Wednesday 27 March 2024

A Zoya A Day - Rhiannon

Hi Friends

Today on the blog I'm sharing my manicure of Rhiannon.

Available on the website - Yes
Brush used - Z Wide
Name - Rhiannon
Year - 2024
Number - ZP1218
Does it stamp - No
Coats - 2
Finish - Glitter
Collection - Bloom
Colour - Blue
Topcoat - No

Rhiannon can be described as a vibrant icy blue, with microfine holographic, aqua and white glitter.

Since I got this set I have been watching all the reviews on youtube, there seems to be real issues with the glitters, several reviews have reported slow dry time and a very *sticky* formula.

Rhiannon for me has an ok formula, it doesnt run or pool, however, it does seem *sticky*, the brush has splayed out like the normal round brush used to do in a pixie dust, I just wonder if this formula is the issue, prior to these Zoya didnt really do glitter polishes, the last pure glitters they did were in 2009 Nova, Roxy and Luna in the Ultra Glitter collection, I own Nova and Roxy and the glitters in those fall to bottom of the bottle and require a long shake before wearing.

I'm probably never going to wear these are full manicures due to the sticky formula, they work as toppers though.  Rhiannon took about 30 minutes to fully dry two coats.  I wouldnt want to wear this if I needed a quick out the door manicure. 

I really dont understand why they didnt make these pixie dusts, just because no-one else is doing them, does not mean we polish addicts dont want them.  I for one adore my pixie dusts, they are my go to when I'm travelling or about to do something rough with my hands. They're usually one or two coats, they dry fast and they are tough to chip.

I am so disappointed, the actual colours of the glitters are gorgeous, the colours are so bright and fun but oh man the formula is awful.

The last photo shows the brush of Chita a pixie dust with the original round brush and Rhiannon with the z wide brush.









Tuesday 26 March 2024

A Zoya A Day - Violetta

Hi Friends 

Today I'm sharing my manicure of the vibrant Violetta.

Available on the website - Yes
Brush used - Z Wide
Name - Violetta
Year - 2024
Number - ZP1220
Does it stamp - No
Coats - 1/2
Finish - Glitter
Collection - Bloom
Colour - Purple
Topcoat - No

Violetta is described as a warm violet, with microfine holographic, aqua and rose gold glitter.

I decided to put one coat of Hudson on my left hand and then one coat of Violetta, my right hand has two coats of Violetta.  Violetta has a good formula, no running or pooling, I really love the neon tone this polish has, while I was out for my walk at lunch it was sparkling away in the sunshine.   Pic 1 is indoors, pic 2 is under my LED light and pic 3 is outside, it had clouded over when I took the pic.









Monday 25 March 2024

Zoya Bloom Spring 2024, swatch stick and bottle comparisons.

Hi Friends 

Today I'm sharing my swatch stick and bottle comparisons for the latest collection for spring 2024 from Zoya called Bloom. All swatch sticks have two coats of polish, no topcoat.

The names are as follows

Hyacinth - Sweet yet delicate candy pink, with microfine holographic, pink and white glitter
Fleur - Fun, classic spring pink cream.
Phoebe (2) - Mid-tone watermelon cream. Well balanced between red, pink and coral tones.
Rhiannon - Vibrant icy blue, with microfine holographic, aqua and white glitter.
Violetta - Warm violet, with microfine holographic, aqua and rose gold glitter.
Zaria - Deep spring rose pink cream.

As I picked up Lucky I figured I'd do a comparison for that as well.

Lucky -  is a celebration of vibrant leaf green, infused with gold and blue glitter, and a fine sprinkling of magic fairy dust that captures the light and the essence of spring.

We have a returning name in Phoebe, who first appeared in 2011 in the Mod Mattes collection, then she was a bright blue with shimmer that dried matte.

Lots of photos ahead, as per normal, all photos are taken in naturel daylight, I do not alter tones, I simply crop and add my watermark.  The new polish is first left.   Lets get started :) 


First up Hyacinth, Wanda, Bisoux, Maddy and Harper. No dupes, Wanda has a more tinted base colour and a golden shimmer, Bisoux is much lighter in tone, Harper is much pinker with different glitters and Maddy is a cream, Bisoux is only available in the petite bottle at the moment.


Next up Violetta, Aster, Hudson, Stevie and Fairleigh. No dupes, Violette almost has a neon violet tone to her, Aster has a blue undertone, Hudson is a metallic with blue undertones, Stevie is a pixie dust and Fairleigh is much paler than all of them, Hudson is discontinued.


Rhiannon, Rebel, Sparrow, Bay. No dupes, Rebel is closest in colour but has a green flash and metallic finish, Sparrow is much deeper in tone and Bay has a green flash/particle. 


The three creams together to show the tones.


Fleur, Jolene, Eden, Sandy and Kay. This was tricky I think the closest is Jolene, she is discontinued though, Kay is the next closest but theres more of an orange undertone to Kay than Fleur.


Phoebe, Jolene, Kay, Micky. This is also close, but the tones in Phoebe are more vibrant than the others, no exact dupes. 


Zaria, Dawn, Monroe, Ono, Carmen. I added Carmen to show that while Zaria could look red in some lights, she is most definitely a pink.  The closest is Dawn, however, she and Monroe are discontinued, Ono is darker in tone than Zaria and Carmen is a classic red.


Lucky, Apple, Stassi, Cece, Meg.  No dupes, Apple has a more yellow undertone, Stassi has a hint of blue undertone, Cece has little golden sparkles and Meg is a metallic and much lighter in tone.


Stamping test of the creams, all stamp well.


My present manicure, I'm wearing one coat of Fleur with a coat of Hyacinth over the top, the sparkles shades are sheer on their first coat, texture is pixie dust like, I also had to take the polish off one nail and removal was similar to a pixie dust. Formula on Fleur is wonderful.



I really like this collection, I love the glitters, they're sheer enough on the first coat to be used as toppers but build up well in two.  Zoya went with some punchy colours for spring this year and the glitters are fun and versatile. What do you think? Will you be picking any or all of these beauties up?





Wednesday 20 March 2024

Current Nails

Hi Friends 

Today I'm sharing my current nails and a set I did for a challenge on Instagram.

My nails today are Fancy Gloss Once In a Pink Moon, a pink when cold to white when hot thermal that has a very strong blue flash. I did three coats but only because the hot state was white and showed my nail line.

I then stamped using Whats Up Nails Bargain-Villea, I do really like the Whats Up Nails stamping polishes, they are very good indeed.  I used Moyou Minimal Collection 12.

The last photo is of nails I did for a challenge of Instagram called When Colours Collide, every month they set a colour palette and then you go off and do a design with those colours.  Last month was pastel pink, neon yellow and black and they had to be all cream polishes, so I did a smoosh and some dots.









Tuesday 19 March 2024

A Zoya A Day - Andi

Hi Friends

Today on the blog we have a classic Hollywood red, lets meet Andi.

Available on the website - Yes
Brush used - Original
Name - Andi
Year - 2007
Number - ZP0424
Does it stamp - Yes
Coats - 1
Finish - Cream
Collection - Uptown
Colour - Red
Topcoat - No

Andi by Zoya can be best described as a bold medium blue-toned red with a touch of barely-perceptible silver shimmer.

Wait, shimmer?? but you list the finish as cream, I've stared at the bottle and I dont see any shimmer, at all.  Does anyone see shimmer?

Andi has a perfect formula, no running or pooling and I did one sweet coat for my swatches, Andi also stamps really well, this reminds me of old school Hollywood like Marlene Dietrich and Marilyn Monroe.

One of my readers wanted to see how a yellow holographic would look, so also below is Zoya Honey with two coats of Wikkid Polish Stardust over her.











Wednesday 13 March 2024

A Zoya A Day - Whitney

Hi Friends 

Today I'm sharing my swatch and review of the stunning Whitney.

Available on the website - Yes
Brush used - Original
Name - Whitney
Year - 2008
Number - ZP0439
Does it stamp - Yes
Coats - 2
Finish - Cream
Collection - Gossip
Colour - Pink
Topcoat - No

Whitney by Zoya can be best described as a smooth, saturated purple-toned cool pink creme. A bright, flattering choice for cool skin tones.

How pretty is Whitney, I do love a good pink, Whitney has a great formula, no running or pooling and I did two coats for my manicure. Whitney also stamps well.

The only polish I'm missing from the Gossip set is LC and she is sadly discontinued on the Zoya website, however, I've just checked Nail Polish Direct a UK seller and its in stock, I might pick that up as that would complete those two collections.








Monday 11 March 2024

A Zoya A Day - Vixen

Hi Friends

Today on the blog I'm sharing my swatch of the gorgeous Vixen.

Available on the website - Yes
Brush used - Z Wide
Name - Vixen
Year - 2024
Number - ZP1212
Does it stamp - Yes
Coats - 2
Finish - Cream
Collection - Magical
Colour - Burgundy/Plum
Topcoat - No

Vixen can be described as an Embrace the night with this seductive blackened cherry cream.

Oof Vixen is vampy, this is so deep it looks black in most lights, to a non-nailaphile its a black polish. I think you'll only tell this is a plum when its seen in bright sunlight.  

Vixen has a wonderful formula, no running or pooling and I did two coats for my manicure, purely because I am wearing two false nails and the colour wasnt quite as deep as the bottle on those nails.

I've purchased the Colour of the Month for March Lucky and the new Bloom collection for spring 2024, they wont ship until the 15th of March and usually take about 10 days to get to me here in the UK.








Tuesday 27 February 2024

Nail Mail and My Current Manicure

Hi Friends 

Today I'm sharing my last Fancy Gloss haul, I ordered these in January and they arrived this week. Rainbow Connection does pre-orders for Fancy Gloss and you order in advance.

Left to right we have 

Orquidea Espacialt 
Morning Iris
Pocion de Amor 
Dainty Rose
Aguas Frescas 
Mala Conducta 
Once in a Pink Moon 

Generally Fancy Gloss is the only brand of thermals I buy as they're always interesting colour combinations and they transition well without needing a lot of heat or cold.  They also last really well, I've been buying them since at least 2019 and none have died yet. (fingers crossed).

I used both Aguas Frescas the blue cold to lime hot thermal and Dainty Rose a plum cold to pink hot thermal.

With Aguas I used Virago Varnish Blueberry Bleak and Green Tea Frost with plates Uberchic Beauty Butterflies, Moyou London Bridal Collection 8 and 10 and Lace Collection 01.

With Dainty Rose I used Zoya Toni and Whats Up Nails Bargain-Villea with the same plates.

Both thermals had wonderful formula, no running or pooling and I did two coats of each.

Top coated with Barry M Plumpy topcoat.