Essie Summer 2010 Swatches & Review
What’s that? It’s still summer. You’d never know that based on the number of fall collections that we’re being inundated with. Is it just me or do the fall colors seem to be coming out earlier? Maybe it’s because I’m really enjoying my summer and while I’m all about some of the Fall collections, I’m not ready for it to start just yet. The longer I can keep the Cleveland winter at bay, the better.
It seems like forever and a day since I previewed the Essie Summer 2010 collection. Oh that’s right, it has been forever and a day. Based on the pastels and florals spotted on the Spring/Summer runways, Essie has mixed soft hues with punchy brights. |
Formula & Application: Essie is a 3-Free brand. The brushes are thin, round and shorter than most. The bristles are very flexible, allowing you to easily fan out the brush to cover your nail width.
The polishes in this collection all have that squishy, jelly-like feel to them. Normally the word jelly causes my eyes to light up but in this case it’s a negative. The polishes seem pigmented enough but the texture keeps them from leveling properly and promotes streaking. I needed three coats with each polish and with some that still left patchiness. Also for some unknown reason Haute As Hello and Knockout Pout both dried with a satin finish so I photographed them with top coat.
Pretty Edgy is a vivid AstroTurf green. It’s so bright and in your face, it doesn’t look real. I love everything about this color even in spite of the fact that I needed three coats. The way the jelly texture gives it a slightly rubberized finish makes it a hit plus it’s a step outside the box for Essie so I say, “BRAVO!!”
I couldn’t help but do a comparison of this one. I had a feeling it might be close to CND Green Scene and I was right. The CND dries a bit deeper and has a creamier texture to it but they are close enough that you wouldn’t need both unless you’re a green girl like me. I knew OPI Jade Is The New Black wouldn’t be close but since so many of you own it, I thought you’d appreciate seeing them side by side.
Haute As Hello is a bright melon, coral. Like I mentioned above, it dries with a satin finish which makes me think there is some neon pigment in the base. If you look at the bottle you can see how it looks marbled. That’s because all the bright pigment separated leaving the polish looking dusty and pastel. I had to roll the heck out of it to get it mixed. The same thing happened with Knockout Pout.
Vermillionaire is a cross between tomato red and tangerine. It definitely looks orange but has a lot of red in it.
My bottle of butter London Chuffed was staring at me when I had this one so I slapped a couple coats on top for funsies. It doesn’t really change the color much, it just adds sparkle, like a CND Effect.
Knockout Pout is a deceptive hot pink. Like Haute As Hello, the pigment separated so I was expecting this pale pastel and was shocked to see it dry so bold. It actually reminds me a lot of CND Sweet.
Miss Matched is supposed to be worn sheer but since I don’t roll that way, I tried to see if it would become opaque with three coats. Um, no. It was a giant steak-fest so even worn sheer, it wouldn’t look good. My nails are in no shape to be rocking sheers so I didn’t even try to show it to you that way. This nude pink crossover is just a giant fail for me.
I had high hopes for Demure Vixen but it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. The shimmer in this beige mauve mix adds a pale lavender flash but it’s not enough to keep me interested. It’s fine but not great.
Bottom Line: Pretty Edgy gets a definite thumbs up from me but the rest of the collection gets a pass. I just can’t get excited by these based on the formula issues. Vermillionaire certainly surprised me and gets the runner up prize but, the rest just don’t thrill me. Considering how impressed I was with the Resort collection, I guess I just expected more from Summer.
The Essie Summer 2010 collection is on sale now. Essie polishes retail for $8/ea for a .5oz bottle. Shop online at EssieShop.com or buy in person at salons and spas nationwide including chains like Beauty Express, Regis, Trade Secret and ULTA.
What colors in this collection are calling your name? If you already picked some of these up, which ones? Am I alone in feeling underwhelmed?
I won’t be doing comparisons for this collection but if you have specific comparison questions, I’m happy to answer them.
Disclosure: Product samples were furnished by Essie. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.
Lisa N.
Ms Meatballhead
Birdie
Spa pediccure chairs
I’ve had a great time with Essie Haute as Hello. I wore it at the office and the beach and everybody loved the color. I shake it A LOT before applying. I bottom coat with L’Oreal Shock Proof. I apply 3 coats of Haute as Hello. Then i top coat with Seche Vite for a really long-lasting manicure.
I was so disappointed with Haute As Hello. I absolutely loved the color but when it dried I was really confused. Like… where’s the SHINY?! Even with my Seche top coat, it still looked dull. I’m definitely not satisfied recently with Essie’s formula or with the finish on this color. Lately I find myself turning to China Glaze.
Of course I love Pretty Edgy, but the others just don’t do it for me.
Knockout Pout was so bright once it dried on me that it was almost too much if that makes any sense. I guess it was just a day when I wasn’t prepared for such a bold look so I ended up layering some flakies over it instead.
I am really drawn to Knockout Pout – I keep trying to buy a pink like this, but every one that I pick up looks different from what I expect when it’s dry. It seems like this will fill that gap in my collection, so I plan to pick it up. Thanks for these summer collection swatches!
I just love this polishies. I bought Pretty Edgy och Demure Vixen.
I mean – I know I say this every time you post a green – but DANG I love that first color!!! Oh-la-la! Also – that Knockout Pout is AWESOME!
lastly
we need to meet up for drinks again soon – it’s been far too long!
Will you be getting / reviewing the fall Butter London collection?
I second that question! I’m dying to see swatches of Marrow and Victoriana especially! I’ve already ordered All Hail McQueen, but I’d still love to see swatches of that too. I’m holding out on buying Marrow and Victoriana until I’ve seen swatches of them.
I hope that didn’t sound rude — it was a little abrut. I hope you will be getting the BL collection. I would love to see them and some comps before I make a final committment
Pretty Edgy looks like it would be pretty similar to China Glaze Four Leaf Clover; how do those compare?
I have both and Four Leaf Clover dries more bright like a neon and Pretty Edgy is a jelly whereas FLC is not.
YAY! Thank you for doing this review. You have the best swatches (and prettiest nails!!). I own Knockout Pout and was a little annoyed by the formula myself. I thought my marbled bottle was just defective. I’m sad to learn that Haute as Hello has the same issues. Do you know of any dupes for Haute as Hello?
I bought Pretty Edgy and Haute As Hello and have been enjoying them both. It’s hard to find a soft coral, I think, so HAH has made me happy this summer.
A few of my Essie’s have seperated pigments too, Mint Candy Apple comes to mind, and I have the toughest time trying to keep it mixed. WTF? I guess it’s not only Essie because some other brands have seperated pigments too, but I find it annoying. I’m lazy and bad, so I don’t roll it, I just shake it ;(
I’m so glad that I’m not the only one who has trouble with the application of Essie polishes – you said it perfectly when you wrote that ‘the texture keeps them from leveling properly and promotes streaking.’ I’e bought several Essie polishes because I fell in love with the colors, but each and every time, the streakiness and unevenness is a huge problem.
I had high hopes for Demure Vixen based on the bottle as well. Boo
I got Demure Vixen for my mom and it looks very good on her. She has darker skin than yours though, so I guess it makes the violet shimmer stand out more. The rest of this collection gets a pass for me.
love this post i love essie nail polish and these new colours are soooo pretty , must get me some of these asap x
sophie-lou x
I like Vermillionare. Next time I buy Essie’s, I think I’ll definitely get it.
Demure Vixen looks gorgeous IMO
I like the demure vixen – i’d give it a whirl
Where was this post two months ago! LOL I had so many problems with Haute as Hello, I actually had the manicurist remove it and redo my nails with a different color, which lead me being late for work. Anyway it’s hard to apply I was able to find someone else to do my pedicure with this color, but it was tricky. I used Seche for a top coat and it was fine lasted me three weeks.
It’s a great color despite it’s flaws.
Hi Michelle:
It’s been quite a while now since I made a comment on your web blog. Love the swatches here, especially the green nail color comparisons. Never had a polish separate in the bottle before as you describe with Haute as Hello, the coral color looks yummy and your nails are more gorgoeus than ever.
I don’t understand why many women (including nail salons) shake up the bottle of nail polish before they apply it. I read that since nail varnish (polish) is a flammable liquid, that if you shake the bottle, bubbles of flammable vapor may appear.
These bubbles may also be transferred to your nails, and break after application wrecking your manicure. Rolling is the way to go however, I read your many fans still shake the nail polish bottles before applying, is this practice okay to use, shaking as opposed to rolling the nail polish bottle gently between your palms? What is your take on rolling vs. shaking?
Nameste.
Mc Huggs
The marble look in the bottles of KP and HAH looks so cool.
I recently acquired Pretty Edgy, Demure Vixen and Knockout pout. I haven’t tried KP yet, but I agree with everyone that the bottle is disturbingly neony/pastely pink. Odd, so I can’t wait to crack it open and see the real colour!
Pretty Edgy and Demure Vixen, can I just say, WOW. I mean, WOW!! As a green fanatic I was all over PE first and is is such a wonderfully bright grass green, GO ESSIE! Demure vixen was a surprise, I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did. It goes from a dusty darkish purple in some lights to a light, shimmery neutral in others.
Haute as Hello is on its way to me, excited to see this one in person (as I am still searching for the perfect coral).
I love that green must have it. Lol
I had trouble with Demure Vixen . Took me three coats to avoid streaks, and it was really light. I thought it would be a little more taupe and shimmery.
The “miss matched” looks like a hot color, even for summer 2013, the Demure Vixen is not one I would want to try, but im loving all these colors your trying out