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Zoya Sunsets Collection for Summer 2016

Posted on June 3, 2016May 16, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I am beyond excited to share with you a full review of the Zoya Nail Polish Sunsets Collection for Summer 2016. Every year Zoya releases two summer collections, and this year we have the Seashells & Sunsets. I knew I had to try the Sunsets first, because I love creme nail polishes. The Sunsets contains six cremes in bright shades that are perfect for the summer months. Let me show you these gorgeous polishes!

First up is Cam, a bright orange polish. Cam has a good formula, but during application it was quite streaky. I applied two coats, and was very happy to see that as the polish dries is smoothes out to a flawless finish on the nail. I’m surprised with how well Cam wears with my fair skintone! It is perfect for the summertime.

Next up is Dixie, my favorite polish in the collection! Dixie is a bright pink polish with a lot of red pigmentation. The formula is great, although it does apply just a bit streaky like Cam. I’m amazed at how these polishes dry so smoothly on the nail! Dixie is made for me, and I can’t wait to wear it again!

There is also a blue-toned pink in the collection called Brynn. This polish has an excellent formula that applies smoothly and is opaque in two coats. Brynn will look good with any skintone, and is also a polish that I think can be worn during any time of year. If you only buy one polish from the Sunsets Collection, I think Brynn is a great choice because it is so wearable.

Next up is Liv, a mid-toned purple polish. Liv also has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. The purple shade is quite hard to describe, because although Liv has a rich pigmentation, it is also lighter in color. Nonetheless, it is really gorgeous, and makes an excellent transitional color from summer to fall.

Another favorite of mine is Dory, a cornflower blue polish. Dory has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats. I am obsessing over how amazing this polish looks on the nails! It is super shiny without a top coat needed, and it looks really great with my fair skin. I know some people find blue nail polish intimidating, so I would give Dory a try if you are looking for a wearable shade.

Last but not least is Ness, a jade green polish with a hint of blue. Ness also has an amazing formula that applies smoothly in two coats. I think Ness is also a great place to start with green polishes if you haven’t found the right shade yet. It’s really beautiful!

All in all, I am obsessing over the Zoya Sunsets Collection! I love each and every shade, and this is a collection where I recommend buying all of the polishes. If you are new to nail polish, or if you are looking for the perfect summer brights, definitely grab the entire collection and you’ll have everything you need! I know I will be getting a lot of use out of these polishes, and I can’t wait to wear them over and over again. You can buy the Sunsets Collection on Zoya’s website HERE for $10 each or $54 for the entire collection.

Which polish in the Sunsets Collection is your favorite?! Let me know in the comments!

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

Dare to Compare | Milani Scarlet Ibis vs Milani Color Statement Mango Tango

Posted on April 25, 2016March 22, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I have another nail polish comparison post to share, and this time the polishes are from the same brand! I own two red-orange polishes from Milani that look extremely similar in the bottle, and I had to test them out to see if they are duplicates. I did want to mention that these polishes are from two different Milani collections, so it’s understandable that the shades are so similar. Let’s take a look at Scarlet Ibis and Mango Tango individually and side-by-side.

First up is Scarlet Ibis, a red orange polish with a very slight shimmer. This polish is from the limited edition Fantastical Plumage Collection, which is one of my all-time favorite Milani collections (review HERE). Scarlet Ibis has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. It’s a tad bit watery, so I used thin coats and really liked the end result. The shimmer is just enough to add some dimension, but not make my manicure glittery. I really like Scarlet Ibis!

Next up is Mango Tango from the currently-in-stores Color Statement line. This is a red-orange creme polish with a rich pigmentation. Mango Tango has a good formula that is opaque in two coats. I really like the brush in this new Color Statement line from Milani, so that made the application process a bit better than it was with Scarlet Ibis. That’s definitely something I keep in mind when deciding whether or not to destash a polish.

Here are Scarlet Ibis and Mango Tango side-by-side. I have Scarlet Ibis on my pinky and ring fingers, and Mango Tango on my middle and pointer fingers. There is definitely a slight difference between these two polishes, so I wouldn’t call them exact dupes. That being said, there is no reason for me to keep both of these in my collection. While I like the brush and formula of Mango Tango a bit more, I’ve decided to keep Scarlet Ibis. I prefer the shade and slight shimmer, and I know I’ll never be able to buy it again. This was a tough decision!

All in all, I always find it interesting when brands release polishes that are so similar there is no need to own both. I absolutely love Milani nail polishes, and think it’s great the brand is constantly evolving. Definitely let me know in the comments if you prefer Milani’s older collections, or the new Color Statement line. I would also like to know your favorite red-orange nail polish!

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 | Priti NYC Fireglow vs Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Electra-cute

Posted on April 20, 2016March 22, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I am excited to share another nail polish comparison post with all of you. After looking through all the yellow polishes in my collection, I turned to the oranges to see if there were any duplicates. I noticed right away that Priti NYC Fireglow and Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Electra-cute looked exactly the same in the bottle. These are both perfect orange cremes for the fall, so I decided to swatch them and see which formula I preferred. As with all of my Dare to Compare posts, I’ll show you each polish individually, and then side-by-side.

First up is Fireglow, a bright orange creme from the boutique brand Priti NYC. Fireglow has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. It can be a bit patchy, but it does dry to a beautiful finish. I love that I am supporting a small business with this polish, and that it is made in the USA.

Electra-cute from Sally Hansen Miracle Gel is also a bright orange creme polish. The formula is good, but I did find Electra-cute to be quite patchy and streaky. I layered on three coats and I still didn’t have a completely even finish. I was a bit surprised, because I know I really enjoyed this polish when I first got it, so I guess the formula changed over time. Electra-cute was a limited edition polish that isn’t available anymore, so I considered that when swatching as well.

Here is a look at Fireglow and Electra-cute side-by-side. I cannot tell any difference in shade whatsoever! As you may have predicted, I’m going to be decluttering Electra-cute. The formula just doesn’t match up to Fireglow!

All in all, I’m so glad I discovered another duplicate shade in my nail polish collection. I highly recommend picking up Fireglow if you are looking for an orange polish. You can purchase it direct from the brand’s website HERE. It is a bit more expensive at $15, but worth the splurge! Let me know in the comments what your favorite orange polish is, and if you’ve tried any polishes from Priti NYC.

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

The Perfect Fall Nail Color | Milani Cosmetics in Canyon Country

Posted on November 13, 2015November 9, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! One of the polishes that I’ve rediscovered in my nail polish destash project is Canyon Country from Milani Cosmetics. I typically reach for dark polishes in the fall, but I’m so glad I took the opportunity to swatch Canyon Country! I think I’ve found the perfect fall nail color, and I’m excited to share it with you. It’s been a couple years since it first appeared on the blog (see that post HERE), so it’s definitely time for another post!

Canyon Country is a burnt orange nail polish with a creme finish. It has a perfect formula that is opaque in two coats. I am obsessing over the smooth finish! I’m not wearing a top coat in these photos, and my manicure looks awesome. Plus, Canyon Country is a color that I think will look great on anyone no matter the skin color. It’s warm and cozy, and will go perfectly with your fall sweaters and boots. Plus, Canyon Country will work really well in nail art. It’s an all-around great polish!

All in all, I’m so glad I took the time to swatch Canyon Country before I destashed it. Some polishes just don’t look as exciting in the bottle as they do on the nails, and this is definitely one of them. While this particular Milani polish is retired, it can still be found on Amazon HERE for a reasonable price. I highly recommend picking it up for your collection!

What is your perfect fall nail color? Let me know in the comments!

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

Halloween Week | Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Electra-Cute and Blacky O

Posted on October 23, 2015October 22, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! It’s the last day of Halloween Week here on the blog (a DIY video will be up on YouTube tomorrow, though!). I’ve got a review of the two new Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Halloween nail polishes to share. In addition to my regular swatches, I’ve also done side-by-side comparison swatches of this year’s polishes versus last year’s. That way if you purchased the Sally Hansen Halloween polishes last year, you’ll know if these are a must have for you. The Miracle Gel line has grown to be a huge favorite of mine this past year, and I’m excited to share these limited edition shades with you. Let me show you Electra-Cute and Blacky O!

First up is Electra-Cute, a bright orange creme polish. I used two coats of Electra-Cute and finished up with the Miracle Gel Top Coat. The formula is excellent, and I’m loving this orange shade. Electra-Cute is great for nail art, or on its own!

Here are side-by-side swatches of Electra-Cute (pinky and ring fingers) and Pumpkin King (middle and pointer fingers). As you can see, the shades are nearly identical. I prefer the high gloss formula of Electra-Cute to the Insta-Dri formula of Pumpkin King (reviewed HERE), but if you already have Pumpkin King there is no need for Electra-Cute in your collection. I can’t tell a difference based on nail polish color alone!

Next up is Blacky O, a stunning black creme polish. Blacky O has a perfect formula that is opaque in two coats. It looks amazing on its own, but even better with the Miracle Gel Top Coat. I think this is now my go to black polish. I just love the formula and shiny finish! Blacky O is definitely a must have polish.

All in all, Sally Hansen created two more amazing Miracle Gel polishes just in time for Halloween! Make sure to check the limited edition displays at your local drugstore to get your hands on these. They retail for $9.99 each, but keep an eye out for sales and coupons! I highly recommend both polishes, and the Miracle Gel Top Coat is a favorite of mine. They are must for Halloween, or any time of year!

Have you tried the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel line? 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.

Julep Mystery Box Swatches | High End Nail Polish for $2

Posted on September 7, 2015September 4, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! It’s been a very long time since I received a Julep Maven box, or even purchased anything from Julep. I’ve been on a pretty tight budget lately, and nail polish is one of those things I can easily stop buying. That being said, Julep had an amazing sale a couple weeks back called Savvy Deals. This sale included a Mystery Box with 10 polishes for $20. I was on the fence about purchasing a box, but then my mom mentioned she was interested in the box, too. We decided to each put in $10 and split the polishes! I just couldn’t resist scoring some Julep polishes for $2 each when the regular retail price is $14. Let me go ahead and show you the five polishes I picked out.

First up is Kelsey, a light peach creme polish. Kelsey’s formula is a bit difficult to work with, as were all of the creme polishes I received. It is thick, tacky, and took a long time to dry. That being said, the end result is gorgeous! I absolutely love how Kelsey looks with my skin tone. It is worth dealing with a troublesome formula for this stunning result.

Next up is Jules, a pastel pink creme. Jules also has a finicky formula, but it does dry nicely in two coats. I recommend using thin coats, and letting the coats dry completely before adding another layer. I do have other polishes in my collection that I would reach for over Jules considering the formula, but it’s still a gorgeous pink!

Julep – Princess Grace The last creme I received is Princess Grace, what Julep calls a Papaya color. Princess Grace is the biggest disappointment for me, because I love the shade, but the formula is too much trouble. Unlike Kelsey and Jules, which I could work with, Princess Grace’s formula is too tacky and thick. I had to redo my nails to get a clean look, and they still aren’t perfect. I’d stay away from this polish!

Next up is Paula, my favorite of the bunch! Paula is a purply-blue polish with gold shimmer. It has a great formula that is opaque in two coats, and is just beautiful. I can’t wait to wear this again!

Last but not least is Glam Roc, a dark purple polish with multi-colored matte glitter. Glam Roc has a Stardust Finish, which means it is a textured polish. While textured polish isn’t trendy anymore, I still really like it and was glad to receive Glam Roc in the mystery box. Glam Roc has a great formula that is opaque in two coats, plus it dries really quickly. I’m going to wear this in the fall months for sure!

All in all, I’m pretty happy with my Julep Mystery Box! I only spent $10, but I got two polishes I really love, two that are okay, and only one dud. I still consider that a win seeing as Julep retails for $14 per polish. Plus, I used Ebates and got 5% cash back! The moral of the story is, you can still own high end polishes without paying the high end price. Simply keep an eye out for deals!

How often do you shop for high end nail polish? What are your savings tips?

Manicure Monday | L’Oreal Colour Riche in Tangerine Crush

Posted on August 31, 2015August 28, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! I haven’t posted a Manicure Monday since the Alphabet Challenge came to a close, so I figured I would show you the polish I’m currently wearing. I don’t buy nail polishes very often since my collection is so extensive, but I picked up a polish from L’Oreal’s Colour Riche line last week during a sale at CVS. While the prices in the CVS beauty aisle can be a bit more expensive compared to other drugstores, the key is to shop during sales and use coupons. I ended up grabbing Tangerine Crush for a couple dollars during the Back to Beauty promotion, and couldn’t wait to try it!

Tangerine Crush is a really bright orange polish with a creme finish. The formula was a bit patchy, so I layered on three coats and allowed each one to dry completely before adding a new layer. I really love the almost neon quality of Tangerine Crush. It’s perfect for summer, but can be used in the fall in Halloween nail art looks, too. Despite the formula being a bit annoying during application, I’m loving my current manicure!

All in all, I’m glad I picked up Tangerine Crush during a good sale. I’ve had a lot of luck with L’Oreal polishes in the past, and especially like the limited edition collections the brand puts out every season. While I don’t buy these polishes often, I certainly recommend them when there is a sale! Here’s a tip – always check out the Offers page on L’Oreal’s website HERE for printable coupons. You can also save by purchasing L’Oreal polishes on Amazon HERE.

What are your favorite L’Oreal polishes?! Let me know in the comments!

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

Zoya Nail Polish Flair Collection for Fall 2015

Posted on August 21, 2015August 19, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I have a review of the second fall collection by Zoya Nail Polish for the upcoming season. The Flair Collection contains six shimmer, or liquid metal, polishes that coordinate well with the Focus Collection (full review HERE), but can of course be worn alone as well. If you love shimmer, you are going to need this collection. Let me go ahead and share it with you!

First up is Tris, what Zoya calls a nickel liquid metal. Tris is so cool! The formula is absolute perfection, and I love the nickel shade. Tris is wearable while still being a dark and edgy shade. It’s a great start to this awesome collection!

Next is Cinnamon, a rich bronze polish that was originally created for the Zang Toi NYFW Fall/Winter line. Cinnamon also has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. It makes me feel all warm and cozy, and I think Cinnamon will pair well with sweaters and boots this fall!

Zoya Aggie is a gold polish with bronze shimmer. I was a bit disappointed with Aggie because it doesn’t show up on the nail like it appears in the bottle. I was hoping for a rich gold polish with a green/purple duochrome effect. However, Aggie is simply a gold polish with a yellow gold shimmer. Nonetheless, it is still a nice polish, but just not what I was expecting.

Next up is Ember, a fiery red-orange with blue undertones. Ember is just gorgeous! I love the glossy formula and the shimmer gives Ember a three-dimensional feel. This polish screams fall, and I highly recommend it!

Calling all purple lovers! Giada is a must have! It is a rich purple polish with magenta shimmer. I am loving this polish, which I know I’m saying for nearly every shade, but it is true! Giada is beautiful for sure.

Last but not least is Estelle, what Zoya calls a blue on blue polish. Estelle is another amazing shade in the Flair Collection. It reminds me of my dad’s Mustang, and shines just as bright in the sun. You all know I love a good blue nail polish, and Estelle is no exception.

All in all, Zoya did another great job in curating the Flair Collection! I love fall nail polish lines, and this one is a hit in my book. You can purchase each polish individually directly from Zoya’s website HERE for $9 each. In addition, the entire collection is $54 in full size or $30 in mini size bottles.

Are you going to purchase any of the Zoya Flair polishes? 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 | Julep Nina vs Zoya Arizona

Posted on August 21, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! If you’ve Liked my Facebook Page, you’ll know that I’ve begun a new project dubbed The Great Polish Destash. I will be moving at some point this year, so I want to go through my entire nail polish collection and get rid of polishes that I no longer want or need. My first step was to roughly organize my polishes by color, and now I’m going through those color families to find any dupes (aka duplicates). I decided to start with the organges, since I only had 20 orange polishes before I started my destash. Julep Nina and Zoya Arizona looked nearly identical in the bottle, so I had to test them out side by side to see how they compare. Dare to Compare | Julep Nina vs Zoya Arizona

First up is Julep Nina, a bright orange creme that dries to a satin finish. Nina is opaque in three coats, and has a tacky formula. I do love the color and the finish, but the formula is a bit difficult.

Next up is Zoya Arizona. This is also a bright orange creme, but it dries to a glossy finish. The formula is good, but a bit thin so I needed three coats for opacity. I got this cute mini size in a promotion Zoya did a while back. In fact, my friend Princess Polish made a bulk order and included this in it for me.

Here are side-by-side swatches of Julep Nina and Zoya Arizona. Nina is on my pinky and ring fingers, with Arizona on my middle and pointer fingers. I can barely tell any difference at all between the two! Because these polishes are nearly identical, I knew it would be safe to destash one of them. I considered formula as the biggest deciding factor, and decided to keep…. Zoya Arizona! The glossy finish and smooth formula truly won me over!

All in all, while both Nina and Arizona are great, bright orange polishes, there is no need to have both in my collection. If you’re looking for an orange, I definitely recommend Zoya Arizona. Not only is it more affordable at $9 versus Julep’s $14 price tag, but it’s got a great formula. With Halloween around the corner, you’ll want this shade for your pumpkin nail art!

Do you have a favorite orange?! Let me know what it is in the comments!

Subscription Sunday | Top 10 Julep Polishes for Summer

Posted on July 7, 2013July 10, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! Today I thought it would be fun to share with you my favorite Julep nail polishes for summer. Julep was the first monthly subscription service that I ever signed up for, and I’ve been a member for over a year now. I currently have forty Julep nail polishes in my collection, so I went through and picked ten polishes that are perfect for the summer sun. Some of these polishes have been reviewed on my blog in the past, but I hope you enjoy and discover a new shade that you love!

First up is Blake, a pastel yellow creme. Blake does not have the perfect formula — as with many yellow nail polishes it can be a bit streaky. Luckily I usually get it even in two to three coats, and the result is gorgeous! I love yellow nails in the summer, and Blake is a beautiful shade. While I love neon yellow, a pastel creme is very dainty and works well with many skin tones.

Next is Charlotte, a dusty light purple creme. Charlotte is a one coat formula, which I absolutely love. It applies perfectly, and the finish is very glossy. I think Charlotte is the perfect choice for those who don’t like ultra-bright nails, and it is also a great transitional polish from summer to fall. If you love purple nails, Charlotte is a must for your collection!

Harper is the next polish on my Top 10 list! It is an aquamarine glitter with hints of blue and an opalescent shine. Harper reminds me of a mermaid, and thus it is a must for summer! It is opaque in three coats, or you can layer it over a blue polish for an oceanic look. Harper is great for laying by the pool, and it surely sparkles in the sunlight. Be sure to let each coat dry completely between layers so you don’t smudge the glitter!

Up next is Lynn, a peachy nude polish with a hint of peach and silver shimmer. Lynn is one of the first Julep polishes I ever got, and I still love it! It is opaque in two coats and has a great formula. Some brushstrokes are visible with Lynn since it is a shimmer, but I personally like the finished look. If you’re stuck in the office all summer, Lynn is definitely work appropriate!

If you’re looking for a classic pink polish, Niecy is for you! It is the perfect bright pink, and has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats. Niecy goes well with any outfit, and will look great no matter what the occasion. I love pink nail polish, and Niecy is one of my all-time favorites!

Up next is Nina, a bright orange polish with a satin finish. Nina is a bit on the thick side, so be sure to limit the amount of polish you have on the brush when applying it. Nina is also opaque in two coats, and dries to look just like orange sherbet! Summer is the perfect time for orange nails, and Nina is a fun option from Julep. While the formula may not be perfect, the color payoff is worth it!

Next on the countdown is Payton, a bright green creme. Payton has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. Make sure you use a healthy layer of base coat with this one, as it can be staining to your nails. I just love green nails, and Payton is the perfect option for summer. I wore it for about a week in June!

Keeping with the green theme is Susie, a mint green creme. Susie has just a hint of mint pigmentation, and looks almost white in direct sunlight. It has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats, and dries very quickly. Susie is wearable any time of the year, but mint is right on trend for this summer. Everyone needs at least one mint in her collection, and Susie is a great option!

Following Susie is Teri, a bright coral creme polish. Teri has a good formula that is a bit on the thick side. It is opaque in two coats, and has a high-gloss finish. I find that Teri is very flattering for my skin tone, and I think it would look nice on everyone! Teri also isn’t too bright, so if you are looking to step into the bright nail polish world, this is a great option for you.

Last but not least is my holy grail of the Julep world, Yumi. Yumi is a pink, silver, and holographic glitter polish. It can be worn alone in three coats, but I layered one coat over Teri in the photo above. I love Yumi so much that I will need a second bottle soon! It is perfect for nail art, and can be combined with many different shades for a beautiful look. Yumi is just stunning!

All in all, you can see how much I love Julep nail polish! I love getting a box in the mail every month, and the variety of colors is fantastic. You can join the Julep Maven program and get your first month for free using code FREEBOX at checkout HERE. What I love about the program is the ability to skip any month you don’t want to purchase, and the special discounts that Maven members get. Let me know if you join Julep, and what your favorite Julep polish for summer is!

Some of the above links are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.