Nail Polish Review – Adventures in Polishland

Tag: Nail Polish Review

Zoya Nail Polish Ashby | September Color of the Month

Posted on September 13, 2024 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!

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.

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

Posted on April 28, 2024April 28, 2024 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!

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.

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.

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 April 17, 2024April 17, 2024 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.

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.

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.

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.

Zoya Nail Polish Bloom Collection | Review and Swatches

Posted on April 2, 2024 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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

Zoya Nail Polish Gal | Review and Swatches

Posted on February 26, 2024 by Adventures in Polishland

One of my goals this year is to try nail polishes in my collection that I haven’t yet worn, so this month I added Zoya Gal from the Fall 2017 Sophisticates Collection to my “to be worn” pile. I’ll be honest, I was not excited to use this nail polish! I couldn’t tell if the shade was gold, copper, or green, and the muted tone is not my typical look. Nonetheless, I decided to give Gal a go so I could decide if I want to keep this polish in my stash or declutter it.

This product was provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Zoya describes Gal as a smokey, iridescent, peridot gold metallic polish. It really is a unique shade with metallic shimmer in a base that can lean towards different tones depending on the lighting. Unfortunately, Gal’s formula is a bit difficult to apply. The polish is quite thin, and tended to seep outside of my nail bed onto my cuticles requiring a bit of cleanup. I applied two coats, and while my nail line was still slightly visible, I didn’t want to add a third coat due to the tricky formula.

I completed my manicure with one coat of the Zoya Naked Glossy Seal Top Coat. Despite having issues during application, the polish does look cool and very unique. The subtle sparkle is especially pretty. That being said, I’m not enjoying how Gal looks on me, and when I look at my nails I do not get excited about my manicure. As such, I will be decluttering Gal from my collection since it’s just not my cup of tea.

If you do like the look of Gal, I do want to mention that this polish has been sitting unused in my collection since 2017, so that may attribute to my formula issues. This polish is still available for sale on the Zoya website for $12.00 if you are interested. If you have Gal, please share your experience with this polish in the comments!

Zoya Nail Polish Love | February Color of the Month

Posted on February 21, 2024 by Adventures in Polishland

February is coming to a close, and I want to share with you the Zoya Nail Polish Color of the Month while you still have time to purchase it. Each month Zoya releases a nail polish that is only available during that month. When you buy that shade and use the applicable coupon code, you get free shipping on your entire order! February’s nail polish is aptly named Love for Valentine’s Day. Let me share with you this stunning red polish!

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

Love is a red nail polish filled with red micro and macro glitters. I am very impressed with the formula, as it applies smoothly and is opaque in two coats. I love that the glitters match the base shade perfectly, giving the nails a multidimensional look. To complete my manicure, I added one layer of the Zoya Naked Glossy Seal Top Coat.

I wore Love for Valentine’s Day week, and was very happy with the wear time. By the time a week had elapsed, I only had minor wear on the edges of my nails. That is longer than most nail polish lasts on me without chipping. I also received compliments on my manicure at work, so Love is seems to be a crowd favorite as well.

Love is definitely a new go to polish for me. I can see myself wearing it during the Christmas season, and it can work for the Fourth of July as well. You can purchase Love on the Zoya website for $12.00 through the end of the month. Use code LOVE24 to get free shipping when you buy Love or any of the Love Bundles.

Zoya Nail Polish Metora | Review and Swatches

Posted on January 15, 2024 by Adventures in Polishland

When I created my nail polish “to be worn” pile for January, I thought it would be fun to wear a garnet red shade to go with January’s birthstone. I immediately gravitated towards Zoya Nail Polish Metora from the Hypnotic Collection released for the Winter/Holiday 2022 season. After wearing a glitter combination for the last several weeks, Metora is a nail polish that can truly stand on its own.

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

Metora is a metallic nail polish in a deep red shade. The formula is fantastic and applies easily in two coats. I really love the beautiful dimension in the subtle shimmer. I don’t normally reach for metallic polishes, but Metora is an exception! It looks stunning on the nails, and this red shade is a good compliment to my skin tone.

If you are looking for a dark and vampy nail polish, I definitely recommend Zoya Metora. I’m impressed with the formula, and surprised with how much I enjoy the metallic finish. I will be keeping this nail polish in my collection as I curate it this year. I’m also inspired to try more of the metallic shades in my stash to see how they compare!

Zoya Nail Polish Amaris | November Color of the Month

Posted on November 17, 2023 by Adventures in Polishland

Zoya Nail Polish launched a new initiative in June 2023 called the Color of the Month. Each month, Zoya releases a brand new nail polish shade that is available while quantities last. If you purchase the Color of the Month for $12.00 and use the dedicated promo code, you also get free shipping on your entire order. To my surprise, Zoya sent me the November Color of the Month, Amaris. I immediately put it on my nails, and am excited to share my thoughts with you!

Zoya Nail Polish Amaris November Color of the Month

The product in this post was provided to me complimentary by the brand. This post includes a referral link. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Amaris is what Zoya describes as a swirling nebula of blue and green with holographic glitters. I applied two coats to achieve opacity. The formula is on the thick side since it is so packed with glitters. I applied a healthy amount of polish to the base of my nail, and then carefully spread it out with the brush to get an even layer. I finished the manicure by using two layers of the Zoya Naked Manicure Ultra Glossy Seal Top Coat. The first layer helps to even out the glitter, and the second gives more of the glossy shine. The above photos were taken in artificial light, and you can still see how dimensional the holo glitters are!

Here is a photo of Amaris in natural lighting after a few days of wear. I love the celestial look of this nail polish! I definitely recommend wrapping the tip of your nails to extend the wear of this glitter nail polish. That means painting slightly over the edge of your nail to the underside. Wrapping the nail helps reduce chipping, allowing your manicure to last just a bit longer.

Amaris is available on Zoya’s website through the month of November. You can use code CTM77 to get free shipping on your entire order when you purchase Amaris for $12.00. If you are a new Zoya customer, you can use my referral link to save $5.00 on your first purchase. I think the Color of the Month is a fun way to try out new nail polish shades from one of my go to brands, and I’m excited to see what will be released in the coming months!

Holo Taco Build Your Own Bundle Review & Swatches | #HoloTacoCombo

Posted on January 16, 2022 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Sunday! I recently made a purchase from the Holo Taco website, and thought I would share the experience with you. After digging at the bottom of my base coat bottle for a while, I knew it was time to order a new bottle. Since I was also out of my favorite top coat, Super Glossy Taco, I decided to order the Holo Taco Build Your Own Bundle. This option on the brand’s website allows for customers to choose a base coat, creme polish, topper, and top coat for a discounted price of $42.00 (a $4.00 savings off the regular price). I also had a $5.00 coupon from being subscribed to the Holo Taco newsletter, so I snagged mine for $37.00 plus shipping. Let me share with you the polishes I picked out, and also let you know about the amazing customer service I received from the brand.

The bundle I built includes Long Lasting Base, High Tea Hibiscus, Aurora Unicorn Skin, and Super Glossy Taco. When I placed my order, the invoice let me know that the brand was moving warehouses and there would be a delay in shipping. That was not a problem for me, and I fully expected to receive my order when it was ready. I was pleasantly surprised when about a week later I got an email apologizing for the delay in shipment, and a refund for the $6.99 shipping fee, as well as another $5.00 coupon for a future purchase. I really appreciated this great customer service, even though it was completely unnecessary. It’s rare for a company to go above and beyond when it comes to customer service these days, and I thought it was absolutely worth the mention in this post.

Now let’s jump into my thoughts on the polishes! I’ve just tried the Long Lasting Base for the first time, so I will report back after I give it more of a test drive. The creme polish I chose in my bundle, however, is High Tea Hibiscus, a deep magenta polish. I was quite surprised with how thick the formula is. I recommend getting a good amount of product on the brush during application, because otherwise the polish will streak onto the nails. I applied two coats for full opacity. High Tea Hibiscus is a beautiful polish, and I’m interested to try more creme polishes from this brand to see if the formula is typically this consistency.

Next up is Aurora Unicorn Skin, the special effects topper I chose for my bundle. This is an iridescent flakie top coat that color shifts depending on the base shade over which it is layered. On this manicure in particular, it added a stunning pink to purple color shift. Aurora has been on my wish list for a very long time, so I’m excited to add this polish to my collection. I look forward to testing it out in different manicures to see how it will transform on the nails!

Holo Taco High Tea Hibiscus and Aurora Unicorn Skin

Lastly, I topped off my manicure with Super Glossy Taco. I love this top coat because it gives the nails a high gloss shine while also drying very quickly. If I’m wearing a glittery manicure, I will often apply two coats. The first coat will even out the texture in the glitter, and the second gives it that smooth, glassy finish. This is the second time I’m purchasing this top coat, and I’m so happy to have a new bottle!

Holo Taco Aurora Unicorn Skin Natural Sunlight

Here’s a quick look at my completed manicure in natural sunlight (please forgive my dry, winter skin in these swatches by the way!). I’m really happy with this manicure, and I found myself looking down at my nails a lot throughout the day. I even elevated my manicure by adding the Flakie Holo Taco a few days later for added bling!

All in all, if you are looking to try out Holo Taco nail polishes, I think the Build Your Own Bundle is a great option. You save a few dollars, plus you can stock up on the necessary top and base coats we use with every manicure. The Build Your Own Bundle is available on the Holo Taco website. The brand represents that their entire line is cruelty free and vegan.

Have you tried Holo Taco nail polishes? Let me know in the comments!

Zoya Nail Polish Cosmic Pop Limited Edition Trio | Swatches & Review

Posted on June 13, 2021 by Adventures in Polishland

Today I am excited to share with you swatches and a full review of the Zoya Nail Polish Cosmic Pop Limited Edition Trio. This trio will be available for pre-order on June 15, 2021, and will only be available for a limited time. The collection features three nail polishes in holographic shades inspired by the unique star clusters of outer space. The Cosmic Pop line has a unique formula packed with glitters that look stunning on the nails. This post will share individual swatches of each shade, as well as a quick look at what the polishes look like as a nail polish topper.

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

Before I jump right into the swatches, I want to share how Zoya describes the Cosmic Pop nail polish formula. The brand states that these astral shades have a blend of metallic glitter and holographic particles in five different sizes to give a dynamic effect. The polishes dry to a soft textured finish. Zoya suggests using the Ultra Glossy Seal top coat for a high-shine and smooth finish. I swatched these polishes over the Holo Taco Peely Base, and I used the suggested Ultra Glossy Seal to complete each manicure. As always, the photos are taken in natural lighting. I found it difficult to get sharp images of each polish because they are so glittery!

Celestia

First up in the Cosmic Pop Trio is Celestia, described as a silver-pearlescent rainbow holographic. I applied three coats to achieve opacity, and sealed it with two coats of Ultra Glossy Seal. I typically use two coats of top coat with any glitter or textured nail polish, as the first layer evens the manicure and the second gives it the glossy look. Celestia is a stunning nail polish! The holographic glitters really pop, and I love how the manicure looks reflected in the sunlight.

Polaris

Next up is Polaris, a rose gold holographic shade. I applied three coats to achieve opacity, and I love the beautiful rose gold base. Polaris really surprised me! This polish has a very subtle duochrome effect, and shifts to a purple tone in the right sunlight. I love how it looks more subtle in the shade, but really pops when the light changes!

Eradani

Last up is Eradani, a magenta densely packed holographic polish. Eradani is the most pigmented nail polish in this line, and I applied two coats to achieve opacity. This shade does not have the same holographic effect as the other two Cosmic Pop polishes. In fact, the glitters are mainly magenta and blue, and I have to really stare at the polish in the sunlight to find the holo glitters. Nonetheless, Eradani is just stunning on the nails!

The Cosmic Pop Trio as Nail Polish Toppers

I also tested out each Cosmic Pop nail polish as a topper over Darla from the Zoya Dreamin’ Collection. Since each of these holographic shades is sheer in one coat, they can definitely be used as a manicure topper to add some sparkle to any polish. I recommend applying a very thin coat. You can even triple up and layer all three Cosmic Pop shades for a really blinged out look! I think it’s so fun that you can use the Cosmic Pop Trio in a variety of ways.

All in all, I am really enjoying the Zoya Nail Polish Limited Edition Cosmic Pop Trio. I have not used a holographic glitter polish in quite some time, so I think this trio is a lot of fun and perfect for the summer. Pricing information for the Cosmic Pop Trio has not yet been released, but visit Zoya’s website HERE starting June 15, 2021 for more information and to pre-order this collection.