I follow a few Tumblr "blogs" (I don't really know what you'd call them, maybe it's just "tumblr"?) and I've been noticing a lot of China Glaze Let's Do It In 3-D postings from their Kaleidoscope collection. This is a rainbow holo (not linear) in a charcoal grey base that I originally hated. Seriously, I nearly gave it away last year because I was so underwhelmed by this polish. Today I decided to try again.
I used a base coat of Nfu-Oh Aqua Base which takes a bit longer to dry than normal base coats because of its thickness, but provides a nice smooth base for the nail polish. Next I added three thin coats of Let's Do It In 3-D. And then I fell in love.
Not going to lie - I took about 50 pictures. However, I'm going to spare you and only show the best one that showed you that holo goodness we all love. Yay!
However in the shade, well you know the story.
Boo shade.
Indoors with the flash provided a bit more holographic pictures, but not by much. This is definitely a "wear in the sun and blind everyone" type of polish - which is fine by me.
While this color is discontinued, you can find it sometimes on eBay (ouch on prices) or in small/local beauty supply stores or salons.
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.
So I had a first date with someone and was panicking trying to find a perfect neutral "first date" color. I know that the right guy is going to love me and my addiction collection but I still don't necessarily want to scare them off on the first date with a glitter bomb... as much as I love glitter... #iloveglitter
Anywho.
So finally I decided that because this guy seemed really rugged (co-owns a construction company) and he said how much he "hates drama", this was a pretty perfect color for something soft and feminine but also had a fun kick to it. OPI's Sparrow Me The Drama from the Spring 2011 Brights inspired by Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides collection. I love the tongue-in-cheek names that OPI has - I'm really hoping Suzi will be at CosmoProf just so I can shake her hand.
I used a base coat of OPI Natural Nail, 2 coats of polish and a top of Seche Vite (because of time). The formula was very nice - not runny or thick. I especially appreciate the Pro-Wide brush on my nails... saves time.
Very bubblegum pink to me - no blue undertones. Here in the sun, it's just pretty lovely. I do believe I had just had my nails shaped professionally... okay, so my manicurist uses a fine grit emery board... It makes me cringe because I've read that you should use a crystal file. I asked her about crystal files and she just said "Yeah, you can use those too" - so I asked her if I brought in mine, would she use it on me, and she said of course... She's been doing nails for like 20 years so she knows what she's doing but I'm just so confused. This is why I want to get a cosmetology license - actually KNOW what I'm talking about.
This was really an indirect sun picture - you can see some sun peeking around the bottle side, but mostly this is shady... Either way it's still a nice color - almost medicine pink (like Pepto Bismol) but not quite.
Complete shade here... and you can see that this pink does hold up and doesn't fade out when the sun disappears. I am still on the fence about the color against my skin tone, but also because I'm a bit sick of reds right now (have you noticed how many reds I've reviewed lately?!).
Indoors with the flash - check out what this color did! Now it LOOKS like there's blue undertones but there isn't... I don't get it. Silly color. Overall, I'd buy it totally because of the novelty of the Pirates movie but I'm not sure how much wear this color will actually get on my hands.
Oh and in case you were wondering, worst first date ever. Barely lasted 25 minutes and he stared at the ceiling longer than looking at me. Lame.
OPI is available at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and Ulta, for $8.50 ($10.95 CAN) suggested retail for each Nail Lacquer. Please visit their website for details [official website].
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.
