sally hansen insta-dri – Adventures in Polishland

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Dare to Compare | Comparing 5 Coral Nail Polishes

Posted on July 15, 2016June 6, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today’s nail polish comparison is going to be the biggest yet. I own five coral nail polishes that all look extremely similar in the bottle, and I just had to test them out together to see if any were dupes. Coral is the perfect shade to wear in the summertime, so I hope you’ll find these swatches helpful if you’re on the lookout for a coral shade. Let’s jump right into the individual reviews and side-by-side comparison!

First up is Coral Reef from the Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear line. This is the most affordable polish of the bunch, and it also has one of the best formulas. Coral Reef is a bit on the watery side, but it applies smoothly and is opaque in two coats. If you’ve been following my blog since its beginning, you’ll know that I am a huge fan of the Xtreme Wear line. While some of the formulas are duds, most of them are excellent and can fit nearly any budget. Coral Reef is a great option!

Next up is Splendid Strawberry from Milani’s older nail polish collection that is now discontinued. Splendid Strawberry looks a bit more pink-toned in the bottle, but dries to a beautiful coral shade. This polish has a very good formula, but is again a bit on the watery side. I really like the flat brush that came in this Milani line, as it makes application easier than thicker brushes.

Another polish from Milani is Corrupted Coral from its newer Color Statement line. Corrupted Coral’s formula is okay, but quite thick. I found that it dragged upon application, so make sure to let each coat dry completely before adding another layer. I also recommend thin coats as this polish can be very tacky.

The next polish is Peachy Breeze from the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri line. Peachy Breeze is a go-to polish for me, and my most used coral polish for sure. The formula has gotten a bit tacky over time, but it is still easily workable. I applied two coats to achieve opacity, and as promised, this polish dried extremely quickly.

Last but not least is China Glaze Surreal Appeal. This polish has a wonky formula. It is very watery, and then when it dries it becomes very uneven. I applied two coats in the photos above, and you can definitely see the uneven texture. I just don’t have much luck with the China Glaze brand!

It’s time to look at all of these polishes together! I’m wearing a different polish on each finger in the photos above, and I think it is fair to say that these are all dupes for one another. I cannot tell a difference between these five shades! I can’t believe I own so many of the same polish color. That being said, I am going to declutter all but one of them. I will be keeping Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Peachy Breeze, because although the formula is not perfect, it is my favorite out of the bunch since it applies well and dries fast.

All in all, I can’t get over the fact that I had five coral nail polishes that are virtually identical in my collection! I hope you found this post helpful if you are looking to find a coral, or if you already own one of the above. Now you won’t be wondering if a polish is a dupe when nail polish shopping! Definitely let me know in the comments if you have a favorite coral shade. I would love to hear your polish picks!

Some of 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 | Milani Popping Pink vs Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Fuchsia Flare

Posted on July 8, 2016June 3, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! I am so excited for today’s Dare to Compare post because I’m sharing two of my favorite pink nail polishes. Pink polishes are definitely one of my most owned in my collection. I think it’s because bright pink looks great on me, and it goes with almost everything. Even though I wear it quite often, there is no reason for me to hoard multiple bottles of the same color. Thus, it’s time to test out Milani Popping Pink and Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Fuchsia Flare together to see if it’s necessary to own both.

First up is Milani in the shade Popping Pink, a bright pink polish with peachy undertones. Popping Pink has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. It can be a bit streaky, but it evens out well. Popping Pink is a discontinued nail polish, so that always makes it difficult to declutter a polish. When I know I can never but it again, I always feel the need to keep it!

Next up is Fuchsia Flare from the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Collection. Fuchsia Flare is one of my most worn nail polishes for sure. The formula can be a bit streaky, but it is opaque in two coats and dries insanely quickly. In fact, I once applied this mere minutes before I had to meet a friend, and it didn’t smudge or ding once on my subway trip. Fuchsia Flare is my old faithful!

Here are the polishes side-by-side, with Popping Pink on my pinky and ring fingers and Fuchsia Flare on my middle and pointer fingers. It is very difficult to see any difference between the polishes in the photos, but in person Popping Pink is just slightly more peach-toned than Fuchsia Flare. Nonetheless, these polishes are nearly identical and there is no reason for me to own both! While I love both these polishes, I am going to declutter Popping Pink. I am sold by Fuchsia Flare’s quick dry formula!

All in all, I’m glad I tested out these polishes together to discover a near dupe for all of you! I know Popping Pink is discontinued, but you might still be able to find Fuchsia Flare at your local drugstore. Definitely let me know in the comments what your favorite bright pink nail polish is! I am always happy to learn your nail polish loves both here and on social media.

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 | Comparing 4 Midnight Blue Nail Polishes

Posted on June 6, 2016May 9, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today’s Dare to Compare post is going to be a big one. I own four nail polishes in my collection that are midnight blue shades, meaning they are almost black, but have a blue pigmentation. I knew I had to try them out side-by-side to see if they are exact duplicates of one another. The polishes range from the affordable price of $5 to the higher end price of $14, so I have a polish for every budget to share. Let me show you these polishes individually, and then side-by-side.

First up is Milani Color Statement in the shade Ink Spot. This is a highly pigmented polish that can be worn in just one coat. I added two coats for this blog post, just to ensure an opaque finish. Ink Spot is a great polish, and one that is super affordable. I recommend this polish if you are on a budget and looking for a solid one-coat formula.

Next up is Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Night Flight. This polish has been my go to for a while when it comes to midnight blue polishes. The formula is excellent, and it is opaque in two coats. Plus, it does dry very quickly, which I really appreciate. I reach for Night Flight because it does dry so fast. This is one is also super affordable at around $5.00 at the drugstore.

The third midnight blue polish I own is Madam Glam’s Endless Night. In the bottle this looks much more blue than it is black, but once I apply two coats it takes on the same blue-black look. Endless Night also has a good formula, but it is a stainer! Make sure to wear a healthy base coat if you own this polish. Madam Glam polishes retail for around $8.00, but Endless Night is discontinued.

Last but not least is Julep Kristy. This polish has a good formula that is opaque in two coats, but it does have a tendency to stain as well. I’m not sure if I’ve ever worn Kristy before, but it is a nice polish. If you’re looking for a splurge polish this might be a good one for you!

Here is a look at all four polishes side-by-side. From left to right are: Milani Ink Spot, Sally Hansen Night Flight, Madam Glam Endless Night, and Julep Kristy. As you can see, these polishes are all nearly identical. In person both Endless Night and Kristy are a touch more blue than Ink Spot and Night Flight, but honestly there is no need for me to own all four of these polishes! I’m going to keep only Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Night Flight, just because I love the quick dry formula.

All in all, I hope you found this post helpful if you are looking for a midnight blue polish. I think all of the polishes mentioned here are great options, but I definitely recommend Night Flight. It is available at the drugstore or online HERE for a fabulous and affordable price! Please let me know in the comments if you own any of these polishes, or if you have a favorite midnight blue. I would love to hear your thoughts!

Some of the products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. This post contains an affiliate link. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Back to School Week | Drugstore Nail Polish Kit

Posted on August 24, 2015August 21, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! It is officially the first day of Back to School Week here at Adventures in Polishland! I thought it would be fun to share with you a drugstore nail polish kit for back to school. This kit contains six different nail polishes that I think are the absolute basics to have in your collection. If you have these six polishes, you will be able to create the perfect manicure for any situation! Instead of telling you specific nail polishes that I think you need, I’m going to tell you general categories and share a nail polish for each category. This will make more sense as the post goes along, so let me share this kit with you!

THE WHITE POLISH

SinfulColors – Snow Me White

First and foremost, every nail polish kit needs a basic white nail polish. White can be worn alone, it can be used in nail art, and it can be used under any nail polish to make the color more vivid. I highly recommend Snow Me White from SinfulColors because it retails for just $1.99 but has an amazing formula as well. I did a full review of this polish, so click HERE if you want to learn more!

THE NEUTRAL POLISH

Wet 'n Wild Megalast – Bite the Bullet Wet ‘n Wild Megalast – Bite the Bullet

The next necessity is a neutral polish, whether it be a beige, brown, grey, or taupe. Neutrals are perfect for interviews, your internship, or any other professional event. I like Bite the Bullet from Wet ‘n Wild Megalast because it is a mauve polish that is still neutral, but has a hint of color, too. The Megalast line is also $1.99 at drugstores, and comes in a wide range of shades.

THE GLITTER TOP COAT

Milani Cosmetics – Rainbow Prisms

It’s always great to have a glitter top coat at the ready as it dresses up any manicure. I layered one coat of Rainbow Prisms from Milani over Bite the Bullet, and you can see how my professional manicure turned into a fun one instantly. Whether you’re going from day to night, or simply want to change up your nails without redoing them completely, a glitter top coat is a must. I love any holographic glitter like the one shown here, but a multi-colored glitter is a good choice, too.

THE FAST-DRYING FORMULA

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri – Blue-Away Sally Hansen Insta-Dri – Blue Away

Make sure you have at least one polish with a fast-drying formula in your kit! We all have those moments where we are running out the door while simultaneously hoping our nail polish doesn’t smudge. This is especially true when going back to school, whether you’re the student or parent! My favorite fast-drying formula is the Insta-Dri line from Sally Hansen. The line offers a plethora of different shades, but I picked one of my favorites to show you here. I also recommend the NYC New York Color In a New York Minute range.

THE DARK AND VAMPY POLISH

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri – Night Flight

With fall around the corner, dark nails are sure to be on trend once again. You’ll want to have a dark and vampy polish in your kit, but it doesn’t have to be black. Feel free to choose dark purples, maroons, greens, or anything else that suits your tastes. I chose to go with Night Flight, a dark blue polish. Of course, it has the same Insta-Dri formula that I love as well.

THE PINK POLISH

Covergirl – Tickled Pink

Last but not least, I had to include a pink polish in this drugstore nail polish kit! Pink is my all-time favorite shade of polish. It’s classic, it’s fun, and it comes in a variety of shades. My favorite is a bright pink like Tickled Pink from Covergirl. I know red may be the ‘true’ classic nail color, but pink is where it’s at for me! Plus, pink is more youthful, so it’s great for the classroom. I even wore a bright pink on my first day of law school!

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That brings us to the end of this post! I hope you found it helpful as you do your back to school shopping. Make sure to hit the beauty aisle and the school supplies aisle! Use these categories to build your own personalized kit, and you’ll be set on nail polish for the upcoming school season.

What shade of nail polish will you wear to school? Let me know in the comments!

July 4th Nail Art featuring Sally Hansen Insta-Dri

Posted on June 25, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! July 4th is just around the corner, and today I have some red, white, and blue polishes from Sally Hansen Insta-Dri to share with you. These polishes are part of a new, limited edition collection that is hitting drugstores this July. I decided that in addition to my usual review I would try my hand at some tie dye nail art. Let me go ahead and share these patriotic polishes with you!

First up is Tag, Ur It! a white creme polish. Tag, Ur It! has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. This is an amazingly glossy polish, and I’m impressed with the formula! I’ve already worn this twice – once for nail art and once alone. It’s perfect for summer.

Next up is Vandal Eyes, a sky blue polish. Vandal Eyes has a great formula as well, and is opaque in two coats. It is difficult to catch on camera, but there is a slight holographic shimmer in this one. I didn’t even notice the shimmer until the polish had dried on my nails. It is stunning!

Last but not least is Quick Brick, a true red creme polish. Quick Brick is my favorite of the bunch! It has an incredible formula, and is nearly a one coat polish. I think this is my new favorite red! It is a must have in your collection.

I wanted to use these colors for some July 4th nail art, so I went to Pinterest for inspiration. I found THIS tie dye pin and decided to go for it! It was a bit harder than I expected, but I think it turned out pretty cool! I love how the red and blue mixed together. I’ll definitely ned to test out this nail art technique some more!

All in all, Sally Hansen does it again with another great limited edition polish line. These polishes hit drugstores in July, so keep an eye on the displays. Whether you are looking for some July 4th colors, or simply some fast-drying polishes, these are a win! Be sure to let me know in the comments what you’ll be wearing on your nails for July 4th!

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

Manicure Monday | Pahlish Typewriter Keys + Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Peachy Breeze

Posted on May 25, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Manicure Monday! It’s time for the letter P in the Alphabet Challenge, and I grabbed both a brand that begins with P and a polish name that begins with P. Might as well go all out, right?! Anyway, I received this Pahlish as a gift a while back and rediscovered it in my collection a couple weeks ago. I decided to pair it with a bright pink, and I think it’s a match made in heaven. Let me go ahead and show it to you!

For this week’s manicure I began with a base of Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Peachy Breeze. This is one of my all-time favorite polishes. It really does dry quickly, and the formula is perfection. I’ve used it time and time again! When it was dry, I added one coat of Pahlish Typewriter Keys. This is a glitter polish with black, white, and holographic glitters. I’m obsessed with this combo! I can’t believe I never thought to pair these together before! I think these polishes were made for each other, don’t you?!

All in all, I think this is one of my favorite Manicure Monday posts yet! Unfortunately, Typewriter Keys is no longer available, but you can shop other Pahlish polishes on this indie brand’s website HERE. Sally Hansen Peachy Breeze is available on Amazon for the low price of $3.99 HERE. I highly recommend snagging that one up for your collection!

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

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri | Halloween 2014 Collection

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

Happy Thursday! Halloween is right around the corner, and in the next few days I’ll be sharing reviews of some fabulous and affordable polishes for the season. Sally Hansen has some awesome limited edition lines, and I’m going to start out by showing you the four Insta-Dri polishes. These polishes are the perfect base colors for the season. Let me go ahead and share them with you!

First up is OMGhost, a white creme polish. OMGhost has a watery formula, so I recommend three very thin coats. The final result is gorgeous, and the streaking is minimal. If you don’t yet own a white nail polish, OMGhost is perfect to pick up this time of year. It goes well with glitter on top!

Next up is Pumpkin Queen, my new favorite orange creme. This polish is perfection! Not only is the formula great, and opaque in two coats, but the result is awesome. Pumpkin Queen truly lives up to its name. I think this is a must buy in the collection!

Night Fright is up next, and it is a stunning black creme. Night Fright is nearly opaque in one coat, but I added a second coat to ensure a rich pigmentation. I love how glossy Night Fright is even without top coat. I highly recommend it if you need an affordable black polish for your collection.

Last but not least is Scaredy Matte, a matte black polish. Scaredy Matte has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. I do wish the matte effect was a bit stronger, as the finish is a bit shinier than I would expect from a matte. Nonetheless, this is a great polish for this time of year, and perfect to match with your leather jackets!

All in all, I think the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri polishes for Halloween 2014 are awesome! These are four core polishes that everyone should own, especially for this time of year. These polishes retail for just $4.99 and are available at your local drugstore or department store. Let me know in the comments which of these you’re going to pick up!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Valentine’s Day Skittle Manicure!

Posted on February 10, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Sunday! Today I have a fun post for all of you featuring a Valentine’s Day skittle manicure. What is a skittle manicure, you ask? It’s when each nail is painted differently from all the rest, whether it be all different colors or patterns. I thought a skittle would be a cute idea for Valentine’s Day, and it would help me practice some nail art techniques! Let me show you my Valentine’s manicure!

I used Sally Hansen Fuchsia Flare as the base color for my manicure, and an accent nail of Zoya Jacqueline. Fuchsia Flare is a beautiful bright pink nail polish that is opaque in two coats. The formula was easy to apply, and spread out evenly. I thought it would make the perfect base for some nail art, especially for Valentine’s Day! I also used a fast dry polish so that I could get to work on the nail art as soon as possible — I don’t like waiting for polish to dry!

The next step was to begin the skittle! I first started out with Fuchsia Flare again, and ever so carefully did a free-hand heart on the accent nail of Zoya Jacqueline. To do so, I wiped off almost all the polish from the brush, and made two sweeps of the polish in a V shape. It was rather simple to do with a steady hand, and I’m thrilled the way it came out!

Next, I completed my manicure using all of the other polishes. It’s very important to make sure your base color is dry before beginning these next steps, or you will experience smudging. Working from pinky to thumb, I first did a french tip with an unnamed red OPI. To do so I used scotch tape as a guideline. Next, I did a glitter gradient on my middle finger using Equinots from A Rhyming Dictionary. I put a dab of the glitter polish at the bottom of my nail near the cuticle, and slowly dragged up the glitters until about half of the nail was covered. On my pointer finger I used Milani Digital to do another scotch tape design, this time in a vertical stripe. The result here wasn’t very good — Digital was not opaque over Fuchsia Flare, and I didn’t get a clean line after removing the tape. Nonetheless, I completed the manicure with a thin coat of Elixir Lacquer A Cool Fool on my thumb nail. This gave that nail a beautiful, holographic shine.

Overall I am loving my Valentine’s Day manicure! There are some imperfections, but that is fine by me. Be sure to try out your own skittle manicure by wearing a different color or design on each nail. It’s a fun way to experiment with new styles and impress your friends. Be sure to share your Valentine’s Day manicures with me on my Facebook page HERE!

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