Zoya Nail Polish in Mia Review, Photos, Swatches

Zoya Nail Polish describes their Mia shade as a "very soft, muted dusty nude mauve-pink in a glossy creme finish. A gentle, natural charming shade for a flattering nude look." I have been searching high and low for a feminine pink that is not too nude while appropriate for all occasions, and I have found it in Mia. This polished pink looks fabulous from all angles at any time of the day, though it does pull warmer to a rosy-mauve when indoors without artificial light (see photo above & please excuse the healing wound on my hand). On the other hands, Mia appears to be more of a neutral pink with a slightly dusty cast in full sunlight or bright fluorescent lighting (see photo below).

I find that Zoya's Mia is extremely flattering on my medium-tanned hands. I was hesitant that it would look too pale or apply too sheerly, but it is perfect in every regard. I rarely wear sunscreen on my hands and arms -- I know, for shame -- so I was surprised that Mia did not turn ashy against my skin tone. Dusty mauve polishes tend to cast a grey tint to my warm undertones. This is, by far, the best performing Zoya that I have encountered, and I am sure you can tell from this glowing review. Not only do I love the easy application, this creme finish has a hint of translucency (aka no chalkiness) that yields incredibly smooth and shiny color in just two coats. I have worn it for several days with barely a sign of tip wear. No wonder Zoya released Mia in their Classics collection!

NOTE: I always use a base coat (either Butter London's Nail Foundation or Essie's All in One), and more importantly, I always finish my nails with Butter London's Hardware Top Coat for an extremely chip-resistant and extra glossy finish. I realize some do not prefer the high gloss look, but it makes my very narrow nail beds look more feminine.

Bottom Line: Mia has given me hope that I will find more Zoya colors to love, and I highly recommend it to those who have been looking for an affordable, sophisticated pink that is not stiff or totally uninteresting.

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Dior Summer 2013 Bird of Paradise Nail Lacquer Duo in 001 Samba Review, Photos, Swatches, Nail Wheels, Comparisons

The Dior Bird of Paradise collection for Summer 2013 recently arrived at all Dior counters in the United States. The Nail Lacquer Duo in Samba 001 was the first to catch my eye, naturally, and it is the only item from the Dior collection I have purchased thus far. I passed on the Bahia duo as it is more in line with the permanent range of Dior polishes. Just as with my Chanel Azure nail polish review, this post will be just as much a feature of this nail polish duo as it will be a comparison of the shades. There are similar colors on the market currently, so many of you have asked me if splurging on this duo was worth it. See my thoughts after the jump!