Category: Nails

Zoya Nail Polish Wanderlust Collection for Summer 2017

Happy Monday! Today I’m excited to share with you the Wanderlust Collection from Zoya Nail Polish. This nail polish line celebrates summer adventures with twelve new shades, including four shimmers and eight creams. Whether you like bright pinks or earthy greens, the Wanderlust Collection has a polish for you. Let me share with you swatches and my full review of this vegan nail polish line!

All of the swatches in this post are photographed in natural sunlight. I am wearing two coats of nail polish in each swatch, and no top coat.

First up is Sonja, a bright red with a cream formula. Sonja applies well and dries to a high-gloss finish without the need for a top coat. I like that the red shade leans towards pink, as I feel it compliments my fair skin tone well. If you’re not a fan of the traditional red manicure, this brighter option is a lot of fun!

Next is Byrdie, a fuchsia nail polish with a cream formula. This polish also applies evenly, and I really like the purple undertones in this shade. Byrdie is a great nail polish to transition you from summer to fall since the pink is a bit deep in tone.

If you are looking for more of a true pink, try Esty. While Esty is not a big change from Byrdie, it doesn’t have the same purple undertones. Zoya describes Esty as a bubblegum pink, and I definitely agree! I’m getting Barbie vibes from this polish!

The last pink polish in the Wanderlust Collection with a cream formula is Winnie. I am obsessing over this bright, watermelon shade! Winnie is one of my favorite polishes in the collection. I think the bright pink is a ton of fun, and would make a great pedicure shade as well. Plus, I think this polish will look beautiful with any skin tone.

Next up is Cora, the first of two orange creams in the collection. Zoya describes Cora as a muted coral, but on me it appears as a bright orange. This polish is so summery, and I can see it being used in a lot of nail art looks as well as on its own. If you are a fan of orange nails, Cora is a must have for you!

The other orange shade is Sawyer, a pastel orange cream. I’m a huge fan of Sawyer, as I think it makes orange extremely easy to wear even if you’re not a fan of bright colors. This polish reminds me of one of my all-time favorite Zoya polishes in Cole, but Sawyer is a bit more pigmented. If you’ve never worn an orange polish before, Sawyer is a great place to start!

The Wanderlust Collection contains four shimmer polishes, and I am beyond impressed with their formulas. First up is River, a cobalt blue shade. As with all of the shimmers in this line, River has a great formula that applies smoothly and evenly, and is opaque in two coats. I don’t typically go for metallic nail polishes, but River is so stunning that I can see myself wearing this again!

My favorite shimmer is Mandy, a bright berry pink. I absolutely love how multi-dimensional these polishes look on the nails. They are perfect for summer because they really come alive in the sunlight! Mandy’s fun shade is great for the fall months, too.

I’m also loving Journey, which is a red shimmer polish. Journey shifts towards gold in the sunlight, and the result is gorgeous. I love watching this polish go from pink to red to gold. Journey is quite a unique nail polish, and I’m excited to add it to my collection!

The last shimmer polish is Scout, a moss green shade. Scout is my least favorite polish in the collection, simply because the color is not for me. It still has a great formula, but I do not see myself wearing this polish on its own. I think the shade just clashes with my skin tone!

That being said, I really love Arbor, an olive green cream polish. Arbor has a rich pigmentation that is absolutely perfect for fall. I can see it matching with camouflage jackets and jeans as the weather gets cooler. Arbor is a great addition to the Wanderlust Collection, as it rounds out the summer perfectly.

Last but not least is Lois, a medium purple cream. Zoya describes Lois as a magenta violet, and I can see the pink undertones softening this shade. I think Lois is another nail polish that transitions well from summer to fall, and will look great with any skin tone.

All in all, I’m loving the Wanderlust Collection from Zoya Nail Polish! I’m quite impressed with the wide range of shades and formulas in this line. My favorite polishes are Winne and Mandy, but they all have excellent formulas. You can purchase the Wanderlust Collection on Zoya’s website HERE. Polishes are $10 each, but make sure to keep an eye on Zoya’s social media for sales and coupons.

What is your favorite nail polish in the Wanderlust Collection? Let me know in the comments!

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

Zoya Charming Collection for Spring 2017 | Nail Polish & Lipstick Swatches

Happy Wednesday! Today I am excited to share with you the Zoya Charming Collection for Spring 2017. This collection contains six new nail polishes with fresh cream and dewy micro-sparkle formulas. Zoya also released a brand new Perfect Lipstick in the collection called Violette. This post will include swatches and a full review of the entire Charming Collection.

All of the swatches in this blog post were photographed in natural sunlight. I am wearing a base coat under each polish, but no top coat in any of the photos.

The Charming Collection begins with Jordan, a pastel pink polish with a cream formula. Jordan has a good formula, but as with many pastel polishes I did need three coats for full opacity. I am absolutely loving this pink shade! It looks great with my fair skin tone, but I think it will look beautiful with deeper complexions as well.

The next cream formula is Abby, a pastel purple shade. Abby has an excellent formula that applies smoothly and is opaque in two coats. This lavender purple shade has been a go-to of mine for many years now, and I’m excited to add Abby to my stash after getting rid of my old and non-vegan shades. I’m also loving how glossy this polish is with no top coat needed!

The last cream shade is Tina, what Zoya calls an amethyst purple. Tina also has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. While this is not a unique nail polish shade, it is definitely a nice polish for any time of year. If Abby was a bit too light for you, Tina is a darker option for sure.

Next up we have the three micro-sparkle polishes in the collection, starting with Millie, a violet shade. Millie also has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. I’m not a big fan of shimmery polishes, but I think the micro-sparkle options are just gorgeous! Millie has a lot of sparkle and dimension that shine bright in the sunlight.

Lacey is a light green micro-sparkle that reminds me of mermaids! This polish has a sheerer formula, and I applied three coats to get a full coverage look. Lacey is not my personal cup of tea, but the polish is still excellent quality and I definitely recommend it if you love the shade!

The last nail polish in the line is Amira, a light blue micro-sparkle. As with Lacey, Amira is on the sheer side and needs three coats for opacity. I think this blue polish is just gorgeous, and I like the green and purple accents with the sparkles in the polish. Amira would also work well in the winter, as the polish shade reminds me of the sparkling snow!

Finally, Zoya released a brand new Perfect Lipstick with the Charming Collection. Violette is an amethyst purple and has a cream finish. When I first saw Violette, I thought it would be too bright and look terrible on me. Imagine my surprise when this shade not only looked great with my complexion, but turned out to be quite wearable! Violette is still outside of my lipstick comfort zone, but I hope to wear it again very soon.

All in all, I’m really loving the Zoya Nail Polish Charming Collection for Spring 2017! I apologize for the delay in sharing my review, but I hope you enjoyed my post nonetheless. My favorites in the collection are Jordan and Abby, but all of the polishes and the lipstick are excellent quality. The Charming Collection is currently available for purchase on Zoya’s website HERE. Polishes are $10 each and lipsticks are $12 each, but keep an eye on Zoya’s social media for sales and coupons.

Which Zoya Charming shade is your favorite? Let me know in the comments!

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

Zoya Nail Polish Naturel 3 Collection | Swatches & Review

Happy Tuesday! Today I am excited to share my thoughts on the complete Naturel 3 Collection from Zoya Nail Polish with you. The Naturel Collection contains neutral shades from light to dark, and this spring there are six new polishes added to the line. All of the polishes are cream formulas, which I really love. If you work in a professional environment, or you simply love to wear more natural nail polish shades, this is the collection for you! Let me share my swatches and full review of Zoya’s Naturel 3.

As mentioned above, all of the polishes in the Naturel 3 Collection are cream formulas. I am wearing two coats of each polish in the swatches, and I am not wearing a base coat.

First up is Tatum, a warm cream shade. Tatum applies beautifully, and I really like how it dries to a high gloss finish. I can see myself wearing this shade daily, as it is close to my skin tone, but just a bit warmer. Tatum is also a great staple to have if you do a lot of nail art.

Next up is Cathy, a dusty rose pink shade. For some reason Cathy looks a bit brown on my nails, but it is still a gorgeous nail polish. I see Cathy as a polish that will look beautiful on any skin tone, and it also is a great transitional shade between seasons.

If you are looking for a more purple-toned mauve, Jill is the polish for you! Jill’s formula is a bit thinner, but it is still opaque in two coats. I recommend doing thicker layers with this polish, or you may need to add a third coat.

Now we are moving onto the three darker shades in the Naturel 3 Collection. First up is Mary, what Zoya calls a raisin shade. I really love Mary, and I’m surprised that I do! I’m not usually a person to wear brown nail polish, but this one is beyond stunning. Plus, it is very pigmented and nearly a one-coat formula!

Next up is Gina, a medium brown shade. I love how Gina looks on my nails, but the formula of this polish is a bit tacky. This is the only polish in the collection that I really had an application issue with, but it still dried to a smooth finish so it’s really not a problem.

Last but not least is Debbie, a rich plum brown shade. Debbie is definitely my favorite in the collection. I love how pigmented and dark this polish is! This will be a polish I wear a lot this coming fall.

All in all, I’m loving the Zoya Nail Polish Natural 3 Collection! As always, the cream formulas are great, and there is a wide shade range. Of course, I also love that Zoya’s polishes are vegan. You can buy the Naturel polishes on Zoya’s website HERE for $10 each. You can also see my reviews of the first two Naturel Collections HERE and HERE.

Which Naturel 3 shade is your favorite? Let me know in the comments!

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

Zoya Nail Polish 70% Off Black Friday Sale | My Top 10 Zoya Nail Polishes

Happy Tuesday! Black Friday is just a few days away, and I am extremely excited to share that Zoya is having a 70% off sale! Your eyes are not deceiving you – for one day only you can get 70% off your entire order on Zoya’s website. I thought I would share my Top 10 Zoya nail polishes with you today so you can get some shopping inspiration. This is one of the best sales I’ve ever seen Zoya put on in the over four years I’ve followed the company, so I highly recommend snagging some awesome vegan polish at this discounted price!

My Top 10 Zoya Nail Polishes!

BLACK FRIDAY SALE INFORMATION

Zoya Nail Polish 2016 Black Friday Sale

Details: Use code YAY at checkout.

Offer valid exclusively on 11/25/16 through 11:59pm EST for Consumer Accounts in the USA.

UPDATE: Now open it to all Canadian Consumer Accounts. Standard Canadian Shipping and International Fees Apply

MY TOP 10 ZOYA NAIL POLISHES

Zoya Nail Polish – Lola

Lola [BUY]

Lola is an amazing hot pink nail polish with an amazing formula. This polish wears beautifully as a manicure or pedicure, especially in the hot summer sun. There is a slight purple shimmer that runs throughout Lola, and when it catches in the light you get a stunning duochrome effect. Lola is so much fun!

Zoya – Laurel

Laurel [BUY]

If you prefer a more subtle pink, Laurel is a great choice. This is a bubblegum pink polish with a stunning cream formula. Laurel is a polish that can be worn in any season for any reason!

Zoya – Cole

Cole [BUY]

One of my most used Zoya polishes is Cole, a pastel orange shade. Cole has an amazing formula, and I always reach for it in the summer months. In fact, Cole is my go to pedicure shade! It’s so gorgeous.

Zoya – Wyatt

Wyatt [BUY]

If you like darker shades, I highly recommend Wyatt. This is a deep emerald green polish with an amazing formula. Wyatt was just released in the fall of 2016, and I’ve already worn it on more than one occasion. This will be a fall staple of mine for years to come!

Zoya – Mallory

Mallory [BUY]

I am also in love with Mallory from this year’s fall collection. Zoya consistently creates amazing blue polishes, and I think Mallory is my favorite. If you’re looking for the perfect blue cream to add to your stash, Mallory is a must!

Zoya – Neve

Neve [BUY]

I’m not typically a big fan of metallic nail polishes, but Neve is beyond gorgeous! This is a sapphire blue polish, and the formula dries to an even and glossy finish. I love the rich pigmentation, and how there are no visible brush strokes with this metallic formula.

Zoya – Lidia

Lidia [BUY]

I have a few purple polishes to recommend, and I’m starting out with the deep plum of Lidia. I am swooning over this purple shade so much as I write this blog post that I think I’m going to put it on later today! Lidia is another must have for the fall, and the deep shade makes it office appropriate as well.

Zoya – Charisma

Charisma [BUY]

Charisma is the next purple I have to share, and it is a really unique polish! Charisma has a matte finish and is so bright Zoya deems it a neon. While many neon polishes are typically worn in the summer, Charisma can work in any season. Plus, I love the matte finish, which can also be made glossy with a top coat if you so desire. 

Zoya – Odette

Odette [BUY]

My last purple pick is Odette, a maroon polish that works for any skin tone. If you like more neutral polishes, Odette is a great option for you. The cream formula applies well, and this can be an every day polish for sure.

Zoya – Ana

Ana [BUY]

Last but not least is Ana, an almond shade in the beautiful satin formula. Ana is a stunning polish that is so warm and cozy. It can be worn any time of year, and will look nice with any skin tone. Plus, you can’t go wrong with the Zoya Satins. They are all amazing!

That wraps up my Top 10 Zoya nail polish picks! I hope you found this post helpful whether you are shopping this year’s Black Friday sale, or simply planning your future Zoya purchases. I highly recommend taking advantage of the 70% off while you can. Zoya polishes make excellent gifts this holiday season, but it’s also nice to treat yourself, too. Please share your favorite Zoya shades with me in the comments!

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

Zoya Nail Polish Enchanted Collection | Holiday 2016

Happy Thursday! The holiday season is right around the corner, and Zoya Nail Polish just released the new Enchanted Collection. This six-piece line contains four PixieDust polishes and two metallic polishes with color-flip properties. Zoya describes this collection as holiday magic combined with the wonders of winter, and I think that sums up these polishes perfectly! The Enchanted Collection has a polish for everyone, and I’m excited to share my swatches with you today.

Zoya Nail Polish Enchanted Collection | Holiday 2016

Zoya – Elphie Zoya – ElphieFirst up is Elphie, a deep emerald green PixieDust with a green shimmer. Elphie has a good formula that is opaque in two coats. I recommend letting each layer of PixieDust polishes dry completely before adding onto your manicure. Luckily, PixieDust polishes tend to dry rather quickly, and you can tell when the finish becomes textured and matte in appearance. Elphie is a gorgeous shade for the holiday season, whether worn alone or in nail art.

Zoya – Olivera Zoya – Olivera

Next up is Olivera, a duochrome polish that shifts from green to purple. Olivera has a good formula that is opaque in two coats, but I did find it to be a bit messy to work with due to its rich pigmentation. Nonetheless, this polish is beyond stunning! Olivera is perfect for the Halloween season, and it a great option if you want dark nails without going for a plain black. I just love when a polish can look different depending on the change in lighting.

Zoya – Lorna Zoya – LornaThe next PixieDust polish is Lorna, a berry shade with a burgundy shimmer. Lorna is one of my favorites in this collection, and it also has an excellent formula. This is a unique take on the standard red nail, and one that works really well for the holiday season. If you want to step outside of your comfort zone without changing your manicure drastically, Lorna is a great stepping stone!

Zoya – Alice Zoya – AliceIf you prefer lighter shades, Alice is a nice option! This PixieDust has a periwinkle base with blue and magenta shimmer. Alice has a great formula and is opaque in two coats. I really like the mix of colors within this polish, as it adds a lot of dimension and is unlike any other nail polish I own. Alice is also a great transitional polish for after the holiday season!

Zoya – Saint Zoya – Saint

The other color-flip shade in the line is Saint, a periwinkle blue with a magenta shift. Saint does not have as strong a duochrome effect as Olivera, but it is an amazing polish. The formula is on the sheer side, so I applied three coats to achieve opacity. I am blown away with how gorgeous Saint looks on the nails. If you’re only going to buy one polish from this collection, I think Saint is a stand-out for me.

Zoya – Waverly Zoya – Waverly Last but not least is Waverly, a dark sapphire blue PixieDust with blue shimmer. Waverly has a good formula that is opaque in two coats, and I am obsessing over this blue shade. It’s no secret that I love blue nail polish, and Waverly is no exception. I think Zoya made the right choice in keeping this polish all blue right down to the shimmer!

All in all, I am quite impressed with Zoya’s new Enchanted Collection for the 2016 holiday season. This line contains a variety of shades in both dark and light tones. Plus, the formulas are unique and unlike the polishes already in my collection. I must admit that I am still unsure about the PixieDust resurgence, but it’s undeniable Zoya creates high quality polishes season after season. You can purchase each polish in the Enchanted Collection on Zoya’s website HERE for $10. As always, please let me know in the comments which Enchanted polish is your favorite!

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

My Recent Manicures | October 2016

Happy Wednesday! Today I wanted to share with you some of the nail polishes I’ve worn lately. I’ll be completely honest when I say that I haven’t worn nail polish much at all for the past two or so years. I would swatch polish for this blog, but not wear it in real life. I just got out of the habit of painting my nails! I really wanted to start wearing nail polish again, so that’s why I spent the time going through and decluttering my collection (you can learn more about that HERE). It is now so much easier for me to find a nail polish in my stash, and I’ve been having so much fun painting my nails! Let me show you the recent manicures I’ve worn so far this October.

Milani – Rapid Orchid First up is Milani Cosmetics High Speed Fast Dry Nail Polish in the shade Rapid Orchid. I was in the mood for a dark purple nail polish, and this was what I found in my collection. I really enjoyed this line from Milani, and it turns out that it is vegan while the new Milani polishes currently in stores are not. I also find it interesting that when I was decluttering my collection, my older Milanis held up a lot better than the newer ones. Unfortunately you cannot purchase this exact polish any longer, but Zoya Casey appears to be a similar option. I wore Rapid Orchid for about a week, and even reapplied it when I found a few chips. I love this deep purple shade!

LVX – Dahlia My love for dark nail polish continued with LVX in Dahlia. This is a deep red-toned polish with a jelly formula. I did need three coats because this polish is a bit sheer, but I don’t mind that at all. I don’t own many polishes from LVX because it is a more expensive brand at $18 per bottle. However, I absolutely love this brand and its high quality shades. Dahlia is beyond stunning, and I highly recommend picking it up on the LVX website HERE.

Zoya – TaylorLast but not least is Zoya in the shade Taylor. I had every intention to put on another dark nail polish today, but when I took a look inside my stash I changed my mind and went for a lighter shade. Taylor is still perfect for fall because it is a warm-toned polish in a cozy beige shade. The formula is really nice, and I layered on three coats for a perfect finish. I haven’t been wearing top coat lately, so that’s why I’m being a bit more particular with the finish of each polish. Taylor is really close to my skin tone, so I find it looks really sophisticated on my nails.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my recent manicures! I think this type of post is a fun way for me to share about my nail polish adventures, because I can tell you how I decided on wearing each polish, give you an update on the formula, etc. I hope to put one of these together once per month, or maybe once every other month, depending on how often I paint my nails. Please let me know in the comments if you enjoyed seeing my recent manicures, and also share what’s been on your nails so far this month!

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

5 Nail Polishes for a Job Interview

Happy Monday! With the new school year right around the corner, I thought it would be helpful to share with you my favorite nail polishes for a job interview. Whether you are interviewing for an internship or a full time gig, or simply looking for more office appropriate shades, this post is for you! You’ve probably heard it before, but whenever you head to a professional job interview, you want to make sure the interviewer is focused on you, and not on your makeup, nails, or fragrance. I personally like to wear neutral shades of nail polish that look very clean and subdued whenever I’m in a professional environment. This post will share my top five nail polish picks for a job interview that work with all skin tones!

5 Nail Polishes for a Job InterviewQuick disclaimer before I jump right into the post – make sure to use your own judgment before heading into your job interview! What polish is appropriate will depend on the job itself. For example, if you’re applying for a job at a beauty store you can probably get away with something more daring! I wanted to focus solely on the professional world in this post.

Julep – AlexandraJulep – Alexandra [BUY]

First up is Julep Alexandra, an off-white cream polish. I think this yellow-toned polish is perfect because it is really understated, and not bright like a true white polish is on the nails. Alexandra’s formula is great, and I applied three coats for an even, opaque manicure. If you like lighter colors, a cream shade will work really well for you no matter your skin tone. It always looks sophisticated in my opinion!

Zoya – Rowan

Zoya – Rowan [BUY]

Next up is Zoya Rowan, a taupe polish that dries to a satin finish. Rowan is a stunning polish, and I love how soft the finish is. Rowan’s formula is excellent, and opaque in two coats. It also dries really quickly if you’re in a bit of a rush. Taupe is a great color family for professional nail polish, so pick the shade that you prefer!

LVX – Cashmere

LVX – Cashmere [BUY]

This next polish is an interesting one, because whenever I look at the bottle I’m unsure of how to describe the color. LVX Cashmere is, according to the brand’s website, a cool grey polish. I find that it has a pink undertone, which I really like. Cashmere also has a nice formula that is opaque in two coats. If you want an off-white polish that isn’t a cream shade, then try a cool grey!

Wet 'n Wild Megalast – Bite the Bullet

Wet ‘n Wild Megalast – Bit the Bullet [BUY]

If you would like a bit more color on your nails, go for a mauve shade. I love Wet ‘n Wild Megalast’s Bite the Bullet. Not only is it super affordable, but it has a great formula as well. Mauve is another color family where the shades can vary widely. I really like the purple-toned mauves, but if you prefer the pinks that works well, too!

Zoya – Aubrey

Zoya – Aubrey [BUY]

Last but not least is Zoya Aubrey, a deep plum purple shade. If you really want to wear color during your interview, I recommend choosing a deep purple. This can be a purple like Aubrey, with a brown undertone, or something with more of a red undertone. I think Aubrey is a great choice, as the formula is awesome and opaque in two coats. Plus, the purple isn’t too noticeable. It’s a great, happy medium for when you want a color, but don’t want it too bright!

That wraps up my picks for job interview appropriate nail polish! I hope you found this post helpful whether you are a first-time interviewee or a seasoned veteran looking to change things up on the nails. I wish you all the best of luck on your interview!

What nail polish shade did you wear to your last job interview? Share in a comment!

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

Zoya Nail Polish Urban Grunge Collection for Fall 2016 | Metallic Holos

Happy Wednesday! Today I am excited to share with you the six metallic holographic polishes in Zoya Nail Polish’s new Urban Grunge Collection for Fall 2016. You can see my full review of the cream shades HERE, which I posted earlier this week. Now it’s all about the super trendy and unique polishes that make up the rest of this line. If you are looking for some edgier polishes to wear, the metallic holos are for you! Let me share my thoughts on these six shades!

Zoya Nail Polish Urban Grunge Collection for Fall 2016 | Metallic Holos

Zoya – Alicia Zoya – Alicia

First up is Alicia, a silver linear holographic polish. Alicia has an excellent formula, but it is a bit sheer, so I applied three coats to achieve opacity. I am beyond impressed with how stunning the holographic effect is on this polish. If you are a fan of holo nail polish, Alicia is a must for your collection.

Zoya – Finley Zoya – FinleyNext up is Finley, a deep purple polish with a scattered holo. Finley has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. I am really loving this polish! It reminds me of Aurora from Zoya’s Ornate Collection (see review HERE), but in a purple color instead of pink. Finley also has a lot of dimension because of the scattered holo effect.

Zoya – Merida Zoya – Merida The other scattered holo in this collection is Merida, a deep green shade. Merida also has an awesome formula that is opaque in two coats. I am ready to wear this polish through to the holiday season! Merida is the perfect transitional shade from fall to winter.

Zoya – Britta Zoya – BrittaNext up is Britta, a berry red metallic polish with red and fuchsia shimmer. Britta has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. I do find metallic polishes a bit messier to work with, but I’m happy that there are no brush strokes visible with this one. Britta is a really unique nail polish, and one I’m sure I don’t own anything else like in my collection!

Zoya – Ash Zoya – AshAsh is the other metallic shimmer in the collection, and is a cherry red shade with red and gold shimmer. If you are looking for a brighter version of Britta, this polish is for you! Ash has the same great formula that is opaque in two coats, and is super sparkly. I don’t wear a lot of metallic polishes, but Ash will certainly come into play during my holiday manicures!

Zoya – Troy Zoya – TroyLast but not least is Troy, a pewter shade with a foil finish and touch of black and gold shimmer. Troy has a good formula but I did find it to be a bit messy, so be prepared for a bit of clean up around the cuticles. I love this shade of polish for fall, as it pairs nicely with dark clothing and the soft texture of sweaters. It does remind me of last year’s polish called Tris (seen HERE), but contains that gold sparkle that makes it different.

All in all, the Zoya Urban Grunge Collection contains a nice selection of holo, shimmer, and metallic polishes. While I don’t wear these formulas often myself, I do highly recommend these based on the great quality. My favorites are definitely Alicia and Finley, so those are my top picks. You can shop the Urban Grunge polishes on Zoya’s website HERE. Each polish retails for $10, but keep your eye out for deals and coupons! Let me know in the comments what your top picks of the Urban Grunge collection are!

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

 

Zoya Nail Polish Urban Grunge Collection for Fall 2016 | Creams

Happy Monday! Today I am beyond excited to bring you a review of the new Zoya Nail Polish collection for this fall. Grunge is super trendy this year, and Zoya made sure to put a modern spin on this old school style with the Urban Grunge nail polish line. The full collection contains six cream formulas and six metallic holographic formulas. I will be sharing swatches of the creams with you in this post, and make sure to stay tuned for the holographic polishes on Wednesday.

Zoya Nail Polish Urban Grunge Collection for Fall 2016 | CreamsZoya describes the Urban Grunge creams as one coat polishes. I agree that these polishes are highly pigmented, but I applied two coats of polish in all of the swatches seen here. If you use a thicker coat of polish, you will definitely be able to get away with one coat. However, I prefer to use two thin coats of polish to ensure a manicure that dries evenly. Either technique works, so choose what is better for you!

Zoya – Mallory Zoya – MalloryFirst up is Mallory, a bright blue polish that is definitely my favorite of the bunch. Mallory has an excellent formula that applies smoothly, but this richly pigmented polish will stain your nails, so make sure you wear a healthy layer of base coat. Mallory looks much lighter on Zoya’s website than it does in person, so keep that in mind. I used natural sunlight when photographing these swatches to ensure I got true-to-life pictures for all of you.

Zoya – August Zoya – August

Next up is August, a grey polish with blue undertones. August also has a great formula, and I think this grey shade will work well with many skin tones. Sometimes grey can be difficult to wear, but the blue undertones bring August to life. I can also see this paired with a glitter polish to dress it up a bit!

Zoya – Wyatt Zoya – Wyatt Another one of my favorites is Wyatt, a Hunter green shade. Wyatt has an amazing formula that is super smooth and shiny without a top coat needed. I absolutely love this polish color for the fall and winter months. It goes with all of the earthy clothing I’ll be wearing very soon!

Zoya – Courtney Zoya – Courtney Next up is Courtney, a deep burgundy polish. Country’s formula is a bit different from the rest of the Urban Grunge creams, and is more of a “crelly” (cream and jelly) formula. This shade is perfect for fall, and will work for nearly every situation. Courtney is great if you want a twist on the traditional red manicure.

Zoya – Tara Zoya – TaraTara is up next, and this is a deep purple shade. If you are looking for a richly pigmented plum, you should definitely check out Tara. The formula is excellent, and it looks beyond gorgeous on the nails. I think Tara will look stunning on everyone, and I can’t wait to wear this one again.

Zoya – Noah Zoya – NoahLast but not least is Noah, a warm taupe polish. Noah has a good formula, but I did find it to be a bit tacky. I recommend thin coats with this polish so you can achieve an even finish. If you work in a professional environment, or simply love neutral polishes, Noah is a great option for you.

All in all, I am really loving the cream polishes in Zoya’s Urban Grunge collection. You all know I am a huge fan of cream formulas, and Zoya has done it again with this line. I know I will be wearing Mallory and Wyatt quite often, plus I need more Tara in my life! Honestly, I recommend all of these shades, and am loving the rich pigmentation. You can purchase the Urban Grunge collection on Zoya’s website HERE. Each polish retails for $10, but keep an eye out for sales and coupons! Let me know your favorite polish in the Urban Grunge Collection in the comments!

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

Nail Polish Declutter Update | How Many I’ve Let Go + What Happens Next

Happy Wednesday! If you’ve been following my blog this year, you’ll know I decided to really focus on decluttering my nail polish collection. I absolutely love nail polish, and have been very fortunate over my four years of blogging to grow a large collection through purchases and project reviews. That being said, my collection was getting out of hand for me. I can’t even tell you how big it got, but a safe estimate is nearly 700 nail polishes. I decided it was time to really declutter my stash to include only those nail polishes that I absolutely love and will use. This declutter project has been going well, and now it’s time to share an update with all of you on my progress!

Nail Polish Declutter Update | How Many I've Let Go + What Happens NextFirst things first, I want to quickly mention the steps I’ve taken thus far to declutter my collection. The very first thing I did was a KonMari style of decluttering with my own spin. I sat down with my entire collection and held each polish in my hands, asking myself if I wanted to keep the polish or declutter it. This helped me get rid of a good group of polishes, and prompted me to do Manicure March, where I tried out polishes I wasn’t sure whether or not to keep. The next step I took was the nail polish comparison stage. You have seen many Dare to Compare posts on the blog over the last few months. That really helped me clear out my stash even more, and this is the place I am at right now.

So, let’s discuss numbers. I did a quick count of the polishes I’ve decluttered this year and the polishes that remain in my collection. I have let go about 200 nail polishes so far, which is amazing! However, I still own about 480 nail polishes. I cannot believe how many polishes I still own. Even though I am a blogger who often reviews nail polish, this number is way too high for me. I know I will be moving again in the near future, and it is not fun to move with polish. I also know that it isn’t possible for me to get true use out of this number. I still need to cut down a great deal.

I also wanted to quickly mention my life changes throughout this decluttering process. I decided in June to switch over to a vegan lifestyle, and unfortunately many of the polishes I own and love are not vegan. At this point I am comfortable with keeping non-vegan polishes in my collection, but I will obviously no longer be purchasing non-vegan polishes, nor will I accept any for review.

Now it’s time to talk about what happens next. You may have noticed that during Manicure March and in all of my Dare to Compare posts I never mentioned my most-owned brand – Zoya. I decided that Zoya will act as my ‘control’ brand in my collection. I am keeping all of the polishes from Zoya because they are great quality and have a vast color palette. I will now be comparing all of my other polishes to the Zoyas in my collection, and might share some of that process on the blog!

All in all, I’m very happy that I’ve buckled down and made real progress decluttering my nail polish collection. I know this might not be extremely relatable, as my collection grew thanks to my years of blogging. Nonetheless, I hope you find this inspirational whether you are trying to cut down your beauty stash or any other part of your life. I know it can be difficult to let go of things that you love, especially when there are memories connected to those things. At the end of the day I know functionality is most important, and I am constantly working towards making my life more organized. Please let me know in the comments if you’ve been decluttering your life, and how your progress has been. We can cheer each other on as we continue the process!