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NYC New York Color Strip Me Off Base Coat Review

Posted on June 13, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I have a review of the new Strip Me Off Base Coat from NYC New York Color. I got the opportunity to test this base coat out for all of you, and I have to say I was very intrigued with the product. It is designed to peel off of your nails so you can remove your manicure without using nail polish remover. I did some testing, and let me show you how it works!

STEP BY STEP PROCESS

Here is what the base coat looks like upon application. It goes on as a thick white color, and then begins to separate and dry. At first I thought I got a wonky bottle, but that’s how the product works! Don’t be alarmed if it looks strange when you put it on. You can see how my pinky and ring fingers have more transparent patches than my pointer finger, and that’s because the base coat changes as it dries. I have to say it reminds me of school glue!

Here is what the base coat looks like when fully dry. Unfortunately, the dry time is about 5-7 minutes, which is a very long time for base coat. As you can see, there were a few patches that didn’t fully dry. This happened to me every time I tested the base coat. Luckily, it doesn’t affect your overall manicure. I simply patted these bits down to make sure they were flat and dry, then added my nail color.

I tested Strip Me Off with both glitter polishes and regular nail colors. I found that glitters work the best, as they peel off in one big sheet. Regular nail polishes will peel off as well, but it does break up in smaller pieces. Nonetheless, it’s so cool that you can use this base coat with any polish you have. I decided to feature Shimmer Polish in Karen in this post!

Finally, here are my nails after I peeled off the base coat! I’m so impressed with how clean my nails look. They aren’t damaged at all – no scratches or residue are left on my nails. It was definitely refreshing to just peel off my polish and not have to get out the acetone. No smell and no fuss!

MY FINAL THOUGHTS

All in all, the NYC New York Color Strip Me Off Base Coat is a great product. It works properly, and with a price tag of just $1.99 I’m amazed with the results. I will say that I do not like how long it takes for this base coat to dry, but on the flipside, it saved me 10-15 minutes when I went to remove my glitter manicure. I don’t think I would use this base coat regularly, but I am going to use it whenever I have on a glitter manicure. It’s just so convenient! You can find Strip Me Off at your local drugstore or department store. Let me know in the comments if you’ll be picking this up!

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

Beautiful NYC | ELF Studio Haul

Posted on May 21, 2015May 17, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! It’s been quite a while since my last Beautiful NYC post. I haven’t been buying much makeup at all since I’m on a tight budget (and also because I already have so many beauty products!). That being said, I stopped by the ELF Studio store on Broadway in Manhattan this past weekend with a couple friends and just had to grab a few things. ELF is definitely my definition of fabulous and affordable! Let me show you what I picked up while at the store.

ELF Studio – Located at 741 Broadway in Manhattan

The ELF Studio is quite small inside, but sells all of the ELF products you could want! In addition, the store offers makeup classes and there are professional makeup artists on hand to do your makeup as well. All of the products were organized well, and I had no problem finding anything. I do wish there were more price labels near the products, however. Luckily, everything at ELF is super affordable, so I wasn’t worried about breaking the bank!

I was also excited when I got a reusable tote with my purchase! You can never have enough tote bags, right?! Look how cute this one is, too!Now, onto the haul! I kept it pretty small, but got some goodies for sure. First up, I got two makeup brushes. I’ve heard great things about ELF brushes even though they are crazy affordable at just $3 each. I decided to go with the Eyeshadow “C” Brush and the Angled Blush Brush. I’ve definitely been on the hunt for eyeshadow brushes, and I decided to press my luck with this one. I also thought the angled brush would work well for both blush and bronzer. Next, I got the Blush Palette in Light, which retails for $6 and comes with four blushes! I own one ELF blush now, and absolutely love it. I can’t wait to test out more! Finally, I picked up the HD Lifting Concealer for $3 as well. I’ve been wanting to try a green concealer, as they are designed to counteract redness. I think it will be great for my skin!

All in all, I’m so excited about my new ELF products! I only spend about $16.00 tax included, and got four new goodies to try. Please let me know if you would like a full review of any of these products. I would be happy to let you know what I think once I’ve tested out these products! Also, please let me know which ELF products are your favorite in the comments. I’d love to check them out as well!

NYC New York Color Fashion Queen Collection | Crystal Couture Glitter Polishes

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

Happy Saturday! Earlier this week I shared with you the three In a New York Minute polishes from the new, limited edition Fashion Queen Collection from NYC New York Color (see that post HERE). Today I’m bringing you the six glitter shades called Crystal Couture. These glitters can be worn alone, or layered over another polish for added sparkle and shine. I decided to test them out alone, since I love opaque glitter polishes. Let me show you the sparkly goodness!

First up is the collection’s namesake polish Fashion Queen, a gold glitter polish. Fashion Queen has a clear base filled with gold microglitters. It is opaque in two coats and has a great formula. Fashion Queen is perfect as an accent nail this fall, as it will go with so many manicures!

Next up is Ruby Queen, a bright red base packed with red glitters and small pink hexagons. Ruby Queen is opaque in two coats, and has a fabulous formula. This is the perfect polish to transition from fall to winter. I can see it being worn during the holidays for sure!

NY Princess is the purple of the collection, and is packed with purple, lilac, and green glitters. NY Princess is also opaque in two coats, and I’d recommend a nice glossy top coat with this one. It reminds me of grape jelly!

Next is Blue Majesty, a blue polish with blue microglitters. I love this polish! It has a great formula and is opaque in two coats, plus it just looks so fancy. I think Blue Majesty would look awesome in a geometric manicure as well.

If you love green, you need Queen’s Jewels! It’s the green version of Blue Majesty but with green and silver glitters. Queen’s Jewels is opaque in two coats, and the formula is perfect. I can definitely see this being worn during the holidays as well!

Last but not least is Rule the City, a charcoal base filled with grey and red glitters. Rule the City is opaque in two coats, I would recommend following up with a glossy top coat. This polish is quite edgy, and would go really well with your leather jacket this fall. It’s definitely a rockstar polish!

All in all, the Crystal Couture polishes from the NYC New York Color Fashion Queen line are amazing glitters! I love that each is opaque in two coats, but can be worn in other ways as well. These polishes retail for the fabulous and affordable price of just $1.99 each. Make sure to check your local drugstore and department store’s limited edition displays! Let me know in the comments which Crystal Couture polish is your favorite!

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

NYC New York Color Limited Edition Fashion Queen Collection | In a New York Minute Polishes

Posted on September 18, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! This fall the brand NYC New York Color released an amazing, limited edition line called the Fashion Queen Collection to bring runway style to the street. I got the opportunity to review the polishes, and can’t wait to share them with all of you. Today’s post will feature the three In a New York Minute shades that are designed to be quick-dry formulas. Let me show you these fall polishes!

First up is Royal Chic, a deep brown creme shade that reminds me of chocolate! Royal Chic has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. I think this is quite a daring polish, but great if you want a deep polish that isn’t as harsh as a black. I also am impressed with the high-gloss finish Royal Chic has even without top coat!

Next up is Queen of the City, a stunning burgundy polish with undertones of black. I am obsessed with Queen of the City! Not only is the formula amazing, but there is almost a duochrome effect in this polish. Queen of the City is the perfect polish for fall, and I feel super fabulous when wearing it!

Last but not least is Crown Gold, a yellow gold, metallic polish. Crown Gold also has an amazing formula and is opaque in two coats. This is one of my favorite gold polishes of all time. It looks so rich, and the pigmentation is great!

All in all, I’m really impressed with the three In a New York Minute polishes from the new Fashion Queen Collection. Of course, NYC New York Color is the perfect brand for those of us who are fabulous and affordable, since these polishes retail for just $1.99 each! You can purchase this line at your local drugstore or department store, so be sure to look for the limited edition display. Find a retailer near you by visiting the NYC New York Color website HERE. Stay tuned to see the six glitter polishes in this line – you don’t want to miss it!

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

Red Lip Colors for July 4th from NYC New York Color!

Posted on July 3, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! Yesterday I showed you a fabulous and affordable manicure for July 4th (see that post HERE), and today it’s time for some festive red lips! If you’re looking for some great lip colors that you can grab at your local drugstore, this is the post for you!

CITY PROOF TWISTABLE INTENSE LIP COLOR

Roosevelt Island Red – $2.99

The City Proof Twistable Intense Lip Color is designed to be lightweight, soft, and silky. It applies really easily thanks to the crayon-like applicator, and smells just like fruit punch! I find Roosevelt Island Red to be very glossy and moisturizing. It has a good color payoff, but is not completely opaque. If you’re going for a more natural look, I highly recommend this lip color! You can also wear it on top of a lipstick for added shine.

EXPERT LAST LIP COLOR

Traffic Jam – $1.99

I’ve tried one Expert Last Lip Color in the past, and didn’t have a great experience (see that review HERE), but I’m happy to report that I’m loving Traffic Jam! It is extremely moisturizing, and glides on with ease. The formula is creamy, and extremely pigmented. With one coat I got an opaque look! Traffic Jam is actually quite a wearable shade, especially with my fair skin tone. This lip color definitely stains your lips, though, so be careful during application!

All in all, I’m very impressed with these new lip colors from NYC New York Color! Not only are they incredibly affordable, but they are high quality as well. If you’re looking to rock a red lip this Fourth of July, stop by your local drugstore to grab one (or both!) of these. I’ll definitely be checking out more shades from these lines in the future!

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

Jet Away June | Caravan Stylist Studio in NYC

Posted on June 23, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today’s Jet Away June post is for all of you who will be traveling to New York City! As you may know, I live in NYC, but with the thousands of tourists that visit the city every day I figured some of you would be stopping by this summer. I recently had the opportunity to visit the Caravan Stylist Studio at the Carlton Hotel thanks to Cottonelle. This is definitely a great hidden gem in the city that you need to hear more about before visiting!

The Caravan Stylist Studio is an appointment-only hub where actors, musicians, bloggers, and guests of the Carlton Hotel can get a complete head-to-toe look done before an event. Caravan offers nail, makeup, and hair services, in addition to fashion styling. Of course, I couldn’t wait to get my nails done at the studio! Cottonelle sent me to the Summertime Lounge Event, so I could learn about Caravan, and I even got to meet fellow blogger Faith over at Sassy Ethnic Bohemian who was celebrating her one year blogiversary!

Caravan is sponsored by a number of brand partners that provide the products for the studio. If you visit Caravan, you’ll be able to learn more about all of the brands and the different products they offer. I loved learning about the brands, especially Kryolan makeup and the new ZipLoop app. Cottonelle also sponsors the Caravan’s bathroom, which is decorated with a cute shower curtain and a signature “Let’s Talk Bums” sign! The photo above is a sneak peek of all of the goodies at Caravan. The studio is set up beautifully, and I loved the welcoming atmosphere!

One brand that I already knew and loved is Zoya Nail Polish! I was so excited to find out that Zoya is the official nail polish brand of the Caravan Stylist Studio! I got my nails done with a neutral shade, but the studio is currently showing off the beautiful brights Zoya has to offer for summer. I want to give a huge shout-out to Valerie Star, who did my nails and told me all about Caravan. She was really nice, and showed me some of the amazing nail art that she does on her clients. If you stop by Caravan, she’ll be the one to see! I also got my makeup done, and loved the fresh-faced, natural look I got!

All in all, the Caravan Stylist Studio is a great place to visit during the summer months when it’s hot outside and you need to freshen up! Whether you need a head-to-toe look for an evening out, or simply want to get a new manicure done, Caravan is the place to be! The studio is open to bloggers, editors, celebrities, and other special guests. More information can be found on Caravan’s official website HERE. If you’re visiting NYC this summer, I highly recommend stopping by Caravan if you get the chance!

I was sent to Caravan by Cottonelle through the website Crowdtap. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Feel Beautiful this Allergy Season with Duane Reade and Poncho!

Posted on May 10, 2014May 13, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser. #CollectiveBias

Happy Saturday! As I write this, we are enjoying a sunny day here in NYC! The only bad news? Spring weather brings those nasty allergies. A runny nose, scratchy throat, and watery eyes is enough to make you feel miserable and look a bit disheveled. I decided to take the bull by the horns this allergy season and make sure I look and feel good even with the high pollen counts. Let me tell you the tools I use to feel beautiful during allergy season!

Poncho Weather App

The first tool I’ve been using this allergy season is a new weather app called Poncho. This is a free app (sign up HERE), and it’s specifically for the New York City area. What I really love about this app is that you can customize the settings to fit your lifestyle, such as when you get weather updates, how you want to get updates, and (of course) whether or not you have allergies! If you mention you have allergies, Poncho will let you know the pollen count every day, and for each day that the pollen count is high, it sends you a $3 off coupon to go grab some allergy medicine! How awesome is that?! Here’s what today’s Poncho forecast looks like –

I find the pollen counts really helpful, since I only take my allergy medicine on the medium or high days. Speaking of allergy medicine, that’s my next tool!

Allegra Allergy at Duane Reade

As soon as allergy season hit, I ran to Duane Reade with my Allegra coupon from Poncho in hand. I needed some relief ASAP! The pharmacy at my local Duane Reade is on the lower level, so I headed down the escalator, and spotted the purple Allegra packaging right away. I picked up a 30-tablet pack of the non-drowsy, 24-hour formula for indoor and outdoor allergies. I began taking Allegra the very next day, and I feel so much better!

I am so thankful for both Poncho and Duane Reade – my allergy season saviors! I’ve felt much better than usual this allergy season, because Poncho really helps me stay prepared for the day to come. I highly recommend getting this app, and if you’d like to read more information about it, check out this Mashable article. If you suffer from allergies, let me know how you stay feeling beautiful during allergy season in the comments! I’d love to know your tricks!

Follow Duane Reade on social media: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Drugstore Hauls Just Got Better with the Duane Reade Mobile App!

Posted on May 7, 2014May 12, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser. #CollectiveBias

Happy Wednesday! As you know, Adventures in Polishland is about all things fabulous and affordable, and that includes drugstore makeup! When I heard Duane Reade was relaunching its mobile app to Version 2.0 which includes new features to help me shop easier and save more in the store, I couldn’t wait to test it out. Let me tell you a bit more about the app, and show you my mini drugstore haul!

ALL ABOUT THE APP

The Duane Reade mobile app is free to download from the iTunes app store. Here is what it looks like upon opening.

The loading screen (left) displays the Duane Reade logo as the app launches. I quickly took a screenshot of what it looks like just so you could see! On the right is the app home screen. There are so many awesome features with this app. Here is a brief overview of what each icon on the screen does –

Pharmacy: refill your prescriptions, transfer your prescriptions, see your prescription history, set up a pill reminder, and schedule a vaccination.
Photo: print photos from your iPhoto or social media accounts and create prints, posters, or cards.
Store Locator: find the store closest to your current location or search for one near a specific address.
Weekly Ad & Coupons: see the items on sale this week, and clip virtual coupons for use in the store.
Refill by Scan: a quick way to refill your prescriptions – just scan the barcode!
Scanner: scan any product in the store to get more information about it.
Pill Reminder: set up daily reminders for all your medicines.
Rewards: easy access to your Balance Rewards card.
Shopping List: your Duane Reade “to buy” list is right on the app for easy shopping in store.
Shop: you can also shop directly from the app if you don’t want to leave the comfort of your own home!
DR Walk-In: information about the walk-in clinics nearby and their contact information.
Steps: keep track of your fitness and weight loss goals right from your phone.
Settings: where you can log-in and get help with the app if needed.

My favorite feature on the app is the coupon clipper! I immediately scrolled through the beauty tab and clipped some awesome Revlon coupons. The best thing about the app is that you don’t need to have a physical coupon. The app is green and convenient!

MY SHOPPING EXPERIENCE

Of course, I had to test out this awesome app and use the Revlon coupons I clipped. I headed to the store at 22W 48th Street to use the special iBeacon technology that is only available at 10 Midtown Manhattan Duane Reade locations. iBeacon is so cool! When you get to Duane Reade, it recognizes your location, and helps you shop in the specific store you’re in. Here’s a look at what the app looked like when iBeacon was activated.

Not only was a floor map and product locator available for me to use, but the coupons showed up right away! The barcode you see at the top is what the cashier scans at checkout, and all applicable coupons are used at once. Shopping is so much easier when I don’t have to organize all my coupons by hand!

It was fun to shop from the Revlon section! I almost never get tangible coupons for Revlon products, but I had $1 off a lip product and $2 off any face product (foundation, concealer, etc.) to use. I grabbed the Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey that everyone talks about, as well as the ColorStay Under Eye Concealer in Light. I’m so excited to test out these products! Let me know if you’d like a review on either one.

All in all, I am loving the relaunched Duane Reade mobile app! It makes shopping in this busy city much easier, and saves me money, too. Plus, it is environmentally friendly – no need for a plastic rewards card or paper coupons! I’ll be sure to use this app whenever I’m in the mood for a drugstore haul.

Have you downloaded the Duane Reade mobile app yet? Let me know by using the #DRMobileApp hashtag on social media and share your hauls with me! Also make sure to Follow Duane Reade’s social media accounts: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

NYC New York Color Expert Last Lipstick in Forever Fuchsia

Posted on April 29, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! Today I have a quick review of the NYC Expert Last Lipstick from my Influenster Uni VoxBox (see my unboxing HERE). I’ve never tried a lip product from NYC before, but I love the brand’s nail polish and blush. Let me go ahead and show you Forever Fuchsia!

NYC Expert Last Lipstick in Forever Fuchsia

As you can see, Forever Fuchsia is a bright pink lipstick. Here is the blurb in NYC’s advertisement describing the product:

Ready to take your lips to the next level? Try our NEW Expert Last Lip Color in twenty tantalizing shades. Get intense amplified color and shine that lasts up to 6 hours! Our moisturizing formula glides of easily for a silky, smooth, velvety finish for all day wear.

I swatched Forever Fuchsia both on my arm and on my lips so you can see the color. I do love how opaque this lipstick is, and the fruit punch scent. However, it clung to the dry patches on my lips, and did not leave a smooth, velvety finish. Forever Fuchsia did feel moisturizing, but I definitely recommend using a lip scrub before applying it as any imperfections will show up quite visibly. As for the color, the bright pink is a bit much for me personally, but if you love bold lips this is the shade for you!

All in all, I would give this lipstick a 3 out of 5 stars. It’s affordable at just $1.99 at drugstores, but does not have the advertised finish. I would definitely consider testing out other shades from this line to see how they compare. Let me know your thoughts on the NYC Expert Last line in the comments!

This product was provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Cottonelle Spring Clean & Fresh Event at Tenoverten Salon!

Posted on April 24, 2014April 25, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! Today I am excited to tell you all about a fun event I attended today with Cottonelle. Because I am active with Crowdtap, a website that connects influencers and brands, I was invited to attend Cottonelle’s Spring Clean & Fresh Event at the Tenoverten Salon in Soho. We were treated to manicures, and other beauty services, as well as lots of goodies! Let me tell you more about Tenoverten, and the great products we got to try.

Tenoverten has so many polishes, including Chanel, Nars, Essie, and its own brand, tenoverten! You can see more pictures of the salon and the event on my Facebook page HERE.

Cottonelle even let my friend Gina tag along! It was great having her get a manicure with me!

I decided to go with the Essie shade The Girls Are Out for my manicure. Even though I wanted to try out a high end polish, I just loved this blue-tinted pink shade. I think it looks beautiful! I definitely recommend Tenoverten if you’re looking to get a professional manicure in NYC. There are three locations, and prices range from $10 for a polish change to $40 for a luxe manicure. Plus, the salon is really cute inside, and the employees were so friendly. You can visit the salon’s website HERE for more information.

We were also treated to some mouth-watering cupcakes from Navy, a restaurant here in NYC. They were absolutely delicious, so I couldn’t help but mention them!

Last but not least, Cottonelle was kind enough to give us some gift bags on the way out! Who can’t use some new toilet paper and flushable cleansing cloths?! Really though, this bag had some awesome practical items, as well as a Barielle nail polish, an eos lip balm, and a cute picture frame. I really appreciate the generosity, and can’t wait to use these items.

Thank you so much to Cottonelle for inviting me to the event! Definitely make sure to check out Tenoverten in NYC, and use the fun hashtag #LetsTalkBums on social media if you’d like to share how much you love Cottonelle. I’ll be reviewing my new Barielle polish soon, so keep an eye out for that!

The products and services in this post were provided by the companies mentioned herein. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.