Month: February 2024

Zoya ‘Magical’ Winter 2023 Collection – Swatch & Review

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(You know how it works, you have big plans for working through a blog’s backlog, and then you get a lovely little sinus infection, and just want to lay around. Such is life.)

Alright! Let’s continue one with catching up on winter collections. Sure, it was 70 degrees today, but tomorrow is supposed to drop to TWELVE degrees, so clearly Chicago isn’t out of Winter yet either. It’s like it just WANTS to match my blog posting habits as I also swing between different nail seasons here.

And okay, while it is full spring on my Instagram, we can’t go out of order here on the blog (not like I can fully adjust the date it was published to make it in order). It’s just the PRINCIPLE. I have to finish up a brand’s winter release before posting their newest spring one. You get it. It makes sense to me, okay.

So yes, winter first! This is Zoya’s release for Winter 2023. Zoya switches between 12 and 6 bottle collections, and this one gives us just 6 shades. Easy for me to swatch. This collection is called ‘Magical’ and you know, it DOES feel magical. We have some cremes, some more shimmery shades and some glittery moments.

Of course these are available on the Zoya website – and I do love that they’ve started offering both full sized bottles as well as “petite sizes” – which are half the size and of course, discounted. So if you have a large collection like me, and know you won’t be using a full bottle, the petite bottles could be a great option.

Now let’s get on into the swatches!

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Orly ‘Twas the Night’ Winter 2023 Collection – Swatches & Review

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PR SAMPLE

oh HEY there! You’re probably (not) wondering where I went and why I’m only now posting a winter collection in February. If you didn’t read my last post, here’s a quick summary: I’ve been swatching more than ever on Instagram, and also there was no motivation, so the blog got shifted to the back burner. But now I’m here, I’m back, I’m posting, and determined to make this blog even more consistent and better than ever this year! Okay grand!

***

Alright, spring collections are in full swing over on my Instagram – and don’t worry they’re coming here too, but we gotta catch up on some backlog, and keep it all in order and get these winter collection reviews up first. I already have the content, and these shades are still available, we’re not just throwing a post away and forgetting about them. I’ve mentioned I do want this blog to be a resource to look back on, maybe even years from now, to just peruse past releases.

So let’s talk about Orly! Orly’s release for Winter 2023 was their ‘Twas the Night’ collection. It of course features 6 colors. Orly has this cute little tagline for them: “Ready to give the holiday season a spin? This magical collection is where it will begin.” and I think it’s so accurate, because this really does have you covered with some classic holiday shades. It just feels like the holidays (or whenever you want to wear these shades, we’re not stopped by seasons). It’s cozy, it’s a little magical, it’s perfect. These are of course available on the Orly website.

Now let’s dive on into the swatches!

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Salon Perfect x Wonka Collection – Swatches & Review

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PR SAMPLE

And just like that, it’s been 2 months since I’ve posted on this blog. WHOOPS. (And even before that, I was posting, some might say, sporadically through 2023). I did very much NOT plan on a break like this, but it’s happened. Okay, yes, so, I’ve been posting more than ever on my Instagram, and working to get so much backlogged polish swatched – and in that, something else had to give and it was the blog.

But don’t worry, I’ve missed writing and posting, and the blog definitely is not going anywhere. I want to truly get onto a more regular schedule of posting here – maybe not quite the speed of my Instagram swatching – but more timely for sure. I want it to be even more of a resource, and a place where you can expect to find thoughts about the latest collections. The blog’s always been there in the background, and I want to give it even more love this year. I’m DETERMINED. (And yes I have been blogging for like 8 years now, I should probably have had this down by now. But I’m constantly learning and changing my style. My time allowance and lifestyle and budget have all changed, and so has my blog throughout the years. We still gotta adjust.)

I won’t go on and on about any specific goals or schedules or plans – as I haven’t fully gotten them down yet, and that’s just setting oneself up for failure. I’m sure it’ll shift and change as I figure out the best plan of attack. We’ll get there, we’ll find a groove here, I just know it. I have big ideas, and I can’t wait for them to come to life. Thanks as always for sticking around, even through the quiet times.

***

So alright, let’s start posting again already.

As you can tell by the title of this post, we’re looking at Salon Perfect’s release in collaboration with the newest Wonka movie. And YES, this is very much late. But it’s part of a whole swath of content I have, with swatches and photos that are already edited and just waiting, and I don’t want to throw any of them away – even if it’s harder to find the polishes now. I mean, who knows, you might still see them pop up in a destash somewhere. It’s still content, we gotta start catching up somewhere.

So yes, Salon Perfect sent these over in the most gorgeous PR box I’ve ever seen – and it just made me feel so grateful for any and all PR I receive! (But I promise I’ll still be honest – you would be able to see in any live swatch if I ever struggled with a formula). This collection features 8 nail polish shades, all inspired by the movie itself, with so much shimmer and sparkle and richness.

Also released in this collection, there were 8 new sets of press-on nails, as well as 4 sheets of nail stickers. I have quite a few of their press-on sets at this point, and I do really love them! They’re a nice thicker quality, and they hold up so well – so they’re perfect to pop on for a weekend when I want a little something fancier. I do also love that most of their sets come with 30 nails in them, in quite a range of sizes, so I’ve been able to really find my perfect nail sizes. I received 4 different designs in my little package – and then I went on and purchased another design – a testament to how much I love their press-ons. Just wanted to give a little spiel of “don’t sleep on Salon Perfect’s press ons”, okay thank you.

Again, I know it’s been a while since they’ve been released – but you can often new Salon Perfect limited edition releases at Walmart as well as on Walmart’s website. You’re also often able to purchase direct from Salon Perfect’s website as well.

And now that I’m done rambling, we’re looking at swatches now.

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