ALU’s 365 of Untrieds – Zoya Touch Collection Swatches and Review
365 of Untrieds is my personal challenge to weed through the polishes in the ALU stash that I’ve been wanting to try but just haven’t gotten around to.
I’ve been on this odd beige neutrals kick lately. It all started with CND Perfectly Bare and Deborah Lippmann’s Naked and now Zoya comes out with the Touch collection, a specialty set of three undertone-matching beige polishes with a subtle shimmer. Zoya Nail Polish presents 3 new, full coverage nude creams – softly kissed with a bit of metallic to make them ultra wearable. It’s so not my color personality but there’s just something about wearing a full coverage neutral that feels so fresh and clean in this sticky summer heat. I honestly don’t know what’s become of me but I don’t see this trend of mine dying off anytime soon. |
Formula & Application: Zoya is a 4-Free brand (including formaldehyde resin) plus they leave out camphor, which can be an irritant. Their signature Italian glass bottles have a tapered, shiny black plastic cap that rests comfortably between the thumb and index finger while polishing. The brush is short, round and medium in girth with flexible bristles that allow for ease of control.
While the Zoya formula can be somewhat watery, the Touch collection polishes are all very creamy and thick with pigment. They are still spreadable and self leveling so the thickness isn’t an issue. I was able to get all three colors opaque in two coats which is impressive for such light colors.
Zoya Minka is a yellow based beige with silvery micro-shimmer. Think of it as a light sand. The same shimmer appears in all three polishes and it isn’t overly visible. It gives the polish a sheen and adds depth to the color. Minka is intended for warmer complexions and olive skin tones.
Zoya Pandora is a blush toned beige with silver micro-shimmer. This color reads more pink than beige and will work well with cool skin tones.
Zoya Shay is a peachy beige with silver micro-shimmer. I consider peach a neutral in that it blends both cool pink and warm orange. Yes, some peach colors can lean too far either way to make them unwearable for certain skin tones but Shay fall nicely in the middle. It’s a color that will flatter a majority of people.
Bottom Line: Zoya Minka did absolutely nothing for my coloring but the other two are quite lovely. I appreciate that Zoya took undertones into consideration and created polishes that coordinate with our coloring rather than trying to match every conceivable skin tone. Also, I love the great coverage these polishes give and the way the micro-shimmer adds a sheen but doesn’t cross over into frosty/pearly territory. If you’re looking for the perfect beige neutral, you should definitely check these out.
365 of Untrieds Stash/Share Verdict: Minka made me look too sallow so SHARE. And while Pandora is pretty, I know my beige phase will pass so I’m only STASHing one of the three and that’s Shay.
The Zoya Touch collection is available now on Zoya.com. Zoya nail polish is carried at salons and spas nationwide and at chains like ULTA. Seasonal collection availability will vary by location. Nail polishes retail for $8/ea for a .5oz bottle. Don’t forget, you can try before you buy with the Zoya Color Spoon program.
Am I the only one that has recently fallen victim of the neutrals trend? Thoughts on the Touch collection colors? Which one do you think would work best with your skin tone? Do you prefer to compliment your skin tone or match it perfectly (ie Mannequin Hands)?
Disclosure: Product samples were provided by Zoya. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.
Lisa N.
Ms Meatballhead
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Minka is the one for me! I’m an olive skinned girlie
This is a little racist, to be honest. Not you, the product itself. Why are all three of the “skin-tone” polishes for white skin tones?
I’m sorry but I don’t see how this is racist. Race was never mentioned. The undertones of skin are what we are talking about and all races have either cool, warm or neutral undertones. Like I said in the post, these are meant to compliment your undertone, not match anyone’s skin.
I agree with you…these polishes aren’t racist at all. And I can tell you that I am Asian with golden undertones and therefore, by the post, understand that Minka is probably going to look great on me, but Pandora, not so much.
“Zoya Nail Polish presents 3 new, full coverage ***nude*** creams” — there’s nothing nude about these for brown women.
These undertones were still based on white skin
THANK YOU!
Racism is about more than burning crosses and yelling slurs at people.
The assumption that “nude” refers soley to light skin or that light skin=normal skin is racist. It’s implying that darker skin is somehow strange, weird, alien or abnormal. Like how “flesh tone” is most often taken to mean a light beigey peach color. This is not referring to how flattering the polishes are on differing skin tones. It’s about assuming that nude=light skin.
I personally like Shay, because I think it will nicely compliment my NC42 skin. I agree with Michelle; these are meant to compliment one’s undertone. I think Shay will compliment my tanned skin.
The word “nude” means to be naked. To define nude as a light beige color automatically insinuates that it is only representing light skin. Zoya should have described the product differently. I know it sounds like symantics, but it is a form of cultural racism: http://www.racialequitytools.org/glossary.htm
oh gosh, I don’t think It is racist at all. Although none of these shades will give me mannequin hands, I’m so excited that one of the shades has yellow undertones, rather than pink or beige. My coloring is exactly opposite of Michelle’s and I have had little luck finding something like Minka.
And Michelle, you’re not alone ixn the light neutral zone. I am trying to spend less on polish and Zoya is unavailable where I live so I was going to skip this post. Until I saw the picture, that is
I must agree with Nonachan on this one! “Nude” polishes should have a broader spectrum! Zoya should come out with a series of Touch Collection polishes, ranging from lighter to darker tones!
Perhaps they will. When I first saw that Touch was a 3-piece, I wondered if there will be a second set later (but hopefully not much later) rounding out the collection for darker tones. I sure hope so, as I’m sure they’d be fabulous.
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Personally, I can see wearing all three of these – depending on time of year and how much incidental sun I get, my coloring ranges from cool pale pink most of the year to a warm olive-beige in Summer.
When I go for a truly “nude” look, I usually stick to something half-way between sheer and opaque where I have subtle VNLs. I already have about a half-dozen good ‘naked’ polishes but I will be buying the Touch collection as well.
I’m wearin a nude polish right now. It’s called Bobbie Touch of Tan and I topped it with a very sheer yellow gold shimmer polish. It looks like Zoya Minka, although a tiny, tiny bit darker bec of the gold shimmer. I’m not really a fan of neutrals bec I think it dries out my skintone. But this type of finish of neutrals definitely works for me.
I’ve seen these now on many different skin tones and they look great. They do exactly what you said- compliment one’s skin undertone whether it’s “cool”, “warm” or “neutral”… I ordered Pandora and Shay since I knew Minka would be a definite no go for me. I am effing IN LOVE with the 2 I got. I also have been on a nude kick lately and found myself wondering what was up with that! hahaha It’s nice to change things up a little! Glad to know I’m not alone.
Like the review! Now I’m tempted to try out Minka as I am of warm tone.
Shay looks so good!
I am a nice brown-skinned beauty and I don’t think the product is racist at all. And honestly I can see myself wearing all three of these.
I like Minka best. The other two would leave me looking washed out. While I am fair/med skin toned, I still have that golden undertone in my skin and have to be careful with polishes that have too much silver when they are in a nude range – ditto with taupes in eyeshadows. I am really glad to see this collection in swatches finally. Thanks. Makes me like Minka and not just think Zoya made an odd choice in offering this collection. It’s hard to tell as we all know from just photos of the bottles.
Why am I not able to see this post? The link is just taking me to comments over race?
You’re not alone, Meg. I got a glimpse of the first swatch, then it went right to comments and won’t show anything else. Had this issue a couple of days ago as well. A glitch in the system???
Hi Carol! Yes, there is some glitch and I’m trying to work it out. Thanks to everyone who commented so I could be aware of the issue.
It should be working now. Try a hard refresh CTRL+F5 and see if it’s okay. If not, click the post title at the top to view the pictures.
same thing has been happening with me the past few days – if you click on the comments link and then scroll above the comments you might be able to see the actual post? works for me
I believe it is fixed now. I did a hard refresh and the post is loading by clicking the “read more” link.
If this happens again, please let me know. Also, clicking the post title will open the post in full.
Sorry for the inconvenience.
I’ve had the same problem on the main website; I suggest going to the ALU facebook page and clicking on the post there. It’s been working for me.
There was some sort of glitch but I believe it is fixed. Try doing a hard refresh of the site and try again. Sorry for the issues.
If this should happen again, click on the post title and it will load in full.
Zoya Shay is the only one I like, but I like CND Perfectly Bare much more!
they’re all beautiful on you, but you’re right, Shay does look the best.
I’d wear all three, regardless of my “undertone”
I just love nail polish 
The link takes me directly to comments as well. I wanna see the pics!
I believe it is fixed now. I did a hard refresh and the post is loading by clicking the “read more” link.
If this happens again, please let me know. Also, clicking the post title will open the post in full.
Sorry about that.
I understand what Nonachan was saying. It’s the wording of Zoya’s description. ZOya should have just promoted this set as NEUTRALS so no one would have been offended. I have African heritage, and while I’m not the darkest person you’ll see, none of these shades would be NUDE on me. If Zoya wanted to call this set NUDES, they should have included some darker shades with varying undertones as well.
I really like Shay and sibce I am not sure what undertone I am I think that one will be best for me.
Thanks Michelle, you’re doing a wonderful job and as always, super helpful!
I read a way to know what undertones you are is to look at the inside of your wrist. If your veins appear green, you have warm undertones, blue means cool undertones. Hope that helps.
I’ve heard that as well. Thanks for sharing.
It’s really beautiful! I’m in the mood for nude color these days, so this post definitely helps! thanks!
hey Zoya, how nice of you to come out with a collection of ‘nude’ polishes but only include colors appropriate for white girls!! where are the colors for darker complexions? this collection makes me glad I don’t own any Zoya polishes. I’d rather buy from brands that realize people come in more colors than just beige & pink & peach!
I love that Zoya matches skin tones too! And I’ve been sying to get my hands on Pandora (I’m cool toned). Happy nude-ing it up;)
As lovely as these are, I’m sticking with my favorite “neutrals” of the year, Lippman “Naked” and RBL “Grunge”. The former is my ‘mannequin hands’ go-to (and a GREAT base for all kinds of shatter/crackles) and the latter is a great “every day” color with an attitude.
The colors aren’t only “appropiate” for lighter skin. They work for ALL colors. I have brown skin and Shay is amazing on me. The definition of a nude/neutral polish is one that resembles the color of your natural NAILS, not skin. Are your nails themselves brown? I certainly hope not.
The purpose is to give one a polished look without any obvious color.
My nails are pink (thanks to the capilaries underneath the nail plate) with white tips. These polishes are not. They’re meant to match skin tone, not nail bed color. If you wanted that, then you’d need a French manicure or just some clear polish.
If you’re dark skinned, the color would be rather obvious on you.
I bought these earlier with the expectation that they would look terrible on me – I’m very pale with cool pink undertones. I tried pandora and loved it on me – it’s almost perfect “manne hands” and the shimmer is great. It keeps the polish from looking like a band-aid.
I haven’t tried the other two on yet but am guessing minka will be gifted to someone with more yellow undertones and shay I will still be able to wear. I love the full coverage – so impressed!
I honestly don’t know if I’ll get any of these or not. I’m totally digging Shay and Pandora though!
I totally was going to pre-order these, but then I realized I have very similar CND’s to these shades… They look so good though
I ordered all three of these; they are so pretty regardless of what my skin undertones are. As much as I love my bright polishes, every few manicures I do a nude nail because they just look so nice. Until now RBL Grunge and Jane have been my go-tos but now I’ve got 3 more to add to the mix. Lovely swatches!
I’m amazed by these swatches. You have a different coloring than me, and these polishes on me look nothing like what they do on yours! LOL. On me and in my swatch photos, they came through more beige/tan while on you a lot more peachy. My swatches came through so differently, and while I am olive skinned Minka did not go well with my skin. I found Shay to be my match, as well..
I try the neutral/ nudes and I’m always so disappointed!
I have to have color! I have really long fingers and long nail beds. The naturals make my hands look like they go on and on! It’s the shimmery look that might make the difference.
Pulling the race card over nail polish is ridiculous!
These shades are gorgeous! I’m definitely buying Shay; what a wonderful, flattering nude.
And I agree with Erin, the above poster…. pulling the race card over NAIL POLISH is ridiculous. People see what they want to see. And these women want to make race an issue. Which saddens me, as a woman of color myself. Color. Doesn’t Matter. Unless it’s nail polish, of course.
I agree with you, Starry Night!!! what the heck?! can’t we just have fun and enjoy NAIL POLISH! honestly, my skin isnt one of those 3 colors either! really, that’s not the point and the folks that think it is are the ones that perpetuate racism!
I can’t believe people are calling this product range “racist”, it’s nail polish. As was pointed out skin tone is not necessarily linked to a persons ethnic background. My father is African, my mother Scottish/Irish so my skin colour varies dramatically throughout the season . The use of the term “nude” in cosmetics is clearly figurative. I’d like to thank you for reviewing these polishes for us & I appreciate the effort you have gone to xx