Essie Summer 2019 Collection - Swatches & Review

It has been a looooong time since I have purchased any polishes from Essie.  In fact, the last collection from Essie I grabbed was the Fall 2017 collection.  I honestly didn't realize it had been that long but that's what my blog is telling me.  I'm not really 100% sure why I haven't purchased any in the recent years - it will either be a lack of interest or a lack of money....or perhaps a combination of the two.  Anyway, I saw the new Summer Collection and this collection spoke to me so I had to have it....

Claim To Flame is described as a burnt red-orange.  I think there is a discrepancy with the name of the polish.  My bottle is labeled as "Claim To Flame" but the Essie website lists it as Claim To Fame.  Anyway, I'm really not sure how I feel about this colour.  It definitely is unique in my collection.  The formula is amazing though.  You could get away with one coat if you were in a pinch.  My swatch shows two coats.

In Full Swing is described as a neon peachy nude.  I love this one!  When I first saw it I was a little on the fence but on the nails I love it.  I think it would look even better with a tan.  The formula is great - it was a little patchy on the first coat but evened out beautifully on the second coat.

Soles On Fire is a tangerine orange.  I love the colour of this one.  This is definitely a great colour for summer (says the girl who is basically in winter at the moment).  I did find that this one was a little streaky on the first coat, and was still uneven on the second.  I used three coats for my swatch.

Strike A Rose is a hot neon pink with coral undertones.  This is such a gorgeous colour.  Formula wise it is easy to use but it is on the sheer side.  There is still a visible nail line so I used three coats for my swatch.

Take The Lead is a neon sky blue.  I love this one!  It is such a gorgeous colour and the formula is amazing.  You could get away with one coat if you were in a hurry as it applies evenly and is pretty opaque.  For my swatch I did use two coats.

Tangoed In Love is described as a neon purple.  I'm not convinced that this is a neon, but it's a bright mid toned purple.  I love this colour.  I think it is truly stunning - but it doesn't photograph accurately at all.  My pictures make it look a lot more blue than what it is.  The formula is awesome and applies like a dream.  I used two coats for my swatch but I think I should have used three coats as it is still a little see through at the tips for my personal taste.

I love this collection!  The formulas are all fantastic and the colours are gorgeous!

Essie Fall 2017 Collection - Swatches & Review

It is actually Spring here in Australia (and Melbourne has finally turned up the heat....well every now and again it does) but I have seen quite a few manis and pictures of Essie's Fall Collection and I just had to grab it for myself.  I have had it sitting in my swatch racks for quite some time now but I have only just got around to swatching it.

As If is described as a powdery periwinkle blue with a hint of red.  I am a really big fan of this colour.  I don't think I have anything like it in my collection.  The formula is easy to use and is opaque in two coats.

Dressed To The Nineties is described as a dark purple with a green-blue shimmer.  This one is quite pretty too.  I did wish that the shimmer was more obvious on the nails (so it looked more like it does in the bottle).  The formula is great and is opaque in two coats.

Girly Grunge is described as a soft silvery metallic with a light purple shine.  I think this is a nice colour but it does have visible brush strokes.  The formula is great and is so close to being a one coater.  There is a good chance that this one will stamp (I haven't tried though).  My swatch shows two coats.

Knee-High Life is described as deep wine red with purple undertones.  This is a gorgeous colour, especially for the cooler months.  The formula is awesome and it is close to a one coater.  I used two coats for my swatch.

Mixtaupe is described as a warm ivory with a dash of pink.  This is a great nude polish.  It does apply a little unevenly on the first coat, but evens out nicely on the second coat.

Saved By The Belle is described as a light baby pink with a subtle blue undertone.  I love this one!  I guess that probably doesn't come as a surprise.  I am such a sucker for pinks.  The formula is a little questionable.  It applies unevenly on the first coat, but evens out on the second.  I did use two coats for my swatch but I honestly am questioning whether I should have done a third coat.

I am a really big fan of this entire collection.  There isn't a polish in here that I don't like.  If I had to pick my top two favourites I would definitely pick Saved By The Belle and As If.

Essie Summer 2017 Collection - Swatches & Review

If you had asked me, say a week ago, how many Essie polishes I own I would have told you not many.  I learnt that this is in fact a lie.  I have a lot more than I really thought.  I nearly have a completely full drawer of them.  Shows how much attention I pay doesn't it?  In comparison to other brands that I own, my Essie collection is rather small.  Why I am telling you this?  Who knows.  I was putting away the polishes from the Summer 2017 Collection and it clicked to me just how many Essie polishes I have so I thought I would share.   Anyway, today I have the latest collection from Essie to share with you.  There are six polishes in this collection and they are inspired by decadent Parisian pastries.

Baguette Me Not is described as a lilac with pink undertones.  This one is definitely one of my favourites from this collection.  I think the colour is so beautiful and the formula is great, especially for such a light colour.  My swatch shows two coats.

Picture taken in light box

Blue-La-La is a sky blue creme.  This is the other one that I love from this collection.  Again the colour is gorgeous and the formula is great.  I used two (and a bit) coats for my swatch.  I say "a bit" because I did do a slightly thicker second coat so that it was more opaque.

Picture taken in light box

Eclair My Love is a bright berry toned red.  As we know, reds really aren't my thing so I don't really have much to say about this one.  It's easy to use and applies really evenly.  My swatch shows two coats.  This one is still slightly see through at the tips on two coats, so you may want to add a  third coat.

Picture taken in light box

Fondant Of You is an orange creme with a golden shimmer.  I think this is a nice colour, and the shimmer is quite nice.  The formula is ok, but it does apply unevenly.  My swatch shows three coats.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box with flash

S'il Vous Play is described as a pink metallic with purple undertones.  Now one would assume that I would like this polish, but sadly I don't.  It's quite sheer and it makes a huge mess (as you can see) as soon as you try to clean it up.  I think the more I tried the worse I made it.  I'm not a fan.  My swatch shows three coats, but again this is still see through at the tips.

Picture taken in light box

Sweet Souffle is described as a creamy white with a golden glow.  I this this polish is quite pretty (my pictures don't do it justice), however the formula isn't great.  It's sheer and applies so unevenly.  Next time I would definitely wear it over a white base.  My swatch shows three coats but it is still see through at the tips.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box with flash

There are definitely two stand outs in this collection for me - Blue-La-La and Baguette Me Not.  Both of these shades are gorgeous and have great formulas.  I actually wore both as a full mani and plan on doing some nail art with them soon.  

Will you be grabbing any of the Essie Summer Collection?

Essie Spring 2017 Collection - Swatches & Review

Sometimes you see a collection and you know that you just have to have it.  This happens to me a lot especially with Spring and Summer Collections.  I am such a super for bright and light coloured polishes.  Anyway, Essie's Spring Collection is one of those collections that were calling for me to get it.  I saw so many pictures and swatches of this collection (I'm sure they were stalking me!) and I couldn't skip over it.  Fast forward to now and I have swatched/worn the entire collection and can share all my thoughts with you.

All The Wave is described as a sapphired indigo.  I love the look of this one in the bottle, but found it was a little dark on my nails (I think that was more my expectation of it more than anything else).  I think it's a really nice colour (although I wish it was a little lighter or brighter to make it more spring like).  The formula is also really good.  With a careful application, you could get away with one coat.  I used two coats for my swatch.

Backseat Besties is described as a delicate pink plumeria.  I love this one.  I am actually wearing it as a full mani now.  I have also grabbed for it a few times now.  Such a gorgeous colour and it has a good formula.  My swatch shows two coats.

B'aha Moment is described as a pink pomegranate.  Again, this one is a really pretty colour with a good formula.  I used two coats for my swatch.

Designated DJ is described as a plum sangria creme.  I think this is a nice vampy colour but for me it does not belong in a spring collection.  This is a shade that I would expect (and would wear) in Autumn/Winter.  The formula is great and is opaque in two coats.

Excuse Me, Sur is described as a sun-kissed coral mango.  I was a little on the fence about this colour when I first put it on.  I wasn't sure if I like it on my nails.  But I wear it as a full mani and feel in love with it.  The formula is easy to use.  I used two coats but questioned whether I should do a third coat.

On The Roadie is described as a vibrant kelly green.  Personally I am not a fan of this one as a full nail colour, however I think that it is perfect for nail art.  The formula is great and is opaque in two coats.

Overall I like this collection, but wished that some of the colours weren't as dark as what they are.  The formulas across the polishes are good and so easy to use.  I know sometimes Essie's can be a little tricky to apply especially with the thin brushes (Essie polishes in Australia have a wide brush which are amazing!) but I didn't have any issues with the thin brush in these polishes.  My personal favourite from this collection (if you couldn't guess) is Backseat Besties.

What do you think about this collection?

Essie Shimmer Brights Collection - Swatches & Review

Essie have recently released their Spring 2017 Collection (which I do have but haven't had a chance to swatch yet - but I will be soon) but I thought now was a great time to share with you their Shimmer Brights Collecton (or Bright Shimmer - I have seen this collection being called a few different ways now)  from last year.  I am slowly making my way through all of my polish purchases from 2016 and this collection was in the mix.  

Aim To Misbehave is a yellow shimmer.  This polish is Essie's 1000th polish and comes with a special metallic printed cap.  I think that's kinda cool that they did something special to celebrate.  Sadly, I am not a fan of this colour or the formula.  I found it to be streaky and sheer.  For my swatch I used three coats.

All Hands On Deck is an emerald green shimmer.  This one has a better formula than Aim To Misbehave, however it is still see through at the tips after two coats.

Catch Of The Day is an blue shimmer.  I think this one has one of the best formulas in this collection.  It applies evenly and is a nice colour.  It isn't super shimmery on the nails and gives more like a sheen than a shimmer.  My swatch shows two coats.

DJ On Board is a purple shimmer.  This polish is the other polish that has a good formula and is easy to use.  Again, it's not super shimmery and has more of a sheen to it.  I used two coats for my swatch.

Seen On The Scene is a pink shimmer.  I think this is a nice colour.  It is a little on the sheer side and is slightly see through at the tips on two coats (as shown in my swatch).  I probably should have done a third coat for this one.

Sexy Plunge is an orange shimmer.  The formula of this one is easy to use, however it does apply unevenly.  I used three coats for my swatch.

Overall, I don't particularly care for this collection.  It isn't overly exciting and the formulas really aren't great.  It's definitely a bit of a meh collection for me.

Did you pick up any of these polishes?

Essie Summer Style 2016 (Part) Collection - Swatches & Review

PRESS SAMPLE

 

In case you weren't aware Essie Australia release the Essie polishes based on our seasons, and not the US seasons which means that we are usually about a year behind with the collections.  I have been eagerly awaiting the release of the Viva Antiqua Collection, however I was informed that Australia won't be receiving this collection.  Instead, Essie Australia have created their own set of Summer shades from the core range - Mint Candy Apple, Ballet Slippers, Resort Fling, Watermelon, Fifth Avenue and Aruba Blue.  I have three of the six shades to share with you today.

Mint Candy Apple is described as a creme de menthe mint.  I actually already own this polish, well so I thought.  I have a Mint Candy Apple polish in my Essie Collection, however it is a different shade to this one.  It's got a blue tone to it.  Anyway, this is a nice mint colour and the formula is great.  I used two coats for my swatch.

Resort Fling is described as a creamy coral peach.  I think this is a nice colour and it applies really evenly, however it is a bit sheer for my person taste.  I used four coats for my swatch.

Watermelon is described as a juicy red.  This definitely has a pink-ish tone to it (my camera makes it look more red than it does in person).  Anyway, I think this is a pretty colour and the formula is great.  It applies really evenly.  My swatch shows three coats, but you can easily do two coats.  I just wasn't entirely convinced it was opaque.

While I am a little disappointed that Australia missed out on some new Essie's I do quite like these polishes.  The formulas are great and they are easy to work with.

The polishes along with other polishes in Essie's core range are available from Priceline and select pharmacies. 

 

Essie Neon 2016 Collection - Swatches & Review

It's summer which means lots of bright manis coming my way (not that the season really stops me but still).  Anyway, I ordered the Essie Neon Collection quite some time ago now and actually started swatching it not long after I received it.  For one reason or another it kept being bummed off my blog planner...until now!  I finally finished swatching the collection and now I can share all my thoughts with you.  So let's get into it before I start babbling on.

Now before I get into the individual polishes I should point out that there is also a white primer base coat that you and purchase.  I decided not to buy this as I figured any white base would do.  Now all of these polishes do apply unevenly, some more than others and some to even out.  As you can see from my pictures not all of them even out completely.

Gallery Girl is a coral pink.  I like the colour of this one.  My swatch shows two coats, however I think a third coat could have evened it out some more.  It didn't look this uneven in person.  Or maybe I need to get my eyes checked again?

In It To Wyn It is described as a turquoise blue.  This isn't turquoise to me at all.  It's definitely just a blue.  This one is definitely the most uneven of the bunch.  My swatch shows three coats.

Mark On Miami is described as an ember orange.  I'm a fan of this one.  It also has one of the most even formulas of this collection.  I used two coats for my swatch.

Off The Wall is a bright pink.  No surprise that I like this colour.  I used two coats for my swatch.

Stencil Me In is a citrus lime.  This one also applies quite evenly.  My swatch shows two coats.

The Fuchsia Of Art is a magenta.  This is a nice colour, but the formula is really uneven.  My swatch shows two coats.

Overall, I think the colours are nice (although I'm not sure why they needed the pink and the coral - they are a bit too similar for my liking) but I don't think I would wear them as a full mani.  The formulas are way to uneven and honestly it's a lot of effort for something that doesn't look great.  Do I regret buying this collection?  Not at all.  These colours look amazing in nail art and you can bet you will be seeing them a lot.

What do you think of this collection?

Essie Spring 2016 Collection - Swatches & Review

Sometimes you just happen to stumble across collections that grabs your attention (apparently it happens quite a lot for me lol) and the new Essie Spring Collection did just that.  I saw it on their Instagram page back in September and I knew I had to have it.  Mind you it took me a little while to actually grab it but I have it now and now I can share all of my thoughts about it with you.

High Class Affair is a blush nude creme.  I think this is a nice colour in the bottle but I am not so sure I like it on me.  Formula wise it's easy to work with, however does apply a little unevenly on the first coat.  My swatch shows two coats.

Lounge Lover is a pink peach creme.  I think this is a great Spring colour.  It's bright without being over the top (and definitely not a neon) and is just a really nice colour.  The formula is easy to use and is opaque in two coats.

Off Tropic is a grove green creme.  This is definitely a green I would grab out for Christmas.  The formula is fantastic.  It applies evenly, and is really easy to work with.  You could even get away with one coat.  I used two coats for my swatch.

Pool Side Service is described as a cerulean blue creme.  Now this polish really surprised me.  I absolutely love it!  I think it is such a awesome colour.  It's not really what I would call a Spring colour but I still love it.  It's definitely unique in my collection.  The formula is awesome and you could easily get away with one coat.  I used two coats for my swatch.

Shades On is a violet creme.  It really goes without saying that I really like this one.  The formula is great and has a nice even coverage, and it's opaque in two coats.

Sunshine State Of Mind is a coral tangelo creme.  This one is another one with a good formula.  It applies evenly and is opaque in two coats.

Overall I quite like this collection.  The formulas are great and are quite consistent, and there are some fantastic colours.  My personal favorites are Pool Side Service, Shades On and Lounge Lover.

What do you think of this collection?