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Essie Winter 2008 Nail Polishes: Her Royal Hotness

November 29th, 2008 by Karen 44 Comments

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

Essie Winter 2008 Nail Polishes: Her Royal Hotness / Originally published November 29th, 2008

There are 44 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Nails, Product Reviews

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lydia says

    November 29th, 2008 at 2:23 pm

    Ooo these are so pretty! I might get the mini collection!

    Lydia´s last blog post..Shop, Don’t Drop is Still Going On!

    Reply
  2. Lehea says

    November 29th, 2008 at 2:57 pm

    Those colors are gorgeous! Sexy Divide definitely screams out Prince. 😛

    Reply
  3. Katee says

    November 29th, 2008 at 3:07 pm

    Gorgeous!!!

    Katee´s last blog post..OPI 90210 Nail Polish Swatches

    Reply
  4. lindsay says

    November 29th, 2008 at 3:28 pm

    I love Shift Power and Damsel in a Dress! They’re so pretty!

    Reply
  5. lexi says

    November 29th, 2008 at 4:07 pm

    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!!!

    Reply
  6. Karen too says

    November 29th, 2008 at 4:49 pm

    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… 😉

    Reply
  7. Karen says

    November 29th, 2008 at 5:02 pm

    Hi Lydia,

    The mini collection looks really cute. It’ll be a nice stocking stuffer!

    Reply
  8. Karen says

    November 29th, 2008 at 5:04 pm

    Hi Lehea,

    TOTALLY! When I did these swatches I *had* to listen to songs from Purple Rain. 🙂

    Reply
  9. Karen says

    November 29th, 2008 at 5:05 pm

    Hi Katee,

    Yah! I think I might like this collection even more than their summer release, which I *loved*.

    Reply
  10. Karen says

    November 29th, 2008 at 5:06 pm

    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. 🙂

    Reply
  11. Karen says

    November 29th, 2008 at 5:07 pm

    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!

    Reply
  12. Karen says

    November 29th, 2008 at 5:08 pm

    Hi Karen Too!

    Oh my gosh — how was the wedding? Did everything go smoothly? I hope so. Details, details!

    Reply
  13. Dao says

    November 29th, 2008 at 5:11 pm

    Wow, so pretty! I dig “Rock Star Skinny”!

    Reply
  14. Tiera says

    November 29th, 2008 at 6:56 pm

    I normally don’t like nail polishes that are shimmery, but I have to get my hands on It’s Genius!

    Reply
  15. Holly says

    November 29th, 2008 at 7:20 pm

    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!

    Reply
  16. Brittany says

    November 29th, 2008 at 8:30 pm

    I’m loving Sexy Divide..The others are just kind of “meh” for me.

    Reply
  17. Rachel says

    November 29th, 2008 at 11:01 pm

    rock star skinny will be mine! i’ve been looking for a deep dark red 🙂
    while the others are awesome, i have colors similar

    Reply
  18. Mariah says

    November 29th, 2008 at 11:56 pm

    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!

    Mariah´s last blog post..Happy Turkey Day!!

    Reply
  19. Ellery says

    November 30th, 2008 at 2:26 am

    Wow, “sexy divide” and “shift power” are amazing!

    Reply
  20. gio says

    November 30th, 2008 at 5:40 am

    These are gorgeous!!

    gio´s last blog post..New Collection: YSL The Bow Holiday 2008 Collection

    Reply
  21. Eru says

    November 30th, 2008 at 5:49 am

    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

    Eru´s last blog post..Filming:Finished

    Reply
  22. Katee says

    November 30th, 2008 at 8:10 am

    yes, Karen, I loved loved loved those neons! Those were amazing!

    Katee´s last blog post..Essie Pama Nail Polish Giveaway

    Reply
  23. Karen B says

    November 30th, 2008 at 9:37 am

    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?

    Karen B´s last blog post..What colour today?

    Reply
  24. Karen says

    November 30th, 2008 at 10:02 am

    Hi Dao,

    Me too! It’s a fab holiday color. 🙂

    Reply
  25. Karen says

    November 30th, 2008 at 10:02 am

    Hi Tiera,

    Yes! The subtle shimmer in that shade is very pretty.

    Reply
  26. Karen says

    November 30th, 2008 at 10:02 am

    Hi Holly,

    Oh yah, that’s one of my old school favorites. Is it a completely new formulation? I really liked the old version.

    Reply
  27. Karen says

    November 30th, 2008 at 10:02 am

    Hi Brittany,

    If you wear Sexy Divide you absolutely have to listen to Prince. 🙂

    Reply
  28. Karen says

    November 30th, 2008 at 10:02 am

    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. 🙂

    Reply
  29. Karen says

    November 30th, 2008 at 10:02 am

    Hi Mariah,

    I know! When I applied the second coat on my nails I said, “OOOoOOOOHHH!”

    Reply
  30. Karen says

    November 30th, 2008 at 10:03 am

    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.

    Reply
  31. Karen says

    November 30th, 2008 at 10:03 am

    Hi Gio,

    I agree. 🙂 I really like this release!

    Reply
  32. Karen says

    November 30th, 2008 at 10:03 am

    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!

    Reply
  33. Karen says

    November 30th, 2008 at 10:03 am

    Hi Katee,

    I know! The yellow shade from that release is my fave.

    Reply
  34. Karen says

    November 30th, 2008 at 10:04 am

    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.

    Reply
  35. yadiq says

    November 30th, 2008 at 10:31 am

    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

    Reply
  36. Karen B says

    November 30th, 2008 at 11:01 am

    Hmmm. I do apply fluidline with a 210 brush. Is the applicator on the liquidlast similar?

    Karen B´s last blog post..What colour today?

    Reply
  37. Catherine says

    November 30th, 2008 at 1:51 pm

    Ahh! Rock Star Skinny looks like exactly the color I’ve been searching for!

    Reply
  38. Karen says

    November 30th, 2008 at 6:44 pm

    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? 😉

    Reply
  39. Karen says

    November 30th, 2008 at 6:45 pm

    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.

    Reply
  40. Karen says

    November 30th, 2008 at 6:45 pm

    Hi Catherine,

    Yay! It’s really pretty in person. You’ll love it. 🙂

    Reply
  41. Karen B says

    December 1st, 2008 at 12:08 pm

    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

    Karen B´s last blog post..What colour today?

    Reply
  42. Sammie says

    December 2nd, 2008 at 12:54 pm

    ooooooh. *drools* Must. Have. =D

    Reply
  43. Marisol says

    December 3rd, 2008 at 4:58 pm

    These are some great colors!

    Marisol´s last blog post..TILT 11.27.08

    Reply

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About Makeup and Beauty Blog

Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog
Hi there! I’m Karen, your friendly neighborhood beauty addict, and I’m a Bay Area girl who hoards brown eyeshadow and covets coral lipstick. Every morning, I wake up and say, “I’m going to do something other than a smoky eye today.” Then…I end up doing a smoky eye anyway (most days). When I’m not putting on makeup, taking pictures of makeup or writing about makeup, which I’ve been doing daily since 2007 (!), you’ll find me hanging out with my hubby (“El Hub”), my four-year-old daughter (Connor Claire) and my torbie girl cat (Pretty Girl Rosie, a.k.a. PGR).

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