Author: Adventures in Polishland

Zoya Nail Polish Ashby | September Color of the Month

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Fall is my favorite season, so I am ready to wear some autumn inspired manicures as the weather gets cooler. Today I have swatches and a review of the Zoya Nail Polish Color of the Month for September, Ashby. After a few months in a row with cream nail polishes, I’m excited that Zoya released a different formula this time around. Plus, I think Ashby is the perfect shade to not only kick off the fall, but take us right through the entire holiday season!

Zoya Nail Polish Ashby | September Color of the Month

The product in this post was provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Ashby is a burgundy metallic nail polish with gold and bronze shimmer. The formula is excellent, as it applies very evenly without any visible brush strokes. Ashby is opaque in two coats, and I love the beautiful red color. To be honest, I did not really like the polish in the bottle, as the microglitters stuck to the sides of the bottle making it look more brown-toned than it really is. Luckily, Ashby is a truly stunning and dimensional metallic nail polish!

Zoya September Color of the Month

I completed my manicure by adding one coat of the Zoya Naked Manicure Glossy Seal Top Coat. I did want to mention that the swatches here were photographed on my second day of wearing Ashby, and you can see some light tip wear already. As I type this post, I’ve had the polish on for five days, and I have more tip wear and a couple tiny chips. I would recommend wrapping the tip of your nails during application to help increase the wear time.

Overall, I really like Ashby as the Zoya Color of the Month for September. I’m glad Zoya released something a bit different this month in a metallic formula, as I think it’s great when the Color of the Month features something other than a standard cream polish. You can buy Ashby from the Zoya website for $12.00 during the month of September. Use the coupon code ABY to get free shipping on your entire order when you buy Ashby.

Purple Iridescent Nails featuring Zoya Nail Polish Soraya and Holo Taco Freezer Burn

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

I recently discovered that I have a go-to nail polish look, so I’m trying to step outside of my comfort zone and try out some new-to-me combinations. I love using glitter nail polish toppers, but I realized I rarely reach for the shimmery top coats in my collection. I decided to pair Holo Taco Freezer Burn with Soraya from the Zoya Nail Polish Beachy Brights 2 Collection. It turns out these nail polishes go amazingly well together!

Zoya Soraya
Zoya Nail Polish Soraya

Some of the products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

I began my manicure with Soraya, which is a vibrant fuchsia polish that dries to a matte finish. Soraya has an excellent formula that is opaque in two coats. This is such a beautiful purple shade, and I love how it looks matte. Soraya reminds me Charisma, which is one of my all-time favorite Zoya nail polishes, but leans a bit more pink.

Zoya Soraya and Holo Taco Freezer Burn

I then added one coat of Holo Taco Freezer Burn to my manicure. This is a blue iridescent shimmer polish in a clear base. Not only does Freezer Burn apply evenly and easily, but it is so stunning! I could not believe how well this special effects topper goes with Soraya. It really adds so much dimension and shine. To compete the look, I added one coat of the Zoya Naked Manicure Glossy Seal Top Coat.

Zoya Soraya and Holo Taco Freezer Burn

I absolutely love this combination of Zoya Soraya and Holo Taco Freezer Burn, and I know others do, too because I got multiple compliments on my nails at work. I’m glad I reached into my nail polish collection to switch things up a bit, as special effects top coats can really make a big difference. I am even thinking about buying another topper from Holo Taco soon because I just love how they can transform any manicure. If you are interested in recreating this look, you can buy Soraya for $12.00 on Zoya’s website, and Freezer Burn for $13.00 on Holo Taco’s website.

Zoya Nail Polish Tucker | August Color of the Month

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

We are midway through August, which means it is time to share swatches and a review of the Zoya Nail Polish Color of the Month. I am quite enjoying this monthly release from Zoya. It’s fun to wonder what each shade is going to be, and I like getting one new polish each month than an entire collection. This month’s polish is also one of my favorite nail polish colors to wear. I had to put Tucker on my nails the first chance I got!

Zoya Tucker

The product in this post was provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Tucker is described as a bold, vibrant aquatic blue-green polish with a neon cream formula. It has a thicker formula that makes it nearly a one-coat polish, but I applied two coats for opacity and to even out the few patches left behind on the first coat. I finished the look with one coat of the Zoya Naked Manicure Glossy Seal Top Coat, and I love the bright and shiny result!

Zoya Color of the Month August

Tucker is a beautiful polish and is right up my alley. That being said, this is not a unique shade for my nail polish collection. I own a lot of bright blue nail polishes, including Marisol from the Beachy Brights 2 Collection, Mateo from the Dreamin’ Collection, and Ling from the Tickled Collection. These polishes are not exact dupes, and they are different shades of blue, but you probably don’t need to buy Tucker if you own one of these similar options.

All in all, I really like the Zoya Nail Polish Color of the Month for August, Tucker. This fun blue shade has a great formula, and looks stunning on the nails. If you are looking to add a vibrant blue polish to your collection, Tucker is a good option. However, double check your stash to make sure you don’t have a something similar already. You can purchase Tucker from the Zoya website for $12.00. Use the coupon code TUCKER for free shipping and 25% off your order. You will also get a free top coat on orders over $50.00!

My Go-To Manicure Look featuring Zoya Nail Polish Brinkley

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

I apparently have a type when it comes to nail polish. In fact, I almost titled this blog post “I Duped My Own Manicure” because when I was putting together the photos I realized I’ve seen this look on more than one occasion. As I discussed last week, I’m currently trying out the polishes in the Zoya Nail Polish Beachy Brights 2 Collection. This week I grabbed Brinkley and knew I would add a glitter topper to complete the look. Funnily enough, the result has definitely been seen before here on Adventures in Polishland.

Zoya Brinkley
Zoya Nail Polish Brinkley

Some of the products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Zoya Brinkley is described as a raspberry magenta cream polish. It is opaque in two coats, and has an excellent formula that applies evenly. Brinkley has a very subtle purple shimmer throughout, which adds dimension to the nails. This polish actually reminds me of a nail polish I owned and loved as a kid. I remember it was scented, and after some Googling I’m pretty sure it was from the brand Lip Smackers!

Zoya Brinkley and Holo Taco Flakie Holo Taco
My Go-To Manicure Look

To complete my manicure, I added one coat of Holo Taco Flakie Holo Taco and two coats of Zoya Naked Manicure Glossy Seal Top Coat. I love how fun, bright, and sparkly my nails look, especially in the sunlight. Sure enough, I’ve created a similar look very recently using Zoya Soraya, and not too long ago I created a similar look using Holo Taco High Tea Hibiscus. Plus, when scrolling through my Instagram, I see multiple posts where I’m wearing a bright pink or magenta base with a glitter topper. I guess I truly have a go-to manicure!

As I type this post, I’m laughing at myself for being a bit predictable and formulaic when it comes to my nails. I do love a wide variety of nail polish shades and formulas, but at the end of the day I often reach for a pink and a sparkly glitter. I’m very happy to be adding Zoya Brinkley to my collection, but I think I need to compare some magenta polishes soon to see if there are any I can declutter. Please be sure to let me know in the comments if you also have a go-to manicure!

Pool Day Manicure featuring Zoya Nail Polish Marisol

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

The summer heat is continuing here in New England, and I’ve been working my way through the Zoya Nail Polish Beachy Brights 2 Collection to keep my manicures vibrant and fun. I posted my thoughts on some of the polishes from this line on Instagram previously, but today I’m excited to share my current manicure inspired by a sunny pool day. I may be staying cool in the air conditioning in reality, but my nails are rocking an iridescent blue look reminiscent of sparkling water.

Zoya Marisol
Zoya Nail Polish Marisol

The product in this post was provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

I began my manicure with Marisol, a turquoise blue cream polish that dries to a matte finish. Marisol has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. I’ve been really enjoying the Zoya Hyper Bright Neon polishes. The colors are very bold and pigmented, and dry to a very smooth finish. Interestingly enough, Marisol was the June 2023 Color of the Month for Zoya. I wonder if we can expect to see more Color of the Month shades pop up in future collections.

Pool Day Manicure
Zoya Marisol and Holo Taco Aurora Unicorn Skin

To complete the look, I added one coat of Holo Taco Aurora Unicorn Skin. I add this special effects topper to so many manicures because it makes everything look fancy . Here, I think Aurora gives the nails more depth to replicate the crystal clear pool look I’m going for this week. I sealed in the manicure with the Zoya Naked Manicure Glossy Seal Top Coat.

I am really loving my nails this week! The combo works so well together, and I definitely see the summery vibe. Marisol is a stunning blue shade. I need to double check against my current nail polish collection, but I don’t think I own a polish quite like it, especially with the matte finish. If you are looking for a summery and bright blue, I recommend this one since it has such a great formula. You can purchase Marisol on the Zoya website for $12.00.

Zoya Nail Polish Frankie | July Color of the Month

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

I can’t believe we are over halfway through the year and that today I am sharing the Zoya Nail Polish Color of the Month for July 2024. It certainly feels like summer here with temperatures over 90º F. Fittingly, the nail polish for this month is a red shade perfect for the hot weather. Let me share with you swatches and a review of the July Color of the Month Frankie.

Zoya Frankie
Zoya Frankie

The product in this post was provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Frankie is a watermelon red shade with a cream formula. It is opaque in two coats, and dries to a matte finish. The formula applies really smoothly and evenly. I like how pigmented this polish is. The red leans towards pink and really pops on the nails. I’m wearing it without top coat in the above swatches so you can see what Frankie looks like when it dries matte.

Zoya Frankie | July Color of the Month
Zoya Nail Polish July Color of the Month Frankie

To complete my manicure, I added one coat of the Zoya Naked Manicure Glossy Seal Top Coat. I love how Frankie looks with a high gloss shine! That being said, you can certainly use a matte top coat if you want to keep that look while still elongating the wear time of your manicure. Zoya sells the MatteVelvet Top Coat on its website for $12.00 here.

Zoya Frankie Matte vs Glossy

Here is a quick look at Frankie side-by-side with a matte finish versus a glossy finish. Looking at this comparison, I actually really like the matte look! It’s very sleek, and I appreciate that there are no brush streaks upon application.

Overall, I think Frankie is a great nail polish for the July Color of the Month from Zoya. The formula applies beautifully, and the color is perfect for the season. While many of us may already have a go-to red nail polish, Frankie is a nice option if you are on the hunt for a watermelon shade for your stash. You can use code FRANKIE to save 25% off your order and get free shipping when you purchase this polish during the month of July.

The Only Yellow Nail Polish I Own | Zoya Nail Polish Darcy

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Despite my large nail polish collection, I’ve somehow ended up with only one shade of yellow. This does make sense, as I can’t even remember the last time I reached for a yellow polish. At first I thought it was perhaps 2012 when neon yellow highlighter nails were trendy, but the blog actually takes me back to 2013! Nonetheless, I wanted to step outside of my comfort zone and give the lone yellow in my stash a try. Surprisingly, I actually really enjoyed wearing Zoya Nail Polish Darcy this past week!

Zoya Darcy

The product in this post was originally sent to me for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Zoya Darcy is a bright yellow cream polish with a very subtle silver shimmer. I applied two coats to achieve opacity. The formula is a bit streaky and patchy. In fact, I kind of roasted this polish and the entire Stunning Collection when I reviewed it in back in 2013. If you looked very closely at my manicure in person, you could definitely see the uneven texture. Thankfully, the Zoya Naked Glossy Seal Top Coat helped to conceal most imperfections. As for the shimmer, it is really only visible in direct sunlight.

Zoya Nail Polish Darcy

I planned to wear Darcy back in March, but ran out of time and carried it over into April. To be honest, I dreaded putting on this nail polish for weeks! I did want to give it a try, though, and I’m so glad I did. I really enjoyed the sunny shade, and the yellow color was truly a mood boost whenever I glanced at my nails throughout the week. I also think the shade looks nice with my skin tone, which I thought might be an issue.

Zoya Darcy

Overall, while Zoya Darcy does not have the best formula, I really liked this yellow nail polish. I may not reach for yellows regularly, but I can see myself using Darcy in the future. Thus, I’ve decided to keep this polish in my collection until I find another yellow nail polish with a better formula. I’m not sure when that day will come, though, as it looks like Zoya only carries ten polishes in this color family currently! I’ll have to keep my eyes out for yellow polishes more often.

Do you have a favorite yellow nail polish? Share in the comments!

Zoya Nail Polish Candy | April Color of the Month

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

I was a bit surprised when Zoya Nail Polish announced that its April Color of the Month is a pink cream nail polish called Candy. For the last several months, these limited edition shades have been glittery and quite unique. I was a little disappointed to see a standard pink cream, especially when the Bloom Collection for Spring 2024 contains three pink-toned polishes in a cream formula. Nonetheless, I do love pink nail polishes, so I reached for Candy as soon as it arrived in the mail.

Zoya Candy

The product in this post was provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Candy is a vibrant pink cream nail polish that uses both neon and pastel pigments. The formula is a little tricky to apply. I recommend thick coats, because if the layer of polish on your nail is too thin, the brush will create a plethora of streaks. Candy is opaque in two coats, and dries to a semi-matte finish. I applied the Zoya Naked Ultra Glossy Seal Top Coat for a shiny finish.

Zoya April Color of the Month Candy

I absolutely love how bright Candy is on the nails. The formula really does balance a pastel shade with the pop of a neon. I like that Zoya adds white to the base so we no longer have to layer a white nail polish under neons! Unfortunately, I am really disappointed that my manicure began chipping after just two days of wear. I typically go 5-6 days before my nail polish chips, but every once in a while there will be a nail polish that just doesn’t last on me. Since I used the same top coat I usually do, I think Candy’s formula may be prone to chipping.

Zoya Nail Polish Candy

All in all, while I absolutely love the bright pink shade of Candy, I am a little sad that the Zoya Color of the Month for April is not more unique. I already own a lot of similar polishes in my collection, and since this one is tricky to apply and tends to chip quickly, I do not know that I can recommend Candy. That being said, if you would like to purchase this nail polish, it is only available through the month of April 2024. Use code CANDY at checkout to get free shipping, and 25% off your purchase.

Dare to Compare | Comparing 6 Sparkly Purple Nail Polishes

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

A few months ago, I reorganized my entire nail polish collection by color. Doing so made it obvious that I own a lot of purple nail polishes that have glitter, sparkle or some other special effect. Even though these polishes are all different, I realized I just don’t reach for these shades when I go to paint my nails. I decided it was time to swatch a handful of the sparkly purple nail polishes in my collection to see what I can keep, and what I can declutter. This comparison post will review six purple polishes, and I will let you know which one I decided to keep for future use!

The products in this post were originally sent to me for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

All of the swatches in this blog post were photographed in natural lighting. I used Holo Taco Peely Base as my base coat, and Zoya Naked Manicure Super Glossy Seal as my top coat. As it turns out, all of these polishes are from Zoya. I’ll let you know what collection they are from in each polish description.

Andrea

Zoya Andrea
Zoya Nail Polish Andrea

First up is Andrea from the Fall 2020 Luscious Collection. Andrea is a purple metallic polish with a green duochrome shift. It is opaque in two coats, and the formula is a bit streaky due to the metallic finish. I also had an issue where my top coat pulled the base polish a bit, which can be seen on my ring finger in the swatches. Andrea looks really cool, but I don’t really like how it looks on me. I knew right away I could declutter this polish.

Neve

Zoya Neve
Zoya Neve

Next up is Neve, which is technically a blue nail polish but certainly leans towards purple. Neve has a metallic formula that is opaque in two coats. I really love this polish. The formula is smooth and pigmented, and I love the subtle purple shimmer. Neve is from the Fall 2013 Satins Collection, and still performs well to this day. I love this polish, so I couldn’t declutter it right away.

Nisha

Zoya Nisha
Zoya Nail Polish Nisha

Shifting gears slightly, we have Nisha from the Holiday 2020 Intriguing Collection. Nisha is very similar to Neve, but with a deep purple metallic base shade rather than blue. This polish is opaque in one coat, and applies beautifully to the nails. It’s rare that I find a true one coat polish, especially a metallic formula with a shimmery base. I set Nisha aside to consider keeping.

Gardner

Zoya Gardner
Zoya Nail Polish Gardner

Next up is Gardner from the Fall 2018 Element Collection. Zoya describes Gardner as a deep periwinkle shade with a vibrant magenta shimmer in a foil finish. This polish is opaque in two coats. The formula is a little tricky, as it tends to bunch up during application. I do like how sparkly Gardner is, but I’m not a huge fan of foil nail polishes. As such, Gardner is a polish I am decluttering.

Isa

Zoya Isa
Zoya Nail Polish Isa

The next purple polish is Isa from the Summer 2015 Paradise Sun Collection. Isa has a metallic-pearl finish with an aqua shimmer. The formula is on the thinner side, but it is opaque in two coats. I did find that Isa was a bit uneven, but the top coat really helped to smooth out the look. I really like this polish, so I set it aside while swatching.

Adara

Zoya Adara
Zoya Nail Polish Adara

Last but not least is Adara from the Winter/Holiday 2023 Enchanted Collection. Zoya describes Adara as a lapis blue with rose gold and blue glitters, but to me it looks like a royal purple. This polish is opaque in two coats. It has a pigmented formula that is on the thicker side. While I think Adara is a beautiful polish, I personally wish it would dry to a more even texture. Even with top coat, it looks bumpy to me. For that reason, I am decluttering Adara.

Side by Side Comparisons


After swatching, I narrowed down my top three choices to Neve, Nisha, and Isa. I tried on those polishes side by side in that order. It immediately became clear to me that I could declutter Isa. While I do like how the polish looks on me, the formula just isn’t as good as the other two. In the end, it came down to whether I wanted more of a blue or purple polish. While I do really love Neve, I decided to keep Nisha since it does have a one coat formula. I also think the purple shade looks a bit better with my skin tone.

I’m so excited that I was able narrow down my sparkly purple nail polish collection quite a bit. While all of these polishes were unique from each other and not dupes, at the end of the day if I am in the mood for a glittery or metallic purple, I’m only going to need one. That being said, this post only featured a portion of the sparkly purple polishes in my stash. I could probably do another entire blog post with more! If you would like to see more comparison posts, either of dupes or just similar colors like this, please let me know in the comments.

Zoya Nail Polish Bloom Collection | Review and Swatches

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Spring is officially here, and today I have a full review of the Zoya Nail Polish Bloom Collection for Spring 2024. This line of six nail polishes features three micro glitters and three cream polishes. Designed to be a garden party for your nails, the Bloom Collection features bright and sparkling shades. While the polishes look pretty in the bottle, I am left feeling a bit underwhelmed with how they perform during application. Let me share my full thoughts on the Bloom Collection with you, and let you know if I recommend purchasing it.

Zoya Nail Polish Bloom Collection | Review and Swatches

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

All of the swatches in today’s post are photographed in natural lighting. I used Holo Taco Peely Base as my base coat, and Zoya Naked Glossy Seal as my top coat.

Hyacinth

Zoya Hyacinth

Zoya Hyacinth

First up is Hyacinth, a pink polish with microfine pink and white glitters. I applied two coats of Hyacinth, and found the formula quite thick and patchy. I did not get an opaque look, but because the polish is so uneven and tends to bunch up during application, I did not add a third layer. I wish Hyacinth had a pigmented pink base, so I could achieve a full coverage manicure.

Rhiannon

Zoya Rhiannon

Zoya Rhiannon

Next up is Rhiannon, a blue polish with aqua and white glitters. Similar to Hyacinth, this polish has a patchy formula that is difficult to apply. However, Rhiannon is more pigmented and is opaque in two coats. I do enjoy the icy shade, which reminds me of a blue raspberry slush.

Violetta

Zoya Violetta

Zoya Violetta

The last of the glitter polishes is Violetta, a purple polish with aqua and rose gold glitters. Violetta has the best formula of the glitters in this collection, though it is still tricky to apply. I am wearing two coats in the swatches, and find it to be full coverage. I do think you can still see how uneven the finish is, though, which is disappointing.

Zaria

Zoya Daria

Zoya Daria

Now let’s look at the cream polishes in the Bloom Collection starting with Zaria, described by Zoya as a spring rose pink shade. This polish has a good formula that is opaque in two coats. I find it reads more red on me than pink, but it’s nonetheless a nice, bright shade.

Fleur

Zoya Fleur

Zoya Fleur

Next up is Fleur, a bright pink cream polish. Fleur is opaque in two coats and has an excellent formula. I love how vibrant this nail polish is! If you are looking for a really pigmented pink polish, Fleur is a great option.

Phoebe

Zoya Phoebe

Zoya Phoebe

Last but not least is Phoebe, a coral polish with a cream formula. Phoebe is also opaque in two coats, and has a good formula that applies smoothly. Once again, I’m impressed with how vibrant this nail polish is! We no longer have to layer white nail polish under other shades to get a bright, neon look.

Final Thoughts

While the Zoya Nail Polish Bloom Collection does contain three beautiful cream polishes, I am overall disappointed with this collection. The three glitter polishes have lackluster formulas that are patchy and difficult to apply. This surprises me, because Zoya has released some glitter polishes recently that I’ve really loved, so I’m confused why these formulas are so different from Love and Lucky, for example. Unfortunately, I would not recommend the three glitters in the line, and therefore cannot recommend the Bloom Collection as a whole.

If you do like any of the cream shades, they are worth purchasing separately on the Zoya website. That being said, I do not find the cream polishes to be unique to my own nail polish stash, so make sure to see if you already own similar shades like I do.

Have you tried the Zoya Bloom Collection?

Share your thoughts in the comments!