A First Impression: Zoya Nail Polish

Zoya. Interesting name, interesting nail polish. I always refrained from purchasing any 'higher end' nail polishes due to the fact that they are so expensive, but when I was shopping in one of my favourite stores Winners (the canadian equivalent to Ross) and found this nail polish for a deal, $6.99, much better in my opinion that the usual 9-12$ from most drug stores. I jumped on the opportunity and picked up the Zoya nail polish colour in Storm.

This colour is intriguing, it is still on trend with the dark colour nails, but it isn't as harsh with the small gold flecks mixed in. A problem with having fair skin and small nails, is that dark polish makes the nails look even smaller and un even, resulting in the fact that I have avoided dark polish like the plague.

Surprisingly, I think I have found a new polish to call my number one favourite. I am in love with this polish colour, it is the polish for pale skin and small nails. The brush is my favourite type of brush, as I've mentioned my nails are very small so wide brushes aren't my friend, the small brush is just the cherry on top.

It takes 2 coats to get to medium opaqueness, which is enough to wear, and three coats to get it to its full and true colour. The polish dries fast and isn't sticky or tacky, once it's dry, it's dry.



Another interesting factor to this polish is that it is formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate and free and is a camphor free formula, now as many of you, I am just as unaware of what these words mean as you are- but the less chemicals the better I guess. My nails are particularly fragile, so we will see how this effects my not so lovely bed of nails.






Overall if I ever come across another Zoya nail polish in Winners, I will be sure to pick it up. In my opinion, this is the polish for small and short nails, from the colour to the brush. This polish has impressed me, and given me hope in dark colours for those trying to camouflage their nails to step into a new world, a darker one and to try a new range of colours- at least for me.

-Madi

A Review: Revlon Colour Stay Blemish Concealer

The Revlon Colour Stay line has been raved and reviewed to no end, the amount I've heard 'Revlon Colour Stay...' in a review is countless. So as it has been talked about so much, I thought I'd jump on the band wagon so to stay and I grasped the opportunity of another concealer coming to an end, to run to the nearest drug store and picked it up the Revlon Colour Stay Blemish Concealer.

So lets start off with the outward appearance, the intrigue that draws you in before you commit, the attraction before the introduction. The packaging and the price. Off the bat I purchased this for $9.99, a cent less that 10 dollars well spent. The packaging is very sleek with a convenient doe foot applicator. The transparent tube is great to see how much product you have left. You get 0.21 fl oz of product or 6.2 mL - quite a bit of product, definitely enough bang for your buck.  Overall the packaging and the price is a job well done.

This concealer claims to last up to 16 hours, blends smoothly, sets in 60 seconds, helps heal blemishes with salicylic acid, lightweight and comfortable. As for the 16 hours, I haven't left it for that long, but, from wear from 7:30 am to about 4:30 pm, a day full of school and my personal favourite (sarcasm implied) Physical Education, the concealer does last with little wear on blemishes. It is very easy to blend, liquidy at first, but sets fast on blemishes. I don't recommend this concealer for under the eyes (as it is a blemish concealer) because it does crease easily, and needs to be blended twice then set. I didn't notice a big difference in the healing of blemishes from the salicylic acid, but the pigmentation of this product is good enough for me, without the added benefit of the acid. It is a pretty heavy coverage, yet doesn't feel cakey- a good combination.

To apply this product, I find the best way is to just apply it straight to  the skin and then blend it in with your fingers. The heat of your fingers help to make the concealer tacky enough to stick. With a brush it may get a little too streaky and hard to keep the concealer on the targeted spot.

Pro's:
- A lot of product for the price
- Very pigmented, thick, and full coverage
- Buildable coverage
- Doe foot applicator makes for easy application
- Lasting coverage - very lasting
- Easy to blend

Con's:
- If worn under the eyes, creases easily
- Specifically a blemish concealer, not under eyes
- Due to the applicator, may dry up faster
- Has salicylic acid which may irritate some skins
- A lot of product gets dispensed- more that you need











All in all, the hyped 'colour stay line' has not disappointed me in the slightest. I do believe this concealer lived up to my expectations, and now I see why this line has been talked about more times than Anne Hathaway's pixie cut- with good reason. I highly recommend this product, not only for the excellent price and amount of product, but for the long wearing and pigmentation. Revlon Colour Stay- please stay in my collection for a while, you are more than welcome.

-Madi