manicure – Page 8 – Adventures in Polishland

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Manicure March | Confetti in Purple Pizzazz

Posted on March 2, 2016February 16, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Manicure March continues today with a review of one of the oldest polishes in my collection. Confetti is a brand that used to be sold at CVS stores for the fabulous and affordable price of $1.99. I own two polishes from the brand, and I’ve held onto Purple Pizzazz for years now, partly for emotional reasons. This might sound silly, but I have really good memories with this nail polish! I remember lending it to friends, and bringing it with me to New York the first semester I lived in the city. However, I almost never wore it myself. I decided to put it to the test once and for all to see if I actually liked the polish itself.

Purple Pizzazz is a really unique nail polish. It is a purple-pink metallic polish with a holographic shimmer. The formula is good, but on the sheer side so I applied three coats for opacity. While I was swatching in artificial light, I wasn’t sure if I liked Purple Pizzazz. I decided to add my favorite top coat to really try out this polish. I thought I was going to keep it until I stepped out into natural light to take photographs of my manicure. I truly saw the light – this polish is just not for me! I’m not a metallic fan, for one, and this color just doesn’t go with my skin tone. Purple Pizzazz, it’s time to say goodbye!

I’m so glad I was finally able to part with Confetti in Purple Pizzazz. Sometimes it can be difficult to get rid of things that you have fond memories of, even if that thing is nail polish. At the end of the day, if I’m not going to use a polish, I shouldn’t own it anymore. Please let me know in the comments if you still own any polishes from the Confetti brand, and if you like them!

Join in #ManicureMarch by using the hashtag on social media and by tagging me in your photos on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or Twitter!

Manicure March | Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Barracuda

Posted on March 1, 2016February 16, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! It is the first day of Manicure March, and I couldn’t be more excited. Just in case you missed my announcement in the last installment of Upcoming Adventures, Manicure March is a special feature I’m doing this month where I bring you a nail polish review for each and every day this month! I’m kicking things off with a polish from one of my all-time favorite brands, Sally Hansen. I purchased Barracuda at CVS some time ago after hearing about it on EleventhGorgeous’s YouTube channel. I wore it back in 2013, but honestly don’t know if it’s been on my nails since then. Let’s take a closer look at Barracuda!

Barracuda is a pastel blue creme polish, and I think my only polish from the Complete Salon Manicure line. I’m not a huge fan of pastel blues at this point, and I was even more disappointed with the formula! It was very watery and patchy, and I applied three coats before achieving opacity. I think this polish couldn’t stand the test of time, because my earlier review states I had no issues with the formula. Nonetheless, I won’t be keeping this around. If I’m not loving the color or the formula, this polish has got to go!

All in all, I’m quite surprised to find that this more expensive line from Sally Hansen is a bit of a flop for me. I’d love to know if you own polishes from the Complete Salon Manicure line, and how you like the formula. The price tag on this polish reads $8.99, but I know I purchased this on sale and with a coupon. That being said, I think I’ll stick with Sally Hansen’s other nail polish collections for now. Bye bye, Barracuda!

Join in #ManicureMarch by using the hashtag on social media and by tagging me in your photos on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or Twitter!

Manicure Monday | L’Oreal Paris in Paparazzi Pleaser

Posted on February 22, 2016February 12, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! I’ll be honest – my nail polish declutter project took a big break after I went through the first box. I decided to slowly pick it back up again, and tried out one of the polishes I set aside to swatch. I first picked up L’Oreal Paris in Paparazzi Pleaser back in 2014 (see that post HERE), and I’m pretty sure I haven’t worn it since then. Let me share this purple polish with you, and let you know if I plan on keeping it!

Paparazzi Pleaser is a deep purple cream nail polish. The formula is good, but a bit on the thin side. I applied three coats to achieve opacity, and I didn’t have any application issues. Paparazzi Pleaser is definitely a beautiful color, but for some reason I’m not thrilled with it. I think the warm, blue-tone isn’t suited for my pale skin. Despite this being a great drugstore polish, I’m moving it into my box of polishes to destash.

All in all, I’m glad I put Paparazzi Pleaser to the test! As always, L’Oreal’s polish is excellent quality. I think it is a great drugstore brand, but this shade of polish isn’t for me. I still recommend it, especially if you have a deeper skin tone. It retails for around $5.00 at your local drugstore or online HERE. Let me know if you’re pleased by Paparazzi Pleaser in the comments!

This post contains an affiliate link. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Trying Nail Vinyls for the First Time | Valentine’s Day Nail Art Fail

Posted on February 12, 2016February 9, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! As you might know, one of my New Year’s Resolutions is to try out more nail art. I originally began this blog to experiment with nail art after seeing so many great designs on Pinterest, but I quickly realized that nail art is no joke. I find it really challenging, and often have a lot of nail art fails when I’m attempting to come up with designs. Today I’m sharing one of those fails with all of you in hopes that you won’t feel as discouraged when attempting new nail art. I received a set of nail vinyls from Born Pretty Store and was super excited to put them to the test. My first time trying nail vinyls didn’t go as planned! Let me share my Valentine’s Day nail art fail with you!

Born Pretty Store Fish Scale Nail Vinyls

Here is a look at the sheet of nail vinyls. I received the fish scale design in style number JV203. This sheet comes with twelve vinyls that need to be cut before use. They are designed to work just like striping tape. I thought of these like a stencil. I love that this sheet of vinyls is super affordable at just $1.99 HERE.

My idea for this manicure was a Valentine’s Day ombré. I began with a white base from Sally Hansen Insta-Dri and let it dry completely.

My first attempt at nail vinyls was a huge fail! I applied the vinyls directly on the nails and pressed them in place. I applied my polish, but when I peeled off the vinyls my nail polish came with it. I was so bummed! My base was dry, so I figured my issue was that the vinyls were just too sticky to go directly on the nails.

For round two I decided to place the nail vinyls on my hand before putting them on my nails. I did this twice to remove a lot of the stickiness, and then applied them to the nails. However, I didn’t press down firmly on the vinyls. That is where my problems arose this time around. The polish leaked through the vinyls because they weren’t affixed to the nails firmly. However, I can see a lot of progress with this technique!

My thumb nail actually came out really well during this second attempt. This is what I was trying to accomplish all along! I used a wedge sponge to apply pink nail polish to the base of the nail and a red to the top. I completed the look with a glossy top coat. This is what I hoped to share with you! Alas, it only turned out well on one nail.

All in all, I’m so glad I finally got the chance to try out nail vinyls! I do really like this set from Born Pretty Store, and will recommend it. That being said, it’s important to remember that nail art can sometimes be frustrating, especially when trying something new. I look forward to continue trying vinyls in the future. If you have any tips and tricks when it comes to nail vinyls, let me know in the comments! As always, you can shop at Born Pretty Store using my coupon code FZL91 to save an additional 10% off any order.

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

SinfulColors SinfulShine Review | Top Coat & Shining Couture

Posted on January 15, 2016January 11, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I have a full review of the SinfulColors SinfulShine Top Coat and one polish from the line, Shining Couture. I received both of these polishes in a PinchMe box, and was excited to test them out together. I’ve tried one other SinfulShine polish before (see that review HERE), but I’ve never tried the top coat. I love the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel line, so I was hoping to love this one as well because it is much more affordable. Let me share my thoughts on this nail polish system with you!

SinfulColors SinfulShine Review | Top Coat & Shining Couture Here is a quick look at what the SinfulShine bottles look like. They are the same as the regular SinfulColors nail polish, but the bottle caps are a chrome finish. Step 1 is on the left, and is the regular nail polish color called Shining Couture. Step 2, on the right, is the SinfulShine Top Coat. Both bottles had the same directions, which were to add two coats.

SinfulColors SinfulShine – Shining Couture Shining Couture is a blue nail polish with green, bronze, and gold shimmer. The formula is good, but because it is a jelly formula, it is not opaque with two coats. Nonetheless, I then applied the Top Coat in two layers as well. My first impression of this nail polish was that it had a very strong odor. While I’m no stranger to the nail polish smell, this scent was way over the top. In addition, my manicure took a full hour before it was completely dry. That is much longer than I usually have to wait, so I wasn’t happy about that. The main problem, however, was that the polish began peeling off my nails the day after I applied it. That’s right, my manicure didn’t even last 24 hours!

All in all, I’m very disappointed with the SinfulColors SinfulShine line. I think the problem lies in the Top Coat, because I did try a colored polish in the past and didn’t experience any issues. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this product to you, which is definitely a shame for the affordable price. I still recommend the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Top Coat, which is my favorite top coat right now. I wear it over every manicure, and it does an excellent job.

Have you tried the SinfulShine Top Coat? Share your experience 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.

Manicure Monday | Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Violet Voltage

Posted on January 4, 2016December 31, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I wanted to share with you a nail polish I received from Influenster as a giveaway prize. I’ve loved the Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear line for years, even way before I started blogging. The polishes are so fabulous and affordable, and come in a variety of colors and finishes. I decided to put Violet Voltage to the test as soon as it arrived!

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear – Violet Voltage Violet Voltage is a light purple nail polish packed with a subtle magenta shimmer. The formula is perfection, and is opaque in two coats. I am loving this color of polish! While it’s not totally unique, the shimmer does add a nice punch to it. I also really like how Violet Voltage looks with my fair skin tone. I followed up the manicure with the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Top Coat, by the way. It’s my new favorite!

All in all, I’m so glad I won this nail polish from Influenster! I might not have picked it up on my own, but it’s definitely a new staple in my collection. I highly recommend it, especially because it is super affordable at the drugstore! Be sure to let me know in the comments if you own Violet Voltage, of if you’ll be making it part of your collection!

Shop online for these polishes using this widget and I’ll earn a small commission! Thank you for your support!

The product in this post was provided to me as a giveaway prize. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Top 10 Nail Polishes of 2015!

Posted on December 28, 2015December 18, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! I can’t believe we have just a few days left of 2015! I decided that to close out the year, I will go ahead and share with you a few Top 10 lists. Today we are starting out with my Top 10 Nail Polishes of 2015! The polishes I picked were not necessarily released in 2015, but they are polishes that I first tried in 2015. I have shared full reviews of each polish on the blog with you, and will link you directly to that post so you can read my thoughts on each polish there. I will also share a link to where you can purchase each polish if it is still available. Let’s jump right into my Top 10!

Top 10 Nail Polishes of 2015! | Adventures in Polishland

10. Madam Glam Ibiza [REVIEW] [BUY]

Madam Glam – Ibiza

I don’t wear shimmery nail polishes on a regular basis, which is why I really like Ibiza. The subtle sparkle is beautiful, and adds just a touch of bling to my manicure. I also love the bluish-green shade, and the formula is excellent.

9. Zoya Serenity [REVIEW] [BUY]

Zoya – Serenity

Zoya makes some of the best cream nail polishes out there, and I was really impressed by Serenity. It’s a vibrant purple that looks great with any skin tone. Serenity is more of a summer nail polish for me.

8. Zoya Estelle [REVIEW] [BUY]

Zoya – Estelle

If you didn’t know yet, you are about to find out that I love blue nail polishes. Let’s begin with Estelle, a surprising add to this list because I’m not a big metallic fan. However, when you have a rich blue polish even a metallic formula looks stunning.

7. Color Club Cloud Nine [REVIEW] [BUY]

Color Club – Cloud Nine

I finally tried out a nail polish I had in my collection for years, which is Color Club Cloud Nine. This is definitely the best holographic polish in my stash. I love the pale pink shade, and how the polish comes alive in the sunlight.

6. Zoya Brittany [REVIEW] [BUY]

Zoya – Brittany I absolutely drooled over the Zoya Satins collection when it was released. My favorite of the bunch is definitely Brittany. It is just the perfect polish, with a flawless formula and a stunning pale pink shade. I need to wear this again very soon!

5. Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Rum Punch [REVIEW]

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel – Rum Punch

If you are looking for the perfect pink, look no further than Rum Punch. Seriously, Sally Hansen nailed it with this one, pun intended. The formula is perfection, the color is to die for, and I’ve worn it several times this year.

4. Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Beatnik [REVIEW] [BUY]

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel – Beatnik Okay, it’s time for another blue polish. Beatnik is just gorgeous, and I don’t know what else to say about it. The rich pigmentation is just so beautiful!

3. Zoya Sia [REVIEW] [BUY]

Zoya – Sia You can laugh at me, because I know Sia is super similar to Beatnik. But it’s just a bit brighter in tone, and the formula is just perfect. I wore Sia a lot when I first received it, and I’m feeling the need to put it on my nails as I type up this blog post!

2. KBShimmer Breaking Blues [REVIEW] [BUY]

KBShimmer – Breaking Blues This is the last blue-toned polish, I promise! The good news is Breaking Blues is more of a periwinkle shade, and I just love it. That’s why it’s number two on my list! The color is quite unique, and it works in any season.

1. KBShimmer Chilly Pepper [REVIEW] [BUY]

KBShimmer – Chilly Pepper My number one polish of 2015 is Chilly Pepper from KBShimmer. I cannot believe I’m saying this, as I’ve tended to bash red nail polishes in the past because of my pink-toned skin. Somehow KBShimmer has created the perfect red polish that looks good on me. Not only was it a go-to for the holiday season, but it’s the red I will grab from now on. You must get it!

That wraps up my first Top 10 post for 2015! Please share with me your favorite nail polishes of 2015 in the comments. Make sure to stay tuned this week for even more of my favorites this year!

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

4th Annual New Year’s Eve Manicure Contest!

Posted on December 23, 2015December 21, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I am beyond excited to announce my 4th Annual New Year’s Eve Manicure Contest! Each year I hold a laid-back manicure contest to celebrate the New Year and give my readers a chance to showcase their awesome nail polish looks. Whether you’re putting together fancy nail art for New Year’s Eve, or you’re simply rocking a fun glitter, you can enter to win one of two prize packs. Please read through this post to see how to enter!

Adventures in Polishland's 4th Annual New Year's Eve Manicure Contest!

RULES

Who is eligible to enter?

US residents who are 18+ years old, or who have parental consent
Followers of my blog, Adventures in Polishland. You must be following via email or Bloglovin HERE.
Both bloggers and non-bloggers may enter.

What kind of manicures are allowed?

Anything goes! Nail art, glitter, plain polish – this is meant to be a fun contest that anyone can win!
For inspiration, see past year’s entries: 2014 | 2013 | 2012

How does the contest work?

Create your manicure and email me a photo of your nails to adventuresinpolishland@gmail.com with the subject line “NYE Manicure Contest”
You may include a 1-3 sentence description of your manicure explaining why you chose it for New Year’s Eve, but this is optional.
There is only one entry per person, and one photo allowed per entry.
The deadline for submitting your manicure is Monday, January 4, 2016 at 11:59PM EST
On January 5, I will post all of the entries in a photo album on my Facebook Page HERE and email each entrant a direct link to her photo.
On January 12, winners will be chosen and notified by email.

How will the winners be chosen?

There are two winners in this giveaway!
One winner will be chosen by popular vote – whichever manicure receives the most ‘Likes’ on Facebook. The Likes must be on the photo I upload to my Facebook Page directly.
One winner will be chosen randomly through random.org, so anyone who enters will have a chance to win!

PRIZES

There are two different prize packs for this giveaway. The first winner to respond to my email will get first dibs on the prize pack she wants, with the other winner getting the other pack by default.

4th Annual New Year's Eve Manicure Contest | Nail Kit Prize Pack

Prize #1: Nail Kit

Revlon Colorburst Lacquer Balm in Coquette
Rimmel Keep Calm and Lip Balm in Violet Blush
Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Top Coat
ncLA Designer Nail Wraps in Geri
Almay Lash Care Gentle Eye Makeup Remover Pads
Zoya Hunter

4th Annual New Year's Eve Manicure Contest | Eye Makeup Prize Pack

Prize #2: Eye Makeup Kit

Revlon Colorburst Lacquer Balm in Vivacious
Rimmel Keep Calm and Lip Balm in Rose Blush
Marcelle Waterproof Eyeliner in Blue Lagoon
Measurable Difference Eyeshadow Palette in Holland Tulips
Maybelline Great Lash Big Mascara in Blackest Black
Almay Lash Care Gentle Eye Makeup Remover Pads

I hope you will enter my 4th Annual New Year’s Eve Manicure Contest! I am so excited to be hosting for the fourth year in a row. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me at adventuresinpolishland@gmail.com. Happy New Year, everyone!

Silver and Gold Christmas Manicure | Sally Hansen Celeb City and Julep Vivien

Posted on December 21, 2015December 18, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! I can’t believe Christmas is just a few days away! I thought I would share a simple manicure to put together to help celebrate the season. I recently watched Rudolph and the Island of Misfit Toys, and I’ve been humming the song Silver and Gold. I don’t see many silver and gold manicures, so I created my own! Let me show you my silver and gold nail polish look!
Silver and Gold Christmas Manicure | Adventures in Polishland I began my silver and gold manicure with a base of Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Celeb City. I applied two coats and let that dry before applying my gold glitter. For my silver and gold effect, I looked for a gold chunky glitter, and found the perfect polish in Julep Vivien. I applied two coats of Viven and let that dry before using a glossy top coat. This manicure is so easy to create, but it looks so festive! If you’re not a fan of the typical red and green color scheme during Christmas, definitely try this out for yourself. You can use any silver and gold polishes you own!

All in all, I’m loving my silver and gold manicure. It is quick if you’re in a rush, and can go with any outfit this holiday season! Plus, if you have long-wearing polish it can last all the way through until New Year’s! Definitely let me know if you’ll be trying out a silver and gold manicure in the comments.

Santa Claus Manicure featuring Gold Nail Stickers from Born Pretty Store

Posted on December 2, 2015November 29, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! If you’re anything like me, you want to rock festive nails during the holiday season, but you don’t have the time or talent to put anything extravagant together. That’s the reason I love nail stickers! Born Pretty Store recently released a set of Christmas and Winter themed nail stickers in a gorgeous metallic gold finish. Let me show you the Santa Claus manicure I created using the stickers!

First things first, here is a look at the sticker sheet. As you can see, it is very big and comes with a huge variety of sticker designs. There are Christmas trees, snowflakes, snowmen, reindeer, ornaments, Christmas sayings, and much more! I’m using the stock photo from Born Pretty Store’s website in this blog post so you can easily see the details of the stickers. This sticker sheet is a fabulous and affordable $4.46 HERE.

I decided to go with a Santa Claus theme for my manicure. I began with a base of white nail polish, and let that dry completely. Then, I used a red polish to get a gradient effect using the Eyeshadow Sponge Method seen HERE. Finally, I added on the stickers! From left to right, there is a Christmas Tree, Santa Claus, Merry Christmas script, and another Santa Claus. I really love how this manicure looks! The red and white gradient adds a fun background for the gold stickers. Plus, the stickers fit really well on my nails. I used a glossy top coat over the stickers to ensure they stay in place. Removal is also very easy – just use the tin foil method.

All in all, nail stickers are a great option if you want to create quick and easy holiday manicures that still look extremely festive! Plus, I love that this sticker sheet from Born Pretty Store has such a wide variety of designs. The manicure possibilities are endless! As always, you get free international shipping on Born Pretty Store’s website and you can use my coupon code FZL91 for an additional 10% off any order. Definitely let me know if you pick up these stickers!

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