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
November 29th, 2008 at 2:23 pmOoo these are so pretty! I might get the mini collection!
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Lehea says
November 29th, 2008 at 2:57 pmThose colors are gorgeous! Sexy Divide definitely screams out Prince. 😛
Katee says
November 29th, 2008 at 3:07 pmGorgeous!!!
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lindsay says
November 29th, 2008 at 3:28 pmI love Shift Power and Damsel in a Dress! They’re so pretty!
lexi says
November 29th, 2008 at 4:07 pmWant ‘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
November 29th, 2008 at 4:49 pmHi 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
November 29th, 2008 at 5:02 pmHi Lydia,
The mini collection looks really cute. It’ll be a nice stocking stuffer!
Karen says
November 29th, 2008 at 5:04 pmHi Lehea,
TOTALLY! When I did these swatches I *had* to listen to songs from Purple Rain. 🙂
Karen says
November 29th, 2008 at 5:05 pmHi Katee,
Yah! I think I might like this collection even more than their summer release, which I *loved*.
Karen says
November 29th, 2008 at 5:06 pmHi 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
November 29th, 2008 at 5:07 pmHi 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
November 29th, 2008 at 5:08 pmHi Karen Too!
Oh my gosh — how was the wedding? Did everything go smoothly? I hope so. Details, details!
Dao says
November 29th, 2008 at 5:11 pmWow, so pretty! I dig “Rock Star Skinny”!
Tiera says
November 29th, 2008 at 6:56 pmI normally don’t like nail polishes that are shimmery, but I have to get my hands on It’s Genius!
Holly says
November 29th, 2008 at 7:20 pmthese 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
November 29th, 2008 at 8:30 pmI’m loving Sexy Divide..The others are just kind of “meh” for me.
Rachel says
November 29th, 2008 at 11:01 pmrock 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
November 29th, 2008 at 11:56 pmI 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
November 30th, 2008 at 2:26 amWow, “sexy divide” and “shift power” are amazing!
gio says
November 30th, 2008 at 5:40 amThese are gorgeous!!
gio´s last blog post..New Collection: YSL The Bow Holiday 2008 Collection
Eru says
November 30th, 2008 at 5:49 amHey 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
November 30th, 2008 at 8:10 amyes, Karen, I loved loved loved those neons! Those were amazing!
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Karen B says
November 30th, 2008 at 9:37 amLove 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?
Karen B´s last blog post..What colour today?
Karen says
November 30th, 2008 at 10:02 amHi Dao,
Me too! It’s a fab holiday color. 🙂
Karen says
November 30th, 2008 at 10:02 amHi Tiera,
Yes! The subtle shimmer in that shade is very pretty.
Karen says
November 30th, 2008 at 10:02 amHi 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
November 30th, 2008 at 10:02 amHi Brittany,
If you wear Sexy Divide you absolutely have to listen to Prince. 🙂
Karen says
November 30th, 2008 at 10:02 amHi 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
November 30th, 2008 at 10:02 amHi Mariah,
I know! When I applied the second coat on my nails I said, “OOOoOOOOHHH!”
Karen says
November 30th, 2008 at 10:03 amHi 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
November 30th, 2008 at 10:03 amHi Gio,
I agree. 🙂 I really like this release!
Karen says
November 30th, 2008 at 10:03 amHi 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
November 30th, 2008 at 10:03 amHi Katee,
I know! The yellow shade from that release is my fave.
Karen says
November 30th, 2008 at 10:04 amHi 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
November 30th, 2008 at 10:31 amAs 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
November 30th, 2008 at 11:01 amHmmm. I do apply fluidline with a 210 brush. Is the applicator on the liquidlast similar?
Karen B´s last blog post..What colour today?
Catherine says
November 30th, 2008 at 1:51 pmAhh! Rock Star Skinny looks like exactly the color I’ve been searching for!
Karen says
November 30th, 2008 at 6:44 pmHi 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
November 30th, 2008 at 6:45 pmHi 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
November 30th, 2008 at 6:45 pmHi Catherine,
Yay! It’s really pretty in person. You’ll love it. 🙂
Karen B says
December 1st, 2008 at 12:08 pmThe 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
Karen B´s last blog post..What colour today?
Sammie says
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:54 pmooooooh. *drools* Must. Have. =D
Marisol says
December 3rd, 2008 at 4:58 pmThese are some great colors!
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