Zoya Touch Review Redux

A few days ago, I reviewed Zoya Touch.  Unfortunately, I've been out of this for so long that my pictures were crappy and my review was a little half-assed.  As I was able to find my good camera, I figured I'd re-do my pics and the review, so here goes...

Save for the color, these polishes are identical, so I'm going to post pictures and color descriptions/color reviews first and then post my review of the application and finish.

Minka - warm yellowish tan.  When I first had this one on, I hated in on my hands.  Then, last night when I was swatching it for this redux post, I realized it wasn't so bad.  It almost reminds me of China Glaze Classic Camel, though it's lighter and doesn't have the same shimmer.  Like Classic Camel, it doesn't work with my skintone, but I did like it.  I think this color would look amazing on someone with a darker skintone (actually, all of these colors would probably work MUCH better on darker skin).

Pandora - Pinky Beige.  Again, I find myself really liking Pandora (though, I'm not sure I will wear it regularly... more on that below).  It just works with me.  This is the only one of the 3 that didn't give me red-hands.  

Shay - Silvery beige.  Shay is probably the most neutral of the 3, however, it's the one I liked the least.  The color just wasn't flattering on me.  I thought it made my hands look old.  Like Minka, thought, this one probably would work on a darker skintone or someone with more yellow in their skin.

This collection was a bit of an odd duck, especially for Zoya.  It was nice in concept, but there was something about it that just seemed off to me.  Even though they were similar in a lot of ways, each color was unique in the way that a display full of foundation colors is unique.  They all had subtle variants, but they were all, in essence, beige.  So it really is like foundation for your nails.  Normally, nail polish is more one-size-fits all.  However, these were not.  You would have to really know where you fit in terms of your skintone before you picked up one of these.  

Also, the formula wasn't typically Zoya.  I found it to be difficult to work with and it was easy to get application marks.  So, I had to go slow and use thin coats.  Because of this, it took 3 coats to reach opacity on these.

Additionally, I didn't really find myself a fan of the frosty finish.  In part, I think that is what aged my hands, in the pictures.  That's why I probably won't wear Pandora regularly, though it is a nice color.

All in all, I hate to say it, but I think this was a bit of a miss for Zoya.  I've heard Smoke and Mirrors is fantastic, though, so I think Touch was just a small misstep.  Again, the concept is cool, but the finish is what didn't work for these.  

These were sent to me for review.

Zoya Touch

Finally, I am able to start to review some of the polishes I received during the time I've been out of commission.  First up is Zoya Touch.  This collection has been out for a few months, and with Smoke and Mirrors just being released, you may no longer care, but I wanted to review them nonetheless.

Unfortunately, I had to use my backup camera, as my children have absconded with my better camera, so I didn't realize the pictures were sub-par until I'd already written the review.  My apologies.  Once I find my good camera, I will try to re-take them.

This is a small collection of only three colors, each one being a shimmery nude.

Minka - warm tan. 

Pandora - Pinky beige.

Shay - Silvery beige.

These were all identical in finish, though Shay had a bit more silver in the sheen, but and application (3 coats, a little streaky).  And unlike most other collections, this one that I wouldn't say you need them all.  In fact, you may just need one.  It's almost like foundation for your nails, and like foundation it's not a one-size-fits all.  Shay and especially Minka just didn't work for me, but Pandora was perfect.  It completed my pink skin and didn't give me red-hands.  If you are warmer, then you would probably love Minka.

These were sent to me for review.

Essie Resort Collection

These pics are a little old, as I had tons of stuff stored on my camera before all my free time seemed to slip away from me.

I had plans to pick up this entire collection from an e-tailer, but unfortunately, all the e-tailers raised their prices on Essie just before this collection was released, so I resorted to eBay, and picked up the mini set, rather than the full collection.  I figured it was more cost effective that way, as I'd probably never use up the minis, much less a full bottle.

Like the majority of the reviews I've read on this collection, my favorite was probably the one you'd least expect, but more on that in a minute... first the swatches.  As these pics are older, I honestly don't remember many thoughts on them, so I'll just show you the pics and then try my best to recap my thoughts at the end.

Playa del Platinum

Turquoise & Caicos

Splash of Grenadine

Lapis of Luxury

So my favorite of this collection, oddly enough, was Playa del Platinum.  It's a perfect putty color.  The most disappointing was Turquoise & Caicos.  I liked Lapis of Luxury and Splash of Grenadine well enough, but found the colors to be a little commonplace, especially in the case of SoG.  IIRC, the formula of these was iffy.  I think PdP was 3 coats, as was T&C, but SoG and LoL were 2 coats.  I think the best in terms of application was actually SoG. 

I like this collection okay, but I'm not sure if I'll be picking up any Essie collections in the future.  For some reason, I'm a little put off by the fact they sold out to L'Oreal.  I'm all for companies making money, but that just seems like U2 levels of selling out, IMO. 

KOTD: RBL Plie w/ Migi Black

The second picture is just the first one flipped over, so you can better see the design.

This is RBL Plie topped w/ Migi Nail Art Black.  The stamp is a fauxnad I picked up on eBay a few weeks ago.  I can look up the info if anyone is interested.

I think Plie is probably my perfect mannequin hands polish, but the entire "mannequin hands" trend kinda creeps me out, so I'm just going to say it's a great nude for me.  Also, I'd mentioned a few times that I'd been having bad luck with RBLs, but I think I found a TC that works with RBL (for me).  It's Sally Hansen Insta-Dri.  It's works so well, and my nails were dry within minutes.  I don't know what took me so long to try Insta-Dri.  I guess it was just my NP snobbery kicking in.

NOTD: OPI Tickle My France-y

This is one of the colors I got when I decided I needed more work-safe colors.  Turns out, I didn't actually need the work-safe colors, as Tim was the first one to get a job, but I find it's still a good thing to have more neutral colors in my stash.

TMF is a perfect nude for me.  It has a perfect combo of pink, taupe, grey and nude.  I was a little wary of using OPI's handles and brushes with my shorties, but I need not be worried.  They were actually easier to use than some of my shorthandled brushes.  This is 2 coats, and it probably could have used a third, as I have faint VLNs, but they don't really bother me.

Again, this isn't really my kind of color, but I really like this one.  I have to go to a funeral today (Tim's grandmother passed away on Friday) and I'm glad I had this in my collection for this kind of occasion.  Most of my colors would have gotten the wrong kind of attention.

TMF is from OPI's F/W 2008 France collection.  It's still in the regular line up, however, and you can get it at TD, BS, or on eBay.