Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Zoya Sophisticates Collection

(Press samples ahead!)

Hello!


I apologize for being gone this past week--my cat almost died and we're nursing her back to health. She's not out of the woods but at least there is more hope than there was this time last week, so any extra positive vibes you have that you can spare would be greatly appreciated!


In the meantime, let's take a look at Zoya's Sophisticates collection for fall 2017--I know when I get Zoya's fall collection in the mail that I'll be sipping pumpkin spice lattes soon, and that's always a happy thought. This collection captures that cool fall feel:


Zoya Sophisticates Fall 2017 Collection

Let's start with Zoya Beth, one of my favorites from the collection; this is taupe with a hint of smoked lavender along with golden shimmer and shift:

Zoya Beth
Zoya Beth

Zoya Beth
Zoya Beth

Application: Easy-peasy, no issues
Coverage: 2 coats

This is like a frosted latte with a sprinkle of cinnamon mixed in, or the highlights in a fall forest fairy's hair. It's a beautiful neutral with a touch of the magic of fall changing leaves peeking out. Absolutely LOVE.


Next is Zoya Elaine, a deeply smoked aubergine brown creme:

Zoya Elaine
Zoya Elaine

Zoya Elaine
Zoya Elaine

Application: Easy application, no issues
Coverage: 1-2 coats

If you took a dark plum and covered it in molasses, this is the color you'd get. It's got the grungy, pretty-ugly feel, and will play well with all your dark fall outfits. '90s vamp attack, for certain.


Next is Zoya Gal, A golden-green metallic with a golden-brown shift:

Zoya Gal
Zoya Gal

Zoya Gal
Zoya Gal

Application: Easy-peasy, no issues
Coverage: 2 coats

If you took a bunch of golden fall leaves and mushed them up with a bunch of sparkle, this is what you'd get. This is another one that will go with just about any fall outfit you put together.


Next up is Zoya Hadley, a deep navy creme with a hint of smoke:

Zoya Hadley
Zoya Hadley

Zoya Hadley
Zoya Hadley

Application: Good application, no issues
Coverage: 1-2 coats

This is the stormy sky of an early fall night, or the deep folds of a cozy overcoat. There's a classy edge to this, but it'll still look amazing with jeans.


Then we have Zoya Hera, a beautiful smoked smoked-rose-mauve creme:

Zoya Hera
Zoya Hera

Zoya Hera
Zoya Hera

Zoya Hera
Zoya Hera

Application: Good application, no issues
Coverage: 1-2 coats

I love the how feminine this is, and the smoky rose makes me think of a Victorian breakfast nook.


Here's Zoya Joni, a light smoked plum creme:

Zoya Joni
Zoya Joni

Zoya Joni
Zoya Joni

Application: Good application
Coverage: 1-2 coats

Joni is confident but soft, just short of vampy, but still with a little bit of attitude. Love.


Zoya Mckenna is beige with a dose of silvery-white shimmer:

Zoya Mckenna
Zoya Mckenna

Zoya Mckenna
Zoya Mckenna

Zoya Mckenna
Zoya Mckenna

Application: I had some patchiness with this one, especially with the first coat
Coverage: 2 coats

This is another favorite of mine--it's like a lightly caramelized cappuccino with a swirl of marshmallow. For those days when you want something sweet and light and soft.


Next is Zoya Mona, a deep bordeaux wine creme

Zoya Mona
Zoya Mona

Zoya Mona
Zoya Mona

Zoya Mona
Zoya Mona

Application: Beautiful application
Coverage: 1-2 coats; most likely you'll only need one

Everywhere I look in the fall collections I see gorgeous wines just like this one--if you like to be on trend, grab this. How great will this look wrapped around your glass of red wine at cocktail parties this fall?!


Zoya Padma is a mid-range mauve creme:

Zoya Padma
Zoya Padma

Zoya Padma
Zoya Padma

Zoya Padma
Zoya Padma

Application: A bit of patchiness on the first coat
Coverage: 2 coats

What is a strong all-around useful smoked mauve for anybody who likes pinks but wants something with a more muted edge for fall.


Zoya Presley is a light lavender-orchid creme with a big dose of smoke:

Zoya Presley
Zoya Presley

Zoya Presley
Zoya Presley

Zoya Presley
Zoya Presley
Application: I had some issues with patchiness
Coverage: 2 coats

This is another one that transports me to a Victorian salon and makes me want afternoon tea. Soft, sweet, and feminine.


Then there's Zoya Tabitha, a deep hunter green shimmer:

Zoya Tabitha
Zoya Tabitha

Zoya Tabitha
Zoya Tabitha

Application: Easy-peasy, no issues
Coverage: 2 coats

Another color I see everywhere this fall is deep khaki green--this is more of a hunter, but it's still right there with the trend. This also makes me think of vintage Christmas, so I'll be getting winter use out of it, too.


And to round out the collection, we have Zoya Yvonne, a smoky red-berry creme:

Zoya Yvonne
Zoya Yvonne

Zoya Yvonne
Zoya Yvonne

Zoya Yvonne
Zoya Yvonne

Application: Easy-peasy, no issues
Coverage: 2 coats

This flirts with the line between red and berry, and will be a great look for fall and winter. This makes me think of cranberry sauce and vintage Santa suits. Love, love, love.


What do I think of the collection as a whole? I think there's an interesting combination of vintage and grunge that comes together in a subtle mix. I like the thread of purple that runs through the collection, and I think you can get some gorgeous combinations for nail art with the lights and darks.


This collection is on sale now in Zoya's online store, as well as any brick-and-mortar that sells Zoya products. You can also stalk Zoya around the interwebs here:




Happy polishing!
Michelle xoxo

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

UberChic Beauty Collection 19!

(Press samples and affiliate links ahead!)

Hello!

Today we're going to take a look at UberChic Beauty's collection 19, their most recent plate set. Of course I did a video review to give you ideas on how to use the plates:




(BTW, if you haven't noticed, I tend to put my videos up a week or so before I'm able to post them here, so hit that subscribe button on my YouTube channel if you want to see them as early as possible!)


Here's a closer look at the plates:


UberChic Beauty 19-01
UberChic Beauty 19-01


What I love best about this plate: I think the circular watermelon seed image (that could also be used for other types of fruit) is very clever, and I love the strawberry layering images. But my absolute favorite on this plate is the huge camellia-type flower patter in the upper left. Love. :)



UberChic Beauty 19-02
UberChic Beauty 19-02
 
What I love best about this plate: I'm obsessed with the circular image at the bottom that will make easy, elegant French-tip or half-moon designs. I also love the wavy lines of rectangles, and the hashtag plaid. Very cool.


UberChic Beauty 19-03
UberChic Beauty 19-03


What I love best about this plate: That infinite image that not only has the coolest linear flowers ever, but also has the little berries in it that match the other berry image. I'm sorry, I have to say it--so berry many possibilities, hehehe! And I'm obsessed with the harlequin diamonds and the jacks patterns. :)


UberChic Beauty's full-nail images are 1.7mm x 2.1mm; here are shots with a ruler to help you judge if the other images are the right size for your nails (click for larger image):


 
 


How about that UberChic quality we've come to expect? Do these hold up? Yep:


 
 
  


As always, these swatches were done with a clear stamper, so these images should work for you even with your finicky equipment. :)


For my first manicure, I wanted to highlight how many different patterns you can get just out of the one infinite image, and how they all still go together to create an easy one-pass mani that's intricate and gorgeous:


UberChic Beauty 19-03 over Girly Bits Cosmetics Let Me Azure You
UberChic Beauty 19-03 over Girly Bits Cosmetics Let Me Azure You

UberChic Beauty 19-03 over Girly Bits Cosmetics Let Me Azure You
UberChic Beauty 19-03 over Girly Bits Cosmetics Let Me Azure You


For this mani I started with a base of Girly Bits Cosmetics Let Me Azure You (from their August CoTM duo), and stamped with Messy Mansion Chalk. I love that the design is intricate, but has big enough spaces to let that holo perfection shine on through. :)


For my second mani, I couldn't resist playing with that hashtag plaid from plate 19-02, and decided to do a double-stamping technique to play up the already overlapping lines:


UberChic Beauty 19-02 over Sally Hansen Wild for Violet
UberChic Beauty 19-02 over Sally Hansen Wild for Violet


UberChic Beauty 19-02 over Sally Hansen Wild for Violet
UberChic Beauty 19-02 over Sally Hansen Wild for Violet


The base of this mani is Sally Hansen Wild For Violet, and I stamped with Messy Mansion Chalk and Sterling.


You can find these plates on sale now in the UberChic Beauty store, and of course you can keep up with them around the interwebs here:




Happy stamping!
M. xoxo