Zoya Ray Nail Lacquer ($8.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is described as “dark blackened pine green with smooth, delicate silver and green frost shimmer.” It’s a deep forest green with great depth and enough vibrancy to ensure it looks more-green-than-black. It has silver threads of micro-shimmer running through it. NARS Night Porter is warmer. Butter London British Racing Green is similar in color but it has sparse shimmer. Illamasqua Kink is a bit lighter, duller, and has a rubbery finish. MAC Jade Dragon is a bit darker and has larger teal shimmer.
The inky darkness of Ray makes it so appealing, but the noticeable brush strokes from the metallic shimmer (I know it says frost) take away from it to degree. The brush strokes are subtle but there, so it really depends on your tolerance for them. It was fully opaque after two coats of polish, and it flowed easily across the nail. The consistency wasn’t too thick or too thin (seemed a little thinner than the average Zoya, which is neither a pro or con, just an observation), and I didn’t have any problems with bubbling, streaking, or pooling. I typically get a full week of wear with minor tip wear (but no chipping) with Zoya’s formula.
While it was nicely pigmented and had an easy-to-use consistency, the visible brush strokes definitely impacted the overall rating of the product. If they're not bothersome, it's definitely a worthwhile product to check out.
Product
9/10
Pigmentation
10/10
Texture
9/10
Longevity
9/10
Application
4/5
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This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
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I think smoky colors like Evvie tend to have a lot of depth. It’s dark, luxurious, but it’s not vampy; it’s also not bright, either. Evvie was opaque in two coats, and the consistency wasn’t too thick or too thin. It flowed evenly across the nail without pooling, streaking, or bubbling during application. I typically get a week of wear out of Zoya’s formula with no chipping and minor tip wear.
I don't have anything quite like this shade (so I'd love to hear any dupes you know of!), and I think it's a great shade for fall. The formula is top notch!
Product
10/10
Pigmentation
10/10
Texture
10/10
Longevity
9/10
Application
5/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
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Malice is a stunner in person. It’s so rich and dark, but it doesn’t lose its color to black–it’s definitely a burgundy-red with a little wine-tint to it. Then there’s the ruby shimmer that catches light so well. Chanel nailed this polish; the consistency was a dream to work with, as it flowed across the nail without pooling, streaky, or bubbling. It wasn’t too thick or too thin, and it was fully opaque after two coats (one is almost enough). It even had a slightly glossy shine to it naturally, though I’d still recommend a top coat to get the most out of this polish. I typically get a week of wear with minor tip wear but no chipping with Chanel’s formula.
Sometimes Chanel does amazing color in their lacquer range, and sometimes, the formula isn't quite there; here, Chanel knocks it out of the park with a flawless formula, enchanting color, and a hue that is utterly perfect for the holidays.
Product
10/10
Pigmentation
10/10
Texture
10/10
Longevity
9/10
Application
5/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
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MAC Glamour Daze Nail Lacquers ($17.50 for 0.34 fl. oz.) include four shades: Endless Night (pale grey pink with iridescent pearl), Everything That Glitters (black with super multidimensional glitter), Girl Trouble (super glitter pink), and In the Limelight (mid-tone creamy mint). Because of the white-colored labeling (instead of black), MAC has tacked on $1.50 to the cost of each polish.
Endless Night is a cool-toned, light-medium beige with iridescent pink micro-shimmer. It’s not quite opaque after two coats. The consistently was a little watery. MAC Quiet Time is darker, no shimmer. Essie Topless & Barefoot is just a smidgen lighter, has no shimmer, and leans slightly pink. Cult Nails Cruisin’ Nude would be similar, though it’s a bit darker–it has the same pink shimmer.
Everything That Glitters is a dark black with multi-colored micro-glitter–lots of blue, pink, and green predominantly. It’s opaque after two coats, and the glitter particles disperse evenly. It is very similar to Butter London The Black Knight from what I can tell.
Girl Trouble is a metallic, cool-toned pink with silver micro-glitter. It is part of the permanent range. The consistency was a little watery. It was mostly opaque after two coats, and it dried down faster than the other three shades. China Glaze Encouragement is similar in color but not metallic. NARS Night Rider is darker.
In the Limelight is a cool-toned, mint green with a cream finish. This was very, very streaky. After I applied one coat, I attempted to apply a second coat, and it was a big mess. The only way I could get it to look half-decent was to glob on a second coat and maneuver my hands by waving them around to get the polish to level out without using the brush. Illamasqua Nomad is much darker, greener. China Glaze Re-Fresh Mint is greener. Zoya Wednesday is darker. MAC Mischievous Mint is very similar.
Everything That Glitters was the best performing shade, because it was opaque after two coats, and the consistently wasn’t too thick or thin, so it applied evenly. Endless Night is a little sheer, and with this kind of color, some might prefer it that way. Girl Trouble will drag if you move too quickly on a second coat, and it didn’t apply as evenly as I’d like. In the Limelight was a nightmare to apply, and in order to get even results, it took over an hour before I could really move my hands, and even then, I took a smudged off a chunk of it just by lightly brushing another finger against it. It doesn’t level well, so be very, very careful when you apply your second coat.
In the Limelight is the big loser here, because of the thicker consistency and streaky performance. Everything That Glitters was the easiest to work with out of this bunch.
Product
8/10
Pigmentation
9/10
Texture
8/10
Longevity
9/10
Application
3.5/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
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Illamasqua Cameo Nail Varnish ($14.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is described as a “cornflower blue.” (Sephora has it listed as “periwinkle blue.”) It’s a dusty, cornflower blue that leans noticeably purple. It almost more purple than blue, but it’s not true purple. Which, I suppose, tells you how complex and confusing this color family can be! I couldn’t think of a dupe–Essie Lapis of Luxury was too blue, while Essie Smooth sailing was too purple (and shimmery, too). I’d love to hear from you if you know of any dupe possibilities!
The formula wasn’t too thick or too thin, and it was opaque after two coats. It dried down to a glossy finish without the need of a top coat (shown without a top coat). The glossiness is really impressive; it’s just so shiny and glossy; it just looks really elegant and polished. I typically get anywhere from a week to a week and a half of wear out of Illamasqua’s formula. It wears exceptionally well in my experience and is a go-to formula when I travel, because it never chips on me.
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
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Illamasqua Noble Nail Varnish ($14.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is described as a “turquoise blue.” (Sephora has it listed as “robin egg blue.”) It’s a brightened, light-medium blue with a hint of turquoise in it, which gives it that robin’s egg blue hue. It has a cream finish with a naturally glossy shine. Rescue Beauty Lounge’s Faraway is bluer, darker, and has shimmer. SpaRitual Ebb & Flow is more turquoise. Deborah Lippmann On the Beach is bluer, less bright. Zoya Robyn is a smidgen darker, bluer.
Noble is a limited edition, U.S. exclusive shade. It’s fully opaque after two coats (and mostly opaque after one). The consistency was just slightly thicker than the usual for Illamasqua. It didn’t pool along the sides or bubble during application, though, so it did not impede application. The drying time was about average (maybe slightly faster), but it had a really glossy finish without need for a top coat (photos are without a top coat). I typically see between seven and ten days of incredible wear with Illamasqua’s formula–the most minor of tip wear and no chipping.
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
