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Showing posts with label mushroom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mushroom. Show all posts

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Comparison Request: Zoya Normani vs Zoya Jana

Nothing to Disclose
*These products are Cruelty-Free




Several people asked how close Zoya Normani was to Zoya Jana before I ever swatched the new Zoya Naturel Collection and I've gotten several requests just since last night so here's a quick comparison for you!




Jana is just ever-so-slightly lighter than Normani and then only in really strong lighting. As I've mentioned several times, Jana is one of my top 3 favorite Zoya polishes of all time and I'm on my 3rd bottle of it. So it's no wonder I loved Normani. The formulas are the same, the application is the same and as you can see, the colors are *almost* the same.

But I'm not fussed about it because it's a shade I love.

Do you need both? No.

Even I wouldn't need both and you know if there's much difference at ALL, I want both. LOL!




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Thursday, August 30, 2012

Models Own Mushroom - Swatches and Review

Good morning! Today I have an old standby for you. Models Own Mushroom. There are so many new collections for Fall coming out right now as well as wonderful indie polishes that it seems I've been overlooking some of the staples lately. I consider this one a staple. It's not flashy or blingy and it doesn't have a catchy name. But it's certainly worth a look.

Mushroom is just that...a great mushroom creme. It's a nice medium-to-dark greyed out taupe with slight purple undertones. Application was perfection - "like butta." Two coats for full opacity. It dries to a shiny finish - shown in the photos with no top coat. Of course, to keep that shine going I applied a coat of Poshe later.


Models Own Mushroom

Models Own Mushroom

Models Own Mushroom


Models Own Mushroom

Models Own Mushroom
Models Own Mushroom


What do you think of this one? I think it's a great "palate-cleanser" after a glitterbomb. Or just a chic, classic, go-anywhere color. I am so glad I gave Models Own another shot. I'd first tried the Models Own Pro line, which was scented and caused nausea and headaches. It took me a while to try their regular line and thankfully, it's not scented. It just smells like nail polish.

Models Own polishes are available on their UK website, Ninja Polish,  Harlow & Company and a few other US e-tailers and retail for around $8.00 here in the US.



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Friday, August 17, 2012

Nails Inc. Porchester Square with Warwick Street Special Effects!

Most of you know how I love my Nails Inc. so I never go for long without wearing it. Today I have Porchester Square and Warwick Street Special Effects.

Porchester Square is a great light muted mushroom creme with just an everso slight hint of a rosy undertone. Application was smooth and creamy and perfectly opaque in two easy coats. Some lighting brings out the grey and some brings out the taupe. LOVE!


Nails Inc. Porchester Square

Nails Inc. Porchester Square

Nails Inc. Porchester Square

Nails Inc. Porchester Square

Later, I layered on Warwick Street Special Effects. It can be worn on it's own (I estimate about 3 coats for 100% opacity if worn alone) but I almost always layer. Everything. Warwick Street is a milky cream base with small red, fuchsia, green, blue, silver and gold glitter pieces. Formula was perfect. Application was easy and quick. The glitter pieces suspend nicely in the base and you could go without a top coat and still have a smooth finish. I did use one coat of Poshe for the photos though. Loved it.


Nails Inc. Warwick Street Special Effects (over Porchester Square)

Nails Inc. Warwick Street Special Effects (over Porchester Square)

Nails Inc. Warwick Street Special Effects (over Porchester Square)

Nails Inc. Warwick Street Special Effects (over Porchester Square)

Nails Inc. Warwick Street Special Effects (over Porchester Square)

Nails Inc. Warwick Street Special Effects (over Porchester Square)

What do you think of these two?

Nails Inc. polishes are available in limited colors in the US at Sephora.com and a few other e-tailers. Unfortunately, the NailsInc.com site in the UK doesn't ship to the US...yet. Thankfully I have a few friends in the UK. =)

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Sunday, July 15, 2012

Sinful Colors Nirvana vs Matte Nirvana

Sinful Colors' new Start a Phenomenon Collection includes one called "Matte Nirvana" and since I already have Nirvana, I thought I'd compare the two. And a MATTE polish from Sinful? YAY!

However...

Here's what I discovered:


Sinful Colors Matte Nirvana vs Nirvana

Sinful Colors Matte Nirvana vs Nirvana

Sinful Colors Matte Nirvana vs Nirvana

Sinful Colors Matte Nirvana vs Nirvana

So, as you can see, IT'S NOT MATTE!  Bummer. I used two coats and no top coat for the swatches. The good news, however, is they are not the same color. The "Matte Nirvana" is lighter with less purple undertones than Nirvana. Which means I'm glad to have both (even though I'm upset that it's not matte) AND this is now the closest color I have to Chanel Particuliere. I have lots of others that are close but the new Matte Nirvana is now the closest...it's *almost" a dupe. Iwouldsayitisthisclose.

The formula is great and the shine, as you can see is fantastic, even without a top coat. Which is ironic, don't you think?

What do you think? Will you get both or are they "close enough?"

Sinful Colors can be purchased at Walgreens and they're now popping up in a few more places since Revlon bought them out - for around $1.99 retail.

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Sunday, June 24, 2012

Nails Inc. Holland Park Avenue and a Mushroom Comparison Mani

Hi everyone! ♥ I missed posting yesterday. I got into a fight with my mailbox. It sort of fell to rusty pieces and we can't have a broken mailbox! How would I get more nail mail? I had Nails Inc. Holland Park Avenue to show you, but after the fight, the locked up rusted screws, the spray stuff I used to try and loosen the screws, the subsequent sawing off of the screw heads, etc. my hands, and especially my cuticles are a little worse for wear. Actually that spray stuff really did a number on all the skin on my hands!

So...I debated even showing you this one. But hey, life happens to all of us and perfect manis/cuticles aren't always possible. So I'm showing you!

Nails Inc. Holland Park Avenue (not to be confused with Holland Park Neon or Holland Park Road) is a creamy, taupy mushroom brown/grey. I never know exactly what to call these types of colors but they're one of my favorites. The application was a dream and it was opaque in two coats. These photos are with 2 coats of color and one coat of Poshe. The first 3 photos are before and the rest are AFTER the tussle with the mailbox. The polish held up WAY better than my skin.


Nails Inc. Holland Park Avenue

Nails Inc. Holland Park Avenue

Nails Inc. Holland Park Avenue

Nails Inc. Holland Park Avenue

Nails Inc. Holland Park Avenue

Nails Inc. Holland Park Avenue


Of course I had to pull out a few polishes for comparison!  I grabbed:
China Glaze Below Deck (pinky) ($3-$8)
Chanel Particuliere (ring) ($26)
Zoya Jana (index) ($8)
Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Commander in Chic (thumb) ($4-$8) (NOT Cruelty-Free)

I kept Nails Inc. Holland Park Avenue on the middle finger. ($9-$14)


Taupe/Mushroom Comparison


As you will see, Below Deck has more purple undertones. Particuliere has more brown and less grey or purple. Jana has more grey undertones and Commander in Chic seems to have more purple, less than Below Deck, though.  To MY eye, Nails Inc. Holland Park Avenue falls squarely between Zoya Jana and Chanel Particuliere. SH and ChG are comparable and Chanel just isn't the same color at all. Quick and dirty - two coats, no base or top coat and no clean up.


Taupe/Mushroom Comparison

Taupe/Mushroom Comparison

Taupe/Mushroom Comparison

Taupe/Mushroom Comparison

Taupe/Mushroom Comparison


What do you think? These colors are my go-to for vacations, etc. because they go with absolutely everything and when I'm on vacation, I'm too busy and/or tired to change my mani.

My guy saw the difference in Chanel Particuliere and the rest but swore I was pulling his leg on the others being different. Do they look the same to you? Are they close enough that you'd only need one?




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Sunday, June 3, 2012

My Own Version of BIB - Zoya Jana

I'm sure most of you know the acronym, but just in case:  BIB = Bring It Back

Since Zoya Jana is one of my go-to polishes, I decided to bring it back! My nails are a different length and I added a little "something" as an accent finger, so I didn't figure you'd mind seeing it again. My previous post on it is here.

Zoya Jana is one of the 2 or 3 polishes I consider my "comfort polishes" - you know, like comfort food? They're the ones I take/wear on vacation, the ones I put on when I just can't decide WHAT to wear and the ones I put on when I'm having a "bad nail day."

Application is a dream and it's opaque in two easy coats. Perfection. Showing it under various lighting...



Zoya Jana

Zoya Jana

Zoya Jana

Zoya Jana

Zoya Jana


And to spice it up just a bit - a nail sticker as an accent. Now THAT'S easy nail art. Right up my alley!


Zoya Jana

Zoya Jana



Zoya polishes are available at Ulta or online at Zoya.com and retail for $8.00.

Jana should be a staple in everyone's wardrobe! Do you have it yet?




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Saturday, January 7, 2012

Zoya Jana - Swatches and Review

I can't even BEGIN to tell you how happy and excited I am about Zoya Jana! I am now totally torn though - is Zoya Petra my #1 favorite polish? Or is it Jana? Guess they'll have to share the title.

Zoya Jana
Zoya Jana


For the longest time, my go-to polish was this taupy/mushroomy color with hints of purple. It goes with absolutely everything, including my skin tone, which is no small feat considering I'm the color of bleached flour paste. It's perfect for vacations because no matter how much of a nail polish junkie I am, I refuse to change my polish when traveling and since it does go with everything, there's no need!

BUT, since I went CF (Cruelty-Free) I just don't like wearing my two old stand-bys, Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro Steel Grey and Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Commander in Chic anymore. The companies already have my money, so it's really not hurting anyone if I wear all of those polishes I already have that aren't CF, but I still don't like it.

Enter Zoya Jana. Problem solved! Zoya is not only 4-free, but it's also vegan, making it Cruelty-Free! There are so many great polishes out there, I find no reason to even use one that is tested on animals or is made by a company that tests on animals. I realize it's a small, probably insignificant line to draw in the sand, but it's my line officially as of January 1, 2012. (For more information on CF brands, click the Cruelty Free tab at the top of my page.)

Okay, now about Jana...it's from Zoya's Smoke Collection which is a part of their Smoke and Mirrors Fall 2011 Collection. It's a great medium taupy mushroom with purple undertones. At least that's how I see it.

Zoya's site describes it as follows:

A medium nude putty creme with grey, mauve and purple tones.

Color Family Mauve Grey & Purple

Color Finish Cream

Intensity 5 ( 1=Sheer - 5=Opaque )

Color Tone Cool

Original Collection Smoke



I'd say they're right on the money with that one. Though with my skin-tone, I'd probably not consider it a "nude."  It's the same great Zoya brush/grip with a smooth formula that is opaque in one coat, though I'll probably still use two out of habit.

Now for the photos...

Zoya Jana
Zoya Jana

Zoya Jana
Zoya Jana

Zoya Jana
Zoya Jana

Zoya Jana
Zoya Jana

Zoya Jana
Zoya Jana - Full Sun

And not only THAT but it matches my car's interior. *giggle*


Zoya Jana


Okay, wanna see how it compares to the ones I mentioned earlier?

Zoya Jana

Zoya Jana

I think the color of Jana and Steel Grey are practically identical, however that photo is showing Jana with ONE COAT while Steel Grey took TWO COATS but if I were doing a manicure rather than just swatching on a nail wheel, I'd use three. Commander in Chic is very close also, but also took TWO COATS. Plus neither of those polishes are Cruelty-Free. Buh-bye!  Now China Glaze IS Cruelty-Free, however, Below Deck isn't the same color. They're fairly close, but Below Deck has more purple making it less desirable for my reasons for wearing this color. Not that I don't love purples, but as far as being a neutral for me and going with everything, Jana is the one that has it going on there.

*Hint - if you want to bring out the purple more, wear it with green clothing! Awesome.

Setting aside Cruelty-Free for a moment, let's look at price.

*Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure retails for $7.99 and takes two coats. Zoya is $8.00 and is a one-coater. Both are 0.5 ounces. You do the math.  


*Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro retails for $4.99 ($3.99 in some places) and takes two to three coats. It's only 0.45 ounces.

So even if Cruelty-Free isn't important to you, Zoya Jana still wins for ME, hands down.

So what do YOU think? Do you have it already?


Disclosure1 Zoya Fleck Effect Collection for Spring 2012 Swatches, Macro Photos & Review