Apparently matte is the new black.Zoya Nail Polish, popular for its durability and vegan-friendly properties, has released its Fall 2009 line of polish, which includes the MatteVelvet Collection, a trifecta of uber-hip shimmery matte shades.
The collection was designed to dry to a flat, shimmery shade and while Zoya's glossy polishes typically last two weeks, the matte polishes are intended for one-time "high-fashion look," Zoya Vice President Leo Reyzis wrote in an e-mail to The Bee.
Zoya sent The Bee the three shades - Dovima (black), Loredana (gunmetal gray) and Posh (wine red) - to test out.
Amita Patel, a Sacramento mom of a 2-year-old, tried the Loredana and Posh polishes. Patel usually does weekly manicures and pedicures at home, and swapped her typical shades for the matte ones.
"Both of the colors are great," she said, but didn't like that the color turned dull upon drying.
The gray polish had a pasty texture while applying and the brush was lumpy, she wrote in an e-mail. The brush for the wine polish was fine, however.
The polish lasted about 8 to 10 days on Patel's toes and two days on her nails before chipping, about the same as the durability of other polishes she's used, Patel said.
Patel said she would "maybe" consider buying the polish in the store and rated it a 5 out of 10.
I tried the black polish, Dovima, this week. The rich, dark shade was a little off-putting at first (like I should be back in high school, listening to Kurt Cobain and pondering alternatives to going to prom), but it grew on me after a few hours.
Like Patel, I found the polish pretty goopy and somewhat hard to apply with the brush provided - perhaps a result of it being free of formaldehyde and other smelly chemicals.
The color lasted about a day without chipping, but was also subjected to two loads of laundry, dishwasher duty, diaper changes, kid meal prep and a Wiggles concert.
The hipster factor is definitely there, however. Don one of these polishes and you are sure to be the coolest mom at the neighborhood barbecue.
Just don't use the polish to accessorize your mom jeans.
