Zoya Giada

Like Ember, Giada was released by Zoya as part of the Flair collection for fall 2015. Zoya's official description for Giada reads "a purple liquid metal with a hint of fuchsia pearl." The Flair collection generally features what they're calling a liquid metal formula, but Giada has less of a semi-metallic appearance than the others. The micronized shimmers it carries are less prominent, and they're not a traditionally metallic color. To my eye, the base here is a very deep saturated violet. The pearlescent fuchsia shimmers read as purple through the base, creating a gorgeous purple glow at the center of the nail that shades to deep violet around the edges. It's really quite stunning. 

Application was lovely. The consistency of Giada is fluid, very smooth and dense with a wonderful velvety glide over the nail that has some pull to it. Self-leveling properties are outstanding, as is the pigmentation -- another one-coater. Zoya, you're gonna get a reputation if you keep putting out like this! I used two coats for this manicure to fix some edges, but the color and depth remained the same and really, the consistency and self-leveling properties of the polish are such that a one coat manicure is not only possible but actually practical. Cleanup was straightforward with the sort of pigment travel you expect from a dark polish as well-pigmented as this but no residual staining. Giada dries naturally in good time to a beautiful glossy finish. Nice!

Photos show two coats of Giada over Pretty Serious Rock On treatment and Pretty Serious All Your Base basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Zoya Giada

Zoya Giada

Zoya Giada

Zoya Giada

Zoya Giada

Zoya Giada

Zoya Giada

Zoya Giada

Zoya Giada

Zoya Giada

Zoya Giada

Zoya Giada

Zoya Giada

As with Ember, Zoya has previously released polishes that are similar to Giada. Belinda and Suri are two that I've seen compared to Giada, and Sassy Shelly has a swatch stick comparison photo of all three in her Flair comparison post, here. Judging from that photo, Giada would be my pick of the three for its wonderful purple glow.

I really love this polish. It's so deep and regal and... perfect! It just sends me! I can't remember the last time I felt this strongly about a mainstream purple. If you don't have a purple in your collection that you adore, here's a candidate for the position. And if you're wondering which of the Flair collection to get, don't pass this one up. It's fantastic!

love,
Liz