Zoya Naturel 5 - Bottle and Swatch Comparisons

Hey Friends

Today on the blog I have my comparisons for the Naturel 5 set that Zoya did for winter/spring transition 2022.

I didnt quite mean to take such a long break from my blog but personal life got a little tricky with illnesses for both myself and my hubs we're both doing better now.  I am hoping to get back into finishing the greens though!

Its overcast today, as with all my swatches, no colour correction, taken in natural day light and the new polish is always first left.

This set consists of 5 polishes and a lipgloss called Sweet Tart, I actually managed to grab the fancy box that included the lipgloss. The set are all cream finishes.

Continues below, we have a lot of photos! Including Ellie and my wearing of Sutton.

The box set is really well presented, the lipgloss is very nice, its not mega sticky which I am glad about, I use it at night and it stays well on the lips. Smells like a vintage sweet like wine gums to me.

First up - Chelsea can best be described as a powdered blush cream.

Left to right Chelsea, Ana, Evelyn, no dupes, Chelsea has a orange/brown undertone compared to the other two, Ana is a satin finish.

Sutton can best be described as a muted pinky-nude cream.

Left to right Sutton, Ana, April and Chelsea, no dupes, Sutton has a pinker undertone. April has more brown than Sutton.

Evan can best be described as a softened saddle cream.

Left to right Evan, Uli and Jack, no dupes, in the bottle Evan and Uli look very similar but on the swatch you can see the slightly darker brown undertone to Evan, while Uli almost looks orange, Uli is discontinued. 

Parker can best be described as a warm greige.

Left to right, Parker, Presley, Deidra and the original Parker, no dupes, Parker has more brown than Presley, Deidra has a golden shimmer but is discontinued as is the original Parker. I would not describe Parker as greige which is a beige with added grey, Parker clearly has a purple undertone.

Elyse can best be described as a gentle aubergine cream.

Left to right, Elyse, Joni, Teresa and Marnie, no dupes Elyse has more brown than Joni, Teresa has more pink and Marnie is darker.

Zoya have been naughty and reused a couple of names again, below are the original versions of Chelsea on the left and Parker on the right, both sadly discontinued.

Stamping test, everything stamped but likely Chelsea and Sutton would be best over a slightly darker base.

Ellie has been her usual crazy self, these are from this mornings sunbathing!

I've worn Sutton first, great formula, no running or pooling, opaque in two coats, dries super shiny, I added matte topcoat, I also switched to the Z wide brush for Sutton and Chelsea.

Thats the comparisons, did I miss one you wanted to see? Let me know in the comments! I will be picking up the new Abundance collection when it reaches the UK.

Yes I did fix the smudges before adding matt topcoat. 

Nail Art for Ukraine

Hi Friends

Today on the blog, I was a tiny part of a nail art project for Ukraine to show support for the events happening in Ukraine.

This is a very picture heavy post.

I used Virago Varnish Sweater Reason Season (blue) and Mango Madness (yellow), the white was Whats Up Nails Blanc My Mind, the plate I used was UberChic In Loving Memory. Below is the text that was written to accompany the mani's with links to donate is you can, (no obligation to donate if you cannot).

~

This is an important collab. It is to show our support and solidarity with the country of Ukraine. Who are single handedly holding back the Russian forces that have invaded for no reason. #PutinsWarOfChoice is what its deemed as.

Hopefully, through all the hardship and terrors of war, they will somehow see our tiny arts & know we support them, & possibly boost morale. Morale is SO important during war times.

Please see #NailArtistsStandWithUkraine to view all the nail artists involved on Instagram.

@katten.nails did a collab a few days ago because she couldn't find one, so we decided to keep them separate for greater reach and to spread the word, also, the posting dates are spread out, which means more people will see Nail Artist saying ‘NO’ to war! We decided to incorporate the hashtags of both collabs into our posts though, which I believe is amazing cross-collaboration, so, thank you to all who speak up and show their support, no matter how you do it! It does matter and it does help!

Below are some very important donation links.

💙Sunflower of Peace -  Currently providing backpacks to Ukrainian soldiers, citizens, and volunteers. According to its fundraising information, “Each backpack is designed for groups of 5 to 10 people and includes a variety of first aid supplies: bandages, anti hemorrhagic medicine like Quikclot and Celox, medical instruments, and a means for survival in extreme conditions

https://www.facebook.com/donate/507886070680475/ 

Please copy and paste this URL to activate.

💛Nova Ukraine - Nova Ukraine has an established and proven network of partners on the ground in Ukraine we trust. We are ready to face this extraordinary challenge together. With your help, we will provide humanitarian aid to ordinary people and families with children affected by war in Ukraine.

https://novaukraine.org/

#NailArtistsStandWithUkraine #WeStandWithUkraine #StopTheWar #IStandWithUkraine #WeStandWithUkraine #IStandWithUkraine #NailArtistsStandWithUkraine #StandWithUkraine #SunflowersForPeace #NailArtistsForUkraine #NailArtistsSayNoToWar

 

Prism Polish & EDM Polish Manicure

 Hey Friends

Today I'm sharing my manicure using Prism Polish Countdown on the Couch, a dusty deep periwinkle with gold shimmer (cold) to nude thermal. I then stamped with EDK Dryad a grenn, pink, gold multichrome. I'm sad that Prism is no longer in business.

The Prism has a great formula, no running or pooling and I did two coats as the warm colour was a tiny bit sheer over my nail line. I used Symetrika 06 plate for some Irish Celtic vibes. I then used Barry M Plumpy and Matte topcoats. 

I really enjoyed how this turned out, I cant wait to use the Dryad in more stamping. Excuse what looks like tip wear, I applied the matte topcoat too soon after the plumpy topcoat and it shrunk the polish.

Polish Pickup UK Manicure

Hey Friends

Today on the blog I'm sharing a gorgeous polish from January 2022 Polish Pickup UK.

I dont buy a lot from Polish Pickup as a lot of polishes are in finishes I'm not a fan of, like glitters, if I really like the colour story of the glitters I will grab one and the new craze on reflective glitters is not my thing because they are extremely textured being glitter and difficult to remove. So I purchased only 2 polishes from January.

You've already seen Dried Roses from Fancy Gloss, now we have Indie by Patty Lopes and Purple Beauty, a gorgeous purple multi-chrome. You can see in the pics the green and blue colours coming through, I could also see pink and a gold. I did 3 coats but I totally could have stopped at 2, great formula, no running or pooling.

I then stamped with a bunch of Virago Varnish using Whats Up Nails plate B044 and Dixie Plates Butterflies and Bees, I then used Barry M Plumpy and Matte topcoats. I really wish Virago Varnish still made polish, the creams are brilliant for stamping and when worn are almost all one coaters.

A Zoya A Day - Indigo and Marlena

Hey Friends

Today on the blog we meet Indigo and Marlena.

Available on USA website - Yes
Available on the UK website - Yes
Brush used - Original
Does it stamp - Yes
Name - Indigo
Year - 2007
Number - ZP0415
Coats - 1
Finish - Shimmer/Metallic
Collection - Downtown
Colour - Blue
Topcoat - No

Indigo can be best described as a dark indigo blue shimmer with a pinch of holographic microglitter. 

Available on USA website - Yes

Available on the UK website - Yes
Brush used - Original
Does it stamp - Yes
Name - Marlena
Year - 2021
Number - ZP1030
Coats - 1

Finish - Glass Fleck

Collection - Dazzle

Colour - Blue

Topcoat - No

Marlena can best be described as a mid-toned cerulean blue with a gorgeous gold fleck effect.

I adore Indigo, those little tiny sparkles just twinkle so well in that deep inky base, great formula, no running or pooling and opaque in one sweet coat, Indigo also stamps. The little sparkles dry without texture and are easy to remove, theyre the same as the sparkles in their holographic polishes.

Marlena is stunning, those golden sparkles stand out so nicely in that rich ocean blue, great formula, no running or pooling and opaque in one coat, Marlena also stamps. 

A Zoya A Day - Ibiza and Olivera

Hey Friends

Today on the blog we meet Ibiza and Olivera. After this we'll only have two more blue polishes I'm going to take a break for a week or two and do some nail art and mani posts, I'm also going to re-arrange the wall a bit.

Available on USA website - Yes
Available on the UK website - Yes
Brush used - Original
Does it stamp - Yes
Name - Ibiza
Year - 2009
Number - ZP0491
Coats - 1
Finish - Shimmer
Collection - Dare
Colour - Blue
Topcoat - No

Ibiza by Zoya can be best described as a blackened indigo-blue brightened slightly by subtle metallic blue shimmer.

Available on USA website - Yes

Available on the UK website - No
Brush used - Original
Does it stamp - Yes
Name - Olivera
Year - 2016
Number - ZP0872
Coats - 1

Finish - Shimmer

Collection - Enchanted

Colour - Blue

Topcoat - No

Olivera by Zoya can best be described as a spellbinding color-flip metallic with an indigo base and a green and purple shift.

Ibiza is really pretty, I love the bright blue shimmer in this, great formula, no running or pooling and opaque in one coat, Ibiza also stamps.

Olivera is stunning, the green shift in this is so good, great formula, no running or pooling and opaque in one coat, Olivera also stamps nicely.