Hey everybody! Welcome to Friday!
First, thanks to everyone who expressed concern for Ham! He's doing great at the moment, and I don't think he even knows he had surgery. He's in a for the time being, and has even less spacial awareness than normal, which is pretty funny. We're just waiting for biopsy results, and I'll keep you updated! <3
Anyway, today I am very, very excited to be able to share the six MatteVelvet polishes that Zoya has re-released! I'm a big fan of matte nails, and I've loved these polishes from afar and in person for a long time. Let's take a look!
Oh yes, and because these shades have shimmer in them, they are all different and beautiful when top coated, so I decided to show them with partial glossy areas!
First, here is the darkest in the set, Zoya- Dovima:
Dovima is a deeper charcoal grey matte with rainbow microshimmer.
Artificial light, three coats:
I did kinda bump my middle nails before this was completely dry in a haste to take photos- sorry! (Just didn't want you to think that was an application issue. Nope, just me being clumsy.)
Window-filtered daylight:
This color makes me feel like a badass! I typically stay away from true blacks, but I think pale-skinned people can pull this one off!
Outside, shade:
Sun:
When you get this in the sun, especially if it is worn glossy, the shimmer is just beautiful. Subtle rainbows!
Formula: It is on the sheerer side, and the consistency is also a bit thin, so it can pool at the sides of your brushstrokes. Dries down quickly, though, and the second coat goes on in a creamy way, and is, for the most part, opaque. I had some minor thin areas at the cuticle that weren't the result of dragging or anything like that- just the sheerness. So, in the end I used three coats (1 thinner + two thicker).
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Next, the lighter grey, Zoya- Loredana, which is a medium gunmetal grey (or dark silver) that looks a lot like steel on the nail. (I did have a hand-holding-bottle-up shot, but couldn't tell you where it disappeared to!)
Artificial light, two coats:
Window-filtered daylight:
Outside, shade:
I don't think this one looks particularly unique in photos, but I don't have another silver quite like it, and really enjoyed wearing it!
Formula: It is on the sheerer side, but goes on really smoothly and the viscosity is nice, so I'll take it. It's no secret that a lot of matte formulas suffer from dragging problems and other issues, so I was totally surprised when this went on almost effortlessly. Opaque in two coats!
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Next, Zoya- Veruschka:
Veruschka is a matte forest green with shimmer. I think many people would consider this a cooler-toned green.
Artificial light, two coats:
Window-filtered daylight:
Outside, shade:
This is a really gorgeous and luxe green, guys!
Formula: It has a medium viscosity that paints over the nail easily. The first coat is a bit sheer/ streaky, but the second is fully opaque! Very easy to apply!
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The purple, Zoya- Savita:
Savita is a cool-toned purple matte with fuchsia microshimmer.
This one is insanely stunning with top coat, and that would be how I'd choose to wear it as a full manicure. (Pictures do not do it justice.)
Artificial light, two coats:
Window-filtered daylight:
Outside, shade:
Formula: It has about the same consistency and level of pigmentation as Dovima (maybe slightly more pigmented?), but goes on so smoothly and is opaque in two coats!
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Here is the warm-toned purple/pink, Zoya- Harlow:
Harlow is warm-toned purple which Zoya describes as a "rose plum." It contains very prominent silver shimmer, which is a bit chunkier than the shimmer that is in the others.
Artificial light, two coats:
Window-filtered daylight:
Outside, shade:
Formula: This one is slightly thicker than most of the others (a good thing, IMO), and is also a little more pigmented, perhaps due to the density and size of the silver shimmer. It applies really nicely, and dries down quickly like the others. Opaque in two easy coats!
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Last, here is the red, Zoya- Posh:
Posh is a cool-toned wine red matte with lighter red (fuchsia?) microshimmer.
Artificial light, two coats:
I did find that this dries slightly darker than its liquid color.
Window-filtered daylight:
Outside, shade:
Formula: Like Harlow, it's a little thicker than the others, and is probably the most pigmented and opaque here. I had nearly opaque coverage in one coat, and just needed the second layer to make sure there were no thinner areas. Paints on well with no dragging or other issues!
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Overall: It's nice to see these mattes re-released all together! Last November, Zoya did re-release a trio (Veruschka, Posh, & Savita), which you can see here, and I remember being disappointed that Harlow wasn't in the set! So, while that's a bit of a strange marketing strategy, I'm really glad they brought the entire set back. (Maybe they'll re-release the Summer Mod Mattes too?)
I think the quality of these polishes is fantastic, especially for matte formulas. They are all rich and pigmented, and I encountered no application issues, which is usually something par for the course with mattes. I think the inclusion of the shimmer really aids application, probably. The other thing is that the finish is fairly unique. These are not ultra matte- more like satin matte, since they do contain shimmers. I really like that! It adds versatility: nearly all of them are more gorgeous with top coat!
Like any mattes, they don't wear as long sans-top coat as normal polishes, but they do pretty well, considering! I wore Harlow for over two days and had really minimal wear, which I think is excellent. This type of finish will absorb natural oils, and, especially if you moisturize your hands, become gradually less matte during wear.
I like these quite a lot, and Harlow and Savita are my favorites, color-wise!
What do you think?
Are you guys into this finish?
*Disclosure: polishes in this post were provided to me as press samples for honest review, and all opinions are my own.
Great swatches on these! I like the half half on the nails.
ReplyLoved the matte polishes..zoya harlow is damn pretty!
ReplyAwesome writeup and excellent job capturing those rainbow shimmers in Dovima! I'm sorry Ham's not in the best of health :'( Poor dude, in his cone of shame, probs all running into things... Does he know/care?
ReplyHope Ham feels better. Love the accent nails you did with these. :)
ReplyThank you!
ReplyHaha, he IS running into things, but he doesn't care at all in typical spaz fashion!
ReplyIt is! I'm pretty sure it's my favorite here!
ReplyThanks Lisa! :D
Reply