Zoya Darling Spring 2021 | Swatches & Review


Hiya guys! You know how I have been mentioning Spring left and right every post cause I am just so excited for the season to come? Well... over it. Haha. Not really, but I forgot something that comes along with Spring... allergies! Oof have my poor eyes been feeling it already and it's barely getting started. But I suppose it's worth a little bit of itch here and there if it means we get pretty flowers and pretty polishes. Today I'm sharing swatches for the gorgeous Darling Spring 2021 Collection by Zoya, which consists of six cream based polishes. It has been such a long time since I have sat down and swatched an entire collection. Oof did it bring me back to my glory days, haha. But without further ado, let's go ahead and get right into the swatches. 

Zoya Darling Spring 2021 | Swatches & Review

The Darling Spring 2021 Collection by Zoya is now available for purchase online. Each full-size bottle retails for $10 or you can grab the entire collection for $60. 

Zoya - Val
Zoya - Val

Val can best be described as a relaxing mid-tone sky blue cream. Of course we have to start off with my favorite and it shouldn't come to a surprise to anyone that it's the blue in the collection. There will never be a day where I don't love me some blue. This one in particular has quite the lovely tone as it's not quite that typical pastel blue we are used to seeing for the season. I love that it's a little on the muted side whilst still being a good punchy blue if that makes sense. And it looks really good against my skin-tone though it does bring out some minimal warmth. It's not enough though that causes the polish to clash, but instead feels like it gives my skin a nice glow.

The formula has a good opacity although it cannot be considered a one coater. There is great self leveling throughout the application and it is very easy to work with. The consistency feels well balanced, not too thick or too thin. It's one of those creams that really give off a very luscious cream feel. It dries down to a smooth high-shine finish on its own prior to adding topcoat. And I experience no staining on removal to either my cuticles or nail beds, which is always nice to note in a blue shade. Shown in two coats and sealed with a glossy topcoat.

Zoya - Val

Zoya - Kayleigh
Zoya - Kayleigh

Kayleigh can best be described as a calming light lilac purple cream. You can't have a Spring collection without having some kind of light lavender shade. In most of my reviews I always tend to move away from the lilac shades and they are almost always my least favorites. It's mostly always a combination of bad childhood memories and it crashing with my skin-tone. But in this case I found myself very pleasantly surprise by how much I loved it. Especially against my skin-tone, which can be such a miss and cause clashing. In this case the tone hits just right and looks fantastic on me if I do say so myself, haha. Highly recommend to anyone that finds themselves having a hard time getting lilacs to work with your skintone due to too much warmth.

The formula has a good opacity although it is not opaque enough to be considered a one coater. It builds-up really well and has nice self leveling considering it's a lighter tone. The consistency leaned a little on the thin side and I had to make sure not to overload the brush as it pooled easily. But it wasn't much of an issue and I could still manage to apply the layers with ease. It dries down to a high-shine smooth finish on its own. Shown in two coats and sealed with a glossy topcoat.

Zoya - Kayleigh

Zoya - Mara
Zoya - Mara

Mara can best be described as a soft, muted rose-toned mauve cream. Looking at the photos I feel like I like it a lot more than I did while I was swatching it. I had even written down in my notes that this was my least favorite of the collection. I definitely don't hate it per say, but it does feel a little dull and safe in comparison to the rest of the collection. Though I can definitely see this being something you want to wear depending on the occasion or even job-related. I don't think I care too much for the tone of the polish as well against my skin. It feels like it brings out too much warmth for my personal tastes. All in all it's not a shade I would reach back for in my collection.

The formula has a good opaque application though not enough to be considered a one coater. It self levels nicely as it dries creating a even look on the nail. Consistency wise it felt well balanced, not too thin or too thick. I didn't experience any issues during the application and it was quite easy to work with. Like the others it dries down to a smooth high shine finish on its own. Shown in two coats and sealed with a glossy topcoat.

Zoya - Mara

Zoya - Tweedy
Zoya - Tweedy

Tweedy can best be described as a bright and uplifting bubble-gum pink cream. Now isn't this quite the charming surprise?! Like honestly was not expecting such a bright and fun shade in a Spring collection. Usually all we see is very toned down colors and pastels, but this one here is coming for our hearts! I never thought I would find myself gushing over a pink polish but here I am and I feel like a need a bucket to catch the drool, haha. Okay too much of a visual there, but you get what I mean. I highly recommend this shade to anyone and everyone as it's just so lovely all around. I love the way it looks against my skin-tone and I feel like it's one of those colors that will just look perfect on anyone.

The formula has good opacity although it does feel a little on the patchy side. That to me is kind of to be expected with this tone of polish. As it begins to dry down the self leveling kicks in and really blends together any of that patchiness that is seen during the initial application. Consistency is spot on and leans neither too thick or too thin. It has that very creamy vibe similar to that of Val and dries down to a smooth high shine finish on its own. I experienced no staining on removal to either my cuticles or my nail beds. Shown in two coats and sealed with a glossy topcoat.

Zoya - Tweedy

Zoya - Ella
Zoya - Ella

Ella can best be described as a refreshing coral cream with a kiss of pink undertones. Another shade that I will be honest and say I didn't think I was going to like on me. But it also surprised me when I first saw it in this collection as coral doesn't come to mind when I think Spring. At least not to me. Summer on the other hand I can definitely get behind a good coral. That said it's really not the kind of polish I would gravitate towards normally. While I don't hate the color at all, it's so rare for me to like it against my skin tone. In this case I think the pink undertones help balance it out more so that it actually gives my skin a nice glow and no clashing. Definitely gets high praise for that alone!

The formula has a very opaque application and can almost be considered a one coater. Great self leveling throughout the application with the perfect amount of creaminess. The consistency feels well balanced and not too thick or too thin. Like the other it dries down to a smooth high shine finish on its own. All in all this shade felt like it has the based application in terms of creaminess and opacity levels. I also experienced no staining on removal to either my nail beds or cuticles. Shown in two coats and sealed with a glossy topcoat.

Zoya - Ella

Zoya - Joyce
Zoya - Joyce

Joyce can best be described as a juicy hot pink cream. I'll be honest and say I am feeling a bit torn on this particular polish. At first it felt a bit odd to have in this collection especially with so many other pinks, but in the end I think it works to some extent. At least for me whenever I look at this shade I think flowers. Not everything in Spring has to be pastel or toned down and so I think this beauty (along with Tweedy) fit right in. Unexpected but gorgeous! It's a shade that actually doesn't feel tied down to any particular season or occasion and just feels like it can be revisited anytime. Definitely something I can appreciate in a color. The tone pulls a little too much warmth from my skin for my liking, but it's not terrible whatsoever.

The formula has a very opaque application and is the only one in the collection that can pass for a one coater. That said I still went in for a second coat as a personal preference. It has a balanced consistency like many of the others in this collection and didn't give me any issues during the application. Perfect self leveling and creamy finish. On removal I did have some minor staining to my cuticles. Though it should also be noted that I did not wear this shade for very long while swatching. Shown in two coats and sealed with a glossy topcoat.

Zoya - Joyce

Whew, that's a wrap on this beautiful collection! And it really is beautiful, isn't it? There were so many favorite, but the real stand out in this collection for me is Tweedy. I was not by any means expecting such a popping bubbly pink to look so good on me and apply so wonderfully as well. I will say I would have loved to see a polish in this collection that was a little more out there instead of so many pink tones. Maybe a yellow or a green would have made a nice addition instead. But those are all my thoughts on the Zoya Spring 2021 Collection! Let me know which one is your favorite and if you will be picking up this collection. Stay safe and I will catch you all next time xoxo Moonbaes.


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