nails – Page 22 – Adventures in Polishland

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NYC New York Color Fashion Queen Collection | Crystal Couture Glitter Polishes

Posted on September 20, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Earlier this week I shared with you the three In a New York Minute polishes from the new, limited edition Fashion Queen Collection from NYC New York Color (see that post HERE). Today I’m bringing you the six glitter shades called Crystal Couture. These glitters can be worn alone, or layered over another polish for added sparkle and shine. I decided to test them out alone, since I love opaque glitter polishes. Let me show you the sparkly goodness!

First up is the collection’s namesake polish Fashion Queen, a gold glitter polish. Fashion Queen has a clear base filled with gold microglitters. It is opaque in two coats and has a great formula. Fashion Queen is perfect as an accent nail this fall, as it will go with so many manicures!

Next up is Ruby Queen, a bright red base packed with red glitters and small pink hexagons. Ruby Queen is opaque in two coats, and has a fabulous formula. This is the perfect polish to transition from fall to winter. I can see it being worn during the holidays for sure!

NY Princess is the purple of the collection, and is packed with purple, lilac, and green glitters. NY Princess is also opaque in two coats, and I’d recommend a nice glossy top coat with this one. It reminds me of grape jelly!

Next is Blue Majesty, a blue polish with blue microglitters. I love this polish! It has a great formula and is opaque in two coats, plus it just looks so fancy. I think Blue Majesty would look awesome in a geometric manicure as well.

If you love green, you need Queen’s Jewels! It’s the green version of Blue Majesty but with green and silver glitters. Queen’s Jewels is opaque in two coats, and the formula is perfect. I can definitely see this being worn during the holidays as well!

Last but not least is Rule the City, a charcoal base filled with grey and red glitters. Rule the City is opaque in two coats, I would recommend following up with a glossy top coat. This polish is quite edgy, and would go really well with your leather jacket this fall. It’s definitely a rockstar polish!

All in all, the Crystal Couture polishes from the NYC New York Color Fashion Queen line are amazing glitters! I love that each is opaque in two coats, but can be worn in other ways as well. These polishes retail for the fabulous and affordable price of just $1.99 each. Make sure to check your local drugstore and department store’s limited edition displays! Let me know in the comments which Crystal Couture polish is your favorite!

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

NYC New York Color Limited Edition Fashion Queen Collection | In a New York Minute Polishes

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

Happy Thursday! This fall the brand NYC New York Color released an amazing, limited edition line called the Fashion Queen Collection to bring runway style to the street. I got the opportunity to review the polishes, and can’t wait to share them with all of you. Today’s post will feature the three In a New York Minute shades that are designed to be quick-dry formulas. Let me show you these fall polishes!

First up is Royal Chic, a deep brown creme shade that reminds me of chocolate! Royal Chic has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. I think this is quite a daring polish, but great if you want a deep polish that isn’t as harsh as a black. I also am impressed with the high-gloss finish Royal Chic has even without top coat!

Next up is Queen of the City, a stunning burgundy polish with undertones of black. I am obsessed with Queen of the City! Not only is the formula amazing, but there is almost a duochrome effect in this polish. Queen of the City is the perfect polish for fall, and I feel super fabulous when wearing it!

Last but not least is Crown Gold, a yellow gold, metallic polish. Crown Gold also has an amazing formula and is opaque in two coats. This is one of my favorite gold polishes of all time. It looks so rich, and the pigmentation is great!

All in all, I’m really impressed with the three In a New York Minute polishes from the new Fashion Queen Collection. Of course, NYC New York Color is the perfect brand for those of us who are fabulous and affordable, since these polishes retail for just $1.99 each! You can purchase this line at your local drugstore or department store, so be sure to look for the limited edition display. Find a retailer near you by visiting the NYC New York Color website HERE. Stay tuned to see the six glitter polishes in this line – you don’t want to miss it!

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

Jordana Cosmetics Limited Edition Playful Pastels Collection

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

Happy Saturday! I received a surprise package from Jordana Cosmetics that contained a beautiful nail polish collection. I’ve only used one Jordana polish before, so I was really excited to test out some more. These polishes are extremely fabulous and affordable, and because the Playful Pastels is a limited edition line, I knew I had to share them with you as soon as possible. Let’s get started!

First up is Baby Blue, a polish that stays quite true to its name color wise! Baby Blue has a very sheer formula, and I needed four coats to achieve opacity. It was also very streaky, so this formula was a bit disappointing for me. The finished product is beautiful, though.

Next up is Pink Petunia, a gorgeous true pink polish. Pink Petunia has a good formula that is opaque in three coats. I’m loving this shade of polish, and think it makes me look a bit tan for some reason. I think it’s due to it being a bit coral!

The next Playful Pastel is Lively Lilac, a nice purple shade. Lively Lilac has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. I’m a big fan of lilac shades in the spring, so I’ll be sure to pull this one out again during that time of year. Of course, you can wear pastels all year long if you like!

Whimsical White is definitely a must have in this line. It’s the perfect white that is opaque in two coats. I’m super impressed with Whimsical White, since white polishes are difficult to get just right. If you’re looking for an affordable white, go grab this one!

One of my favorites in this collection is Merry Mint, a pastel green that leans towards seafoam. Merry Mint has an awesome formula that is opaque in two coats. I love the flawless finish with this one! Plus, this color is great for fall.

Last but not least is Sunsational, a bright canary yellow polish. Sunsational is an awesome yellow that is opaque in two coats. I was really impressed with the formula, and loved the bright color right away. I don’t wear yellow polishes often, but I’ll remember this next time I want one!

All in all, the Jordana Cosmetics Playful Pastels Collection is a fun line, and a bit unexpected for fall. I definitely recommend this collection, though wish the formula on Baby Blue was better. My favorites are definitely Pink Petunia and Merry Mint. You can purchase the Playful Pastels Collection on Jordana’s website HERE for just $1.99 each! Will you be grabbing any of these limited edition shades? 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.

Simple Fall Manicure featuring Born Pretty Store Studs!

Posted on September 8, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I have a simple nail art look to share with all of you! I recently got some new products from Born Pretty Store to review, one of which was a wheel containing both square and rounded studs in a variety of colors. I wanted to test them out right away, so I layered them over my manicure. Let me show you the result!

Here is the complete set of studs. I’m using a stock photo courtesy of Born Pretty Store in this post, because my wheel arrived all out of sorts due to the mail. I wanted you to be able to see the different colors and shapes easily! This wheel retails for just $5.15, which is an awesome bargain considering the number of times you can use the studs! HERE is the direct link to the product.

Here is my complete manicure! I was already wearing Zoya Ryan (see full review HERE) and didn’t want to change polish colors, so I simply added a fresh coat and dunked my rink finger into the rounded studs for a caviar look. I love that the studs have a flat bottom so they stick onto the nail easily! Then, I placed a square stud at the base of each nail. I decided to go for all green, as it looks great with the dark blue polish. I finished up with a top coat and I was good to go!

All in all, this nail art look is so simple to create, yet looks fun! I think the colors are perfect for fall as well. The studs in this kit can be used for a variety of different designs, so I’ll be sure to get creative with them again in the future. If you pick up a set, be sure to use code FZL91 for an additional 10% off your entire order!

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.

Summer 2014 Favorites | Beauty, Lifestyle, & More!

Posted on September 6, 2014August 31, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! You may have noticed that this summer I didn’t post my usual monthly favorites. By the end of June and then July, I realized that I was reusing the same products over and over, and thought a combined summer favorites would be the best way to share my new favorite products with you. Plus, it’s a great way to reflect over the past few months! This was probably the last summer vacation I’ll ever have, since I’ve just embarked on my final year of school. Let me show you everything I loved the past few months!

NAIL POLISH

L’Oreal Jean & Tonic [REVIEW]

I wore this textured shade from L’Oreal a ton this summer! In fact, I made a dent in the bottle because I loved it so much! Make sure to check out my review for more details. If you like this polish, make sure to check the limited edition displays at your local drugstore ASAP.

MASCARA

CoverGirl Clump Crusher Mascara in Black [BUY]

I finally tried the famous Clump Crusher and I’m so glad I did! It really separates my lashes for a full look. I do wish it had a bit more “va va voom,” but I can always layer a thicker mascara on top for a more dramatic look. If you’re looking for a great mascara to use on the daily, I recommend this one.

EYEBROWS

Milani Brow Fix Brow Kit in Light [BUY]

I rediscovered this brow product over the summer, and pulled it out from the depths of my makeup collection! I’ve used it a ton, and I’ve found that the powder looks really natural and is easy to apply. I still use my eyebrow pencils sometimes, but in the hot summer sun, powder was the best option. Plus, this stuff lasts forever!

BLUSH

NYX Cream Blush in Natural [BUY]

I finally reached for cream blush this summer, and I’m happy I got over my cream blush fear! It’s lightweight and extremely blendable, so I don’t look cakey. I definitely need to pick up more cream blushes for my collection, so let me know your favorites in the comments!

PRIMER

Dr. Brandt Pores No More Pore Refiner [BUY]

I brought this sample size primer with me when I was traveling and fell in love! It’s just like my beloved Too Faced Primed & Poreless, but even better. Unfortunately, the full size is $45 (yikes), so I’ve been making this sample last as long as possible. If your budget allows for Pores No More, I say get it!

FRAGRANCE

Coconut Lime Breeze Body Spray [BUY]

I love lighter scents in the summer, and reach for body sprays more than perfumes. I got this one during the Bath & Bodyworks semi-annual sale for just $1.50, and I love it! It’s sweet, but not sickening. I pretty much love anything with a coconut scent, though!

TV SHOW

Big Love

I watched a lot of shows on Amazon Prime this summer, one of them being the complete series of Big Love. I don’t get HBO, so it was great to be able to watch some HBO shows for free this summer with my Prime subscription. Big Love was so addicting! It’s about a polygamist family in Utah. There is serious family drama, and it always kept me at the edge of my seat. I highly recommend it, but ask your parents if you’re under 18 since it has a lot of violence and some adult content.

BOOK

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa [BUY]

I also read a lot this summer, and one of my favorites was the Blood of Eden trilogy by Julie Kagawa. I’m always hesitant when it comes to vampires because of the whole Twilight thing, but gave this series a try, and I’m so glad I did! Kagawa does an amazing job of combining vampires into the dystopian genre. The trilogy follows teenager Allison as she decides to become a vampire, and the new life she must lead. The first book in the series is called The Immortal Rules (liked above). I highly recommend it!

EXPERIENCES

West Coast Adventures – Los Angeles & Las Vegas

I had the amazing opportunity this summer to visit both Los Angeles and Las Vegas. My brother and sister-in-law live in LA, so I made sure to visit them and meet my new nephew for the first time! It was wonderful to see them! I also met up with my grandma and cousin out there, and we took a road trip to Vegas. I’ve never been to Vegas before and it was an unbelievable experience. I thought NYC was big! If you ever get the change to visit Las Vegas, go! There is something for everyone!

All in all, I had a great summer even though it went by super quickly! Please let me know in the comments some of the products you loved these past few months. Also let me know what your favorite moment of the summer was. Feel free to tag me on social media using the hashtag #PolishlandFaves so I can see your photos!

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

Zoya Ignite Collection for Fall 2014

Posted on September 4, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! Earlier this week I reviewed the Zoya Entice Collection (full review HERE), which contains six creme polishes for fall. In addition to Entice, Zoya released a collection called Ignite. The Ignite Collection has six liquid metal polishes that are packed with shimmer and sparkle. If you love to rock a bit of glitz on your fingertips, the Ignite Collection is for you! Let me show you the six fiery polishes!

First up is Autumn, a copper shade with undertones of orange and gold. Autumn’s formula is great, and is opaque in two coats. I found that all of the Ignite polishes show a beautiful color payoff in one coat, but two coats were needed for opacity. Staying true to its name, I think Autumn is just perfect for this time of year!

Next up is India, a deep red with golden shimmer mixed throughout the base. India also has a great formula, and I found that it’s super pigmented. I think this polish is a great transitional shade from fall to winter as well.

Teigen is a beautiful cranberry shade with a copper shimmer, and is such a feminine polish. It looks flawless in two coats, too. I’d love to see this in a geometric manicure with it’s complimenting shade Veronica. Maybe I’ll do that in the future!

Sansa is the purple in this collection, and is what Zoya dubs “eggplant” with a gold shimmer. Sansa appears almost black, but the purple shade certainly shines through in the light. I think this polish would look great with one coat layered over a white base!

Next up is Remy, my favorite in the Ignite Collection! Remy is an indigo polish with gold and copper shimmer, but I love how blue-toned it is! The formula is flawless, and in two coats the finish is just stunning. I’m a bit obsessed with this one!

Last but not least is Yuna, a grey polish copper and gold shimmer. Yuna is so sparkly that my camera had trouble focusing on it! Nonetheless, it’s a very rockstar polish, and is perfect to pair with your leather jacket this fall.

All in all, the Zoya Ignite Collection has six sparkly shades for fall! While cremes are much more my style, you can’t go wrong with any of these polishes! I’ll definitely be testing these out as accent nails and in nail art this fall. I can’t wait to put Remy back on very soon, in fact! You can purchase these polishes on the Zoya website HERE for $9 each. Which shades will you be purchasing?! 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.

Zoya Entice Collection for Fall 2014

Posted on September 2, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! I am super excited to share the first of the Zoya Nail Polish Fall collections with you today! I absolutely love creme nail polishes, and the Entice Collection contains six beautiful fall shades. Whether you prefer neutrals or darks, the Entice Collection has a shade that is perfect for you. Let me show you these stunning polishes!

First up is Nyssa, a brown polish that reminds me of a cappuccino! Nyssa has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. In fact, I’m super impressed with all of the formulas in this collection! Nyssa in particular is perfect for a fall day, and can work great in nail art as well. If you’re not comfortable wearing brown alone, try it in an ombré with purple or red!

Next up is Claire, a deep burgundy polish that has brown undertones in it. Claire is quite vampy, but applies easily with it’s awesome formula. It reminds me of the oxblood shade that is always popular in the fall, but even darker. For some reason Claire screams “high fashion” to me!

Veronica is a lighter burgundy shade that Zoya describes as “red wine.” Veronica’s formula is spot on and opaque in two coats as well. I can definitely see this is an every day shade, and is appropriate for the office. Veronica is great for those of us who don’t rock deep and dark polishes, but still want a burgundy!

If you love purple, check out Margo! This is a beautiful plum shade with a wonderful formula. Margo is unlike any other purple polish in my collection. I love the rich pigmentation, and I think it works well for any skin tone!

Next up is Ryan, a stunning indigo polish and my favorite in the collection! I reached for Ryan as soon as I opened my box from Zoya. The formula is a dream, and I’m truly obsessed with any deep blue shades. I know Ryan will be on my fingers a lot this season!

Last but not least is Genevieve, a titanium grey polish. Genevieve looks like I dipped my nails in liquid metal! There is just the slightest shimmer in this polish that makes the finished look multidimensional. Genevieve is my second favorite in this line, and I put it right back on as soon as I was finished swatching! In fact, I’m wearing it as I type up this blog post!

All in all, I am loving everything about the Zoya Entice Collection! This is definitely one of my favorite nail polish collections of all time! I can see myself wearing each and every shade, and the creme formulas are just perfection. I highly recommend each and every polish! You can purchase the Entice Collection directly from the Zoya website HERE for $9 each. It’s worth the price tag 100%! Let me know in the comments which of the Entice Collection is your personal favorite!

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

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.