Category Archives: Zoya

August 5, 2012 · 11:32 am

Zoya: Zuza

 I’ve been wearing a lot of blues lately, and Zuza was an untried I hadn’t gotten around to yet. The pretty watery, mermaid-y blue is obviously something I was drawn to.

Sparkle-y aqua green

Zuza is a fun manicure. It’s a pretty, medium toned aqua with a touch of green. The finish on this polish was interesting to me. The silver shimmer read almost as a foil to me, but seemed to be just a little short of the full on sparkle that a foil has. I’m not going to say this polish is the most unique, but it was fun to wear and great for summer.

Easy, smooth application

In typical Zoya fashion, this polish applied very easily. The formula was smooth and I had no coverage issues. I used two thick coats and everything turned out well.

Where to Buy: Zoya.com / $ 8

Do you like Zuza? Did you buy Zuza? What did or didn’t you like about this polish?

- Liz

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July 10, 2012 · 10:12 pm

Zoya: Tracie

I was looking forward to the polishes I ordered on that 3 for $15  Zoya promotion from a few weeks back. Although a lot of summer collections are very predictable, I liked the look of the blues and greens in this seasons summer collection so I snagged them. But I was pretty disappointed in Tracie.

Pale, almost pastel, metallic green shimmer

I was a little apprehensive of this polish once I saw it in person; it was light, almost pastel in tone and didn’t really carry the “oomph” I want from a green polish. It’s a bit soft and tame for my taste. It’s also a hard color to describe. It’s not mint, but it’s still light and yellow toned. It’s more of a “spring” green with a fine, dense shimmer that reads as a metallic finish on the nail. Overall, Tracie isn’t very flattering (and I have warm toned skin) and the elements in the polish don’t work together in a way to make it interesting or pretty.

Very bad formula

However, the real issue with this polish was the formula. I honestly don’t think I have ever said that a Zoya polish had an unbearable formula, but this one does. I was almost shocked. The formula was so sticky and goopy that it had the consistency of a very old polish. It was difficult to spread on the nail, which caused issues with the manicure being even. I used three coats, which gave me an okay overall look, but I was not happy with the formula and application by any means. I was very surprised since Zoya usually delivers buttery, smooth cremes and easily applied foils like pros.

Where To Buy: Zoya.com / $ 8

Did you buy Tracie? Did you encounter any formula issues? Or was I perhaps given a fluke bottle? Does this color at all interest you? Does it read as a “summer” color to you?

- Liz

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June 24, 2012 · 12:29 pm

Zoya: Wednesday

Hey all. I hope you’re all getting time to enjoy summer and the warm weather. It’s by far my favorite time of year and I’ve been enjoying sitting out on the patio relaxing and admiring my flowers.

I apologize for my lack of posting recently. It’s not that I don’t enjoy writing about nail polish anymore or don’t enjoy polish anymore; it’s that it’s been really difficult for me to find new collections that really pique my interest enough to want to purchase them. I feel like many collections have been quite repetitive and nothing new or exciting. I still want to chit chat and connect with all of the wonderful readers of DPB so, as always, I’m keeping my eyes peeled for new polishes to wear and write about.

Wednesday is just one of those colors that will suck me in everytime. I could have my own helmer drawer for turquoise-y green-y blues. This polish did look a little dustier to me in swatches then it ended up being in real life.

Shiny turquoise-y blue

Although this shade is quite common, I couldn’t help myself. As mentioned, I did think Wednesday would be a little dustier or a slightly more interesting tone via swatches, but I’m pretty sure it matches most of my other turquoise cremes, silly me. I do think it has a nice balance in it, and it’s definitely blue (to me) so there’s no lobster hands in sight.

Very nice formula and application

The formula and application on this polish was really great. It applied like butter to my nails, very smooth and opaque. I used two coats for full coverage. It was super quick and easy application.

Where to Buy: Zoya.com / $ 8

Did you get any of the Zoya Surf and Sun polishes? Did you pick up Wednesday? Which is your favorite? Or did they seem pretty standard for a summer collection?

- Liz

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March 28, 2012 · 7:43 pm

Essie: Lapis of Luxury & Zoya: Maisie

I had a different intent for Lapis of Luxury when I first applied it. I’ve had this polish for years and don’t think I’ve used it enough. We all know I love any blue polish and this one is great. And with blue flakies on top, it’s a winning combination.

Dusty periwinkle blue with blue flakies

Lapis of Luxury is a pretty color on its own. It’s rather unique and interesting in my collection of blues. It’s a slightly dusty, periwinkle blue. It has a touch of purple in it to keep it more in the cornmeal realm of colors, to me. It’s very flattering and easy to wear. Layered with the blue flakies of Maisie, it looks awesome. The two complement each other and are really fun together.

Easy smooth application on both

Lapis of Luxury has an outstanding formula. It’s a half jelly / half creme hybrid formula, which is my favorite to use. It went on smooth as butter. It almost applied itself. Though I did need three coats. As for Maisie, I didn’t want the flakies to be too overbearing, so I did one thin coat and it ended up just as I wanted. I think this manicure looks great and it has been a great combination to admire.

Where to Buy (Lapis of Luxury): Online Retailers / $ 8

Where to Buy (Maisie): Zoya.com / $ 8

What’s your favorite way to layer? Do you like this combination? Do you like to coordinate layering flakies with a matching base? Or do you like to mix and match?

- Liz

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March 25, 2012 · 1:05 pm

Zoya: Tanzy

Hey guys, more internet problems have kept me from being able to post. I promise I will be back on a regular schedule. I don’t want to be blogging less, I’ve just kept running into problems! I’m sorry. More posts and new polishes are in my future.

Tanzy is a polish that has been sitting in my untried drawer for…a year and I finally got around to wearing it.

Golden orange foil

Tanzy is a golden orange foil. It definitely reads orange overall, but the gold in the polish adds depth and another layer of color. It reminds me of summer sunset. It has a relaxing summer feeling to it. It’ll look great with a tan.

Easy, smooth application

I always like the application of foils. They apply smooth and evenly. They are quite forgiving when you don’t do the best job applying. And they dry quickly. Zoya foils are always a breeze to apply. I used three coats for maximum sparkle and full coverage.

Where To Buy: Zoya.com / $ 8

Do you own Tanzy? Do you like this polish?  Is orange a go to summer color for you? Do you find foils as easy as I do to apply?

- Liz

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March 10, 2012 · 3:18 pm

OPI: Jade Is The New Black & Zoya: Apple

This happened to turn out to be an early St. Patrick’s Day manicure apparently. Which I didn’t even realize until my boss said to me, “Hey, you’ve got St. Patrick’s Day nails!” So, I’m deciding to roll with it. Green is my favorite polish to wear anyway.

Green jade creme with a touch of blue and light green and yellow sparkle-y sponged tips

I had Jade Is The New Black on for a couple of days. It’s a cult classic green creme with just a touch of blue. I didn’t love this polish when it first came out, I’m not sure what I was thinking, but adore it now. I looked into my untried drawer and found Apple sitting in it and decided it sponge my tips with it. The light green and yellow foil looks great sparkling at the tips.

No issues with application here

I didn’t have a problem with JITNB during application. It actually went on smooth as butter. It was also very opaque and pigmented. A pretty impressive formula now that I think about it. I used two coats and was good. Apple went onto the tips with no issues. I find foils are the easiest (and most forgiving) polishes to sponge with. Just a dab and you’re good to go.

Where to Buy (JITNB): Online Retailers / $ 5 – $ 6

Where to Buy (Apple): Zoya.com / $ 8

Do you love Jade Is The New Black or Apple? Do you like this dual green combination? What are you planning on wearing for St. Patrick’s Day? 

- Liz

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February 3, 2012 · 9:22 am

China Glaze: Liquid Leather & Zoya: Jules

I’ve been bed ridden the past 48 hours. I feel quite awful, so this post will be on the shorter side.

I’ve tried sponging in the past, and it didn’t really turn out in my favor. You definitely have to be patient and go slow. I used a make up applicator (the little wedge sponges) and applied just a small swipe at a time of Jules to the sponge. I started at the tip and moved my way down to be able to see how far down the nail I wanted to go. After a few dabs, each nail is done.

Black with taupe-y silver sponged tips

I started out with two coats of Liquid Leather and made sure it was completely dry before I moved on to sponging. As mentioned, I dabbed a small amount of Jules onto the make up sponge and carefully applied the polish from the tip down. What I like about this method of sponging, is that it’s very easy to add more or less and really get the look that you want. More or less of what you want. And this manicure has worn like iron, which never happens for me.

I’m looking forward to mastering this a bit more and coming up with more unique combinations to wear.

Where To Buy (Liquid Leather): Sally’s / Ulta / Trade Secret / Online Retailers / $ 5 – $ 6

Where To Buy (Jules): Zoya.com / $ 8

Have you tried sponging? Was your first attempted horrible like mine was? Is it something you do regularly to mix up your manicures? Or is this a bit much for your everyday looks?

- Liz

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January 25, 2012 · 6:21 pm

Zoya: Opal (over Zoya: Avery)

I really like how this manicure turned out. I couldn’t decide whether to layer Opal over another polish, and if so, what color. So, the perfect solution seemed to be to layer it over a neutral. Avery is very fleshy on me; almost my skintone. And almost mannequin hands. It was the perfect base to let Opal shine.

Nude base with green and purple flakies. Gorgeous!

Contrary to what the bottle may convey, Opal’s base is actually pretty clear. There isn’t much green so it’s actually really great for layering. It would work over almost any base color. What I really love about Opal is that the flakies are green and also flash purple at extreme angles. It’s so fun to admire and to shift and watch them change like a chameleon. And in combination with Avery they flash and catch the light often, but it’s a soft flash. It’s fun but yet still pretty and subdue. I love it.

Easy application

For this manicure, I used one coat of Avery as a base followed by two coats of Opal. I like how evenly these Zoya Fleck Effect’s disperse  The flakies don’t clump up at the top or base of the nail. And also there’s a ton of them per swipe / layer. They apply really well, look great, and dry quickly. I really have no complaints! I love this manicure, and can’t wait to find other combinations that work just as well with Opal.

Where To Buy (Both polishes): Zoya.com / $ 8

So tell me, did you pick up these Zoya Fleck Effects yet? If so, which ones did you get? Have you worn them? What do you like / dislike about them? Am I tempting you to place an order?!

- Liz

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January 22, 2012 · 9:28 am

Zoya: Maisie (over Zoya: Breesi)

I think I ordered the new Zoya flakies the day they were released. I love flakies that are cool toned specifically, however, the pink (Chloe) in the collection also made its way into my basket because it’ll look gorgeous in a summer manicure.

I knew I was going to want to layer Maisie for this manicure, so I picked a complimenting blue. Breesi worked out perfectly. This manicure is stunning and screams “ocean” to me.

Sparkling blue, green, yellow flakies

Maisie, to me, really seems like the flakie version my beloved Zoya Charla. It’s got the same colors going on (blue, green, yellow) just in a different way. I love it. What I also love is the amount of flakies that are dispersed per coat. It’s a ton! They are packed into the polish and the brush so you get a major impact without countless layers. Just look at how fun and pretty this combination is. I like how it’s layered in this manicure because it gives just the slightest jelly / squishy effect. Water-y almost.

Prefect application

I had no formula issues with this polish. As mentioned, it was packed with flakies on every layer and they applied evenly per swipe; they didn’t collect just at the base or top of the nail. I ended up doing two coats over one coat of Bressi as a base. Everything dried quickly and looks great.

I can’t wait to use the rest of these “Fleck Effect” polishes.

PS – Has anyone noticed how Zoya has started to cheap out on their shipping packaging? They used to ship their polishes in polish holders in a box (which I loved), but now they arrive taped and wrapped up in padding in an envelope. Come on, guys!

Where to Buy (Both polishes): Zoya.com / $ 8

Did you pick up these new Zoya Fleck Effects? Do you plan on it? How do you like to wear your flakies? How you feel about so many flakies being released at the same time by different brands?

- Liz

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January 5, 2012 · 6:36 pm

Zoya: Gemma

I think many of you all are probably familiar with this polish already. Gemma was a big hit when it was released last year, and for good reason. I love green nail polish, and this one is truly unique and worth owning.

Murky, greyed out green with hidden purple shimmer

The base of Gemma is a gorgeous, muted, greyed out green. It’s very subtle for a green. It’s also very pretty and doesn’t scream “look at me!” It almost reads as neutral, It’s beautiful. But what makes this murky, dusty polish even better is the hidden violet-y blue microshimmer that lies, almost dormant, within. It comes out to play in the sunlight and is gorgeous. However, of course I wish it was a touch more noticeable so I could admire it a little more.

Hello blue microshimmer! And easy application

Usually I have little issues with application with any Zoya polish. Gemma is easy enough to apply. It’s smooth, however, I do wish it was a little more pigmented. I wish I could get away with two coats, but I had to do three for this manicure. It applies just a touch streaky and sheer for a shimmer and for Zoya’s high quality polishes. My only application tip would be to apply thicker coats for more coverage and let them dry in between coats!

Where to Buy: Zoya.com / $ 8

Do you own Gemma? Do you want to add Gemma to your collection? Do you find this polish to be unique? Or do you not buy into the hype of this green polish? Did these swatches change your mind? ;)

- Liz

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