ncla – 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.

Manicure Monday | ncLA As If + Miss Sunset Strip

Posted on May 11, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! I’m all caught up with the Alphabet Challenge now, and I’m moving on to the letter N. I really had to dig in my collection to find an N brand, but then I found two purple polishes from ncLA that I thought would go perfectly together. ncLA is a boutique brand that makes 5-free polishes in the USA. I’ve never purchased directly from ncLA’s website, but over the years I’ve received a few bottles in subscription boxes. It’s been quite a while since I’ve put them to use!

I began today’s manicure with a base of As If, a pastel purple polish with a creme formula. As If is a bit on the streaky side, but because I was using it in a glitter manicure, it worked out just fine in two coats. If I was wearing it alone, I would layer on three very thin coats. To top of As If, I added one coat of Miss Sunset Strip, a clear base filled purple and silver hexagonal glitters. I love the formula of Miss Sunset Strip, as tons of glitters come out with one coat, and it applies really smoothly. These polishes go so well together!

All in all, I’m glad I reached for these ncLA polishes in my collection. I would not buy them regularly, as they retail for $16 each, but if you are looking for a splurge polish I think this is such a fun brand. If you sign up for the brand’s email list, you’ll be sent a 15% off coupon, so definitely snag that extra savings. You can shop online directly from ncLA HERE.

Have you tried ncLA? Let me know in the comments!

What’s Under There? Part Three

Posted on August 22, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! It’s time for another edition of What’s Under There?! In this series, I share with you polishes that I layered under glitters, or used in nail art. Today I’ll be showcasing the polishes that served as the bases in my Kawaii Nail Lacquer post. You can see that review HERE if you missed it. Let me show you what was under those glitters!

First up is L’Oreal Breaking Curfew, a super dark, plum jelly polish. Breaking Curfew is definitely outside of my comfort zone! I got it at Rite Aid a few months ago because I wanted to try something new. Unfortunately, the formula is a bit difficult to work with, but three coats is a full coverage, opaque look. I do love the color, and I think it’s perfect for fall. I might have to try this as a jelly sandwich at some point!

Next up is OPI Skull & Glossbones from the Pirates of the Caribbean Collection! Skull & Glossbones is a gorgeous off-white polish with a hint of green. It is the perfect neutral shade, and applies really nicely. I need two coats to achieve opacity. I really love how Skull & Glossbones is understated and classy at the same time. Even though it is from a retired collection, it is still available on Amazon!

ncLA’s Malibu Beach Babe is up next. This is a deep teal creme polish that just screams “fall” when I put it on despite its summery name. Malibu Beach Babe has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. I’ve worn it twice now, and I’m sure I’ll continue to get even more use out of it. ncLA polish retails for $16, but it is worth the splurge for this one!

Last but not least is Julep Brandt, an off-black creme polish. Brandt is one of my favorite dark polishes of all time. It has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats, and is edgy without being a harsh true black. Brandt is great on its own, but I’ve also used it for nail art. This is just an all-around fabulous polish!

All in all, I hope you liked finding out more about these polishes! Make sure to stay tuned for more What’s Under There? posts in the future! Also, don’t forget to enter my Back to School Giveaway HERE. Leave me a comment telling me your favorite polish in this post!

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

Don’t Be Clueless: Everything You Need to Know About ncLA’s As If!

Posted on July 29, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I have a quick review of the ncLA nail polish I received in my July PopSugar MustHave Box (see that review HERE). I’ve tried a few ncLA polishes before, and I was so excited to receive another in a subscription box. Let me show you As If!

As If! is a pastel purple, or what ncLA calls a lavender creme. This polish is opaque in two coats, but due to the formula I needed three. Unfortunately As If! is a bit difficult to work with — a bit streaky and patchy. I suggest using thin coats to ensure you get a smooth finish. Despite the application, I’m quite pleased with the finished result of As If! I’m loving the color, and this polish has a high gloss finish without a top coat. There are definitely some pros and cons to this polish!

All in all, I’m not sure that ncLA’s As If! is worth the retail price of $16, but I’m not disappointed that I got it in my PopSugar MustHave Box. For now, I’ll enjoy this gorgeous color on my nails, but be sure to let me know what you think! Have you tried ncLA polishes? How did you like them? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Subscription Sunday | July PopSugar MustHave Box

Posted on July 22, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I have my Subscription Sunday post that was due to go up yesterday — better late than never, right?! I also want to start this post by giving a big thank you to my new blog followers. I am already up to 72 new followers! Don’t forget, if I get to 500 by the end of July, I will have a huge giveaway. The first prizes are listed on my Facebook page HERE if you’d like a sneak peek. Be sure to enter your email on the right to follow, and encourage your friends to do the same! Now, onto my July PopSugar MustHave Box!

PopSugar MustHave is a monthly subscription service that sends a box of goodies to your door for $35 each month. While this is the most expensive subscription service I receive, it is also my favorite! PopSugar is a lifestyle box, meaning you can get all sorts of items. July’s box is Summer themed, and has everything you need to enjoy the warm months.

First up are my Must Have Food and Must Have Home items! Let me tell you a bit more about these items. I’ll link to where you can purchase them, and list the retail price as well!

All Natural Crunchy Cookie Chips in Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip – $5.99 – These cookie chips were oh so yummy! While I typically love chewy cookies, these cookie chips were a delicious new treat. I love that they are all natural, taking the guilt out of a sweet snack. I would definitely repurchase these!
Tovolo King Cube Ice Tray – $8.50 – This unique ice cube tray makes six, two-inch cubes. While it is geared towards classic cocktails, this can be used for all kinds of frozen treats in the summer. Whether you make popsicles, ice coffee cubes, or even regular ice for your to-go cups, this tray is sure to come in handy. I can’t wait to give it a try! Bonus points: it is dishwasher safe and BPA free!
Mighty Leaf Iced Tea in Calypso Mango – $25.00 – Iced tea is one of my favorite drinks, so I was thrilled to get some. This box is home to four giant tea bags, each making a half gallon of iced tea. I haven’t tried the tea yet, but the bags smell amazing. I’m sure this will be sweet and refreshing!

Up next are my Must Have Beauty and Must Have Fashion items!

ncLA Nail Polish in As If! – $16.00 – I always love receiving nail polish in my subscription boxes, especially high end brands that I can’t usually afford to buy. ncLA polish is great quality, and this light purple shade is gorgeous. I’ll be sure to have a review on the blog soon!
Supergoop! SPF 30 Anti-Aging City Sunscreen Serum – $42.00 – Sunscreen is definitely needed in the summer! I never know which one to grab at the drugstore, so this one from Supergoop sounds great to me. It has that typical sunscreen scent, but absorbs quickly into the skin. No grease here! I’m loving it!
BaubleBar Rose Double Curb Chain – $28.00 – I love BaubleBar jewelry, and rose gold is my favorite metal. This necklace is stunning, and amazing quality. It is sold out right now online, but I highly recommend BaubleBar. The jewelry is gorgeous, and I’m so happy to have received this piece in my box.

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $125.49

Wow! What an amazing retail value for this month’s box! The best part is, I plan on using each and every item in this box. The necklace is my favorite, but it’s always great to get practical items like the sunscreen. In the five months that I’ve been a PopSugar MustHave member, I was only disappointed once, and that was back in April. Ever since then, my boxes have been unbelievable! I highly recommend this box. You can join HERE. Get $5 off your first box with code REFER5 at checkout!

Let me know what you think of PopSugar MustHave in the comments, and let me know what your favorite subscription programs are.

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. Subscription box purchased by me. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

A Jelly Sandwich with ncLA Hello, I Love You! & Zoya Electra

Posted on November 14, 2012August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

When I first started checking out other nail polish blogs, I had no idea what a jelly sandwich manicure was! Today I will show you the first jelly sandwich I have ever done, and explain how to get such a fun and unique look! I used two polishes from previous posts so you can see this mani upgrade in action. See ncLA Hello, I Love You! HERE and Zoya Electra HERE.

So, what is a jelly sandwich? It is simply combining two polishes in oreo cookie fashion. You will need one jelly finish nail polish. I used ncLA Hello, I Love You! for that. A jelly polish is one that is very sheer. Basically, think of a jelly polish as one that is a clear base with some added pigment. If you aren’t sure whether a polish has a jelly finish or not, try experimenting. If a polish is opaque in two coats, it is not a jelly. However, if takes three or more coats to build opacity, it will probably be great for layering!

To begin your jelly sandwich, paint 2-3 coats of your jelly polish and let that dry. Then, grab your second polish. Typically jelly sandwiches use a glitter polish as the middle layer because the glitter is easy to see through the sheerness of the jelly. I chose Zoya Electra, a holographic bar glitter, as my “middle” polish. I layered on one coat of Electra, but depending on the glitter you are using you may want to do two coats. It is more of a personal preference. Once the glitter has dried, finish up with one more coat of your jelly polish. You will have a really fun, layered look!

What do you think of my jelly sandwich manicure? I like it, especially for a first try! Plus, a jelly sandwich is a great way to upgrade a current manicure. Simply add the glitter and a final coat of the jelly, and you have a whole new look! I can’t wait to try this out again soon.

OpenSky: A Place for Discount Polish & More!

Posted on November 8, 2012August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

A few weeks back, I heard about a new shopping website called OpenSky and decided to see if they had some nail polish for sale. Luckily, I found some normally high-priced polishes at discounted prices and just had to snag them up! Today I will show you a polish from ncLA that I got. Stay tuned for future posts about the other polishes!

This gorgeous polish is Hello, I Love You! from ncLA. It is a jelly polish in what ncLA calls a berry color. I would say it is somewhere between magenta and maroon. It is a gorgeous color for fall! This polish is really pretty, but the formula was a bit off. It was a little streaky, so I had to apply three coats. It is also really sheer, as with all jelly polishes, and took a really long time to dry. I did wake up with linen marks on my nails even though I applied the polish hours before I went to bed. I tweeted about my problem with the formula, and ncLA even replied saying that this was one of their sheerest polishes. Even though the formula was not the best, I really love the color of Hello, I Love You! Because it is so pretty I want to use it over and over!

The best part is this polish normally retails for $16, but I scored this bottle for just over $3 after using my credits for OpenSky! When you sign up for the website, you get $25 in credit. Plus, when you sign up through Facebook you get an additional $10 in credit — that’s $35 just for signing up! There is a catch, though. In order to use credits on OpenSky you have to spend a minimum of $50. Still, that’s $35 in free credits to use! OpenSky also rewards its users for being social. Whenever a friend buys something, you get a $5 credit, too. It’s a great website to score deals on all sorts of merchandise. You can join by clicking HERE.

Have you tried ncLA nail polish? What do you think of Hello, I Love You!?

Monthly Nail Polish Haul: July Edition

Posted on August 1, 2012August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Adventures in Polishland is dedicated to fabulous and affordable nails. At the end of each month, I show you the polishes I purchased, and the good deals I got on them. I rarely pay full price for anything, and that includes nail polish. Although I did go a bit overboard in July (33 new bottles!), I only paid a fraction of the retail value for all my new polishes. Get ready to see this awesome haul!

Polishes I bought at retail stores in person, left to right:

Anise in Miss Inspector and Bronzed Babe. You can purchase Anise polishes at DSW stores for $6 each. Typically they are on sale for buy one get one half off, so these polishes came to $9. I had some money left on a gift card, so I only paid $6.96 for these two polishes! You can read my review of these two colors HERE.
China Glaze in Hook and Line and Mahogany Magic from the Hunger Games Collection. I bought these two polishes at my local Sally Beauty Supply store on clearance. I paid a total of $6.58 for both, but they retailed at $8.99 a piece when they came out! Sometimes patience is the key to getting the colors you want.
Elle in Surfer Babe. I scored this beautiful blue at Kohls for FREE when my mom let me use her Kohls Cash. Usually Elle retails for $10. If you go to Kohls, keep an eye out for coupons near the display. When I went there were $1 off coupons available! See my post highlighting this polish HERE.
NYC in High Lime Green. I bought this polish at CVS and used a coupon for $0.50 cents off any NYC purchase of $1.79. Lucky for me this polish was exactly $1.79, so I only paid $1.29 for it! I found this coupon on a store display also, so be sure to keep an eye out for those at CVS, too.

Polishes I bought through Blog Sales or Swap Groups, left to right:

I purchased Deborah Lippmann in Pearly Queen and Oh! You Pretty Things from Diana over at Polish Monster. As a special surprise, she threw in Miami Spirit from the new Wet ‘n Wild Fergie Collection! I paid a total of $15 including shipping for all three of these polishes. What a bargain!
I purchased all three Jesse’s Girl polishes (in Center Stage, Cupcake Frosting, and Confetti) from a special Blog Sale. A few months ago, a member of the nail blogging community passed away. As a benefit to support her family, her daughter was selling her polishes. I sent her a total of $22 including shipping, and asked her to throw in a few mini polishes that hadn’t been sold yet with the three Jesse’s Girls. I was completely surprised when I got the OPI Spiderman mini collection! From left to right is Into the Night, Number One Nemesis, Just Spotted the Lizard, and Your Web or Mine? Not only did I save a few dollars off the retail price, but I helped a family in need. See my post featuring Your Web or Mine? HERE.
The mini on the far right is Sephora by OPI in I Don’t Bite. I purchased it from a Swap Group on Facebook. A mini from this brand typically retails at about $5, but I paid only $3 including shipping.

Polishes I bought on Copious using credits first, left to right:

e.l.f. in Royal Purple. I paid only $0.54 for this gorgeous polish that retails at $2. See my blog post featuring it HERE.
Matte.n.a in Film Noir. My first matte polish! I got it for just $0.01 with my credits, though they typically sell for $2.25.
piCture pOlish in Citrus. I got this beautiful orange for a mere $0.13 even though they retail at $9.50. I’ve heard great things about this brand and I can’t wait to use it.
Pretty & Polished in Forest Phire. My first indie purchase, and I only spent $0.30! Minis from this brand usually sell for $5.25, so I got a great deal.

Polishes I bought online, left to right:

Julep in Yumi, Lynn, America, and Alfre. I got all of these polishes for FREE! The first three were in my July Julep Maven Box, which I had a free credit for. In that box I received a voucher for another free polish, and I picked Alfre! I love the Julep Maven program. Did you know that you can get your first box for one penny with the promo code COLOR2012? Join HERE and read about my July box HERE.
Orly in Rock Solid. I purchased my first Orly during a sale on HauteLook. I had credits to use, so I only ended up spending $0.45! HauteLook has all sorts of sales, but there is often nail polish from all different brands. Join the site for free HERE.
Zoya in Rea and America. I originally purchased Zoya’s Trixie to get America free during the Fourth of July sale, but when it arrived I realized it was a dupe of a polish I already had. Lucky for me I was able to swap Trixie for Rea in a Swap Group! I did have to spend a little extra for the shipping, but I ended up with both of these Zoyas for just $9.95 instead of the full $16. You can purchase Zoya polish HERE and read my entry about America HERE.

Whew! Did you make it through all that with me? If so, here is the most exciting part! While I did spend $66.21 this month, if I did not use credits, buy sale items, and coupon, the retail value of all these items would be $205.24! That’s right– I saved $139.03! How is that for fabulous and affordable?! For all of these 28 bottles listed above, on average I paid $2.36 per polish. Woo-hoo!

Before I close out this post, I wanted to add in some “bonus” polishes that I purchased through Little Black Bag. I can’t really estimate how much I saved on these polishes, since they came along with other items in a monthly subscription, but I definitely got a good deal on them. Retail value of these five polishes is $77. Left to right, the colors are: ncLA in Hollywood Hills Hot Number & Miss Sunset Strip, and Michael Marcus in Brilliant Sand, Fuchsia Have a Good Time, and Paradise Pink. You can join Little Black Bag HERE.

Please note that this post does not include polishes I received as a gift, as a giveaway win, or as a product to review for my blog. My purpose is to show you how to get great savings on nail polish.

Little Black Bag: Take Two

Posted on July 19, 2012August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Remember a few weeks back when I posted about my first Little Black Bag? Well, I decided to splurge on one more, and boy have I learned some tricks! Little Black Bag is another monthly subscription that costs $50 per month. You pick the first item (handbag, jewelry, makeup, etc), and then are given 3-4 more items from the stylists. Then, you have one week to trade your items with other LBB members. The goal is to get lots of items at a high value. Last time, I got a purse and two ncLA nail polishes. This month, with very careful trading, I not only got a purse, but I got three nail polishes and nail wraps! Let me show you everything I got.

Look at all that great stuff! The handbag is the real highlight. It is a Nica Sinead Satchel bag that retails at $98. This bag is even more gorgeous in real life than it was online. It has a snap closure, an adjustable strap, and a gorgeous floral pattern on the front. Inside, it has lots of pockets & zippered compartments. I can’t wait to use it! I think I may make this my everyday handbag in place of my three-year-old Coach that I’ve had a hard time parting with. With this handbag alone I have already made a great deal, spending only $50 for this $98 purse.

Next, I got a set of nail wraps from ncLA that retail at $16. I got the pattern Geri. I’ve never tried any nail stickers or wraps before, so I can’t wait to see how these work! According to ncLA, all you need is clear nail polish, so one day I’ll be blogging about these. Have any of you tried them yet?

Finally, I got three Michael Marcus nail polishes, which are worth $15 each! From left to right, the colors are Brilliant Sand, Fuchsia Have a Good Time, and Paradise Pink. One thing I love just by looking at these polishes is the bottle’s shape! It’s a fun, geometric look. I’ve never seen that on any other polish before. I’m very excited to try these out as well! The colors are beautiful. Have you tried Michael Marcus out before?

You may have noticed in the photo of all my goodies together that there is one more item pictured. For the month of July, LBB provided its users with a bonus sample of Redken hair products. This bonus was the secret to my success this month! I traded my sample multiple times to get nail polish. I guess some people would prefer to have hair product versus a polish (silly, I know!). In the end, I did keep one Redken sample– anti frizz milk. I look forward to using this, too!

All in all, the value of my entire LBB is $159– over $100 in savings! If you are willing to spend the $50 up front to purchase LBB each month, then you are definitely getting a good deal. Because I do not have room for LBB in my budget, I am not going to be purchasing any more for a while. The great thing about this website is that I can choose to skip any month that I don’t wish to purchase. Perhaps one day I will splurge on this again!

If you are not yet a Little Black Bag member, please click HERE to join.

My First Little Black Bag!

Posted on July 2, 2012August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Have you heard of this super fun website called Little Black Bag? It’s another monthly subscription that is really interactive. You pay $49.95 (yes, a bit expensive, but fun to splurge!) and pick one item of your choice. Then, stylists pick 3-4 more items for you based on your answers to a style quiz. Don’t like the items you receive? You have an entire week to trade your items with other Little Black Bag (LBB) users! What kind of items, you ask? There are handbags, jewelry pieces, cosmetics, and more. I, of course, wanted some fancy nail polish! After lots of trading (and a few mistakes) here is what I ended up with.

All together I got a Nila Anthony Ruffle Messenger Bag valued at $75, and two NCLA polishes valued at $16 each! That’s about $57 in savings. Not bad for my first attempt at LBB, but like I said, I messed up a little bit. I traded a handbag that I didn’t like for an item worth half its price, and lost out on that value. Now I know how the trading works, though! I’m hoping in my next LBB I’ll get even more goodies for my $50. I’d love to try out some of the NCLA nail wrap strips, and I’d love some jewelry next time. If you’d like to join LBB, please sign up HERE. I know this is a bit expensive, but you can skip any month if you don’t have room in your budget. I’m sure you’ll love this website as much as I do.

Before I end this post, here’s a closer look at my new polishes. They’re stunning! I can’t wait to try them out soon.