nails – Page 26 – Adventures in Polishland

Tag: nails

Nubar in Kristal | Review & Swatches

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

Happy Thursday! A few weeks back, I received a Nubar polish in my Beauty Box 5 (see that post HERE). At first, I thought it was a flakie polish, but it turns out to be a glitter top coat! Let me go ahead and show you Nubar Kristal!

Kristal is a glitter top coat in a clear base filled with holographic, hexagonal glitters in small and large. I layered one coat over Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics in Tarred, a plain, black creme. Kristal has a great formula that applies smoothly. There is no need to fish for glitters, and a lot of glitters come out on the first coat. I sealed the manicure with Essie Good to Go! top coat.

I love how Kristal looks over Tarred – it’s almost like twinkling stars in a dark night. The holographic glitters shift from green to gold with hints of blue over the black base. It’s just gorgeous!

All in all, I’m really loving Nubar Kristal. I can’t wait to try it over different polishes, since I’m sure it will look pretty in many combinations. You can purchase a full size bottle of Kristal on Amazon HERE. Be sure to let me know what your favorite Nubar polishes are in the comments!

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.

Simple Saint Patrick’s Day Nail Art!

Posted on March 17, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Since today is Saint Patrick’s Day, I thought I would put together a quick post featuring simple nail art. If you’re still looking for a festive manicure idea, this look is perfect for you! Plus, if you’re like me and you don’t celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day, you can wear this manicure to cheer on my favorite NBA team – the Boston Celtics! Let me show you the nail art I created.

To create this manicure, I grabbed two polishes from my collection – Julep Payton as the perfect Saint Pat’s green, and Zoya Jacqueline as the base for my accent nail. I applied two coats of Payton on all of my nails, except for my ring finger, where I applied three coats of Jacqueline. Once my manicure was completely dry, I carefully used a dotting tool (I got mine on Amazon HERE) to create a shamrock. I then finished up with Essie Good to Go top coat.

I hope you like this super fast and simple manicure! I recently purchased my dotting tools, and am still getting the hang of using them, so I hope to have more nail art looks coming up soon. I hope those of you who celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day are having a fun and safe day!

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.

L’Oreal Les Blancs Collection | Spot Me & Le Pastille

Posted on March 15, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I’m excited to share with you some brand new polishes for spring. I am so ready for winter to be over, that yesterday I ran to Duane Reade with the mission of getting some new beauty products for the spring season. When I spotted the new L’Oreal Les Blancs Collection, I knew I had to grab a couple. I picked up the two glitter shades, and ran home to test them out. Let me show you these gorgeous polishes!

First up is Spot Me, a pale blue polish with black hexagonal glitters from small to large mixed throughout the base. Spot Me has a great formula! It applies easily, and there was no fishing for glitters. I was really impressed with the coverage in two coats as well. The finish reminds me of a robin’s egg. I really like it!

Next up is Le Pastille, a pink version of Spot Me. Le Pastille also has a flawless formula. I cannot stress how easily these polishes apply! It always makes me happy when I don’t have to do anything special to get glitters out of the bottle and onto my nails. I applied two coats of Le Pastille, and finished up with a layer of butterLONDON Hardwear top coat (as I did with Spot Me as well). I love the juxtaposition of the black glitters on a baby pink base.

All in all, I’m loving these two glitter polishes from the new Les Blancs Collection from L’Oreal! In fact, I might go back to the drugstore and purchase the creme polishes from the collection, too. As I mentioned above, I scored these polishes at my local Duane Reade, but be on the lookout for the spring display at your drugstore. The polishes retail for $6.49 each in NYC, but I noticed a $4.99 price tag over on Nouveau Cheap’s blog. Let me know what you think of these polishes in the comments!

Does it Work? | Ruby Wing Color Changing Polish in Kitten Heels

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

Happy Tuesday! This past Sunday, I shared my February Birchbox with all of you. One of the products was a Ruby Wing Color Changing nail polish. I received another polish from this line in a Birchbox last year, and unfortunately I couldn’t get the polish to change color (see that post HERE). I was excited to try out another in hopes that I could get the color changing effect to work for me. Let me show you what happened this time around!

Kitten Heels is a gorgeous, bright pink creme polish. It has a great formula, and is opaque in two coats. I truly love the color! But, as you can guess by me only showing one shade, this polish just didn’t change colors! According to the label, Kitten Heels is supposed to change to a red when I go outside. I was outside in direct sunlight for several minutes on different days and never saw any type of change in this polish. Part of me wonders if it is my body chemistry that is preventing this polish from changing color. I’ve noticed others on Instagram aren’t having issues, so I either got a bad bottle, or it’s just me!

While I am disappointed that I didn’t get the color changing effect to work, I still love the color of Kitten Heels. It has a great formula, and I’ll still wear it for sure. Please let me know in the comments if you’ve tried any of the Ruby Wing Color Changing polishes and if they’ve worked for you. You can purchase the full size bottle of Kitten Heels on the Birchbox website HERE.

Zoya Monet Special Effect Topper | Swatches & Nail Art

Posted on March 6, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! Earlier this week, I showed you the complete Zoya Awaken Collection (see that review HERE). In addition to those stunning polishes, Zoya also released a new special effect top coat called Monet. Zoya describes Monet as a multi-colored, cellophane holographic topper, and I completely agree! I decided to try it with all of the Awaken polishes, and in a nail art look as well. In each of the manicures below, I applied one coat of Monet, followed with one coat of the butter LONDON Hardwear top coat.

Monet over Dot

Monet over Cole

Monet over Hudson

Monet over Dillon

Monet over Rebel

Monet over Brooklyn

Before I show you the nail art I created, I just wanted to mention Monet’s formula. It is a bit thick, but it’s very easy to work with. The glitters apply with ease, and as you can see, one coat provides a great amount of glitters.

Last but not least is a nail art look I created using Dot, Cole, and Monet. I finally found an easy gradient technique, so I began with that and applied Monet on top. I’m loving it so much! If you would like to see a tutorial on this manicure, please let me know in the comments!

All in all, Monet is a gorgeous top coat that goes with basically any and every nail polish! It retails for $10 on Zoya’s website HERE. While a bit more than I usually like to pay, Monet is a great investment polish. I highly recommend it, and will be sure to wear it often!

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

Zoya Awaken Collection for Spring 2014

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

Happy Tuesday! While it’s still cold and snowy here in NYC, the spring nail polish collections are arriving, and I’m so glad to see them! In addition to the Magical Pixie Collection, Zoya released the Awaken Collection. This six-piece line has something for everyone – cremes, shimmers, and even a metallic shade. Let me show you these gorgeous polishes!

First up is Dot, a pastel pink polish with a creme formula. Dot has a good formula, though it can be a bit patchy. I applied two coats to achieve opacity, and applied the polish with a careful hand to get a flawless finish. Dot is just a beautiful light pink! I think it would look nice on everyone.

Next up is Cole, a tangerine creme polish. Cole has a very similar formula to Dot, though I applied three thin coats to even out the slight patchiness. I’m loving this orange shade! It’s very on trend for spring, and quite wearable.

Hudson is the first shimmer in the Awaken Collection, and is a beautiful purple. Hudson has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats. I love how sparkly it is, and I’m impressed with the smooth application. I wasn’t expecting Hudson to be as shimmery, and I’m pleasantly surprised!

Next up is Dillon, a mint green shimmer polish. Dillon also has a great formula, and is opaque in two coats. As you know, I love mint green nails, and I don’t have one in my collection quite like this! Dillon is packed with lots of shimmer that shines in the light.

Zoya Rebel is the last of the shimmers, and is a blue shade. Rebel is definitely my favorite in the Awaken Collection! The formula is flawless, and opaque in two coats. Plus, this just reminds me of a mermaid for some reason. I’m obsessed!

Last but not least is Brooklyn, a metallic yellow gold polish. Brooklyn has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. Some brush strokes are visible due to its metallic nature, but I don’t think it detracts from the polish at all. I would never have thought to include Brooklyn in a spring collection, but I’m glad Zoya did! It’s unexpected, and looks so nice.

All in all, I’m loving the Zoya Awaken Collection. There really is a polish for everyone in this line! I definitely recommend all of these polishes, but Rebel is my personal favorite, followed by Dot. You can purchase the Awaken Collection on Zoya’s website HERE for $9 each. Stay tuned to see all of these polishes with Zoya’s new special effect topper Monet later this week!

Which polish in the Awaken Collection is your favorite? 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.

Indie Spotlight | Beginner’s Luck Collection from Dream Designer Nail Kit

Posted on February 27, 2014February 25, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! It’s been a little while since my last indie spotlight post, but I’m super excited to share with you a brand new indie brand! Dream Designer Nail Kit, or DDNK for short, just launched this year. DDNK’s first collection is called Beginner’s Luck, inspired by a weekend in Las Vegas. I think that’s a really fun idea for a collection! Let me share the five gorgeous polishes with you!

Of course I had to show you the unique bottles that each DDNK polish comes in. I’ve never seen any other brands with bottles like these before! The shape reminds me of coins, which coincidentally goes well with the Vegas theme.

First up is Go-Go Getter, a burnt orange glitter polish with blue glitters just sprinkled in. I was so impressed with Go-Go Getter’s formula! It applies like a dream, and is opaque in two coats. This polish is super sparkly, and would be great for the fall season.

Next up is Going Home Blues, a royal blue polish that dries to a statin finish. Going Home Blues has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. It has a bit of a “crelly” formula (mix between a creme and jelly), and that makes for a unique polish. I think this is my favorite in the collection!

Next is Royal Flush, a purple polish with silver and holographic glitters. Royal Flush also has an awesome formula that is opaque in two coats. I really love this one! I could see myself wearing this quite often.

Sunset on the Strip is next, and it’s a gorgeous black base filled with bronze glitters. It applies really well, and is opaque in two coats. Sunset on the Strip is really unique! I love that the glitters make the black base sparkle when the light hits them just right.

Last but not least is Vegas Night Sky, a glitter polish with charcoal, gold, blue, and purple glitters. This polish is opaque on its own in two coats, and applies with ease. I’m always happy when I don’t have to layer a glitter polish! I love the combination of colors as well.

All in all, I’m really impressed with these polishes from Dream Designer Nail Kit! They all have great formulas, and the colors are rather unique. Each polish retails from $8.99-9.99, and you can purchase this complete collection for $37.99. Shop on Etsy HERE or on eBay HERE. Also make sure to like DDNK on Facebook HERE to stay in the loop about upcoming collections! Let me know what you think of DDNK 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.

Gala’s Gems Collection from Color Club | Release & Review!

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

Happy Saturday! Today I’m excited to tell you all about a fun event I attended last week with Birchbox. Despite a very snowy day, I joined other Birchbloggers at the Mondrian Soho Hotel for hot chocolate, manicures, and a Q & A with blogger Gala Gonzalez. Gala runs the blog Amlul, and partnered with nail polish brand Color Club to create the new collection Gala’s Gems. Let me tell you a bit more about the event, and share the nail polishes with you!

Birchblogger Event

To celebrate the release of Gala’s collection, Birchbox was kind enough to host an event with local bloggers so we could try out the polishes and learn more about Gala. We had the chance to get our nails done (shoutout to my manicurist Kenyetta!) and then heard from Gala, who was interviewed by Birchbox co-founder Katia. Gala is so beautiful and down-to-earth. She let us in on some of her blogging secrets, and shared about her journey in the fashion industry. I highly recommend you check out her blog if you haven’t before – it’s professionally done, and a must read for fashion lovers!

You can also find more photos from this event on my Facebook page HERE.

Gala’s Gems Review

First up is Heirloom Pearls, a pearlescent white polish. All of the polishes in the Gala’s Gems Collection have a metallic finish, which I think is perfect for the transition from winter to spring. Heirloom Pearls has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. It looks flawless on my nails, and would go with pretty much any outfit. I highly recommend it!

Next up is Breakfast At…, a mint green metallic polish. I love the clever name of Breakfast At…, and the green color is right up my alley. The formula is very good, though a bit prone to streaking due to its metallic nature. This is the color I got for my manicure at the event. I just love it!

Aquamarine Azulino is up next, and it is a gorgeous baby blue polish. This has a great formula that is opaque in two coats, and I just adore the pastel blue shade. The shimmer throughout the polish makes it perfect for snowy days, yet the pigmentation is also nice for the warmer months. Aquamarine Azulino is an all around great blue!

Last but not least is Gold Struck, a rose gold metallic polish. I was a bit disappointed that Gold Struck is so streaky, but that can happen with any metallic polish. I still really love the color, and this is a great option for those of you who didn’t grab Sally Hansen’s Gold Roses (review HERE). Gold Struck really has that liquid metal look!

All in all, I had a great time at the Birchbox event, and I really like the Gala’s Gems Collection from Color Club. This collection will be available very soon, so keep an eye out for it! I’ll be sure to post on Facebook when these polishes are available, as well as the price point. Let me know in the comments what you think of the Gala’s Gems Collection!

UPDATE: You can now purchase this collection for just $13 on the Birchbox website HERE.

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

Neon Nails featuring Star Studs from Born Pretty Store

Posted on February 15, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I have a really fun manicure to share with you featuring some star studs from Born Pretty Store. When I got the studs in a neon color, I decided to create a nail art look that would be perfect for any 80s throwback party. Let me show you the totally rad manicure!

First, here is a look at the packet of studs. For just $3.37, you get 200 studs! Think of all the nail art looks you can create with this one packet! These studs also come in eight different colors, so you can choose your favorite. I got the lime green, or shade #4. They can be purchased HERE.

As a base for my neon nails, I grabbed Spoiled in Plastic Flamingo, one of my all-time favorite polishes. When the polish was still tacky, I used some long-nose tweezers to place the studs on my nails. I placed one stud on the base of each nail, and three in a diagonal on an accent nail. The tweezers made this process really easy, so I definitely recommend using them as a helpful tool.

All in all, I’m loving this neon manicure! The colors are so fun and vibrant, and the studs are so easy to use. Whether you’re looking for a themed look for a special occasion, or simply want to liven up your normal manicures, I think these star studs are a great choice. You can grab them on Born Pretty’s website for an extra 10% off with code FZL91. Have you tried any nail studs? Show me what you create on my Facebook Page!

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

Vintage Inspired Floral Nail Art featuring Water Decals from Born Pretty Store!

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

Happy Thursday! Today I have another review of some water decals from the online retailer Born Pretty Store. I’ve tried water decals a few times now (see my King of Pop Manicure HERE), but this time around I had more control over my nail art design and decided to take it in a vintage direction. Let me show you the water decals and the manicure I created!

Unlike the other water decals I’ve tried in the past, this sheet does not have any pre-made shapes or designs. Instead, the design is separated into rectangular blocks that can be cut into any shape or size. I decided to cut the decals into a variety of shapes to keep my manicure interesting!

I began my manicure with SinfulColors Mint Apple, a beautiful dusty green with shimmer (full review HERE). Once my polish was completely dried, I cut the decals into the shapes I desired, removed the protective film, and dipped them into water for a few seconds. The water decals work just like temporary tattoos. The design slides right off the paper backing when wet, and you can easily position the decals onto your nails using your fingers. Once the decals are dry, finishing up with a top coat and you’re good to go!

All in all, I’m really loving these water decals! I only used two of the rectangular blocks on the sheet to create this look, so I can be sure to get more use out of it in the future. You can purchase this sheet of decals on Born Pretty Store’s website HERE for just $2.98. I chose design number 10, but there are lots of others as well. As always, use code FZL91 to get an extra 10% off your purchase, and enjoy free international shipping. Let me know what you think of my nail art in the comments!

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.