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Manicure March | Julep in Katie

Posted on March 4, 2016February 16, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Manicure March continues today with a review of one of my many Julep nail polishes. I own dozens of Julep polishes after subscribing to the service so long, and also from purchasing mystery boxes. I absolutely loved Julep when the site first launched. Unfortunately, Julep changed its brush and formula over time, and I don’t think the quality is as great anymore. I’ve decided I’m only going to keep Julep polishes that I absolutely love. Let me show go ahead and show you Katie!

Katie is a magenta polish with blue and magenta shimmer. The formula is good, but it does pull. I was really sad when the polish pulled upon application (meaning it bunched up on the nail instead of going on smoothly). The color is absolutely stunning, and I was thinking about keeping it in my stash. However, because the formula isn’t great, I decided to let it go. I’m sure I can find another polish in a similar color that has a better formula. Let’s be real – I probably already own one!

All in all, while I think Katie is a beautiful polish, I’m destashing it due to its wonky formula. Sometimes I do keep nail polish with imperfect formulas if I really love the color, but to be honest I wouldn’t wear Katie often anyway. Please let me know in the comments if you keep polishes purely for the shade, even if the formula isn’t the best. I would love to know!

Join in #ManicureMarch by using the hashtag on social media and by tagging me in your photos on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or Twitter!

Manicure March | Confetti in Purple Pizzazz

Posted on March 2, 2016February 16, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Manicure March continues today with a review of one of the oldest polishes in my collection. Confetti is a brand that used to be sold at CVS stores for the fabulous and affordable price of $1.99. I own two polishes from the brand, and I’ve held onto Purple Pizzazz for years now, partly for emotional reasons. This might sound silly, but I have really good memories with this nail polish! I remember lending it to friends, and bringing it with me to New York the first semester I lived in the city. However, I almost never wore it myself. I decided to put it to the test once and for all to see if I actually liked the polish itself.

Purple Pizzazz is a really unique nail polish. It is a purple-pink metallic polish with a holographic shimmer. The formula is good, but on the sheer side so I applied three coats for opacity. While I was swatching in artificial light, I wasn’t sure if I liked Purple Pizzazz. I decided to add my favorite top coat to really try out this polish. I thought I was going to keep it until I stepped out into natural light to take photographs of my manicure. I truly saw the light – this polish is just not for me! I’m not a metallic fan, for one, and this color just doesn’t go with my skin tone. Purple Pizzazz, it’s time to say goodbye!

I’m so glad I was finally able to part with Confetti in Purple Pizzazz. Sometimes it can be difficult to get rid of things that you have fond memories of, even if that thing is nail polish. At the end of the day, if I’m not going to use a polish, I shouldn’t own it anymore. Please let me know in the comments if you still own any polishes from the Confetti brand, and if you like them!

Join in #ManicureMarch by using the hashtag on social media and by tagging me in your photos on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or Twitter!

Manicure Monday | L’Oreal Paris in Paparazzi Pleaser

Posted on February 22, 2016February 12, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! I’ll be honest – my nail polish declutter project took a big break after I went through the first box. I decided to slowly pick it back up again, and tried out one of the polishes I set aside to swatch. I first picked up L’Oreal Paris in Paparazzi Pleaser back in 2014 (see that post HERE), and I’m pretty sure I haven’t worn it since then. Let me share this purple polish with you, and let you know if I plan on keeping it!

Paparazzi Pleaser is a deep purple cream nail polish. The formula is good, but a bit on the thin side. I applied three coats to achieve opacity, and I didn’t have any application issues. Paparazzi Pleaser is definitely a beautiful color, but for some reason I’m not thrilled with it. I think the warm, blue-tone isn’t suited for my pale skin. Despite this being a great drugstore polish, I’m moving it into my box of polishes to destash.

All in all, I’m glad I put Paparazzi Pleaser to the test! As always, L’Oreal’s polish is excellent quality. I think it is a great drugstore brand, but this shade of polish isn’t for me. I still recommend it, especially if you have a deeper skin tone. It retails for around $5.00 at your local drugstore or online HERE. Let me know if you’re pleased by Paparazzi Pleaser in the comments!

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

Manicure Monday | Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Violet Voltage

Posted on January 4, 2016December 31, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I wanted to share with you a nail polish I received from Influenster as a giveaway prize. I’ve loved the Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear line for years, even way before I started blogging. The polishes are so fabulous and affordable, and come in a variety of colors and finishes. I decided to put Violet Voltage to the test as soon as it arrived!

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear – Violet Voltage Violet Voltage is a light purple nail polish packed with a subtle magenta shimmer. The formula is perfection, and is opaque in two coats. I am loving this color of polish! While it’s not totally unique, the shimmer does add a nice punch to it. I also really like how Violet Voltage looks with my fair skin tone. I followed up the manicure with the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Top Coat, by the way. It’s my new favorite!

All in all, I’m so glad I won this nail polish from Influenster! I might not have picked it up on my own, but it’s definitely a new staple in my collection. I highly recommend it, especially because it is super affordable at the drugstore! Be sure to let me know in the comments if you own Violet Voltage, of if you’ll be making it part of your collection!

Shop online for these polishes using this widget and I’ll earn a small commission! Thank you for your support!

The product in this post was provided to me as a giveaway prize. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Max Dona Nail Polish in C22 | Born Pretty Store Macaron Collection

Posted on November 23, 2015November 13, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I have a review of a new nail polish from the online store Born Pretty Store. The shop has an eight piece collection called the Macaron Collection because of the shade range available. I got one of the polishes to review for all of you in a gorgeous purple color. The polish is from the brand Max Dona, which is new to me. One cool thing about Born Pretty Store is you get to try different brands from around the world! Let me show you this beautiful polish, and stay tuned for a coupon code at the end of the post!

The Max Dona polish I received is shade C22, a lilac creme polish with silver shimmer. The formula is good, but it is on the thick side so I recommend thin coats. I accidentally applied a thick coat on my middle finger, and you can see how it turns goopy with too much polish on the nail. However, with two thin coats I achieved a beautiful look! I really like the combination of this purple with the silver shimmer. It’s perfect for the winter months, but can carry into the springtime seamlessly.

All in all, I’m really liking this purple polish from Born Pretty Store! I think it’s definitely worth a pick-up if you think the color is as pretty as I do. It is a fabulous and affordable $4.84 on the Born Pretty Store website HERE. Of course, when you shop on Born Pretty Store’s website, you will always get free international shipping, and you can use my coupon code FZL91 for 10% off your order. Stay tuned for more reviews of Born Pretty Store products in the coming weeks!

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.

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?

Zoya Nail Polish Focus Collection for Fall 2015

Posted on August 19, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I am excited to show you the Zoya Nail Polish Focus Collection for Fall 2015. This is one of two collections that Zoya is releasing this season, and contains six cream polishes in gorgeous shades. I am a huge fan of cream formulas, and could not wait to test out these pigmented polishes. Without further ado, let me show you these new Zoyas!

First up is Charli, a taupe polish with green undertones. Charli, like all of the polishes in the Focus Collection, has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. I’ve never used a taupe polish like this before, and I’m not quite sure what I think of it! Charlie is going to be perfect for nail art, but it’s not my favorite shade with my skin tone.

Next up is Desiree, a rich chocolate brown polish. I am really loving Desiree! The deep pigmentation is stunning, and the polish is naturally shiny without a top coat. Of course, Desiree has an amazing formula as well. I think this is a great brown polish to have in your collection!

Zoya Hannah is a classic red polish, and I have to say I’m wowed with it! If you’ve been a follower of mine for a while, you’ll know I’m not usually a big fan of red nail polishes, just because they typically look weird with my fair complexion and pink undertones. Hannah, however, just works. The formula is perfection as well.

If you’re looking for a darker red, make sure to check out Janel. Janel is a deep and warmer-toned red polish. The formula is still great and opaque in two coats. This is a polish that could take you from the fall season right into the holidays.

Next up is Lidia, a deep eggplant purple polish. Lidia is so beautiful! I did experience a bit of patchiness with the formula, but nothing that another coat of polish can’t fix. I’m just really impressed with the rich pigmentation in this collection. It pumps me up for fall!

Last but not least is Sia, a royal blue polish. Sia is by far my favorite polish in this collection! I am truly obsessed with this blue shade. I could gush about how much I love it for several paragraphs, but I’ll stop here. Buy Sia and you will not be disappointed!

All in all, the Zoya Focus Collection is one of my favorite lines the brand has yet to release. I cannot wait to put Sia back on my nails, and I highly recommend the entire collection. I think it is a perfect release for the upcoming fall season. You can purchase the Focus Collection directly from Zoya’s website HERE. Each polish is $9, or you can buy the full collection at $54. For a limited time, you can purchase the full line in mini size bottles for $30! This is a great option for those of you on a budget, but make sure you act fast before they sell out!

What is your favorite polish in the Zoya Focus Collection? Let me know in the comments!

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

Manicure Monday | Zoya Charisma

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

Happy Manicure Monday! I can’t believe it! This is the last post in the Alphabet Challenge! I’m so proud of myself for keeping with the series, and catching up when I missed a couple weeks here and there. The only weeks I skipped were Q and X, simply because I don’t own any polishes that fit those categories. But without further ado, let’s jump right into the final post and round it up with Zoya Charisma for the letter Z!

Charisma is one of my all-time favorite Zoya polishes of the dozens that I own. It is a matte polish somewhere between a pink and purple shade. The formula does tend to be a bit patchy, but I layered three coats on and let each dry completely in order to get this final look. I just love matte polishes, and this fun color makes it that much better.

All in all, Zoya Charisma is the perfect polish to close out the Alphabet Challenge! You can purchase it on Zoya’s website HERE for $9.00. Now that we’ve reached the end of the Alphabet Challenge, I want to hear from all of you! I found another nail polish challenge on Pinterest HERE, and would be happy to continue Manicure Monday posts featuring that challenge. Please let me know if you are interested in seeing those posts in the comments!

Manicure Monday | Milani Vivid Violet

Posted on July 6, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Manicure Monday! It’s time for the Alphabet Challenge to continue with the letter V. I couldn’t find a brand that begins with V in my collection, so I went with a polish color from Milani called Vivid Violet. I got this polish last year, and haven’t used it in a while. I decided now was the perfect time to put this purple on again!

Vivid Violet is a creme polish in a beautiful purple color. The formula is absolute perfection, and is opaque in two coats. I just love this muted purple shade. It’s great to wear any time of year, and I don’t even feel the need to add top coat as it is naturally glossy! Vivid Violet is definitely one of my favorite Milani polishes!

Vivid Violet isn’t sold in stores any longer, but there are a few bottles for sale on Amazon HERE. I do highly recommend this polish if you love purples as much as I do. Plus, definitely check out Milani’s permanent nail polish line at your local drugstore. Despite the affordable price tag, this brand is 100% fabulous and high quality!

What’s your favorite Milani polish? 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.

Manicure Monday | OPI Louvre Me Louvre Me Not

Posted on May 18, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Manicure Monday! I can’t believe we’re already on to the letter O in the Alphabet Challenge. Time flies when you’re having fun! This week I reached for an OPI classic that I’ve had in my collection for years now. My mom gave me Louvre Me Louvre Me Not as a gift years ago now, and it’s one that I used to use a lot. Let me show you this pretty purple!

Louvre Me Louvre Me Not is a beautiful purple polish with magenta shimmer. It has a perfect formula that is opaque in two coats. I love the flat brush that OPI polishes have, and using this one made me want to expand my OPI collection. I definitely stay away from OPI because of its price tag, but I’ll have to make room for an OPI in my budget every now and then. I know I’ll always get a quality polish!

I’m so glad I got the change to use Louvre Me Louvre Me Not again. This polish was originally part of a limited edition collection, but is now available as part of the permanent line. You can purchase it on Amazon HERE for under $7.00! Make sure to let me know what your favorite OPI polishes are in the comments!