nail polish – Page 31 – Adventures in Polishland

Tag: nail polish

Indie Spotlight | Sweet Tea Polish: Hand-Mixed Polishes Inspired by the Sweet South

Posted on October 22, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! Today I am excited to share with you a new indie brand called Sweet Tea Polish. As you may have guessed from this post’s title, Sweet Tea Polish is inspired by the Sweet South, and handmade by a wonderful lady named Darah. I was thrilled when I got the opportunity to review some of her polishes. Let me show you what she sent me!

Not only were my polishes packaged really well, but they came with a set of yoga hair ties (my favorite!). The hair ties are an example of one of the free gifts that you get with a purchase of Sweet Tea Polish. I think that’s a great extra!

Now, onto the polish! First up is Wabash Cannonball, a silver polish with a holographic shimmer that dries to a matte finish! I just love matte polishes, and Wabash Cannonball is no exception. The formula was amazing – it applied smoothly – and is opaque in two coats. No top coat needed! Of course, I couldn’t help but wonder what this looked like with a glossy finish….

... and it looks great! When I added on a glossy top coat, the holographic sparkle really stood out. Wabash Cannonball is thus a great two-in-one polish!

Next up is Gramma’s Grape Jelly, a purple jelly polish filled with pink and purple hexagonal glitters, and some light purple square glitters as well. Gramma’s Grape Jelly is opaque on its own in two coats. The formula is good, but I suggest thin coats as the glitters make this polish a bit heavy on the nail. I also suggest finishing up with a glossy top coat, and you are good to go! I think this polish is adorable!

The last two polishes are a part of the limited edition AU-Some Tigers set! First is this gorgeous, deep metallic blue polish with a hint of blue and purple shimmer. The formula is just flawless, and it looks stunning on the nails. I love this polish for fall!

The AU-Some Tigers set is complete with a glitter top coat containing orange hexagons, blue squares, and fine silver glitters. I applied two coats over the blue for the manicure above, and these polishes were truly made for one another! Of course, you could wear them separately as well, but the pair is so perfect, and a must have for any AU Tigers fan!

All in all, I am really impressed with these polishes from Sweet Tea Polish! I love everything about the brand from its name to its bottle shape, and, of course, the polish! I highly recommend it. You can purchase Sweet Tea Polish online HERE. Mini bottles are $4 each and full size bottles are $9 each, with the AU-Some Tigers set at $7 and $16 respectively. You can also like Sweet Tea Polish on Facebook HERE. Let me know which of these polishes is your favorite 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.

Halloween Week | Candy Corn Nail Art

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

Happy Thursday! One of my personal favorite parts of Halloween is the candy, and that includes the classic candy corn. I thought it would be fun to create an easy nail art look to represent the yummy treat. All you need is a white, orange, and yellow polish, matte top coat, and some scotch tape. Let’s get to painting!

The first step is to paint your nails with a white nail polish and let it dry completely. I used LVX Fantom, but any white will do! Then, take some scotch tape and place it on the top section of your nails, as if you were creating a reverse French manicure. Paint over your entire nail with your choice of orange polish, remove the tape, and let dry. Then, repeat the entire process again with the yellow polish by moving the tape two-thirds down your nail. Let your manicure dry completely, and then apply matte top coat!

Here is my finished candy corn manicure! You can see there are a few smudges because I wasn’t patient and applied my matte top coat before my polish was 100% dry. Even with the mistakes, I’m loving it! Candy corn is never perfect in real life anyway! Plus, I love that the matte top coat gives the nails a waxy look, just like the candy. As for my orange and yellow polishes, I used Priti NYC Fireglow and Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Traffic respectively. The key is to use what you already have in your collection!

Let me know what you think of my candy corn nails in the comments below! Feel free to share your Halloween manicure on my Facebook Page.

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

Halloween Week | Fall Glitter with China Glaze Nail Lacquer

Posted on October 16, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! For today’s Halloween inspired manicure, I put together a simple look for those who like more abstract designs. While nail art is always fun, sometimes a bit of polish and some glitter will represent the holiday just as well. I grabbed a couple of my China Glaze polishes from the Hunger Games collection since I am so excited for the upcoming release of Catching Fire, but you can use any polishes in your collection. Let me show you the look I created!

I love fall colors – browns, reds, golds, oranges – they’re all so pretty this time of year! I began my manicure with Mahogany Magic, a nice coffee brown creme polish. Then I added one thin coat of Electrify to complete the look. Electrify is a gold and red glitter polish that can easily be worn alone in two coats. I finished up with a glossy top coat and was ready to celebrate the Halloween season in style!

All in all, if you are looking to celebrate autumn, try a glittery look like this one! It’s so easy to create, and represents fall foliage perfectly. Plus, this is a great alternative to nail art if that isn’t your thing. Let me know what your favorite glitter for the Halloween season is in the comments!

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

Halloween Week | Easy Pumpkin Nails with Zoya Nail Polish

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

Happy Tuesday! One of my favorite parts of Halloween and the fall season in general is all of the delicious pumpkin foods. If it’s pumpkin flavored, I will try it! I thought it would be fun to showcase pumpkins on my nails, so I put together a simple manicure to show homage to the pumpkin. I grabbed three polishes from my Zoya collection, and got to work!

How cute are my little pumpkins?! I know they aren’t perfect, but I like them just the same. To create this look, I started off with Zoya Flynn as a neutral base. Then, I chose Zoya Amy for the pumpkins to give them a bit of added dimension and sparkle. I carefully painted a rounded arc on my nails to get that look. Last but not least, I added a stem and leaf to each pumpkin using Zoya Hunter. Finish up with any glossy top coat and you are all set to wait for the arrival of the Great Pumpkin in your local pumpkin patch!

If you are looking to add some pumpkin flair to your nails this season, try out this simple look! Feel free to post a photo of the completed product on my Facebook page so I can see how yours turned out. To shop for the Zoya Nail Polishes that I used in this post, head over to the Zoya website HERE. Stay tuned for more great manicures during Halloween Week!

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

Halloween Week | Leopard Nails with Sally Hansen Real Nail Polish Strips

Posted on October 14, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Yesterday I kicked off Halloween Week here at Adventures in Polishland with a DIY Leopard Costume complete with a leopard manicure. Today I wanted to review the nail polish strips I used, and give you a close-up of what they look like. If you’re as busy as I am this time of year, don’t let your nails be an extra task. Nail polish strips can really be a help!

While Sally Hansen is my all-time favorite nail polish brand, I’ve actually never tried out any of the Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips before. I grabbed the kit called Kitty, Kitty to complete my leopard costume. This kit comes with 16 strips, an emery board, a cuticle pusher, and instructions. I think this is a pretty good value at $10.99, especially when they often go on sale!

I am loving the final result of Kitty, Kitty! The application process is so easy – peel, stick, file. There really is no drying time needed whatsoever. I found the Sally Hansen strips are packaged almost identically to the Incoco nail appliqués I recently tried out. The main difference was that Kitty, KItty definitely felt more sticky, and more like real nail polish. I think the sealed foil packets held in the moisture a lot better than the plastic wrap Incoco uses. While I have not done a true wear test on these, I am one day in and they still look great! Make sure to follow me on Twitter to see how long they last.

All in all, I think Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips are great for the girl on the go who wants a fancy Halloween manicure. While $10.99 may be a lot for an everyday look, it is more affordable than a professional manicure. Plus, it’s nice to splurge for a special occasion. Stop by your local drugstore or shop on Amazon HERE to sport some feline phalanges on Halloween!

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

Gold Square Studs from Born Pretty Store!

Posted on October 11, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Now that fall is in full swing, I just love making sure my nails are following the season’s trends. Just like with fashion, I keep my nails fabulous and affordable, so I was too excited to try out some gold studs from Born Pretty Store. Let me show you how the look I created!

First I started out with an on-trend color for fall, RUFFIAN Nail Lacquer in Hedge Fund. You can see a full review of this polish HERE.

I let my base color dry until it got tacky, and then got to work placing the studs. I used a pair of long-nosed tweezers (similar to THESE ones) so that I would have more control. Then, I simply placed one stud at the base of each nail, and for an accent I placed four in a diamond shape. Gently press the studs down and seal with a top coat to ensure they’ll stay in place, and you’re good to go!

All in all, I’m loving my manicure! The army green and gold colors go great together, and this nail art look was so easy to complete. You can purchase these gold studs on Born Pretty Store’s website HERE. For just $5.84 you get a bag of these studs, so you can create lots of different manicures. Don’t forget you can get an extra 10% off with coupon code FZL91, and every order gets free international shipping. I can’t wait to use these studs again soon!

The product in this post was provided for my unbiased review. This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Indie Spotlight: Smitten Polish in Mint Chip

Posted on October 9, 2013October 9, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! If you’re like me, you probably have quite a few polishes in your collection that you’ve had for a long time, but haven’t tried out yet. A couple weeks ago, one of my favorite beauty bloggers, Cosmetic Sanctuary, reviewed the Smitten Polish Fall Collection, and I was in awe! It sparked my memory that I own just one bottle of Smitten Polish, and I just never tried it out. Cosmetic Sanctuary inspired me to test out that polish, and I am not disappointed!

Here is Smitten Polish in Mint Chip, a mint based polish with brown glitters both small and medium sized. Application was great, and I achieved opacity in three thin coats. Not only is mint chocolate chip my favorite ice cream, but I just love mint nail polish, so Mint Chip is perfect for me! I’m so happy I finally gave it a try.

All in all, Mint Chip is a great polish, and I can’t wait to try more from Smitten Polish. You can purchase Smitten Polish on Etsy HERE for $9.00 each. While Mint Chip is not currently for sale, similar polishes are Adeste Fidelis and Groovy Baby. Plus, I’m sure you can’t go wrong with the brands stunning holographics. Be sure to follow Smitten Polish on Facebook as well, and let me know if you own any Smittens in the comments.

Incoco 100% Real Nail Polish Strips | An Inconclusive Review!

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

Happy Friday! Today I have a review of Incoco Nail Polish Strips, nail appliqués made from 100% real nail polish. Incoco sent me a few designs to test out for all of you, and I made sure to do a true wear test since the product is advertised to last up to 14 days. Let me tell you a bit more about Incoco!

Incoco Nail Polish Strips are made from real nail polish, and include a top coat, color coat, and base coat in every strip. These appliqués do not require any drying time, and are 3-free. Each pack contains 16 double-ended strips to ensure you find the perfect fit for your nails and nail shape. I also love that Incoco products are made in the USA!

To apply the appliqués, simply peel a strip, place it on your nail, and use a file in a downward motion to trim off the excess. To remove, use your regular nail polish remover!

The first set I tried was Blazing Pink, a neon pink color that I absolutely love! Blazing Pink was so easy to apply, and I loved the look of my nails. I left on this manicure for one week before removing it. The third photo above shows the significant wear at the end of that one week. While I would have liked a longer-lasting manicure, I had a great experience with Blazing Pink, and would recommend this design!

Up next is Cheers, a black and gold glitter design. I found Cheers much harder to apply – they were thicker and less malleable than Blazing Pink. The edges would not lay flat, and I experienced chipping after a few hours. I ended up peeling off the appliqués in less than 24 hours because the edges were all coming up off my nails. Cheers was thus a big disappointment for me.

Last but not least is Garden Party, a floral design with a cream base and orange flowers. Garden Party applied well – not as good as Blazing Pink, but much better than Cheers. As you can see from the photos, the edges did not lay flat on all my nails. My manicure lasted about four days before I peeled off the strips. I loved the look of Garden Party, but wished it lasted longer!

All in all, I’ve had an interesting experience with Incoco! One set was great, one was bad, and the other was just alright. I can’t really give a final verdict of my Incoco opinion without trying more and seeing what happens, but I can say for sure that Blazing Pink is awesome. If you love neon pink and would like a manicure that lasts about a week, I would got for it. Incoco Nail Polish Strips can be purchased for $7.99-8.99 each online HERE. Be sure to let me know what you think 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.

Indie Spotlight: Surfer’s Paradise from Sallyface Polish and Potions

Posted on October 1, 2013October 1, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! Instagram really has proven to be a great place to discover new indie nail polish brands. I love perusing the #indiepolish hashtag, and one day Sallyface Polish and Potions appeared on my screen! The brand’s owner generously sent me one of her polishes to review, and I can’t wait to share it with you.

Surfer’s Paradise is a gorgeous aqua polish with just a hint of blue glitters and holographic shimmer. The polish has a great formula that was opaque in two coats and applied well. I was really impressed with the quality of this polish! Surfer’s Paradise is also a beautiful color. While some brush strokes are visible, that is due to it’s metallic quality, and in no way detracts from the look of the manicure. Overall, I’m loving Surfer’s Paradise!

My first experience with Sallyface Polish and Potions is a hit! Surfer’s Paradise is a great polish, and I would definitely recommend it. You can shop for Sallyface Polish and Potions HERE and follow on Instagram HERE. Prices currently range from $4.00-7.00.

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

Zoya Zenith Collection for Holiday 2013

Posted on September 27, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I have a review of the complete Zenith Collection from Zoya Nail Polish.The Zenith Collection will be released in just a few days on October 1, and contains six beautiful shades for the holiday season. Let me show you these gorgeous polishes!

First up is Belinda, a dark purple polish with blue and magenta shimmer. Belinda has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. It was difficult to capture the shimmer on camera, but in real life this polish shines so beautifully. Belinda is definitely one of my favorites in this collection.

Next is Seraphina, a silver metallic polish. Seraphina has a good formula, but I found it very difficult to apply due to its color. The silver is very sheer, and was hard for me to see during application. I therefore had to be really careful to make sure I was staying inside the lines. Besides that, Seraphina is opaque in two coats, and is a nice silver for the holidays!

Cassedy is up next, and it is a stunning pewter polish that shifts to blue and green depending on the light. Cassedy has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats, and I am loving how unique it is! I wouldn’t necessarily call this a duochrome, but it clearly has a color-changing quality. Cassedy is very edgy, and would look great for a rock star look. Next is Payton, a cranberry jelly polish with scattered holographic glitter. Payton has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats. Plus, application is amazing! Payton is such a beautiful polish, and it is a great alternative to the bright, Christmas red around the holiday season.

Dream is up next, and is a blue jelly polish with scattered holographic glitter. Dream is literally a dream polish. It has the perfect formula, and is opaque in two coats. Dream is definitely my favorite polish in the collection, and I think it is so gorgeous. I love the dimension and sparkle!

Last but not least is Mosheen, a glitter top coat mixed with holographic bars and grains. The base is just slightly blue, so I layered two coats over Zoya Blu to get the look in the photos. Mosheen does have a good formula, and I had no problems with application. Mosheen is a nice polish to add a bit of sparkle to any manicure!

All in all, I’m loving the Zoya Zenith Collection! I love that the polishes are unique, and different from typical holiday collections. I would also like to see more polishes like Dream and Payton in the future! You can purchase these polishes starting October 1 on Zoya’s website HERE for $8 each.

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