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Zoya Nail Polish Urban Grunge Collection for Fall 2016 | Creams

Posted on August 22, 2016August 19, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I am beyond excited to bring you a review of the new Zoya Nail Polish collection for this fall. Grunge is super trendy this year, and Zoya made sure to put a modern spin on this old school style with the Urban Grunge nail polish line. The full collection contains six cream formulas and six metallic holographic formulas. I will be sharing swatches of the creams with you in this post, and make sure to stay tuned for the holographic polishes on Wednesday.

Zoya describes the Urban Grunge creams as one coat polishes. I agree that these polishes are highly pigmented, but I applied two coats of polish in all of the swatches seen here. If you use a thicker coat of polish, you will definitely be able to get away with one coat. However, I prefer to use two thin coats of polish to ensure a manicure that dries evenly. Either technique works, so choose what is better for you!

First up is Mallory, a bright blue polish that is definitely my favorite of the bunch. Mallory has an excellent formula that applies smoothly, but this richly pigmented polish will stain your nails, so make sure you wear a healthy layer of base coat. Mallory looks much lighter on Zoya’s website than it does in person, so keep that in mind. I used natural sunlight when photographing these swatches to ensure I got true-to-life pictures for all of you.

Next up is August, a grey polish with blue undertones. August also has a great formula, and I think this grey shade will work well with many skin tones. Sometimes grey can be difficult to wear, but the blue undertones bring August to life. I can also see this paired with a glitter polish to dress it up a bit!

Another one of my favorites is Wyatt, a Hunter green shade. Wyatt has an amazing formula that is super smooth and shiny without a top coat needed. I absolutely love this polish color for the fall and winter months. It goes with all of the earthy clothing I’ll be wearing very soon!

Next up is Courtney, a deep burgundy polish. Country’s formula is a bit different from the rest of the Urban Grunge creams, and is more of a “crelly” (cream and jelly) formula. This shade is perfect for fall, and will work for nearly every situation. Courtney is great if you want a twist on the traditional red manicure.

Tara is up next, and this is a deep purple shade. If you are looking for a richly pigmented plum, you should definitely check out Tara. The formula is excellent, and it looks beyond gorgeous on the nails. I think Tara will look stunning on everyone, and I can’t wait to wear this one again.

Last but not least is Noah, a warm taupe polish. Noah has a good formula, but I did find it to be a bit tacky. I recommend thin coats with this polish so you can achieve an even finish. If you work in a professional environment, or simply love neutral polishes, Noah is a great option for you.

All in all, I am really loving the cream polishes in Zoya’s Urban Grunge collection. You all know I am a huge fan of cream formulas, and Zoya has done it again with this line. I know I will be wearing Mallory and Wyatt quite often, plus I need more Tara in my life! Honestly, I recommend all of these shades, and am loving the rich pigmentation. You can purchase the Urban Grunge collection on Zoya’s website HERE. Each polish retails for $10, but keep an eye out for sales and coupons! Let me know your favorite polish in the Urban Grunge Collection 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.

Dare to Compare | Sally Hansen Celeb City vs butter LONDON Diamond Geezer

Posted on July 29, 2016June 13, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I have the last Dare to Compare post to share with you for quite a while. I have now gone through my entire nail polish collection and weeded out any dupes or similar shades. I will have an update for you regarding my nail polish declutter project very soon, but today I have a final comparison. This one is quite exciting, as I’m matching up a super affordable polish with a higher end brand. Both Sally Hansen Celeb City and butter LONDON Diamond Geezer are silver polishes, and look nearly identical in the bottle. Let’s find out if they are!

First up is Celeb City from Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear. I used to be obsessed with this nail polish. In fact, this is my second bottle because I went through one! Celeb City has an excellent formula that is opaque in two coats. It looks like chrome on the nails, and is super cool. I don’t wear Celeb City much anymore, but it is a great polish to have in my collection.

Next up is butter LONDON Diamond Geezer, another silver nail polish. Diamond Geezer has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. It also has a chrome finish on the nails, and unlike many metallic polishes doesn’t show a lot of brushstrokes. Diamond Geezer is shiny without a top coat needed!

Here is a look at Celeb City and Diamond Geezer side-by-side. I can’t tell the difference between these two polishes! They both apply the same way, and they look the same, too. I definitely consider these polishes to be exact dupes. I will be keeping Celeb City in my collection, since I like to blog about affordable products, and it’s been a favorite of mine for years now.

All in all, I’m always glad to find a dupe for all of you! There is no need to spend the money on Diamond Geezer when you can save over $10 on Celeb City. I hope you found this post helpful if you are looking for an affordable silver polish to add to your collection. As always, please let me know in the comments if you have a favorite silver nail polish. I would love to hear your recommendations!

Some of 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 | Milani Mauve Medley vs Milani Color Statement Mauving Forward

Posted on July 27, 2016July 3, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I am excited to try out two Milani nail polishes side-by-side to see if they are duplicates. I’ve noticed while decluttering my nail polish collection that many of my nail polishes from Milani are very similar in shade. This is completely understandable, as Milani revamped its entire nail polish line a few years ago. Nonetheless, I don’t need to keep polishes if they are the same shade. Let me share two mauve polishes with you and let you which I’m keeping!

First up is Milani in the shade Mauve Medley, a deep mauve that leans towards a brown shade. Mauve Medley has a good formula, but it is a bit on the streaky side. It does even out well in two opaque coats, and is very rich in pigmentation. Mauve Medley is not a nail polish shade that I reach for, but it is a beautiful polish.

Next up is Mauving Forward from Milani’s current Color Statement line. Mauving Forward is a lighter mauve shade with purple undertones. This polish has a good formula that is opaque in two coats. It applies smoothly and has a very rich pigmentation. Mauving Forward is a great neutral polish for everyday wear!

Here is a side-by-side look at these two polishes, with Mauve Medley on my pinky and ring fingers and Mauving Forward on my middle and pointer fingers. It is clear that these polishes are not exact dupes, and are instead quite different in shade. Yes, they are both mauve shades, but Mauve Medley is quite darker than Mauving Forward. That being said, I’ve decided to declutter both of these nail polishes. I just never reach for a mauve shade, and there is no reason to keep these if I’m not wearing them.

All in all, I’m glad I tested out these polishes together to discover that they are actually a bit different despite both being mauve shades! While Mauve Medley is no longer available for purchase, you can pick up Mauving Forward at your local drugstore or on Milani’s website HERE. Please let me know in the comments if you have a favorite mauve nail polish, or if you prefer to wear another neutral shade!

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 | Comparing 4 Bright Pink Nail Polishes

Posted on July 20, 2016June 7, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! I told you in my last Dare to Compare post that my love for pink polishes is strong, and bright pink is one of my favorite shades to wear. In fact, one of my first ever Dare to Compare posts back in 2013 featured three bright pink polishes (read it HERE). Today I have four more polishes to compare with all of you. I’ll be reviewing each polish individually, and swatching them side-by-side to see the colors together.

First up is Hot Pink Rage from Milani’s Color Statement line. Hot Pink Rage has a perfect formula that is opaque in one coat! I did apply two in the photos above to see if I could achieve a richer pigmentation, but one coat is definitely all you need. Hot Pink Rage is definitely a deeper pink in shade, while still being very bright.

Next up is Raspberry Delight from Milani’s older nail polish line that is now discontinued. Raspberry Delight has a good formula, but it did get a bit streaky during application. I applied two coats for opacity, and I can see some uneven texture in the finish. This is a gorgeous pink, and a bit lighter in shade than Hot Pink Rage. Raspberry Delight does have a very subtle shimmer in the bottle, but I can’t see it on my nails at all.

Tickled Pink from Covergirl is up next, another polish I’ve owned for several years now. Tickled Pink has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats. It applies really smoothly, and just looks amazing on my nails. I’ve had great luck with Covergirl polishes, and Tickled Pink is one of my favorites!

Last but not least is Nice Gal Peony from Priti NYC. Nice Gal Peony also has an excellent formula. It applies well and is opaque in two coats, and just so pretty! I also like that this polish is made in the USA by a smaller brand. I do take those things into consideration when buying products, because it’s always nice to support companies in my own country.

Here is a look at all four polishes together. From left to right are: Milani Color Statement in Hot Pink Rage, Milani in Raspberry Delight, Covergirl in Tickled Pink, and Priti NYC in Nice Gal Peony. It is obvious from the comparison that these polishes are not exact duplicates for one another despite being very similar. Hot Pink Rage and Tickled Pink are almost dupes, but they are slightly different. It’s so difficult for me to declutter any of these polishes, because they all have such great formulas. However, there is no need for me to keep all four, so I’m letting go of Raspberry Delight and Tickled Pink.

All in all, I’m surprised that these bright pink polishes are more different in shade than I first anticipated! Sometimes the way a polish looks in the bottle is not exactly how it dries on the nails. That is certainly the case with some of these pink shades! As always, I would love to know what bright pink polishes are your favorites. Please share in the comments!

Some of 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 | Comparing 5 Coral Nail Polishes

Posted on July 15, 2016June 6, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today’s nail polish comparison is going to be the biggest yet. I own five coral nail polishes that all look extremely similar in the bottle, and I just had to test them out together to see if any were dupes. Coral is the perfect shade to wear in the summertime, so I hope you’ll find these swatches helpful if you’re on the lookout for a coral shade. Let’s jump right into the individual reviews and side-by-side comparison!

First up is Coral Reef from the Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear line. This is the most affordable polish of the bunch, and it also has one of the best formulas. Coral Reef is a bit on the watery side, but it applies smoothly and is opaque in two coats. If you’ve been following my blog since its beginning, you’ll know that I am a huge fan of the Xtreme Wear line. While some of the formulas are duds, most of them are excellent and can fit nearly any budget. Coral Reef is a great option!

Next up is Splendid Strawberry from Milani’s older nail polish collection that is now discontinued. Splendid Strawberry looks a bit more pink-toned in the bottle, but dries to a beautiful coral shade. This polish has a very good formula, but is again a bit on the watery side. I really like the flat brush that came in this Milani line, as it makes application easier than thicker brushes.

Another polish from Milani is Corrupted Coral from its newer Color Statement line. Corrupted Coral’s formula is okay, but quite thick. I found that it dragged upon application, so make sure to let each coat dry completely before adding another layer. I also recommend thin coats as this polish can be very tacky.

The next polish is Peachy Breeze from the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri line. Peachy Breeze is a go-to polish for me, and my most used coral polish for sure. The formula has gotten a bit tacky over time, but it is still easily workable. I applied two coats to achieve opacity, and as promised, this polish dried extremely quickly.

Last but not least is China Glaze Surreal Appeal. This polish has a wonky formula. It is very watery, and then when it dries it becomes very uneven. I applied two coats in the photos above, and you can definitely see the uneven texture. I just don’t have much luck with the China Glaze brand!

It’s time to look at all of these polishes together! I’m wearing a different polish on each finger in the photos above, and I think it is fair to say that these are all dupes for one another. I cannot tell a difference between these five shades! I can’t believe I own so many of the same polish color. That being said, I am going to declutter all but one of them. I will be keeping Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Peachy Breeze, because although the formula is not perfect, it is my favorite out of the bunch since it applies well and dries fast.

All in all, I can’t get over the fact that I had five coral nail polishes that are virtually identical in my collection! I hope you found this post helpful if you are looking to find a coral, or if you already own one of the above. Now you won’t be wondering if a polish is a dupe when nail polish shopping! Definitely let me know in the comments if you have a favorite coral shade. I would love to hear your polish picks!

Some of 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 | Milani Color Statement Cupcake Icing vs Milani Cupid’s Touch

Posted on July 13, 2016June 4, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today’s nail polish comparison features two nail polishes from the same brand. Milani Cosmetics relaunched its nail polish line a couple years back, and understandably many of the nail polishes are quite similar from the brand’s old line. I wanted to test out two polishes that appeared very similar in the bottle. That way if you own the original polish, there is no need for you to purchase the new version. Let me show you Cupcake Icing and Cupid’s Touch both individually and side-by-side.

First up is Cupcake Icing from the Color Statement line, the range currently in drugstores. Cupcake Icing is a blue-toned pink polish and has a great formula. It applies well and it opaque in two coats. I think this shade of polish looks good on everyone no matter the skin tone. It is also work appropriate as it is just a step away from a neutral polish.

Next up is Cupid’s Touch from Milani’s older nail polish line. Cupid’s Touch is also a blue-toned pink, and has the same great formula of Cupcake Icing. I never reach for this polish, but I really like how it looks on me as I’m typing up this blog post. I’m going to have to make an effort to wear it more often!

Here is a look at Cupcake Icing and Cupid’s Touch side-by-side. Can you tell a difference between the polishes? I can’t! It appears that Milani rebottled Cupid’s Touch for its newer nail polish line. That is completely understandable, as a relaunch will inevitably include some older polishes. I do find it interesting that the polish name was changed, but perhaps that was a marketing technique. Whatever the reason, it is not necessary to purchase Cupcake Icing if you already own Cupid’s Touch. I will be decluttering one of these polishes, and I think I’ll keep Cupid’s Touch since it can’t be purchased any longer.

All in all, I hope you found this post helpful whether you were looking for a dupe of Cupid’s Touch or you simply enjoy comparisons! Let me know in the comments how you feel about rebottled nail polishes. In this case the rebottling makes sense to me, because Milani revamped its entire nail polish line. I would also love to know if you own a blue-toned pink polish and if you 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.

Dare to Compare | Milani Popping Pink vs Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Fuchsia Flare

Posted on July 8, 2016June 3, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! I am so excited for today’s Dare to Compare post because I’m sharing two of my favorite pink nail polishes. Pink polishes are definitely one of my most owned in my collection. I think it’s because bright pink looks great on me, and it goes with almost everything. Even though I wear it quite often, there is no reason for me to hoard multiple bottles of the same color. Thus, it’s time to test out Milani Popping Pink and Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Fuchsia Flare together to see if it’s necessary to own both.

First up is Milani in the shade Popping Pink, a bright pink polish with peachy undertones. Popping Pink has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. It can be a bit streaky, but it evens out well. Popping Pink is a discontinued nail polish, so that always makes it difficult to declutter a polish. When I know I can never but it again, I always feel the need to keep it!

Next up is Fuchsia Flare from the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Collection. Fuchsia Flare is one of my most worn nail polishes for sure. The formula can be a bit streaky, but it is opaque in two coats and dries insanely quickly. In fact, I once applied this mere minutes before I had to meet a friend, and it didn’t smudge or ding once on my subway trip. Fuchsia Flare is my old faithful!

Here are the polishes side-by-side, with Popping Pink on my pinky and ring fingers and Fuchsia Flare on my middle and pointer fingers. It is very difficult to see any difference between the polishes in the photos, but in person Popping Pink is just slightly more peach-toned than Fuchsia Flare. Nonetheless, these polishes are nearly identical and there is no reason for me to own both! While I love both these polishes, I am going to declutter Popping Pink. I am sold by Fuchsia Flare’s quick dry formula!

All in all, I’m glad I tested out these polishes together to discover a near dupe for all of you! I know Popping Pink is discontinued, but you might still be able to find Fuchsia Flare at your local drugstore. Definitely let me know in the comments what your favorite bright pink nail polish is! I am always happy to learn your nail polish loves both here and on social media.

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

Easy July 4th Nail Art | My Independence Day Manicure

Posted on July 4, 2016June 7, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! It is Independence Day here in the United States, and I wanted to share with you the manicure I created to celebrate. I’ve always loved July 4th, and what a better way to wear the red, white, and blue than on your nails! I reached into my nail polish collection to create this really easy nail art look, which can be customized to fit your tastes and skill level. Let me share my Independence Day manicure with all of you!

What You Need // What I Used:

Red Nail Polish // KBShimmer in Chilly Papper [LINK]
Blue Nail Polish // Covergirl Outlast Stay Brilliant in Out of the Blue [LINK]
White Nail Polish // LVX Fantom [LINK]
Scotch Tape
Born Pretty Store Star Stamping Plate [LINK]
Stamp and Scraper Tool // Born Pretty Store Stamp Set [LINK]
Top Coat // Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Top Coat [LINK]

I began my manicure by painting all of my nails red with the exception of my ring finger, which I painted blue. I made sure to let this dry completely before continuing on with the nail art look. If you are in a rush, you can simply leave your manicure like this, or add some glitter on top to dress it up a bit! A white glitter over the blue accent nail would look great.

The final step was adding on some white stars using my stamping tools. I decided to block off part of my nail using Scotch tape, and left only the middle triangle open for the stamp. Make sure to choose a really pigmented white polish so that the stars will really stand out on your nail. Feel free to stamp over the whole nail, or just a portion like I did! Follow up with a glossy top coat once the stamp is dry, and your manicure is complete!

All in all, I am loving my July 4th nail art! It was really easy to create, but looks super festive. If you don’t own a stamping plate with stars, you can substitute nail stickers or simply a glitter polish. Of course, if you’re really fancy you can freehand some stars as well. Make the look your own with whatever you have in your collection! I hope you are having a fun and safe Independence Day! Please tag me on social media so I can see your festive nails!

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

Dare to Compare | Madam Glam So Nude vs Julep Lynn

Posted on July 1, 2016May 15, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! It’s been a little while since my last Dare to Compare post, and today I am moving onto the pink nail polishes in my collection. I began my declutter project with more pink polishes in my collection than anything else, so I’ve been really focusing on only keeping the pinks that I absolutely love. Today I’m comparing two pink nudes, one from Madam Glam and the other from Julep. While it was evident to me that these polishes are not exact duplicates, I still wanted to try them side-by-side. Let me share the results with you!

First up is So Nude from the brand Madam Glam. So Nude is a pale pink with peachy undertones, and a rich pink, silver, and gold shimmer that I just couldn’t seem to capture on camera. This polish has an okay formula, but I found it to be quite patchy upon application. So Nude’s formula has definitely changed over time, and not in a good way unfortunately. I do love the end result once I layer on three coats, as the shimmer is just gorgeous in person.

Next up is Julep Lynn, a peachy-pink polish with a metallic formula. Lynn has a good formula that is opaque in two coats, but you can see a lot of brush strokes due to the metallic nature of this polish. I do like Lynn, but my nail polish tastes just don’t extend to metallics much. I loved this polish a lot when I first got it, but my tastes have changed over the years.

Here is a look at the polishes side-by-side, with Madam Glam So Nude on my pinky and ring fingers, and Julep Lynn on my middle and pointer fingers. These polishes are definitely different shades, but they are quite similar. I’ve decided to declutter both of these polishes, just because I don’t find myself wearing them in the future. I do recommend Julep Lynn, it’s just not for me!

All in all, I’m glad I tried out these polishes together even though they aren’t as similar as I originally thought based on how they look in the bottle. I don’t have the best luck with lighter pinks, especially those with peachy undertones. Please let me know in the comments what your favorite polish in this color family is! I’m definitely going to keep an eye out for a good one.

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

Nail Bliss Nail Pop Appliqués Review | All Laced Up

Posted on June 27, 2016June 3, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I have a review of a nail art product from the brand Nail Bliss. This is a new-to-me brand sold exclusively at Sally Beauty Stores, and I was excited to receive the Nail Pop Appliqués in the style All Laced Up to review. I love trying out nail stickers because they make nail art really quick and easy. Plus, nail appliqués typically last longer than nail polish. Nail Pop Appliqués are also super fabulous and affordable, so I knew I had to test them out so I could share my thoughts with all of you!

Here is a look at the Nail Pop packaging. These appliqués are designed with accent nails in mind, so you only receive eight full size nail stickers. However, you do get a lot of smaller accents, which can be layered or worn alone. I was surprised that this bulky box only contained the sheet of appliqués you see here, and not a nail file, which is needed to apply the stickers and is included by many competitor brands. This packaging seemed a bit unnecessary, especially since there was a cardboard piece inside to puff out the box. I would rather a more environmentally friendly design for such a small sheet of stickers!

I began my manicure with a base of Color Club’s Mod in Manhattan. I decided I wanted to replicate the manicure on the Nail Pop box as much as possible, so an off-white shade was a great choice. I made sure to let my manicure dry completely before attempting to apply the appliqués.

The Nail Pop Appliqués work just like any other nail sticker. You choose the size that fits your nail best, smooth the sticker over the nail, and file off any excess. Then, make sure to seal the manicure with a top coat.

The first thing I noticed with the appliqués is that I had trouble finding the right size for my nails. Similar nail stickers often come with more stickers than you need so that you can find the perfect size for your nails. That is certainly not the case here. Not only are there not enough appliqués for a complete manicure, but the four sizes available didn’t fit my nails well. Similarly, the appliqués were difficult to apply because they are so sticky during application that you cannot reposition them at all. If you make a mistake, you have to work around it.

That being said, I did really like the final manicure result. The All Laced Up Set has some really fun patterns, and I like being able to create a skittle manicure with little effort.

Unfortunately, my manicure did not last long. Just a few hours after my manicure was dry, I noticed the nail appliqué begin to peel off my pointer finger. You can see the edge is completely off my nail in the above photo. The next morning when I woke up (about 17 total hours later), nearly all of the appliqués were peeling at the edges. This was so disappointing! I made sure to follow the application instructions on the stickers exactly, and sealed them with top coat. I think the main reason they were peeling is because they just didn’t fit my nail shape well. I will say that the smaller accents stayed put very easily, and I had trouble removing them.

All in all, I would recommend passing on the Nail Bliss Nail Pop Appliqués. Of course, these will work a bit differently on everyone, especially if the sizes included fit your nails better. However, I’m really disappointed my manicure didn’t even last a full day. I do think the small accents work very well, so if you are looking solely for those you might be interested in this set. You can shop the entire Nail Bliss line at your local Sally Beauty Supply store, or online HERE. Please let me know in the comments if you’ve tried any products from Nail Bliss. I would love to hear your experience!

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