Remember when I showed you guys my latest Zoya findings at Beauty Plus Salon? Well the full press release is officially available!
Meet the next generation of our best-selling textured, matte and sparkling Zoya PixieDust formula ­ Zoya Ultra PixieDust! Three shades featuring both fine micro glitter and mega hex particles for tone on tone 3D effects. This easy glam nail is available in 3 shades in a gradient of red, wine and plum hues. No base or top coat required.


 

Press Sample
Finals week has come and gone, and the semester is over. Not only has my hair not turned gray from stress, I survived. Not only have I survived, I'm still holding down my 4.0 GPA! Yes, y'all I'm smart and my nails stay cute! Double threat over here.

Now that I've got more time for my nails (and you lovely folks) I've got some nail art featuring the entire Zoya MATTEVELVET Winter/Holiday 2015 collection.


I've been itching to play with these since the press release came out (catch it HERE if you missed it) but, alas, schoolwork. *sigh*

Zoya claims they are "perfectly opaque" and they aren't lying.



I decided to go the route of two accent nails, all the while painting my thumb Yves and my ring & pinky fingers Iris.


I had to do something simple to start utilizing my freehand nail art muscles again because every time I take a nail art break, my skills always weaken upon return.



Press Sample

Press Sample
Fall is officially here so it's time to finally get swatches of fall collections posted. (FYI, I'm already missing summer and it's neons)

To get this Friday rolling, I've got Zoya's Focus & Flair collections on the blog. If you missed the press release, or want to see it again click HERE.



The swatching style of this collection almost mirrors the way I swatch last year's Entice & Ignite collections.
The crémes (Focus) are on my thumb, index, and middle fingers. While the shimmers (Flair) are on my ring and pinky fingers.

Another note before I get started, the formula of these polish was pretty much the same so I'll leave the final review at the end to avoid sounding like a broken record.

Charli & Tris
Charli is described by Zoya as a dusty taupe créme with a hint of green. If you plan on doing any army fatigue inspired nail art, this shade is going to be a must.
Tris is described by Zoya as a blackened, brushed nickel liquid metal shade.


Desiree & Cinnamon
Desiree is described by Zoya as a classic sable brown with a hint of gray. If I can find my swatch sticks, I'll do a comparison of other brown Zoya shades in my collection.
Cinnamon was originally designed for Zang Toi NYFW F/W15, so if you were wanting to get your hands on it here's your chance.


Sia & Estelle
Sia the notes I took on this polish were literally, "the cobalt-est cobalt ever, be sure to double base coat." Yes, I did immediately belt out "Chandelier" by Sia not only when I swatched it, but also when I typed this blog post. #noshame
Estelle is another lacquer that made me break out in song. The particular song in question was "American Boy" by Estelle.


Lidia & Giada


Press Sample

Press Sample
I've mentioned on more than a few occasions that Zoya makes my favorite texture polishes so of course I was hyped to try the Magical Pixie Collection for myself.

I didn't get home until a quarter after midnight so I went for something easy. So tape mani it for the win!

Aside from using all three Zoya Magical Pixies--Cosmo (silver), Vega (blue), Lux (pink)--I used Zoya Dot (pink cremè) & Zoya Rebel (blue sky shimmer) from the Awaken Collection.
After seeing various swatches, some better than others, showcasing this installment of Pixie Dusts, I'm happy to add them to my team.

Zoya Magical Pixies and Zoya Awaken retail for $10 per bottle and $9 per bottle, respectively on Zoya.com.

Are you still down with texture? Who makes your favorite? Let's talk in the comments!
Tune in. Drop out. Love polish.
Press Sample

Press Sample
Hopefully you guys have enjoyed my travel additions to the site because you'll definitely be getting more of it in the near future *wink* but right now it is all swatches all the time. What's on today's menu? Zoya Charming collection.

Tina issa shade of purple. How can I not love it. And issa créme? Come on now. Fully opaque in two smooth coats.
Abby a nice lilac créme. Unfortunately, the formula on this one is less than favorable. It was thick to apply and doesn't level without the use of top coat. Fully opaque in three coats.


Press Sample

Zoya NATUREL DEUX
more is more…
Inspired by the desire to expand the popular neutral palette of the Zoya NATUREL collection, six (6) NEW, full-coverage creams in deeper hues were born.

Perfect as every day go-to colors, the Zoya NATUREL DEUX (2) collection bridges the transitional gap between late summer/early fall 2014 with three, rich brown family shades and three plum based beauties. All in the long-wearing, BIG5FREE formula Zoya is known for! 



Zoya NATUREL DEUX (2) - 2014










*BIG5FREE: Formula contains no formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, dibutyl phthalate, toluene or camphor.

Zoya Magical Pixie - a new PixieDust formulation, amped up with spectacular sparkle creating the most magical, Zoya PixieDust ever! Three new never before imagined textured, holographic beauties...

NEW SUMMER 2014 ZOYA MAGICAL PIXIE
Three new hues in Zoya’s BEST-SELLING ultra textured, matte, holographic Magical Pixie formula to love!

• ZP761 - Bar: Nude Topaz Magical Pixie.
• ZP762 - Ginni: Pink Tourmaline Magical Pixie.
• ZP763 - Arlo: Violet Amethyst Magical Pixie.

Zoya PixieDust Application:
For BEST RESULTS apply 2-3 thin coats of polish for full coverage to a clean oil free nail surface. Allow product to dry completely for full effect. Do not use a base coat or top coat. Top coat can be applied for additional glossy effects.

AVAILABILE MAY 15, 2014 | $10.00 ea. (US)
Zoya.com

BIG5FREE: formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, toluene, camphor & dibutyl phthalate free, vegan friendly nail color.

GET BACK IN MATTE! RE-RELEASE!!!
All of the color, none of the shine! Meet your perfect matte with MATTEVELVET* **, Zoya’s exclusive shine-free formula. Choose from six best-selling matte nail polish shades with a luxurious crushed velvet finish and subtle shimmer.



 Right on trend, these exclusive shades are being reintroduced for a limited time only!
ZP499 - DOVIMA: Shimmering Black MatteVelvet*.
Zoya MATTEVELVET* colors are available exclusively on Zoya.com and in ULTA beauty stores (ask for them).

Wishes really do come true with this magical new nail polish collection for Winter/Holiday 2014! Zoya Wishes** is a densely pigmented assortment featuring both traditional and Magical PixieDust formulas in coordinating color combinations that can be worn alone or combined into stunning combinations, no matter how you wear them, this collection delivers a fanciful way to celebrate the season!


Available in top salons, spas and on zoya.com

Press Sample It's Monday again and I finally have a post ready for you guys! In between going back to school and working full time, I haven't had a ton of time to talk polish/nail art with you guys but I'm def trying.

Anyway today's swatch and review about for Zoya Entice (créme) & Ignite (shimmer) Collections is probably the largest swatch and review I've ever done in one post here on Nail A College Drop Out so let's get to it!

Teigen & Veronica
Teigen is a describe by Zoya as a  violet plum with copper shimmer, but to me, it's a deep raspberry shade with copper shimmer. Either way it goes, Teigen is fully opaque in 2 smooth coats.
Veronica is a berry tone that I wasn't too thrilled with color-wise, but it does have an impressive formula. Being a two coat, full coverage créme isn't anything to scoff at honey.

Remy & Ryan
Remy. Guuurrl let me tell you about Remy. Its a 1 coater! Yes a one coater! You need this in your collection. I can promise you that. In real life one coat is perfect but under a camera lens and bright lights you can see slight VNL (visible nail line), so for blogging purposes, swatched above is two coats.
Ryan is an indigo créme that, unlike its shimmer counterpart, becomes opaque in two coats. I think this would be great for some nautical themed nail art.

Sansa & Margo
Before I even get into the details on these lacquers, I have to say that they are my fav combination. I love me some purple nail polish!
Sansa an eggplant with gold shimmer. Much like the rest of the E&I lacquers, it is opaque in in two coats.
Margo looks kind of meh on its on but I def pops next to Sansa! This is the only shade that required three coats.

Yuna & Genevieve
Yuna is gray with copper and gold shimmer. Reaches full opacity in two coats.
Genevieve is an elephant gray créme with a streaky first coat, but evens out just fine after the second.

Autumn & Nyssa
Autumn is a brassy orange with gold shimmer. It becomes fully opaque in two coats.
Nyssa is described as a milk chocolate brown that becomes fully opaque in two coats.


Overall the Entice & Ignite collections are full coverage, and with the exception of Margo & Remy, all the shades obtain  full coverage in two smooth coats.
If you have to choose only two lacquers from the ones posted today--you know, if you were trapped in some sad parallel universe that only allows you to choose two bottles of nail polish out of a twelve piece set--you should definitely make it Remy and Sansa.

Before I end this post, I do want to say the Ignite Collection reminds me of a fall alternative to the Irresistible Collection for Summer 2013. Don't believe me? Peep Lakeisha's swatches over on her blog RefindandPolished.com

Remy, Sansa, and every other lacquer shown above retails for $9 each on Zoya.com.

Press Sample


What's your favorite combination of créme and shimmer? Let's talk polish in the comments!
Tune in. Drop out. Love polish.