The Untried Diaries: Zoya Dove With a CND Sparkle

Good Morning!  Is everyone starting the countdown to the weekend?  I’m actually flying to Dallas for the weekend for sorority stuff, and looking forward to the heat!  LOL I know, I know, it drops below 70 degrees one day in LA and I’m ready to whip out the turtlenecks!  Even though I spent my first 25 years on the east coast, living in LA the past 6 years has made me a weakling!






Today I have for you some polishes I purchased last spring but still hadn’t worn.  First up is Zoya Dove.  Dove is a light grey creme with a slight blue hue.  I applied 3 coats for this mani, as the formula was a bit streaky.  This is my first light grey, so I’m not sure if this is just how the color tends to be – like yellows – or if it’s this particular brand.  Either way, I really liked how Dove looked on me!

I think Dove is a great work appropriate grey creme for a paler friend.  It looks good on me, but because it’s so pale I think it contrasts more than a medium or darker grey would, so something darker may blend better and appear more neutral on me.

To have some fun with Dove, I whipped out one of the CND Effects polishes that has been collecting dust in my untrieds, Sapphire Sparkle.  Sapphire Sparkle is a layering polish with micro glitter that appears blue or raspberry in color, depending on angle and lighting.  Take a look!

LOVE!  I think the blue hue from Zoya Dove is perfectly paired with CND Sapphire Sparkle, and the raspberry tinted sparkle is a nice bonus!

Cuticle Care

Wow, it's been too long, my polish-lovin' friends!  I can't believe it's been over a week since the last post!  But, here I am, alive and well, blogging from a much more awesome - and larger! - new home.  Even after the long weekend I still am only about 2/3 unpacked, and I haven't quite yet figured out my setup for nail polishing/blogging/photographing.  I actually painted my nails Saturday night sitting cross-legged on my kitchen floor - not ideal, but we were going out drinking, and a girls got to do what a girls got to do!

I was hoping to be up and running by now, but alas, it isn't so.  I have so many new polishes from fall 2011 collections to show you!  Oh well - hopefully they'll start later this week.   One thing  I do want to talk about today is nail care - it's been on my brain a lot these past few days, as moving wreaked HAVOC on my nails.  I've had to trim most of my nails down - and the others I didn't trim was because they broke off - and give my cuticles some much needed TLC.  

Healthy cuticles are important to maintaining healthy nails, and there is no shortage of products available on the market to help get your cuticles in tip-top shape.  Cuticle care is available in both oil and a balm formulas.  I used to used cuticle oil regularly, but I didn't feel it penetrated and worked very well as I'm constantly washing my hands and would only sometimes remember to reapply afterwards.  Instead, I switched to using balms which, in my opinion, last longer and work better.

For days like today, when the cuticles are particularly damaged and need a lot of help, I go for Qtica Cuticle Repair Balm.  Qtica is the sister brand to Zoya, and the Cuticle Repair Balm reminds me of the texture of Vaseline.  A little goes a long way, and I carry this around to reapply 2-3 times a day.  I can normally see improvement within the first few days, and really use Cuticle Repair Balm only when I need to do just that - repair the cuticles.

Once my cuticles are healthy and back to normal, I switch to LUSH Lemony Flutter Cuticle Balm.  Lemony Flutter is the balm!  Hehe.  Seriously, it's a lightweight formula, and kind of feels like butter once it has softened at room temperature.  A little bit of Lemony Flutter goes a very long way - the picture below shows a new Lemony Flutter after using it 2x a day for about 3 weeks.  I apply Lemony Flutter at night before bed and again in the morning as I'm heading out the door, and my cuticles are all the happier for it.

 
So there you go!  Have you tried either balm from Qtica or LUSH?  What do you use to keep your cuticles happy and healthy? And are there any other products from these brands that you think are must haves?  Sound off in the comments below!

The Untried Diaries: Zoya Edyta

Happy Friday! Anyone have plans for this weekend? I will be packing for the upcoming move, with strategically planned breaks to go to the movies. I have so many summer movies still to catch up on! I saw Crazy Stupid Love last weekend (so good!), and this weekend will likely be 30 Minutes Or Less and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (I know, I know, I'm like, the last person in the world to see it). Should be good times!

Today we're returning back to my stash of many untried polishes and I came up with Zoya Edyta. Edyta is a mix of green and gold shimmering awesomeness in a dark blue-green base with a metallic foil finish. Yes, it's a whole lotta color, my friends. She went on easily in 2 coats, and I was not ready for her photo finish. She stunned me, people! Take a look!



And here's the close-up:




Now, I have reviewed a few other Zoya polishes on my blog, but nothing has gotten me so excited about the brand as Edyta. Think of Edyta as Chanel Graphite's darker, more colorful, and more mysterious sister. Graphite just puts her business out on the streets, but with Edyta, you're not sure exactly what your getting until you get up close with her. I guess, you could say, Edyta is a little like me. Which is why this little hot mama is without a doubt staying put in my permanent collection. Booyah!

Zoya Edyta is available at ULTA and other beauty retailers, or online at Zoya's website. Each Zoya polish retails for $8 for a 0.5 fl oz bottle. Luckily Zoya polishes stay around for-ev-er, so Edyta is not LE and you can pick her up. Enjoy!


What do you think? Have you tried Edyta yet? How would you describe her? And what other dark, mysterious polishes do you have up your sleeve (collection)? Let us know!

Pink Wednesdays: Zoya Areej

Good Morning! Oh, how I've missed you guys! I had a great long weekend in Virginia Beach with my family, but getting back to LA was heck on Sunday! First my flight from Norfolk to Charlotte was delayed due to storms, and then leaving Charlotte to fly to LAX we were delayed due to a disabled plane on the runway and later storms. I was delayed overall about 3 1/2 hours, crazy! It did make me realize, though, that I am so spoiled living in LA - it's not near any other airports, so we never have congestion issues with landing/taking off (like you have in NYC), and I've never had a flight delayed due to weather conditions. Aaah, there are so many benefits to west coast living!

Today we're celebrating Pink Wednesday with Zoya Areej. Areej is bright pink creme that has blue undertones. It applied easily in 2 coats, as I've come to expect from Zoya polishes. they really do have a great, consistent formula! I occasionally find 3-coaters with other salon brands, but not at all yet with Zoya. Take a look:


When I tried Areej on, I thought she looked familiar and I might have a similar color already in my collection. I dug around and pulled out one of my favorite pinks, OPI Dim Sum Plum, to see if I had a dupe on my hands. Check out the swatch below!

(Zoya Areej and OPI Dim Sum Plum; direct sunlight, no flash)

(Zoya Areej and OPI Dim Sum Plum; artificial light, with flash)

To my eye, in the direct sunlight they look identical. However, with artificial lighting and flash, I can see a slight difference. Areej looks at tad more blue than Dim Sum Plum. However, I don't think this is noticeable to most eyes, so for all intents and purposes I'm calling them dupes. I am a huge fan of Dim Sum Plum, which means Areej is likely going to make her way over to my share/swap drawer. She is a beauty, though, so maybe I'll change my mind!

Zoya Areej was released as a part of Zoya's Summertime Collection this summer. It retails for $8 per polish and can be purchased at Zoya.com (be on the lookout for promotions! they have them all the time) or in store at Ulta and other salon retailers.


What do you think? Do you think Areej and Dim Sum Plum are dupes? Which formula do you prefer, Zoya or OPI? And do you have any other colors from the Zoya Summertime Collection?

Zoya Sooki (True Blood Returns!)

Happy Sunday, Lacquer Lovers!

It has been a quiet and productive weekend here in SoCal - I got my hair did yesterday, did a little nail polish shopping, beautiful hike this morning in Runyon Canyon, and just finished a few hours of swatching polishes I haven't had time to get to. Haha okay, so there was no cleaning, grocery shopping, laundry, etc., but the former is my idea of a productive weekend way more than the latter.

In case you haven't heard, season 4 of True Blood returns tonight on HBO! I watched the first 3 episodes already (there are a few perks to working for a studio and having friends in the industry!), and for all you hardcore fans, you will not be disappointed! For fans of the book - well, the more you can distance yourself from the storyline in the books, the happier you will be. Alan Ball has his own point of view for the characters in Bon Temps, and while he respects Charlaine Harris' original work, he definitely is forging his own ideas on the Bon Temps universe without apology.

To celebrate the return of our favorite southern vamps, I changed up my pedi today to Zoya Sooki. Sooki is a bright red creme, released this year as a part of the Zoya Summertime Collection. It was surprisingly opaque in just 1 coat - always a plus! - but I did 2 coats below, just to get rid of any VNL. You know I never force my friends to stare at my piggies, so here's a look at Sooki on my fingers:


The photo above is natural light and didn't quite capture how bright and bold Sooki really is. Here's a shot with artificial light and flash:


Overall, Sooki really reminds me of OPI Vodka & Caviar, one of my favorite reds ever. V&C is much more of a jelly versus Sooki which is a true creme. (Memo to self - must do a comparison soon!) Sooki has a place in my collection now, but if it turns out to be a dupe for V&C, it may be facing the 'true death' and leaving my collection.

What do you think? Do you have any of the polishes from the Zoya Summertime Collection? Are you a True Blood fan? And doesn't Sooki seem to be the perfect polish for Sookie Stackhouse?

NOTD: Zoya Jules

Good Morning, Polish Aficionados!

Let's jump right into today's manicure - Zoya Jules. Jules is a champagne gold shimmer that appears to have a slight frost finish. I bought the polish a few months ago at Ulta, thinking it might be a great everyday work-friendly polish; a color that is neutral but still has a little bling to let me know my creative side is shining through. Well, Jules definitely delivers!

Jules applied very nicely in 2 coats with no issues. I really should have used ridge filler on that middle finger - doh! There is very slight VNL, but you have to stare and concentrate on the nail to see it, so I didn't find this problematic at all. I will say Jules dries with a slight matte finish and a more coarse texture - definitely not the smooth glossy finish I'm used to with cremes and jellies. Luckily, the shimmer in the polish brings enough bling to make the polish sparkle without a super glossy finish.



Jules was released as a part of the Zoya Spring 2011 Intimate Collection and is readily available at salon and beauty supply stores. Zoya retails for $8 each, but if you follow them on Facebook, you'll frequently see deals for free shipping, discounted price, or a free polish promo.


What do you think? What colors do you have and love from the Zoya line? And what's your go-to polish when you want a nude or neutral that isn't sheer and adds a little personality to your mani?

Polish Round-Up: June Releases and Snap Judgements!

It's Monday, Manic Monday! Well, at least it is for me at work - last week was the least productive week I've had in ages (well, the fact that I only worked 3 days certainly had something to do with it). So, this week is off with a roar, but that's okay - I'm heading up to San Francisco and Sonoma this weekend for a few days, and everything is better when you're in wine country!

A lot of new releases will be popping up in stores this month, so I thought it would be a good idea to do a round-up of a few of the new releases for all you polish lovers who actually do have social lives and don't spend you free time in makeup chat forums and talking to other polish lovers. Below are 3 big collections that are releasing this month, as well as my snap judgement on what looks like good buys and what may be more of the same.

OPI Grand Slam! England Release

From the OPI Press Release:

OPI Unveils Three New Shades from Serena Williams’ Glam Slam! Series

OPI joins tennis superstar Serena Williams in announcing the latest three lacquers in the Glam Slam! collection. To celebrate the world’s oldest, most prestigious tennis tournament, Glam Slam! England features two duo-packs filled with sparkle.

The first Lacquer set includes Your Royal Shine-ness, a metallic silver shade, paired with Servin’ Up Sparkle, a shimmer-packed silver glitter. The second Lacquer set also features Servin’ Up Sparkle, along with Grape…Set…Match, a metallic purple.

Snap Judgement: I love the Serena Williams Grand Slam series! Love the purple and silver polishes, and while I'm not normally a glitter person, I will definitely be making room for Servin' up Sparkle in my collection.


OPI Nice Stems

From the OPI Press Release:

Nice Stems! by OPI Revamps Nails with Vibrant Pink Hues for Summer 2011

Stop and see the flowers with summer’s Nice Stems! by OPI, a limited edition collection featuring four new nail lacquers in stunning shades of pink. With whimsical names based on their floral inspirations, these vibrant, flirty colors range from pale, frosty pink to rich fuchsia. Nice Stems! offers fingers and toes a perfectly pink shade for all of summer’s looks.

“These vibrant, feminine hues complement 60’s ladylike fashions, 70’s glam looks, and bold color-blocking, which are the season’s staples,” says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director. “The Nice Stems! collection also offers an interesting contrast and feminine accent to the punk and biker looks on the runways.”

Nice Stems! by OPI shades include:

Play the Peonies

We’d put our money on this lovely soft-pink.

Come to Poppy

Surrender to shine with this shimmering coral-pink.

Be a Dahlia Won’t You?

Give the gift of fabulous fuchsia—to yourself!

I Lily Love You

Fall head over heels with this light pink sparkle.

Snap Judgement: More pinks, OPI? REALLY? This is an easy collection to pass on - just nothing that I don't feel I've seen before (or already own).


Zoya - Touch Collection

From Zoya's press release:

Zoya Nail Polish presents 3 new, full coverage nudes designed to coordinate with a variety of skin tones. Each softly kissed with a bit of metallic to make them ultra wearable.


"It's not about finding a perfect match to your skin tone but rather about finding the one that coordinates. Our color experts logged many hours creating the perfect full-coverage nude nail polish shades! Since then we've found that most people can wear one of the three new nudes in the Zoya Touch collection no matter what!" - Zoya Media Relations

Minka (ZP561) - latte beige cream with a metallic kiss

Shay (ZP562) - desert rose sand beige cream with a metallic kiss

Pandora (ZP563) - mauve beige cream with a metallic kiss

Snap Judgement: Eventhough I'm constantly in search of the perfect nude/work-friendly nail, nothing in this new collection from Zoya is overly exciting me. I never trust when a company tells me something is 'nude' - because what is nude for my less-pigmented friends is not nude for me. I'm in a bright color kinda summer mood, so I think this collection gets an all-around pass from me.


What do you think? Are there any colors in these collections that really get your blood pumping? Or do you think you're seeing more of the same? Sound of in the comments, and let me know if you'd like to see anything reviewed!

My Collection, or, This Obsession Is As Bad As I Think It Is

I love looking at pictures of other polish lover's collections! It's so comforting to know that I am not alone in my obsession. After going crazy this past weekend with my essie haul, I thought this is probably a good time to take pause and look at my collection to-date. So, here we go!

My OPI lovelies:




I'd like to say I love all of my children equally, but as any actual parent will tell you, that's so just a lie - this OPI collection gets my blood pumping more so than the others. None the less, there are still some jewels in here - essie, China Glaze, and Orly:




So many polishes, so little time! Either way, I'm putting myself on a diet - going to try to avoid buying any more polishes until June. Shouldn't be too hard, as I have plenty to keep myself busy!