nails – Page 6 – Adventures in Polishland

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Dare to Compare | Julep Eloise vs Color Club Baldwin Blues vs ncLA Malibu Beach Babe

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

Happy Friday! It’s time for another round of Dare to Compare where I test out similar nail polishes to see if they are duplicates of one another. I am still working through all the blue polishes in my collection, and I can’t believe I own three indigo blues. While it’s evident just by looking at the polishes they are not going to be exact dupes, I still wanted to test these out together. Let’s take a look at these indigo blues both individually and side-by-side!

First up is Eloise, what Julep calls a smoky indigo creme. Eloise has a good formula that is opaque in two coats. It can be a bit on the streaky side, but it evens out nicely when it dries. I really like how richly pigmented Eloise is. It’s such a fall staple!

Next up is Baldwin Blues from the brand Color Club. I received this mini bottle in a Birchbox a few years back, and really love the deep indigo shade. The formula on this polish is excellent! It can be worn in one coat, but I did apply two in the photos above to really achieve a glossy finish. I absolutely love Baldwin Blues!

Last but not least is ncLA Malibu Beach Babe. This polish is more of a teal than an indigo, and is thus lighter in pigmentation. Malibu Beach Babe has an okay formula. I find that it is quite messy during application due to its watery formula. It’s definitely my least favorite of the bunch, and the most expensive.

Here are the polishes side-by-side. From left to right are: Julep Eloise, Color Club Baldwin Blues, and ncLA Malibu Beach Babe. These polishes are all very similar, but none of them are dupes. My favorite of the bunch is definitely Baldwin Blues. It has the best formula of the three, and is also my favorite shade. Julep Eloise is also a good choice, but I don’t recommend Malibu Beach Babe. I will be destashing both of those to keep Baldwin Blues!

All in all, I was surprised to find three indigo polishes in my collection that are so similar! I wear this shade primarily in the fall months, so I’m glad I found the one perfect for me. You can purchase Baldwin Blues on Amazon HERE for a discounted price. As I’m writing this post it’s only $5.50! Definitely let me know in the comments if you have a favorite indigo shade. I would love your recommendation!

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

Adventures in Nail Vinyls Part 2 | Houndstooth Nail Art Fail

Posted on May 25, 2016May 2, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I have a nail art post to share with you, and as you can see by the title, it’s another fail. A few months back, I tried nail vinyls for the first time, and it did not go very well. You can read all about that HERE. I got the opportunity to review some more products from Born Pretty Store, so I decided I would give nail vinyls another try. Practice makes perfect, right?! Let me share with you what happened during round two of my nail vinyl adventures when I attempted a houndstooth manicure.

Born Pretty Store Houndstooth Nail Vinyls

First things first, here is a look at the sheet of nail vinyls. I got a houndstooth pattern, and this time around the vinyls are a thicker material and less of a thin sticker. This sheet retails for $3.99 at Born Pretty Store HERE.

I decided to do a traditional black and white houndstooth manicure, so I began with a white nail polish. I made sure to let it dry completely this time, since in my last attempt the polish wasn’t thoroughly dry. I actually painted my nails one day, and let it dry overnight before going ahead with the vinyls.

Here is my result after applying the vinyls. As you can see, it still didn’t work out for me! I made sure to press down firmly on the vinyls, but I found that these did not stick well on my nails. That’s why I have a lot of big black splotches, and why the pattern isn’t very clear. It really is a bummer!

I did practice with the vinyls on my seldom seen on the blog right hand, and I did get a much better result. However, it still doesn’t look good enough for a manicure. I think I’m going to need to keep experimenting with these vinyls if I really want to get a good result.

That brings us to the end of adventures in nail vinyls part two! I know it might seem silly to share these nail art fails with you, but I think it’s important that I share my honest results whenever I review products for the blog. I see amazing nail art from other bloggers all the time, and I absolutely love looking at their masterpieces. As you all may know, my nail art talent is severely lacking, but that doesn’t stop me from trying. If you have trouble with nail art, you’re not alone! We can keep practicing together! As always, if you make a purchase from Born Pretty Store, use the code FZL91 at checkout for an additional 10% off the price. Please let me know in the comments if you’ve tried nail vinyls and the results you’ve had!

The product in this post was 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 | Milani Blue Print vs Milani Blue Jay vs Essie Butler Please

Posted on May 23, 2016May 23, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I have another nail polish comparison post featuring three blue polishes. This post is pretty exciting for me, because it contains my all-time favorite nail polish, Essie Butler Please. I just drool over bright blue polishes, and that is reflected in my collection. Nonetheless, it’s time to pare down my blues to the best of the best. I noticed that Butler Please looks very similar to two of my Milani polishes, so I had to test them out side-by-side. Let’s take a look at each blue individually, and then compare the shades.

First up is Milani Color Statement in Blue Print. This is a bright blue polish that dries to a glossy finish. Blue Print has an excellent formula that is opaque in two coats. This polish is part of Milani’s permanent collection, and available at the drug store for a fabulous and affordable price. I highly recommend this polish if you’re looking for something really budget-friendly.

Next up is Milani in Blue Jay. This was a limited edition nail polish from the Fantastical Plumage collection and no longer available. Blue Jay has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats. I absolutely love this polish! In fact, I’m a big fan of that entire collection. I’ve held onto all the polishes, but unfortunately you cannot purchase them any longer. Nonetheless, I thought it would be helpful to include Blue Jay in this comparison if you do own it!

Last but not least is Essie Butler Please, my favorite polish! Butler Please has a unique formula that dries to a semi-matte finish. It applies rather smoothly, and it does take two coats to achieve opacity. There is just something about this polish that I am forever obsessing over, and I definitely compare other blue polishes to this one. The formula isn’t perfect, but the end result is worth it to me.

Here is a look at all three polishes side-by-side. From left to right are: Milani Color Statement Blue Print, Milani Blue Jay, and Essie Butler Please. It is clear that we don’t have any exact duplicates with any of these polishes, but they are very similar. Blue Jay is the deepest blue of the three for sure. Blue Print and Butler Please are nearly identical in shade, but of course vary in terms of finish. I’ve decided to destash Blue Print, because although I love it, I’m always going to reach for Butler Please over it. Plus, I know I’m keeping the other two, so one has to go.

All in all, while I didn’t find a dupe in this Dare to Compare, I was glad to test out these polishes together. If you are looking for the perfect blue, I highly recommend any of the polishes mentioned today. Essie Butler Please is available on Amazon HERE for $8.50, and check your local drugstore for Milani Blue Print. Please let me know in the comments what your favorite bright blue nail polish is, and if you prefer a glossy or matte finish.

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

Cherry Blossom Nail Art | Born Pretty Store Stamping Plate

Posted on May 20, 2016April 13, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I am excited to review a stamping plate from the online store Born Pretty Store. I absolutely love the fabulous and affordable nail art supplies that Born Pretty Store has to offer. I’ve had really good luck with the stamping plates I’ve tried in the past, so I was happy to receive a stunning floral design to review for all of you. I am loving the warm weather, and I decided to do a Cherry Blossom inspired nail art look using the stamping plate. Let me share the stamping plate and the nail art I created with you!

Here is the floral stamping plate I received. It is the brand Qgirl in the style number 057 and can be purchased HERE for just $2.99! This plate comes with four different floral designs. I decided to use the design in the upper left hand corner for the nail art look today. It reminds me of beautiful cherry blossoms! By the way, I kept the blue covering on the plate in the photo above so there would not be a reflection in the picture. I, of course, removed that cover before using the plate!

I first began my manicure with a base of Zoya Cala. I wanted to have a nice neutral base, but I thought white would be a bit too harsh for the look I’m trying to achieve. I applied two coats of Cala, which is a nice light beige, and let that dry completely before beginning the stamping process.

I then used my Born Pretty Store Stamper [buy HERE] to add on the floral design. I used Milani Color Statement in Corrupted Coral as a stamping polish, and it worked really well. I did find that the stamp design didn’t transfer completely onto the nail, but the end result is just gorgeous. I love the colors in this nail art design, and I think they are subtle enough for daily wear. I also followed up my manicure with a glossy top coat once the stamp dried so as to not smear the nail art.

All in all, I’m loving the Cherry Blossom Nail Art I created using a stamping plate from Born Pretty Store! I have to say I’ve really gotten the hang of stamping. This is an area where practice does make perfect, so if you’re new to stamping don’t give up when it’s difficult at first! As always, you can shop at Born Pretty Store and get 10% off your purchase with my coupon code FZL91 at checkout. I’d love to know in the comments if you use stamping plates, and where you purchase them!

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

Dare to Compare | Covergirl Out of the Blue vs Priti NYC Canterbury Bells

Posted on May 18, 2016April 13, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I am continuing my nail polish comparison series with a look at two true blue polishes. Sometimes polishes look exactly the same in the bottle, but then end up being different once applied to the nails. I find that really interesting, and that is the case with the polishes I’m trying out today! This is my most challenging Dare to Compare yet, because I love both Covergirl Out of the Blue and Priti NYC Canterbury Bells. Let me share individual reviews of these polishes with you, and then share a side-by-side look.

First up is Out of the Blue from the Covergirl Outlast Stay Brilliant nail polish line. Out of the Blue is an amazing nail polish! The formula is excellent, and a one-coat formula. I did apply two coats in the photos above out of habit, but if you’re in a rush one coat will definitely suffice. I love that Out of the Blue is super fabulous and affordable. Covergirl polishes retail for around $5.49, plus you can shop during sales and use coupons for added savings!

Next up is Canterbury Bells from the boutique brand Priti NYC. Canterbury Bells also has an excellent formula, but two coats are definitely required with this one. I love how richly pigmented this polish is. There is just something about a true blue polish that I obsess over all the time. The only drawback with this polish for me is the $15 price tag, but you are supporting a small company that creates vegan nail polish right here in the USA!

Here is a look at Out of the Blue and Canterbury Bells side-by-side. I have Out of the Blue on my pinky and ring fingers and Canterbury Bells on my middle and pointer fingers. It is clear that these polishes are not exactly the same. Canterbury Bells is a bit darker than Out of the Blue. Of course, they are extremely similar, and there really isn’t a reason for me to own both of these polishes. As I type this post I am still deciding which polish to keep. I love them both for different reasons,but I think I’m going to hang onto Out of the Blue. That one coat formula is just calling out to me!

All in all, I’m glad I tested out these polishes side-by-side. I love both of these polishes and definitely recommend them to all of you. If you would like to splurge on a higher end polish, Canterbury Bells is a great one, and can be purchased online HERE. If you’re looking for a budget friendly polish, Out of the Blue is perfect for you! Let me know in the comments what your favorite true blue polish is, as I would love to know!

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 | Sally Hansen Blue Me Away vs Milani Water Front vs Sally Hansen Dive Bar

Posted on May 16, 2016May 10, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I have another nail polish comparison post, this time looking at three different polishes. As I mentioned in my last Dare to Compare, I own a ton of blue polishes, and many of them are similar in color. I had to laugh when I found three polishes in a light blue shade, all from the drugstore. I knew I had to see if these polishes are dupes, so let me share them with you!

First up is Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear in Blue Me Away!, a light blue creme polish. Blue Me Away! is one of the oldest polishes in my collection, but the formula is still excellent. I applied two coats to achieve opacity, and the polish still applied smoothly to my nails. Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear is one of my all-time favorite lines of nail polish, as it is super fabulous and affordable. Blue Me Away! is one I’ve gotten a lot of use out of over the years.

Next up is Milani Color Statement in Water Front, another blue creme polish. Water Front has a good formula, but it is a bit on the watery side so I found it a little messy during application. This is still a great choice of polish, though, so if you see it at the drugstore I do recommend it. Just be prepared to clean up the cuticles a bit!

Last but not least is Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Dive Bar. I’ve found that a lot of the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel polishes have a match in one of the less expensive Xtreme Wear polishes. Dive Bar has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. I absolutely love this polish! The Miracle Gel line comes with a large flat brush that makes application super easy, which I always appreciate.

Here is a look at all of the polishes side-by-side. From left to right are: Blue Me Away!, Water Front, and Dive Bar. Blue Me Away! is definitely the most pigmented of the three polishes, but Water Front and Dive Bar look exactly the same to me. I knew based on my swatches that I would destash Water Front, since it does have that watery formula and is a dupe of Dive Bar. I’ve decided to keep the other two polishes, since they are slightly different, and because Blue Me Away! is so used that I really can’t give it to anyone else.

All in all, I’m glad I tested all three of these polishes together. It’s always fun to find a dupe! Each of these polishes is worth purchasing, but my favorite is definitely Blue Me Away! due to its price and quality. You can find it at your local drugstore or online HERE for under $3.00. Definitely let me know in the comments what your favorite light blue nail polish is. I would love to hear your thoughts!

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

Dare to Compare | Julep Claire vs Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Rhythm & Blue

Posted on May 11, 2016April 12, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! It’s time for another nail polish comparison post, and today I’m starting with the blue polishes in my collection. Blue is one of my most-owned nail polish shades, and I have a lot of comparisons to share with you. I’m kicking things off with one of my oldest nail polishes paired up against a newer shade. I got Julep Claire in one of my first Julep Maven boxes back in 2012. I’ve used this polish a lot over the years, so I’m excited to see if it compares with a limited edition from Sally Hansen Miracle Gel called Rhythm & Blue. Let me show you these polishes individually and then side-by-side!

First up is Julep Claire, a sky blue creme polish. Claire has a great formula that applies smoothly and is opaque in two coats. When I first subscribed to Julep, I absolutely loved the polishes. Once Julep changed the brush and polish formula, the quality definitely went downhill. However, my older polishes like Claire have held up well over the years. This is such a beautiful polish!

Next up is Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Rhythm & Blue. This is also a light blue creme polish that has a good formula and is opaque in two coats. I received Rhythm & Blue for review this past fall, so it’s definitely a newer polish. This was part of a limited edition collection, though, so it can’t be purchased again.

Here is a look at Claire and Rhythm & Blue side-by-side. I’m wearing Claire on my pinky and ring fingers and Rhythm & Blue on my middle and pointer fingers. It is clear that these polishes are not exact duplicates, but the shade is very, very similar. I would say that Rhythm & Blue contains a bit more blue pigmentation than Claire does. There is definitely no reason to own both of these polishes in my collection, so I’ve decided to destash Claire simply because the bottle is already half empty, and I prefer a richer pigmentation.

All in all, I’m glad I decided to test out these polishes side-by-side. I own so many light blues that these are just a couple of the bunch. Make sure to stay tuned to Adventures in Polishland for more nail polish comparisons as I continue to clean out my nail polish stash. Definitely let me know in the comments what your favorite sky blue nail polish is! I recommend both of the polishes shown here, and you can pick up Julep Claire online HERE.

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 | Wet ‘n Wild Fergie Miami Spirit vs Julep Lena

Posted on May 6, 2016April 6, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today’s Dare to Compare post is one featuring two nail polishes that I’ve absolutely loved for years. I never thought that they would be so similar until I held the bottles next to each other! Wet ‘n Wild Fergie Miami Spirit and Julep Lena are both teal polishes, and I knew they weren’t exact duplicates because one of these dries to a matte finish while the other does not. Nonetheless, I wanted to swatch them side-by-side to see if it was really necessary to keep both in my collection. Let me review each polish for you, and then share the comparison results!

First up is Wet ‘n Wild Fergie in Miami Spirit. This is a teal polish with teal and silver shimmer that dries to a matte finish. I applied two coats to achieve opacity, and really like the result. This line of polishes comes with a wide, flat brush that I enjoy using. Miami Spirit is a fun and affordable polish!

Next up is Julep Lena, a teal polish with gold and green shimmer that dries to a glossy finish. Lena has an excellent formula that is opaque in two coats. I absolutely love this polish, and I even did a full wear test on the blog HERE a few years back. I’m so glad I rediscovered Lena, because I forgot how great is.

Here is a side-by-side look at Miami Spirit and Lena. I am wearing Miami Spirit on my pinky and ring fingers, and Lena on my middle and pointer fingers. I did apply a glossy top coat over Miami Spirit so I could really see how these polishes compare. The teal shade is almost identical, but I find that in person Miami Spirit has a much stronger shimmer effect than Lena. I prefer creme polishes, and so I’ve decided to keep Lena in my nail polish collection and destash Miami Spirit.

All in all, I’m so glad I tested out these polishes side-by-side, because I might not have discovered how similar they are otherwise. I highly recommend both of these polishes, and have worn them both many times over the years. There is just no reason for me to keep both of them, especially as I’m paring down my collection. I would love to know in the comments what your favorite teal polish is, or if you’ve tried either of these!

Dare to Compare | Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Wine Stock vs Madam Glam High Standards

Posted on May 4, 2016March 29, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! I’m excited to share another nail polish comparison post with all of you. I didn’t find too many duplicate shades in my red stash, seeing as I don’t wear red nail polish often. However, I definitely am a fan of the oxblood trend that seems to take place every fall. Deep red nails are easy to pull off and look good on just about everyone! I own two oxblood shades, one from Sally Hansen and the other from Madam Glam, that look nearly identical in the bottle. I just had to test these out side-by-side to see if they are exact dupes! Let’s get swatching!

First up is Wine Stock from the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel line. Wine Stock has a great formula, but it is on the sheer side so I layered three coats for full opacity. I love the wide and flat brush that comes with all Miracle Gel polishes. It makes application a breeze once you get used to a bigger brush. Wine Stock is a stunning polish, and one that is a staple in my fall nail polish wardrobe.

Next up is Madam Glam High Standards, which is another oxblood creme polish. High Standards has a good formula, but it is a bit on the goopy side. I applied two coats for full opacity, and it does dry to a beautiful finish. High Standards is a bit messier to work with than Wine Stock, but it looks just as gorgeous.

Here is a look at Wine Stock and High Standards side-by-side. I’m wearing Wine Stock on my pinky and ring fingers, and High Standards on my middle and pointer fingers. I cannot see any difference whatsoever between these two polishes. I can definitely say these are dupes! Personally I prefer Wine Stock by Sally Hansen because of the brush and smooth formula. High Standards is still an excellent polish, but I will be destashing it because of the goopy formula. Thankfully, Wine Stock is part of Sally Hansen’s permanent line, and available for purchase for under $10 at your local drugstore or online HERE. High Standards is currently out of stock on Madam Glam’s website.

All in all, I’m so glad to have found another dupe in my collection. I’m so excited to wear Wine Stock more in the fall months, as it truly is a perfect oxblood shade. I’m also excited that I can recommend it as the more affordable and available option. The Sally Hansen Miracle Gel line is a bit more expensive than most drugstore nail polishes, but keep an eye out for sales and coupons. There is almost always a way to save! Definitely let me know your favorite oxblood nail polish in the comments!

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

Dare to Compare | Milani Color Statement Red Label vs KBShimmer Chilly Pepper

Posted on May 2, 2016March 26, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I have a nail polish comparison for you, and I’m excited to share the results. I’ve never been a big fan of the classic red nail polish, but every once in a while I find a shade of red that does work with my fair skin tone. In late 2015 I received KBShimmer’s Chilly Pepper for review and immediately knew this was a red made for me. As it turns out, I also own Milani Color Statement in Red Label, a shade that looks nearly identical to Chilly Pepper in the bottle. Now, I knew I would keep Chilly Pepper because it is one of my most used nail polishes, but I wanted to see if these polishes were dupes. Let me share the results with you!

First up is Milani Color Statement Red Label. This is a true red nail polish with a creme formula. Red Label has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. My only issue with the formula is that it is just a touch watery, but that is me nitpicking this polish. Red Label is an amazing red, and it’s a fabulous and affordable polish.

KBShimmer Chilly Pepper is also a bright red creme polish, but it does feel more like a ‘crelly,’ or creme and jelly formula. Chilly Pepper has a perfect formula. It applies with ease, looks beautiful in two opaque coats, and dries to a glossy finish with no top coat needed. I’ve used this polish so much since I received it, and you can tell by the messy state of the bottle. This is one loved polish!

Here is a look at Red Label and Chilly Pepper side-by-side. Red Label is on my pinky and ring fingers with Chilly Pepper on my middle and pointer fingers. Can you tell a difference between the two? It is very, very slight, but Red Label is a tad brighter. However, there is no reason for me to own both of these polishes. I knew I’d be keeping Chilly Pepper, so I’m saying goodbye to Red Label.

All in all, I’m glad I swatched these side-by-side so I could alert you to this dupe! I know KBShimmer is a higher end brand, and that Milani is more accessible for many of you at your local drugstore. If you can get your hands on Chilly Pepper, I highly recommend picking it up on Amazon HERE. That being said, I also recommend Red Label. It’s all up to how much you want to spend! Definitely let me know in the comments what your favorite red nail polish is. I would love to know!

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