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.
So you know Zoya names all their nail polish after women - I've never met an Alegra yet, but you're out there - I know it. Going back to the Summer 2010 "Flash and Sparkle" collection (Alegra was in Sparkle), this is a fuchsia pink sparkling metallic (glass fleck).
I used a base of Zoya Get Even, 2 coats of Alegra and a top of Zoya Armor. Formula was superb.
Fuchsia? Glass fleck/sparkling metallic? Slight duochrome in the bottle? LOVE IT.
Super smooth formula? Buttery look on the nail? YES PLEASE.
Purple sparkles?! Okay, just slay me now. I'm in love with you Alegra. LOVE.
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.
Yay reds! Power reds! Today from the Wicked side of Zoya's 2010 Fall Collection Wicked/Wonderful. First is Carrie Ann. My Mom loves Dancing with the Stars, and I always love the way the announcer says "Carrie Ann Inaba!" This is a lovely "venetian red sparkling metallic" (glass fleck). Venetian Red was first recorded as a color name in 1753 and is a darker shade of scarlet. (Thank you Wikipedia!)
I used a base of Zoya Get Even, 2 coats of Carrie Ann and a top of Zoya Armor. Formula was amazing on this color. I really do love glass flecks/sparkling metallics because they have the look of glitter without the problems of glitter.
No sun for these (BOO!) but look how this color just glows! So amazing.
Indoors with the flash - not the best picture but shows that you don't see my nails (like with Zoya Cola). Really love this color though, I must say. While not the most unique, there is definitely a difference in each one. I can't wait until my major project is done and I can show how each one is different.
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.
Okay seriously? I cannot STOP thinking about Zoya coming to life, ever since this hilarious post from The Daily Nail. I literally just bust out laughing especially at the very end, when Gemma goes to sleep. LOVE it.
Today's Zoya red is Karina from the Wicked/Wonderful Fall 2010 collection - Wicked side. It's a salsy little garnet red sparkling metallic (glass fleck, whatever) and it's pretty hot. I used a base of Zoya Get Even, 2 coats of Karina, and a top of Zoya Armor. Formula was pretty perfect.
LOVE this color - love sparkling reds! I like that glass fleck/sparkling metallics look like glitter but don't wear like glitter. Big thumbs up.
I especially love how this looks in the shade - just look how it sparkles and shines!
Ending off with indoors and a flash - still just lovely as ever... a must have in my collection because it's just definitely a winner.
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 have never been good at nail art. I try but I just don't have the patience I guess. Milani has come out with 10 different nail art lacquers each with a precision brush that actually helps you make those fine lines. Above are Black Sketch, a black creme and Art of Gold, a gold glitter.
Check out that brush tip! It's definitely to the point.
I went over my existing Milani manicure of Bijou Bronze (which had a top coat) and just drew whatever came to mind. I ended up with this (sun then shade).
On the far left (pinkie), you can see that Art of Gold didn't work well by itself as a line burst like I did with Black Sketch on the ring finger. On my middle finger was a crown in Art of Gold and I just filled in the rest with the Black Sketch, although in the shade it appears I did a horrible job. The best use of Art of Gold was actually OVER Black Sketch on my index finger - go figure. Overall these nail art lacquers were GREAT. I'd actually go get the others based on this experience.
Each Nail Art Lacquer is $4.99.
You can visit Milani on their website and purchase directly or buy it in stores like CVS/pharmacy or Walgreens. You can Like them on Facebook, follow their Twitter and subscribe to their YouTube Channel.
Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration. For more information, please read this post.
Small break from the Zoyas to give you another brand - Milani. They are currently having a giveaway for a Flip Camera on their Facebook page. Just "Like" them, and then enter on the left hand size where it says "Flip Camera Sweepstakes." Contest ends June 10 at 12 noon PST (which they mean PDT but whatever... I always forget).
I can purchase Milani at CVS/pharmacy and Walgreens but the ones in my town NEVER get new collections. I've been waiting for the 1-coat glitters since December with no avail. :[
Bijou Bronze is a brownish red, slightly metallic finished polish (who'd have thought) and applied well. I used a base of Seche Natural, 2 coats of Bijou Bronze and I finished with Milani Quick Dry Top Coat.
Oh look, more cloudy weather. BOO. I do love how firey this looks though - very nice.
You can definitely see my ridges when not wearing a ridge base. I also apparently got something stuck under my middle nail. And these were all taken before I got a manicure - oops.
Overall for my first experience with Milani, this was nice. Good coverage, nice price at $4.50 a bottle.
You can visit Milani on their website and purchase directly or buy it in stores like CVS/pharmacy or Walgreens. You can Like them on Facebook, follow their Twitter and subscribe to their YouTube Channel.
Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration. For more information, please read this post.
Secret - I LOVE Dublin Dr Pepper. I literally buy a case every time I have the chance to. When I'd order online, I'd get it from Old Doc's Soda Shop. They are having their 120th Birthday Celebration on Saturday, June 11th, and I REALLY wish I could go, but the 370 miles is a bit much of a drive (about 6.5 hours). Oh Texas, WHY do you have to be so big?!
Back to the polish! Cola is a "desert sand red creme" from the Wonderful side of the Fall 2010 Wicked/Wonderful Zoya collection. I'm determined to blast through these beauties (and this is the last from the Wonderful side), but I have to say, they had a LOT of reds in this collection - 9 out of 12. It was very overwhelming to me at the time, but honestly, each one was different! I used a base coat of Zoya Get Even, 2 coats of Cola and a top of Zoya Armor.
Boo clouds. You really see a lot of the brown but there's a bit of red poking out especially on the pinkie finger.
Same story in the shade, to be honest - just not a very exciting color for me.
Now here's the killer - check out this color indoors with the flash - streak city! I don't get it, it looked so nice above! I guess three coats would be better for this one.
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.
Also from the Fall 2010 Wicked/Wonderful Collection (the Wonderful side) is Kristi, a crimson red creme. Thankfully I had some pretty sun for this one! I used a base coat of Zoya Get Even, 2 coats of Kristi and a top of Zoya Armor. The formula on this polish was a little too thin for my liking but not unmanageable.
It definitely pops out at you! I also am LOVING Zoya Get Even... you know how bad my ridges show in pictures - and this really smoothed it all out.
In the shade, I feel that there's a tiny bit of blue undertones, but I've also been looking at a monitor for hours. >_<
Finally indoors with the flash - look how smooth it is especially on my ring finger! Lovely color.
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.
