Tag: nail polish

Holo Taco Build Your Own Bundle Review & Swatches | #HoloTacoCombo

Happy Sunday! I recently made a purchase from the Holo Taco website, and thought I would share the experience with you. After digging at the bottom of my base coat bottle for a while, I knew it was time to order a new bottle. Since I was also out of my favorite top coat, Super Glossy Taco, I decided to order the Holo Taco Build Your Own Bundle. This option on the brand’s website allows for customers to choose a base coat, creme polish, topper, and top coat for a discounted price of $42.00 (a $4.00 savings off the regular price). I also had a $5.00 coupon from being subscribed to the Holo Taco newsletter, so I snagged mine for $37.00 plus shipping. Let me share with you the polishes I picked out, and also let you know about the amazing customer service I received from the brand.

Holo Taco Build Your Own Bundle Review

The bundle I built includes Long Lasting Base, High Tea Hibiscus, Aurora Unicorn Skin, and Super Glossy Taco. When I placed my order, the invoice let me know that the brand was moving warehouses and there would be a delay in shipping. That was not a problem for me, and I fully expected to receive my order when it was ready. I was pleasantly surprised when about a week later I got an email apologizing for the delay in shipment, and a refund for the $6.99 shipping fee, as well as another $5.00 coupon for a future purchase. I really appreciated this great customer service, even though it was completely unnecessary. It’s rare for a company to go above and beyond when it comes to customer service these days, and I thought it was absolutely worth the mention in this post.

Holo Taco High Tea Hibiscus

Now let’s jump into my thoughts on the polishes! I’ve just tried the Long Lasting Base for the first time, so I will report back after I give it more of a test drive. The creme polish I chose in my bundle, however, is High Tea Hibiscus, a deep magenta polish. I was quite surprised with how thick the formula is. I recommend getting a good amount of product on the brush during application, because otherwise the polish will streak onto the nails. I applied two coats for full opacity. High Tea Hibiscus is a beautiful polish, and I’m interested to try more creme polishes from this brand to see if the formula is typically this consistency.

Holo Taco Aurora Unicorn Skin

Next up is Aurora Unicorn Skin, the special effects topper I chose for my bundle. This is an iridescent flakie top coat that color shifts depending on the base shade over which it is layered. On this manicure in particular, it added a stunning pink to purple color shift. Aurora has been on my wish list for a very long time, so I’m excited to add this polish to my collection. I look forward to testing it out in different manicures to see how it will transform on the nails!

Holo Taco High Tea Hibiscus and Aurora Unicorn Skin

Lastly, I topped off my manicure with Super Glossy Taco. I love this top coat because it gives the nails a high gloss shine while also drying very quickly. If I’m wearing a glittery manicure, I will often apply two coats. The first coat will even out the texture in the glitter, and the second gives it that smooth, glassy finish. This is the second time I’m purchasing this top coat, and I’m so happy to have a new bottle!

Holo Taco Aurora Unicorn Skin Natural Sunlight

Here’s a quick look at my completed manicure in natural sunlight (please forgive my dry, winter skin in these swatches by the way!). I’m really happy with this manicure, and I found myself looking down at my nails a lot throughout the day. I even elevated my manicure by adding the Flakie Holo Taco a few days later for added bling!

All in all, if you are looking to try out Holo Taco nail polishes, I think the Build Your Own Bundle is a great option. You save a few dollars, plus you can stock up on the necessary top and base coats we use with every manicure. The Build Your Own Bundle is available on the Holo Taco website. The brand represents that their entire line is cruelty free and vegan.

Have you tried Holo Taco nail polishes? Let me know in the comments!

Purple Skittle Manicure featuring Zoya Nail Polish

Happy Sunday! Today I want to share with you the manicure I’ll be wearing this week. I’m finally in a great routine where I paint my nails every weekend, and I’m really enjoying the process of choosing my polishes and color combinations. I share all of my manicures on Instagram, but wanted to do a quick blog post as well since I’m using four different nail polishes today. I was in the mood for some purple nails, so I decided to grab a handful of different shades and finishes from my nail polish stash. Let me share with you how I created this purple skittle manicure using Zoya Nail Polish!

Purple Skittle Manicure featuring Zoya Nail Polish

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. This post includes affiliate links.

To create this purple skittle manicure, I used the following nail polishes from Zoya from left to right:

  • Margo, a plum purple cream polish with red undertones | BUY
  • Payton, a cranberry purple polish with holographic glitter | BUY
  • Aurora, a sugarplum purple polish with holographic glitter | BUY
  • Abby, a lavender purple cream polish | BUY

I applied two coats of Abby, but three coats of the other polishes to achieve opacity and an even finish. I sealed my manicure using the Zoya Naked Manicure Ultra Glossy Seal Top Coat. I’m really loving the result! It’s fun to have four different purples in one manicure, plus two cream formulas and two glittery formulas. I also applied Abby on the thumb to balance out the dark shades in the center.

Purple Skittle Manicure featuring Zoya Nail Polish

That wraps up this quick post on my purple skittle manicure! I really love how it came together, and I look forward to wearing it this week. If you’d like to see more of my weekly manicures, make sure to follow me on Instagram HERE!

Rose Gold Holographic Nails featuring Zoya Polaris

Happy Sunday! Today I wanted to share with you my current manicure using cruelty free and vegan nail polishes from Zoya Nail Polish and Holo Taco. I was inspired by the recent Zoya Cosmic Pop Trio to create a rose gold holographic look featuring the polish Polaris. I decided to add even more holo bling with a nail polish topper, and I’m loving the result! Let me share with you how I achieved these rose gold holographic nails.

Rose Gold Holographic Nails

Some of the products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own.

This stunning manicure layers three nail polishes and finishes up with a top coat for a glossy finish. I began with two coats of Zoya Rue, a blush cream polish that is one of my all-time favorites. This first step is optional, but I wanted a base color that is very similar to a rose gold so that I knew my manicure would be opaque without the need for multiple glitter layers. Next, I added one coat of Zoya Polaris, which is the rose gold holographic glitter polish that is the true star of this manicure. Then, to add a bit more sparkle and shine, I applied one coat of Holo Taco Flakie Holo Taco. This is a nail polish topper with asymmetrical holographic flakes. I love adding Flakie Holo Taco to any manicure for some bling!

Rose Gold Holographic Nails

My final step was adding two coats of Holo Taco Super Glossy Taco. Whenever I wear glitter polishes, I like to use one layer of top coat to even out the glitters. Then, the second layer gives me the high-gloss shine I love. Super Glossy Top Coat also dries quickly, which I really appreciate.

I’m loving my rose gold holographic nails, and I hope you enjoyed learning how I achieved this stunning look. I just love the rainbow colors that are reflected in the glitter whenever direct sunlight hits my nails! Plus, I think it’s really fun to try out different nail polish combinations to get a custom manicure.

Want to see more blog posts featuring my current manicure? Let me know in the comments!

Zoya Nail Polish Cosmic Pop Limited Edition Trio | Swatches & Review

Today I am excited to share with you swatches and a full review of the Zoya Nail Polish Cosmic Pop Limited Edition Trio. This trio will be available for pre-order on June 15, 2021, and will only be available for a limited time. The collection features three nail polishes in holographic shades inspired by the unique star clusters of outer space. The Cosmic Pop line has a unique formula packed with glitters that look stunning on the nails. This post will share individual swatches of each shade, as well as a quick look at what the polishes look like as a nail polish topper.

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

Before I jump right into the swatches, I want to share how Zoya describes the Cosmic Pop nail polish formula. The brand states that these astral shades have a blend of metallic glitter and holographic particles in five different sizes to give a dynamic effect. The polishes dry to a soft textured finish. Zoya suggests using the Ultra Glossy Seal top coat for a high-shine and smooth finish. I swatched these polishes over the Holo Taco Peely Base, and I used the suggested Ultra Glossy Seal to complete each manicure. As always, the photos are taken in natural lighting. I found it difficult to get sharp images of each polish because they are so glittery!

Celestia

First up in the Cosmic Pop Trio is Celestia, described as a silver-pearlescent rainbow holographic. I applied three coats to achieve opacity, and sealed it with two coats of Ultra Glossy Seal. I typically use two coats of top coat with any glitter or textured nail polish, as the first layer evens the manicure and the second gives it the glossy look. Celestia is a stunning nail polish! The holographic glitters really pop, and I love how the manicure looks reflected in the sunlight.

Polaris

Next up is Polaris, a rose gold holographic shade. I applied three coats to achieve opacity, and I love the beautiful rose gold base. Polaris really surprised me! This polish has a very subtle duochrome effect, and shifts to a purple tone in the right sunlight. I love how it looks more subtle in the shade, but really pops when the light changes!

Eradani

Last up is Eradani, a magenta densely packed holographic polish. Eradani is the most pigmented nail polish in this line, and I applied two coats to achieve opacity. This shade does not have the same holographic effect as the other two Cosmic Pop polishes. In fact, the glitters are mainly magenta and blue, and I have to really stare at the polish in the sunlight to find the holo glitters. Nonetheless, Eradani is just stunning on the nails!

The Cosmic Pop Trio as Nail Polish Toppers

I also tested out each Cosmic Pop nail polish as a topper over Darla from the Zoya Dreamin’ Collection. Since each of these holographic shades is sheer in one coat, they can definitely be used as a manicure topper to add some sparkle to any polish. I recommend applying a very thin coat. You can even triple up and layer all three Cosmic Pop shades for a really blinged out look! I think it’s so fun that you can use the Cosmic Pop Trio in a variety of ways.

All in all, I am really enjoying the Zoya Nail Polish Limited Edition Cosmic Pop Trio. I have not used a holographic glitter polish in quite some time, so I think this trio is a lot of fun and perfect for the summer. Pricing information for the Cosmic Pop Trio has not yet been released, but visit Zoya’s website HERE starting June 15, 2021 for more information and to pre-order this collection.

Zoya Nail Polish Dreamin’ Collection | Swatches + Review

Today I am excited to share with you swatches and a full review of the Zoya Nail Polish Dreamin’ Collection for Summer 2021. This six piece collection contains a variety of shades and finishes that can be worn individually, or in a multitude of combinations for a bright, fun manicure perfect for the summer season. Zoya is a cruelty free brand, and all of their nail polishes are vegan. Let’s jump in and talk more about these polishes, and stay tuned to the end of the post for a simple nail art look!

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 all of these nail polishes over the Holo Taco Peely Base. I decided not to wear any top coat in these swatches, as this collection contains a few different finishes. I was also really impressed with how glossy the cream formulas are without a top coat! As always, these swatches are photographed in natural lighting.

Desi

The first polish in the Dreamin’ Collection is Desi, what Zoya describes as a vibrant geranium coral cream. Desi is opaque in two coats, and I’m loving the bright pop of color. The cream polishes in this line have easy to work with formulas that are self-leveling. I can see Desi being a staple polish in the warmer months!

Polly

Next up is Polly, described as a lush fruit-punch pink cream. Polly is opaque in two coats and has a smooth formula that applies well. While the color is beautiful, I find it brings out the red undertones I have in my fair skin. Nonetheless, this is a pretty polish and Polly would look great on many people!

Darla

The last pink shade in the collection is Darla, described as a Gerber Daisy pink cream. Darla is also opaque in two coats. This polish has some blue undertones to it. I do have a few similar shades in my nail polish collection, but I definitely recommend Darla if you’re searching for this type of pink!

Skipper

Next up is Skipper, a milky purple neon. This polish has the EasyNeon formula introduced earlier this year. You can read my full thoughts on the original EasyNeon Collection HERE. Skipper is opaque in three coats, and has my favorite EasyNeon formula thus far. I’m loving this purple shade, and the matte finish looks cool. Of course, you can apply a glossy top coat if that is more to your liking.

Mateo

One of my favorite polishes in the collection is Mateo, described as a cool-toned pacific blue cream. Mateo is opaque in two coats, and looks just stunning! I love blue nail polishes, and this one is no exception. Most of my bright blue nail polishes are not this cool-toned, so Mateo is a welcome addition to my collection.

Summer

Last but not least is Summer, a mermaid shimmer featuring flashes of green and gold with a blue base. Summer is opaque in three coats, and has a super smooth formula. This is surprisingly my favorite nail polish in the Dreamin’ Collection! I usually prefer cream formulas, but Summer is so beautiful and absolutely perfect for the summer season.

Nail Art with Mateo and Summer

I loved Summer so much I decided to break out my nail stamping supplies. I used Born Pretty Store plate BP-L027 to add some wave designs using Mateo. The result ended up being really subtle, but I like the beach vibes! I finished off the manicure with Holo Taco Super Glossy Taco to seal the stamp in place. You can use code FZL91 to save 10% off your order at Born Pretty Store.

All in all, I’m loving the Zoya Nail Polish Dreamin’ Collection for Summer 2021! I did not have any issues with the formulas, and I am pleasantly surprised with my love for Summer! I like that this collection contains three different finishes. My only critique would be that I wish we had a bit more shade variation versus the three pinks that are included. Otherwise, I highly recommend all of the Dreamin’ polishes, and I look forward to using them more myself!

You can purchase the Dreamin’ Collection on Zoya’s website HERE. Individual polishes are $12.00 each.

Zoya Nail Polish Splash Collection | Swatches & Review

Today I am excited to share swatches and a full review of the Zoya Nail Polish Splash Collection for Summer 2020. This 12-piece collection is designed to have a little something for everyone. The formulas include some richly pigmented creams, some micro-shimmers, and even a glitter topper. Zoya describes the Splash Collection as a cheerful line, and I have to agree! I absolutely love the mix of polishes in this collection, and have found some new favorite nail polishes.

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review.

I am wearing the Holo Taco Peely Base in all of these swatches, as well as the Holo Taco Super Glossy Taco top coat. All of these photos are taken in natural light. As always, Zoya is a Logical Harmony Approved cruelty free brand, and all of the brand’s nail polishes are vegan.

Eclipse

Zoya Eclipse
Zoya Eclipse

First up is Eclipse, described as a glistening silver with holographic rainbow sparkles. I am wearing two coats of eclipse in the above swatches. I would describe this polish as a glitter topper, but it can certainly be worn alone if you like a sheer manicure. I really like that this formula applies very easily. You do not have to fish for glitters with this polish!

Jodi

Zoya Jodi
Zoya Jodi

Next up is Jodi, what Zoya describes as a pale ice cream pink cream. Jodi is a pigmented bubblegum pink polish. I had a little trouble with this formula, finding it a bit thick and goopy. I think part of the problem is this polish dries so quickly that it can drag upon application and create streaks. Thus, I recommend applying thin coats and working quickly. Jodi is very pretty, and opaque in two coats. My top coat helped to cover any imperfections.

Emma

Zoya Emma
Zoya Emma

The second cream polish in the line is Emma, described as a starfish coral with a touch of pink undertone. Emma has the same formula as Jodi, and was a bit difficult to apply. This is not uncommon in lighter shades of cream polish, which are often hard to get just right. Nonetheless, Emma is very pretty and opaque in two coats. It looks like a peach shade with my fair skin tone.

Leilani

Zoya Leilani
Zoya Leilani

Zoya also included some stunning micro-shimmer polishes in the Splash Collection. The first is Leilani, a glistening pink grapefruit with gold micro-shimmer. I’m not typically a fan of shimmer polishes, but Leilani is beyond beautiful! The formula applies like a dream, and this polish is opaque in two coats. I love this bright pink shade, and how well the gold shimmer reflects the light. Leilani is one of my favorite polishes in the collection!

Celi

Zoya Celi
Zoya Celi

If you prefer red nails, Celi is the polish for you! This is a sweet cherry red polish with gold micro-shimmer. Celi has the same great formula as Leilani, and is opaque in two coats. This polish would be fantastic in Fourth of July nail art, and I can certainly see this being used during the holiday season as well.

Greta

Zoya Greta
Zoya Greta

Next up is Greta, described as a ripe tomato red cream. Greta has an excellent formula that is opaque in two coats. I love this true red shade! Greta is definitely one of my favorite red polishes of all time. If you’re looking for a classic red nail polish for your collection, I highly recommend this one.

Kristie

Zoya Kristie
Zoya Kristie

Kristie is the next cream polish in the line, and is described as a deep magenta popsicle pink color. I have to admit I’m obsessed with this polish! Kristie has a great formula that is opaque in two coats, and I love the rich pigmentation. I’ve always loved a hot pink polish, and Kristie is no exception!

Jessica

Zoya Jessica
Zoya Jessica

Next up is Jessica, what Zoya describes as an African violet cream. Jessica has an excellent formula that is opaque coats. I can see some blue undertones in this polish, which make it a bit different than other purple shades in my nail polish collection. Jessica is also a great transitional polish from summer to fall.

Maren

Zoya Maren
Zoya Maren

Now it’s time for my favorite polish in the collection – Maren! This is a vibrant nautical blue cream with a perfect formula. I am wearing two coats in the above swatches. I am always partial to bright blue polishes, but Maren is just amazing. If you’re looking for a vegan dupe for Essie Butler Please, Maren is a great option.

Harbor

Zoya Harbor
Zoya Harbor

Next up is Harbor, described as a tropical emerald sea green cream. Harbor also has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats. I love how pigmented this teal shade is. I usually see this shade with a shimmer in it, so I’m very happy to have this cream formula!

Fisher

Zoya Fisher
Zoya Fisher

The Splash Collection closes with two more micro-shimmers. Fisher is a sun-kissed seafoam with a stunning gold micro-shimmer. Fisher is a sheer nail polish, and I did not achieve opacity even with three coats. The formula is good, but I do wish it was a full coverage polish. Fisher is a unique polish, as I don’t think I’ve ever seen a light blue with gold shimmer. While not my cup of tea, Fisher is a pretty polish.

Corinna

Zoya Corinna
Zoya Corinna

Last but not least is Corinna, what Zoya describes as a naked blush with a kiss of golden sheen. Corinna is a light pink shade that is opaque in three coats. I did not expect to like this polish, but it’s actually quite beautiful! I love how this is a neutral nail polish with a punch of sparkle.

Final Thoughts

Zoya Maren and Harbor Topped with Eclipse

Overall, I am really enjoying the Zoya Nail Polish Splash Collection! My personal favorites are Maren, Harbor, Kristie, and Leilani, but it’s difficult to narrow down my top picks. The only polishes I would hesitate to recommend are Jodi and Emma, just because the formulas are a bit tricky to apply. That being said, I really like the variety in this collection. The polishes work really well together, and I’ve already worn Maren, Harbor, and Eclipse together in a manicure.

You can purchase the Splash Collection on Zoya’s website. Individual polishes are $10.00 each.

Zoya Nail Polish Jelly Brites Collection | Swatches and Review

Today I have swatches and a review of the Zoya Nail Polish Jelly Brites Collection. This trio of nail polishes was originally released in 2018, but I finally got around to testing them myself and watched to share my thoughts with you. The Jelly Brites Collection contains three special edition polishes in a jelly formula. Jelly nail polishes are sheer and have a shiny finish. They are great for layering and nail art, and work well in the classic jelly sandwich manicure. Zoya is also a Logical Harmony Approved cruelty free brand, and their nail polishes are vegan friendly!

Zoya Nail Polish Jelly Brites Collection (Swatches and Review)

The products in this post were provided for my review. This post includes affiliate links.

I swatched all three nail polishes in this collection over a base coat and finished with a glossy top coat from Pacifica. I applied two coats of polish in the swatches. As you will see, these jelly polishes are not opaque in two coats, but that is to be expected with this sheer formula. I recommend applying thin coats of this polish and letting it dry completely between layers, as jelly polish can drag easily when tacky.

Molly

Zoya Nail Polish Molly (Jelly Brites Collection)
Zoya Nail Polish Molly (Jelly Brites Collection)
Zoya Nail Polish Molly (Jelly Brites Collection)

The first polish in the Jelly Brites Collection is Molly, what Zoya describes as a red/pink jelly. Molly is the brightest of the shades in the collection. This polish applies well to the nails and dries to a shiny, non-streaky finish. Molly is such a great shade for the summer months!

Paris

Zoya Nail Polish Paris (Jelly Brites Collection)
Zoya Nail Polish Paris (Jelly Brites Collection)
Zoya Nail Polish Paris (Jelly Brites Collection)

Next up is Paris, what Zoya describes as a fuchsia jelly polish. I’ll be very honest when I say that Molly and Paris are nearly identical nail polishes. I will show you a side-by-side photo later in this blog post, but the only difference is that Paris is slightly darker in shade and leans a bit more purple than pink. Paris does apply well, and the coverage with two coats is nice.

Alia

Zoya Nail Polish Alia (Jelly Brites Collection)
Zoya Nail Polish Alia (Jelly Brites Collection)
Zoya Nail Polish Alia (Jelly Brites Collection)

Last up is Alia, what Zoya describes as a plum jelly. Alia is definitely the most sheer polish in the collection, which surprised me because it looks like a deep purple shade in the bottle. I also found Alia to be a bit streaky. I recommend adding a third coat of nail polish to Alia to even out the finish and increase the pigmentation.

Ombré Skittle Manicure

Zoya Nail Polish Jelly Brites Collection Ombré Skittle Manicure

Since jelly polishes are great for layering, I decided to create an ombré skittle manicure using the three shades. I applied three coats of nail polish on each nail in the above photo. Note that the polish is still not opaque in three coats, but the coverage is good. Here is how I layered the polishes in the manicure:

  • Pinky: 3 coats of Molly
  • Ring: 2 coats of Molly topped with 1 coat of Paris
  • Middle: 3 coats of Paris
  • Pointer: 2 coats of Paris topped with 1 coat of Alia
  • Thumb: 3 coats of Alia

I really like the way the Jelly Brites Collection works together in this manicure! The shades are very complimentary, but I will reiterate that the difference between Molly and Paris is marginal. Overall, I think this is a nice trio of jelly nail polishes, but unless you are looking to add a lot of jellies to your nail polish collection, I would pick the shade you like best. My top pick is Molly!

You can purchase the Jelly Brites Collection on Zoya’s website or on Amazon for $30.00.

What’s your favorite shade in the Jelly Brites Collection?

5 Beauty Brands I Wish Would Go Vegan!

Happy Monday! Today I thought it would be fun to share with you my top five beauty brands that I wish would go vegan. Of course, in a perfect world, all brands would stop testing on animals and using animal ingredients and byproducts. That being said, there are a handful of brands that I really miss using now that I’m vegan. While I can almost always find vegan replacements for products I used to enjoy, there are a few things that I would love to be able to repurchase with a vegan formula. Here are the five beauty brands that I wish would go vegan!

1. Sally Hansen

Adventures in Polishland began purely as a nail polish blog, and my favorite brand was always Sally Hansen. Not only does Sally Hansen have extremely budget friendly options, but the quality of the polishes is excellent as well. From the ultra-affordable Xtreme Wear line, to the stunning Miracle Gel formulas, I could always find a polish I loved from this drugstore brand. I would love to see Sally Hansen go vegan, as it can be difficult to find affordable vegan nail polishes at the drugstore.

2. CoverGirl 

Another drugstore brand I miss using is CoverGirl. My favorite product was the TruBlend Liquid Makeup foundation. I went through several bottles of this product, and it was my go to foundation. I also really liked the Clump Crusher mascara. While I have been able to find a drugstore foundation from Wet ‘n Wild that I like, it still doesn’t compare to my old faithful TruBlend. Plus, it would be great if this classic makeup brand would take a stance against animal cruelty, and provide customers with affordable and vegan products.

3. Benefit

The one high end brand on this list is Benefit. I liked testing and trying a lot of Benefit’s products, but the ones I miss the most are the blushes. My go to shade for years was Hervana, and I even had a Benefit blush palette that I used all the time. I currently love the blushes I use from Tarte, but the vegan shades I own are all limited edition. I would love for Benefit to stop testing on animals and begin creating product formulas that do not contain any animal derived ingredients.

4. L’Oreal

When it comes to hair care, I really miss the L’Oreal shampoos, conditioners, and styling products I used to use. Not only are L’Oreal hair products really affordable, but they were also very effective in caring for my hair. Since going vegan, I’ve struggled to find products that work as well at the same price point. I don’t mind spending more if it means getting a vegan product, but it would be awesome if L’Oreal would commit to going vegan. I also need to mention that the L’Oreal mascaras were some of my absolute favorites. Wouldn’t it be awesome if I could buy the Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara again?!

5. Rimmel

Last but not least is Rimmel, another budget friendly brand from the drugstore. The main reason I miss Rimmel is because the brand makes my Holy Grail setting powder in the Stay Matte Pressed Powder. I went through several of these powders, and am having a hard time finding a vegan dupe. Of course, I also loved the Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation and the Keep Calm Lip Balms. I hope that Rimmel will take a stance against animal cruelty, and go vegan very soon!

Some Final Thoughts

It’s important to note that many of the brands I mentioned today either claim to be cruelty free, or write misleading animal testing policies on their websites. I highly recommend checking out sources like Ethical Elephant, Logical Harmony, and Cruelty Free Kitty if you are ever unsure about a brand’s cruelty free or vegan status. Please click HERE to learn more about why Benefit, L’Oreal, and Rimmel are not cruelty free.

Moreover, while I do miss using some non-vegan products, particularly the ones mentioned today, going cruelty free and vegan is overall quite easy and always worth the extra effort. There are so many brands that are either 100% vegan, or offer a lot of vegan products. I can still go to the drugstore or Target and pick up many of the products I need, or I can place an online order with Ulta, Vitacost, or Sephora if I have trouble finding things in the store. I highly encourage you to transition to a cruelty free and vegan lifestyle, and I think you will find it is much easier than you expect!

Follow me on Instagram HERE for daily vegan beauty and lifestyle tips!

2018 Nail Polish Project Pan | Nail Polish I Want to Use Up This Year

Happy Tuesday! I recently did another round of decluttering my nail polish collection, and I found a few polishes that I’ve used up quite a bit. It inspired me to do a Project Pan with some nail polish this year! If you are new to the concept of a Project Pan, it is when you pick some products in your beauty collection to focus on using for a specific period of time. My goal is to empty the polishes in this blog post by the end of the year! Let me show you the seven nail polishes I picked for my 2018 Project Pan!

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

Please note that I used a black marker to draw a line on each product so I can see my progress throughout the year.

Ruffian Nail Lacquer in Hedge Fund

One of the polishes that inspired this project is Hedge Fund, a gorgeous army green with a metallic gold shimmer. This is one of my all-time favorite nail polishes, and I’ve used about a third of the bottle already! I want to use this up because I don’t think this nail polish is vegan, and this polish is also discontinued. I will probably focus on this polish a lot during the fall.

Julep in Susie

I also have another green polish in my project, this time a mint green from Julep. Susie is one of the first Julep polishes I ever owned, and I absolutely love it. Now that I’ve owned it for almost six years (wow!), I think it’s time to finish this up once and for all. It should be easy to empty this, as the bottle is small and I’ve already used about one third of it.

Julep in Brandt

I am also including the Julep shade Brandt from the Fall 2012 Trina Turk Collection. This is a beautiful off-black nail polish, and I feel like I haven’t used it because I am saving it. However, this is such an old polish that I’m ready to enjoy what’s left of it. I might use this polish a bit this winter, but this is another one I will focus on in the fall.

Zoya in Arizona

I wanted to include a Zoya nail polish, so I went for the one mini polish I have in Arizona. This is a bright orange cream, and I think I can get a lot of use out of this in the summer. Arizona will be a bit of a challenge since it is almost full, but I think I can do it!

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics in Grandma

The next polish is also a fun and bright shade in Grandma from Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics. I love this nail polish, but I also own another one in my collection that is nearly identical. Since this polish is quite old, and I’ve already used a bit of it, I decided to include it in this project.

Milani in White

Similarly, I own two bottles of white nail polish, so I’m including one of them in this project. My favorite white of all time is Fantom from the brand LVX. Thus, I’m holding onto that one and hoping to use up this white from Milani. It is going to be a challenge to empty this nail polish, but I’m hoping to wear it in combination with other polishes to get some good use out of it.

Milani in Blue Jay

 

Last but not least is another Milani polish in Blue Jay. I also tend to hoard blue polishes, so it’s time to use up one of them. I absolutely love this polish, but it’s from an old and discontinued collection, so it’s time for it to go. I chose this shade of blue because it is a bit more muted than many of the others in my collection, so I think that makes it more wearable for any time of year.

That wraps up my introductory post for my 2018 Nail Polish Project Pan! I’m so excited to see if I can empty these seven polishes by the end of the year. I also think this will be a great learning opportunity for me, as I get to see how much use I can get from a single bottle of nail polish. I will make sure to check in a few times throughout this year to let you know how my project is going!

Join my Project Pan by using the hashtag #PolishlandProjectPan on social media!

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

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!