pixiedust – Adventures in Polishland

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Zoya Nail Polish Enchanted Collection | Holiday 2016

Posted on October 27, 2016October 26, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! The holiday season is right around the corner, and Zoya Nail Polish just released the new Enchanted Collection. This six-piece line contains four PixieDust polishes and two metallic polishes with color-flip properties. Zoya describes this collection as holiday magic combined with the wonders of winter, and I think that sums up these polishes perfectly! The Enchanted Collection has a polish for everyone, and I’m excited to share my swatches with you today.

First up is Elphie, a deep emerald green PixieDust with a green shimmer. Elphie has a good formula that is opaque in two coats. I recommend letting each layer of PixieDust polishes dry completely before adding onto your manicure. Luckily, PixieDust polishes tend to dry rather quickly, and you can tell when the finish becomes textured and matte in appearance. Elphie is a gorgeous shade for the holiday season, whether worn alone or in nail art.

Next up is Olivera, a duochrome polish that shifts from green to purple. Olivera has a good formula that is opaque in two coats, but I did find it to be a bit messy to work with due to its rich pigmentation. Nonetheless, this polish is beyond stunning! Olivera is perfect for the Halloween season, and it a great option if you want dark nails without going for a plain black. I just love when a polish can look different depending on the change in lighting.

The next PixieDust polish is Lorna, a berry shade with a burgundy shimmer. Lorna is one of my favorites in this collection, and it also has an excellent formula. This is a unique take on the standard red nail, and one that works really well for the holiday season. If you want to step outside of your comfort zone without changing your manicure drastically, Lorna is a great stepping stone!

If you prefer lighter shades, Alice is a nice option! This PixieDust has a periwinkle base with blue and magenta shimmer. Alice has a great formula and is opaque in two coats. I really like the mix of colors within this polish, as it adds a lot of dimension and is unlike any other nail polish I own. Alice is also a great transitional polish for after the holiday season!

The other color-flip shade in the line is Saint, a periwinkle blue with a magenta shift. Saint does not have as strong a duochrome effect as Olivera, but it is an amazing polish. The formula is on the sheer side, so I applied three coats to achieve opacity. I am blown away with how gorgeous Saint looks on the nails. If you’re only going to buy one polish from this collection, I think Saint is a stand-out for me.

Last but not least is Waverly, a dark sapphire blue PixieDust with blue shimmer. Waverly has a good formula that is opaque in two coats, and I am obsessing over this blue shade. It’s no secret that I love blue nail polish, and Waverly is no exception. I think Zoya made the right choice in keeping this polish all blue right down to the shimmer!

All in all, I am quite impressed with Zoya’s new Enchanted Collection for the 2016 holiday season. This line contains a variety of shades in both dark and light tones. Plus, the formulas are unique and unlike the polishes already in my collection. I must admit that I am still unsure about the PixieDust resurgence, but it’s undeniable Zoya creates high quality polishes season after season. You can purchase each polish in the Enchanted Collection on Zoya’s website HERE for $10. As always, please let me know in the comments which Enchanted 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.

Zoya Seashells Collection for Summer 2016

Posted on June 8, 2016May 16, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I am continuing my review of the Zoya Nail Polish Summer 2016 release with a full review of the Seashells Collection. I was very surprised to see Zoya release a PixieDust Collection this summer. The PixieDust formula is Zoya’s take on textured nail polish. It applies smoothly and then dries to a textured finish, complete with stunning glitter in each polish. I could have sworn that the textured trend was over, but I was wrong! PixieDust polishes are back in action this year, and I’m excited to review them for you.

I wanted to quickly note that I applied two coats of each PixieDust polish in the photos you see here. PixieDust polishes are buildable, and are typically opaque in 2-3 coats.

First up is Levi, a yellow gold polish with holographic glitter. Levi has a great formula, and dries very quickly. I’m not one to wear gold polish regularly, but this is a great option. I also like the holographic glitter, since it adds a lot of dimension to the polish.

Next up is Linds, a red polish with red and gold glitter. Linds has a good formula, but I found the textured effect isn’t as strong with this polish. That might be a pro for you depending on how much you like the PixieDust finish. Linds is more of a fall and winter shade for me, so I find it interesting that it’s part of a summer collection!

My favorite polish in the collection is Zooey, a pink polish with gold glitter and holographic hexagons. I love the combination of the gold and pink, because it almost makes this polish appear as a rose gold. Plus, Zooey sparkles so beautifully in the sunlight, which makes it perfect as a summer staple!

Next up is Cece, a green polish with gold glitter. Cece is definitely a bit on the sheer side, as I applied two coats and it is not opaque. That being said, I’m interested to try layering Cece over another green polish to see what that looks like.

Bay is up next, and it is a blue polish with silver and gold glitter. Bay is similar to Cece, in that the formula is more on the sheer side. The pigmentation is not as strong as I would like, but if you like lighter blues this one will be right up your alley!

Last but not least is Tilly, a silver polish with purple and holographic glitter. Tilly is a really unique polish, and I know I don’t own anything else like this in my stash. I think Tilly will look beautiful with darker skin tones, but I’m not loving it with my fair complexion. I’m much more of a rose gold girl!

All in all, I think Zoya has produced a solid collection with the Seashells. I’m not a big fan of the PixieDust formula anymore, but these polishes are all amazing quality. I definitely recommend Zooey, and if you’re only looking to pick up one Seashells polish that is my pick. You can shop for these polishes on Zoya’s website HERE for $10 each or $60 for the full collection.

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

Zoya Nail Polish Wishes Collection for Holiday 2014!

Posted on October 28, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! I’m super excited to show all of you the Wishes Collection that Zoya is releasing for the 2014 Holiday season! I’m sure you all know by now that Zoya is one of my all-time favorites nail polish brands, so I always squeal with joy when a new package arrives for review. With the Holidays being my favorite time of year, that makes the Wishes Collection that much more special! This collection includes three traditional formulas and three corresponding Magical PixieDust polishes. I’ve swatched each polish with its corresponding shade as an accent so you can see how well they go together.

First up is Willa, a stunning black creme polish that was originally released as ‘Black Swan’ for fashion designer Zang Toi. Willa has an amazing formula that applies easily and is opaque in two coats. I think it is safe to say that black polish is in this season, so definitely grab Willa if you’re looking for the perfect black polish!

Willa goes perfectly with Imogen, a textured polish with a black base filled with silver glitters. Imogen is a really unique polish, and I love the chunky, hexagonal glitters. The formula is great, and the polish is opaque in two coats. Imogen’s finished effect reminds me a bit of coal, so if you’re a Katniss Everdeen fan you need this polish!

Next up is Haven, a rich plum shade with a metallic quality to it. Haven is so beautiful and has a perfect formula that is opaque in two coats. You won’t have to dream of sugarplums dancing in your head this holiday when you can wear them on your nails! But seriously, Haven is just a dreamy shade of polish.

Matching up with Haven is Thea, an amethyst textured polish with hints of orchid in the glitter. Thea applies really well, and is opaque in two coats. The combination of Haven and Thea is definitely my favorite in the Wishes Collection! I love the rich pigmentation and sparkle!

The next polish is Prim, a velvet blue metallic shade. Prim’s formula is just fabulous, and opaque in two coats. I love the added dimension with the metallic formula, and the unique shade of polish. Plus, this polish also has a Hunger Games tie to it! I guess I just have Mockingjay on the mind!

Last but not least is Nori, a sapphire blue textured polish with holographic silver glitter. Nori is my favorite in the Wishes Collection, and I love the flawless formula. I do wish it was a better match with Prim, but I love it on its own any day! I bet this would make a fun manicure with Zoya Dream from last year’s holiday collection, too.

All in all, I think the Zoya Nail Polish Wishes Collection is just beautiful! It captures the sparkle of the holiday season perfectly, but includes traditional formulas for those who don’t love chunky glitter as well. You can purchase the Wishes Collection on Zoya’s website HERE. The polishes retail for $9-10 each, with the complete set for sale at $57. Please let me know which of these polishes is on your wish list this year!

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

Zoya Ultra PixieDust Collection for Fall 2014

Posted on September 24, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Zoya Nail Polish has done it again, and came out with an incredible trio of textured matte glitter polishes for fall. The Ultra PixieDust line has three red-toned shades perfect for the upcoming fall and winter seasons. You can see full reviews of all the past Zoya PixieDust Collections HERE, but let me go ahead and show you the new goodies!

First up is Oswin, a true red shade packed with chunky red glitters. Oswin has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. Make sure that you let each coat dry completely with these polishes to get the perfect textured finish. I found that Oswin lightened up a bit when dry, but I like the added dimension between the base and glitters. I don’t like such a bright red with my skin tone, but if you have a darker complexion it would look beautiful!

Next up is Arianna, a deeper red polish with a blue undertone. Arianna is also opaque in two coats, and I found that the finished product matches the bottle’s shade a bit more than Oswin does. If you enjoy wine shades, Arianna is perfect for you. Plus, this polish can work right through the holidays.

Last but not least is Noir, my favorite of the three! Noir is a stunning purple shade that is opaque in two coats. I found Noir to be the sparkliest of the bunch, as the glitter stood out even when the polish was completely dry. If you have very fair skin like I do, Noir is a great polish for you!

All in all, the Zoya Ultra PixieDust line is a fun bunch of polishes. I can guarantee you have nothing else like these in your collection! Zoya really creates a unique formula with these chunky glitters that dry matte, but each applies so smoothly and easily to the nail. You can purchase the Ultra PixieDusts on Zoya’s website HERE for $10 each. Buy them separately, or as a trio! Make sure to let me know in the comments which is your favorite as well.

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

Zoya Magical Pixie Collection for Summer 2014

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

Happy Tuesday! Earlier this year, Zoya released the first Magical Pixie Collection, and now there are three, brand new shades for summer. If you love glitter nail polish and textured polish, these are definitely the polishes for you. Let me show you the sparkly goodness!

First up is Ginni, a baby pink that reminds me of a ballerina’s tutu! I applied two coats in the photos above, and while some of my nail line is still visible I like the coverage. I think three coats would just be too thick and chunky due to the big glitters. Ginni is such a beautiful polish, and quite wearable.

Next up is Arlo, a pinky-purple polish and my favorite in the collection. Arlo is opaque in two coats, and is quite pigmented. I just love the color, and the holographic glitters look stunning in this base color. Look at that dimension!

Last but not least is Bar, a golden nude polish. Bar is nearly opaque in two coats, and I love how the nude color really gives a sparkly manicure that is subtle yet still fancy. This polish would look awesome as an accent nail to a nude manicure.

All in all, I’m quite impressed with the entire Magical Pixie Collection for this summer. I really love Arlo, and think these polishes all have great formulas. You can purchase these polishes on Zoya’s website HERE for $10 each. Let me know which of these polishes is your favorite 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.

Zoya Magical Pixie Collection for Spring 2014!

Posted on February 25, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! Today on the blog I have a review of the new Zoya Nail Polish trio for spring called the Magical Pixie Collection. These new polishes are a continuation of the textured PixieDust line, but they include larger glitters and a holographic sparkle. It was very difficult for me to capture just how sparkly these polishes are on camera. Please know that the Magical Pixies will be much more glittery in person if you purchase them! Let me share these polishes with you!

First up is Cosmo, a silver textured polish. Cosmo is opaque in two coats, and has a surprisingly easy-to-work-with formula! This polish is literally like a disco ball on my nails! It would be so perfect for a night out on the town, or anyone who just loves glitter and sparkle. I think this is great for New Year’s Eve as well!

Next up is Vega, a light blue textured polish. Vega is quite full coverage, and I could almost get away with one coat, but added a second for opacity. I really like how the dusty blue color is mixed with the holographic sparkle. Vega is so unique!

Last but not least is Lux, a baby pink textured polish. Lux is my favorite polish in this trio! It reminds me of ballerinas and tutus. Just like the other polishes in this collection, Lux is opaque in two coats and quite easy to apply. It dries very quickly, and is oh-so-sparkly!

All in all, the Magical Pixie Collection is unlike anything else in my own personal stash! I know these won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but I think they are really fun, and perfect for fancy occasions. You can purchase these polishes on Zoya’s website HERE for $10 each. Let me know what you think of the Magical Pixies 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.

Zoya PixieDust Special Texture Edition for Fall 2013

Posted on August 1, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! Today I have the first of three very amazing fall collections to share with you from none other than Zoya Nail Polish. I’m so excited that Zoya has a brand new PixieDust collection, since textured nail polishes are my favorite trend in the nail polish world. Let me show you the six new shades for fall!

First up is Carter, a royal purple polish with magenta glitters. Carter is my absolute favorite polish in the collection! It is opaque in two coats, and has an amazing formula. I couldn’t capture how much Carter sparkles in real life, but this deep purple is just a favorite shade of mine. I wore it for an entire weekend, and to see Justin Timberlake in concert!

Next is Tomoko, a gold polish with a metallic shine. Tomoko does have a great formula that is opaque in two coats, but I had some trouble with application because the polish was difficult to see on my nails when wet. I think Tomoko is just so close to my skin tone that it blended right in! Other than that issue, I really like this polish. I wore it for over a week and only had slight tip wear!

Chita is up next, and is a stunning dark green polish with silver glitters. Chita is opaque in two coats, and has a fabulous formula. This one did take a bit of extra drying time, but other than that it’s flawless. I love Chita’s deep shade and strong pigmentation. This is a polish that can work for the holiday season as well as the fall.

Sunshine is the next PixieDust in the collection, and is a navy blue polish with silver glitters. At first I was confused by the blue shade, but now I’m walking on Sunshine and I’ll tell you why — this is a one coat formula! With amazing pigmentation, one coat of Sunshine provides a full coverage manicure. This denim colored polish is going to be on my nails a lot this fall!

Next up is Arabella, a bright rose pink with light pink glitters. Arabella has the perfect formula that is opaque in two coats. It also dries rather quickly, which I really appreciated. Arabella is a very flattering and wearable polish. It is just stunning for any time of year!

Last but not least is Dhara, a bright orange polish with gold glitters. Zoya has certainly perfected the orange PixieDust! I loved Beatrix in the summer collection, and Dhara is definitely great for fall. It is opaque in two coats, and has a flawless formula. Don’t fear wearing an orange polish — this one will look nice with any skin tone!

All in all, I am loving the PixieDust collection for fall! I find each shade to be quite wearable, and the formulas are really nice overall. You can purchase these polishes on Zoya’s website HERE for $9 each or $54 for the complete set. Stay tuned for reviews of two more Zoya collections for Fall 2013 as well!

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

Zoya PixieDust Summer 2013 Collection

Posted on May 15, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! I am back today with a review of the full PixieDust Collection for this summer. A few months back, Zoya came out with the first PixieDust collection (see that review HERE), but they recently released six new shades that are bright, fun, and perfect for the hot summer sun! I am really enjoying the textured nail polish trend, and these polishes are some of my favorites so far. Let me show you the summer PixieDusts!

First up is Destiny, my favorite from the collection! Destiny is a bright red orange color, and has gold shimmer throughout. It is opaque in two coats and has an amazing formula. Destiny was the first from this collection that I tried, and I didn’t take it off for almost a week! The PixieDust formula is very long lasting, even without the top coat!

Next is Stevie, a gorgeous light purple polish with silver shimmer. Stevie is also opaque in two coats and has the same perfect formula. I think it is really cool how the polish applies like a cream, but dries textured! It makes painting my nails even more fun. I also like that Stevie is brighter than a normal light purple so it doesn’t look pale against my light skin tone. It’s perfect for the transition from spring to summer!

Beatrix is next up, and is a gorgeous light orange polish with gold shimmer. Beatrix is opaque in two coats, and has a flawless application as well. Upon removal I did end up with the gold shimmer all over my hands, but after a few thorough washings it came off. I’m not usually fond of orange nail polish, but Beatrix and Destiny from this collection are just amazing! I am sure to grab these often during the summer.

Next up is Solange, a yellow gold polish. Solange has an amazing one coat formula! It is also the most textured looking of the bunch. Solange isn’t a good match for my light skin, but I think it would look stunning with darker skin tones! While it is not my personal favorite, Solange is definitely a great polish for summer.

Miranda is the next PixieDust, and it is what Zoya calls a rose color. I love that it is a darker pink shade, but the silver sparkle still livens it up. Miranda is opaque in two coats, and has a great formula. I found this polish to not be as textured as the others, but it is still very pretty. Miranda is perfect for a more subdued look if you are looking to try out textured polish, but aren’t sure what to expect.

Last but not least is Liberty, a bright blue polish with silver shimmer. Liberty is just gorgeous, and looks flawless on the nail. It is opaque in two coats and has an amazing formula. I heard rumors that Liberty stains, so I made sure to wear a healthy layer of base coat and to stay away from the cuticle. My techniques worked — I did not have any staining whatsoever! Liberty is definitely a bold polish, but I just love it!

All in all, I am very impressed with the Zoya PixieDust Summer collection! All of the formulas were spot on, and the colors are beautiful. I think this collection is a must have for summer! These polishes look stunning in the sunlight! You can purchase the Zoya PixieDust polishes online HERE for $9 each.

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

Milani Limited Edition Nail Collection: Textured Creams Specialty Nail Lacquer

Posted on February 28, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Today I am extremely excited to share with you the full Textured Creams collection from Milani Cosmetics! This collection is Limited Edition, and features six gorgeous shades of textured nail polish. I was unsure of how I would like this collection when I saw the press release, but I was amazed with the quality and formula of the polishes when I gave them a try. Let me show you these fabulous and affordable nail polishes!

First up is Tainted in Red, a bright red orange polish. All of the Milani Textures apply like a regular cream finish, but then dry to this textured look. This makes the formula amazing! The application is just perfect with two coats. I am loving Tainted in Red. It looked great with my skin tone and is an edgy take on a classic red polish. I think pairing this with a black outfit would be perfect for a night out!

Next is Spoiled in Fuchsia, a beautiful pink polish that is a mix between a fuchsia and magenta color. As with all of these polishes, I applied two coats of Spoiled in Fuchsia. Make sure you let each coat dry before applying a second layer. You will be able to see the polish drying as the textured look appears! Spoiled in Fuchsia is a gorgeous polish for spring. It’s not too bright, and is great for an every day look!

Aqua Splash is the next polish in the Milani Texture collection. It is a gorgeous aqua color that leans toward seafoam green. The brush with this polish was a little wonky, but it thankfully didn’t affect application at all. Aqua Splash is such a beautiful color. It’s perfect for the transition from spring to summer! I’ve been loving greens lately, and this is another one that I find stunning.

Next up is Yellow Mark, a banana yellow polish! This has the same flawless formula as the other polishes in this collection. Yellow Mark is my least favorite polish from the bunch simply because the color is not for me. If you love yellows, this is the polish for you! It’s perfect for a warm, sunny day!

Purple Streak is a dark and true purple polish. This is the only polish in the collection that applied streaky with the first coat. Luckily it evened right up with the second! I love this color polish! It’s not too bright or dark, and it’s great for all seasons. I think dark purple is a great alternative to the classic red nail, and Purple Streak is even edgier!

Last but not least is Shady Gray, what I like to call a graphite color! Shady Gray is a great neutral polish with a smoky look. I love that this is not black, but still a darker shade. That makes it less harsh and dramatic, but it still goes with every outfit. Shady Gray is perfect for the end of the winter season!

All in all, I am super impressed with the Textured Creams Collection from Milani! I was just blown away with the amazing formula, and how great they looked on the nail. I highly recommend this collection! Be sure to stop by your local Walgreens, Fred Meyer, HEB, or Meijer to purchase this collection. You can also buy it online at Milani’s website HERE. Each polish is just $4.99! What an affordable way to stay on trend this season!

Let me know what you think of this collection and textured nail polishes! Plus, stay tuned to see how I used these nail polishes to create some simply nail art looks!

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