A Red Pink or A Pink Red

I think Zoya really nailed it with Liza.

Bright, crisp, perfect tulip shade for spring. Three coats. 

In my realm I have a bit of wear issue with Zoya, but I am still trying to find the right top coat. It's not dissimilar to my old Sally Hansens, so part of it is my overuse of my nails.

Easy formula, lovely shade.

Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal!

Zingy Zoya Zuza

 What can I say, a simple seaside shade suited for summer.

They call it a turquoise, but there is a green shimmer in it that really moves it out of the blue into the seafoam green category. And yet it's not that pale kind of shade, but a rich fresh pop of green/blue.

Zoya's description (It's still available on their site) says there is gold and silver shimmer, well the gold certainly yeets the blue out of the turquoise.

Here's my swatch:

Three coats, no top coat.

Simple, easy and perfect for these hot days of summer. 

Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal!

Zoya Veruschka

 Zoya did a matte velvet thing a few years ago, but as "glow" and "dewy" drives the beauty bus these days, the matte passengers are quietly exiting the back door.

Zoya discontinued this one, and much their loss:

Two coats, no top coat.

I did throw a matte top coat on later, but it's even better with a shiny one: the shimmer goes deep, cool and delightful.

I will reblog one of these days with a shiny top coat, but at the time, I was digging the matte finish.

A faultless perfect green. If green can be a neutral, this would be it.

Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal!

Sweet Charity

In keeping with my burgeoning desire to wear more polish and blog more in 2021, here is another post.

Zoya Charity is not a new polish. This fig colored beauty came out in 2006 in the Magique collection. Yes. I know. I have no idea, either! This was before nail polish mattered to me very much. So, I am no help here.

It's a pale purple mauve, per Zoya, but it is very figgy and gorgeous. Touched with a soft "copper duochrome" (Zoya again) the shimmer is not overpowering nor is it a super secret shimmer. 

Considered a purple, but that "office safe" kind of purple, that is so flattering and easy to wear. 

Zoya Charity:

This is three coats and a top coat (which did bubble a bit)

I wonder if they reformulated the shade. Old images show what I am wearing, but some newer ones show a more intense shade, though not by much. I can see how batches change. Also, I generally don't have any issues with fading colors, I keep my storage out of the sun and out of heat.

Very simple, but extremely satisfying. Still available on Zoya. 

Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal!

Zoya Alegra...Metallic Yet Shimmer

Staying on the Zoya front, which isn't hard to do, they have so many pretty shades, here is a Zoya still on their site, Alegra is a fuchsia "sparkle" and basically a deep pink with some lighter pink sparkles.

They call it a metallic, but it seems more like a glass fleck in a jelly.

I'm not the expert.

Also mine is more of a deep cherry shade, less fuchsia (which always seems brighter to me)

Meanwhile...

There is some silver glass fleck and a lot of pink shimmer, but I honestly thought it was a deep cherry and had not inclination toward fuchsia.

Debate over, at three coats it's a pretty classic and the usual Zoya formula.

I rarely have trouble with Zoya, though I do get my fair share of tip wear. Wrapping helps, so does extra top coat, but no doubt, I notice it for sure.

Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal! 

Zoya Gloria, Gone....And Kind Of Forgotten

My untried fever for 2021 begins. 

How this oldie never was swatched, I just do not know.

Lovely glass fleck with gold shimmer in a bright brick red, Gloria is a classy lady with pizazz.

Three coats, and not a super tight formula, but a beautiful shade.

I am seeing visible nail line in the flash photo, but I didn't really see it in real life.

Reminds me of red licorice. 

So Zoya has 400 shades and is bringing on new ones all the time, I don't know if 400 is the limit, but I seem to remember searching a few years ago and seeing over 600, so they must be curating it a little bit more.

Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal!

Glistening Mauve Comparison

I find that I tend to buy dupes. I think the more I wear my untrieds, the less I will do this. I hope.

(Tell that to the drawer full of periwinkle polishes!)

Here's a follow up on the Pretty Serious Toxic Tiara post from a while ago.

I pulled out all the similar polishes (there are probably more if I think about it!) and wanted to compare.

Here we go!

Left to right:

OPI It's My Year

Orly Leading Lady

Zoya Faye

Pretty Serious Toxic Tiara

All are three coats.

Some thoughts.

OPI is a stellar formula, lots of balance between that mauve shade and gold shimmer glass fleck. It is the closest to Toxic Tiara, who has a slower-to-dry formula on me.

I personally adore Orly Leading Lady. This is part of some "two step" system I have no idea about. I saw it at TJ Maxx and though it might be a gel (this was before I had a lamp). It's not and it's great. I love this one a lot. Looks better in person. So much life to it. Zazzy!

Zoya Faye is a beauty and the strongest with the gold glass fleck. It moves almost into a brown category in some lights, though I don't hate it at all.

More pix!

There is a blue undertone to OPI It's My Year, so it holds itself well with the rich gold. I love it so much. I like it a wee bit better than the Pretty Serious Toxic Tiara because it seems to have more life to it, though that could be part of the translucency of the base letting light pour through.

You can see the shimmer here. I have to say the Orly had some crazy beautiful going on, but OPI held its own.

Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal!

I wanted to add a quick note on camera and Polygel.

Camera
I went back to using my Lumix by Panisonic more often as it does a better job with skintones and dealing with light, better range shall I say.
I love it a lot, it's been a workhorse and doesn't need the correction as much.

Polygel
I'm taking some time off with Polygel, still. I am keen to get back into it, but have been a bit busy. 

Three Pale Purples Of Different Types

I have to confess, my new favorite thing is watching the PBS Eons channel on Youtube.

It's loaded with heady Natural History and reminds me of the history of science and how we as a species tried to make things "fit" until we really got our heads around scientific method.

Here are three beauties that I adore.

Enjoy!

Zoya Leslie

The contrasting blue shimmer on this one is a superb exemplar in the contrasting shimmer creme combo.

I have three coats and there is something so delicate and petal-like about this polish. 

I am using a lamp/flash combo to pick up the shimmer a bit more than normal, but it is heavenly.

Still available at Zoya! Keep an eye out for their sales this late autumn. 

Zoya Rea

A perfect dusty plum foil. Two coats, easy to use.

My flash picks up some sparkles, but they are really just not as much of a thing in real life. 

Sadly, discontinued by Zoya and perhaps that reflects the mainstream taste for cremes these days, I don't know. 

Meanwhile, it's still available online through other sources. Nice!!

Pahlish Briar Rose

This was a Hella Holo Customs exclusive for January 2018. 

I think it's pure delight. 

Three needed coats, but a pretty mauve/rose packed with holo.

While this sort of holo isn't my favorite, it just doesn't produce rainbows very well, the color is so delicate and beautiful. 

Seek this one out in blog sales and Facebook destash sites. You never know.

Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal!

Stamping it Up

Wanted to play with a stamping with a holographic, but haven't had one I wanted to sacrifice to the stamping gods.

I'd gotten a couple of Up Colors polishes in a huge sale from an online etailer quite some time ago and wanted to used them. I quickly discovered that they were very un-three free (dibutyl phthalate) and I figured I needed to just use it up.

Here it is over Zoya Zanna

I think it's a good stamping polish. I used a negative space plaid and though there are some gaps, it did a nice job.

Zoya Zanna, wow, what a gorgeous orchid pink, I love it a lot. I must have purchased it during a sale, but I love it a lot. Went on like a charm.

Up Colors is out of south america, but I am not sure if it's a Brazilian brand. I know that it's not a super unique holo. I have it in blue (here) and green. It does have a strong holo, so the color is subservient to the holographic power.

Thanks so much for reading my little nail polish journal!

Playing With Wine Shades

Here are some swatches of burgundy, magenta, merlot type of polishes. It's just crazy how many I have!!!

I'll do three coats, no top coats, all shot with a lamp and flash combo on my phone.

Needing to get things swatched is why I am doing an out of season kind of thing.


Here we go!

Maybelline Wet Shine Jewels & Berries

This is a really pretty polish. Loads of glass fleck giving it that shimmery brilliance. My photo of makes the middle finger look like a blob, but it is a brush stroke.

Aside from that, super easy to use, that typical dense Maybelline vintage formula.


I put it over L'Oreal Breaking Curfew, a deep deep reddened burgundy vamp:

While it added some pretty shimmer, it was full of so much "stuff" that it got a little patchy. It's not pure glass fleck shimmer, there is a healthy dose of fine particle shimmer as well and it's in need of a better thinning to really be a topper, but I admit I love this role!


So, this one I found as through a destash. I love the finish, it's kind of a neutral with some pizzazz.

May be online with some poking around.




Estee Lauder Ultra Violet

This is a deep wine shade with a red-violet glass fleck shimmer. It's gorgeous.

Formula was  a nice surprise!!!

A substantial bottle and a beautiful polish!

I found this on a blog sale, I know it's no longer for sale at the Estee Lauder counter, that's for sure. I was checking for this before our local Macy's closed and they just didn't have it. I lucked out.

Browse around, I am sure if it's not out there, it will pop up!




Color Club Winter Affair

Dipping into the merlot range, this beautiful foil by Color Club just steals the show.

I have to say, it is worth the effort go get this one. Perfect light gathering qualities that work under low light. A winner!

At this writing Color Club's web site flailed on the search, so I recommend a salon supply house or other online venue. I know it's still around, it's really nice. Formula was tight!




Zoya Valerie

Another beautiful foil. Such contrasts within this one! Red, purple and blue work out this color, and a warm amber sometimes pops through. There is a quality that raises the bar on this polish into the realm of "indie" because of the complexities. Wow.

Easy to use, really a two coats, but I did three. Formula here was pretty good. I know my application skills aren't the best, so when it doesn't bleed into my cuticles, I am supremely pleased.

When I swatch a Zoya I like to go to their site and see the description and compare it to my impression, but it seems Valerie has been discontinued!!! Why????

I couldn't find it online, so you may want to look into Zoya Jem, which I may or may not have (don't think I do) as a comparable replacement. It's warmer, but similar.



Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal!!

Red Glitter Times Five

I just wanted to sit down with some bright red glitters and swatch it all out.

No comparisons, no top coats, and three coats.

Just throwing down a few that are all very similar: small glitter size, bright red, and, well, smashing!


Let's roll!


Maybelline Red Comet

A very juicy red glitter in a red jelly base. Stinky, pre-3-free, but a delightful color of red. It did require some thinning and cleanup, which is evident. The jelly base covers well, but there is scant "visible nail line", but not "hey let's guess if you have polish on your nails!"

A little texture, but nothing that won't be taken care of with a top coat.

I love this one, apparently grabbed two while hitting the Dollar Tree over that dulcet period of now-vintage polish purging by retailers.

Rich and intense, this old Express Finish is a "find it online" kind of polish these days.




Milani Ruby Jewels

Silver glitter in a ruby red jelly base. Some texture, but again, doable with a couple top coats.

I had to do some cleanup, but it wasn't much.

Pretty and shiny, but now discontinued, but still poking around online, though not super cheap. Worth the price? Well, maybe not.





Zoya Delilah

A deep, neutral red, though Zoya calls it a cherry base, with a red fine glitter.

Very loose formula and my cleanup wasn't up to the task.

Gorgeous and shiny, it has a pretty smooth formula.

Still available on the Zoya site.




Color Club Art of Seduction

This is a red glitter in a clear base.  I've sponged it on and though I used some liquid latex body paint to cover my fingers, cleanup did provide a little bit of glitter going all over. Hard to say if it's three coats, but it might be more just due to sponging.

This is a pretty red in the same vein of a cherry type of red.

Sponging it meant that it was more textured and looks more like a texture polish.

No longer available on Color Club's site, the polish might be found online, but I've had little luck finding it as I write this.





China Glaze Ruby Pumps

Here's a classic. Red glitter in a deep red jelly. I confess I should have cleaned up, but it wasn't such a big deal to me at the time, for some reason!

Been around for a long time and from an old reboot of the China Glaze Wizard of Ooh Ahs that came out in around 2008.

Looks like it's still around at the China Glaze website. Nice! I think it's a really gorgeous polish: not too much texture, lots of shine, and a good amount of glitter!



I believe that my favorite is Ruby Pumps followed by Red Comet. There is a red on red thing going on that is very nice.


There you go, five red polishes that will smarten up the nautical brights this summer.


Thanks for reading my little nail journal!

Pinking It Over

I wanted to run a random swatch/comparison of some pinks that are a mix of old and new, blogged and unblogged. Enjoy! (all are top coat free)

China Glaze Sass in a Glass

A rich, glass fleck formula. Soupy-ish. Big three rich. This is from the same collection that has "It's 5 O'clock Somewhere" in it. That's all I really know.

It's got a metallic micro glitter/glass fleck in strong pink magenta jelly. The most red of the bunch.

Four coats used and a pretty shade. Hard to argue with this one!

Might be around blog sales or eBay, it's long since discontinued.



Sinful Colors Forget Now

Three coats, easy formula and a strong blue shimmer that really turns my head. Blogged before, but wanted to compare.

I always think I want to purge this one, but I really love it a lot. I never know if SC has a color, has renamed it under a repromote or not. It is pretty and worth looking for.

This should be around, though I can't imagine why they'd discontinue a color like this.
I know it should be around online, too.




Zoya Mae

Three coats, a beautiful shade, but man, it was a hard polish to apply. I think I ended up moving it along. Or it's in the move along box. Hard to recall.

Plus it felt sheer, although it is rather luminous, it's too hard to work with.

Still at Zoya.



L'Oreal Pink Shell

I love this one so much. A reblog and because it can work as a topper I always think it's too sheer, but it's really not, it builds at three coats and just rocks.

A favorite.

I am sure available online (I just looked on eBay and youch!).

It's a strong glass fleck shimmer, which is really a win.


Here is a comparison:

Left to right:
China Glaze Sass in a Glass
Sinful Colors Forget Now
Zoya Mae
L'Oreal Pink Shells

With a lot more clean up.

I love the drug store offerings here. The win is evident.

Hope you enjoyed!

Prim and Proper

Bye and bye I knew that Zoya would produce a blue that I would love so much.

Prim is just that shade.

Prim is a beautiful metallic "velvet" blue according to Zoya. I call it a dusty cornflower, or muted periwinkle.

Metallic is a tough finish. The particles are super fine, so it can show brushstrokes, which mine definitely does. It also shows flaws, so in a lot of ways it's like a chrome. I think this is why I love foils, because you get the metal, but a highly forgiving finish!

I think it shows my old nail damage too much, so I tossed on a couple coats of Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Watermelon Crystal, a sheer glass fleck.

Prim would be wonderful for stamping, it just covers so well.

Zoya has been kicking up the colors. For me they've replaced OPI as my "go-to" for exciting collections and interesting salon brand finishes.

Their sales - which seem to be at least two big ones a year at this point - bring their price point much lower than most drug store brands, save just a few. I will say that they are worth a look. I buy through the sales and though turnaround is often a product of high volume, I get the loot and life is good.


I will be stamping more, it's just that my nails are a really wonky and weird, so I am just pushing through until things grow out more.


Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal!

Late Winters

The flip flop of warm January and cold February has leaked into March and everyone is keen for even the remotest nice day.

It's how we roll.

Everyone forgets that the epic snow years may just be behind us. 

Here's a green that does not ignite the way I'd hoped

Zoya Irene

A semi-sheer green with earthy undertones. You can see how ravaged my nails are from Polygel. My enthusiastic filing to scrap away the smooth layer meant that I created horizontal divots. 

I believe that the initial weakness and bubbling of polish was due to the stored up moisture in my nails in the nail bed. I can see how enhancements are a home for fungii. First off, fungus spores are out there in epic proportions, so even super clean places can have them floating in the air. Secondly, dark and damp is their home town. 

Onward.

I won't say I love this polish, but I won't say that it adds a lot of to my collection.

I didn't want to say no until I tried it as a layering polish over navy blue.

This does help, but honestly, it's more of the navy popping through that wins the day for me.

A pretty shimmer with some reddish warmth in the bottle that just doesn't seem to make it to the nail. 

Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal!!

:D

Cinnamon Spice, It's Just So Nice

I haven't done a comp for a few weeks and I have some old polishes and a new one that need an outing.

While these colors seem very traditionally autumnal, I wanted to just toss them out, mainly to inspire me to wear them more often through the winter.

Spice colors are some of my favorites. They are neutral and easy to wear in the winter months when my skin is less tanned. I like golds in the summer and yellows, so for my skin tone, that's how I balance it.


I've got four, so the best thing to do is go down the list!

Diamond Cosmetics Hue Are You

Two very simple coats. A now-discontinued foil, the gold and rich russet red, well, let's say they play well together and we have a gorgeous result.

Very hard to fault this polish: coverage, nice wear, and a classic shade that doesn't feel dated.

With the contrasting shimmer, it could be on the pages of an indie seller's catalogue.

You might find it at a blog sale, but the long story short: Diamond Cosmetics is firmly in the private label camp. So be it. Godspeed.



Zoya Anastasia

Zoya does shimmers quite well. I don't know if that is their intention, for in fact I like their cremes quite a bit, too. It does seem to be their wheelhouse, though. They present them each year - some collections are almost all shimmer - and don't bat an eyelash or mitigate it with 3-4 similar reds or pinks to offset. There was a time when I discarded Zoya, but now, I'm looking again at this feisty salon brand that OPI could borrow from (less puns, people, more content - says a punster).

Anastasia is now gone from the Zoya site (so my surprise as I check into this as I write) and that's a bummer large. The burgundy undertone is strong, but it's so warmed up by the gold shimmer - glass fleck - that it takes on a deep spicy shade that feels like a Victorian brocaded room. Feel the hush of a life with no blue glow, no television/radio, and perhaps just a bit of Brahams playing in a room below.

Still available online with a bit of a hunt. I am sure people blog sale this one periodically.



Zoya Ivy

Ivy is a sheer 3-4 coater (nearly a topper, as you will see) that does pay off.

Apologies for this photo, my skin pulled pink and I had to play in photoshop to get the shade and the skin tone reasonable decent.

I unapologetically love this. My photo makes it look slightly too cognac, but it has more sherry color in it, too. In the bottle at some angles it pulls into a dry sherry shade, so much so that the reddish swatches I saw online seemed unimaginable. And yet, it does have this gorgeous color, undaunted by the warm gold glass fleck that is more subtly meted out.

This feels like nail polish grown up, still with that signature Zoya shimmer.

What is sad, though, like Anastasia, it, too, is gone. Too sad. Reminiscent of the bustle of some fin de siecle 19th century gown. Pull out our Maupassant when you are wearing this. Or browse some Sargent. It will feel just right.



El Corazon Magical Evening Fantasy

From the big buy last year. I've worn it but not blogged it. It is also a three coater, but has this lovely mauve "raw meat" kind of base I can't describe, then it's packed with pink glass fleck shimmer.
Wow!

I think the name is hilarious and gives me such a giggle, but hey, it's not a ghastly pun.

Not much more to say, except it could be one of my favorites, so lovely.

Still on El Corazon, this "Magical" line is extensive and quite beautiful. I recommend poking around, if you dare, it's hard not to build a cart on that site!



A quick comparison, though they are hardly dupes, but it's fun to see them in relation to each other:

Left to right:
Diamond Cosmetics Hue Are You
Zoya Anastasia
Zoya Ivy
El Corazone Magical Evening Fantasy (snicker)

Here's a darker shot:

Left to right:
Diamond Cosmetics Hue Are You
Zoya Anastasia
Zoya Ivy
El Corazon Magical Evening Fantasy (hee, hee)

Here is a shot of the first coat, so you can see how sheer are Ivy and MEF.

Same order. You can see Hue Are You really is gorgeous, would be nice over a medium or dark red. 

Anastasia is fairly normal.

Ivy and MEF are sheer, but they do build.

I didn't realize when I started that the Zoyas would be gone. I guess they clean out their stable. I am not on a list announcing discontinued polishes, but maybe I should find out more about that. It's a bummer because Ivy is a stunner. 

Thanks so much for reading my little nail polish journal!

2017 Favorites

Kind of a mish mash year with a ton of old photos discovered.

There were, however, a few standouts that strum the heart strings.


Milani Showy Sea Green

This baby really just got me, but good. Love it a lot.



Dance Legend Chimera

Shimmery metallic blurple that just stole my heart. And kept it locked up!



Layla Flash Black

This black holo made the venerable OPI MPJ step aside: the complexity and depth of this one. Wow! It's a beauty!



Zoya Serenity

Pantone says purple for 2018, who am I to argue? I've been saying "purple" since 2010!
You go Purple!



Bees Knees House on Haunted Chill

While toppers are always a good thing, this one takes it to the next level for sheer glass fleck multichromicity.



El Corazon Kaleidoscope Leo

This baby is absolutely a stunner and I have a hard crush on it.
Darling!!




A short list, but all are so nice!

Thanks for reading my little nail journal.

Happy New Year!!!

A Little Purple There, A Little Purple Here...

I have some things that are in dire need of swatching, but I've been wanting to tone up the old Polygel game before I went full bore.

Getting there, and thought, I better start somewhere!

First up is Zoya Mira

Mira is a rich plum purple. Not really a red purple, but has those roots, but still, a purple nonetheless.

Three coats. 

I got this on Zoya's big annual sale (that they seem to be doing much more often), which puts Zoya cheaper than most drugstore polishes these days.

A gorgeous creme, faultless application, though I didn't wear it out to see how it wore, traditionally Zoya is not a strong wearing polish. I use a normal top coat. To clarify, when I say not strong wearing, while it doesn't chip - as it seemed to do a lot when I first started wearing it - it does rub off more easily.

Still I love this shade. Gorgeous.

Zoya Serenity

Dreamy, smokey, and luscious. If you like purple, you will like this one.

It's dowsed, but not crushed into a neutral.

So great.

Typical three coats. I won't lie, this one moved to the head of the class for me.

Color Club Pucci-licious

Blogged a million years ago, here.

A classic, bright, clear, and neon-esque (I think it's hard to get this shade into a real neon)

I've had this bottle forever, but I love it a lot. I think I had a backup that I moved on down the road.

This is topcoated, as it it will dry more matte.

Here's a comparison:

Left to right:

Zoya Mira

Zoya Serenity

Color Club Pucci-licious.

I love all three. They are not alike, although in a pinch you can do Serendipity versus Pucci-licious and be perfectly fine.

All three have been topcoated. I always have mixed feelings about doing it, but most of the time I wear a topcoat, so here I thought it more natural.

Mira and Serenity are still available on Zoya's site as is Pucci-licious.

Quick note about polygel: I am loving the strength of it and learning to be a better "filer" and making the shape the best I can do, but I notice as soon as I put the polish on I notice some sort of oddball shape issue, or curve or edge. It's almost like 3-D filing.

My hope is to do a post with application, but I want some more practice under my belt before I go there. In the meantime, I love the results, the low cost, and the ease of use.

Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal!

p.s. all photos are taken with my iPhone. I think they are pretty accurate, but perhaps they pull a little blue. 

Zoya Rica Above and Beyond

Zoya Rica over OPI My Private Ornament.

I don't think I can convey my adoration for this combo! It reminds me of Nicole by OPI Coral Denominator (a backup-worthy, desert island polish).

I like Zoya Rica a lot. I inadvertently bought a second bottle in one of those Zoya sale frenzies. Ah well. No worries. Rica is sheer. It behaves like a topper and I love the heck out of that!!

I first put down  in this order: Rica, MPO, Rica, MPO, Rica; I may not have needed the second coat of MPO, as it's a fairly dense glitter.

I wore this fore several days and it was heavenly. Just perfect.

The play of that warm silver of MPO and the gold fleck and gorgeous juicy reddened coral in Rica just worked beautifully. I love when a layering combination creates a third creature of great beauty. I should start a page that lists these combos.

If you have these two, definitely layer them!

Here's Rica alone, stamped:

Over a nude I used 4 coats to acquire some density. It wasn't hard and I think Zoya's formula was easy to work with: it didn't slop or pool -  without some help from me, that is! :)

Stamped with a plate I forgot to write down! Borghese Mezzanotte Blue was the one I grabbed for a fast stamping job. I actually tried a new thing I read about on Makeup Alley from a poster called Urang: I mixed some shimmer from a 

I know that I added a Chaos and Crocadiles sheer holo topper for a bit of holo fun in the sun.

I won't lie, Rica never gave up on me! I wore it a lot and though it's a sheer one, I love how Zoya pulls the glass fleck out of their hat to come up with these kinds of collections!

Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal!