neon – Adventures in Polishland

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Zoya Nail Polish Candy | April Color of the Month

Posted on April 17, 2024April 17, 2024 by Adventures in Polishland

I was a bit surprised when Zoya Nail Polish announced that its April Color of the Month is a pink cream nail polish called Candy. For the last several months, these limited edition shades have been glittery and quite unique. I was a little disappointed to see a standard pink cream, especially when the Bloom Collection for Spring 2024 contains three pink-toned polishes in a cream formula. Nonetheless, I do love pink nail polishes, so I reached for Candy as soon as it arrived in the mail.

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

Candy is a vibrant pink cream nail polish that uses both neon and pastel pigments. The formula is a little tricky to apply. I recommend thick coats, because if the layer of polish on your nail is too thin, the brush will create a plethora of streaks. Candy is opaque in two coats, and dries to a semi-matte finish. I applied the Zoya Naked Ultra Glossy Seal Top Coat for a shiny finish.

I absolutely love how bright Candy is on the nails. The formula really does balance a pastel shade with the pop of a neon. I like that Zoya adds white to the base so we no longer have to layer a white nail polish under neons! Unfortunately, I am really disappointed that my manicure began chipping after just two days of wear. I typically go 5-6 days before my nail polish chips, but every once in a while there will be a nail polish that just doesn’t last on me. Since I used the same top coat I usually do, I think Candy’s formula may be prone to chipping.

All in all, while I absolutely love the bright pink shade of Candy, I am a little sad that the Zoya Color of the Month for April is not more unique. I already own a lot of similar polishes in my collection, and since this one is tricky to apply and tends to chip quickly, I do not know that I can recommend Candy. That being said, if you would like to purchase this nail polish, it is only available through the month of April 2024. Use code CANDY at checkout to get free shipping, and 25% off your purchase.

Manicure Monday | China Glaze in Surreal Appeal

Posted on November 16, 2015November 10, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Manicure Monday! Today I have another polish to share with you that I swatched during my great destash project. It’s no secret that I love pink nail polish. In fact, it’s the color of polish that I have the biggest variety of in my collection. I decided it was time to pare down my pink polishes, so I carefully picked out a few that I knew I had dupes of, or whose formulas just weren’t that great. I put China Glaze in Surreal Appeal aside, and decided to swatch it. I’m so glad I did! Let me show you this beautiful polish!

Surreal Appeal is a neon pink polish that leans towards coral. The formula is excellent, applies smoothly, and is opaque in two coats. Surreal Appeal looks amazing with my skin tone, and I can’t believe I haven’t worn this more! I think it’s been about two years since I reached for this polish, but that’s due to the sheer volume of pinks I own. It got lost amongst all the other pretty bottles!

All in all, I am loving China Glaze in Surreal Appeal. Decluttering my nail polish collection is a slow process, and difficult for someone who is a collector and blogger. That being said, it’s refreshing to get rid of polishes that I’m not in love with, because now I can focus on the truly stunning ones like Surreal Appeal. You can purchase Surreal Appeal on Amazon HERE for around $6.00. I highly recommend you pick this one up for your stash!

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

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel | Limited Edition Poolside Paradise Collection

Posted on May 16, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I am so excited to share with you new shades from the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel line. To celebrate summer, Sally Hansen created the Poolside Paradise Collection that contains seven polishes that are bright and colorful. I got the opportunity to test out five of the polishes from this collection, and I can’t wait to show them to you! They are so fun and vibrant!

I first tried out the Miracle Gel line when it was released last fall. You can find my thoughts on two fall shades HERE. Back then, I didn’t have the best of luck with the Miracle Gel top coat. That being said, each of the polishes have great formulas when worn alone, so in this blog post I am showcasing each polish without the Miracle Gel top coat. Please let me know in the comments if you would like a true wear test on any of these shades – I’d be happy to do so!

First up is Pink-a-Colada, a light pink that Sally Hansen describes as cotton candy! Pink-a-Colada has a sheer formula, but it builds up easily. I’m wearing two coats here, and I’m loving the shiny finish! I have a lot of light pinks in my collection, but nothing quite like this. I’m really impressed with Pink-a-Colada!

Next up is Life’s a Peach, a red-orange shade that is super bright to the point I’d label it neon! I have to say, Sally Hansen does peach nail polish right across its nail polish lines. Life’s a Peach has an incredible formula that is opaque in two coats, and it is just stunning. I’ve never met a peach I didn’t like from Sally Hansen!

If you’re looking for a yellow, check out Morning, Sunshine! This is a true yellow polish with a hint of green pigmentation as well. I layered on three coats with Morning, Sunshine!, as I found it to be a bit on the streaky side. Yellow polishes are difficult to get just right, but I’m happy with the end result of Morning, Sunshine!

Next is Dive Bar, a beautiful blue polish. Dive Bar has a perfect formula that applies well and is opaque in two coats. I love my blue polishes, and Dive Bar is no exception. This cool color will look great on anyone no matter the skin tone!

Last but not least is Rum Punch, a bright pink polish. Rum Punch is definitely my favorite of the collection! It has a perfect formula that is opaque in two coats, and is just absolutely beautiful. I can see this being a staple in many nail polish collections, including my own!

All in all, I’m really loving the Poolside Paradise collection from Sally Hansen Miracle Gel. I’m so glad I got to test out these fun polishes for the summer and share them with you. I’d recommend any of the shades I’ve tried, but my top pick is definitely Rum Punch. You can find the limited edition Poolside Paradise collection at your local drugstore or department store for $9.99 each. What shades will you be getting?! 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.

Dare to Compare | Neon Yellow Nail Polish

Posted on August 27, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! After tackling the orange nail polish in my collection, I moved onto the yellows and decided which ones I should keep. It turns out I owned three polishes in the neon yellow shade, so I tested each one to see if I could get rid of any as part of The Great Polish Destash. Let me show you the three neon yellows I had, and which I decided to keep.

First up is Spoiled in Did I Dye It Too Blonde? This is the first neon yellow I’ve ever purchased, and is also the most affordable. Spoiled sells for just $1.99 retail price at CVS stores, and even goes on sale for $0.99! Did I Dye It Too Blonde? is a good polish, but very sheer. I’m wearing three coats in the photo above, and as you can see it is not opaque. I always wear a white base under a neon yellow to brighten the shade anyway, so a sheer formula isn’t a big factor in this round of Dare to Compare.

Next up is Milani Neon in Totally 80’s. I purchased this polish at the Street Fair Cosmetics booth here in NYC for just $1.00, but never wore it. I was happily surprised to find that Totally 80’s has a great formula, and decent coverage in two coats. This polish is actually retired now, so it would be difficult to find it in stores.

Last up is Julep in Nikki. I remember disliking Nikki when I first tested it out, but for some reason I liked it much better this time around! Nikki is definitely a more green-toned yellow, but the formula is great and nearly opaque in two coats. So far all of the polishes are seemingly great, so it’s going to come down to the side-by-side comparison!

Once I tested out all three polishes it was clear that each shade is a little bit different. From left to right, I’m wearing the Spoiled, the Milani, and the Julep. I first decided to keep Spoiled Did I Dye It Too Blonde? because I’ve used up a significant part of that bottle, and I’ve had it since I started this blog. Then, I decided which of the two remaining polishes to destash. Because I’ve made a dent in the Julep polish, I decided to keep it as well. Milani’s Totally 80’s is a great polish to rehome, and because it is a retired shade, people might be looking for it. Thus, I decided to keep two out of three. Not too shabby!

All in all, I was surprised to have three neon yellow polishes in my collection, and even more shocked when each shade turned out to be a bit different. I’m glad I was able to get rid of one polish, and make my collection at least a little more manageable. Make sure to stay tuned for more Dare to Compare posts as The Great Polish Destash continues, and let me know what your favorite neon yellow polish is in the comments!

Zoya Tickled Collection for Summer 2014

Posted on May 12, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I have the first Zoya Nail Polish review for the Summer 2014 season! The Tickled Collection is complete with six creme polishes in bright colors that will have your fingers ready for the summer sun. Let me share these vibrant shades with you!

First up is Ling, a true blue polish. Ling has an amazing one coat formula that glided on perfectly. I love how pigmented this polish is! I just love blue nail polishes, and it’s always great to have a one-coater in your collection. Ling is so awesome!

Next up is Tilda, a light green that reminds me of guacamolé (yum!). Tilda also has a one coat formula. I had no application issues whatsoever. Tilda isn’t my cup of tea color-wise, but it’s certainly a great polish. I think it would look beautiful on darker skin tones!

Zoya Rocha is up next, and is a red polish with orange undertones. You guessed it – Rocha has a one coat formula as well! Plus, this is the perfect summer polish. I like that Rocha is not a true red, as the orange undertones make it truly unique.

Rooney is the first of three pinks in this collection, and is a medium pink with blue undertones. Rooney did require two coats to achieve opacity, but has a great formula. This is a great every day polish, and is office appropriate while still being fun for summer.

Kitridge is a super bright bubblegum pink. It has a very thin formula, and I applied three coats to achieve opacity. Kitridge is prone to streaking, but as you can see my third coat rid my manicure of any imperfections. If you’re looking for a girly manicure this summer, definitely reach for Kitridge!

Last but not least is my favorite in the colleciton, Wendy. Wendy is a coral pink shade. It has a good formula, but is a bit streaky with the first coat. My manicure evened out in two coats, and I just love the result! Wendy is bright and fun, and my friend even complimented me on my nails while I was wearing it. I just love it!

All in all, Zoya’s Tickled Collection is a great one! If you love creme polishes like I do, this collection is a must. I am amazed with the three one-coat formulas, and highly recommend you pick them up. You can purchase the Tickled Collection for $9 per polish on Zoya’s website HERE. Let me know what your favorite polish from this collection is 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.

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.

Incoco 100% Real Nail Polish Strips | An Inconclusive Review!

Posted on October 4, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I have a review of Incoco Nail Polish Strips, nail appliqués made from 100% real nail polish. Incoco sent me a few designs to test out for all of you, and I made sure to do a true wear test since the product is advertised to last up to 14 days. Let me tell you a bit more about Incoco!

Incoco Nail Polish Strips are made from real nail polish, and include a top coat, color coat, and base coat in every strip. These appliqués do not require any drying time, and are 3-free. Each pack contains 16 double-ended strips to ensure you find the perfect fit for your nails and nail shape. I also love that Incoco products are made in the USA!

To apply the appliqués, simply peel a strip, place it on your nail, and use a file in a downward motion to trim off the excess. To remove, use your regular nail polish remover!

The first set I tried was Blazing Pink, a neon pink color that I absolutely love! Blazing Pink was so easy to apply, and I loved the look of my nails. I left on this manicure for one week before removing it. The third photo above shows the significant wear at the end of that one week. While I would have liked a longer-lasting manicure, I had a great experience with Blazing Pink, and would recommend this design!

Up next is Cheers, a black and gold glitter design. I found Cheers much harder to apply – they were thicker and less malleable than Blazing Pink. The edges would not lay flat, and I experienced chipping after a few hours. I ended up peeling off the appliqués in less than 24 hours because the edges were all coming up off my nails. Cheers was thus a big disappointment for me.

Last but not least is Garden Party, a floral design with a cream base and orange flowers. Garden Party applied well – not as good as Blazing Pink, but much better than Cheers. As you can see from the photos, the edges did not lay flat on all my nails. My manicure lasted about four days before I peeled off the strips. I loved the look of Garden Party, but wished it lasted longer!

All in all, I’ve had an interesting experience with Incoco! One set was great, one was bad, and the other was just alright. I can’t really give a final verdict of my Incoco opinion without trying more and seeing what happens, but I can say for sure that Blazing Pink is awesome. If you love neon pink and would like a manicure that lasts about a week, I would got for it. Incoco Nail Polish Strips can be purchased for $7.99-8.99 each online HERE. Be sure to let me know what you think 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.

Urban Outfitters Freakin Pink — My Favorite Clearance Find Ever!

Posted on June 11, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! As you know, Adventures in Polishland is dedicated to fabulous and affordable nails, so I am always hunting for nail polish bargains. A few weeks back I got an email from Urban Outfitters letting me know it was time for the 50% off clearance sale. That means that everything on clearance was an additional 50% off the sale price. I headed to the nearest store and found that several nail polishes were marked down to just $0.49 with the extra discount! I had to grab a few for myself, and I am so glad I did. Let me share with you my favorite clearance find of all time!

Here is Freakin Pink in all its glory! Not only is this polish a neon, bubblegum pink, but it dries to a matte finish! I surely did not expect this polish to have a matte look, but it was a fantastic surprise. Plus, Freakin Pink has an amazing formula that applies with ease. It is opaque in two coats, and doesn’t require top coat due to its unique finish. Freakin Pink is perfect for the summer and is on trend with the neon craze!

All in all, I love everything about this polish, from its bright color to its colorful name! I am beyond happy to have found this polish in the clearance section at Urban Outfitters for just $0.49, especially when the regular price is $5! Talk about fabulous and affordable nails! You can still find Freakin Pink online for the regular price as part of the Urban Outfitters Basics Collection HERE. Stop by your local store to see if you can snatch one up for a discounted price, too!

Be Ready in a Flash with Sally Hansen Insta-Dri!

Posted on February 24, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Sunday! Today I have a review of four polishes from the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri line. Before I started blogging, I had a couple of these polishes and they just weren’t for me. They were gunky, and seemed to dry up in the bottle. In recent months I’ve been getting a lot of suggestions from followers about the Insta-Dri polishes. I even heard that Sally Hansen changed the formula to battle the issues I was having. When I got the opportunity to review some Sally Hansen products, I knew I had to give the Insta-Dri line a second chance. I’m very glad I did! Let me show you these beautiful polishes!

First up is Pronto Purple, a gorgeous dark purple nail polish with magenta shimmer. Pronto Purple is opaque in two coats and has a great formula! These Insta-Dri polishes come with a very wide brush. At first it was hard to get used to, but now I love it! It helps to distribute polish quickly and easily. I actually owned Pronto Purple before I started blogging! I was happy to find out how much I love it! Not only did the polish dry quickly, but it has a flawless finish. I’m very glad I own Pronto Purple again!

Next up is Blue-Away, a stunning Tiffany blue creme. Blue-Away is also opaque in two coats, and while the formula is a bit streaky, it evens out well and dries perfectly. One tip to applying this Insta-Dri polish is to let it dry in between coats. Just wait an extra minute or two, and the polish will glide on much easier. I absolutely love Blue-Away, especially for spring. It’s so feminine and chic!

Night Flight is the next Insta-Dri polish I have to show you. It is the perfect navy nail polish, and appears black in some light. Opaque in two coats, Night Flight’s formula was a bit on the watery side. Luckily application was still smooth, and I didn’t have any problems when I applied thin coats. The first coat of Night Flight was very sheer, and that leads me to believe it would be great for a jelly sandwich manicure! I was happy that the polish was buildable, and that it really did dry instantly!

Last but not least is Peachy Breeze, an amazing bright peach polish! Peachy Breeze is my new favorite nail polish. It is opaque in two coats, has the perfect formula, and is just a stunning color! It is perfect for spring and summer, and definitely lives up to its name. I am just in awe of this polish. I feel like my nails even look photoshopped in the pictures (which, of course, they’re not)! I have a feeling this is my new go-to polish. It definitely has a “wow” factor!

Overall, I am so happy I had the chance to try out the Insta-Dri line from Sally Hansen a second time. I am very impressed with these polishes. They are perfect for nail art, too! In fact, make sure you take a look at my Valentine’s Day Skittle Manicure to see Fuchsia Flare in action! Sally Hansen Insta-Dri polishes can be purchased at your local drugstore or department store for around $4. Not only are they fabulous, but they are affordable, too! If you’re a girl who is always on the go, I recommend you have a few Insta-Dri polishes in your collection.

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

My January Julep Maven Box!

Posted on February 6, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I have a review of my January Julep Maven Box. Better late than never, right? January was the month of neons and nudes over at Julep, and for the first time since I joined the program I was a bit disappointed with the polishes. Let me show you what was in my box.

Here is a quick Instagram photo of my box and its contents. I chose the It Girl style, which guarantees three nail polishes. My extras were “swatch me” stickers to put on the top of the polishes with a dab of polish, and three yoga hair ties. I love the hair ties so much and have been using them every day since I got the box! Since I was home for the holidays at the time, my mom even gave me two of hers. That was a great bonus. The polishes, on the other hand, were not as thrilling.

Up first is Amelia, what Julep calls a “light champagne frost”. This polish, as I’m sure you can tell from the photos, was just awful. I needed three coats to achieve opacity, and each layer was uneven and extremely streaky. Amelia’s formula was goopy, and hard to see during application due to its opalescent nature. It did have a nice shimmer quality to it, but this was so hard to work with I’m not sure if I would ever use it again. Amelia is the first dud I have ever received from Julep!

Nikki is the first of the two neon shades in my January box. According to Julep, Nikki is a highlighter yellow polish, but in reality is is a mix between pea soup green and mustard. I needed three coats to achieve opacity with Nikki, as it was very sheer. Formula wise I didn’t have any problems, and it actually dries really quickly. I am really disappointed with the color, as it is not neon on its own as advertised. I definitely would need a white base underneath to bring out the color. Nikki also has a satin finish instead of a creme look. Finally, it stained my nails upon removal! I’m not too happy with Nikki either.

Last but not least is Nina, a tangerine orange neon. Finally! A polish I love! Nina is opaque in two coats, and while the formula is a bit goopy, it’s not streaky and dries quickly. Nina also has a satin finish, and reminds me a bit of macaroni and cheese color. It is definitely my favorite from the box.

Overall, I was a bit disappointed with my January Julep Maven box. This was the first month since I joined the program that my polishes were not top notch. I do have to say that with all of the Juleps I’ve tried to date, I am more than okay to accept a few duds and move on. Spoiler alert: I’ve already tried the polishes from my February box, and those formulas are great quality! I still support the Maven program, and will continue to receive a box each month even after one bad experience. If you’d like to join the program for $19.99 per mont, go to the Julep website HERE. You can also get your first month for FREE with the code FREEMAVEN at checkout!