Tag: manicure

Somewhat Failed Gradient Nails

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Well, friends, not all of my Adventures in Polishland are successful. Last night I attempted the gradient nails trend, and it was more difficult then I thought it would be! What are gradient nails? Click HERE to see what I was going for. Basically, it’s smudging two or more colors together to make them appear blended. I had looked up a few tutorials on how to achieve this effect, and tried one method. I guess it wasn’t the right one for me!

Base of Lacey Lilac from Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear

I began this mani with Lacey Lilac from Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear. I used two coats and let the polish dry completely. Then, I got to work with a makeup sponge and dabbed O.P.I’s Lourve Me Lourve Me Not along the tops of my nails. I’m not sure if it was the polish that didn’t want to cooperate, but it seemed as if the sponge was soaking up the polish instead of putting it on! In the end, I’m not too thrilled with the look I got, but I’m not going to give up. I’ll probably try this out again in a week or two. Here is a photo of my left hand, which looks so much better than my right! What do you think of my mani? Have you tried the gradient trend?

Before I end this post I wanted to announce here that once I reach 50 blog followers I will be hosting a giveaway! So if you want to score some free polish make sure you hit the follow button at the top of the page or sign up to receive updates via email. That button is in the column on the right.

P.S. We are only 20 followers away from that goal!

Mani Upgrade and a Mini Tragedy

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland
My sad glitter polish

Ever since I upgraded my glitter french manicure, I knew it would be a fun idea to do a series on the blog of all my mani upgrades. Sometimes it’s fun to take your nails to a new high. Today, I added some flair to my mint green nails with some glitter. I have had Julep’s Susie on my nails for a few days and the tops had started to chip a tiny bit. Since I will probably do a new manicure tomorrow, I just wanted to update my current one a little bit. So, I touched up the mint green base, and got out my ever-faithful Wet ‘n Wild glitter. But I had a little surprise waiting for me. The top of the bottle from the glitter got separated from the brush! Luckily I was able to dig out the brush and still use the glitter, but I think it might be time to upgrade that polish.

And here are my upgraded nails! I added two coats of my clear glitter to get this effect. It’s a bit hard to see the true beauty of my nails with these photos. I’m still learning the best photography methods for nails! And I don’t have a super fancy camera either. What do you think of my upgraded mani? Don’t forget, if you like the mint color, go to Julep’s website HERE to join and enter COLOR2012 to get your first box for a penny! 

My First Julep Maven Box!

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

For those of you that like my Facebook page, you know that I have been dying to receive my first Julep Maven box in the mail. It arrived yesterday, and I got right to painting! I’m typing this sporting my new Susie nail polish, and I couldn’t be more excited to tell you about this fabulous website. Get ready for some photos!

The box before I opened it!

For those of you who haven’t heard of Julep before, it’s a great brand that typically sells for $14 a polish. The polish was created specifically for Julep nail parlors, but now it can be purchased at Sephora or on the Julep website. The Maven membership is very similar to ShoeDazzle, when each month stylists pick products for you based on your answers to a style quiz. You can either choose to purchase a box for $19.99 each month, or you can skip the month. Though the price tag is a bit expensive for me, I had a promo code for the website that allowed me to get my first Maven box for just one penny! That’s right– I only paid one penny for this box of goodies.

As a Julep Maven there are many benefits. First off, Mavens get 20% off anything at the Julep website. Plus, each Maven box contains at least $40 worth of products. There are also special freebies and discounts throughout the year. Julep really takes care of its members! Here’s what I saw when I opened my first box:

A welcome note from Julep
The cute little package!

I do admit, the packaging was great. But let’s get to the products themselves! This month I got the Classic with a Twist Intro Box. It included 2 polishes, Susie & Niecy, and The Best Pedi Creme Ever. I love the colors I got, especially Susie, which is a light mint green. Niecy is a beautiful pink, but I didn’t try it out yet. Susie was meant to be on my nails first! I do admit, I got nervous with the first coat of polish, because it came out streaky, but the second coat covered up all imperfections and looked beautiful! I just love this cream polish. At the end of this post there are some swatches of it.

Doesn’t it look great?! I can’t wait to try out Niecy, too. The best part about all of this is that I got this box for just a penny! You cannot beat that deal anywhere. If you like what you see here, you can join Julep Maven, too and get your first box for a penny. Simply sign up HERE and enter the code COLOR2012 at checkout. The best part about being a Maven is that even if you don’t want to purchase a box each month, you simply hit the “skip” button and you aren’t charged any money. So even if this is the only box you get from Julep, how can you go wrong? You only paid one penny! So what are you waiting for? Go get yourself your first Maven box!

Brand Power: Sally Hansen HD

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Today’s brand review is inspired by a recent purchase I made at CVS where I got two Sally Hansen HD polishes for 75% off. Usually priced at almost $8, I paid only $3.74 total!  With some quick searching online, it seems like this polish is being clearanced in multiple stores. If you like what you see in this post, now is the time to get a great deal on Sally Hansen HD while you have the chance!

Left to right, the colors I own are Laser, Byte, and Blu.

Before I purchased Laser and Byte, I already owned the HD polish in Blu. To be honest, I don’t use it very often, but I loved the sparkly, holographic feel of the other HD polishes so I couldn’t resist the purchase. The one thing I really don’t like about Sally Hansen HD is that I always have to use three coats of polish before it becomes opaque. For some reason this really bugs me, perhaps because the bottles suggest otherwise. The good thing is that once three coats are on, my nails look awesome! The HD polish is really sparkly and shiny, and reflects the light. They have a metallic look to them. The polish also lasts for a while before chipping, which is great for girls on the go! Overall, it’s a great polish that can be found at any drugstore or Target.

Moreover, the mani I painted using Sally Hansen HD was inspired by Carly over at Lacquered Lover (check out her site HERE). Carly posts really cool photos so I decided to try out her manicure style and even her photo style! I think it came out really cool, especially since this was the first attempt I made at editing photos like this. Plus, this take on the One for Fun really showcases two different nail colors while still tying them together. I’ll probably use this mani more often! What do you think?!

An Ocean of Ombre

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Two hot trends this summer are ocean hues and ombres, showcased on nails, accessories, and apparel. I decided to combine both of them on my nails using a variety of polishes from my collection. You can buy an ombre kit at Sephora right now for $22 (click HERE for details), but by using polishes I already owned, and a sheet of white scrap paper, I didn’t have to spend any cash. Plus, each of the colors I used was purchased at a drugstore and would total under $17 anyway– about $5 in savings! Here’s how I achieved the Ocean Ombre look.

My “cheat sheet” for the mani!

First, I picked out the five blue shades I was going to use. Luckily I currently have exactly five blues! To ensure that I would achieve light to dark shading, I painted two light coats of each polish on a piece of white scrap paper, cut out each sample, and rearranged the order. Once I was happy with the colors, I got painting! I started off with the lightest color on my pinky, and ended with the darkest on my thumb. Lightest to darkest, I used Empire State Blue by NYC, Blu by Sally Hansen HD, Blue Me Away! by Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear, Plenty of Fish in the Sea by Spoiled, and Party Palace Blue by Confetti. Even though each of these colors was from a different brand, with some being cremes and others metallic, they all looked great together.

All of the colors I used!

What do you think of the finished product?! I received many compliments on this manicure from my coworkers and from customers at my retail job. And even though it looks fancy, it was so easy to accomplish! The ombre trend can be perfected with any color palette. If you don’t have 5 shades of one color like I did, try sunset colors– pink to red, red to orange. You could also use neutrals with white, cream, grey, and black. Or, if you’d like to stick with the ocean hues, but only have a few shades of blue, alternate the colors. The key is to use the polishes you already own in a new way. You don’t always have to spend money for a new look!

Ocean Ombre nails

Try out one (or both!) of these trends and let me know how it turned out in the comments section or on my Facebook page!

Here’s a Tip: Add Glitter!

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 After browsing through many boards on Pinterest lately (click HERE to follow me!), I’ve noticed that glitter is even more popular than usual. Of course, the One for Fun trend is still thriving, but many ladies are sporting some glittery French manicures. Today I decided to give the look a try, so I grabbed a red from O.P.I. and my favorite polish, Rockstar Pink from Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear. I thought these two colors would look great together, and boy was I right! I am extremely pleased with the results of my manicure.

To achieve the look, I first painted two coats of the red and let it dry completely. I have to admit, I don’t usually wear this color since the red is a bit much for me, but why not go for it, right?! I also don’t even know what the polish is called since it’s an O.P.I. mini from a holiday set. Anyway, once the color dried I got out my Rockstar Pink and went to town. For this French manicure, I wasn’t concerned with getting perfectly straight and clean lines. All I did was slowly dab the glitter along the top of each nail until I got the look I wanted. Thankfully, the glitter is very forgiving, so even though my lines are a bit messy, my manicure still looks awesome. What do you think?

If you want to try out this glitter French manicure, go for it! It’s way easier than I thought it would be. Don’t be afraid to use a variety of colors for both the base coat and glitter. If a bright color (like the red I chose) is too much for you, the traditional French pink is fine. Plus, if you want to have perfect lines, just use some scotch tape! Just be sure to finish up with a top coat so the glitter stays in place. Enjoy!

All It’s Cracked Up to Be

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Since last spring, the crackle trend has been sweeping nail nation. It began with OPI’s Black Shatter, which I trekked all over midtown Manhattan to find with no luck. Thankfully, other brands began to come out with their own crackle polishes, including the much more affordable Sally Hansen. My mom bought me Fuchsia Shock, and let me tell you, I was somewhat shocked the first time I used it! It really does work, and it’s so easy to put on. Plus, it dresses up any manicure. People will be amazed when you show them your nails.

Last Thursday I decided to use crackle on my nails for my mom’s retirement party. I was wearing a bright spring dress with orange, yellow, and pink, and I couldn’t decide what color to paint my nails. Thus, I went with all three! First, I painted my nails with Don’t Be Cheesy from Spoiled and Mellow Yellow from Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear. I alternated the orange and yellow colors, painting two thin coats of each. I let this color dry for a bit before applying the crackle. Even though waiting is difficult, you want to make sure your nails are dry so the colors do not blend. Then, apply a coat of the crackle to your nails. You’ll want to move somewhat quickly, but either a thick or thin coat is fine depending on how much color you want to show from underneath. A thinner coat reveals more color. The exciting part is when the crackle begins to appear right before your eyes! It’s so awesome! Make sure to top with your favorite topcoat to event out the layers & add some shine.

So, what do you think, did my nails match my dress well? The lighting on the photo kind of stinks, but you get the idea. This manicure was fun to do, and each polish that I used was under   $6.50! Plus, if you go to Target’s website right now you can get a coupon for $1 off select Sally Hansen polishes. Go grab some new nail polish and let me know what you think of the crackle trend!

 

Neon Nails

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

This spring you may notice that neons are in, and luckily for me I absolutely love bright colors so it is the perfect opportunity for me to showcase my new nail polish. Last weekend my college had its annual spring event, complete with a mixer, carnival, and concert! Our tickets came with t-shirts, and mine was highlighter yellow. In order to celebrate the brightness, I purchased some new nail polish (duh). As I’m a girl on a budget I chose two colors from Spoiled by Wet n Wild — Did I Dye it Too Blonde? and Plastic Flamingo. You can buy this fantastic brand at drugstores for just $1.99!

I knew I wanted to combine the bright yellow and pink, so I used the technique featured on my Geometric Nails post. This time I did a diagonal on each nail with the scotch tape. Unfortunately I got a bit too excited and didn’t wait for the first coat of polish to dry completely before starting the next. Yet thanks to my special fixing skills, I was able to cover up most of my mistakes. And I’m convinced that during the night the nail fairy came to visit, because when I awoke they looked even more awesome! I am so glad I discovered the scotch tape trick on Pinterest because it’s really easy yet completely dresses up my nails. What do you think of my manicure? Have you tried this technique yet?

Neon party!

Brand Power: Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

I admit it, I am a polish picker. In other words, while wearing nail polish, I tend to pick and peel it off. It’s a horrible habit, but it just means that I get to paint my nails more often! Yesterday I realized I had taken off about half off my One for Fun nails, so I decided to change up my look. As a part of this blog, I will be reviewing different brands of nail polish so that you don’t have to stand in the drugstore worrying if the bargain nail polish is going to be clumpy and dumpy. Let’s face it, as young women in the twenty-first century, we want things to be perfect on the first try!

First up at bat is one of my favorite brands, Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear. You can buy Xtreme Wear at drugstores and department stores such as Target for under $3! Bargain hunters like myself can often find this on sale, too. Like many inexpensive nail polishes, Xtreme Wear is a bit of a hit or miss deal. Some of the colors are absolutely my favorites. Not only do they have the perfect texture and thickness, but they stay on for a long time, too. Others, though, are a weird consistency. Because they are so affordable, though, I am of the opinion that it is always worth it to buy Xtreme Wear! 

Xtreme Wear
From left to right, the colors are: Green With Envy, Blue Me Away, Celeb City, Rockstar Pink, Lacey Lilac, Mint Sorbet, and Mellow Yellow.

Above  you’ll find all of the Xtreme Wear colors that I own. I find that Celeb City, Rockstar Pink, and Lacey Lilac are the best of the bunch. The others are nice, too, but I tend to find more smudges and imperfections on my nails when I use them. No matter which color I pick, though, I always get compliments! People are often surprised when I let them in on the secret of Xtreme Wear.

Today I painted my nails with Lacey Lilac. Not only is the pale purple great for spring, but it is subdued enough that I can wear it with many color combinations. Lacey LilacI find that this color also lasts for over a week usually. This pastel is great for those of you who don’t want loud fingers. Or, if you want to liven things up a bit more, you can paint your nails all different shades of purple. Adding some sparkle never hurts either!

There you have it– my first brand review! Have you ever tried Xtreme Wear? Do you like it? What are your favorite colors?

One for Fun

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

One of the latest trends this spring that I’ve noticed sweeping quickly through Pinterest is the “One for Fun” style. One for Fun is the name I’ve given to when you paint all of your nails one color except for your ring finger, which you paint with something else. Last night, my suitemates and I had a sleepover party as a part of our senior year bucket list. We ordered frozen yogurt, read Cosmo, gossiped about boys, and (of course!) painted our nails! Since this blog has suddenly made me a nail expert (not really), many of my friends requested to borrow my nail polish and asked me for advice. I talked a few into doing the One for Fun trend so they could be featured here!

Here’s a photo of my nails, complete with a few imperfections that you can overlook 🙂

For my own nails, I used Mellow Yellow and Celeb City, both by Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear. I had bought Mellow Yellow earlier in the day, as I’ve been wanting a yellow, and it’s fun and bright for springtime. Celeb City is a metallic silver, and I think it contrasted nicely with the yellow. Of course, One for Fun wouldn’t be complete (on me, at least) without some sparkle. On top of the silver I added 2 light coats of my vintage Wet ‘n’ Wild clear glitter, which I’ve probably had since my sleepovers in elementary school and can’t bring myself to get rid of.

My other friends did something a bit different. Melanie also used a color from Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear, hers a bright blue called Blue Me Away! Her ring finger wore the Don’t Be Cheesy! orange from Spoiled that was featured in the last post. Steph arrived at the sleepover with her fingers sporting her own bright pink. To complete the One for Fun style all she had to to was take the polish off of her ring finer and apply another color. She chose one of my all-time favorites, Rockstar Pink also from Xtreme Wear. This glittery goodness went perfectly with her already rockin’ nails.

Melanie, Steph, and I show off our One for Fun nails

One for Fun is a great way to spice up any manicure. Not only can you use a contrasting color and glitter, but you don’t have to stick to your ring finger either. I’ve seen people with their pointer fingers sporting One for Fun, too! Get creative! This is a great solution to those days where you JUST don’t know which color nail polish to use. By the way, if you were wondering what people thought of my Geometric Nails, they were a big hit! I got compliments everywhere I went, and people were amazed when I let them in on the scotch tape secret. Have you tried any of these trends yet?