Splurge or Steal: Essie Neon Delivers Chanel Nail Colors for Less
Thu, 06/19/2008 by Karen | Posted in: Nails
I know I can’t be the only one out there drooling over the upcoming Chanel Robertson Boulevard limited edition nail polishes; the neon-bright shades in pink, purple, orange and yellow remind me of 1960’s pop art. I think they’ll look groovy on fingers and toes, but at $25 apiece, they sure aren’t budget friendly.
Let’s consider an option. If you’re lusting after Chanel’s upcoming Robertson Boulevard colors like I am, then Essie’s super hot Neon collection (just released this month) may help. I have yet to see the Robertson Boulevard colors in person (I’m basing this on the promo photos), so I can’t say exactly how close these Essie colors are to their apparent Robertson Boulevard equivalents, but the shades in both collections sure look close to me based on Chanel’s promo shots. And at a reasonable $8 apiece, you could buy all four Essie Neon shades for a total cost just a few dollars more than a single one of the Robertson Boulevard colors.
Essie’s Neon Collection…
Short Shorts - hot pink matte
Mini Shorts - neon highlighter orange matte
Shorty Pants - banana yellow matte
Bermuda Shorts - bright violet matte
What do ya think of the names? Aren’t they fun? I sort of wish Essie had included a shade called Booty Shorts, ha!
My favorite out of the four shades has to be Shorty Pants, the bright yellow. It reminds me of a perfectly ripe banana (sans brown spots).
All of the colors, with the exception of Mini Shorts, have that thick, high shine, classic finish Essie is known for. Mini Shorts doesn’t seem to be quite as shiny as the other shades are, and I’m not sure why that is, but a high shine top coat like Seche Vite should bring the shine up to par.
My Lippmann manicure is on its last legs now, so I’m going to paint my fingers and toes this weekend with one of these bright and happy Essie shades. Which color do you think I should use?
It’s going to be another hot one here in the Bay Area today. I hope it’s sunny where you are, too. 
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
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1. Dao said, on June 19th, 2008:
I luff the yellow number. I think Rihanna has been rocking that shade lately but maybe from CoverGirl since she’s a spokesperson. “Booty Short” LOL, I think you should write to Essie and suggest the name
2. Karen B said, on June 19th, 2008:
I voted for the violet. But the yellow is cute as well.
Karen Bs last blog post..Picspam for good luck - v2
3. Karen said, on June 19th, 2008:
Hi Dao,
Me too! It’s soooo hot in person. I can’t wait to throw some Seche Vite on top to make it ever shinier.
LOL, yeah, Booty Shorts should be in that collection!
4. Karen said, on June 19th, 2008:
Hi Karen B.,
I like the violet too, because it’s very rock star. I could probably pull it off on my toes!
How’s your day been? Did you get your exam results yet?
5. rachel said, on June 19th, 2008:
OOOooo I want me some bermuda shorts! I’m such a sucker for purple…
By the way Karen, after your post on the Lippmann manicure, i went out and bought myself Pop Life, a summery bright pink. The quality is amazing! It stays on forever! I just wish they had more colors to choose from
Thanks for wasting my money!
Rach
6. Missy said, on June 19th, 2008:
I love all of the colors…except the yellow.
7. Glosslizard said, on June 19th, 2008:
I like Short Shorts and Shorty Pants! I can’t do the yellow though, it makes my skin look all ruddy! Bleah! I’ll just admire it on other people!
I was thinking the same thing about this Essie collection echoing the Robertson Blvd polishes! Unfortunately, I don’t think Bermuda Shorts is very much like Rodeo Drive (based on the pics) so I’ll just have to wait and shell out for that!
8. Jess said, on June 19th, 2008:
I said Shorty Pants. That is the brightest yellow polish I have seen! How did they even make it so bright, it’s blinding. I love it.
9. tickledpink said, on June 19th, 2008:
I just bought the yellow- Shorty Pants and the pink- Short Shorts. I have the pink just on my toes. I didn’t realize how bright the pink was till I stepped out of the shower. I put some self tanner on my feet, and it didn’t look too neon pink anymore. Love the new Essie colors! I like the purple too!:)
tickledpinks last blog post..A Lawn Chair???
10. Karen said, on June 19th, 2008:
Hi Rachel,
Girl, you know I can’t keep a good thing under wraps! I gotta share it all with you!
I haven’t tried Pop Life, but since I loves me some pink I will “research” that soon (LOL).
BTW, I’m really lovin’ on Lippman’s Addicted to Speed Top Coat (bought it right after my mani). It’s very shiny, dries fast, and keeps the chips away. Not to tempt ya or anything.
11. Marisol said, on June 19th, 2008:
I like Bermuda Shorts.
It is hot where I live. Supposed to be in the very high 90s.
Marisols last blog post..How to Contour and Highlight your Cheeks
12. Miss QQ said, on June 19th, 2008:
I voted for Shorty Pants because it is so cute but I don’t know where to get Essie locally. It makes me want to get MAC Phosphor now (I bought Neon 8). I think I should save for Chanel Fall and Holiday nail colors though, with Gold Fiction, Kaleidoscope and Fantastic in my KIV list. Argh!
13. Amanda said, on June 19th, 2008:
yellow! I have zoya creamy (bright yellow) on my toesies right now. I don’t know if I could pull it off on my fingers, but I do luuurve it on the toes.
As for comparing to the Chanel, yeah, looks close and I can’t imagine spending that much on nailpolish. (but will the chanel have the shimmer some of the other shades are know for?)
14. kris said, on June 19th, 2008:
I like all of these and Essie overall, but now I am a fiend for China Glaze nailpolishes since you pointed them out to me. You put glitter on to nails and it screams fun!
15. Karen said, on June 19th, 2008:
Hi Missy,
Aww, no love for the Shorty Shorts? I didn’t think I’d like it either, but once I put it on I was surprisingly moved.
Are you a bright nail color person?
16. Karen said, on June 19th, 2008:
Hi Glosslizard,
Yeah, I dunno if these are exact matches, but the idea is more or less the same. I am still looking forward to seeing the Chanel polishes. Now that I’m all about the yellow I can’t wait to see the fancy Chanel equivalent.
17. Karen said, on June 19th, 2008:
Hi Jess,
I know, right? It’s going to be so hawt with some shiny Seche Vite on top.
18. Karen said, on June 19th, 2008:
Hi Tickled Pink,
They are definitely fun. Oh, and I agree — the shades look great with a tan. How do you feel about the orange? It’s probably my least favorite one.
19. Karen said, on June 19th, 2008:
Hi Marisol,
Oy, that’s hot! I used to live in a town where it was hot like that (90s and the 100s) during the summer. It was dry heat though, and that made it a bit more bearable. Is it humid or dry ’round your way?
20. Karen said, on June 19th, 2008:
Hi Miss QQ,
Oh crap! Maybe you can order it online. Or maybe I you can call Nordstrom. I know they carry Essie on the website; if you call a Nordie’s store they can ship internationally (at least I know the one on Oahu does).
21. Karen said, on June 19th, 2008:
Hi Amanda,
I bet Shorty Shorts is gonna look super cute on the toes, woot! It think will match the tan… gotta take advantage of the post vacation color before it goes away.
It’s gonna kill me to shell out the $ for the Chanel, but I might just have to ’cause of the collector’s limited edition factor. And I gotta admit, curiosity is driving me BIG TIME as well. There’s so much hype surrounding the release and I wanna know why everyone’s going NUTS!
22. Karen said, on June 19th, 2008:
Hi Kris,
Oh sweet! China Glaze has lots of fun colors. In fact, I went to a random beauty supply store while I was in Maui and found the biggest China Glaze display I’ve ever seen. It had so many colors to choose from and I even got a little drool-y.
23. LaurenIvy said, on June 19th, 2008:
I SOOO wish they had a color called “Booty Shorts”! I’m looking for a watermelon pink color, or a bright pinky coral color. Any ideas?
24. Lehea said, on June 19th, 2008:
Bermuda shorts would be the most wearable for me out of the 4. I’m usually a neutral lover, but that color is too cute! I have China Glaze 2Nite from the Text 2BKewl (was that it?) collection on my toes right now. I love how it looks holographic.
25. Karen said, on June 19th, 2008:
Hi LaurenIvy,
I have a few! On my toes right now is Lippmann’s It’s Delovely, a very bright pink coral matte.
For a watermelon pink, I really like Essie’s Guilty Pleasures or Movers and Shakers. You can see swatches here. I hope this helps.
26. Karen said, on June 19th, 2008:
Hi Lehea,
I love China Glaze shade! I bet your toes look super cute. Isn’t it cool to look down and see all the sparkles?
27. vivien said, on June 19th, 2008:
OMG I’M IN LOVE!! Def need to run to the nearest Ulta to get the pink, orange, and yellow! Is yellow nail polish on acrylics tacky?? I hope not cuz its gorgeous!! Glad I passed on phosphor from Neo Sci Fi!!
28. i♥makeup said, on June 19th, 2008:
Karen,
your nails look DELISH!
<3
i♥makeups last blog post..Make-up Breakdowns of Mumtaz Mahal and Jodhaa Bai
29. Karen said, on June 19th, 2008:
Hi Vivien,
No way! I think it’s going to look spunky! I predict you won’t be able to stop staring at your nails, girl.
30. Karen said, on June 19th, 2008:
Hi Iheartmakeup,
Thanks, lady! Are you gonna go for any of these bright shades?
31. Sanita said, on June 20th, 2008:
All lacquered up has the swatches.
32. Karen B said, on June 20th, 2008:
Yes, it wouldbe very rockstar that violet.
I’ll get my results on the 27th, so I’ll have to be a bit more patient
Karen Bs last blog post..Picspam for good luck - v2
33. Juli said, on June 20th, 2008:
OMG! Thank you so much Karen for those pictures!
I wanted to buy online this kit, but hesitated coz i hadn’t seen pics before on nails.. They are truly gorgeous !
Julis last blog post..Les deluxe shadows de Urban Decay..Yummy !
34. loe said, on June 20th, 2008:
I love this collection- bought the minis @ ulta for $15 bucks! They are also MUCH brighter than the pictures, at least they were on my nails. The orange is safety-cone orange, and the pink is like highlighter pink bright. The violet is a bit darker but I love it on my nails, and the yellow has gained my toes much attention!
35. Karen said, on June 20th, 2008:
Hi Sanita,
Thanks girl! I’ll head on over and check it out.
36. Karen said, on June 20th, 2008:
Hi Karen B.,
Oh, that’s just around the corner. You won’t have long to wait! What are you doing in the mean time? Just relaxing? I hope so!
37. Karen said, on June 20th, 2008:
Hi Juli,
You’re welcome! You’ll LOVE the yellow! It’s super gorgeous in person.
38. Karen B said, on June 22nd, 2008:
Yeah, a lot of relaxing. I went to train yesterday for the first time in more than a month. My muscles are so sore today but I’m still happy I went.
Well, a bird helping with household chores 
I do have two choir days which are so so exhausting (singing from 9 am til 5 pm tend to do that to a person) but apart from taht I’m free as a bird
Karen Bs last blog post..Picspam for good luck - v2
39. ali said, on June 23rd, 2008:
i LOVE neon colors & i LOVE how these look on you! i spent the whole night trying to find an online store that’ll ship overseas but i came up with nothing. needless to say i’m one depressed nailpolisholic
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