Moving on down the line, here is Tanzy, the "light, bright tangerine orange with yellow gold metallic sparkle. A sunny orange that's easy to wear year-round." I was very iffy about this color because while orange has definitely been a hot color for 2011, I'm not 100% into this new trend. I used a base coat of Zoya Get Even, 2 caots of Tanzy and a top of Zoya Armor.
The first coat of Tanzy had me very worried because it was much more sheer than Reva, but as you can see in just two coats, it was full coverage and opaque. I'm still not loving orange against my skin tone, but as a polish, this color and formula did not disappoint.
As with Reva, this color looks much better to me in the shade - the sparkle really shows up better. Also I'm getting used to this squoval shape now - it's still not something I can seem to do myself, but pampering myself once a month with a manicure is totally okay by me. :]
Indoors with the flash and man it's like sparkle OVERLOAD, but in a good way. Remember, I do love glitter! ^_^ As for as the color, it's a cross between orange and gold, and I'm happy with that uniqueness.
Zoya can be purchased on their website for $8/bottle.
Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration. For more information, please read this post.
Kicking off the other half of the Sunshine and Summertime Summer 2011 collection from Zoya is Reva, a cool toned strawberry red with glowing golden metallic sparkle - a very rich and luxurious looking gilded red. You say metallic sparkle, I say glass fleck, either way it's gorgeous. Easily my favorite "easy" look to wear (flakes and glitter are still #1 but take time to apply and take off) - and Zoya does it quite well.
I used a base coat of Zoya Get Even, 2 coats of Reva and a top of Zoya Armor.
In the sun, metallic sparkle/glass fleck just never looks as pretty as it really is. It's hard for the camera to focus properly when there is so much going on.
But then you put it in the shade and BAM. This color reminds me a lot of China Glaze Strawberry Fields except this has much more red to it. Such a beautiful color - I really didn't want to take this off at all.
Indoors with the flash just kind of shows you how much shimmer/glitter/glass fleck whatever you want to call it is in the polish - very even coverage.
If you love this type of finish, I highly recommend getting this color. Very nicely pigmented and smooth formula.
Zoya can be purchased on their website for $8/bottle.
Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration. For more information, please read this post.
The final gem in the "Summertime" portion of the Summertime and Sunshine Summer 2011 Zoya collection is Breezi, a soft, dusty medium cerulean blue with an opaque cream finish. A super chic high-fashion denim look for nails." While I don't see this as a denim blue (I'm more into darker washes personally), Zoya does do blue very well. This blue reminds me a LOT of Zoya Phoebe but as you'll see below it's darker, richer, and of course, not matte.
I used a base of Zoya Get Even, 2 coats of Breezi and a top of Zoya Armor. Formula, again, was excellent.
Here in the sun, you see how well this polish applied - no brush strokes, no bubbles, nada. Very nice solid blue.
Same story in the shade - nice and creamy.
Indoors with the flash, you can see a bit of balding on my middle finger on the outside edge (going towards my ring finger) but that's from bad application by me. Getting those sides has always been difficult for me.
A great finale to this half of the collection - I'd say my favorite is a tossup between this and Mira.
Zoya can be purchased on their website for $8/bottle.
Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration. For more information, please read this post.
While I was at JoAnn's Fabrics this past weekend, I saw this set of 12 "vintage leaf glitter" vials from Martha Stewart. I had bought her 12 glitters vials about 2 years ago and it's done nothing but sit on my shelf of crafts as another one of those "I'll eventually play with this" things. I figured with this, I could use it in nail art just like gold leaf foil (which I had to fight myself from buying last week as well). At $20, this is a pretty good value considering how little you use for art and how many different colors are included.
I opened my vial, and tried to "paint" on some of the leaf glitter using my paintbrush that I clean up my cuticles with but that didn't do much, so I just used my fingertip to place the leaf glitter on my nail and then added a thick coat of Seche Vite. A few pieces were still sticking up, so I pushed them down with an orange stick to try and get it to stick. Bottom line, I wasn't patient enough. I'm positive with enough time and patience (and a good top coat), you could get the leaf glitter to properly lay down and even place in a design.
This was over my earlier manicure, Zoya Mira.
The shine is amazingly brilliant but as you can see, a few corners are still sticking up which can easily catch on things... mainly hair since I tend to play with my hair a lot.
Even in the shade, this catches any available light to reflect upon. I definitely think this is a great way to spruce up a manicure :]
Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration. For more information, please read this post.
Moving on down the line of Zoya's Summer 2011 Sunshine and Summertime - today I have Zoya Mira, a "blue toned medium purple with dusty lavender tones and an opaque cream finish. For a muted yet colorful purple that isn't too dark." Now, when I first saw this color, I giggled at the name, because in Spanish, mira means "look", and as a teenager, it was popular to say "mira, look it" (which is totally redundant, but also hilarious at the time)... Okay yeah, it's kind of weird but what can I say. I used a base coat of Zoya Get Even, 2 coats of Mira, and a top of Zoya Armor. Formula was very nice and even.
Now, this color looks a lot like China Glaze Grape Pop, but I haven't had any time for comparisons just yet. That's one reason why I'm doing my nail project, so I can pull comparisons all the time. I have a little over 50 nails done, so I'm only 5% into it (oy). Very beautiful purple though.
Here in the shade, you can really see the blue tones coming through - I'm not sure what I like more... I'm a huge blurple lover in general.
Indoors with the flash... very Barney purple like. Great creme but not entirely unique. I promise to have comparisons again soon!
Zoya can be purchased on their website for $8/bottle.
Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration. For more information, please read this post.
I'm officially finishing some CosmoProfNALV items today (YAY!) and I have a pretty pink for you! Zoya Areej is a "pink with an opaque cream finish. A pink for when you want a bold pop of color but not something neon-bright." It's almost Barbie pink but has a bit more blue in it. I used a base coat of Zoya Get Even, 2 coats of polish and a top of Zoya Armor.
Here in the sun you can see that it's definitely a darker pink than "Barbie pink", but still quite lovely I like this shade of pink better than light because I feel it's better with my skin tone, but who am I kidding, I wear all kinds of polish. Yellow is still my "ehh" color thought.
Oddly, in the shade, this looks much more berry than pink. It's still quite beautiful, but just a little bit different.
Back indoors with the flash - I can't stop raving about Zoya Get Even and how well it covers ridges. People constantly ask me where I get my nails done and I'm happy to say "They aren't fake!"
Zoya can be purchased on their website for $8/bottle.
Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration. For more information, please read this post.
Continuing with the Sunshine and Summertime collection is Kieko, a "warm, red toned dusty light purple with berry tones with an opaque cream finish. A nice alternative to pure pink or berry, especially flattering on warm skin tones." I'm such a sucker for purples and while this isn't a purple glitter, it's still PURPLE! I really want to put my purple peek-a-boo highlights back in my hair, but just haven't yet. I used a base coat of Zoya Get Even, 2 coats of Kieko and a top of Zoya Armor.
Check out this pretty girl in the sun! It took me a whole hour in Photoshop to get the color correct, but it's totally worth it so you see the correct color.
Mmm even in the shade, this color rocks my socks. I love this berry purple plum thing!
Indoors with the flash - you can see a tiny bit of balding on the ring finger, but otherwise this is a pretty well opaque creme. I would definitely recommend this color if you're a purple fan.
Zoya can be purchased on their website for $8/bottle.
Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration. For more information, please read this post.
Continuing my Zoya swatching and the Sunshine & Summertime collection, here is Tamsen, a "medium warm brick red with strong orange tones with an opaque cream finish - a special red that is both enticing and mysterious." Zoya had fun writing the release for this collection - I love how every color has a little story.
I used a base of Zoya Get Even, 2 coats of polish and a top of Zoya Armor. Formula was nice and smooth.
Look! I have sun! You can tell that this is definitely a red creme with some tomato-likeness to it. The orange tones are there - you can tell because my porch in the background is actually brick red.
Even in the shade, this color is pretty strong. I feel like my hands look a little lobsterish but not to the point where I wouldn't wear this color again. It is very close to Sooki but that orange tone does make it different. Promise. ^_^
Indoors with the flash - super smooth with Zoya Get Even. I'm really loving this base coat - my ridges are completely hidden.
Zoya can be purchased on their website for $8/bottle.
Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration. For more information, please read this post.
Alright polish companies, listen up. I want a True Blood inspired nail collection. We're talking blood red, pale white, flat black, purple because I said so, something really glittery and sparkling electric overlay color... yeah. Now GO!
Zoya did do me right by having Sooki (close enough), a "bright, clean, crisp cool cherry red cream with a subtle jelly finish. For an irresistible, attention-grabbing red nail" from the 2011 Summer Collection "Sunshine & Summertime" (and this is from the Summertime side). Man this is a bright red. I used a base of Zoya Get Even, 2 coats of polish and a top coat of Zoya Armor. Formula was rich and smooth.
Jelly? Check. Cherry red? Check. Perfectly named? Mostly checked. ^_^
In the shade, this color still pops and just hits you in the face like Sookie's lightning fingers from Season 3. (Or something... I'm trying here.)
Indoors with the flash - just really loud in your face RED. Definitely an attention getter. I will have to wear this again but I might tone it down with some glitter or something. BAM!
Also, mad love shoutout to Charlotte Sparkle. Thank you for commenting on my blog as often as you do. It makes my day. ^_^
Zoya can be purchased on their website for $8/bottle.
Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration. For more information, please read this post.
The last on the list of Zoya's 2010 Fall Collection Wicked and Wonderful is Edyta, a fern green sparkling metallic. I've said before, I feel like this is Crystal's older sister... same swirling glass fleck. :]
I used a base coat of Zoya Get Even, 2 coats of polish and a top coat of Zoya Armor. Formula was a dream.
Bare with me - this is a very dark green - it looks almost swampy on the nail in the sunlight.
Same story in the shade though really - the prettiest picture is the bottle... that is what it looks like on the nail in certain lights - promise!
Indoors with the flash - you can see the blue and gold micro shimmer/glitter/glass fleck goodness.
Actually took this picture by accident - the flash didn't go off... but you can finally see the moss/fern green color without all the swirling gold/blue specks. A very unique color that I don't really like for summer but is amazing in the fall/winter. I also used this in my Christmas Manicure last year.
Zoya can be purchased on their website for $8/bottle.
Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration. For more information, please read this post.
It's like I'm raining in Zoyas! Finishing up the Fall 2010 Collection "Wicked and Wonderful" - almost done! Today is Kym, the "cardinal mauve sparkling metallic" (glass fleck). I don't know if I can say enough times that I LOVE this finish so much. While it doesn't photograph perfectly, it looks stunning on the nail. I used a base coat of Zoya Get Even, 2 coats of polish and a top coat of Zoya Armor.
Can you say saucy red? It's almost a dark blood red - perfect for True Blood time! ^_^ I love how vampy this looks on the nail. (This is a sun picture by the way.)
Even in the shade, this color kicks. It's just a very in your face, deep red color - very lovely for all seasons. I actually marbled this for my Christmas manicure with Zoya Edyta.
Finally indoors with the flash you can see that this color is nicely opaque - no bald spots on the nail.
This is definitely a great deep red sparkle which I know I'll be wearing again.
Zoya can be purchased on their website for $8/bottle.
Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration. For more information, please read this post.
Continuing with my backlog - specifically Zoya's Summer 2010 Flash & Sparkle collection, here is Maura, an "electric crimson creme". It's most definitely a hot red with an orange undertone. I definitely didn't think I'd like it much as I'm still warming up (hah) to the whole orange scene which is one reason why it sat on my shelf.
I used a base of Zoya Get Even, 2 coats of Maura and a top of Zoya Armor. I have to say, I'm really pleased that while all bottles of Zoya say to use 2 coats, they actually mean it. They have been pretty perfect after 2 coats - thin coats, not thick.
I really need to work on my cuticle lines. I have noticed a lot of Twitter chatter about it (not directed towards me) and it's true - nails look better super cleaned up. I have a hard time seeing that close up but that's what good bright lights are for. :]
Even in the shade this color pops out at you. Again, not a neon but just BAM. Hello.
Indoors with the flash - does it hurt your eyes too? Heh, sorry for the slightly out of focus bottle there - maybe that's why it hurts the eyes! Oops. Nice hot orange red color if you don't have one already.
Zoya can be purchased on their website for $8/bottle.
Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration. For more information, please read this post.
Here's another from the Summer 2010 Flash and Sparkle Zoya Collection - it's really nice to get these all out there, because I feel like I really missed them last year being flooded with my house purchase and family issues. Oy.
Total shout out to my friend Jolene - I miss you friend - get back in touch!
Jolene is a "summer pink cream" - kind of Barbie pink link with a bit of hotness to it. It's not a neon and does have a slight blue tint to it.
I used a base coat of Zoya Get Even, 2 coats of Jolene and a top of Zoya Armor.
Sorry for the lame cloudy pictures. I swear, every time I get a "swatching day" to myself, there's no sun. Days that I have way too much to do? It's like 100 degrees. However, check out how sweet this polish applied. Love how soft it is.
Indoors with flash, you can see what I mean about the neon look but this isn't really a neon. :]
Zoya can be purchased on their website for $8/bottle.
Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration. For more information, please read this post.
