metallic – Adventures in Polishland

Tag: metallic

Dare to Compare | Comparing 6 Sparkly Purple Nail Polishes

Posted on April 6, 2024 by Adventures in Polishland

A few months ago, I reorganized my entire nail polish collection by color. Doing so made it obvious that I own a lot of purple nail polishes that have glitter, sparkle or some other special effect. Even though these polishes are all different, I realized I just don’t reach for these shades when I go to paint my nails. I decided it was time to swatch a handful of the sparkly purple nail polishes in my collection to see what I can keep, and what I can declutter. This comparison post will review six purple polishes, and I will let you know which one I decided to keep for future use!

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

All of the swatches in this blog post were photographed in natural lighting. I used Holo Taco Peely Base as my base coat, and Zoya Naked Manicure Super Glossy Seal as my top coat. As it turns out, all of these polishes are from Zoya. I’ll let you know what collection they are from in each polish description.

Andrea

First up is Andrea from the Fall 2020 Luscious Collection. Andrea is a purple metallic polish with a green duochrome shift. It is opaque in two coats, and the formula is a bit streaky due to the metallic finish. I also had an issue where my top coat pulled the base polish a bit, which can be seen on my ring finger in the swatches. Andrea looks really cool, but I don’t really like how it looks on me. I knew right away I could declutter this polish.

Neve

Next up is Neve, which is technically a blue nail polish but certainly leans towards purple. Neve has a metallic formula that is opaque in two coats. I really love this polish. The formula is smooth and pigmented, and I love the subtle purple shimmer. Neve is from the Fall 2013 Satins Collection, and still performs well to this day. I love this polish, so I couldn’t declutter it right away.

Nisha

Shifting gears slightly, we have Nisha from the Holiday 2020 Intriguing Collection. Nisha is very similar to Neve, but with a deep purple metallic base shade rather than blue. This polish is opaque in one coat, and applies beautifully to the nails. It’s rare that I find a true one coat polish, especially a metallic formula with a shimmery base. I set Nisha aside to consider keeping.

Gardner

Next up is Gardner from the Fall 2018 Element Collection. Zoya describes Gardner as a deep periwinkle shade with a vibrant magenta shimmer in a foil finish. This polish is opaque in two coats. The formula is a little tricky, as it tends to bunch up during application. I do like how sparkly Gardner is, but I’m not a huge fan of foil nail polishes. As such, Gardner is a polish I am decluttering.

Isa

The next purple polish is Isa from the Summer 2015 Paradise Sun Collection. Isa has a metallic-pearl finish with an aqua shimmer. The formula is on the thinner side, but it is opaque in two coats. I did find that Isa was a bit uneven, but the top coat really helped to smooth out the look. I really like this polish, so I set it aside while swatching.

Adara

Last but not least is Adara from the Winter/Holiday 2023 Enchanted Collection. Zoya describes Adara as a lapis blue with rose gold and blue glitters, but to me it looks like a royal purple. This polish is opaque in two coats. It has a pigmented formula that is on the thicker side. While I think Adara is a beautiful polish, I personally wish it would dry to a more even texture. Even with top coat, it looks bumpy to me. For that reason, I am decluttering Adara.

Side by Side Comparisons

After swatching, I narrowed down my top three choices to Neve, Nisha, and Isa. I tried on those polishes side by side in that order. It immediately became clear to me that I could declutter Isa. While I do like how the polish looks on me, the formula just isn’t as good as the other two. In the end, it came down to whether I wanted more of a blue or purple polish. While I do really love Neve, I decided to keep Nisha since it does have a one coat formula. I also think the purple shade looks a bit better with my skin tone.

I’m so excited that I was able narrow down my sparkly purple nail polish collection quite a bit. While all of these polishes were unique from each other and not dupes, at the end of the day if I am in the mood for a glittery or metallic purple, I’m only going to need one. That being said, this post only featured a portion of the sparkly purple polishes in my stash. I could probably do another entire blog post with more! If you would like to see more comparison posts, either of dupes or just similar colors like this, please let me know in the comments.

Zoya Nail Polish Gal | Review and Swatches

Posted on February 26, 2024 by Adventures in Polishland

One of my goals this year is to try nail polishes in my collection that I haven’t yet worn, so this month I added Zoya Gal from the Fall 2017 Sophisticates Collection to my “to be worn” pile. I’ll be honest, I was not excited to use this nail polish! I couldn’t tell if the shade was gold, copper, or green, and the muted tone is not my typical look. Nonetheless, I decided to give Gal a go so I could decide if I want to keep this polish in my stash or declutter it.

This product was provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Zoya describes Gal as a smokey, iridescent, peridot gold metallic polish. It really is a unique shade with metallic shimmer in a base that can lean towards different tones depending on the lighting. Unfortunately, Gal’s formula is a bit difficult to apply. The polish is quite thin, and tended to seep outside of my nail bed onto my cuticles requiring a bit of cleanup. I applied two coats, and while my nail line was still slightly visible, I didn’t want to add a third coat due to the tricky formula.

I completed my manicure with one coat of the Zoya Naked Glossy Seal Top Coat. Despite having issues during application, the polish does look cool and very unique. The subtle sparkle is especially pretty. That being said, I’m not enjoying how Gal looks on me, and when I look at my nails I do not get excited about my manicure. As such, I will be decluttering Gal from my collection since it’s just not my cup of tea.

If you do like the look of Gal, I do want to mention that this polish has been sitting unused in my collection since 2017, so that may attribute to my formula issues. This polish is still available for sale on the Zoya website for $12.00 if you are interested. If you have Gal, please share your experience with this polish in the comments!

Zoya Nail Polish Party Girls Collection Review | Winter & Holiday 2017

Posted on January 29, 2018January 27, 2018 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I have a full review of the Zoya Nail Polish Party Girls Collection. This 12-piece nail polish line was Zoya’s release for the 2017 Holiday and Winter season. I finally had a chance to try out the complete collection, and I’m excited to share my thoughts with you. Party Girls contains a variety of polish formulas, finishes, and shades, so there will be a polish for everyone! Whether you are creating a fancy manicure for a night out, or looking for a classic red, Party Girls has you covered!

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

I am wearing each of these polishes with a base coat but not a top coat. Almost all of these polishes are opaque in two coats, but I will mention if I needed a third coat in each polish’s individual review. My swatches are photographed in natural light.

First up is Nadia, a glittery gold topper that leans towards orange. Nadia can be worn alone, or layered over other polishes. I am wearing three coats in these swatches to achieve an opaque manicure. I’m surprised with how much I love this polish! I would never pick it up on my own, but I think it looks great with my skin tone.

Next up is Solstice, an orange metallic polish with orange and gold shimmer. I’m really impressed with how pigmented this polish is! I like how smoothly Solstice applies to the nails, too.

Tawny is also a metallic polish, but it is a copper shade with a rosy undertone. While I really like how the shimmer in Tawny adds a lot of dimension, it can be a bit messy upon removal. I recommend taking off the shimmer polishes right before you get into the shower so the shimmer can wash off your hands well.

The first cream polish in the Party Girls Collection is Ming, a classic bright red shade. Ming applies beautifully, and I love how it dries down to a super glossy finish without the need of a top coat. This red shade is not unique, but it is a great staple to add to your collection if you are looking for a reliable red.

Next up is Fallon, a metallic magenta polish. Fallon looks quite a bit darker in person than it does on the Zoya website, and I think it leans more purple than pink, too. Nonetheless, this is a gorgeous nail polish, and I love the magenta shade.

Sheri is another cream nail polish in a red shade. I was quite surprised to see two reds in this collection, and think Ming and Sheri are quite similar. That being said Sheri is a bit darker in tone, so if you prefer a deeper red it is the polish for you. I definitely do not think you need to own both of these polishes, though.

One of my favorite polishes in the collection is Kelsey, a bright pink cream. If you want Barbie nails, you need Kelsey in your life! The formula is perfection, and I’m definitely a sucker for these fun pink shades.

Danielle is another one of my favorites, and it is a periwinkle cream polish. This polish photographs a bit more blue than it is in person. That being said, I’m loving the rich pigmentation in Danielle, and I think this color can work well during any season of the year.

The collection goes back to metallic formulas with Isadora, a deep purple polish with purple and magenta shimmer. I have owned many polishes like Isadora in the past, but I love having this vegan-friendly option available. Plus, I love how rich and dimensional this looks on the nails.

The next purple shade is Landon, a cream polish that Zoya compares to eggplants! While I own a lot of purple cream polishes, Landon is unique for me because of its deep shade. I really like how this polish looks on me, and think I will wear this a lot come the fall months.

Delaney is a metallic purple polish with a duochrome shift. I was a bit disappointed that the cool duochrome effect I see in the bottle did not translate on the nails at all. I will try to layer Delaney over a black and white polish in the future, and will report back if I get the duochrome to show up on my nails!

Last but not least is Blake, a deep sapphire blue polish with gold shimmer. Blake is a great off-black option. The formula is a bit messy, but it is really beautiful. If you are looking for a unique dark polish, Blake is a nice one!

All in all, I am really enjoying the Party Girls Collection from Zoya Nail Polish. I appreciate that there are a variety of shades and finishes available, so you can pick and choose the polishes that you like best. My favorites are definitely Kelsey, Danielle, and Landon, and I’m excited to test out Nadia and Isadora with other polishes! You can purchase the Party Girls Collection on Zoya’s website HERE. These vegan nail polishes retail for $10 each.

Which Party Girls polish is your favorite? Let me know in the comments!

Zoya Nail Polish Urban Grunge Collection for Fall 2016 | Metallic Holos

Posted on August 24, 2016August 22, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I am excited to share with you the six metallic holographic polishes in Zoya Nail Polish’s new Urban Grunge Collection for Fall 2016. You can see my full review of the cream shades HERE, which I posted earlier this week. Now it’s all about the super trendy and unique polishes that make up the rest of this line. If you are looking for some edgier polishes to wear, the metallic holos are for you! Let me share my thoughts on these six shades!

First up is Alicia, a silver linear holographic polish. Alicia has an excellent formula, but it is a bit sheer, so I applied three coats to achieve opacity. I am beyond impressed with how stunning the holographic effect is on this polish. If you are a fan of holo nail polish, Alicia is a must for your collection.

Next up is Finley, a deep purple polish with a scattered holo. Finley has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. I am really loving this polish! It reminds me of Aurora from Zoya’s Ornate Collection (see review HERE), but in a purple color instead of pink. Finley also has a lot of dimension because of the scattered holo effect.

The other scattered holo in this collection is Merida, a deep green shade. Merida also has an awesome formula that is opaque in two coats. I am ready to wear this polish through to the holiday season! Merida is the perfect transitional shade from fall to winter.

Next up is Britta, a berry red metallic polish with red and fuchsia shimmer. Britta has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. I do find metallic polishes a bit messier to work with, but I’m happy that there are no brush strokes visible with this one. Britta is a really unique nail polish, and one I’m sure I don’t own anything else like in my collection!

Ash is the other metallic shimmer in the collection, and is a cherry red shade with red and gold shimmer. If you are looking for a brighter version of Britta, this polish is for you! Ash has the same great formula that is opaque in two coats, and is super sparkly. I don’t wear a lot of metallic polishes, but Ash will certainly come into play during my holiday manicures!

Last but not least is Troy, a pewter shade with a foil finish and touch of black and gold shimmer. Troy has a good formula but I did find it to be a bit messy, so be prepared for a bit of clean up around the cuticles. I love this shade of polish for fall, as it pairs nicely with dark clothing and the soft texture of sweaters. It does remind me of last year’s polish called Tris (seen HERE), but contains that gold sparkle that makes it different.

All in all, the Zoya Urban Grunge Collection contains a nice selection of holo, shimmer, and metallic polishes. While I don’t wear these formulas often myself, I do highly recommend these based on the great quality. My favorites are definitely Alicia and Finley, so those are my top picks. You can shop the Urban Grunge polishes on Zoya’s website HERE. Each polish retails for $10, but keep your eye out for deals and coupons! Let me know in the comments what your top picks of the Urban Grunge collection are!

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

Manicure March | Julep in Alfre

Posted on March 18, 2016February 29, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today’s nail polish review is a really interesting one. Back when I first started blogging, I fell in love with Julep nail polishes. For some reason, I just had to have the polish Alfre, which is a metallic purple. I ended up doing a swap for it, and I think I wore it once. I’ve never been a big fan of metallic nail polishes, so I’m not sure why I wanted Alfre so much. I decided to swatch it during my declutter project to see it on my nails. Let me share my thoughts on Alfre with you.

Alfre is a metallic purple polish with silver shimmer. The formula is, unfortunately, horrible! It is watery, and that made application a big mess. Alfre is also very streaky, which can often happen with metallic polishes. I don’t know why I loved this so much a few years ago! Perhaps the formula changed over time, but there is no way I can keep this. Alfre needs to go!

All in all, I’m so glad I tried out Alfre again. I honestly don’t remember why I needed this nail polish, but I’m glad it is no longer taking up space in my collection. I would love to know in the comments if you’ve ever purchased a polish, and then years later you’re not sure why. Perhaps the color isn’t your taste, or the finish is not what you usually wear. Definitely share your polish story with me!

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

Give the Gift of Matching Nails with butter LONDON and Q&Q SmileSolar Watches

Posted on December 9, 2015November 30, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I have a fun blog post to inspire you when gift-giving this season. Perhaps there is a beauty lover in your life that you know would like a nail polish this holiday, but you wanted to give something else unexpected as well. Why not pair your polish with a matching accessory?! Q&Q SmileSolar watches make the perfect gift this year. Not only are they a fabulous and affordable $40, but they are super practical as well. Let me tell you more about Q&Q SmileSolar Watches, and show you how well they go with butter LONDON nail polish!

Q&Q SmileSolar is an eco-friendly brand in Japan known for its solar-power technology and expertly crafted products. Q&Q SmileSolar watches are powered by solar technology, and last for over three months with a single charge – no battery required! The watches are water-resistant, and made from recycled materials. I love how environmentally friendly they are! Plus, the Q&Q SmileSolar Series has a variety of styles to choose from, ranging from sleek and stylish to fun and bright. I received two watches from the Core Collection to review. Both are unisex, and would make an excellent gift for anyone on your list.

In this blog post I’ll be showing off the watch in style number RP00J004Y. This is a neutral watch with a silver band and face. It can go with any outfit! I’m pairing it up with a silver nail polish from butter LONDON.

My silver of choice is butter LONDON in Diamond Geezer. It has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. Because it is really shimmery, it does have a tendency to get messy. Keep your clean-up tools handy! Diamond Geezer is perfect for the winter months, and can be worn alone or in nail art looks. I have it on as I type up this blog post, and am loving how sparkly it is in the light!

Here is my manicure along with my Q&Q watch! It’s definitely a lot of fun to match my nail polish to my accessory. While I wouldn’t do this everyday, I would love to receive a gift this Christmas with a coordinating nail polish and accessory. It makes opening the present even more fun, and it lets the gift-giver think outside the box!

I hope you found this blog post helpful as you continue on with your holiday shopping this year! Q&Q SmileSolar watches can be purchased online HERE at $40 each. I think that is an amazing price for such an eco-friendly watch. Of course, you can grab Diamond Geezer on butter LONDON’s website HERE. Giving the gift of butter LONDON and Q&Q SmileSolar is a great way to give your nail polish lover a fun yet practical present this year.

Do you match your nail polish to your accessories? Let me know in the comments!

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Sally Hansen Lustre Shine in Firefly

Posted on November 20, 2015November 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! For the past couple weeks, I’ve been sharing with you some polishes that I’ve swatched during a nail polish destash project. So far, I’ve kept everything I’ve shown on the blog, but today I have a polish that I’ve decided to let go. Sometimes a polish looks beautiful both in the bottle and on the nails, but the formula isn’t that great. That is certainly the case with Sally Hansen Lustre Shine in Firefly. Let me show this polish to you, and share my thoughts!

Firefly is a metallic duochrome polish that is a bronze shade that turns green in the right light. I really love this shade, but unfortunately the formula is a bit difficult. The metallic formula tends to clump up on the nail, and it is just a bit messy overall. I decided that even though I like the color, it was time to get rid of Firefly. I haven’t worn this polish since I first got it about three years ago, so I probably won’t miss it too much!

All in all, it feels good to let go of polishes that I’m not loving and not using. I’m still keeping Moonstone from the Sally Hansen Lustre Shine line, as it is beautiful and works amazingly well for me. I’m glad I won’t be saying goodbye to all of my Lustre Shine polishes, but Firefly’s got to go.

Do you own any Sally Hansen Lustre Shine polishes? Let me know in the comments!

This product was provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

My Top 5 Metallic Nail Polishes for Fall | #FallintoPolishland

Posted on September 21, 2015September 21, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! My fall nail polish series called #FallintoPolishland continues this week with my top five metallic nail polishes. I’m usually not a big fan of metallic nail polishes, but there is something about the fall season that makes me want to wear them! I usually associate fall with nature, so I guess it makes sense that I go for polishes styled after elements. I reached into my nail polish collection to find my favorite metallics that are still available for purchase. Let me go ahead and share them with you!

Julep – Isla [BUY]

First up is Julep Isla, a white metallic polish. Isla has a good formula that is opaque in three coats. I’ve used this polish a ton over the years! It’s great on its own, but I’ve used it under a lot of glitter top coats. The metallic finish adds a lot of shine, and is the perfect base. Isla is also a good transitional polish to take you from fall into winter.

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear – Celeb City [BUY]

Next up is Celeb City from Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear. Celeb City is the perfect silver polish, and is the only polish in my entire nail polish collection for which I keep a back-up bottle. The formula is perfection, and is opaque in two coats. I highly recommend Celeb City!

Zoya – Brooklyn [BUY]

While I have tried a lot of gold polishes over the years, Zoya Brooklyn is the best metallic gold for sure. The formula is good, and is opaque in two coats. Brooklyn does show a lot of brush strokes, and while that is normal for metallic formulas, I recommend being precise in your application for a cleaner look. Brooklyn also has a stunning holographic shimmer, which adds a lot of dimension.

Milani Color Statement – Bronze [BUY]

Next up is Bronze from Milani, which is a pink-based bronze polish. Bronze has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. I really love the liquid metal effect in Bronze. Plus, the pink undertones give the polish an almost rose gold look. Bronze can be paired with any outfit this fall as well.

Zoya – Claudine [BUY]

Last but not least is Claudine from Zoya, a graphite metallic polish. Claudine is absolutely stunning, and has an awesome formula. I love how glossy Claudine is without top coat, too. Claudine is perfect to pair with leather jackets and cozy sweaters. I think this is a must have in your collection!

That wraps up today’s #FallintoPolishland post! Make sure to let me know in the comments what your favorite metallic nail polishes are, and stay tuned for another installment of #FallintoPolishland post next week!

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.

Manicure Monday | OPI Your Web or Mine

Posted on July 27, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Manicure Monday! I’m back this week to continue the Alphabet Challenge. Last week I didn’t participate because I just couldn’t find a brand or polish that began with the letter X. Luckily, I found an OPI polish this week that begins with Y. Your Web or Mine from the Spiderman collection is another polish that I got when I first began blogging, but haven’t worn in years. Let me show you this pretty pink!

Your Web or Mine is a frosty pink with a metallic finish. This polish has a good formula that is opaque in two coats, but brush strokes are visible because of the metallic quality. I’m not usually a fan of frosty polishes, but Your Web or Mine is really wearable. I think it goes really well with my skin tone, and is definitely office appropriate. I highly recommend it!

The OPI Spiderman Collection was limited edition, but I found the same mini polish set that I own on Amazon HERE for just $8.99! You get four mini polishes and a collector’s box with the set. That is such a great deal for this OPI set!

What OPI Collection is your favorite? Let me know in the comments!

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

Manicure Monday | Wet ‘n Wild Chrome Stay Outta My Bismuth

Posted on July 13, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Manicure Monday! There are only a few more weeks in the Alphabet Challenge – I can’t believe it! For the letter W this week I had to grab a Wet ‘n Wild polish. Wet ‘n Wild is one of the most affordable brands at the drugstore, but I’ve never been disappointed with any of its polishes. When I first moved to New York three years ago, I found a bunch of the Wet ‘n Wild Chrome polishes in a clearance bin at Rite Aid for $1.00. I just had to purchase one! I wore it back when I first got it, but it’s been sitting in my collection ever since. I was excited to give it another wear!

Stay Outta My Bismuth is a metallic polish with a mix of blue and silver. The formula is awesome – it applies evenly and is opaque in two coats. Stay Outta My Bismuth is a really unique polish. It is both blue and silver at the same time, and almost gives off an ombré effect. I’m not usually a big fan of metallic polishes, but this one is beyond stunning. I’m regretting not picking up more of these beauties back in the day!

The Wet ‘n Wild Chrome line was limited edition, but there are a few listings for Stay Outta My Bismuth on Amazon HERE. While metallics are often popular in the fall, I think this one is perfect for summer, and the chrome finish just shines in the sunlight! I’m so glad I discovered it in my stash!

Do you own any of the Wet ‘n Wild Chrome polishes?! Let me know in the comments!

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