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Manicure Monday | Milani Blue Jay + Daphine Polish Frosty

Posted on December 9, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! You may be surprised to hear that most of my every day manicures don’t make it onto my blog. I thought it would be fun to share with you one of my recent manicures. I actually wore it last Monday (through Thursday!), but it works for today’s Manicure Monday post as well. Let me show you what I wore on my nails!

I began by applying Milani Blue Jay as a base color. I reviewed this polish HERE in July, and I’ve been eyeing it in my nail polish collection ever since. While this is a limited edition polish, it is still available on Milani’s website HERE for just $4.49. As you may know, I am a huge fan of Essie Butler Please, and since my bottle is already showing a significant fill line, I decided to use another blue that I own. I think it was a great decision!

To complete my manicure, I added an accent nail of Daphine Polish Frosty (review HERE). I really wanted to experiment with Frosty to see what it would look like over different colors, and I’m loving it over Blue Jay! And yes, the photo above was taken at school while I was studying for my Evidence class. See, this really was one of my every day manicures!

All in all, I hope you enjoyed seeing my manicure today! I really loved this combination of bright blue and a bit of glitter, and I can’t wait to use Frosty over even more colors to see the result. If you would like to see more Manicure Monday posts, please 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.

Gradient Nails featuring Milani Textured Creams for Fall

Posted on October 29, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! I’ve been wanting to post a gradient manicure on Adventures in Polishland since it’s creation, but I’ve never been able to master the technique. When trying out the new Milani Textured Creams collection, I knew I just had to give the gradient another try. Let me show you how it turned out!

I used both Gracious Green and Lovely Lavender to create this manicure. First, I added added a thin coat of each polish to roughly half of each nail. It doesn’t have to be precise, since the colors will be smudged together anyway. The next step is taking a cosmetic wedge, and placing a bit of each color on it. Then, smudge the sponge carefully over each nail to blur the colors together. And that’s it! For more help, check out THIS tutorial on Pinterest.

I really like the way this gradient turned out! The textured finish is very forgiving, and makes for some easy nail art. I can’t wait to use this technique again, and maybe even use three colors. For a full review of the Milani polishes used in this post, including where to purchase them, see THIS blog post.

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

Milani Cosmetics Limited Edition Textured Creams for Fall

Posted on October 25, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I am excited to bring you another Textured Creams collection from Milani Cosmetics! Back in February, Milani released a set of textured polishes, and I loved them (see that review HERE). I’m glad that the textured trend is continuing on this fall, and that Milani has six new shades on the market. Let me show you the fall collection!

First up is Gracious Green, a dusty mint green polish. Gracious Green is such a unique polish, and perfect for the fall. I applied two coats to achieve opacity, and had no application issues whatsoever. I love green polishes, and this one is no exception.

Next is Lovely Lavender, a pastel purple polish. Lovely Lavender is also opaque in two coats, and has a great formula. Pastels are usually popular in the spring, but I love how Milani incorporated some lighter colors into this collection. There’s something for everyone!

Velvety Violet is up next, and it is a gorgeous deep purple polish. Velvety Violet may not have a velvet finish, but it applies well and looks stunning! I love this shade of purple, and I think it would be very flattering on many skin tones.

Next up is Mystery Mauve, a polish that truly lives up to its name! I love this textured twist on a classic mauve color. It’s still work appropriate, but you can be trendy at the office. Mystery Mauve has the same great formula as all of the Milani Textured Creams!

Next up is Beautiful Bordeaux, a dark wine-colored polish. Beautiful Bordeaux is the perfect shade for fall, and for those of you that love dark polishes. This color can easily be worn throughout the winter months as well. And, of course, the formula is great!

Last but not least is Charming Carmine, a gorgeous red polish. Charming Carmine is the perfect, textured red. The formula is great, and the polish is opaque in two coats. This is the perfect take on the classic red nail!

All in all, I’m loving the Milani Textured Creams for fall. As you know, I love the textured nail polish trend, and I love that Milani’s are cream-based. Glitter is awesome, but sometimes I just don’t feel like sporting the extra sparkle. Plus, Milani polishes are fabulous and affordable, and sell for just $4.99 each. You can shop online HERE or check your nearest CVS or Fred Meyer store.

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

Limited Edition Fantastical Plumage Collection from Milani Cosmetics

Posted on July 17, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Earlier this week I showed you the new Retro Glam Collection from Milani Cosmetics (you can see that post HERE if you missed it). Milani is also releasing a second limited edition collection this summer called Fantastical Plumage. It is packed with bright colors and has another fun glitter polish, too. Let me show you this gorgeous collection!

First up is Scarlet Ibis, a fiery red orange polish. As with all of the polishes in this collection, Scarlet Ibis is opaque in two coats and has a great, reliable formula. I love how wearable this polish is even though it is quite bright. Since I’m not a fan of true reds, adding a hint of red to an orange is perfect. Plus, it’s very flattering. Scarlet Ibis can also make the transition from summer to fall easily.

Next is Canary, a true yellow polish. I was actually rather impressed with Canary’s formula, since I have trouble with most yellow nail polishes. While yellow isn’t necessarily my go to shade, Canary is so pretty for summer, and can be used in a variety of nail art looks. I’m thrilled to have this yellow in my collection, and I think it would make a great addition to yours!

Peacock is next, and it is a gorgeous dusty blue polish. This subtle light blue shade is gorgeous for any time of year, and it looks very dainty on the nails. Peacock will also go with a lot of outfits, since the blue is not too “out there”. I don’t think I have another polish like it in my stash!

Up next is Blue Jay, a stunning cobalt blue polish. Blue Jay is just fabulous! I’m a sucker for bright blue nails, and this one does not disappoint. I can’t wait to wear this polish again, and I might even pair it with Peacock for a fun contrast.

The last of the colors in the Fantastical Plumage Collection is Purple Martin, a light purple polish. Purple Martin is stunning, and I just love this color. Plus, the formula is amazing, and pack a high-gloss finish without a top coat. Purple Martin is definitely my favorite polish in the collection!

Last but not least is Carnival, a black and white glitter polish. Carnival has black bar glitters, black hexagons, and white hexagons. I applied one coat to each of the colors, and I’m loving the result! I did have to use special care to ensure I got enough glitters on the brush, but it was not unmanageable. I finished up with a top coat to even the layers, and to complete my manicure.

All in all, the Fantastical Plumage from Milani Cosmetics is so much fun! The bright colors are a perfect way to finish out the summer, and even the bird-themed polish names are so cute. This collection will be available in limited quantitates in August at CVS and Meijer stores. It will also be available to purchase on Milani’s website HERE. Let me know what you think of this collection in the comments below!

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

Limited Edition Retro Glam Collection from Milani Cosmetics

Posted on July 15, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! First, I want to give a big welcome to all of you from my new website, adventures-in-polishland.com! Please take the time to re-follow Adventures in Polishland now by adding your email in the box to the right so you receive all new blog posts. If I make it to 500 followers by the end of July, I plan on having a huge giveaway! Stay tuned for the first prize reveal on my Facebook page later this week.

Today I have a review of the new Retro Glam Collection from Milani Cosmetics that will be hitting stores this August. I am absolutely in love with these polishes, and am always excited to feature a brand that is fabulous and affordable here on Adventures in Polishland. Let me show you these sweet polishes!

First up is Strawberry Shake, a baby pink polish with a hint of shimmer. As with all of these polishes, Strawberry Shake is opaque in two coats and has a great formula. I suggest letting each coat dry completely to avoid dragging the polish. With that tip in mind, you will get a gorgeous, high-gloss finish. I love how cute Strawberry Shortcake is!

Up next is Raspberry Delight, a bright pink polish. I love how pigmented this polish is, as the color is perfect for summer. Raspberry Delight is just shy of being a neon polish, so it’s great for the office as well as the summer sun. I also love that I don’t need a top coat to get a glossy finish!

Creamy Pistachio is the next in the collection, and is a dusty mint green polish. Mint green is my all-time favorite polish color, and Creamy Pistachio doesn’t disappoint! I love that this polish is still pigmented without being too bright. Plus, it has the great Milani formula that I have come to expect.

Next up is Mint Chip, a darker green polish. Not only is mint chocolate chip my favorite ice cream, but Mint Chip is a gorgeous nail polish! The color is stunning, and great for those who want to give green nails a first try. Mint Chip is also the perfect year-round nail color.

Almond Bliss is the final colored polish, and is an off-white, cream color. It is a gorgeous neutral shade that is work appropriate yet trendy at the same time. Almond Bliss is also a great base for nail art, as it is nice with many different colors.

Last but not least is Sprinkles, a black and white glitter polish with grains, bars, and hexagons in a variety of sizes. I layered one coat of Sprinkles over each of the polishes in this collection, and I am loving the result! Sprinkles applies quite well — no fishing for glitters needed. I topped this with a top coat to even the layers, and I’m good to go! These polishes look amazing together, and I’ll be wearing this manicure for the next few days at least.

All in all, the Retro Glam Collection from Milani Cosmetics is a complete win for me! It will be released during August, and is a limited edition collection. To purchase, visit your local CVS or Meijer store, or shop on Milani’s website HERE. Also, stay tuned for a review of the complete Fantastical Plumage Collection later this week!

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. Please see my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Dare to Compare Week! Day Five — Red Orange

Posted on April 6, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I have the final installment in Dare to Compare Week here at Adventures in Polishland. I have saved the best for last! If you are looking for a dupe, you have come to the right place, especially if you love red orange polishes! Let me show you the polishes up for comparison today.

From left to right, the polishes are Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics in Grandma, Milani High Speed in Flaming Race, and Sinful Colors in Timbleberry. As soon as I lined these polishes up next to each other I was very excited. They already look like the same shade! Let me show you these polishes on the nail, first alone and then side by side.

Polish Name: Sinful Colors in Timbleberry

Price: $1.99 at drugstores

Coats Needed for Opacity: 2

Formula: Amazing formula and perfect application!

Color Description: Bright red orange creme.

Bonus: This is the perfect nail polish for summer!

Polish Name: Milani High Speed in Flaming Race

Price: $4.99 [Buy HERE]

Coats Needed for Opacity: 1

Formula: Great, one coat formula!

Color description: Bright red orange creme.

Bonus: Lives up to its fast dry, one coat name!

Polish Name: Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics in Grandma

Price: $10 at Sephora or $8 on Amazon [Buy HERE]

Coats Needed for Opacity: 1

Formula: Great, high gloss formula!

Color Description: Bright red orange creme.

Bonus: This is a 100% vegan and cruelty free brand!

Here we have each polish side by side. From left to right is the Sinful Colors, the Milani, and the Obsessive Compulsive. I cannot tell the difference between these three at all! Can you?! I honestly think this looks like the same polish. I think this is officially a dupe alert! I think the obvious choice is the $1.99 Sinful Colors nail polish, but if you prefer a one coat formula then the Milani may be for you. Of course, if you are a vegan then you will be purchasing the Obsessive Compulsive. The choice really is yours!

This concludes Dare to Compare Week! Have no fear, I will still do comparison posts when I find polishes that appear similar in the bottle. I hope you have enjoyed these posts as much as I have!

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

Dare to Compare Week! Day Four — Multi-Colored Glitter

Posted on April 4, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! It is Day Four of Dare to Compare Week, and today’s post deals with glitter, something any nail polish aficionado loves! While indie brands do glitter top coats best, many boutique and drugstore brands are now creating some glitters that are just as eye-catching. Since my favorite muli-colored glitter from the indie AbsolutLacquer is now discontinued, I wanted to see how some available polishes compared. Let me show you what I discovered!

From left to right, the polishes are AbsolutLacquer in Maybe I’m Crazy, Lex Cosmetics in Arcoiris, and Milani Jewel FX in Gems. They do look a bit different in the bottle, but let’s see what they look like on the nail. I applied one coat of each polish over white in all the photos you are about to see.

Polish Name: Milani Jewel FX in Gems

Price: $4.99 [Buy HERE]

Formula: Surprisingly great!

Color Description: Multi-colored glitter with small and medium hexagons.

Bonus: So fun, and can be purchased at the drugstore!

Polish Name: Lex Cosmetics in Arcoiris

Price: $10 [Buy HERE]

Formula: Great formula! Some reflective curling, but lays perfectly flat on the nail.

Color Description: Multi-colored glitter with small, medium, and large hexagons.

Bonus: The formula does separate in the bottle, but with a few shakes it is good to go!

Polish Name: AbsolutLacquer in Maybe I’m Crazy

Price: Discontinued! This polish is no longer created or sold.

Formula: This bottle needs a good shake to ensure the glitters are mixed and ready for application!

Color Description: Multi-colored glitters in all shapes and sizes!

Bonus: This was my very first indie polish!

Here we have each polish shown side by side. From left to ride is the Milani, the Lex, and the AbsolutLacquer. While my personal favorite of the bunch is Maybe I’m Crazy from AbsolutLacquer, I would definitely find one of the other two to be an acceptable substitute. Both have an excellent formula! I would choose Milani Gems due to its $4.99 price tag over the Lex, but if you are a sucker for the large hexagonal glitter that would be your new go to. This comparison gives me hope that I will be able have a back-up for my Maybe I’m Crazy once my bottle is empty!

What do you do when a favorite polish is discontinued?! What is your favorite glitter top coat?!

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.

Milani High Speed Fast Dry Nail Lacquer Review & Giveaway!

Posted on March 13, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I have six beautiful nail polishes to show you from the Milani High Speed Fast Dry line. These polishes are designed to have a one coat formula that is perfectly dry in sixty seconds. You may already be familiar with these polishes, but Milani just released some brand new shades! Make sure you read this entire entry, because at the end of the post I will have a giveaway featuring all six of these polishes! Let me show you these High Speed pretties!

First up is Quick Teal, a gorgeous teal green that leans towards blue. Quick Teal lives up to its name — it really is a one coat formula and dries in a flash! I was so impressed with the quality of the formula. Plus, the color is just stunning. I think Quick Teal is my favorite from the bunch!

The next polish is Flaming Race, a bright red-orange polish. Just like Quick Teal, Flaming Race is a one coat formula that dries quickly. I just love this polish on me! It is great for the summer months due to it’s bright nature. It’s definitely on fire!

Next up is Rapid Orchid, a very dark purple polish that looks almost black in real life. I did need two coats for this polish, as the first was a little sheer. While Rapid Orchid isn’t a personal favorite of mine, I think this polish is perfect for fall or winter. What an interesting take on a purple!

Instant Pearl is the next Milani High Speed I have to show you. This polish is a metallic white that also requires two coats to achieve opacity. As with most metallics, brush strokes are visible on the nail. Instant Pearl has a pretty shimmer quality to it, and has strong undertones of pink. This is a very work appropriate nail polish!

Next up is Pink Express, a baby pink polish. The formula on this one was quite streaky, and I applied two coats to achieve opacity. I was disappointed with Pink Express, because the color is very pretty. A third coat would have done away with the streakiness, but for a one coat formula I wasn’t going to apply another layer.

Last but not least is Move on Mauve, a frosted, shimmery pink. I was excited that Move on Mauve had that amazing, one coat formula and dried very quickly. This is also a professional polish, and a shade that I think would look great with any skin tone. It’s quite the staple shade to have in your collection!

All in all, I am rather impressed with these High Speed Fast Dry polishes from Milani. Three of the six were true one coaters, and the only one I’m disappointed with is Pink Express. If you like what you see here, make sure to head on over to Rafflecopter to enter to win all six polishes! Milani sent me an extra set by mistake and is generously permitting me to give these away to one lucky follower. Please see giveaway rules and guidelines below. Also, these can be purchased at your local drugstore, or on Milani’s website HERE for $4.99 each.

Giveaway Rules!

Giveaway is only open to participants with a USA shipping address.
You must be 18 or older to win, or have parental permission.
The giveaway will close at midnight EST on April 1, 2013.
All entries will be verified. False or repeat entries will result in all of that participant’s entries being deleted, and that participant disqualified.
The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond. If she fails to respond, she forfeits the prize and a new winner will be chosen.
I have the right to add or change the rules at any time during the giveaway.

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE GIVEAWAY! GOOD LUCK!

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.

Milani Limited Edition Nail Collection: Textured Creams Specialty Nail Lacquer

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

Today I am extremely excited to share with you the full Textured Creams collection from Milani Cosmetics! This collection is Limited Edition, and features six gorgeous shades of textured nail polish. I was unsure of how I would like this collection when I saw the press release, but I was amazed with the quality and formula of the polishes when I gave them a try. Let me show you these fabulous and affordable nail polishes!

First up is Tainted in Red, a bright red orange polish. All of the Milani Textures apply like a regular cream finish, but then dry to this textured look. This makes the formula amazing! The application is just perfect with two coats. I am loving Tainted in Red. It looked great with my skin tone and is an edgy take on a classic red polish. I think pairing this with a black outfit would be perfect for a night out!

Next is Spoiled in Fuchsia, a beautiful pink polish that is a mix between a fuchsia and magenta color. As with all of these polishes, I applied two coats of Spoiled in Fuchsia. Make sure you let each coat dry before applying a second layer. You will be able to see the polish drying as the textured look appears! Spoiled in Fuchsia is a gorgeous polish for spring. It’s not too bright, and is great for an every day look!

Aqua Splash is the next polish in the Milani Texture collection. It is a gorgeous aqua color that leans toward seafoam green. The brush with this polish was a little wonky, but it thankfully didn’t affect application at all. Aqua Splash is such a beautiful color. It’s perfect for the transition from spring to summer! I’ve been loving greens lately, and this is another one that I find stunning.

Next up is Yellow Mark, a banana yellow polish! This has the same flawless formula as the other polishes in this collection. Yellow Mark is my least favorite polish from the bunch simply because the color is not for me. If you love yellows, this is the polish for you! It’s perfect for a warm, sunny day!

Purple Streak is a dark and true purple polish. This is the only polish in the collection that applied streaky with the first coat. Luckily it evened right up with the second! I love this color polish! It’s not too bright or dark, and it’s great for all seasons. I think dark purple is a great alternative to the classic red nail, and Purple Streak is even edgier!

Last but not least is Shady Gray, what I like to call a graphite color! Shady Gray is a great neutral polish with a smoky look. I love that this is not black, but still a darker shade. That makes it less harsh and dramatic, but it still goes with every outfit. Shady Gray is perfect for the end of the winter season!

All in all, I am super impressed with the Textured Creams Collection from Milani! I was just blown away with the amazing formula, and how great they looked on the nail. I highly recommend this collection! Be sure to stop by your local Walgreens, Fred Meyer, HEB, or Meijer to purchase this collection. You can also buy it online at Milani’s website HERE. Each polish is just $4.99! What an affordable way to stay on trend this season!

Let me know what you think of this collection and textured nail polishes! Plus, stay tuned to see how I used these nail polishes to create some simply nail art looks!

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