manicure – Page 14 – Adventures in Polishland

Tag: manicure

Sally Hansen MiracleGel Review | All Chalked Up & Wine Stock

Posted on October 1, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I have a review of two of the new, Sally Hansen MiracleGel polishes. I was so excited when I heard about this new range of gel polishes at the drugstore. Not only are there 47 shades available, but they are designed to give 14 days of color in just two easy steps. I couldn’t wait to put these polishes to the test. Let me tell you all about my experience!

The key to the MiracleGel system is the Top Coat that needs to be purchased separately. After applying two coats of the MiracleGel polish, use the Top Coat as you normally would to seal the manicure. The polish contains a patented Tube Technology to help cure your polish without the need of any LED/UV lights.

The first polish I tested from the line is All Chalked Up, a beautiful lilac creme shade. All Chalked Up has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. I am loving this color, and hoped it would last at least a week. Unfortunately, I started getting tip wear after just two days, and substantial chipping on the third day. I was super bummed!

Next up is Wine Stream, a burgundy red that is just stunning for fall! Wine Stream has a “crelly” formula (creme and jelly mixture) that was opaque in two coats, but could use a third for an even darker look. I’m wearing two coats in the photos here. I again only got a few days of wear out of this polish before it started chipping, and was so disappointed! I even tried out Wine Stream again with my normal base and top coats, but it didn’t prolong the wear at all.

All in all, I’m quite disappointed that I didn’t have better luck with the new Sally Hansen MiracleGel polishes. If you’ve tested these polishes, please let me know your results in the comments. Maybe the formula just doesn’t work well with my body chemistry for some reason! My recommendation for the line is to snag any shades that you really want, but to leave the Top Coat on the shelf. It didn’t work any better than my normal top coat, so I can’t say it’s worth the money. You can find the MiracleGel line at your local drugstores and department stores. I’m going to continue experimenting with the Top Coat, and will definitely report back if I find something that works!

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

Zoya Ignite Collection for Fall 2014

Posted on September 4, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! Earlier this week I reviewed the Zoya Entice Collection (full review HERE), which contains six creme polishes for fall. In addition to Entice, Zoya released a collection called Ignite. The Ignite Collection has six liquid metal polishes that are packed with shimmer and sparkle. If you love to rock a bit of glitz on your fingertips, the Ignite Collection is for you! Let me show you the six fiery polishes!

First up is Autumn, a copper shade with undertones of orange and gold. Autumn’s formula is great, and is opaque in two coats. I found that all of the Ignite polishes show a beautiful color payoff in one coat, but two coats were needed for opacity. Staying true to its name, I think Autumn is just perfect for this time of year!

Next up is India, a deep red with golden shimmer mixed throughout the base. India also has a great formula, and I found that it’s super pigmented. I think this polish is a great transitional shade from fall to winter as well.

Teigen is a beautiful cranberry shade with a copper shimmer, and is such a feminine polish. It looks flawless in two coats, too. I’d love to see this in a geometric manicure with it’s complimenting shade Veronica. Maybe I’ll do that in the future!

Sansa is the purple in this collection, and is what Zoya dubs “eggplant” with a gold shimmer. Sansa appears almost black, but the purple shade certainly shines through in the light. I think this polish would look great with one coat layered over a white base!

Next up is Remy, my favorite in the Ignite Collection! Remy is an indigo polish with gold and copper shimmer, but I love how blue-toned it is! The formula is flawless, and in two coats the finish is just stunning. I’m a bit obsessed with this one!

Last but not least is Yuna, a grey polish copper and gold shimmer. Yuna is so sparkly that my camera had trouble focusing on it! Nonetheless, it’s a very rockstar polish, and is perfect to pair with your leather jacket this fall.

All in all, the Zoya Ignite Collection has six sparkly shades for fall! While cremes are much more my style, you can’t go wrong with any of these polishes! I’ll definitely be testing these out as accent nails and in nail art this fall. I can’t wait to put Remy back on very soon, in fact! You can purchase these polishes on the Zoya website HERE for $9 each. Which shades will you be purchasing?! 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.

Subscription Sunday | August Julep Maven Box

Posted on August 17, 2014August 12, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! Today I have an unboxing of my August Julep Maven Box for all of you. I’ve been very picky lately with my Julep box, since I have dozens of Julep polishes and am working to shrink my nail polish collection. When I saw the beautiful polishes being offered this month, I decided to go for it. Let me show you what I got!

Here is a peek inside my box. This month’s theme is The Wanderlust Collection, which is perfect since I’ll be traveling this month! I went with my signature style of Classic with a Twist, and got two nail polishes and the Gel Eye Glider in Black. To be honest, I can do without the eyeliner, but I really loved the two nail polish shades so I still got this box.

The first polish is Katie, a stunning, iridescent orchid polish. Katie is somewhere between a pink and purple, and I am just loving this polish. The formula is amazing, and the polish is opaque in two coats. I’ve worn this twice already, and can see myself reaching for Katie quite often.

Next is Anvi, a deep violet shade with a magenta shimmer. Anvi is also a gorgeous polish, and is opaque in two coats. The formula is great as well. I know I have similar deep purples in my collection, but this one just stands out to me!

All in all, I’m so glad I got my Julep Maven box this month! I don’t think I’ll even open the eyeliner, but the polishes are amazing! I’m loving both of them, and have already gotten a lot of use out of them. As always, if you’re not a Julep Maven yet, you can get your first month for free using code FREEBOX at checkout. Please sign up using my referral LINK so I can get rewards points! While Julep does have its problems (find out what I mean HERE), I’m still going to stand by this company because the polishes are awesome and work so well with my body chemistry. If you’re a Maven, let me know what you think of your August box in the comments!

Milani Color Statement Nail Lacquer | Glitters

Posted on August 9, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I have the last of the polishes in the new Milani Color Statement line to share with all of you. I will be doing a complete review of the top coat as well, but the glitters are the last of the swatches. I can’t believe it! Anyway, I’m so glad that Milani included some glitters in this collection, as every girl needs some sparkle in her life. Let’s go ahead and get glittery!

First up is Rainbow Prisms, a glitter top coat filled with silver and holographic glitters. I layered one coat over Tattle Teal, and I’m loving the result! There is absolutely no need to fish for glitters with this polish, as a ton comes out with each coat. Plus, it applies easily and smoothly. I am loving the rainbow effect with this glitter! It would look great over nearly any base color.

Next up is Gilded Rocks, a glitter polish with a yellow gold base and pink, rose gold glitters. I am wearing two coats of Gilded Rocks in the photos above, and it looks opaque to me! I love how fun and fancy this polish is, and anything with rose gold is a win in my book.

Club Lights is the pink version of Rainbow Prism. I’ve layered one coat over Modern Rouge, and as you can see one coat provides a ton of glitters! I tested this to see if it could be worn without a base color, and I couldn’t get it opaque in 2-3 coats. Nevertheless, Club Lights is great for layering!

Gold Plated is my favorite of the glitters! It is a liquid metal gold, that is super sparkly and opaque in two coats. The formula is phenomenal as well. Gold Plated is my new favorite gold polish of all time!

Last but not least is Crimson Jewel, a stunning red glitter polish that is opaque in two coats. I feel like I’m wearing the ruby slippers on my nails with this polish! The formula is fantastic, and it looks so beautiful. Crimson Jewel is certainly a gem (pun intended)!

All in all, Milani included some lovely glitter polishes in the new Color Statement line. I’m obsessed with Gold Plated, and Rainbow Prism is super fun as well. As always, you can purchase this line at your local CVS store or on Milani’s website HERE for the fabulous and affordable price of $3.99 each.

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 | 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!

L’Oreal Paris Miss Denim Limited Edition Collection | Distressed Turquoise and Jean & Tonic

Posted on July 7, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! I was recently perusing the limited edition displays at Duane Reade and found the Miss Denim Collection by L’Oreal Paris. I absolutely love L’Oreal polishes, so when I saw some gorgeous textured creams, I knew I had to grab a couple. I decided to grab two of the pastel shades to add to my collection.

First up is Distressed Turquoise, a sky blue polish. I applied two coats to achieve opacity, and I am loving the formula! It dries amazingly fast and glides on with ease. I wore Distressed Turquoise for a few days, but did experience chipping on the second day of wear. I was a bit disappointed with that, but the good thing with textured polish is you can always add another coat and it still looks great!

I also picked up Jean & Tonic, a deep seafoam shade that looks a bit more turquoise to me than Distressed Turquoise! Jean & Tonic also has a flawless formula that is opaque in two coats. It is more long-lasting, and I wore it for about 3-4 days before I experienced any wear. I do recommend a healthy layer of base coat with this polish, as it can stain if you don’t protect your nails. I’ve already worn this polish a few times this past month!

All in all, I am really loving the Miss Denim Collection from L’Oreal Paris! Not only do they have a great application, but they come off easily with a regular nail polish removal process – no foil needed! These polishes range from $4.99-6.49 at your local drugstore, so make sure to be on the hunt for them this summer. You don’t want to miss out on these limited edition shades if you love textured polish as much as I do!

Is there a drugstore nail polish you would like me to review on Adventures in Polishland? Let me know in the comments!

July 4th Nails with Sally Hansen Color Frenzy in Red, White & Hue!

Posted on July 2, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! The Fourth of July is right around the corner, and if you’re looking to create a festive manicure without the fuss, I’ve got you covered! Sally Hansen’s new Color Frenzy line contains glitter polishes that have a mix of colors and shapes in a unique suspension formula. There are eight fun colors in the line, but the perfect one to celebrate America is called Red, White & Hue. Let me show you this fun polish!

Red, White and Hue contains (you guessed it) red, white, and blue glitters in a clear base. The glitters are hexagonally shaped, and are in small and medium sizes. I layered one coat over Zoya’s Blu to get this manicure. I am impressed with how easily the glitters in Red, White and Hue apply to the nail, and the coverage with one coat. I didn’t even apply a top coat, as the Color Frenzy base is quite shiny on its own!

I also tested Red, White and Hue over a white base. While the white glitters do blend in a bit, I like how this manicure looks as well. If you’re looking for a fun nail art look this holiday, try layering Red, White and Hue over a skittle manicure of all different polishes!

All in all, I’m loving this easy and affordable July 4th manicure! You can purchase Sally Hansen Color Frenzy polishes at your local drugstore, food store, or department store for just $5.99 each. I’m definitely going to checkout the other polishes in this collection! Let me know in the comments what manicure you’ll be wearing to celebrate America’s birthday! Feel free to use hashtag #PolishlandRWB so I can see your nails!

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

Jet Away June | Yi Kou Nail Wraps from Born Pretty Store

Posted on June 6, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Back in April, I tried Yi Kou Nail Wraps from Born Pretty Store for the first time (see that post HERE). I loved them so much that when I got the opportunity to review another pack, I jumped at the opportunity! I’m including this review during Jet Away June because nail wraps are the perfect choice for nail polish when you’re traveling. I’m always nervous to bring nail polish with me anywhere! I don’t want the glass bottle to break, nor do I want the polish to leak. If you’re going on a trip, nail wraps are the way to go!

I decided to pick a black and white design from Yi Kou this time around because this color combination has been on trend throughout the spring, and now into the summer! Plus, neutral shades are perfect for traveling because they go with many different outfits. This one set of wraps can be used all at once for a complete manicure, or you can use just one, such as the heart strip, as an accent nail.

Application is very simple – peel the strip from the protective backing, smooth it out on your nail, and use a nail file in a downward motion to trim off the excess. I always finish with a top coat to make sure the edges lay flat. It also helps to make the manicure last longer (which is always helpful when you’re away from home!). I’m really liking this black and white design! The heart is definitely my favorite, but the different patterns look fun together! I love the instant nail art look – it’s no hassle to create whatsoever! You can purchase this pattern on the Born Pretty Store for just $2.38 HERE. The design number is K1012.

All in all, nail wraps are the perfect way to keep your nails looking fabulous as you jet away this summer! You can easily pack nail wraps, and they will last you at least a full week. I also recommend nail polish remover pads such as THESE from Born Pretty Store. They are much easier to pack than a bottle of regular nail polish remover, and will take off your nail wraps if you’d like to change the design. I highly recommend the Yi Kou wraps from Born Pretty Store, as they are very affordable and some of the best quality nail wraps I’ve tried. Don’t forget to use code FZL91 to get an additional 10% off your order!

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

Born Pretty Store Brush Set Review & Nail Art FAIL!

Posted on May 20, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! Today’s post is a review of a brush set from Born Pretty Store that led to a nail art fail! I was so excited to receive this set, as I am not a nail art expert and I thought this set would help me create beautiful designs. Well, the set is great, but let’s be real – special brushes aren’t going to magically improve my art skills! I wasn’t going to include my manicure fail, but I wanted to show it so you can see that not all nail polish bloggers are professionals, and because it took me a lot of time and effort to even create this look. Let me just jump right in and share the brush kit and manicure with you!

This brush kit comes with six nail art brushes and a dotting tool. The brushes come in all different sizes, and the set even includes a fan brush. The dotting tool is quite small, but definitely a great tool to have in your collection. This set retails for a very affordable $5.46, and can be purchased HERE. The brushes all seem to be very nice quality, though because this is my first nail art brush kit I can’t compare the set to others.

I experimented with a lot of the brushes in this set, but unfortunately couldn’t get any great results yet. I think this is definitely a practice makes perfect type of thing! For the manicure you see below, I used this angled brush. I attempted to do a striped design.

Well, here’s my manicure fail! I began with Zoya Rooney as a base color, and Rocha for the stripes. I waited until Rooney was dry before painting on my stripes. The brush itself was fine, but my hands were so shaky that I just couldn’t get a straight line. These are my art skills at their finest!

All in all, I’m still glad I got the chance to try out this brush kit from Born Pretty Store. I’m sure with practice my nail art will improve, but I hope you don’t mind that I shared my fail manicure with you today. Believe it or not I worked hard on it! If you have a difficult time making your nail art look good, you are not alone! Don’t get discouraged – you can still get beautiful nails with stickers, rhinestones, etc. Have you ever had a fail manicure? Tell me about it in the comments!

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.