Tag: nail polish

Random Number Generator Picks My Manicure | Pink Valentine’s Day Nails

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

This week I did not have a pre-planned manicure, so I thought it would be fun to use a random number generator to pick my nail polish look. I first saw Cristine of SimplyNailogical do something similar on her channel, and other nail polish creators have done this as well. It’s a fun way to pick your polish when you don’t know what to wear. Luckily, I ended up with two pink shades that make a perfect Valentine’s Day manicure!

Zoya Monroe
Zoya Monroe

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

I used Random.org for my random number generator. I narrowed down the polish by having the website pick which box of nail polish to use, then which row in the box, and finally which polish in the row. I was super excited when I landed on Zoya Monroe from the Thrive Collection! This is a beautiful mauve pink shade with a cream formula. It applies like a dream, and is opaque in two coats. Monroe is not available on Zoya’s website currently, but it is on Amazon.

Pink Valentine's Day Manicure

I then decided to choose a random polish from my special effects toppers and glitters since I got a cream formula as the base. I let Random.org choose the row and then the polish in the row. I couldn’t believe my luck when I got another pink-toned polish, Zoya Bisoux! Bisoux is from the Magical Collection for Holiday 2023. It has a light pink base and is filled with rose gold, yellow gold, and holographic glitters. I did a very thin coat on my ring finger as an accent nail. It adds the perfect amount of sparkle to my manicure! I’ll have to try Bisoux on its own at some point, too.

Zoya Monroe and Bisoux

I had so much fun letting a random number generator pick my manicure this week. It was kismet this time around to get complimentary shades that just so happen to work perfectly for upcoming Valentine’s Day. It certainly won’t always turn out this well, so I’ll have to do this every so often to see what interesting combinations I get. Let me know in the comments if you’d like to see more blog posts like this!

Snow Day Manicure featuring Zoya Abigail

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

This weekend we got our first big snowstorm of the winter season, and I decided my manicure would match the weather. At the end of December, I chose a few polishes from my collection to wear this month in January. I posted more about my nail polish “to be worn” pile on Instagram, but my plan is to share my manicures here on the blog weekly. While I wore a bright and fun look last week with Nail-Venturous Floam, this week my inspiration was a neutral shade from my nail polish stash in Zoya Abigail. I took this gray polish and added a bit of sparkle to create a snow day manicure!

Zoya Abigail
Zoya Abigal

Zoya Abigail is a cool-toned gray cream polish. The formula applies very nicely, and is opaque in two coats. I normally photograph all of my swatches in natural light, but this week I had to use artificial lighting due to the storm. Abigail is from the Toasty Collection released this time last year. I wouldn’t normally reach for a gray nail polish, but this one actually compliments my complexion nicely.

Different Dimension Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock

I then reached into my stash for a glitter topper from the indie nail polish brand Different Dimension. This shade is Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock from the Big Bang Theory Collection. The polish has a slightly blue tinted base, and is full of silver hexagonal glitters and white microglitters. I think this shade really mimics the snow that was falling outside!

Snow Day Manicure

I completed the look by adding two coats of the Zoya Naked Manicure Glossy Seal Top Coat. The result is quite beautiful! I like how the glitter topper really elevates what would otherwise be a neutral cream polish. I really enjoy putting different nail polish combinations together!

Abigail is available on the Zoya website for $12.00. You can use my referral link to save $5.00 off your first Zoya purchase. While you can no longer buy Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock, the brand Different Dimension is still in business on their website. Different Dimension was one of my favorite indie brands back in the day, and I’m glad the polishes I still own apply beautifully even years down the road. I’ll have to see what is currently available the next time I’m in the market for some new polish!

Merry and Bright Holiday Manicure featuring Holo Taco Freezer Burn

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

I recently reorganized my entire nail polish collection, and in the process found the Zoya Nail Polish Beachy Brights Collection. This collection of six neon nail polishes was released in the summer of 2023. I was really drawn to the red and green shades, and thought they would make a fun holiday manicure. I also wanted to try Holo Taco Freezer Burn, which I recently got on Black Friday. I thought these polishes would combine well to create a merry and bright holiday manicure!

Merry and Bright Holiday Manicure

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.

I began my manicure with Zoya Alora and Avani. Alora is a bright red nail polish with pink undertones, and Avani is a neon lime green. Unfortunately, neither of these polishes is currently available on the Zoya website for purchase. I hope they get restocked, because the formulas are great! Both shades are opaque in two coats, and they applied really well. I alternated red and green on each nail for this look.

Holo Taco Freezer Burn

I then topped my manicure with one coat of Holo Taco Freezer Burn. This is an iridescent blue shimmer polish. I am thrilled with how Freezer Burn looks on the nails! I wouldn’t normally call myself a shimmer manicure fan, but this polish really adds a fun touch to the nails. Plus, it works perfectly to give this holiday nail polish look a frosty and sparkly finish.

Merry and Bright Holiday Manicure

This will likely be my last Christmas manicure this year, and I am loving the result! It’s so much fun to do bright colors in the winter months. Something about the neon shades really cheer me up whenever I look at my nails! If you are looking for an easy holiday manicure that looks super festive, I highly recommend alternating red and green nails and adding a special effects topper from your collection.

Top 5 Christmas Nail Polishes for the Holiday Season

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Black Friday! Today I am excited to share five of my favorite cruelty free and vegan nail polishes to wear during the holiday season. Whether you like to stick to traditional cream formulas, or add some sparkle and shine to your manicure, this post will have a polish for you! All of the products featured in this post are currently available on the Zoya Nail Polish website. You can save $5.00 off your first order using my referral link here.

The products in this post were originally provided for my unbiased review. This post includes a referral link. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Zoya Venus

First up is Venus from the new Enamored Collection from Fall 2023. This beautiful red nail polish with holographic glitters is what inspired this blog post. I absolutely fell in love with Venus as soon as I put it on my nails. The formula applies beautifully in two coats, and I just love how sparkly it is! This polish screams holiday season to me, and I cannot wait to wear it again in time for Christmas.

Next up is Wyatt, a green cream polish from the Urban Grunge Collection. I really like this deep shade of green. It feels a bit more elevated, and this nail polish will look fabulous with many holiday outfits. Wyatt has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. I wore it last year on Christmas with another polish on this list!

If you’re looking for something other than red and green, I highly recommend Alicia, also from the Urban Grunge Collection. This is a silver linear holographic polish. The formula is a bit sheer, so I applied three coats for an opaque look. Alicia is the perfect polish to take you right through New Year’s Eve!

Zoya - Mila

Of course, many of us love reaching for the perfect red nail polish during the holidays. My go to choice is Mila from the Nostalgic Collection. Mila has a cream formula and is opaque in two coats. The deep shade is a bit different than the classic bright red, but I like how sophisticated this more vampy shade looks on my nails. Mila is the other polish I wore with Wyatt last Christmas!

Last but not least is Elphie, a PixieDust formula from the Enchanted Collection. This emerald green shade has a textured formula that is opaque in two coats. It also has a hint of sparkle and dries to a matte finish. Elphie is a unique polish that looks really fancy without any added effort during the manicure process. Your friends and family will most likely ask what’s on your nails when they see this stunning polish!

Easy Christmas Manicures

I hope you found this post featuring five of my favorite Christmassy nail polishes helpful. These polishes can be worn alone, or you can mix and match to create fun nail art designs. The holidays are a busy time of year, but having festive fingernails always puts a smile on my face!

What are your favorite Christmas nail polishes?

Let me know in the comments!

Zoya Nail Polish Y2K Collection | Swatches + Review

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Today I am excited to share swatches and a full review of the Zoya Nail Polish Y2K Collection for Winter/Holiday 2022. This trio features liquid holographic jelly formulas designed to bring us back to the early 2000s era. I find these polishes so much fun, and was reminded of sleepover parties growing up when we would listen to pop music on CDs and use roll-on glitter until we sparkled all over. Even if you’re not nostalgic about the Y2K era, this Zoya collection is a lot of fun for any age!

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

I swatched the nail polishes in this post over the Holo Taco Peely Base, and sealed in each manicure with the Zoya Naked Manicure Glossy Seal Top Coat. The swatches are all photographed in natural lighting.

Sparrow

First up is Sparrow, a bright cyan blue jelly nail polish with holographic glitters. I applied three coats to achieve opacity. I recommend applying thin layers of each polish and letting them dry completely between coats so that you don’t drag the jelly consistency during application. Sparrow is such a beautiful color, and I love how the glitters pop!

Malana

Next up is Malana, a bubblegum pink jelly polish with holographic glitters. I again applied three coats to achieve opacity with this polish, and I love the result! I’ve always loved bright pink nails, and to have the glitter built into Malana makes it so much fun.

Tamiah

Last but not least is Tamiah, a grape purple jelly polish with holographic glitters. I applied three coats of Tamiah to get full coverage. I do like this purple shade, but I wish the purple was a bit brighter on the nails. I would consider layering this over a more pigmented purple for a bit more oomph!

Zoya Y2K Trio Over Black Nail Polish

One of my favorite things about jelly formulas is that they can be used in a variety of ways. I decided to layer one coat of each polish in the Y2K Collection over black to see how they would work as toppers. I love the unique galaxy, duochrome result of each polish! I even did a bit of abstract nail art on my ring finger with little swipes of all three polishes. It’s so fun to experiment with jellies!

All in all, the Zoya Nail Polish Y2K Collection is a unique trio of polishes that I really enjoyed trying. I think this is a great gift idea for the younger nail polish lovers on your holiday list, but of course any holo glitter fan will find this fun! You can purchase these cruelty free and vegan nail polishes on the Zoya website for $12.00 each.

#ManicureMonday | Cool Toned Cloud Manicure featuring Zoya Nail Polish

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Manicure Monday! Today I’m excited to share with you the nail polish look I’m wearing this week. I’ve been using a lot of special effects toppers and glitters on my nails lately, so I decided to reach for some good, old-fashioned cream shades. I grabbed three polishes from Zoya Nail Polish and did some simple nail art in a cloud manicure. While this manicure will impress your friends because it looks put together and fancy, it’s super easy to create. Plus, these cool toned shades are perfect for the chilly winter months!

#ManicureMonday | Cool Toned Cloud Manicure

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.

I used three nail polishes from Zoya to create this manicure. The purple shade is Abby from the Charming Collection, the bright blue shade is Mateo from the Dreamin’ Collection, and the subdued blue shade is Lake from the Whispers Collection. I did a skittle manicure and decided to use my ring finger as the accent nail. Make sure to let your nail polish dry before moving onto the nail art portion.

Zoya Nail Polish Nail Art Tutorial | Adventures in Polishland

I’ve used the same Pinterest tutorial for cloud nail art since I started this blog back in 2012. Essentially, you just apply your nail polish in a descending manner and layer on your colors. The only trick is to let the shades dry before going onto the next step. That way you don’t smudge your manicure. This is especially important before adding your top coat! I use the Holo Taco Super Glossy Taco for a super shiny, glass like finish.

Manicure Monday Cloud Nail Art Look

I’m loving how this manicure turned out! The cool toned colors look so great together even though they came from three different Zoya Nail Polish collections. It’s also nice to take a break from the glittery nails I’ve been sporting lately for a smooth, cream formula finish. If you haven’t tried out a cloud manicure before, I highly recommend it! The result looks quite impressive even though it’s simple to create.

Follow me on Instagram for more manicures and product recommendations!

#ManicureMonday | Green Iridescent Nails with Holo Glitter

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I’m excited to share with you the green iridescent manicure I wore last week. This nail polish look is a combination of a cream polish, a special effects topper, and a glitter topper. I’ve had so much fun layering nail polishes lately. Not only does it give me the opportunity to get more wear out of the polishes in my collection, but each manicure is quite unique. Today I’ll be sharing with you the polishes I used to achieve a sparkly and iridescent look, as well as point out a dupe for a now discontinued product.

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Chlorophyll

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.

I began my manicure with two coats of Chlorophyll from the now defunct brand Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics. This is a teal green nail polish with a cream formula. If you are looking for something similar, a great option is Zoya Cecelia. It’s too bad OCC went out of business, because I really love the formula of their polishes. I’ve had Chlorophyll for nearly a decade now, and it still applies wonderfully.

Zoya Leia

Once Chlorophyll was dry, I added a coat of Zoya Leia. Leia is a sheer opalescent polish with flecks of fuchsia, green, and gold. It is such a beautiful, shimmery polish that reflects in the light. I will 100% admit that I reached for Leia this week because Holo Taco released the Winter Shimmers Collection, and I wanted to see if I had a similar option in my stash. This gives me Celestial Lights vibes for sure!

I finished the manicure by adding one coat of Holo Taco Flakie Holo Taco. I use this polish so often that I will probably be repurchasing it before the end of the year! It levels up nearly every manicure, and I just love the rainbow sparkle. You can really see how the look pops once I add this glitter topper. If you are looking for a versatile holo glitter, I highly recommend this one. Of course, I sealed in the look with two coats of Holo Taco Super Glossy Taco for a glass-like finish.

Tag me in your #ManicureMonday posts on Instagram @adventuresinpolishland!

Dry Brush Nail Art featuring the Zoya Nostalgic Collection

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! A few days back I featured swatches and a full review of the Zoya Nail Polish Nostalgic Collection. I loved this collection so much that I knew I wanted to wear the polishes together in one manicure. I decided to do a dry brush nail art look. This is a simple technique I learned from Emily over at Casual Contrast (formerly The Lacquerologist). You can find Emily’s full tutorial on this nail art on her blog, but today I’ll show you what combining the Nostalgic Collection from Zoya looks like.

Dry Brush Nail Art featuring the Zoya Nostalgic Collection

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. This post includes an affiliate link. All opinions are my own. Please see my Disclosure Policy for more information.

I began my manicure by applying two coats of Vivi. I chose a light base shade because I wanted the darker polishes in the collection to still pop out well on the nails. I let Vivi dry completely before moving onto the next step, as I didn’t want this base shade to budge at all in the dry brushing process.

Dry Brush Nail Art featuring the Zoya Nostalgic Collection

I then used Mila, Austin, and Cooper to add some fun color to my manicure. The trick with dry brushing is to wipe off the brush until it has very little polish on it. That allows for you to do abstract strokes on the nails for a unique look each time. I love this technique because it looks fancy, but it’s super easy to achieve. You really cannot mess it up! My only tip is to let the polish dry between layers, and make sure your manicure is fully dry before you apply a top coat so you don’t smudge the completed look.

I’m really loving the final result! The Zoya Nostalgic Collection works so well together, as the shades really compliment one another. I decided to use three of the polishes in the actual dry brushing, so that the colors would still stand out without looking muddy. That being said, you could definitely add more colors, especially if you switch to using a nail art brush for small strokes. If you are looking for an easy nail art design that looks great in the end, I would recommend giving the dry brush technique a try!

Zoya Nail Polish Nostalgic Collection | Swatches + Review

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Today I have swatches and a full review of the Zoya Nail Polish Nostalgic Collection. This collection was released in the fall of 2021, and includes six cream polishes designed to be a modern take on classic favorite shades. While at first I was quite surprised that this collection was all cream formulas, once I got the polishes I could see how beautifully they worked together and individually. Let me share my thoughts on the Nostalgic Collection with all of you!

Zoya Nostalgic Collection Swatches and Review

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

I swatched all of the nail polishes in this post over the Holo Taco Peely Base, and I applied the Zoya Naked Manicure Glossy Seal Top Coat on top for a glossy finish. As always, the photos are taken in natural lighting.

Mila

Zoya Mila
Zoya Mila

First up is Mila, described as a sultry, deep mahogany red cream polish. I applied two coats to achieve opacity. Mila is such a stunning polish! I love how deep this red shade is. It’s a bit more vampy than the traditional red nail polish.

Rumi

Zoya Rumi
Zoya Rumi

Next up is Rumi, a muted terracotta cream polish. Rumi has an excellent formula that is opaque in two coats. I like the pink undertones in this shade, and I think it is a great alternative to a neutral nail polish.

Vivi

Zoya Vivi
Zoya Vivi

The other pink polish in the line is Vivi, a dusty, cool-toned rose pink cream. I found Vivi a bit difficult to use, as the formula is thin and runny, so my application was a bit messy. I am wearing three coats in the swatches. Vivi is a really pretty shade, but I don’t think I will be reaching for it again just due to the tricky formula.

Austin

Zoya Austin
Zoya Austin

My favorite polish in the Nostalgic Collection is Austin, a cool wedge-wood blue cream. Austin is opaque in two coats and has a fantastic formula. I am loving this periwinkle blue shade! It’s actually quite unique for a blue nail polish, and I look forward to wearing Austin again soon.

Cooper

Zoya Cooper

Next up is Cooper, a logan green cream polish. Logan also has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. This green shade is just perfect for the fall season, and would work really well in some camouflage nail art.

Becca

Zoya Becca
Zoya Becca

Last but not least is Becca, described as a blackened fig cream polish. This polish has an excellent formula that is opaque in two coats. Becca is a stunning deep purple nail polish. I don’t love how it looks with my fair skin tone, but if you are looking for a dark purple polish Becca is a great option.

In the end, I am loving the Zoya Nail Polish Nostalgic Collection. Despite being a collection of all cream shades, the collection is anything but boring. Almost all of the polishes have amazing formulas, and they work well as a cohesive collection in addition to being beautiful in a stand-alone manicure. Make sure to follow my blog, as my next post will be a simple nail art look using this collection. Until then, you can purchase the Nostalgic Collection on the Zoya website at $12.00 per bottle.

What is your favorite shade in the Nostalgic Collection?

Let me know in the comments!

Zoya Nail Polish Naturel (5) Collection | Swatches + Review

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Today I am excited to share with you swatches and a full review of the Zoya Nail Polish Naturel (5) Collection. This transitional collection for 2022 includes five cream nail polishes and one Hot Lips Glossy Lip Balm. This installment to the Naturel family is replete with warm-toned neutral shades with pink undertones. I love the Naturel line because all of the polishes are appropriate for even the most professional of environments. They are also staples for any nail polish collection, and the shades work beautifully for any skin tone. Let’s jump into all of the polishes in the Zoya Naturel (5) Collection.

Zoya Nail Polish Naturel (5) Collection | Swatches & Review

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. This post includes an affiliate link. All opinions are my own.

I swatched all of these nail polishes over the Holo Taco Peely Base. I’m wearing two coats of each polish in the photos, and sealed in each shade with the Zoya Naked Manicure Ultra Glossy Seal Top Coat. The swatches are all photographed in natural lighting.

Chelsea

Zoya Chelsea
Zoya Chelsea

First up is Chelsea, a powdered blush cream polish. Like most of the polishes in this collection, Chelsea has a thinner formula that can be a bit tricky to apply. I recommend thin coats of this polish, as well as some patience as the watery formula can be a bit messy and streaky. Luckily, Chelsea is opaque in two coats, and my top coat helped to even out any texture and give it a beautiful finish. I really enjoy this light pink shade!

Sutton

Zoya Sutton
Zoya Sutton

Next up is Sutton, a muted pink-nude cream. Sutton also has a thinner formula, but it is opaque in two coats. If you are looking for a really warm neutral with a hint of pink, this polish is a great option.

Evan

Zoya Evan
Zoya Evan

The first brown-toned polish in this collection is Evan, what Zoya describes as a softened saddle cream. Evan also has a thinner formula, but you can see the result with the glossy top coat is quite stunning. Evan is such a gorgeous beige shade, and would work really well in nail art looks.

Parker

Zoya Parker
Zoya Parker

My favorite polish in the collection is Parker, a warm greige polish. Parker has an excellent formula that is opaque in two coats. This is more of the traditional cream formula I have come to expect from Zoya. I was so surprised when I applied Parker, because I did not expect to love it so much! This shade looks really nice with my fair skin tone.

Elyse

Zoya Elyse
Zoya Elyse

The last polish in the line is Elyse, a gentle aubergine cream polish. Elyse has an excellent formula that is opaque in two coats. I really like this purple shade, and I can see myself wearing this to the office and then dressing it up with a holographic top coat for some more bling.

Sweettart

Zoya Sweettart
Zoya Sweettart

The last item in the Naturel (5) Collection is a Hot Lips Glossy Lip Balm in the shade Sweettart. This is a shimmering purple mauve shade. It has a sweet candy scent that I really enjoy. The formula is unique in that it has a sticky consistency so that it stays in place, but it has a smooth, hydrating feeling on the lips. The shimmer in Sweettart is not too strong, which I personally like because it adds dimension without looking glittery. I don’t wear lip products often, but this one is very pretty!

Zoya Naturel 5 Collection Swatches + Review

All in all, the Zoya Nail Polish Natural (5) Collection is a solid addition to the Naturel family of products that Zoya offers. While the lighter shades do have thinner formulas that require a bit more patience to apply, all of the shades look beautiful with a glossy top coat. My personal favorites from the collection are Chelsea and Parker, but there is definitely a shade for everyone. As always, Zoya Nail Polish is a cruelty free brand, and all of the products in this line are vegan friendly. You can purchase the Naturel (5) Collection on the Zoya website.

What is your favorite shade in the Naturel (5) Collection?

Let me know in the comments!