Zoya Paradise Sun, Summer 2015

Hi there!  It's Monday, boo.  Are your kids (or you) back in school yet?  Mine start Wednesday and they are very excited.  I am excited for them too!  But the Summer was so much fun I will miss having those little buggers home every day.  With school starting it feels like Summer is gone even thought the weather seems to have a different idea (hai 90+ scorching heat for the last few days!).  You know that means I have Fall polish to share and I am super excited to delve into that pile.  BUT I still have Summer polish queued up and ready to go so hang in there with me while I plow through these last few posts and then I promise I will have Fall polish up on my blog!  Today I have the Zoya Paradise Sun collection.  This is a 6 piece set of fun shimmers!  Honestly I am thankful that there aren't any neons in here and several of the shades can transition into the Fall!  The Paradise Sun collection is available on the site now and they are $9 each.  So are you ready jump in and see the Paradise Sun collection?  I am!  
*press sample*
Zoya: Shop, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
Genesis is a "crystalline white with a micronized metallic pearl finish."  I love that Zoya put a white in their Summer collection.   It's so fresh and so clean!  I did find the formula a bit streaky and chalky.  It took me 3 coats to even it all out and get full coverage.  But that won't deter me from using this lovely shimmer white again.  I finished with 1 layer of topcoat.  

 

Aphrodite is one of my favorites in the Paradise Sun collection - of course.  I love reds.  Aphrodite is described as a "vibrant summer red with micronized pearl metallic finish and multi-hued flash."  Didn't even notice the multi-hues until I saw my macro!  Hullo pretty!  I can easily see Aphrodite being worn in the next few months.  I found the formula to be almost a jelly finish but it covered great.  I used 2 coats and 1 layer of topcoat to finish.  

Selene is a "true teal with a micronized metallic pearl finish."  This is another fantastic color that is multi-seasonal.  It's kind of jungle-y and tropical which ties in perfectly to the popular palm print that we saw this Summer.  The formula and application were both great.  I used 2 coats and 1 layer of topcoat.  

Oceane is a "true turquoise with a micronized metallic pearl finish ."  This is another really lovely color and it reminds of of vacation.  Looking out over shimmery, sparkling water.  WAH, I'm gonna miss you Summer!  The formula and application were both nice.  The only issue I would mention is that Oceane is a possible stainer.  So use a great base coat, or a peel off base coat.  I used 2 coats and 1 layer of topcoat.  

Mae is the most "Summer-y" borderline neon color of the bunch.  But as I said, I appreciated that Zoya went out of the box and didn't do neons like everyone else.  That's what made this collection unique and fun.  But back to Mae!  Mae is a "warm magenta pink with a micronized metallic pearl finish."  I loved the color and had zero complaints about the formula or application.  I used 2 coats and 1 layer of topcoat.  *apologies for no macro, I swore I took one but I can't find it anywhere!*

And finally there is Isa.  Isa is a "deep blue-based purple with a micronized metallic pearl finish."  There are some pretty colors at play in this polish, you will see them best once you get to the macro!  I loved the color of Isa, unique and pretty.  The deep shade will be easy to pull off in the upcoming months as well.  I used 2 coats of Isa and 1 layer of topcoat.  

Nail Hoot The Beginning Collection

Good evening!  Sorry for the very late post!  And this one is picture heavy so get your nighttime cup of decaf or tea and settle in for the long haul.  Tonight's post features a new indie brand, Nail Hoot.  I've been in contact with the maker, Brandie, and she is extremely nice.  Nail Hoot started in March this year and there is currently 1 collection released.  The Beginning is a lovely collection full of shimmer and holo sparkle and color shifting.  I know plenty of nail gals who will enjoy all of those elements of the line.  You can also wear most of them over a black or white base for a completely different look....so it's like 2 polishes in 1!  Sweet!  You can purchase any of the polishes from The Beginning Collection, in full size or mini bottles, individually, small sets or the entire collection.  The prices range from $6.25 to $30 for the 5 piece set.  If The Beginning is a small glimpse into the polish Brandie has in store for us then paint me excited!  And now, no more talking.  Let's check this polish brand out!

*press sample*

Nail Hoot Lacquers: Shop, Facebook, Instagram

Up first I have Exodus.  This is an apple green, shimmery polish.  You can wear it alone as I did in these first pictures, or layered over white which I also did in later pictures.  I enjoyed it both ways but like the ethereal, glowing effect Exodus took on layered over white.  On it's own you can see that Exodus has a bit of a color shift due to the golden shimmer.  I found the formula a bit crelly-ish.  It was easy to apply and built up nicely on it's own.  Here I have 4 coats with no base color and a layer of topcoat.  

*direct sunlight*

*Exodus alone*

*shade*

*indirect natural light*

*direct sunlight*

*Exodus layered over white*

Numbers is a lovely pink-coral full of blueish shimmer.  This is another color that can be worn alone or over a base color.  Both ways are really pretty but I prefer Numbers on it's own.  The formula and application were both great, Numbers built up well on it's own and I reached full coverage in 3 coats. I finished with a layer of topcoat.  

*direct sunlight*

*Numbers alone*

*indirect natural light*

*direct sunlight*

*Numbers over white base*

 *shade*

*Numbers over white base*

Leviticus is a smoldering metallic orange full of tiny silver micro glitters.  Leviticus shifts from red to copper to orange.  Love this color!  It has so much character with the color shift and surprisingly looks even more amazing over white.  For the first pictures I have 2 coats of Leviticus on it's own.  It has a good formula and applies easily.  It does dry with a very slightly gritty feel but a good topcoat will smooth that out.

*direct sunlight*

*Leviticus alone*

*indirect natural light*

 *direct sunlight*

*Leviticus over white base*

Deuteronomy is a purple/blue shifting metallic type polish with blue micro glitters.  The colors in Deuteronomy are gorgeous.  I know there will be some clamoring for this polish as there are so many purple lovers out there.  The formula was great.  Creamy and opaque.  I only needed 2 coats of Deuteronomy for full coverage.  This one also has a slightly gritty look finish but a good layer of topcoat will smooth it over nicely.  I finished with a layer of topcoat.  

*direct sunlight*

*Deuteronomy alone*

*indirect natural light*

And finally there is Genesis.  Actually in the start there was Genesis as this was the first polish Brandie created for Nail Hoot.  It's pretty amazing too!  The difference between Genesis on it's own and over a black base has me looking at 2 completely different polishes!  Genesis is a beautiful blue, teal, purple, green polish full of silvery holo micro glitters.  It was actually more sheer that the other 2 color shifting metallic shades but I had no issues building it up.  My first pictures are Genesis alone, and the pictures in the end are over black.  Formula and application were fabulous.  As with the other 2, use a nice topcoat to cover any glitter grit.  

*direct sunlight*

*Genesis alone*

*indirect natural light*

*direct sunlight*

*Genesis over black base*

 *shade*

*Genesis over black base*

 *indirect natural light*

*Genesis over black base*