nails – Page 21 – Adventures in Polishland

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’50s Sock Hop Nails | Easy Halloween Tutorial

Posted on October 18, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! I got a great response from my last Halloween nail tutorial (see it HERE) that I decided to create another one! Growing up, one of my favorite Halloween costumes was a ’50s inspired Sock Hop outfit. My mom sewed me a custom poodle skirt and black bolero, and I was ready to rock to some doo-wop tunes! If you’re going to don this classic outfit idea on Halloween, I’ve got just the nails for you. Plus, stay tuned to find out how to take this manicure from ’50s Sock Hop to Punk Rock in one easy step!

All you need to create this look is a pink nail polish, black nail polish, dotting tool, and nail art brush. Start with a pink base, and let that dry. Then draw a straight line on your pointer finger using a nail art brush for the G-clef. Use the dotting tools to create the noteheads in any way you choose. Now comes the tricky part! Carefully draw on the rest of your G-clef and the stems for your notes. It’s okay if the lines aren’t perfect – mine aren’t! Finally, let your manicure dry and follow up with a glossy top coat.

Here are the exact products that I used in this tutorial, but feel free to use what’s in your stash!

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Fuchsia Flare [BUY]
Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics in Tarred [BUY]
Born Pretty Store Nail Art Brush [BUY] (10% off with code FZL91)
Dragonpad Dotting Tools [BUY]

If you’re going for more of a Punk Rock costume this year, simply add a black and white glitter polish on top of the already existing manicure! That will add some pizazz to your nails and give the look a bit more of an edge. I used Milani in Sprinkles, but whatever you own will be great. For even more flare, use some holographic glitter as well!

I hope you enjoyed today’s Halloween nail tutorial! Whether you’re dressing as a ’50s Sock Hop girl or Punk Rocker, this manicure will be sure to add a little something special to your costume. Please let me know what you think in the comments, and let me know if there are any other tutorials you would like to see for Halloween!

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

Zoya Nail Polish MatteVelvet Collection

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

Happy Sunday! Today I’m bringing you a review of the complete MatteVelvet Collection from Zoya Nail Polish! I absolutely love matte nails, especially in the colder months of the year. This year Zoya re-released the brand’s six, best-selling matte polishes, and I was extremely lucky to receive them for review. I’ve never tried any of Zoya’s matte formulas before, so I couldn’t wait to test these out. Let me go ahead and show you the stunning MatteVelvet line!

First up is Loredana, a gunmetal grey polish with silver shimmer mixed throughout the base. Like all of the polishes in this collection, Loredana is opaque in two coats and has a perfect formula. The shimmer is quite pronounced in this polish, which gives it a cool metallic look. Loredana is great if you don’t want a super dark polish this fall.

Next up is Savita, my absolute favorite in the collection! Savita is a beautiful deep purple polish with a subtle red and gold shimmer. I am just beyond obsessed with this polish! It looks so classy and divine. I can’t wait to wear Savita a lot in the coming months!

Posh is up next, and it’s a red polish with red shimmer. Posh is definitely one of my favorite red polishes of all time. The matte finish compliments my fair skin tone really nicely, and the red shimmer gives the shade an added dimension. I can see Posh working for many Halloween looks, as well as Christmas manicures as well!

Next is Veruschka, an emerald green matte with green and gold shimmer. I love the rich pigmentation in this polish, and how flawless it looks on my nails. I’m not sure that I would wear Veruschka on a regular basis, but it’s perfect for the holiday season!

Zoya – Harlow Next up is Harlow, a polish that’s somewhere between pink and purple, and packed with silver shimmer. The shimmer is really vibrant in Harlow, and I actually wish it was more subdued. Nonetheless, this is a feminine polish that’s wearable in all seasons.

Last but not least is Dovima, a charcoal polish with silver shimmer. Dovima is definitely my second favorite in the MatteVelvet line after Savita. I love the deep shade, and the subtle shimmer. Plus, it is a manicure that can go with any outfit and it looks really cool. I’m wearing it as I type up this blog post!

All in all, I am loving the Zoya MatteVelvet Collection! Matte polishes are some of my favorites to wear, and I love when polish formulas in and of themselves are matte so I don’t need to apply a special top coat. Not only do these polishes dry quickly, but they don’t chip easily. I highly recommend each and every shade in the collection! You can purchase the MatteVelvet polishes directly from Zoya HERE for $9 each. Be sure to let me know which MatteVelvet 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.

Zoya Matte Cloud Nail Art | Fall 2014

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

Happy Thursday! Today I have a fun fall manicure to show you that I created using some of the Fall 2014 Zoya Nail Polish colors. I’ve been wearing Margo a lot lately, and decided to add some bling to the beautiful creme by adding in the Ultra PixieDust shades. Let me show you how I combined these polishes!

First, I started off with a base of Margo and let that dry. Then, I used each of the Ultra PixieDusts one at a time to create an ombré cloud. I began with Oswin, and then added on Arianna and Noir letting each coat dry in between. Finally, I used a matte top coat over the top to create a uniform finish. The ombré is subtle, but really pretty!

All in all, this manicure is super easy to create, but really nice for fall! You can learn more about the polishes I used in this post be reading my full reviews HERE and HERE. Let me know how you like to rock the Zoya polishes seen here 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.

Abstract Floral Nails with Born Pretty Store Water Decals

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

Happy Tuesday! Today I have a review of some floral water decals from Born Pretty Store. Water decals are such a fun and easy way to create a nail art look, and I’ve always enjoyed testing them out in the past. You can see the other manicures I’ve created with water decals HERE, but let’s jump right into today’s look!

This set of water decals contains a beautiful floral pattern with red flowers. There are two rows of five blocks that can be cut into any shape you desire. I love that these decals are quite customizable. You can shape them to fit your entire nail, or cut them into funky shapes. The sheet itself retails for just $1.99 and can be purchased HERE.

I decided to go with an abstract look, and began with a base of Jordana Merry Mint (full review HERE). Once my green base was completely dry, I began adding on random pieces of the decals. I finished with a glossy top coat, and I’m loving the result! It reminds me of vintage wallpaper, and looks like a collage project. I know it won’t be everyone’s style, but the colors and pattern are really cool to me.

All in all, I love using water decals to easily dress up any manicure! As always, you can find these decals and many other nail art products on Born Pretty Store’s website at amazingly low prices. Use my discount code FZL91 for an additional 10% off! Let me know in the comments how you would use these water decals!

DIY Ghost Manicure | 3 Easy Steps

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

Happy Sunday! Now that it’s October, I’m in the mood for everything Halloween related. I decided to create a super easy manicure to get the season going, so if you’re looking for some spooky inspiration look no further! All you need to create this cute little ghost is a black nail polish, white nail polish, and a dotting tool. I created an iconographic so you can see the tutorial step-by-step.

The specific products that I used for my ghost manicure are as follows:

Michael Marcus in Once You Go Matte [BUY]
Milani Color Statement in Spotlight White [BUY]
Dragonpad Dotting Tools [BUY]

Of course, use whatever polishes and tools you have in your own collection. I went with a matte black base because I thought the glossy finish on the white would stand out more, but the finish is up to you! My only added tip to the tutorial above is to let each layer dry before continuing on. That’s all there is to it!

All in all, I hope you found this DIY Ghost Manicure a cute and fun way to kick off the Halloween season!I love the simplicity in this look, as it is festive yet not over the top. If you have any requests for seasonal looks, let me know using my Review Request Form HERE. I hope to create a few more festive manicures this fall!

This post contains affiliate links and a product that I was sent for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

September 2014 Favorites!

Posted on October 3, 2014September 28, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! September has come to a close and that means it’s time for my monthly favorites. I’ve been loving a lot of products this month, but I narrowed it down to a few that I want to recommend to all of you. Let me go ahead and show you my September favorites!

NAIL POLISH

Zoya Entice Collection | Adventures in Polishland Zoya Entice Collection [REVIEW] [BUY]

I’ve worn the Zoya Entice Collection so much this past month that I decided to include all of the polishes in my favorites! Margo, Ryan, and Genevieve have been living on my nails, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

PRIMER

Smashbox Photo Finish Oil-Free Primer [BUY]

I pulled this primer sample out of my collection and haven’t been able to stop using it! It is so light, and really makes my foundation look amazing. Plus, the oil-free formula is perfect for preventing acne. This is an expensive product, but I highly recommend it!

LIP PRODUCT

Alima Pure Lip Tint in Holly Berry [BUY]

I got this lip tint in a Birchbox a while back, and I’ve been loving it this fall. The main ingredient is organic cocoa bean, so it smells just like chocolate! Plus, it’s so hydrating!

BLUSH

Pür Minerals Hot Rocks Blush Pür Minerals Hot Rocks [BUY]

My cousin gave me this blush as a gift, and I’ve worn it a lot recently! The shade is a gorgeous dusty rose. The cover of the product does get quite dirty-looking, as that’s where I dust off the excess product. If you’re looking for a beautiful blush, I definitely recommend this one!

MAKEUP REMOVER

No7 Beautiful Skin Quick Thinking Wipes [BUY]

I decided to try a new brand of makeup remover wipes, and I’m loving these ones! They really do take off all makeup, including waterproof mascara, and they are so refreshing. Plus, there are 30 wipes in a pack and they are very affordable.

That’s it for my monthly favorites! I hope I introduced you to some new products! I noticed many of these products are high end this month, so it’s a bit of a change from my normal drugstore go-tos. It’s always good to change it up every now and then! Please let me know in the comments what you loved this September. Feel free to use the hashtag #PolishlandFaves on social media so I can see your photos!

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

Sally Hansen MiracleGel Review | All Chalked Up & Wine Stock

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

Happy Wednesday! Today I have a review of two of the new, Sally Hansen MiracleGel polishes. I was so excited when I heard about this new range of gel polishes at the drugstore. Not only are there 47 shades available, but they are designed to give 14 days of color in just two easy steps. I couldn’t wait to put these polishes to the test. Let me tell you all about my experience!

The key to the MiracleGel system is the Top Coat that needs to be purchased separately. After applying two coats of the MiracleGel polish, use the Top Coat as you normally would to seal the manicure. The polish contains a patented Tube Technology to help cure your polish without the need of any LED/UV lights.

The first polish I tested from the line is All Chalked Up, a beautiful lilac creme shade. All Chalked Up has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. I am loving this color, and hoped it would last at least a week. Unfortunately, I started getting tip wear after just two days, and substantial chipping on the third day. I was super bummed!

Next up is Wine Stream, a burgundy red that is just stunning for fall! Wine Stream has a “crelly” formula (creme and jelly mixture) that was opaque in two coats, but could use a third for an even darker look. I’m wearing two coats in the photos here. I again only got a few days of wear out of this polish before it started chipping, and was so disappointed! I even tried out Wine Stream again with my normal base and top coats, but it didn’t prolong the wear at all.

All in all, I’m quite disappointed that I didn’t have better luck with the new Sally Hansen MiracleGel polishes. If you’ve tested these polishes, please let me know your results in the comments. Maybe the formula just doesn’t work well with my body chemistry for some reason! My recommendation for the line is to snag any shades that you really want, but to leave the Top Coat on the shelf. It didn’t work any better than my normal top coat, so I can’t say it’s worth the money. You can find the MiracleGel line at your local drugstores and department stores. I’m going to continue experimenting with the Top Coat, and will definitely report back if I find something that works!

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

Foil Nail Stickers from Born Pretty Store

Posted on September 27, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I have a quick review of some nail wraps from Born Pretty Store. I’ve really loved the nail stickers I’ve tried in the past, so when I saw that Born Pretty Store offered a foil set that looked like mirrored nails, I just had to try them! I’ve wanted to achieve mirrored nails for a long time, but oftentimes the polish reviews I read show quite a streaky result. Thus, I thought nail wraps would be the perfect way to get mirrored nails. Let me show you the result!

Here is what the set of nail wraps looks like in the packaging. They are designed to wear for 11 days and have a great shine. The set retails for just $4.55 on Born Pretty Store’s website HERE.

I applied the foil wraps just as I normally would, by peeling off the sticky backing, smoothing out the wrap on my nail, and filing off the excess. Unfortunately, the result wasn’t what I was hoping to see. My first issue was with the size of the wraps. The smallest size was way too big for my pinky finger! This made the edges look awkward, and it was clear that I had stickers on my nails. I also experienced some issues getting the wraps to lie flat, and some of the edges got crinkly. I almost feel like I’m wearing tin foil on my fingers!

Unfortunately, these foil wraps are a miss for me, but I still love the other nail wraps that I’ve tried from Born Pretty Store. See reviews of those HERE and HERE.

All in all, I didn’t get the mirrored manicure that I was hoping for, but I’m still glad I was able to test out the foil wraps and report back to you on my experience! I still hope to try out other nail wraps from Born Pretty Store in the future, since I’ve had good luck on the others I’ve tried. As always, you can shop for nail art supplies at Born Pretty Store and get 10% off with my discount code FZL91. Please let me know in the comments if you’ve achieved a mirrored manicure before, and what product you used to get the look!

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.

Zoya Ultra PixieDust Collection for Fall 2014

Posted on September 24, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Zoya Nail Polish has done it again, and came out with an incredible trio of textured matte glitter polishes for fall. The Ultra PixieDust line has three red-toned shades perfect for the upcoming fall and winter seasons. You can see full reviews of all the past Zoya PixieDust Collections HERE, but let me go ahead and show you the new goodies!

First up is Oswin, a true red shade packed with chunky red glitters. Oswin has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. Make sure that you let each coat dry completely with these polishes to get the perfect textured finish. I found that Oswin lightened up a bit when dry, but I like the added dimension between the base and glitters. I don’t like such a bright red with my skin tone, but if you have a darker complexion it would look beautiful!

Next up is Arianna, a deeper red polish with a blue undertone. Arianna is also opaque in two coats, and I found that the finished product matches the bottle’s shade a bit more than Oswin does. If you enjoy wine shades, Arianna is perfect for you. Plus, this polish can work right through the holidays.

Last but not least is Noir, my favorite of the three! Noir is a stunning purple shade that is opaque in two coats. I found Noir to be the sparkliest of the bunch, as the glitter stood out even when the polish was completely dry. If you have very fair skin like I do, Noir is a great polish for you!

All in all, the Zoya Ultra PixieDust line is a fun bunch of polishes. I can guarantee you have nothing else like these in your collection! Zoya really creates a unique formula with these chunky glitters that dry matte, but each applies so smoothly and easily to the nail. You can purchase the Ultra PixieDusts on Zoya’s website HERE for $10 each. Buy them separately, or as a trio! Make sure to let me know in the comments which is your favorite as well.

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

Epica 18-Loop Scarf Hanger Review & Matching Nail Art!

Posted on September 22, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! I have a fun review for all of you today! I got the opportunity to test out a scarf hanger from the brand Epica, and was inspired to create a nail art look as soon as I got it in the mail. I’ve definitely been in an organizational mood lately, so anything that helps me declutter and keep things in order is a win in my book. I had been storing my scarfs in a plastic drawer set under my bed, but I often forgot about them. This hanger gave me the opportunity to move all of my scarves into my closet! Let me show you how it works!

EPICA 18-LOOP SCARF HANGER

The Epica Scarf Hanger is a ready-to-use hanger made out of a heavy metal with a chrome finish. There are 18 loops in varying sizes designed to keep all of your scarves together in one place. This hanger is snag-free, so it can hold your more delicate scarves, and works for ties and belts, too. I was really impressed with how heavy duty this was when I got it! I wasn’t afraid to start stacking on my scarves!

Epica Scarf Hanger | Adventures in Polishland

Here is the hanger with all of my scarves on it. I own some large pashminas, but also some thinner spring scarves. I was able to fit them all on with room for more! I like how I can see the scarves easily, and how they are less likely to be wrinkled when I have them hanging up instead of folded in a drawer. While the hanger did feel bulky once I loaded it up, I was impressed with how compact it was in my closet. As you can see in the photo on the right, the scarf hanger takes up a little extra room than your average hanger, but not too much. This is the perfect hanger for the tiny closet space I have!

NAIL ART

I knew I wanted to create a nail art look to go along with this blog post, and thought this was the perfect opportunity to get more practice with my dotting tools. First, I started out with a base of Zoya Genevieve and let that dry. Then, I grabbed my dotting tools set, and picked a large dot for the first round. I wanted to capture the metallic look of the hanger, so I used Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Celeb City as my large dots. I applied them in any way that I thought would fit onto my nails, knowing that I didn’t have to exactly mimic the hanger’s design. I let that layer dry, and then grabbed a smaller dotting tool to finish out the look. I grabbed Genevieve again, and made a dot in the center of each silver dot to make the holes look like loops. I really love how my manicure came out! It looks so fun and abstract, and I’d definitely recreate it again.

All in all, I definitely recommend picking up the Epica 18-Loop Scarf Hanger if you need some organization in your life. With winter right around the corner, I know it will be really helpful to have my scarves within reach in my closet instead of living under my bed. This hanger retails for just $19.95, but is on sale as I type this for just $8.95! That is such an amazing deal, so make sure to snag it on Amazon HERE. Let me know what gadgets you use to organize at home, and what you think of my nail art in the comments!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.