Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Zoya Downtown Collection

This was my first Zoya purchase, and I've been hooked ever since. It's still my favorite Zoya collection, and for good reason. Just look at these fantastic colors! I don't think there's a weak point at all in the collection. I've worn every single one of these colors enough to make a big dent in the bottles, and that's saying something.



Freja. A lovely shimmering charcoal. This is one of those polishes I would have bought just for the name, but the color was so beautiful I didn't have to!


Indigo. A deep, dark midnight blue with just a hint of multicolored glitter. I wish there was more glitter in this one, but it's still beautiful.


Kotori. A very sparkly blue shimmer on a blackish base. It takes three coats to achieve bottle color, but it's worth it. This color is slightly washed out, but it's the best way to show the shimmer. It's a little bit darker in real life.


Lael. The only creme in the collection. Such a wonderful color. Purple creme! There aren't very many purple cremes, but there need to be more. Purple cremes rock.


Rea. Metallic, shimmery, silvery purple. A little bit of a chameleon, it changes from more purple to more silver depending on the lighting.



Suvi. This is a must-have color. A semi-sheer blackened forest green. It takes three coats to achieve bottle color. I can't think of many (if any) dupes for this color.

Every color in this collection is perfect. Application is great, no thick formulas, no messed up brushes, no bubbling. Just pure, dark sparkly awesomeness.

24 comments:

  1. They look gorgeous on you. This was not a collection for me...

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  2. I swear to Bob, you just have the most beautiful nails. You make me lemming colors I know I would never wear in a million years but they just look so fantastic on your perfectly shaped nails. sigh.
    Thanks for sharing. I totally agree about purple cremes, just not enough of them. Lael is just stunning.

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  3. My kitten is named Freja, so ofcourse I have that one :D

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  4. I love, love, love the colors in this collection! It was part of my first Zoya order two months ago and I just recently found time to see how they looked on me.

    Do you have suggestions of base/top coat combos for Zoya colors? I know you had the bubbles with the Color Lock Sys... and I think I'm getting shrinkage from SV. :(

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  5. These are gorgeous, they remind me of this years fall collections from Misa & CC. I try not to lem Zoya's though, they're too expensive to get over here :-)

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  6. Indigo is one of the best blues ever.

    I've never been interested in Lael, but it looks stunning on you! Do you know any dupes? Orly Plum Noir/Perfectly Plum, may be?

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  7. why the hell looks indigo so stunning in direct sunlight? i am sad about that - i am one of this "nightshade-plants" and it doesnt look half as beautyfull in artifical light *whining* *g*

    need to get my hands on Suvi too!

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  8. They're all gorgeous!
    I love Suvi! It's very very close to Nfu-Oh #123. I don't think a "non nail polish fanatic" would see the differens between them. But I AM a nail polish fanatic so I can see the differens;)

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  9. Wow I have been trying to justify Suvi for a while :) This might just be it! Kotori is amazing too, and I have a thing for purple cremes so might have to get Lael too :) Just out of curiosity, how does Suvi compare to Gussied Up Green?

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  10. Thanks for posting these Scrangie...I think this was an indirect request from me :). I bought these this summer, but I have been saving them for the fall. I am so looking forward to wearing them!

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  11. Gorgeous swatches as usual! I can't wait to try out Kotori and Suvi!

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  12. Diann_co, ah, I understand! At least you are able to enjoy the colors without having to wear them :D Thank you!

    Angel, awwww thank you!! :D Lael is fantastic :)

    Emelie, how cute!!! :D

    Fauxfun, I did have problems with Color Lock. I've been using Qtica's Natural Nail Growth Stimulator as basecoat with everything lately and I really like it. Have you perhaps tried Orly Bonder as a basecoat with Zoya? I used to use Bonder quite often and I liked it! And if you're getting a lot of shrinkage with your SV, it usually helps if I do a really, really thin coat- I usually have to thin the bottle before I can do that, though.

    Carla G, aww, at least there are some pretty good matches from China Glaze and other brands that are easier to find :D

    Masa_inn, hmmm, good question! I've had those Orlys recommended to me so often that I actually just ordered them... when I get them I'll see how close they are! From the pics they seem pretty similar. Misa Violetta seems close, but it's discontinued :(

    Aeryss, awww I feel the same way! But Suvi is much better, you will really like it! :D

    Sanna, I am so happy you're a nail polish fanatic :D I will definitely have to check out that Nfu, I've been planning another order but I can't decide what to get!! :)

    Lina-Elvira, Suvi is lighter, but I 'm going to do a side-by-side comparison to be sure :D Suvi is soooo pretty!

    Melli, thanks! I am still working on your request for a comparison, but it's been so overcast and I want to get really good sparkly sunlight pics :D

    Karman, thank you!! Kotori and Suvi are really fascinating, so sparkly and bright but dark at the same time from the black base!

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  13. You're so right about there not being enough purple cremes. I've been on the lookout for one for AGES and could never find a deep purple creme. One a little darker than Lael would be perfect.. Please pretty please do a post on purple cremes one day! :)

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  14. Sara, that is a great idea! I looooove purples and cremes especially :D

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  15. I've shied away from Bonder, fearing it'll turn my nails yellow. And I have been putting off thinning SV only because I've never done it before. I'll break out my Restore and test everything together. Thank you!

    (Last night I used Poshe's base and top with Zoya color... I don't *think* it shrunk...)

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  16. Fauxfun, I've heard that about bonder, but my nails are usually a bit yellow so I've never noticed, lol XD And THIN THAT SUCKER! LOL! I always fall in love with my Seche all over again after I thin it. Nothing like it in the world... *dreamy sigh* lol

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  17. Scrangie, thanks again for thinking of me with the comparison. It has been overcast a lot here in Toronto this summer, so I know what you mean. Your pictures are worth the wait, so no hurry!

    I just received the Rodeo Diva polishes in the mail today, and it looks like they have more depth of colour than the Downtown collection, which I also own and love. Gussied Up Green looks more blackened bluish-green than Suvi. Rodeo Diva looks different than Kotori, which has a metallic foil quality while RD looks like a dark turquoise blue with deeper blue lowlights. I also ordered Wagon Trail which I agree is extremely unique. So no dupes with these ones IMO.

    I am off of the polish purchases for now after a major binge, but I am sure the lemmings will be born after more of your swatches!

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  18. Melli, thanks for understanding! I'm so picky about getting a good shot, cloudy skies and indoor lighting just don't cut it when it comes to shimmers!
    You're right about the Rodeo Divas, there's a lot more shimmery depth to them, but I can definitely see similarities!

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  19. scrangie do you have any of the toma mood changers tooo??? they have some beautiful ones tooo im just not sure about all these mood polishes ... cant wait for the swatches :D..thanks
    Danielle

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  20. Hey Danielle! :D I think I have one or two of the Toma Mood ones, I'll have to look! I have a few of the China Glaze and I'm getting some more Nubars :D

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  21. im so excited ! thanks so much....
    Danielle

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  22. im so excited ! thanks so much....
    Danielle

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  23. that purple creme is fab. as is freja. pretty darn gorgeous for this season. must have must have.

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  24. Deepo, aren't they great? I really love them, you should definitely give them a try!

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