Zoya Fall 2013 PixieDust Nail Polish Swatches & Review
I’ll admit, when I first tried textured nail polish, it skeeved me out. The feel was unusual and all I could think about was how lint, and possibly cat fur, would get stuck to it. But like some annoying person asking, “Do you like me? How about now? HOW ABOUT NOW?” it eventually wore me down. I blame Zoya PixieDust!
Zoya Fall 2013 PixieDust
As much as I love a glossy nail, the mesmerizing, glitter-packed PixieDust polishes drew me in like a magpie. And while my affection has waned some over the past couple months, it’s back in full force thanks to the new Zoya Fall 2013 PixieDust shades. Check them out!
Formula & Application: Zoya PixieDust nail polish is 5-Free (free of DBP, Toluene, Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin and Camphor). Their signature Italian glass bottles have a tapered, matte black 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.
The Zoya PixieDust formula varies based on the color. Two of the darker shades, Sunshine & Chita, are somewhat thick and uber-pigmented. I barely needed two coats though it wasn’t as easy to control. The three lighter hues, Arabella, Dhara and Tomoko were all thin and smooth with enough pigment to get away with two thin coats.
Meanwhile Carter was somewhat puzzling. It is dark but the base is pretty sheer so I needed three coats. Also, it took longer to dry than the rest of the shades. I ended up having to re-paint a nail because it dented 15 minutes after applying.
Because these are polishes designed to be worn matte, you should not apply top coat. To achieve the perfect sugar crystal finish, Zoya says, “apply 1-3 (for full coverage) thin coats of polish. Allow product to dry completely for full effect. Do not use a base coat or top coat.”
Personally, I use a treatment base coat to hydrate my weak nails and protect them from staining.
Zoya Arabella is a raspberry glitter textured nail polish. This one has a lot of silvery metallic particles so even dried down it still has somewhat of a wet sheen to it.
Zoya Arabella PixieDust
Zoya Carter is a bold royal purple with fuchsia metallic glitter. The smoky blackened base peeks out through the glitter, grounding the color and giving it a more fall feel.
Zoya Carter PixieDust
Zoya Chita is an emerald green filled with sage metallic glitter. It looks more vivid when wet but dry, it’s a bit muted. All I can say is FINALLY!! I’ve been waiting for a green textured polish this shade and it’s just glorious.
Zoya Chita PixieDust
Zoya Dhara is a coppery hue filled with gold and reddish-orange glitters. It has the same metallic quality as Arabella in that it doesn’t dry as matte as some of the other shades. It fall somewhere between Zoya Destiny (or OPI Jinx) and Zoya Beatrix.
Zoya Dhara PixieDust
Zoya Sunshine is a devastatingly gorgeous jewel-tone sapphire mixed with silver glitter. It’s even more vivid in person and on the nail it looks like crushed gems. I can’t stop staring. Get it, get it now!
Zoya Sunshine PixieDust
Zoya Tomoko is a mix of pale gold and silver glitter. The overall result is a bubbly champagne. It’s the perfect way for a neutral nail person to incorporate texture into their nail wardrobe and it will transition well into holiday.
Zoya Tomoko PixieDust
Bottom Line: Zoya continues to dominate the sparkly texture world. They found a way to do texture that is refined yet eye-catching at the same time. That’s a thin line to walk, people. I’m beyond smitten with Chita, Sunshine and Tomoko. They are unique, on-trend and making me fall for texture ALL.OVER.AGAIN. Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!!
The Zoya PixieDust Fall 2013 nail polishes are available now on Zoya.com and at salons and spas nationwide, including ULTA. The lacquers retail for $9/ea for a .5oz bottle. ps the “sampler” includes full size bottles even though the name suggests otherwise.
Is Sunshine to die for or WHAT? Which of these PixieDusts do you plan to pick up? Are you still on the texture train or hoping it derails quickly?
Disclosure: Product samples were provided by Zoya. Affiliate links may appear via Skimlinks. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.
Lisa N.
Ms Meatballhead
Birdie
Spa pediccure chairs
If anything could make me want to try textured nails, Tomoko is it. But I still prefer my nails smooth and shiny.
Hey, I hear you. You should definitely try it though. It may surprise you
I want Carter. Nothing more to say on this matter, it’s just awesome!
Straight to the point, I love it
LOVE Chita! I had been waiting for a darker green too! I got Chita, Sunshine and Carter but am thinking Tomoko is a must too.
You should definitely pick up Tomoko as well. I’m already envisioning it in holiday manicures.
that champagne color is CALLING MY NAME.
Get it, girl!
Zoya really nailed it with these!
Agreed!
I have to admit, I still don’t like texture, but as I’ve said before, there’s nothing wrong with textured polish that a good top coat won’t fix :). And I LOVE LOVE LOVE how the Zoya textures look with topcoat – so much I just went ahead and ordered Carter when they had their free shipping promotion. No way was I going to wait around for the Ulta here to maybe get it in or maybe not! Every time I see a Carter swatch I fall in love again.
Ha, I hear you. At least the PixieDust textures are fine enough that they take to top coat well. Some of the chunkier ones never get glossy.
I’m loving all the colors but, chita is my fav!!!!
Chita and Sunshine together are even better
Did any of these stain? The colours are so vivd!
I experienced a slight bit of staining with Sunshine but nothing that lasted.
thanks for posting the swatches! have been wanting to see what they look like! i’ll be getting chita and carter!
Nice! Let me know what you think once you wear them
Finally! Someone who’s just as in love with Sunshine as I am!! It looks like my favorite, warm winter sweater. My favorite of this bunch.
I can’t believe it was that hard to find a Sunshine lover. It’s gorgeous!
I love the rich jewel tones for fall! I’m always a sucker for a glitzy gold, though, so I’ll definitely be picking up Tomoko at the very least (though it’ll probably be a couple of these beauties!)
I hear ya! Yellow golds can be tough to pull off but this champagne shade that is one part silver, one part gold is perfect.
I agree that textured polishes do very little for me but if I was to be half tempted it would be by this Zoya collection. My fave by far is Tomoko – Would brighten up a autumn day no bother
I agree, Tomoko is the most accessible of the shades. I think that one will draw in some texture haters.
I’ve never been into all this textured nail polish – liquid sands, caviar nails, fuzzy nails and etc. But all those different purple tones in Carter look so amazing in your photo, I just might try it!
Let me know what you think if you do.
I haven’t tried the textured nail polishes yet, and like you, was kinda iffy about the whole idea.. however, Zoya is tempting me, and will prolly be my gateway polish for this trend.
Great pictures and reviews, and dang it for making me want these more!
Ha, I’m happy to enable
I just received Tomoko and Chita and I love them. Your swatch of Carter makes me think I should have picked that one up too!!
There’s still time! Zoya is great about keeping their seasonal colors around.
Carter is gorgeous, I went straight out to the store and bought it! Love it on my nails, especially with topcoat (sorry Zoya, I defied your instructions on how to wear it). Plus, my sister’s boyfriend’s name is Carter, so it’s a fun little joke between us!
Out of curiosity, what top coat did you use and how many coats?
Normally I’m not a fan of the textured polishes, but Chita is mighty tempting!
It is. I can’t get enough of it.
I’m wearing Chita right now, and it’s incredible! I am in love with this shade.
It’s so so good. When I went to the 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target launch, the blue sweater with the green sleeves made me think of Chita and Sunshine paired together.
Every Pixie Dust collection that comes out makes my heart hurt more and more .. because I STILL have none of them. I WANT THEM ALL.
What are you waiting for? Get on it, girl!
Hey! I was making my nail polish “bucket list” for fall and wanted a Zoya black sparkly polish (that wasnt Storm) and I found Dahlia but Ive never tried textured nail polish before and was worried that it would be scratchy. I was hoping you could give me a bit more insight on the texture? Thanks!
It’s not scratchy so much as an acquired feeling. Think of it as fine grit sandpaper. And as you wear it, it becomes smoother.
Thank you!!!!
I love them all! My favorite is Tomoko, but I don’t have this collection yet.
I’ve watched all these pics and decided to buy Sunshine (I have Carter).
I love the textures for a once-in-a-while change. I have Deborah Lippmann’s I Wanna Be Sedated, a yellow-green don’t know how to describe the color. Until this post, I couldn’t find any other polishes with the same finish. I want one in a bubble gum pink because I think the contrast of the rough polish with a girly color would look edgy. I love these colors but I still want a pink. Any suggestions?
Hi Mary! If you want a pink with no shimmer, look for Sally Hansen Sugar Coat Cotton Candies. For a pink with shimmer, China Glaze Wish on a Starfish