Today I have half of Zoya's Spring 2013 Lovely collection to show you.
First up is Zoya- Julie:
Julie is a very pretty pastel lavender-purple color with subtle silver sheen.
Artificial light, two coats:
Outside, shade:
Formula: I own a lot of Zoyas at this point, (over 50), and Julie has one of my least favorite formulas I have encountered from them, and I'm not really that picky. It's thick and viscous, and sort of gloopy, to be honest. Yet, even though it's a thick formula, it is still not that saturated after two coats. (You may have noticed slight VNL in my swatches.)
This one is definitely getting some thinner next time I attempt to use it, and will then probably require three coats for coverage. Boo!
--
Next is Zoya- Gei Gei, (or Gie Gie as it says on the bottle):
I can't believe Zoya let a printing label spelling error slip by to the final release!
Anyway, Gei Gei is a pastel baby pink with the same subtle silver sheen that Julie has. I was going to pass on this one, as I'm not much of a soft-pink person, but in the end it won me over, and I don't know why, but I really love this color.
Artificial light, three coats:
Outside, shade:
It's just the perfect girly pink. Almost Bubble-gummy! I don't know why I like this!
Sun:
I also wanted to show Gei Gei worn as a sheer with just one coat, as well. I thought it was oddly pretty this way, and was tempted to stop there, except I had to swatch her for you!
Just one sheer coat on the middle two fingers:
3 coats on Index & Pinky, 1 coat on Middle and Ring fingers.
Formula: Unfortunately, this suffers from the same problems as Julie: thick and gloopy but under-saturated, so that you need many coats for coverage. There is still a lot of visible nail line after three gummy coats. Also prone to bubbling. Yuck. Totally needs thinner- disappointing!
--
Next up is Zoya- Blu (Is that really a woman's name?):
Blu is a really, really lovely haha get it? lightest baby blue, with no hint of green tinge. Just pure blue creme.
Artificial light, two coats:
I knew I was going to really like this one. I somehow didn't own a blue cream this light and delicate until now. I wonder how close it is to Essie- Borrowed And Blue. (I don't own that one to compare.)
Window-filtered daylight:
Outside, shade:
Sun:
It seems to look pretty much the same in all types of lighting- not a chameleon at all.
Formula: Blu has a much, much better formula than the other two I tried. It's opaque in two coats, not chalky, and doesn't cuticle drag, which is really all I can ask for in a light pastel blue. This one is a winner!
--
So there you have it!
I was sort of surprised how disappointing Gei Gei and Julie's formulas were. I have come to expect nothing but the best from Zoya. Huh. I do love the colors though, more than I thought I would after just seeing swatches. I will have to see if those two improve with the addition of thinner, or perhaps layered over other colors.
I LOVE the Blu! I had almost the same color but I ran out.. Need.. more.. polish.
ReplyAlways need more polish!
::sigh:: These are just SO pretty! I just adore Blu....
ReplyI'm right there with you- it's a great light blue!
zoya julie is so lovely<3
ReplyIt is...I'm thinking I will try to layer it over another lavender next time...
Hmmm, love love the blu one. I was thinking of getting Julie, but now I think I'll pass since you mentioned the formula, plus I have a few lavenders that I really like. Awesome post!!
ReplyThank you! Yea, boo on the formulas- oh well! :)