Orly bottles used to look like that?

Hello All!

First off, I had wanted to do a little test with the Zoya polishes that I have been loving for the last couple of months.  I have always had soft, brittle nails that often broke and split like nobody's business. So I decided to put Zoya Valerie to the test (which I still less than three with all my might).  After swatching it, I wore it as my mani...with no base or top coat to see if it would effect the chipping.  Now, I've tried every freaking combo with base and top coat, but I'm super rough on my nails, so they chip.  They chip a lot! So I just wanted to see how it would stand up to wear and tear without any help.

Well it did great!  Check it out:
There was very little tip wear and only a couple of chips.  And I've been wearing it for 4 days!  That might not seem like a lot, but with me it is.  I have to say this is the longest mani I've had in months, so many pretties to try...




Anyways, on to the swatching!

I decided to pullout some of my oldies that I haven't used in like forever.  Or 14 years, if my research is correct.  Quickly looking online, Orly came out with a matte collection around 1997ish, and I have three of them.  I think Orly may have been one of the first to do so, and I remember thinking it was the coolest idea ever!

Orly Satin Gala

 

 

Satin Gala is a dark burgundy matte that has a red shimmer to it.  It is quite lovely.  I used 2 coats and my index finger has a top coat on it.  I must say, that it was quite shiny without the top coat, but man does it sparkle with it! As like any other matte, it dried very quickly and for being 14 yrs old the formula was freaking awesome if a little thin. 

Orly Satin Illusion 

Satin Illusion is a heart breaker!  It is a nearly opaque periwinkle with a strong olive shimmer/matte.  It rocks my socks off!  Again this is 2 coats with topcoat on my index finger.  It is so gorgeous!  There is almost a golden undertone to the olive matteness of it and I need to wear this more often.  It deserves to be taken out and shown a good time!

 

 

 

 

 

Orly Satin Patina

Wow, an awesome peridot matte. Even in the matte you can see the phenomenal mossy shimmer it has.  This has the least distinction between the matte and the topcoat finish (index finger again).


Well, my pics are slowly getting better.  I have very few windows in my apartment and even fewer lamps, so lighting is a definite issue for me, and as you can tell, my camera does not like to focus up close.  Sigh.  I will keep practicing, but these colors were amazing.  I totally forgot I had them, and now I want to take them out to play.  I have more  old vintage Orlys that I will be putting up later this week.  The pictures are better, I swear!!!

Thanks and have a good one!

Luci

Luci learns to use her camera..

Hello there!

Well, I'm trying to learn how to use my camera to take non-fuzzy in focus swatches, but right now I may be asking for too much.

So, I, like thousands others, took advantage of Zoya's Facebook 3 free promotion.  I just have to shout out to Zoya, how awesome that they did that!  I was already a fan prior to the giveaway, but now I'm obsessively checking their website and adding to my bag for my next purchase!  As someone who has an extensive retail background, I want to congratulate the Zoya marketing team for their evil, evil ploy.  Nicely done.  I and many others will be back.

My current Zoya Collection:

Top row left to right:   Cheryl, Valeria, Ki, Edyta, Irene, Shawn, Envy, Suvi, Veruschka
Bottom row left to right: Akyra, Charla, Ibiza, Indigo, Julieanne, Pinta, Kelly

Gee, can you guess what colors I like?

So, I'm still working on the execution of the photo swatches...so please be gentle!

Zoya Cheryl

Cheryl came out  Fall of 2010 as part of the Wicked and Wonderful collection.  Little side note, totally squealed when I realized that all of the colors were named after either Dancing With The Stars judges/professionals or winners.  I am such a geek.

Cheryl was fully opaque in two coats, and this photo has no base or top coat.  Cheryl is a beautiful rich brown shimmer that is just amazing.  Honestly, brown is one of my least favorite colors, but this is freaking gorgeous.  It can almost make me change my mind about brown.  Almost.  This is an exception.  Formula was great, and I will say this more than once, but Zoya has ruined me with their awesome opacity. 

Zoya Valerie

 

Valerie is part of the Flame Collection, which came out winter of 2010.  I cannot even begin to say enough about this color!  This is by far my favorite Zoya color.  I'm gonna guess for all eternity.  But I'm a dragon and easily distracted so that statement may change.

Again the opacity was great with two coats.  It's a magenta-y/purple with a shimmer and it is just gorgeous.  There's a golden duochrome in the bottle that doesn't really come out on the nail, but I don't care.  It is just awesome.  This is in the same collection as Sarah, and that is in my next order.  I'm hoping it becomes my favorite red EVAH!

Thanks and have a good one!
Luci