Well, cover me in jewels, and bring my royal scepter because the regal shades of rich purple, deep ruby and gold make the Essie Winter 2008 collection ($8 each) a royal tour de force!
The colors remind me of His Royal Purpleness, Prince, from the height of Purple Rain fame.
Bold and Beautiful: creamy ruby red
Damsel in a Dress: creamy deep berry
It’s Genius: shimmery purple with gold flecks
Rock Star Skinny: creamy blood red
Sexy Divide: shimmery violet
Shift Power: metallic gold
Pretty, yah? I used two coats of each shade for these swatches, and all of the shades applied smoothly and without streaks, except for Sexy Divide. She took a few tries to get right, applying unevenly and streaky until I applied her with thicker layers, which took took care of the problem but also took longer to dry.
Essie offers a little $3 discount on the entire set of six colors ($45 for the set, vs. $48 when purchased separately).
These are full size nail polishes (0.5 fluid oz.), but Essie is also offering a totally cute Mini Collection (0.16 fluid oz.) featuring Sexy Divide, Bold and Beautiful, It’s Genius and Rock Star Skinny for $18. That’s the deal I really like.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Lydia says
Ooo these are so pretty! I might get the mini collection!
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Lehea says
Those colors are gorgeous! Sexy Divide definitely screams out Prince. 😛
Katee says
Gorgeous!!!
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lindsay says
I love Shift Power and Damsel in a Dress! They’re so pretty!
lexi says
Want ‘it’s genius’!!! it’s the purple i am looking for- i bought OPI’s ‘yes i can-can’ and although it is pretty it’s more of deep brown based purple. the essie one looks like more of a true purple with just the right amount of darkness…LOVE!!!
Karen too says
Hi Karen! Have been gone for a while due to wedding, but now I’m back checking out the nail polishes! I love it’s genious and shift power! I wonder when I’ll get around to buying a gold nail polish… 😉
Karen says
Hi Lydia,
The mini collection looks really cute. It’ll be a nice stocking stuffer!
Karen says
Hi Lehea,
TOTALLY! When I did these swatches I *had* to listen to songs from Purple Rain. 🙂
Karen says
Hi Katee,
Yah! I think I might like this collection even more than their summer release, which I *loved*.
Karen says
Hi Lindsay,
OoOo… I think Shift Power might be one of my faves from the bunch! I think it’s going to look really great on toes. 🙂
Karen says
Hi Lexi,
Oh! I love the gold shimmer in that shade. It gives it some punch, but it’s not too OTT.
I can’t wait to pop a really shiny top coat on top of it. HOTNESS!
Karen says
Hi Karen Too!
Oh my gosh — how was the wedding? Did everything go smoothly? I hope so. Details, details!
Dao says
Wow, so pretty! I dig “Rock Star Skinny”!
Tiera says
I normally don’t like nail polishes that are shimmery, but I have to get my hands on It’s Genius!
Holly says
these colors are TOO cute! i hate being cold but i love winters jewel tones – they make me smile.
but i really wanted to tell you to try out max factors new 2000 calorie mascara. i saw it on Blush the other night and on my weekly trip to Ulta bought some. i noticed it thickened my lashes and curled them, and provided a bit of lengthening. unfortunately, after a few coats, it started getting clumpy. but with practice i think it’ll do great things!
Brittany says
I’m loving Sexy Divide..The others are just kind of “meh” for me.
Rachel says
rock star skinny will be mine! i’ve been looking for a deep dark red 🙂
while the others are awesome, i have colors similar
Mariah says
I have Damsel in a Dress, Sexy Divide, It’s Genius and Shift Power! I haven’t tried Sexy Divide yet, but I’m sure it’s going to be my fav. But really, It’s Genius blew me away! I thought it’d be boring, but WOW! It’s gorgeous!
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Ellery says
Wow, “sexy divide” and “shift power” are amazing!
gio says
These are gorgeous!!
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Eru says
Hey Karen!
I was wondering, what do you use to keep your nails healthy? Mines are not looking very well this winter 🙁
Oh, and Rock Star Skinny is just and amazing shade, and I love the name, LoL!
Hugs :3
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Katee says
yes, Karen, I loved loved loved those neons! Those were amazing!
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Karen B says
Love these. Damsel in a dress is my favourite 🙂
Oh and I’m thinking of getting my butt back into dance classes again. I’ve missed it so much. Just one question: does fluidline hold up through sweaty dance sessions?
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Karen says
Hi Dao,
Me too! It’s a fab holiday color. 🙂
Karen says
Hi Tiera,
Yes! The subtle shimmer in that shade is very pretty.
Karen says
Hi Holly,
Oh yah, that’s one of my old school favorites. Is it a completely new formulation? I really liked the old version.
Karen says
Hi Brittany,
If you wear Sexy Divide you absolutely have to listen to Prince. 🙂
Karen says
Hi Rachel,
It’s a great color! I hear ya about having a hard time finding a very deep, rich red. This one is spot on. 🙂
Karen says
Hi Mariah,
I know! When I applied the second coat on my nails I said, “OOOoOOOOHHH!”
Karen says
Hi Ellery,
Yah! I think they would even look good paired together, perhaps with Shift Power on the fingers and Sexy Divide on the toes.
Karen says
Hi Gio,
I agree. 🙂 I really like this release!
Karen says
Hi Eru,
I keep them pretty short (if they get too long I can’t type and they start to split) and I use a really good top coat. Do you have Seche Vite over there? That’s my favorite!
Karen says
Hi Katee,
I know! The yellow shade from that release is my fave.
Karen says
Hi Karen B.,
I think it does, as long as you don’t rub at your eyes. If you want really heavy duty liner MAC Liquidlast is another good option. I have trubs applying it, though… it’s not one of those products that you can just whip out and then go.
yadiq says
As much as the anti purple I am I am loving sexy divide is it luke a purpleish black with a metallic fleck to it?? I must say I think I am a purple convert LOL maybe I just won’t rock it at work (purple is our Corp color) I am also feeling the shift power gold I was a major fan of eddie summer too LOL I abused my assistant one day in search of the neon pink (short shorts ) she found it and I rewarded her patience with a bottle if it as well LOL it really wasn’t abuse she’s a makeup addict as well LOL
Karen B says
Hmmm. I do apply fluidline with a 210 brush. Is the applicator on the liquidlast similar?
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Catherine says
Ahh! Rock Star Skinny looks like exactly the color I’ve been searching for!
Karen says
Hi Yadiq,
That shade from the Neon Collection is awesome. I might have to bust it out, even though it’s totally not in season!
Sexy Divide has just a touch of pearl in it… very subtle! Are you going to send your assistant on another polish hunt on Monday? 😉
Karen says
Hi Karen B.,
It’s pointy, like the 209. You can probably spread some on the back of your hand and use the 210 to apply it, though.
It’s a liquid formula and I swear it doesn’t move for nothing! I put some on the back of my hand once just to see how long it would last and I swear it was on there for three days.
Karen says
Hi Catherine,
Yay! It’s really pretty in person. You’ll love it. 🙂
Karen B says
The 210 is about the same shape as the 209 so I guess I could just use the applicator that comes with liquidlast.
My skills at liner are becoming quite good btw 🙂 Only my left eye does tend to be not so perfect as my right eye…. lol
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Sammie says
ooooooh. *drools* Must. Have. =D
Marisol says
These are some great colors!
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