spring – Adventures in Polishland

Tag: spring

Zoya Nail Polish Delight Collection for Spring 2015

Posted on January 30, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I’m excited to bring you a full review of the new Delight Collection from Zoya Nail Polish. This collection contains three creme polishes and three shimmer polishes to help you celebrate the spring season. I am always eager to test out the new Zoyas when they arrive to my doorstep, so let’s jump right into my review!

First up is Lillian, a pale blue creme polish. Lillian has a good formula, but I did experience some mild streaking. I applied three coats to get a flawless finish, and I really like the result. I’m definitely a sucker for pastel shades, especially in the spring, so Lillian is a great one to have in my collection.

Next up is Eden, a beautiful pink polish that Zoya calls a “spring flower” shade. Eden’s formula is great, and I applied two coats to achieve opacity. It is a bit on the tacky side, so I recommend thicker coats that you allow to dry completely between layers. If you’ve been a follower of mine for a while, you’ll know that I love pinks! Eden is so nice!

Tiana is the last creme shade in the Delight Collection, and it’s a stunning mint green. Tiana also had a formula that tended to be streaky, so I applied three coats for an even finish. I’m really loving this creme polish. Mint shades are always on trend in the spring, so if you’re looking for one to add to your collection, pick up Tiana!

Rayne is the first shimmer in the collection, and is a unique metallic blue with turquoise shimmer. Rayne is a bit sheer, but has a great formula. I applied three coats to achieve opacity. At first I didn’t really like how Rayne looked on me, but the more I look at it the more I like it! What do you think?!

My biggest surprise in the collection is Daisy, a yellow polish with a yellow shimmer. I wasn’t too excited about this one, but when I put it on I was loving it! Daisy has a perfect formula that is opaque in two coats, and the yellow shade looks great with my skin tone. I can’t wait to use it again!

Last but not least is Leslie, a purple polish with a turquoise shimmer. Leslie is my favorite in the line, and has a wonderful formula that is opaque in two coats. I’m drooling over this gorgeous lavender shade. I don’t often wear shimmers every day, but I think Leslie will be an exception!

All in all, the Zoya Delight Collection contains some really fun and unique shades for the spring season! I definitely think Leslie is a must, and would recommend you grab any of the colors that appeal to you. These polishes can be purchased on the Zoya website HERE for $9 each or $54 for the entire set. Please let me know in the comments if you’ll be picking up any of these polishes!

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

L’Oreal Les Blancs Collection | Spot Me & Le Pastille

Posted on March 15, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I’m excited to share with you some brand new polishes for spring. I am so ready for winter to be over, that yesterday I ran to Duane Reade with the mission of getting some new beauty products for the spring season. When I spotted the new L’Oreal Les Blancs Collection, I knew I had to grab a couple. I picked up the two glitter shades, and ran home to test them out. Let me show you these gorgeous polishes!

First up is Spot Me, a pale blue polish with black hexagonal glitters from small to large mixed throughout the base. Spot Me has a great formula! It applies easily, and there was no fishing for glitters. I was really impressed with the coverage in two coats as well. The finish reminds me of a robin’s egg. I really like it!

Next up is Le Pastille, a pink version of Spot Me. Le Pastille also has a flawless formula. I cannot stress how easily these polishes apply! It always makes me happy when I don’t have to do anything special to get glitters out of the bottle and onto my nails. I applied two coats of Le Pastille, and finished up with a layer of butterLONDON Hardwear top coat (as I did with Spot Me as well). I love the juxtaposition of the black glitters on a baby pink base.

All in all, I’m loving these two glitter polishes from the new Les Blancs Collection from L’Oreal! In fact, I might go back to the drugstore and purchase the creme polishes from the collection, too. As I mentioned above, I scored these polishes at my local Duane Reade, but be on the lookout for the spring display at your drugstore. The polishes retail for $6.49 each in NYC, but I noticed a $4.99 price tag over on Nouveau Cheap’s blog. Let me know what you think of these polishes in the comments!

Zoya Monet Special Effect Topper | Swatches & Nail Art

Posted on March 6, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! Earlier this week, I showed you the complete Zoya Awaken Collection (see that review HERE). In addition to those stunning polishes, Zoya also released a new special effect top coat called Monet. Zoya describes Monet as a multi-colored, cellophane holographic topper, and I completely agree! I decided to try it with all of the Awaken polishes, and in a nail art look as well. In each of the manicures below, I applied one coat of Monet, followed with one coat of the butter LONDON Hardwear top coat.

Monet over Dot

Monet over Cole

Monet over Hudson

Monet over Dillon

Monet over Rebel

Monet over Brooklyn

Before I show you the nail art I created, I just wanted to mention Monet’s formula. It is a bit thick, but it’s very easy to work with. The glitters apply with ease, and as you can see, one coat provides a great amount of glitters.

Last but not least is a nail art look I created using Dot, Cole, and Monet. I finally found an easy gradient technique, so I began with that and applied Monet on top. I’m loving it so much! If you would like to see a tutorial on this manicure, please let me know in the comments!

All in all, Monet is a gorgeous top coat that goes with basically any and every nail polish! It retails for $10 on Zoya’s website HERE. While a bit more than I usually like to pay, Monet is a great investment polish. I highly recommend it, and will be sure to wear it often!

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

Zoya Awaken Collection for Spring 2014

Posted on March 4, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! While it’s still cold and snowy here in NYC, the spring nail polish collections are arriving, and I’m so glad to see them! In addition to the Magical Pixie Collection, Zoya released the Awaken Collection. This six-piece line has something for everyone – cremes, shimmers, and even a metallic shade. Let me show you these gorgeous polishes!

First up is Dot, a pastel pink polish with a creme formula. Dot has a good formula, though it can be a bit patchy. I applied two coats to achieve opacity, and applied the polish with a careful hand to get a flawless finish. Dot is just a beautiful light pink! I think it would look nice on everyone.

Next up is Cole, a tangerine creme polish. Cole has a very similar formula to Dot, though I applied three thin coats to even out the slight patchiness. I’m loving this orange shade! It’s very on trend for spring, and quite wearable.

Hudson is the first shimmer in the Awaken Collection, and is a beautiful purple. Hudson has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats. I love how sparkly it is, and I’m impressed with the smooth application. I wasn’t expecting Hudson to be as shimmery, and I’m pleasantly surprised!

Next up is Dillon, a mint green shimmer polish. Dillon also has a great formula, and is opaque in two coats. As you know, I love mint green nails, and I don’t have one in my collection quite like this! Dillon is packed with lots of shimmer that shines in the light.

Zoya Rebel is the last of the shimmers, and is a blue shade. Rebel is definitely my favorite in the Awaken Collection! The formula is flawless, and opaque in two coats. Plus, this just reminds me of a mermaid for some reason. I’m obsessed!

Last but not least is Brooklyn, a metallic yellow gold polish. Brooklyn has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. Some brush strokes are visible due to its metallic nature, but I don’t think it detracts from the polish at all. I would never have thought to include Brooklyn in a spring collection, but I’m glad Zoya did! It’s unexpected, and looks so nice.

All in all, I’m loving the Zoya Awaken Collection. There really is a polish for everyone in this line! I definitely recommend all of these polishes, but Rebel is my personal favorite, followed by Dot. You can purchase the Awaken Collection on Zoya’s website HERE for $9 each. Stay tuned to see all of these polishes with Zoya’s new special effect topper Monet later this week!

Which polish in the Awaken Collection is your favorite? 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.

LVX Vegan Nail Lacquer: Spring 2013 Collection

Posted on May 3, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I am very excited to share with you three polishes from a brand that is new to me, LVX. I discovered this brand on Instagram, and was blown away with how stunning the polishes are. LVX is definitely a luxury brand, but their products are vegan, cruelty free, and made in the USA! LVX graciously sent me some polishes from their spring collection so I could review them for all of you. Let me show you these beautiful colors!

I first wanted to show you what the polishes look like in the bottle. The packaging is so nice, and I have to say that this was one of the best nail mails I have ever received! The polishes were wrapped in sleek, black tissue paper and sealed with a silver label. Then, each polish was individually wrapped in bubble wrap, and came in a stunning black and silver box. I knew these LVX polishes would be special right from the get go!

First up is Viridian, an emerald green polish. Viridian is definitely my favorite of the bunch! It has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats, and the finish is just flawless. I am currently wearing this polish and cannot stop looking at my nails! Viridian is also a beautiful take on Pantone’s Color of the Year! This is the first emerald in my nail polish collection, and I plan on wearing it a lot!

Next up is Citrine, a golden yellow polish. Citrine is definitely on trend for the season, since I keep seeing mustard yellow everywhere I go! I did experience some formula issues, mainly some streaking and unevenness. I applied three coats to achieve opacity, and luckily most of the imperfections were concealed. It is definitely difficult to get a yellow tone with just the perfect formula! Nonetheless, LVX describes Citrine as the perfect transitional color from winter to spring, and I think that is definitely true. I am just loving this unique color, and I think it will work well during the fall, too!

Last but not least is Fantom, a super cool white polish. I have been searching for a white polish with a great formula, and I have finally found it in Fantom! White polishes show each and every imperfection, but with two coats of Fantom I got a nearly flawless finish. I cannot wait to use this for glitter manicures and nail art, and perhaps even on its own! Fantom is definitely my new go-to white!

All in all, I am loving these polishes from the LVX Spring Collection! The colors are so unique, and the white polish is something every polish lover needs to have in her stash. I personally love using a brand that is vegan and cruelty free, even if it means spending a bit more per bottle. LVX nail lacquer is definitely the perfect, guilt free treat for yourself! You can purchase these polishes on their website HERE for $16 each. Make sure to LIKE them on Facebook to hear about new collections.

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

Keep Calm and Add Glitter!

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

Happy Sunday! Today I thought I would share with you one of the manicures I wore at the beginning of the spring season. Even though I love trying out new nail polishes all the time, I enjoy it when I have the chance to search through my stash for a favorite polish. For this manicure, I decided upon a pastel mint green, and one of my favorite glitter top coats. Let me show you this fun manicure!

First I began with a base of Keep Calm, Paint On from China Glaze. This is a mint green pastel with green and pink shimmer mixed in, so it has just a touch of sparkle on its own. Keep Calm, Paint On has a good formula that is opaque in two coats. It is a bit on the thick side, so there is a little streaking, but not much. I love this nail polish because of the name, but the color is also stunning. You can also snag this on Amazon for just $2.19 at the moment! There are only seven bottles left in stock, so grab yours HERE!

I completed my manicure by adding two coats of Kite Island from A Rhyming Dictionary Polish to my mint base color. Kite Island is a glitter top coat filled with fine glitters in pink and green, hexagonal glitters in orange, blue, pink, and green, small green squares, and large white squares. I think this glitter is so fun, and it really livens up my nails. The white square glitters are so unexpected, but they are my favorite part of the polish! As with all polishes from A Rhyming Dictionary, Kite Island has an amazing formula, and the glitters apply with ease. You can purchase this on Etsy for $7.50 HERE.

All in all, I hope you liked seeing one of the manicures that I wore for spring! Mint green and glitter are definitely the perfect combination in my book. Plus, I love being able to reach into my nail polish collection for a polish I haven’t worn in a long time. If you liked seeing this manicure, please let me know in the comments!

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

Adventures in Polishland Celebrates her 1 Year Blogiversary with Covergirl Outlast Nail Polish!

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

Happy Wednesday! Today is my one year blogiversary! Exactly one year ago today I began this blog and uploaded my first post. I can’t believe how far I have come, and I am always so thankful for your support. I thought today would be the perfect opportunity to share with you some of my new favorite nail polishes. The Covergirl Outlast Stay Brilliant line has been catching my eye at drugstores lately, and I knew I had to try a few. I purchased two for myself, and then won two in a giveaway! I can’t wait to show you these fabulous and affordable polishes!

Here is a quick photo of the four polishes I’m reviewing today! I love the square bottles, as they are eye-catching and great for storage. As you can see, I have four shades that are perfect for spring and summer, but Covergirl also offers dark colors, shimmers, and some glitters as well! There is so much to choose from!

First up is Coral Silk, a bright peach creme. Coral Silk is the one disappointment I’ve had with these Covergirl nail polishes so far. The formula was a thick, streaky mess. Although it was opaque in two coats, I wanted to add a third to even everything out. I also found that this formula was very tacky, and would probably take a very long time to dry. It’s hard to tell in the photos above how messy it was! Alas, Coral Silk was no fun to deal with despite the pretty color.

Up next is Out of the Blue, a stunning bright blue polish! This polish has an absolutely perfect formula and application and is opaque in just one coat! I love any one coat polishes, but Out of the Blue is so beautiful! It is just a great shade for spring and summer, and makes me happy when I wear it. The shade is also exactly the same on the nail as it is in the bottle. I highly recommend Out of the Blue!

Mint Mojito is the next Covergirl nail polish I have to show you. This is a dusty mint green creme polish. The formula is a little streaky, but otherwise a good consistency. Mint Mojito is opaque in two coats, and dries very quickly! I love the color of this polish! It is right on trend for spring, and would look good on almost any skin tone. This is the first of the two polishes I won in the giveaway, and I am so happy to have it!

Last but not least is Tickled Pink, the perfect bright pink nail polish! This has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats. It also dries very quickly! Tickled Pink is a color that I think can be worn all year long and always look fabulous. As a pink aficionado, I am in love with this polish!

All in all, I am quite impressed with the quality of the Covergirl Outlast Stay Brilliant nail polishes. While Coral Silk was a dud for me, the other three had great formulas and beautiful colors. The best part is they retail for just $5.99 at drugstores, but are often on sale! Plus, you can use the Covergirl coupons that come in the Sunday paper for an even better discount. I find these are so fabulous and affordable that I went back to the store and purchased another for myself. Keep an eye out for that in a future post, and thank you again for joining me on my Adventures in Polishland!

Dare to Compare Week! Day Three – Mint Green

Posted on April 3, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Dare to Compare Week here at Adventures in Polishland continues with one of my nail polish obsessions, mint green. Mint is such a trendy color for spring that I made sure to include it in this week’s comparison extravaganza. I’ll let you know up front that I didn’t find any dupes, but I did discover some beautiful options! Let’s see what is up in the mint green color family.

From left to right, the polishes are Julep in Susie, China Glaze in Keep Calm, Paint On, and Zoya in Neely. These polishes do look similar in the bottle, but I could tell they wouldn’t be exactly the same on the nail. I still wanted to see the comparison, though. First I’ll show each polish alone, and then I’ll show them side by side.

Polish Name: China Glaze in Keep Calm, Paint On

Price: $6.99 at beauty stores, or $3.32 on Amazon [Buy HERE]

Coats Needed for Opacity: 2

Formula: Good, but on the thick side.

Color Description: Mint green with green and pink shimmer.

Bonus: I love the name of this polish!

Polish Name: Zoya in Neely

Price: $8 [Buy HERE]

Coats Needed for Opacity: 2

Formula: Good, but a bit patchy.

Color Description: Dusty mint green.

Bonus: Zoya is a vegan friendly, and long-lasting brand!

Polish Name: Julep in Susie

Price: $14 [Buy HERE]

Coats Needed for Opacity: 3

Formula: Okay — formula a bit streaky and patchy, but evens in three coats.

Color Description: Pale mint green

Bonus: I got this in my first Julep Maven Box! It’s an all-time favorite.

Now we have all three side by side! From left to right is the Zoya, the China Glaze, and the Julep. Susie from Julep stands out as the lightest shade of the bunch right away. Zoya Neely and China Glaze Keep Calm, Paint On are very close, but the shimmer in Keep Calm really makes it stand out. I personally prefer the light shade of the Julep, but would choose Zoya Neely over the shimmer in the China Glaze. I prefer a pure, creme finish! In the end, when it comes to mint green I don’t think you can go wrong no matter what shade you choose!

Which do you prefer, bright pastels or dusty greens?! Do you like polishes with an added shimmer?!

Some of the products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. Some of the links above are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. Please see my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Hello Kitty Nail Art Stickers from Born Pretty Store!

Posted on March 29, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I have another review of a product from the online retailer Born Pretty Store. While I was not impressed with the Sweet Color nail polish (see that review HERE), I am loving these adorable nail art stickers! As a lifelong Hello Kitty fan, I was super excited that I got the opportunity to review these stickers for you. I hope you love them as much as I do!

Above you can see the nail art sheet as it comes. I love these stickers because they are glittery and have different sizes and shapes! This sheet retails for $5.23, but if you buy more than one you get a discount. As always, there is free international shipping from Born Pretty Store! I chose the sticker sheet in number XF314, but they come in a variety of designs. You can see all of the choices on the Born Pretty website HERE!

I was so impressed with how easy it is to apply these stickers! First, I painted my nails with Zoya Blu from the lovely collection (see that review HERE). Once my manicure was completely dry, I chose the stickers I wanted to apply, and carefully peeled them off the sheet and put them on my nails. I pressed each sticker down firmly, and then layered top coat over them. And that’s all there is to it! The smaller stickers are a bit tricky to handle, but I used a pair of tweezers to steady my hand. I can’t get over how much I love these stickers! I chose to wear one on each finger for this manicure, but you can use them easily for an accent nail as well. I love that just one sheet of stickers can be used for multiple manicures, and you can mix and match the designs!

All in all, I’m so happy I tried these Hello Kitty stickers! They are so easy to apply, and are perfect for someone like me who prefers not to do her own nail art. This design is also perfect for spring, but there are so many to choose from on the Born Pretty Store website. If you are looking for some great nail art supplies, be sure to head on over and see everything Born Pretty has to offer! Use the coupon code FZL91 to get 10% off your order as well! Happy Shopping!

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

Zoya Lovely Collection for Spring 2013

Posted on February 2, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! It’s Groundhog Day, and Punxsutawney Phil is predicting an early Spring! That means it is time to break out the Spring nail polishes! Today I have the Zoya Lovely Collection to show you. It’s a a fabulous collection with three shimmer polishes and three creme polishes. Let me show you everything that is Lovely!

Up first are the shimmer polishes! GeiGei is a bubblegum pink with a shimmery finish. It is opaque in two coats and has an amazing formula. I had no problems whatsoever with the application. GeiGei has a very smooth finish that sparkles in the sunlight. I love this play on a pastel pink! GeiGei also has a frosted look, so it’s perfect for the transition from winter to spring.

Zoya Julie is the next shimmer in the Lovely Collection. Julie is a lilac purple with pink and silver shimmer mixed in. It is opaque in just two coats. The formula was a bit on the thin side, but it wasn’t runny so it didn’t cause me any problems. Julie is a very light shade that is classy and feminine. It is a bit too light for my personal taste, but it is a beautiful purple.

The last of the shimmers is Piaf, a light yellow with green and gold undertones. Piaf’s formula was a bit thin and sheer. I needed three coats for opacity, as two coats seemed a bit patchy. I didn’t think I would like Piaf, but it is a very unique polish! It is not the best shade for my fair skin, but the shimmer in the yellow is beautiful. Piaf is a great alternative to a neutral shade.

Zoya Jacqueline is the first of the creme polishes. Jacqueline is a light beige color. It is very streaky with the first coat, but evens out and is opaque in two. I wanted to love this polish because it looks so pretty in the bottle. For some reason it just looks odd on my nails. I think it would be great for layering, but I’m not sure I would wear Jacqueline on its own. Again, it may be the wrong shade for my skin tone. My favorite thing about Jacqueline is that it dries instantly! I was very impressed with that.

Neely is a mint green creme, and my absolute favorite from the Lovely Collection! Neely has a great formula and is opaque in two coats. Mint green is my favorite polish color, and I plan on wearing this one as often as possible! Neely is classy and trendy. An all around perfect nail polish! Have I mentioned that Neely is awesome?!

Last but not least is Blu, a gorgeous light blue creme. Blu has an amazing formula — I had no application issues whatsoever. It is also opaque in two coats. I love that this polish has just a “dash” of blue pigmentation. It is almost off-white, with just the perfect shade of blue. I love this polish, and even used it as the base for a glitter manicure that you will see soon. If you are looking to try out blue nail polish, I would start with this one!

All in all, the Zoya Lovely Collection is a beautiful choice for Spring. Whether your prefer shimmers or cremes, this collection has something for you! You can purchase the entire Lovely Collection for $48 or each bottle separately for $8 apiece on the Zoya website HERE. Make sure to follow Zoya on FACEBOOK where the company often shares promotional codes to save you money! Stay Lovely this Spring!

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