Essie "Pop Art Pink"

Good afternoon everyone! Today I have a swatch of Essie's "Pop Art Pink" which came out with the Art of Spring Collection earlier this year. Essie describes this color as "a sheer chiffon pink" which sounds accurate to me. It's a light milky semi sheer pink. I say semi sheer because as you can see in the photos I was able to achieve opacity with 3 coats. Note though if your nails are any longer than this you will probably have more trouble achieving opacity and will have to deal with the dreaded visible nail line (I had this on longer nails before and 3 coats still had some VNL).

I think this would make nice pedi color for those times when you want something sort of neutral on your tootsies.

The formula was okay, better to work with than some of the others in the collection. It wasn't too think so it didn't make too much of a mess.



I probably won't wear this one too often. Maybe once I find employment I will rock this in the office but daily it's not really for me. I prefer a more opaque baby pink like China Glaze's "Something Sweet". I just cannot deal with any VNL.

Disclosure: "Pop Art Pink" was furnished to me by Essie for consideration. All reviews published on this blog are at my own discretion. Please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

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100 + Followers/Birthday Giveaway WINNER

Thank you to everyone who entered my 100 followers giveaway!!! There were 148 comments on that giveaway and the winner was selected using random.org. I entered 148 into the random number generator asking it to select a number between 1 and 148. The number selected was 23 so I counted down to the 23rd comment to select the winner.

And the winner is......

VANESSA!

Congratulations Vanessa. I will email you after I post this and you'll have 48 hours to respond with your mailing address so I can ship your prize off to you.

Thanks again to everyone who entered. If you don't win this time don't fret, I plan to have another contest just as soon as I can scrape some more money together for prizes (LOL). I appreciate all of my wonderful readers so keep reading and please keep commenting because the comments are what make blogging truly fun!!!

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Essie "Lilacism" and "Carnival"

Essie "Lilacism" is a gorgeous lilac creme color which came out with the Art of Spring Collection. You know me and my cremes and a purple creme = perfection. This color is absolutely stunning!!

As far as the formula on this one is concerned I am a little less enthusiastic. Since this color is essentially a pastel it's thick and pigmented and not too fun to work with. I found it to be pretty goopy and just overall a bit messy. I was able to achieve opacity in just two coats but it was difficult to be neat with this one. I have had trouble with other pastels so I kind of expected to really have to work with this one. Not a huge big deal but not fun either.

Don't worry, these should be the last pics I have waiting to post with that dreaded broken nail!

So then I went shopping with my sister in laws and this girl working at this salon supply store saw me eying Essie's "Carnival" and she said "ohhhh I have that on right now over Lilacism" and showed me her nails... SOLD! It looked so good! So I grabbed it with the intention to bite her style.

I wish "Carnival" photographed properly. It's essentially a rainbow holo glitter in a clear base. When it photographs it looks like silver glitter but I assure you it's rainbow for sure. It looks amazing in the right lighting. My husband and I went out to eat and my nails just sparkled in the dim lighting of the restaurant. Also, I got so many compliments on my nails when I wore this and it was just such an easy combo.

Pretty huh?! I like it. So what do you think of these two together?

Disclosure: "Lilacism" was furnished to me by Essie for consideration, I purchased "Carnival Lights" with my own money. All reviews published on this blog are at my own discretion. Please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

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OPI "Azure for Sure" with NYC "Starry Silver Glitter"

It's my birthday! :-) Don't forget to enter my birthday giveaway here! Good luck!

Last week CVS has NYC products BOGO and there was a $1 off coupon floating around the internet so I got 4 NYC nail polishes I'd otherwise never get for FREE. Yes, free. The polishes were $0.99 and BOGO so with 2 $1 off coupons 4 polishes were free. Can't beat free.

So this weekend I played around with the "Starry Silver Glitter" from NYC and thought it would go well with a polish I have had in my collection for many many years OPI's "Azure for Sure". I think the result is more of a winter wonderland look, not so great for this time of year, but cute none the less.

"Azure for Sure" is a fairly sheer frosty cerulean blue. If I was wearing it alone I'd need 3 or more coats for opacity but since I was topping it with the glitter I used 2 coats and it was fine. This bottle of OPI is so old it has the old thinner brush. hahaha ANCIENT.

The NYC glitter is a mixture of a fine holographic glitter and larger blue particles set in a clear base. I am going to say it'd be IMPOSSIBLE to make this one opaque but it's a nice topper. I love the holographic glitter in it. I love anything that flashes rainbow like that.

See what I mean? I think this is more of a winter type look but pretty nonetheless. :-)

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You say you want a Revvvolution.... Color Club "Revvvolution"

Color Club's "Revvvolution" is a really pretty black holo. I went shopping with my sister in laws last weekend and I was on a mission to find this one and I scoured the shelves of this beauty salon store only to come up empty handed... well I was telling my sister in law (future sister in law???) Bridget that I wanted this color and what it looked like and she found it buried behind a bunch of other colors on the display! Go Bridget!!

I like this color but I really was hoping for a stronger holo affect. It's holo, don't get me wrong but I wanted more. In the sunshine this color does look like an oil slick, it's sort of subtle but it's really beautiful. I think I need to get my hands on Diamond Cosmetics "Chainmail Charm" I think, from the photos I have seen, that one has a stonger more prominent holo affect.

The formula on this is fine. It was easy to work with. I make a mess with dark colors and I did with this one too. I had lots of clean up which is fine but since it's dark I have a bit of staining. Oh well.



I am still on the hunt for the perfect holo. What's your favorite?!?

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Zoya Nail Polish Exchange 2010

I think it's really cool that Zoya does this. I think this year I might have to take advantage of this and trash the polishes in my collection that get no love or are thick and icky and get myself some new Zoyas. This is a great deal because Zoya can be pricey! So stock up peeps and tell me what you get in the comments:

Zoya Nail Polish Exchange*

Keep the planet a little bit greener one bottle of nail polish at a time!

Announcing the 2010 Zoya Nail Polish Exchange. For a limited time, kicking off on Earth Day (April 22, 2010 - 12 PM EST), Zoya Nail Polish will exchange your old, out-of-style, unwanted nail color and replenish your nail polish supply with fresh Zoya fashion colors. Simply send in six or more bottles of old polish - any brand other than Zoya, Qtica or Nocti, new or used - and we'll send you the new Zoya colors of your choice in a bottle-for-bottle exchange.

That's right - no exceptions, no questions. All you pay is $3.50 per bottle to cover shipping and processing. Choose from over 300 formaldehyde, toluene, camphor and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) free, long-lasting, award winning, healthy colors to replace your old color! Zoya will properly dispose of your old polish according to EPA guidelines.

* Any brand other than Zoya, Qtica or Nocti. New or used, empty or full. Minimum of six bottles. Send with the required shipping, processing fees and documentation to have the old color disposed of according to EPA guidelines and to qualify for NEW Zoya Nail Polish at no charge. Shipping and processing fees required for exchange. Restrictions apply. Available in continental US only. Limited time offer. Exchange ends June 30th, 2010.

All images and information were provided directly by PR. I am committed to sharing true and accurate information with my readers. I only post direct from the source to avoid rumors.Pin It Now!

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Upcoming Collections: Essie 2010 Resort Collection. Swatches Part II: "Playa Del Platinum" and "Splash of Grenadine"

Today is Part II of the Essie Resort Collection swatches. I have "Playa Del Platinum" and "Splash of Grenadine". Again, excuse the broken middle finger.

"Playa Del Platinum" is described by Essie as "an elegant and sherry sandy gray". I don't think it's really sheer at all (thank God)! It's a gorgeous light gray creme color. It has more white to it than a true gray it's more concrete I guess. I love it. It's super chic. It's unlike any color in my collection lighter than any gray I have and less brown than the taupes.

I think this color is also work/interview appropriate. It's a little outside the box for that but it's inoffensive and I think would work in most environments.

The formula on this one, like the rest of the collection, is perfect. I find it to be easy to work with and I got opacity in 2 coats, some might like to go for 3 but I didn't think it was necessary.




Essie describes "Splash of Grenadine" as "a playful magenta pink" and I think it's a pretty accurate description. It's difficult to find a unique pink but I think Essie has created one in this color. I have nothing like this and it's truly beautiful. I think I might even have to purchase a back up. This color is that pretty to me. LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! Again, work appropriate but not boring at all.

Again, amazing quality formula. Easy application, great shine. LOVE it!!!!!!!








So let's recap, shall we?



Overall I think that Essie hit the ball out of the park with this collection. I like every single color, which I guess is not difficult when you only have four colors, however it's rare for me to say that. I also think that, with perhaps the exception of "Lapis of Luxury" we have some really unique colors here. That's hard to do so kudos to Essie.

The formula on each of these is outstanding. Sometimes Essie can be hard to work with (Van D' Go for example) but these are fantastic, easy to apply, smooth and shiny. Love these polishes. A+ for sure. :-)



Are you planning to get any of these? Let me know your favorite in the comments!!!

Disclosure: This collection was furnished to me by Essie for consideration. All reviews published on this blog are at my own discretion. Please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

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Upcoming Collections: Essie 2010 Resort Collection. Swatches Part I: "Lapis of Luxury" and "Turquoise & Caicos"

Today I am bringing you 1/2 of the Essie Resort Collection: "Lapis of Luxury" and "Turquoise & Caicos". Enjoy! (Please excuse my broken middle finger nail :( )

"Lapis of Luxury" is described by Essie as "a dreamy ocean blue". I think this color is a nice dusty sort of cornflower blue high gloss creme. It's really quite pretty and I think will be one of the popular ones in the collection.

The formula on this (and the rest of the collection surprisingly) is impeccable. I love how these all just glide on. I did not have a bit of trouble applying this at all. It was opaque in just 2 coats and the finish was really beautiful and shiny. Essie seems to be hit or miss formula wise but this is a great hit in my book. Smooth and just perfect.

Here's a look at the color in the regular sunshine and in direct sun:

As soon as I saw this color I thought of Orly "Snowcone" from their spring collection. Sure enough when I pulled it out it was quite similar indeed. I did a little swatching to show you the two side by side:

As you can see they are nearly identical. Here's my 2 cents on these. The Orly is highly pigmented and if you're careful in application you're able to achieve maximum opacity in just one coat, however I found the Orly a little difficult to work with because it's so pigmented and thick. I prefer the slightly thinner formulation the Essie polish offers. It's really just a matter of personal preference. They're similar in price in stores, you're likely to pay $6.99 for the Orly and $8 for the Essie so it's a tossup. If you love the color and can only get your hands on one or the other I'd say they are close enough to be considered dupes. Essie wins out in my book because the formula is superior and the shiny finish just sends it over the edge for me. Hope this helped.

Now on to a different island... this is "Turquoise & Caicos" I believe this polish will be the most popular one in the collection and I am telling you, at least in my collection, this one is unique and beautiful!

"Turquoise & Caicos" is described by Essie as "a flirty and pretty tropical aqua". It's a really great color and one I find to be quite unique among the aqua/teal/green/blue colors in my collection.

Again, the formula is outstanding on this one. It's almost jelly like but not quite. It required three coats for maximum opacity and the final result is gorgeous. I say it's almost jelly like because the finish is pretty and squishy looking but it is not at all transparent so it's not really a jelly. It's just a perfect high gloss creme. I love it!

I pulled a few polishes that are in the same color family but I didn't do actual swatches. I hope you find the bottle comparisons helpful. As you can see there really is no dupe in my collection.

First we have China Glaze's "Four Leaf Clover" and Essie's "Turquoise & Caicos" these are not even close at all. The China Glaze is more green and darker (even more so in real life):

Next I have China Glaze's "Re-Freshmint" and Essie's "Turquoise & Caicos". As you can see "Turquoise & Caicos" is not a mint green. It's more blue than mint but it's not blue if that makes sense:

Now we have China Glaze's "For Audrey" and Essie's "Turquoise & Caicos" these look closer in the bottle but they are not dupes. You all know what "For Audrey" looks like on the nails so see my "Turquoise & Caicos" swatches above and you'll know they are not the same. "For Audrey" is more on the pastel side, it's lighter than "Turquoise & Caicos" and more baby blue-ish.

And finally just a shot with it in the middle to give you an idea of where it is on the color spectrum:

I hope this helped you. Stay tuned tomorrow for the other two polishes in this collection. I love these colors and I think many of you will too.

This collection is supposed to be available in May but I think it's available right now. I saw it at Ulta (we finally got an Ulta in my state!!!!) and I think you can get it HERE too.

Disclosure: This collection was furnished to me by Essie for consideration. All reviews published on this blog are at my own discretion. Please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

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Upcoming Collections: Essie 2010 Resort Collection

Essie has a fantastic collection coming in May, the Resort Collection. While this collection is small with only four colors I think you'll all be excited about it because the four colors are all gorgeous and unique, have a look:


Here's what the company has to say about this collection:

I am excited to share these colors with you as I think this is such a gorgeous color palette. Next week I will feature swatches of all four of the colors for you, but until then here's a sneak peak of the collection.


I think this collection is out of the box for Essie which is a company known for their sheer girlie pinks. I think you'll be impressed with both the color and the formulation of these polishes. The colors are all stunning, I cannot wait to share swatches. Stay tuned next week!!!

Have you got your eye on any of these? They will be available in May and retail for $8.

Disclosure: This collection was furnished to me by Essie for consideration. All reviews published on this blog are at my own discretion. Please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

All images and information were provided directly by PR. I am committed to sharing true and accurate information with my readers. I only post direct from the source to avoid rumors.Pin It Now!

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