manicure – Page 18 – Adventures in Polishland

Tag: manicure

My Holy Grail Manicure: Essie Butler Please and Different Dimension Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock

Posted on May 5, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Sunday! Today I wanted to share with you one of my favorite manicures of all time. I love it so much I am calling it my Holy Grail Manicure! In other words, this is the best of the best in terms of formula, color, polish names, and so on. Let me get right into the goodness and show you the polish!

First up is the gorgeous Butler Please from the Essie Winter Collection of 2012. Back in March I was in a bit of a “polish funk”. Nothing that I put on my nails was exciting me. Then, I got Butler Please, put it on, and my funk officially ended! Butler Please has a flawless formula that applies like a dream and is opaque in two coats. It is also a bright blue color that is just stunning! I am still blown away by how beautiful this color is. Butler Please has been compared to Nails Inc Baker Street, but this is truly unlike anything I own in my personal collection. This will definitely be my go to blue polish from now on. I can’t wait to use it again!

I was loving Butler Please so much that even when the tips were starting to show wear after several days, I made my manicure last longer by adding an amazing glitter top coat from the indie brand Different Dimension. I am a huge fan of the TV show the Big Bang Theory, and my mom kindly gave me the entire Big Bang collection that Different Dimension makes. I had a good feeling that Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock (RPSLS) would look great over Butler Please, and I think I made a great choice! RPSLS is a glitter top coat with a just a slightly blue tinted base, and filled with fine white glitter and white, light blue, light green, and grey hexagonal glitters. The formula is great, and the glitters apply with ease. I layered just one coat of RPSLS over Buter Please, and the result was just phenomenal! I could not stop staring at my nails when I had this manicure on.

All in all, I hope you enjoy my Holy Grail Manicure as much as I do! I love when nail polishes not only have a beautiful color, but a great formula as well. I also love that RPSLS is part of a collection based off of one of my favorite TV shows! There is just so much to love! Although Butler Please is no longer available in drugstores, you can purchase it on Amazon HERE. Make sure you head on over to the Different Dimension Etsy shop to purchase RPSLS and the other Big Bang Theory polishes HERE.

Let me know what your Holy Grail Manicure is in the comments!

Some of the above links are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Keep Calm and Add Glitter!

Posted on April 28, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Sunday! Today I thought I would share with you one of the manicures I wore at the beginning of the spring season. Even though I love trying out new nail polishes all the time, I enjoy it when I have the chance to search through my stash for a favorite polish. For this manicure, I decided upon a pastel mint green, and one of my favorite glitter top coats. Let me show you this fun manicure!

First I began with a base of Keep Calm, Paint On from China Glaze. This is a mint green pastel with green and pink shimmer mixed in, so it has just a touch of sparkle on its own. Keep Calm, Paint On has a good formula that is opaque in two coats. It is a bit on the thick side, so there is a little streaking, but not much. I love this nail polish because of the name, but the color is also stunning. You can also snag this on Amazon for just $2.19 at the moment! There are only seven bottles left in stock, so grab yours HERE!

I completed my manicure by adding two coats of Kite Island from A Rhyming Dictionary Polish to my mint base color. Kite Island is a glitter top coat filled with fine glitters in pink and green, hexagonal glitters in orange, blue, pink, and green, small green squares, and large white squares. I think this glitter is so fun, and it really livens up my nails. The white square glitters are so unexpected, but they are my favorite part of the polish! As with all polishes from A Rhyming Dictionary, Kite Island has an amazing formula, and the glitters apply with ease. You can purchase this on Etsy for $7.50 HERE.

All in all, I hope you liked seeing one of the manicures that I wore for spring! Mint green and glitter are definitely the perfect combination in my book. Plus, I love being able to reach into my nail polish collection for a polish I haven’t worn in a long time. If you liked seeing this manicure, please let me know in the comments!

Some of the products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. This post contains some affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

A Follower Inspired Jelly Sandwich Manicure!

Posted on April 8, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today’s post features a fun manicure that was inspired by my Facebook fans back in March. I thought it would be fun to put together a look that was created by you, so I asked for ideas. Lori suggested I use Barbie pink and glitter, Alex suggested glitter as well, and Stephanie called for a jelly sandwich design. Let me show you the result when I put all three of these thoughts together!

First I began with two coats of Sitting Pretty from the brand Tip Top Nails South Africa. I love the bright pink of Sitting Pretty. This polish also has a great application, but the jelly formula takes forever to dry. In fact, I receive linen imprints on my nails even days after putting this one on. Luckily, I knew any marks wouldn’t be noticeable with this jelly sandwich manicure, so I grabbed Sitting Pretty since I love the color and the formula is just what I was looking for!

I completed my manicure with one layer of Equinots from A Rhyming Dictionary Polish (see that review HERE), and one final layer of Sitting Pretty. I just loved the end result! The red, purple, and pink glitters from Equinots stood out well beneath the jelly of Sitting Pretty. I loved how all of the ideas from my followers came together in this fun and bright manicure! I thought the colors were just perfect for spring!

While the polishes I used in this post are not readily available for purchase at the moment, you can recreate this manicure with any jelly nail polish and the glitter of your choice! You can see my past jelly sandwich manicures HERE and HERE to get more inspiration! Let me know what your favorite combinations for jelly sandwich manicures are!

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

DIY Nail Art Featuring the Milani Textured Creams

Posted on March 2, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today’s post responds to many of your requests for nail art! I loved the Milani Textured Creams so much that I decided to use them to create three, do-it-yourself nail art looks. These polishes were so easy to work with! You can see my full review of the collection HERE, but below is a quick reminder of what each polish looks like on its own.

Now, let me show you the nail art I created! The only tool you will need besides the nail polish is scotch tape!

First I did a simple, diagonal look using Tainted in Red and Spoiled in Fuchsia. I painted my nails with Spoiled in Fuchsia, and then waited for the polish to dry completely. Then I took the scotch tape and covered up half of my nail, and painted over the other half using Tainted in Red. Before the polish dried, I carefully peeled off the tape to reveal this fun manicure! This diagonal look is so easy to create, but looks really cool. You can easily add another color as well!

Next I did a cloud manicure using Aqua Splash as my base and Yellow Mark for the clouds. This technique is surprisingly easy to create. All you do is apply your polish in three strokes — a long stroke on the edge, a middle one, and a short one! It’s as simple as that! I love this manicure so much that I’ve recreated in many times. I think the cloud manicure is perfect with these Milani Textured Creams because you get the added dimension from the textured finish!

Last but not least is my take on a half moon manicure using Purple Streak and Shady Gray. First, I painted my nails with Purple Streak. After the polish had dried completely, I placed a piece of scotch tape at the bottom of my nail and painted the rest with Shady Gray. This gave me a half moon manicure with a straight line instead of a curved one. I love the geometric look, and this is an edgy take on the half moon! I also love the color palette!

All in all, these nail are techniques are so simple that I know you can do-it-yourself! I found the Milani Textured Creams to be really easy to work with, as they dry quickly and have the perfect formula. Be sure to see my last entry for my review of this collection!

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

Indie Spotlight: Glitter Me This Review and a Naming Contest!

Posted on February 22, 2013March 16, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I have a review of a new indie brand called Glitter Me This. Not only are these polishes gorgeous, but make sure you read the entire entry for your chance to name them! First, I’ll show you how I wore the polishes, and then I’ll leave the rules for entering the contest. I hope you find this as fun as I do!

Up first is this pink jelly polish filled with fine pink and silver glitter, silver bars, small lilac hexagons, and large pink hexagons. I layered two coats over L’Oreal Sweet Nothings to get the look in the photos. This beautiful pink has a very good formula. It is a bit on the thick side, but it’s not goopy at all. In fact, the thickness helps to ensure the glitters get spread out well on the nail! I love this pink, as it is very girly and cute. It reminds me of a ballerina or a princess!

The other Glitter Me This polish is a light, frosted purple with medium purple hexagons, small pink and silver hexagons, and tiny teal hexagons. There are also some holographic shards thrown in! I layered two coats over ncLA Malibu Beach Babe to get this funky look! The polish was sheer on its own, so I decided layering would be fun. This purple has a great formula and the glitters apply easily. I love this manicure, as it has a galaxy feel without the hassle of nail art! I also used a matte top coat to make the glitters stand out more. For a more feminine look, layer this purple over white!

Name These Polishes!

Now is your chance to win a full size bottle of these polishes! All you have to do is name them! Please read the rules below carefully to make sure your entry counts. I will also post a photo of the nail polish bottles so you can see the polish in its natural state before layering. Have fun, and good luck!

To enter, leave one comment on this entry with the names you came up with for these polishes.
There is only one entry per person. You may choose one name for each polish, for a total of two names.
You must have a USA address to enter.
You must be 18 or older, or have your parents permission to enter.
This contest will run until midnight EST on Friday, March 22.
I have the right to change or add to the rules at any time during the giveaway.
The winners will be chosen by Glitter Me This and me based on creativity and how well it matches the look of the polish.
Winners will receive one full size bottle of the polish they named.
Make sure you like Adventures in Polishland and Glitter Me This on Facebook to see if you’ve won!

Thank you for entering! Make sure you stop by the Glitter Me This Etsy shop HERE to purchase her polishes!

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

Valentine’s Day Skittle Manicure!

Posted on February 10, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Sunday! Today I have a fun post for all of you featuring a Valentine’s Day skittle manicure. What is a skittle manicure, you ask? It’s when each nail is painted differently from all the rest, whether it be all different colors or patterns. I thought a skittle would be a cute idea for Valentine’s Day, and it would help me practice some nail art techniques! Let me show you my Valentine’s manicure!

I used Sally Hansen Fuchsia Flare as the base color for my manicure, and an accent nail of Zoya Jacqueline. Fuchsia Flare is a beautiful bright pink nail polish that is opaque in two coats. The formula was easy to apply, and spread out evenly. I thought it would make the perfect base for some nail art, especially for Valentine’s Day! I also used a fast dry polish so that I could get to work on the nail art as soon as possible — I don’t like waiting for polish to dry!

The next step was to begin the skittle! I first started out with Fuchsia Flare again, and ever so carefully did a free-hand heart on the accent nail of Zoya Jacqueline. To do so, I wiped off almost all the polish from the brush, and made two sweeps of the polish in a V shape. It was rather simple to do with a steady hand, and I’m thrilled the way it came out!

Next, I completed my manicure using all of the other polishes. It’s very important to make sure your base color is dry before beginning these next steps, or you will experience smudging. Working from pinky to thumb, I first did a french tip with an unnamed red OPI. To do so I used scotch tape as a guideline. Next, I did a glitter gradient on my middle finger using Equinots from A Rhyming Dictionary. I put a dab of the glitter polish at the bottom of my nail near the cuticle, and slowly dragged up the glitters until about half of the nail was covered. On my pointer finger I used Milani Digital to do another scotch tape design, this time in a vertical stripe. The result here wasn’t very good — Digital was not opaque over Fuchsia Flare, and I didn’t get a clean line after removing the tape. Nonetheless, I completed the manicure with a thin coat of Elixir Lacquer A Cool Fool on my thumb nail. This gave that nail a beautiful, holographic shine.

Overall I am loving my Valentine’s Day manicure! There are some imperfections, but that is fine by me. Be sure to try out your own skittle manicure by wearing a different color or design on each nail. It’s a fun way to experiment with new styles and impress your friends. Be sure to share your Valentine’s Day manicures with me on my Facebook page HERE!

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.

Favorite Friday: LASplash in Blowfish Pink

Posted on February 8, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! I hope those of you affected by Nemo are staying safe! Today I have a quick post reviewing one of my favorite polishes that I got when I first started blogging. I was thrilled to be able to use it again as the base for one of my I Love Nail Polish manicures, and now I’ll show it to you on its own. I hope you love it as much as I do!

LASplash in Blowfish Pink is a gorgeous peachy pink with a gold shimmer throughout. It is opaque in just two coats, and has a great formula. The formula is a bit on the thick side, but it still applies evenly and cleanly. The brush did look more fanned out than I remember, but it didn’t affect application. I absolutely love Blowfish Pink! The color is stunning, and I love the gold shimmer. LASplash nail polish is also really affordable! It’s just $3.99 online HERE. I am so happy I was able to use it again! I hope to use Blowfish Pink many more times in the future!

The product in this post was sent for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. Please see my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Simple Saturday: Julep Isla

Posted on January 5, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I’ll be showing you a polish I wore as the base color for one of my holiday manicures. You’ve already seen it in THIS post topped with Cameo Colours Lacquer in Tangled Lights, but Julep Isla is so beautiful it deserves it’s own moment on the blog! Here’s a simple post to highlight this polish.

Julep Isla is a white, metallic polish. It has a beautiful shine to it, and a great formula that is opaque in two coats. I love Isla because it has a creamy look to it. Plain white is boring, but Isla’s metallic finish is a complete manicure on its own. Plus, it is perfect for layering. It adds an extra bit of shimmer and shine to any glitter top coat! I got Isla in my July Julep Maven Box (join the Maven program HERE), but I think it is perfect for the winter months, too. It looks just like snow shining in the sun! Julep Isla is an all-around great nail polish!

Have a fabulous weekend!

Chick Nail Polish in Raven’s Egg: An OpenSky Score

Posted on January 2, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I have a gorgeous blue nail polish to show you from the nail polish brand Chick. Typically a bottle of polish from this line costs $8, due to it being vegan friendly and chemical free. I was lucky enough to score a set of four Chick polishes on the website OpenSky for just over $6 when I joined and got a bunch of free credits. I got two sets of polishes from this one purchase alone. First I showed you Hello, I Love You! from ncLA, and now I will show you Raven’s Egg!

Raven’s Egg is a navy blue polish with a shimmery finish. It truly shines in the light and has a duochrome feel to it. At times it looks dark purple, but Raven’s Egg is a true navy. This polish also reminds me of a metallic polish, but with a formula that is easy to apply and opaque in two coats. It did chip off in a couple days, but I did not apply top coat when I wore it. Raven’s Egg is a great blue polish, and is unlike any other polish that I own. I think it would be great as a base for nail art! Plus, I love the cute bottle. The rectangular shape makes it easy to store.

Overall, I love the dark blue of Raven’s Egg from Chick Nail Polish! It was a fabulous price on OpenSky, and I would recommend it if you can find it for a bargain, too. I do think $8 would be too much for this polish. You can join OpenSky HERE and you will receive $10 in credit when you sign up. Unfortunately you must spend $50 to use the credits, but you can still get a great deal. Happy Shopping!

P.S. Don’t forget to vote for your favorite manicure in my New Year’s Eve Manicure Contest on my Facebook page HERE!

Try it on Tuesday: Orly Rock Solid

Posted on August 14, 2012August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

I wasn’t planning on participating in Try it on Tuesday this week, as I had hoped to do a mani upgrade with a gradient. Unfortunately, my last mani got all messed up (my fault!), and I couldn’t stand to look at it anymore. Thus, here I am! I asked my Facebook followers which brand I should try out today, and they voted for Orly. I think they made a great decision!

Rock Solid is my first Orly polish. I bought it on HauteLook using credits and only paid $0.45 for it! This polish is actually from the Mineral FX Fall 2011 line, so it’s like I went dusty hunting online for this one. Rock Solid is a dark grey polish with small holographic glitters. I used two coats to achieve full opacity. The formula is a dream to work with– no streaks whatsoever! It also dries rather quickly. For once I didn’t use a topcoat, either, as I love the look Rock Solid has. The finish is a bit textured. This may sound silly, but it looks and feels like a rock, only not in the “I found it in my backyard” sort of way. Instead, it is stunning! The glitter shines in the light, and changes color as you move your hand. The grey also has a silver undertone. It’s beautiful!

I’m not usually one for dark colors, but I’m loving this one! I can’t wait to wear it more in the fall and winter. I also love the Orly cap and brush. The cap is a soft, grip material. That way it doesn’t wiggle around in your hand when your painting your nails. The brush is also awesome. It’s thin, but holds a lot of polish. No mistakes or globs here! I hope to get more Orly polishes in my stash.

If you’re not an HauteLook member, make sure you join HERE. They have sales on nail polish all the time!