Zoya Summer 2015 Paradise Sun Swatches & Review
Zoya Summer 2015 – Paradise Sun
If you’re following me on Twitter, than you know that I was so excited about the Zoya Summer 2015 Paradise Sun collection, I didn’t know which color to wear first. You know how I feel about glass-fleck, and I love, love, loved the Zoya Sparkle collection, so the metallic flecks in Paradise Sun, had me at first sight.
Formula & Application
Zoya nail polish is 5-Free (Formaldehyde, Toluene, DBP, Formaldehyde Resin & Camphor). 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. It’s also one of my Top 10 Nail Polish Brushes.
This collection has a semi-sheer, jelly-ish base to suspend the metallic flecks. The squishy consistency of jellies makes them easy to manipulate on the nail, though that does affect the opacity. I used three coats with all except the green (two coats) and white (four coats). Also, they dry a bit flat so you definitely need top coat to bring out their luster.
Zoya Paradise Sun Swatches
Zoya Aphrodite is a tomato red jelly with fuchsia and gold metallic flecks. Unlike most of the colors below, which have a pearlized base, this one is more like a traditional glass-fleck. It’s warmer than China Glaze Cherry Pie, though much more pigmented. Zoya Nidhi is darker and more crimson.
Zoya Aphrodite
Zoya Aphrodite comparison
Zoya Genesis is a creamy, sparkly white. I’d call it an eggshell white, as it looks muted next to OPI Chiffon My Mind. It is pretty streaky, which is why I needed four coats to even it out and avoid patches. China Glaze Dandy Lyin Around is definitely better in terms of application and bling.
Zoya Genesis
Zoya Genesis comparison
Zoya Isa is saturated violet purple with a frosty base and blue metallic flecks that flash pink. It’s firmly in camp purple, but it has so much blue that it makes you wonder. Next to Zoya Neve, you can tell it’s purple, but saddled up to Zoya Mimi and Belinda, it looks pretty blue. I love how unique it is, and that it’s bold without being too bright. Since it shares a name with Zoya Creative Director, Rebecca Isa, I can’t help but wonder if this is her favorite color in the collection. Spoiler alert: It’s definitely mine.
Zoya Isa
Zoya Isa comparison
Zoya Mae is a vivid magenta with flecks of silver. It’s darker and less pink than Zoya Gilda. Plus it doesn’t have Gilda’s gold flecks. That being said, I think they are very close, with Mae edging out Gilda, simply due to better pigmentation. In fact, all the comparison colors are extremely sheer next to Mae.
Zoya Mae
Zoya Mae comparison
Zoya Oceane is an electric sea blue with a frosty base and silver metallic flecks. Zoya describes it as turquoise, and compared to Sally Hansen Seersucker, butter LONDON Airy Fairy and OPI I Sea You Wear OPI, it definitely appears that way, but it’s not as obvious in person.
Zoya Oceane
Zoya Oceane comparsion
Zoya Selene is a frosty emerald green with silver/blue flecks that flash pink. The flash isn’t as noticeable on the nail as it is in the bottle. Next to Zoya Giovanna and butter LONDON Thames, you can see that Selene has teal undertones.
Zoya Selene
Zoya Selene comparsion
Zoya Summer 2015 – Paradise Sun swatches
Bottom Line: The color palette, as a whole, doesn’t give me a super summery vibe. Like Selene feels very holiday to me, especially next to Aphrodite, and Isa would be right at home in a fall collection. However, on their own, the colors in this collection are gorgeous, with the exception of Genesis, which is a total pass. As I stated above, Isa is my favorite, simply because it is so unique. The rest don’t really stand out next to other colors I own, though their opacity is better than most jellies, so if you don’t have something similar give them a try.
The Zoya Paradise Sun collection is available now at salons nationwide, including ULTA, and online at Zoya.com. Zoya nail polish retails for $9/ea.
Thoughts on the Paradise Sun colors? Which shades are calling your name? What do you think of this mix of frost and metallic flecks?
Disclosure: Product samples were provided by reps for Zoya. Affiliate links appear in this post. When you purchase through an affiliate link, you help support this site. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.
Lisa N.
Ms Meatballhead
Birdie
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All of them. All of them are calling my name. Even Genesis which I probably won’t wear as much!
Ha! I love your enthusiasm. Enjoy!
Hello Isa and Oceane! I need you both!
I knew you’d be in to them both.
Great swatches!!! I love Aphrodite.
Thanks! I’m glad you like it.
Greats swatches of these!
Thank you Lisa!
What is it with these tomato reds this season? First ChG The Heat is on, now Zoya Aphrodite? Both colors I HAVE to have my hands on. The only other one of this bunch I’d like to get is Selene, but like you I’m not impressed with Genesis. Not at all.
I know. It’s like all the brands are copying each other, but that tends to happen with certain colors every year. I think of when Zoya Charla/OPI Catch Me In Your Net and all the other dupes came out.
Great Swatches! They are all so beautiful, can’t wait for them to be released here so I can get my grabby hands on them
I hope they get there soon!
A great collection!
Glad you like it
I am such a fan of your comparisons! I love that you show each polish compared to other selections. (I’m also bummed that bL Thames is such a gorgeous green. I’ve been passing on it because I thought it was a turquoise.) Love you!
Isa is the perfect purple! I love Neve, and I love a cool, blue-toned purple. BLURPLE.
Aphrodite and Mae get my votes out of this collection
Excellent picks!
OK, firstly, let me say that I think Zoya should start using your swatches on their page because you can see the flecks MUCH better in your pics.
Secondly, now I think I’ll be getting some that I DIDN’T want to get previously! I’m loving Aphrodite and Isa, and leaning towards a no now on Oceane. I am really hoping you’ll be doing swatches on the other 6 summer colors from Zoya so I can see if that changes my likes/dislikes on those too!!
Thanks Michelle!!
Wow, I’m flattered. Thank you. I know a lot of people complain about how blown out/inaccurate the Zoya photos are. And yes, I’m doing swatches of Island Fun as well. Stay tuned
Selene is the only one that really stands out at me. I’m looking forward to the Island Fun colors much more. These were not my thing. Thanks for the beautiful swatches!
You’re welcome. I’m diving in to the Island Fun colors next.
Aphrodite looks like a must have! Even my husband was like “oooooohhhh!!”
Men do love red.
I’m loving Mae and Oceane!
Great choices!
There’s something about Aphrodite that speaks to me. What s great color. While I’m not big on wearing purple polishes, I am digging Isa
It’s a pretty red. Like a warmer version of Ruby Pumps.