Review: Zoya Paradise Sun Summer 2015 Collection

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Hello!

Today I have the second half of Zoya's summer beauties for you, the Paradise Sun collection. If you're familiar with Zoya, you know they usually put out two complementary collections each season, often one that has cremes and a second that has the same or similar colors in a shimmer or specialty polish. They've done that here in a set of polishes filled with specked-flakie goodness.

What do I mean like that? These polishes are somewhere between a shimmer and a flakie, which normally would make me think of the glass-fleck finish polishes that swept the polish world a couple of summers ago, but they're not that either. They're...well, just take a look.


First up we have my absolute favorite of the collection, Zoya Aphrodite; she is a cherry pin-up red that is lit from inside by gold micro flakie shimmer:

Zoya Aphrodite

Zoya Aphrodite

Zoya Aphrodite

Zoya Aphrodite

Zoya Aphrodite

Zoya Aphrodite

This is two coats of Aphrodite; in some lights I have a little bit of visible nail line, but not in most lights. Formula on this was easy, breezy, awesome.

There are no photos that can capture the mesmerizing magic of this polish. Something about the flakies catches the light and turn intensely gold--when I say this lights up from within, it really looks like there are smoldering coals inside this polish. And the color is an intense, sexy red--fiery, luscious, amazing. This is my favorite polish so far this year, and I've seen some darn pretty polishes. This is a polish you will catch yourself looking down at continually through the day--I may or may not have been spotted in the middle of the Costco parking lot taking pictures of it because it was so pretty.

This is not the only stunning polish in the collection, by far. Next up, I give you Zoya Isa, a rich, saturated duochrome blurple with a flecky-flakie finish:

Zoya Isa

Zoya Isa

Zoya Isa

Zoya Isa

Zoya Isa

This is two easy coats, excellent formula and application, with full coverage.

As you can see, in direct light, this polish goes toward the blue side, but in medium and darker lights, it leans toward purple; you can see this around the edges in the shadow shots especially. In my house, this polish was almost always purple, a jewel-toned royal purple that made me feel beyond majestic.



Next up is Zoya Mae, the pink-fuchsia of the group, with little bluish flecks:

Zoya Mae

Zoya Mae

Zoya Mae

Zoya Mae

Zoya Mae

Zoya Mae

Yes, that's right, I did give you three macros for this. Because I will not have you mistake this gorgeous polish for just another shimmery fuchsia! This has complexity, it flirts with the light, it shimmies and shines. It has a flash of purplish pink and goes to hot-pink-almost-red around the edges--just beautiful.

This is two coats; I had full coverage and no issues with application or formula.


Next we have Zoya Oceane, glorious turquoise shimmer that has all the depth of its namesake:

Zoya Oceane

Zoya Oceane

Zoya Oceane

The flakes on this one are a slightly lighter blue than the base itself; this makes the polish shine like a metallic, but with a deep glow. This looks like the shimmering waters of a beautiful beach, and makes me want to jump onto a boat and head out to the Caribbean or Hawaii. The flakes are more subtle here, but they're there, and they're beautiful.

Two coats again, excellent application and formula.



Next we have Zoya Genesis, a sparkling white polish, like the froth from the ocean:

Zoya Genesis

Zoya Genesis

The flecks in this polish give a soft pearlescent shimmer to the white that makes the shade flattering and bridal. I love this; it takes the harsh edge away from the color and makes it very wearable.

I did have some issues with coverage here. This isn't unusual for a white, and it's actually not all that difficult to navigate. In this picture I have on two coats except for the ring finger, which has three, because I have a ridge on that nail that gives me fits and wanted to show through (in the picture you can see a ridge on my pinky; this wasn't visible in real life size). So my suggestion is that you use three thin coats rather than two medium ones, and you'll be good to go! I had no pulling, no patching or anything like that (which is a pleasant surprise for a white), just issues with coverage on the tricky bits of my nails. I can say without hesitation that I'll wear this again, and you know I don't always feel that way about three-coaters.



Our last polish for the day is another that sets my heart aflutter: Zoya Selene, a green leaning teal with a bit of color shift:

Zoya Selene

Zoya Selene

Zoya Selene

Zoya Selene

Here again, the flecks add to the color and the complexity of the polish. They allow a rich metallic effect, and a glow that gives the polish depth. The flakies work with the slight duochrome blue-green flash, and the effect is one of the most compelling teals I've ever seen. Absolutely love.

This is two coats, with full coverage; application and formula were perfect. 

I adore this entire collection--I loved the colors when I first saw them, but when I saw what those flakie finishes do for them, I fell head over heels. They scream out for attention, mattification, nail art. And while I think these are gorgeous colors for summer, I think they'll also transition you into fall and even winter, especially Aphrodite, Isa and Selene. 

You can find these polishes everywhere that Zoya is sold, including the Zoya website, and Amazon. 

Happy Polishing!

M.