Zoya – Jem

Ah, Zoya I do love you.  But you are blinking hard to get in the UK despite the advent of online shopping.  That said, I have been helped on a number of occasions by my lovely friend in the US.  And that is how I got this little gem…. the is Jem.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Zoya describe this as a ‘dark red toned purple base with dark metallic pink highlights and subtle gold duochrome flecks’.  It comes from the Fall 2011 collections of Smoke and Mirrors and this is certainly a fall perfect shade.  You can see in the promo image above that Jem is by far the cheeky minx of the collection.

Formula was great, this is two coats over a base of Nailtiques 2 and topped with Seche Vite to seal in all that shiny flecky purple red toned pink and gold something… these pics really don’t show Jem off at her best, but she is a stunner.  In fact, I must have had this a while, maybe three years, so the fact that it still is great to use just shows how good to Zoya formula is.  There was no separation of the polish and it didn’t need shaking up to use.

Let me know your hot leads to get your Zoya’s in the UK and if you have any, what are you must haves?

A dark red-toned purple base with metallic dark pink highlights and subtle gold duochrome flecks.? This shade has it all; bold color, vampy drama, bright sparkle and a glam rock persona.? – See more at: http://www.zoya.com/content/item/Zoya/Zoya-Nail-Polish-Jem-ZP575.html#sthash.m8malD3j.dpuf

A dark red-toned purple base with metallic dark pink highlights and subtle gold duochrome flecks.? This shade has it all; bold color, vampy drama, bright sparkle and a glam rock persona.? – See more at: http://www.zoya.com/content/item/Zoya/Zoya-Nail-Polish-Jem-ZP575.html#sthash.m8malD3j.dpuf

Don’t forget that you can follow this blog via Bloglovin’, either by clicking the icon to the right or by clicking here. I can also be found on Twitter @BakingNails

Advertisement

Zoya – Jo

Bit of an older polish for you today, whilst I get on with wearing my new acquisitions.  This is Jo, by Zoya, a cornflower/periwinkle blue polish.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

What you see above is three thin coats over a base of G&G Stuck on Blu! topped with a coat of G&G HK Girl.  Formula was good, nice consistency and it is slightly prone to streaking – also, it didn’t dry all that quick even with HK Girl on top, you can see where I dinged my thumb nail.

Jo was part of the Twist Collection released in 2009 (boy that is a LONG time in nail polish years…..) I’ve had mine for at least 4 years.  Its a great colour, really springy without being too pastel-like.  Which is good as pastels don’t often do it for me.

What do you think?  This would probably make a great backdrop for some nail art, not that I have any skillz in that area!  Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

Zoya – Crystal

Ah, now here is a polish that has been hanging about the in stash for a lonnnnnggggg time.  I bought this when I went to Toronto for the friends wedding in Winter 2010.  Its from the Fire & Ice Collection by Zoya.  This is Crystal

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

This is a cool toned blue with gold flecks, it does dry to a foil like finish.  I topped with G&G HK Girl so it was super shiny.  Its very reflective and the light catches it when you have it on your nails.  What you see above is three thin coats over a base of Essence Better Then Gel Nails Base (I’m trying to use up my old bottles in an attempt to tidy up the number of bottles on my nail stand).  Colour opacity does build up, but you will need three coats.

When I pulled out my bottle, separation was quite pronounced, but it shook up well and didn’t separate again whilst I had it out.  A few of my older Zoyas do that, but it certainly doesn’t seem to affect their use or performance.

What do you think?  Like, love or leave?

Zoya – Ivanka

I’ve been going through the stash, looking at polishes I haven’t shared with you.  I stumbled across my little Zoya collection so I thought it would be a good time to show you some of these pretties.  I know Zoya can be a bit tricky to pick up in the UK, but you can now get them from Sally Magpies, as well as places like eBay and Amazon.

Anyway, you know how I like a blingy nail polish – you can’t get blingier than this one!  This is Ivanka, which was part of the Sparkle Collection released in Summer 2010.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Colour build up with this is impressive.  First coat, you are thinking, this is never going to be opaque.  Two more coats later, so three in total, and you have this great colour, rippled with depth and interest.  It is very shiny and really catches the light.  I wore mine over a base coat of Essence Better then Gel Nails Base, followed with a top coat of G&G HK Girl.  The G&G HK Girl really makes it shine and its just stunning.

The Zoya brushes are quite small and straight, so its three swipes to cover my nails, even on my little finger.  Formula does look a tad on the runny side so I had to be careful not to flood my cuticles.  That said, patience pays off well.

What do you think?  What is your fave Zoya shade?  And any good places to pick them up?

Don’t forget that you can follow this blog via Bloglovin’, either by clicking the icon to the right or by clicking here. I can also be found on Twitter @BakingNails

Zoya – Yara

And another quick post for you today…. yet more images I have found languishing on my computer (bad blogger I know!)

This is another Zoya for you, this time is it Yara.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Yara is a lovely, green enriched with gold, giving it a rich, lush tone.  Its lovely.  Formula was excellent as with most of the recent Zoyas.  Base with Essie Millionails (now discontinued) and topped with Seche Vite.

Lots of the new Zoya releases have been completely amazing, I have my eye on the new Pixie Dusts – I mean who wouldn’t??

Zoya- Kimber

Another set of images that somehow I missed, this is the delightful Kimber from Zoya Surf Collection.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

A wonderful pink red with that trademark shimmer.  Lovely, its very hard to capture the true colour in images, but it is stunning.  Formula was excellent and this is two average coats.  I can’t remember what I topped with but its more than likely Seche Vite.

Love it.  What do you think?

Zoya – Logan

I’ve got a green gem to share today, I picked this up with the help of my enabling Polish Picking Princess in the US.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Logan was released as part of the Ornate Christmas 2012 edition and is super glitzy and glossy.  Its lovely, formula is great.  Two easy coats. 

I based with Essie All in One base and topped with Seche Vite to seal in that lovely gloss. 

I adore this, its so shiny and its pretty perfect for Christmas (although its July….)

Zoya – Storm

Very quick post for you today, this little lovely was sent to me by my lovely Canadian Polish Twin, it is so completely me and I think you will love it too!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

This is Zoya Storm, part of the Ornate Collection from Holiday 2012.  Its a rich black base polish rammed full of small holographic particles that just dance in the light.  I cannot take my eyes off my nails.  I am in love.  What you see above is three coats.  Two is probably enough to make it opaque but I wanted to make sure it didn’t look light on my free nail.

I also tried out a new base and top coat I picked up on my holiday.  For the base I used Essence Studio Nails Better Then Gel Nails Base Sealer.  This dried quickly and provided a smooth surface on which to place colour.  I then top coated with Essence Studio Nails Better Than Gel Nails Top Sealer High Gloss.  I’m impressed with both parts.  Seriously impressed.  They even have their own website!  The Top Coat is super glossy and shiny, even two days later the gloss part is amazing.  I don’t think they were particularly expensive, say €3 or €4 tops.

Zoya can be purchased through a number of resellers in the UK, including places like Amazon and eBay. Price vary wildly beacuse you cannot buy directly from Zoya outside of the US and Canada.  So do your homework and share any good links in the comments below.

Anyway, what do you think?  I missed the Ornate Collection first time out, simply because there were so many other things I was after and you have to draw a line somewhere….

Zoya Pixie Dust – London

This is the last in the short run of Zoya Pixie Dust polishes.  London is a gray matter shimmer bomb, described by Zoya as a ‘fog gray with a sugared sparkle’, how can you not love a description like that?

Anyway, onto the pictures!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The Zoya page says not to use top or base coat but I used Seche Clear as a base coat regardless.  If you have time, it might be an idea to let each layer dry before applying another.  And then remember that you haven’t put a fast drying top coat on and messing about might cause it to punch up and need redoing.  The texture isn’t too rough, it is even which is a bonus, its akin to slightly rough sandpaper.  Its quick relaxing running your fingers over it!

Zoya is available through resellers such as Amazon and eBay, Zoya does not ship outside the US or Canada.  US retail point is around $9, outside the US prices will vary.

So out of Nyx, Vespa and London, which one is your fav?  I so want to get my hands on Dahlia ‘a black beauty with a sugared sparkle’ and Chyna ‘a red dazzle with a sugared sparkle’

Zoya Pixie Dust – Vespa

A quick post today with the second Pixie Dust polish to show you, yesterday we saw Nyx, the sparkly periwinkle of the collection.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Vespa is a very pale green, colour does get more intense as you add the layers.  What you see above is two coats of polish with no top coat.  Zoya’s descrption of the colour?  ‘Mint Green with a Sugared Kiss’.  It is super pretty and does look like sugared gum drops on your nails!

The Zoya page says not to use top or base coat but I used Seche Clear as a base coat regardless.  If you have time, it might be an idea to let each layer dry before applying another.  And then remember that you haven’t put a fast drying top coat on and messing about might cause it to punch up and need redoing.  The texture isn’t too rough, it is even which is a bonus, its akin to slightly rough sandpaper.  Its quick relaxing running your fingers over it!

Zoya is available through resellers such as Amazon and eBay, Zoya does not ship outside the US or Canada.  US retail point is around $9, outside the US prices will vary.

What other polish trends are you itching to try?