manicure – Page 12 – Adventures in Polishland

Tag: manicure

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.

Dare to Compare | Julep Niecy, Raegan, & Drew

Posted on March 6, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! I’ve been decluttering everything in my apartment lately, so I figured it was time to conquer some of my nail polish collection, too. My pink polishes have an entire drawer of their own, and let’s be honest, most of them are extremely similar. In fact, I found three nail polishes from Julep that were so close shade wise that I decided I had to do a comparison post for all of you. Let’s see how these bright pinks compare!

First and foremost, let’s take a look at the bottles together. I’ve labeled them so you can see which shade is which in the photo. Dare to Compare | Julep Niecy, Raegan, & Drew Now, this is the point in the blog post where I say the classic beauty lover line: “They’re not the same! They’re similar.” I can clearly see a difference between these three nail polishes. However, I do think it is a bit ridiculous that I own all three of them in my collection. I wanted to test these out to see which polish, if any, I would be comfortable de-stashing.

First up is Niecy, one of the first Julep polishes I ever owned! Niecy is a true bright pink creme. It has an excellent formula that is opaque in two coats, and my bottle features the old Julep brush, which I really love because it is smaller and easier to use. I love Niecey’s flawless finish!

Next up is Raegan, a pink that has a bit more of a purple undertone when compared to Niecy. Raegan’s formula is a bit off – it’s thick and a little tacky. I absolutely love this shade, though. It’s definitely my favorite of the three in terms of color.

Last but not least is Drew, a pink creme with red undertones, and definitely the darkest pigmentation wise of the bunch. Drew has a good formula that is opaque in two coats, but I find it to be a bit on the thick side as well. It’s definitely a gorgeous color. I obviously love it, and purchased it at the Julep NYC Holiday Pop Up in 2013 (see that post HERE).

I wanted to show you side-by-side swatches of these polishes as well. From left to right are: Niecy, Raegan, and Drew. As you can see, these three polishes are quite close in color (especially Niecy and Raegan), but they are not exact dupes. It definitely comes down to personal preference when you’re deciding which shade to buy.

All in all, I’ve decided to keep Niecy and destash the other two polishes. I do love all three, but it is silly for me to keep them when I am trying to declutter. As you may know, I’ll be moving in a few months, and the more I get rid of now the less I have to worry about later. Be sure to let me know in the comments which of these three is your favorite, or if you own any of these in your nail polish collection!

This post contains an affiliate link. 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 | Dream Designer Nail Kit in Going Home Blues

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

Happy Monday! It’s that time of the week where I show you my manicure! I am on to the letter D in my Alphabet Challenge. Surprisingly, I don’t own many polishes from a brand that begins with D, but I did find some from Dream Designer Nail Kit (hereafter “DDNK”) that I reviewed last year. You can see my full review of the Beginner’s Luck Collection HERE, which is based off of Las Vegas. Since first testing the collection, I’ve visited Vegas for this first time with my grandma and cousin. It was an awesome trip that I will remember for a lifetime, so I have more of a connection with these polishes now. I especially can understand Going Home Blues!

Going Home Blues is a jelly formula in a deep blue shade. It is opaque in two coats, and has a really great formula that dries to a satin finish that is still shiny. I love the deep pigmentation with this polish. Blues are some of my favorite shades to wear, and Going Home Blues is a standout in my collection. I even got a compliment on my manicure from a friend at work! I certainly don’t have the blues while wearing Going Home Blues!

All in all, I highly recommend this indie polish. DDNK is currently on hiatus from making new polishes, but she will be back very soon. You can still purchase this polish and her already released collections on the brand’s website for $8.99 each, or you can get a discount when you purchase a full collection. Please find all of this brand’s links below, and be sure to let me know in the comments what your favorite Vegas memory is!

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

A England Princess Sabra & Love is Enough from Beautometry.com!

Posted on February 21, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! I’m so excited to share with you two new-to-me polishes today. My friend Therese over at the nail polish e-tailer Beautometry sent me some A England shades to review after learning that I didn’t have any in my collection. I thought that was so nice of her, and was thrilled to review some of these coveted polishes. I did try A England Holy Grail way back in the day (you can see that blog post HERE), but it’s no longer in my collection simply because that shade wasn’t for me. Let me go ahead and share the two A Englands that Beautometry sent me!

First up is Princess Sabra from The Legend Collection. Princess Sabra is a beautiful holographic polish that is a golden bronze shade with a hint of olive pigmentation as well. This polish has an excellent formula that applies with ease and is opaque in two coats. I love how strong the holographic effect is, and I definitely recommend Princess Sabra for those of you new to holo polishes. Its neutral base will look good with any skin tone!

Next up is Love is Enough from the Heavenly Quotes Collection. Love is Enough is another unique polish! It is a mix between a glitter and metallic formula, with a greenish-black base and green and gold shimmer. Love is Enough has a good formula that dries amazingly fast. I’m not wearing top coat in the photos, so you can see the super shiny finish. Love is Enough is definitely an edgy polish, and I think it will look awesome paired with a leather jacket!

All in all, I’m so glad I got to try these A England polishes courtesy of Beautometry! They are definitely a specialty brand that I wouldn’t normally use. I’m loving Princess Sabra for every day wear, and Love is Enough when I want something funky. You can purchase these polishes direct from Beautometry for the sale price of $10 each. Please show this small e-tailer some love across the web, and be sure to let me know your favorite A England polishes in the comments!

CONNECT WITH BEAUTOMETRY

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

Zoya Nail Polish Delight Collection for Spring 2015

Posted on January 30, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I’m excited to bring you a full review of the new Delight Collection from Zoya Nail Polish. This collection contains three creme polishes and three shimmer polishes to help you celebrate the spring season. I am always eager to test out the new Zoyas when they arrive to my doorstep, so let’s jump right into my review!

First up is Lillian, a pale blue creme polish. Lillian has a good formula, but I did experience some mild streaking. I applied three coats to get a flawless finish, and I really like the result. I’m definitely a sucker for pastel shades, especially in the spring, so Lillian is a great one to have in my collection.

Next up is Eden, a beautiful pink polish that Zoya calls a “spring flower” shade. Eden’s formula is great, and I applied two coats to achieve opacity. It is a bit on the tacky side, so I recommend thicker coats that you allow to dry completely between layers. If you’ve been a follower of mine for a while, you’ll know that I love pinks! Eden is so nice!

Tiana is the last creme shade in the Delight Collection, and it’s a stunning mint green. Tiana also had a formula that tended to be streaky, so I applied three coats for an even finish. I’m really loving this creme polish. Mint shades are always on trend in the spring, so if you’re looking for one to add to your collection, pick up Tiana!

Rayne is the first shimmer in the collection, and is a unique metallic blue with turquoise shimmer. Rayne is a bit sheer, but has a great formula. I applied three coats to achieve opacity. At first I didn’t really like how Rayne looked on me, but the more I look at it the more I like it! What do you think?!

My biggest surprise in the collection is Daisy, a yellow polish with a yellow shimmer. I wasn’t too excited about this one, but when I put it on I was loving it! Daisy has a perfect formula that is opaque in two coats, and the yellow shade looks great with my skin tone. I can’t wait to use it again!

Last but not least is Leslie, a purple polish with a turquoise shimmer. Leslie is my favorite in the line, and has a wonderful formula that is opaque in two coats. I’m drooling over this gorgeous lavender shade. I don’t often wear shimmers every day, but I think Leslie will be an exception!

All in all, the Zoya Delight Collection contains some really fun and unique shades for the spring season! I definitely think Leslie is a must, and would recommend you grab any of the colors that appeal to you. These polishes can be purchased on the Zoya website HERE for $9 each or $54 for the entire set. Please let me know in the comments if you’ll be picking up any of these polishes!

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