nail polish – Page 23 – Adventures in Polishland

Tag: nail polish

Dare to Compare | Julep Nina vs Zoya Arizona

Posted on August 21, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! If you’ve Liked my Facebook Page, you’ll know that I’ve begun a new project dubbed The Great Polish Destash. I will be moving at some point this year, so I want to go through my entire nail polish collection and get rid of polishes that I no longer want or need. My first step was to roughly organize my polishes by color, and now I’m going through those color families to find any dupes (aka duplicates). I decided to start with the organges, since I only had 20 orange polishes before I started my destash. Julep Nina and Zoya Arizona looked nearly identical in the bottle, so I had to test them out side by side to see how they compare. Dare to Compare | Julep Nina vs Zoya Arizona

First up is Julep Nina, a bright orange creme that dries to a satin finish. Nina is opaque in three coats, and has a tacky formula. I do love the color and the finish, but the formula is a bit difficult.

Next up is Zoya Arizona. This is also a bright orange creme, but it dries to a glossy finish. The formula is good, but a bit thin so I needed three coats for opacity. I got this cute mini size in a promotion Zoya did a while back. In fact, my friend Princess Polish made a bulk order and included this in it for me.

Here are side-by-side swatches of Julep Nina and Zoya Arizona. Nina is on my pinky and ring fingers, with Arizona on my middle and pointer fingers. I can barely tell any difference at all between the two! Because these polishes are nearly identical, I knew it would be safe to destash one of them. I considered formula as the biggest deciding factor, and decided to keep…. Zoya Arizona! The glossy finish and smooth formula truly won me over!

All in all, while both Nina and Arizona are great, bright orange polishes, there is no need to have both in my collection. If you’re looking for an orange, I definitely recommend Zoya Arizona. Not only is it more affordable at $9 versus Julep’s $14 price tag, but it’s got a great formula. With Halloween around the corner, you’ll want this shade for your pumpkin nail art!

Do you have a favorite orange?! Let me know what it is in the comments!

Subscription Sunday | August Julep Maven Box

Posted on August 17, 2014August 12, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! Today I have an unboxing of my August Julep Maven Box for all of you. I’ve been very picky lately with my Julep box, since I have dozens of Julep polishes and am working to shrink my nail polish collection. When I saw the beautiful polishes being offered this month, I decided to go for it. Let me show you what I got!

Here is a peek inside my box. This month’s theme is The Wanderlust Collection, which is perfect since I’ll be traveling this month! I went with my signature style of Classic with a Twist, and got two nail polishes and the Gel Eye Glider in Black. To be honest, I can do without the eyeliner, but I really loved the two nail polish shades so I still got this box.

The first polish is Katie, a stunning, iridescent orchid polish. Katie is somewhere between a pink and purple, and I am just loving this polish. The formula is amazing, and the polish is opaque in two coats. I’ve worn this twice already, and can see myself reaching for Katie quite often.

Next is Anvi, a deep violet shade with a magenta shimmer. Anvi is also a gorgeous polish, and is opaque in two coats. The formula is great as well. I know I have similar deep purples in my collection, but this one just stands out to me!

All in all, I’m so glad I got my Julep Maven box this month! I don’t think I’ll even open the eyeliner, but the polishes are amazing! I’m loving both of them, and have already gotten a lot of use out of them. As always, if you’re not a Julep Maven yet, you can get your first month for free using code FREEBOX at checkout. Please sign up using my referral LINK so I can get rewards points! While Julep does have its problems (find out what I mean HERE), I’m still going to stand by this company because the polishes are awesome and work so well with my body chemistry. If you’re a Maven, let me know what you think of your August box in the comments!

Milani Color Statement Nail Lacquer | Favorites & Final Thoughts

Posted on August 13, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Well, friends, over the past couple weeks I’ve shared with you 37, brand new Milani polishes. I’ve thrown a lot of information at you, and if you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed by the new Milani collection, I completely understand. That’s why I wanted to create this post for you. Here I will be sharing my own personal favorites in the Milani Color Statement line. These are the polishes that I most recommend, and plan on wearing often. I also wanted to give some of my final thoughts on the collection at the end of this post. Feel free to use the toolbar at the top of this page to see the entire range, but let’s get into my favorites!

FAVORITES

Doll Face [REVIEW]

Bombshell [REVIEW]

Hot Pink Rage [REVIEW]

Mauving Forward [REVIEW]

Tattle Teal [REVIEW]

Peri-Wink [REVIEW]

Blue Print [REVIEW]

Silhouette [REVIEW]

Rainbow Prism [REVIEW]

Gold Plated [REVIEW]

FINAL THOUGHTS

Overall, I am thoroughly impressed with the new Milani Color Statement line. Nearly every formula is spot on, and I had only a few minor issues as noted in my full reviews. I really appreciated that Milani added in some unique polishes, especially with the glitters and shimmers. I would love to see this line expand even further in the future, though. We are missing oranges, yellows, more greens, and a black polish. I would also like more glitters, too. Nonetheless, these 37 polishes are certainly fabulous and affordable. The $3.99 price tag is phenomenal, and I’m so honored that I got the chance to try these polishes out for all of you. I hope to see Milani expand this line in the near future!

What polishes in the Milani Color Statement line are your favorites? 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.

Milani Color Statement Nail Lacquer | Quick Dry Top Coat Review

Posted on August 11, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! You’ve now seen all of the new nail polish shades in the Milani Color Statement Nail Lacquer line, but I saved the Quick Dry Top Coat for last. I’m always on the hunt for the perfect top coat, especially one that is fabulous and affordable. I made sure to thoroughly test out the Quick Dry Top Coat so I could let you know if it’s worth the buy, even at just $3.99. Let’s go ahead and take a look at the top coat!

The Quick Dry Top Coat stays true to its name – the formula is amazing, glides on with ease, and dries really quickly! I really love the high gloss finish, and appreciate how fast this top coat dries. I’m wearing it over Hot Pink Rage in the photos above, and I think it looks like I got a professional manicure done! You can also see the sizable dent I’ve made in this bottle already. I’ve been testing it a lot for all of you!

I wore this top coat for two manicures, one with a Milani polish and one with another brand, to see how it lasted. Unfortunately, with both manicures I got tip wear on the second day of wear, and chipping on the third day of wear. Once the polish starts chipping, it doesn’t stop either! So while the Quick Dry Top Coat is perfect if you’re rushing out the door and need your nails dry, it’s not a long-lasting top coat. In that sense, I would only recommend it if you are looking for that high gloss finish.

All in all, I’m a bit disappointed that the Quick Dry Top Coat does not preserve my manicure for longer than a few days. I do love how fast it dries and how the finish looks on my nails, though. In that way, it’s definitely up to you to decide if the Quick Dry Top Coat fits your needs. If you change your nail polish as often as I do, this might be a great option for you! You can purchase this top coat at your local CVS store, or directly from Milani’s website HERE. In the comments, let me know if you’d buy this top coat!

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

Milani Color Statement Nail Lacquer | Glitters

Posted on August 9, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I have the last of the polishes in the new Milani Color Statement line to share with all of you. I will be doing a complete review of the top coat as well, but the glitters are the last of the swatches. I can’t believe it! Anyway, I’m so glad that Milani included some glitters in this collection, as every girl needs some sparkle in her life. Let’s go ahead and get glittery!

First up is Rainbow Prisms, a glitter top coat filled with silver and holographic glitters. I layered one coat over Tattle Teal, and I’m loving the result! There is absolutely no need to fish for glitters with this polish, as a ton comes out with each coat. Plus, it applies easily and smoothly. I am loving the rainbow effect with this glitter! It would look great over nearly any base color.

Next up is Gilded Rocks, a glitter polish with a yellow gold base and pink, rose gold glitters. I am wearing two coats of Gilded Rocks in the photos above, and it looks opaque to me! I love how fun and fancy this polish is, and anything with rose gold is a win in my book.

Club Lights is the pink version of Rainbow Prism. I’ve layered one coat over Modern Rouge, and as you can see one coat provides a ton of glitters! I tested this to see if it could be worn without a base color, and I couldn’t get it opaque in 2-3 coats. Nevertheless, Club Lights is great for layering!

Gold Plated is my favorite of the glitters! It is a liquid metal gold, that is super sparkly and opaque in two coats. The formula is phenomenal as well. Gold Plated is my new favorite gold polish of all time!

Last but not least is Crimson Jewel, a stunning red glitter polish that is opaque in two coats. I feel like I’m wearing the ruby slippers on my nails with this polish! The formula is fantastic, and it looks so beautiful. Crimson Jewel is certainly a gem (pun intended)!

All in all, Milani included some lovely glitter polishes in the new Color Statement line. I’m obsessed with Gold Plated, and Rainbow Prism is super fun as well. As always, you can purchase this line at your local CVS store or on Milani’s website HERE for the fabulous and affordable price of $3.99 each.

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

Milani Color Statement Nail Lacquer | Reds

Posted on August 7, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! Today I have a full review of all of the red polishes in the new Milani Color Statement line. The reds get their own post, because there are seven of them! I rarely wear red nails, but I know it’s the staple shade for many women. Let’s get right into the reds!

First up is Corrupted Coral, the most pink-toned of the reds! Corrupted Coral is the perfect coral creme, and has an amazing formula. This is one of those polishes that looks great on everyone no matter your skin tone. I think you need a polish like this one in your collection!

Next up is Mango Tango, a bright red-orange shade. Mango Tango has a super fun name, and an amazing formula. This polish just looks perfect on the nails!

Red Label is a true red creme, and such a classic shade. It reminds me of Louboutin bottoms for sure. Red Label has a great formula and is opaque in two coats. If you are in search of the perfect red polish, Red Label is the one to get.

Next up is Modern Rouge, a fuchsia red polish with a crelly (creme and jelly) formula. It is quite sheer, and I needed three coats to achieve opacity. Modern Rouge is a bit lighter than Red Label, and perfect if you don’t want a drastic red.

Iconic Red is next, and it is a deep cherry shade. It also has some plum undertones, which makes it a unique polish. Iconic Red has a good formula that is opaque in two coats. It reminds me of autumn leaves and football games for some reason. What do you think?

Next up is Ruby Stone, a shimmering deep red that is absolute perfect for the holidays. Whether you use it in nail art, or on its own, Ruby Stone is beautiful. The formula is great as well, and is opaque in two coats. I highly recommend this one!

Last but not least is Enchanting, a very dark bordeaux red. Enchanting is nearly black, and has a bit of a patchy formula. Luckily it evens out in two coats, and looks very vampy and mysterious. I feel like a daring woman would wear this shade, and I’m not sure that is me!

All in all, there is a great range of red polishes in the new Milani Color Statement line. If you’re in need of a new red, I guarantee you can find the perfect one for your collection here. At just $3.99 each, you can’t go wrong with these polishes. They are available for purchase at your local CVS store and on Milani’s website HERE. I’m almost done showing you the Milani polishes, so make sure to stay tuned for the final posts!

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

Milani Color Statement Nail Lacquer | Earth Tones

Posted on August 5, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! I’m here to share the next installment in my Milani Color Statement Nail Lacquer series with all of you. Today I’ve got what I’m calling the Earth Tones. They are all gorgeous neutrals, and perfect for the fall months. Without further ado, let’s get started!

First up is Spotlight White, the perfect white polish. Spotlight White has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. It’s difficult to get the formula of a white polish just right, and Milani’s done it! If you’re looking for an affordable white for your collection, I highly recommend Spotlight White.

Next up is Bronze, a metallic bronze polish with hints of pink and purple undertones. Bronze’s formula isn’t perfect, and as with most metallic polishes it tends to bunch up a bit. I recommend thin coats, and definitely let each coat dry thoroughly before adding your next one. Bronze is a unique polish, and it looks different depending on the light!

My favorite of the Earth Tones is Pink Beige, a dusty rose that almost has a peachy tint to it. Pink Beige has a flawless formula that is opaque in two coats. It is great for an every day look, especially if you work in a professional setting. I think it’s just beautiful!

Next up is Silhouette, a grey-green polish with a subtle green and brown shimmer. Silhouette is the perfect army green, and I can see it being used in camouflage nail art looks for sure. The formula is perfect, and is opaque in two coats. I’m surprised that I love Silhouette, but it’s an awesome polish!

Last but not least is Charcoal Charm, a beautiful charcoal metallic polish with green and purple shimmer. Charcoal Charm has a good formula, and is opaque in two coats. It looks so cool on the nails – almost like I dipped my nails in liquid metal. It reminds of a high fashion manicure, and it is just perfect to match with your leather jackets and fall boots.

All in all, I think these Earth Tones are a great addition to the Milani Color Statement line. I’m quite impressed with Spotlight White, and really love Pink Beige. I do wish there was a black creme polish in the collection as well, but maybe that is to come in the future! You can, of course, purchase the Color Statement line at your local CVS store for just $3.99, or shop online from Milani’s website HERE. I’ve still got more Milani polishes to show you, so make sure to follow my blog to see them!

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

Milani Color Statement Nail Lacquer | Greens & Blues

Posted on August 3, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Sunday! It’s time for the third installment of my Milani Color Statement Nail Lacquer series. Today I have all of the greens and blues in the new line to share with you. Unfortunately, there are only two green shades in the collection, which I find very disappointing because green nail polish is one of my favorites! Nonetheless, I have some beautiful polishes to show you today. Plus, don’t forget to use the toolbar at the top of this post to see the other polishes in this new line.

First up is Mint Crush, a pastel mint polish. Milani describes this as a mint green, but I’m seeing a lot of blue undertones in this polish. Let me know if you see this as green or blue in the comments! Mint Crush has a thin formula, and I needed three coats to get an even and opaque finish. The color is definitely beautiful.

The other green shade in the line is Tattle Teal, a beautiful teal creme that has an amazing formula. This polish glided on like butter, and looks stunning. I love how pigmented Tattle Teal is. I also think it’s perfect for the fall!

The first of the blues is Water Front, a highly pigmented sky blue creme. Water Front has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. It does remind me of a few other polishes in my collection, but it’s definitely a beautiful polish.

Next up is Peri-Wink, a gorgeous periwinkle blue polish with undertones of purple. Peri-Wink has a slight, holographic shimmer running throughout the base, and is just a dainty polish. The formula is flawless, and opaque in two coats. Peri-Wink reminds me of twinkling snow!

Blue Print is next, and one of my favorites in the entire Color Statement line. It is a deep, royal blue with the perfect formula. Blue Print is opaque in two coats, and just looks amazing. I am a sucker for blue polishes like this one, and actually wear them quite often.

Last but not least is Ink Spot, a navy polish that appears nearly black. Ink Spot has a good formula, but I definitely needed two coats to even out the first, which was quite streaky. I personally like my navy polishes to have more blue pigmentation, but if you’re looking for an off-black type of shade, Ink Spot is for you!

All in all, I am really liking the blues and greens in the new Milani Color Statement line. Blue Print is beyond amazing, and Peri-Wink is just beautiful. I do wish there were more green shades, but perhaps Milani will expand the line in the future. You can purchase these polishes at your local CVS store for just $3.99 each, or on Milani’s website HERE. Stay tuned for even more Milani reviews!

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

Milani Color Statement Nail Lacquer | Pinks & Purples

Posted on August 1, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I have the second installment in my review of the new Milani Color Statement Nail Laquer line. This post features all of the pinks and purples in the collection, which are some of my personal favorites. If you would like to see the other polishes in this line, use the toolbar at the top of this post. Once all of the reviews are live, each category will be linked! Let me jump right into the pinks and purples!

First up is Doll Face, a pastel pink with blue undertones. Doll Face has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. I’m absolutely loving how this polish looks with my skin tone. For a pastel shade, Doll Face is quite pigmented, which I really like. It’s definitely a wonderful pink!

Next up is Bombshell, a bubblegum pink that is brighter than Doll Face. Bombshell also has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. If you’re looking for a true pink polish I recommend Bombshell for sure. It’s also a shade that can be worn in any season.

Cupcake Icing is an orchid pink with undertones of purple. This polish applied like a dream in two coats, and is such a gorgeous shade. Not only do I love the name Cupcake Icing, but I love this polish on me! I can also see this color looking beautiful on darker skin tones as well.

The last pink is also my favorite, and it is Hot Pink Rage. This hot pink polish is an amazing bright color with a flawless formula. I applied two coats in the photos above, and I loved it so much I posted it to Instagram right away. If you only get one pink from this new line, make it Hot Pink Rage!

Now onto the purples, and we start with lilac shade Imperial Purple! Imperial Purple is a beautiful polish that is opaque in two coats. I always like this shade of polish, and this one has a great formula. While not a unique polish, it’s still great that Milani included Imperial Purple in its new line.

Next up is Ultra Violet, a bright purple polish with magenta and purple shimmer. Ultra Violet has a good formula that is opaque in two coats. I love how vivd the shimmer stands out against the base with this polish. I’ll definitely pull this one out during the colder months.

Sugar Plum is also a shimmer polish, but it is more of a fuchsia purple than Ultra Violet. The shimmer is not as strong on the nails with Sugar Plum, but it’s still beautiful when the light hits it just right. Sugar Plum does have a really good formula that is opaque in two coats. I don’t think I have another polish like it in my collection!

Next is Mauving Forward, the perfect mauve creme polish with purple undertones. Growing up, I really disliked mauve when it came to nails and makeup, but I’m actually loving Mauving Forward! Its formula is perfect, it’s opaque in two coats, and it’s professional and classy. What more could you want?!

Last but not least is Lovely Amethyst, a metallic amethyst polish. Lovely Amethyst’s formula is a little tricky to work with, as metallic finishes often tend to bunch up. I suggest careful painting with thin coats to avoid issues. I’m personally not a fan of metallic polishes, but Lovely Amethyst is a beautiful shade. If you’re a February baby, grab this one!

All in all, I’m really impressed with the pinks and purples in the new Milani Color Statement line. There is a good range of shades from which to choose, and the formulas on nearly all of them are spot on. Make sure to check your local CVS store to grab these fabulous and affordable polishes for just $3.99 each. You can also buy them directly from Milani’s website HERE. Stay tuned as the series continues with the blues and greens!

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

Milani Color Statement Nail Lacquer | The Sheers

Posted on July 30, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I have the first installment of a new blog series reviewing the new Milani Color Statement Nail Lacquer line. Milani just released 37 new shades of polish that is now available at CVS stoes and online for just $3.99 each. I received the line to review for all of you, and will be sharing swatches of the polishes in a few posts in the coming days. To make things easy for you to navigate through this collection, I’ve created a header for this blog series. Once all of the posts are live, each section will be clickable and bring you straight to that blog review. Today, I’ll be showing you the four sheer polishes in the collection. These sheer polishes are perfect for layering and nail art looks, but I’m showing them to you alone today so you can see the true color payoff in each shade.

First up is Pearl-Plexed Sheer, a clear polish with iridescent shimmer. I am wearing three coats of this polish in the photos above so that you can see how gorgeous and sparkly this polish is. Layer one coat of Pearl-Plexed over any polish and your manicure will be transformed into a glittery and pearlescent polish. Pearl–Plexed has a great formula as well. Let me know if you would like to see me try this polish over any specific colors and I’d be happy to do that for you!

Next up is Frenchie Sheer, an off-white sheer polish perfect for the white tips in your French manicure. I’m wearing two coats in the photos above, and as you can see it really highlights the white part of my nails to make them look opaque. I don’t wear French manicures, but can see myself using this in nail art for sure!

My favorite of the sheers is Lady-Like Sheer. Milani describes this as an “antique white,” but it’s definitely a pastel pink. I’m wearing two coats in the photos above, and as you can see Lady-Like is nearly opaque! The formula is perfection, and the polish color is so beautiful. I would wear this alone any day!

Last but not least is Vintage Lace Sheer, a sheer light pink polish. This is definitely the sheerest polish in the line. I’m wearing two coats in the photos above, and you can see my natural nails quite clearly still. Vintage Lace Sheer is great for a French manicure, or if you are looking to wear a “no nail polish” look.

All in all, the sheer polishes in the Milani Color Statement line include some great staples and some beautiful layering polishes. If you love to do DIY French manicures at home, I highly recommend these polishes. With the $3.99 price tag, they are super fabulous and affordable. You can purchase these at your local CVS store, or on Milani’s website HERE. Make sure to stay tuned to see the rest of the collection in the coming days!

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