out different nail polish combinations to get a custom manicure.

Want to see more blog posts featuring my current manicure? Let me know in the comments!

Zoya Nail Polish Splash Collection | Swatches & Review

Posted on June 13, 2020 by Adventures in Polishland

Today I am excited to share swatches and a full review of the Zoya Nail Polish Splash Collection for Summer 2020. This 12-piece collection is designed to have a little something for everyone. The formulas include some richly pigmented creams, some micro-shimmers, and even a glitter topper. Zoya describes the Splash Collection as a cheerful line, and I have to agree! I absolutely love the mix of polishes in this collection, and have found some new favorite nail polishes.

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review.

I am wearing the Holo Taco Peely Base in all of these swatches, as well as the Holo Taco Super Glossy Taco top coat. All of these photos are taken in natural light. As always, Zoya is a Logical Harmony Approved cruelty free brand, and all of the brand’s nail polishes are vegan.

Eclipse

First up is Eclipse, described as a glistening silver with holographic rainbow sparkles. I am wearing two coats of eclipse in the above swatches. I would describe this polish as a glitter topper, but it can certainly be worn alone if you like a sheer manicure. I really like that this formula applies very easily. You do not have to fish for glitters with this polish!

Jodi

Next up is Jodi, what Zoya describes as a pale ice cream pink cream. Jodi is a pigmented bubblegum pink polish. I had a little trouble with this formula, finding it a bit thick and goopy. I think part of the problem is this polish dries so quickly that it can drag upon application and create streaks. Thus, I recommend applying thin coats and working quickly. Jodi is very pretty, and opaque in two coats. My top coat helped to cover any imperfections.

Emma

The second cream polish in the line is Emma, described as a starfish coral with a touch of pink undertone. Emma has the same formula as Jodi, and was a bit difficult to apply. This is not uncommon in lighter shades of cream polish, which are often hard to get just right. Nonetheless, Emma is very pretty and opaque in two coats. It looks like a peach shade with my fair skin tone.

Leilani

Zoya also included some stunning micro-shimmer polishes in the Splash Collection. The first is Leilani, a glistening pink grapefruit with gold micro-shimmer. I’m not typically a fan of shimmer polishes, but Leilani is beyond beautiful! The formula applies like a dream, and this polish is opaque in two coats. I love this bright pink shade, and how well the gold shimmer reflects the light. Leilani is one of my favorite polishes in the collection!

Celi

If you prefer red nails, Celi is the polish for you! This is a sweet cherry red polish with gold micro-shimmer. Celi has the same great formula as Leilani, and is opaque in two coats. This polish would be fantastic in Fourth of July nail art, and I can certainly see this being used during the holiday season as well.

Greta

Next up is Greta, described as a ripe tomato red cream. Greta has an excellent formula that is opaque in two coats. I love this true red shade! Greta is definitely one of my favorite red polishes of all time. If you’re looking for a classic red nail polish for your collection, I highly recommend this one.

Kristie

Kristie is the next cream polish in the line, and is described as a deep magenta popsicle pink color. I have to admit I’m obsessed with this polish! Kristie has a great formula that is opaque in two coats, and I love the rich pigmentation. I’ve always loved a hot pink polish, and Kristie is no exception!

Jessica

Next up is Jessica, what Zoya describes as an African violet cream. Jessica has an excellent formula that is opaque coats. I can see some blue undertones in this polish, which make it a bit different than other purple shades in my nail polish collection. Jessica is also a great transitional polish from summer to fall.

Maren

Now it’s time for my favorite polish in the collection – Maren! This is a vibrant nautical blue cream with a perfect formula. I am wearing two coats in the above swatches. I am always partial to bright blue polishes, but Maren is just amazing. If you’re looking for a vegan dupe for Essie Butler Please, Maren is a great option.

Harbor

Next up is Harbor, described as a tropical emerald sea green cream. Harbor also has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats. I love how pigmented this teal shade is. I usually see this shade with a shimmer in it, so I’m very happy to have this cream formula!

Fisher

The Splash Collection closes with two more micro-shimmers. Fisher is a sun-kissed seafoam with a stunning gold micro-shimmer. Fisher is a sheer nail polish, and I did not achieve opacity even with three coats. The formula is good, but I do wish it was a full coverage polish. Fisher is a unique polish, as I don’t think I’ve ever seen a light blue with gold shimmer. While not my cup of tea, Fisher is a pretty polish.

Corinna

Last but not least is Corinna, what Zoya describes as a naked blush with a kiss of golden sheen. Corinna is a light pink shade that is opaque in three coats. I did not expect to like this polish, but it’s actually quite beautiful! I love how this is a neutral nail polish with a punch of sparkle.

Final Thoughts

*Zoya Maren and Harbor Topped with Eclipse*

Overall, I am really enjoying the Zoya Nail Polish Splash Collection! My personal favorites are Maren, Harbor, Kristie, and Leilani, but it’s difficult to narrow down my top picks. The only polishes I would hesitate to recommend are Jodi and Emma, just because the formulas are a bit tricky to apply. That being said, I really like the variety in this collection. The polishes work really well together, and I’ve already worn Maren, Harbor, and Eclipse together in a manicure.

You can purchase the Splash Collection on Zoya’s website. Individual polishes are $10.00 each.

Zoya Nail Polish Wanderlust Collection for Summer 2017

Posted on August 7, 2017 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I’m excited to share with you the Wanderlust Collection from Zoya Nail Polish. This nail polish line celebrates summer adventures with twelve new shades, including four shimmers and eight creams. Whether you like bright pinks or earthy greens, the Wanderlust Collection has a polish for you. Let me share with you swatches and my full review of this vegan nail polish line!

All of the swatches in this post are photographed in natural sunlight. I am wearing two coats of nail polish in each swatch, and no top coat.

First up is Sonja, a bright red with a cream formula. Sonja applies well and dries to a high-gloss finish without the need for a top coat. I like that the red shade leans towards pink, as I feel it compliments my fair skin tone well. If you’re not a fan of the traditional red manicure, this brighter option is a lot of fun!

Next is Byrdie, a fuchsia nail polish with a cream formula. This polish also applies evenly, and I really like the purple undertones in this shade. Byrdie is a great nail polish to transition you from summer to fall since the pink is a bit deep in tone.

If you are looking for more of a true pink, try Esty. While Esty is not a big change from Byrdie, it doesn’t have the same purple undertones. Zoya describes Esty as a bubblegum pink, and I definitely agree! I’m getting Barbie vibes from this polish!

The last pink polish in the Wanderlust Collection with a cream formula is Winnie. I am obsessing over this bright, watermelon shade! Winnie is one of my favorite polishes in the collection. I think the bright pink is a ton of fun, and would make a great pedicure shade as well. Plus, I think this polish will look beautiful with any skin tone.

Next up is Cora, the first of two orange creams in the collection. Zoya describes Cora as a muted coral, but on me it appears as a bright orange. This polish is so summery, and I can see it being used in a lot of nail art looks as well as on its own. If you are a fan of orange nails, Cora is a must have for you!

The other orange shade is Sawyer, a pastel orange cream. I’m a huge fan of Sawyer, as I think it makes orange extremely easy to wear even if you’re not a fan of bright colors. This polish reminds me of one of my all-time favorite Zoya polishes in Cole, but Sawyer is a bit more pigmented. If you’ve never worn an orange polish before, Sawyer is a great place to start!

The Wanderlust Collection contains four shimmer polishes, and I am beyond impressed with their formulas. First up is River, a cobalt blue shade. As with all of the shimmers in this line, River has a great formula that applies smoothly and evenly, and is opaque in two coats. I don’t typically go for metallic nail polishes, but River is so stunning that I can see myself wearing this again!

My favorite shimmer is Mandy, a bright berry pink. I absolutely love how multi-dimensional these polishes look on the nails. They are perfect for summer because they really come alive in the sunlight! Mandy’s fun shade is great for the fall months, too.

I’m also loving Journey, which is a red shimmer polish. Journey shifts towards gold in the sunlight, and the result is gorgeous. I love watching this polish go from pink to red to gold. Journey is quite a unique nail polish, and I’m excited to add it to my collection!

The last shimmer polish is Scout, a moss green shade. Scout is my least favorite polish in the collection, simply because the color is not for me. It still has a great formula, but I do not see myself wearing this polish on its own. I think the shade just clashes with my skin tone!

That being said, I really love Arbor, an olive green cream polish. Arbor has a rich pigmentation that is absolutely perfect for fall. I can see it matching with camouflage jackets and jeans as the weather gets cooler. Arbor is a great addition to the Wanderlust Collection, as it rounds out the summer perfectly.

Last but not least is Lois, a medium purple cream. Zoya describes Lois as a magenta violet, and I can see the pink undertones softening this shade. I think Lois is another nail polish that transitions well from summer to fall, and will look great with any skin tone.

All in all, I’m loving the Wanderlust Collection from Zoya Nail Polish! I’m quite impressed with the wide range of shades and formulas in this line. My favorite polishes are Winne and Mandy, but they all have excellent formulas. You can purchase the Wanderlust Collection on Zoya’s website HERE. Polishes are $10 each, but make sure to keep an eye on Zoya’s social media for sales and coupons.

What is your favorite nail polish in the Wanderlust Collection? Let me know in the comments!

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

5th Annual New Year’s Eve Manicure Contest | Entries & Winner

Posted on January 4, 2017 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Thank you to those who participated in my 5th Annual New Year’s Eve Manicure Contest! Today I will be sharing the entries with you and announcing the winner, who was chosen randomly through random.org. If you missed the announcement for this annual contest, you can view the original blog post HERE. I hope all of you had a wonderful New Year’s, and your 2017 is off to a great start!

ENTRIES

Linda: “My New Year’s manicure is China Glaze Ruby Pumps, a beautiful, ruby red with red shimmer flecks. I picked it because it’s a perfect holiday red and the shimmer flecks give it even more of a festive, holiday look.”

Liz: “I have to keep my nails short for work and I’m a busy mom. This year I spent NYE in with the family but still wanted something fun and festive so I grabbed these Incoco nail strips from my stash.”

WINNER

Congrats to Linda! You are the random winner of this year’s contest! I will be in touch with you so I can send along your prize!

Happy New Year, everyone!

Zoya Nail Polish Enchanted Collection | Holiday 2016

Posted on October 27, 2016October 26, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! The holiday season is right around the corner, and Zoya Nail Polish just released the new Enchanted Collection. This six-piece line contains four PixieDust polishes and two metallic polishes with color-flip properties. Zoya describes this collection as holiday magic combined with the wonders of winter, and I think that sums up these polishes perfectly! The Enchanted Collection has a polish for everyone, and I’m excited to share my swatches with you today.

First up is Elphie, a deep emerald green PixieDust with a green shimmer. Elphie has a good formula that is opaque in two coats. I recommend letting each layer of PixieDust polishes dry completely before adding onto your manicure. Luckily, PixieDust polishes tend to dry rather quickly, and you can tell when the finish becomes textured and matte in appearance. Elphie is a gorgeous shade for the holiday season, whether worn alone or in nail art.

Next up is Olivera, a duochrome polish that shifts from green to purple. Olivera has a good formula that is opaque in two coats, but I did find it to be a bit messy to work with due to its rich pigmentation. Nonetheless, this polish is beyond stunning! Olivera is perfect for the Halloween season, and it a great option if you want dark nails without going for a plain black. I just love when a polish can look different depending on the change in lighting.

The next PixieDust polish is Lorna, a berry shade with a burgundy shimmer. Lorna is one of my favorites in this collection, and it also has an excellent formula. This is a unique take on the standard red nail, and one that works really well for the holiday season. If you want to step outside of your comfort zone without changing your manicure drastically, Lorna is a great stepping stone!

If you prefer lighter shades, Alice is a nice option! This PixieDust has a periwinkle base with blue and magenta shimmer. Alice has a great formula and is opaque in two coats. I really like the mix of colors within this polish, as it adds a lot of dimension and is unlike any other nail polish I own. Alice is also a great transitional polish for after the holiday season!

The other color-flip shade in the line is Saint, a periwinkle blue with a magenta shift. Saint does not have as strong a duochrome effect as Olivera, but it is an amazing polish. The formula is on the sheer side, so I applied three coats to achieve opacity. I am blown away with how gorgeous Saint looks on the nails. If you’re only going to buy one polish from this collection, I think Saint is a stand-out for me.

Last but not least is Waverly, a dark sapphire blue PixieDust with blue shimmer. Waverly has a good formula that is opaque in two coats, and I am obsessing over this blue shade. It’s no secret that I love blue nail polish, and Waverly is no exception. I think Zoya made the right choice in keeping this polish all blue right down to the shimmer!

All in all, I am quite impressed with Zoya’s new Enchanted Collection for the 2016 holiday season. This line contains a variety of shades in both dark and light tones. Plus, the formulas are unique and unlike the polishes already in my collection. I must admit that I am still unsure about the PixieDust resurgence, but it’s undeniable Zoya creates high quality polishes season after season. You can purchase each polish in the Enchanted Collection on Zoya’s website HERE for $10. As always, please let me know in the comments which Enchanted polish is your favorite!

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