Sunday, February 8, 2015

Review: Zoya's Satin Naturel 2015 transitional collection

(Press Sample)

Hello!!

I am doing a crazy happy dance over the collection I have to show you today: the Zoya Satin Naturel 2015 transitional collection. I can explain to you why I love it in two words--neutral mattes.

I love matte/satin/wax finish polishes. There's something about them that just looks chic and elegant, adds a little class to any manicure, I think. And neutrals also tend to have an elegant, classy feel, so this is a match made in heaven.

This collection is a satin finish, so they are not a pure matte; they're a little glossier than a traditional matte, and that allows them to last longer on the nail. Which is excellent, because that's the only downside to most mattes in my mind--they chip very quickly.


Diving right in, first up is Zoya Ana. Ana is a very soft pink, almost a pink-tinted white, which gives neutral a feminine touch:

Zoya Ana
Zoya Ana

Zoya Ana
Zoya Ana


These pictures, and all pictures in this review, show two coats, with no topcoat, since these finishes are not meant to be worn with topcoat. Application on this was smooth and easy, no hiccups at all. Pure matte finishes tend to dry almost as soon as you put them on; these weren't quite that fast, but they were pretty darn quick, regardless. Any of the polishes in this collection are great for any situations where you have limited time to do your nails before heading out the door.


Next up is Zoya Brittany, a light mauve neutral, with a gentle floral feel to it:

Zoya Brittany
Zoya Brittany

This was the only polish in the collection that gave me a smidgen of trouble, and it was only a smidgen. This seemed to dry just a little faster than the others, and so I had just a hint of of ridging on a couple of nails, until I adapted. It was barely worth mentioning, however, and the second coat made it disappear at normal size.


Zoya Brittany
Zoya Brittany



Zoya Leah is a light gray with a hint of smoky lavender to it:


Zoya Leah
Zoya Leah

Zoya Leah
Zoya Leah

This is the epitome of a transitional polish to me; the smokiness holds on to the feel of deep winter colors while bringing in the lavender of spring. I had no issue with application on this, the formula went on smooth as silk and and I was happy as could be with it.


Zoya Rowan hits the most winter-y note with a brownish taupe:


Zoya Rowan
Zoya Rowan


Zoya Rowan
Zoya Rowan

Application was perfect again here. I think this is the most universal polish in the collection; it complements a wide variety of skin tones, and I loved the way it looked on me. An excellent polish for a job interview or an important meeting, or when you're wearing a bold outfit and want a polish that will make it sing rather than detract.


Next is my favorite of the collection, Zoya Sage, a creamy sage green (go figure):

Zoya Sage

Zoya Sage
Zoya Sage


Zoya Sage

This applied like silk and looked like a million dollars. This is another wonderful example of a transitional polish, pulling a little bit of winter into a pastel feel--it's absolutely stunning and I'd build a wardrobe around this if I needed an excuse to wear it.

Also, I wore this polish for about three days to test the wear. I didn't have any chipping before had to remove it for my next swatch. I don't know how much more wear I would have gotten out of it, but that alone is pretty darn good.


And finally, we have Zoya Tove. This is a dove gray, with just a hint of blue:

Zoya Tove

Zoya Tove

Zoya Tove

Grays can be tricky if you want to wear them as neutrals; if they go to light or to dark, they make a dramatic statement. This is a beautiful shade for a neutral nail, and the hint of blue gives it a subtle spring feel without going to bright. 


I have a number of matte polishes that stamp well, so I decided to check to see how these would function as stamping polishes. Here is each polish stamped over a white base: 


Zoya Ana
Zoya Brittany

Zoya Leah

Zoya Rowan
Zoya Sage

Zoya Tove

The white base really makes the colors in these polishes pop; these would be successful over a range of light polishes. They also stamp over black, but the differences in color between them becomes much more subtle.

My overall impression of the collection: This is a lovely collection of neutrals, especially to help you transition from winter to spring. The collection runs the gamut from winter feel (Rowan) through to most typically spring (Ana), and hits beautiful notes in between. If you're not a big pastel lover, this collection will also function as a perfect spring collection for you--there is enough smoky, dusty, muted color to go with a spring palette without screaming 'pastel!'. Every shade here is classy, sophisticated, work appropriate. They are quick drying and wear better than typical matte finishes. All would be an excellent addition to any polish collection.

You can find these polishes on Zoya's website, and anywhere else that Zoya polishes are sold in stores or online. You can also buy them here through Amazon.

Happy polishing!
M.



46 comments:

  1. I love these so much! I need Ana in my life. I'm a huge fan of soft, neutral shades, because they are work appropriate, but can also be included in some nail art to make them more edgy!

    Nyx
    ( http://nyxsbeautyblog.blogspot.com/ )

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    1. Ana is gorgeous, for sure. She's my second favorite in the collection. I see her as a base for some lead-lighting in the future...

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  2. I quite like these! They stamped pretty well too.

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    1. They're really nice, aren't they? They went with good choices for the colors, I think. :)

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  3. I really like this whole collection. Tove and Sage are my favorites. I'm going to have to try stamping with them. They look pretty good!

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    1. I live for Sage. I would never have thought of green as a 'neutral', but this really is subtle, but still a really nice color. Sigh...:)

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  4. I love the color palate of this whole collection, but the satin finish just isn't my thing. The colors all look so lovely on you though!!!

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    1. You're not alone, satin definitely isn't for everybody. More for me, mwah hahh hahhh!!! ;-)

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  5. I love Ana so much! Great review.

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  6. Zoya Sage is lovely!! I never used to be a fan of matte/satin either, but it was actually Zoya that turned me on to it!! And it's so awesome that it stamps!! Great write up!

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    1. Thank you so much!! I had a feeling they would stamp, so I had to try. Trying to get in the habit of checking as I go, lol. :)

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  7. I've been really finding myself drawn to grey recently, and purchased Zoya's Kristen... Now I feel the need for Tove!!

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  8. how i love Zoya polishes!!!!
    I just own only one shade of them

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    1. No. No no no. That must be changed. Zoya is so amazing!

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  9. Lovely swatches. I liked Tove and Ana the most.

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  10. Your swatches are absolutely stunning! I always want to wear top coat with everything but even a matte top coat takes away from the finish of most polishes thay aren't exclusively matte.

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    1. Thank you so much! I have the same topcoat impulse, lol, just like I always forget that I don't need base coat with textured polishes. Sometimes I will shine up a matte, on purpose though, for variety. :)

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  11. These are great swatches! I am still on the fence on these, but your review is swaying me a bit.

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    1. Thank you, I'm glad you liked them! Matte polishes are not everybody's thing, that's for sure. I have Zoya's Spring collection coming up shortly, maybe something there will call to you! :)

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  12. Beautiful swatches..I love this collection!

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  13. Have been seeing these polishes every where. They look great. Your swatches are perfect

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  14. I love all of these too! I am waiting for my samples to arrive..

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    1. Doesn't that make you itchy when you see swatches and don't have yours yet and are all ::gimme gimme!!:: Or maybe that's just me...lol ;-)

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  15. All of these colors look great with your skin tone! They are all so beautiful on you! Nice swatches!

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  16. Beautiful swatches! They all look great on you. What stamping plate did you use?

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    1. That was Bundle Monster 610. I will be reviewing three of the 600 series here shortly...:0

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  17. Great review Michelle! I like Leah the most.

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    1. Thank you so much!! I love the soft infusion of lavender in Leah. :)

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  18. I love your swatches! Good to know they can stamp well

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    1. Thanks so much! I love it when I get a two-fer out of a polish. I firmly believe all polishes should stamp well...::nods::

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  19. Ana and Tove are my faves! very pretty!

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    1. I love Sage, and I can't get enough of Ana. Tove is my next favorite. I do love them all...sigh...

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  20. I've heard so many mixed reviews on these, can't wait to swatch them for myself!!

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    1. Huhn, I should check that out. I know my samples were lovely...:)

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  21. These look so gorgeous against your skintone.

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  22. I love the finish on these! And Sage is darn near perfect (though I normally go for darker greens, there's just something about this dusty light tone). <3
    Oh, and your swatches are stunning!

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    1. Thank you so much!! I agree, there's just something about Sage...sigh...

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