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The Essie Cocktail Bling Collection and TV’s Latest Dance Craze

October 3rd, 2011 by Karen 49 Comments

essie cocktail bling swatches

Watching The Jersey Shore is completely exhausting (but yet strangely hard to resist). And with all of the underwear flashing that’s been happening over the past few eps, it’s also been quite gross.

I want to stop, but I almost feel like I’ve already invested so much time in following these goofy characters that I can’t quit now. And, truth be told, I’m also weirdly fascinated by Ronnie’s unique outlook on dance.

He’s not the nicest boy in the world (that’s one way to put it), but I gotta give it up to the guy for taking his club moves so seriously.

Lately he’s been doing this one thing where he puts his hand in front of his face and wiggles it side to side really fast, like “Peek-a-boo!” 🙂

I started trying to work it into my own living room dance moves…but with a makeup and beauty twist. That’s Essie’s Cocktail Bling collection for winter on my nails (available in six shades; $8 each).

essie cocktail bling swatches
Essie Cocktail Bling colors from the left: School of Hard Rocks (creamy grayish green), Brooch the Subject (creamy pinkish beige with a touch of gray), Bangle Jangle (cool, creamy amethyst), Bobbing for Baubles (creamy blackish sapphire), Cocktail Bling (creamy periwinkle gray) and Size Matters (creamy ruby red)

essie cocktail bling swatches
Bobbing for Baubles

essie cocktail bling swatches
Bobbing for Baubles (again)

essie cocktail bling swatches
From the left: Bangle Jangle, Size Matters, Brooch the Subject, Cocktail Bling and School of Hard Rocks

essie cocktail bling swatches

The Essie Cocktail Bling Collection

  • Six colors
  • Available now
  • Inspired by cocktail jewelry made from precious stones and metals
  • All six shades have a creamy finish and take two coats to reach full opacity on me
  • No streaks
  • They’re all quite thick (seem thicker than usual for Essie)
  • An overall subdued, quiet color palette with a couple of interesting shades — School of Hard Rocks (a greenish gray chameleon that looks blueish gray in the right light) and Bobbing for Baubles (a dark sapphire that I swear looks midnight blue every once in a while)

PRICE: $8 each
AVAILABILITY: Available now in stores and also online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. How’s it going today? It’s going pretty well out here. It’s raining! Yup, the first real rain of the season. On the bright side, the plants are getting their drank on, so the hills should be nice and green soon. 🙂

The Essie Cocktail Bling Collection and TV’s Latest Dance Craze / Originally published October 3rd, 2011

There are 49 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Nails, Product Reviews Keywords: essie

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Banana says

    October 3rd, 2011 at 4:43 pm

    They’re available in store already!? I thought they weren’t out until next month. That’s what they said on the Essie facebook page.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 3rd, 2011 at 4:49 pm

      Hmm… According to the official PR, October is the in-store date.

      Reply
      • Banana says

        October 3rd, 2011 at 5:15 pm

        Maybe that’s just in the US?

        Reply
        • Karen says

          October 3rd, 2011 at 5:17 pm

          I take it you’re eager to get your hands on it. 🙂 Are you an international gal?

          Reply
  2. Carmela says

    October 3rd, 2011 at 4:51 pm

    School of Hard Rocks looks amazing! 🙂 That color changing aspect is definitely right up my alley.

    I think if you make an animated gif of all the photos above, you’d have done a better job at the Peek-a-boo. 😉
    Carmela recently posted … NYC In A New York Minute in Spring Street

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 3rd, 2011 at 4:54 pm

      Hey Carmela,

      That indeed would be very amusing.. I’m afraid it might be hard to see the colors, though! 😉

      Do you watch Jersey Shore? It is one of my many guilty TV pleasures.

      Reply
  3. Crystal says

    October 3rd, 2011 at 5:06 pm

    Size Matters looks beautiful!
    I used to think Ronnie was crazy when he first started doing that hand thing but now it seems normal. I watched the last 3 episodes yesterday and I felt I needed help pulling my jaw off the floor afterwards. I’ll never stop watching tho-I am addicted!
    Crystal recently posted … NOTD: OPI DS Opulence Nail Polish

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 3rd, 2011 at 5:08 pm

      What the heck has happened to them? I feel like they’ve really gone off the deep end. I miss the kinder, gentler days of that first season, when they were almost normal.

      Reply
      • Crystal says

        October 3rd, 2011 at 5:23 pm

        I know! Snookie especially. I used to think she was a little misguided but had a heart of gold now I think she’s going to rehab!

        Reply
        • Karen says

          October 3rd, 2011 at 5:31 pm

          Totally agree. In the first season I thought she was strange but still likeable. Now she says and does lots of rude things. I miss the old Snooks! And the old goofy Vinnie.

          Also, isn’t it weird how nobody ever acknowledges the fact that they’re actually famous? Because I’d HELLA be making fun of Mike for doing Dancing with the Stars and Ron for doing that one commercial (“Hi, I’m Ronnie from the Jersey Shore, and keeping it real is what I’m all about!”).

          Reply
          • Crystal says

            October 3rd, 2011 at 6:04 pm

            Lol I know, they are all doing some pretty interesting things outside the show. Snookie doing pistachio commercials and Sammie and Dina doing that AWFUL energy drink spot. But I think it’s only a matter of time before we see Ronnie doing Bank of America commercials! He’s priceless!

          • Karen says

            October 3rd, 2011 at 6:18 pm

            Can’t forget Pauly D and the Miracle Whip commercials! Now that one’s a little weird, but at least the production value is high compared to some of the others, LOL!

  4. Anna says

    October 3rd, 2011 at 5:19 pm

    …I *just* got my hands on Essie’s fall polishes and now there’s a new collection!!! I actually find that I like the fall colours better than the winter ones? I’m usually more into darker shades so that’s probably why, I’m rotating Power Clutch and Very Structured from their fall line up.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 3rd, 2011 at 5:27 pm

      Oh, I know! It feels like only yesterday when the fall collection came out. I can totally see where you’re coming from re: the fall versus winter colors. There was a sophistication to that fall collection that was really, really beautiful.

      Reply
  5. Chris25 says

    October 3rd, 2011 at 5:34 pm

    School of Hard Rocks. Mine mine mine! 😀

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 3rd, 2011 at 5:36 pm

      Love that one! It’s even more beautiful in person!

      Reply
  6. Angelic Mariposa Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ says

    October 3rd, 2011 at 5:45 pm

    LOL the Ron Ron juice got him!! Hilarious post!! Can’t stand the “Snitch-uation” either he danced like a pigeon on steroids!! I live in NY and have been to da Shore and it’s just like they show lol!!

    Reply
    • Angelic Mariposa Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ says

      October 3rd, 2011 at 5:45 pm

      my avatar was taken at the shore lol!

      Reply
    • Karen says

      October 3rd, 2011 at 5:49 pm

      Call me crazy but I want to go to Karma just to say that I’ve been there.

      Also: I can’t believe Mike rammed his head into a wall! LOL

      Reply
  7. Heidi says

    October 3rd, 2011 at 6:10 pm

    Definitely gonna seek out School of Hard Knocks. So pretty!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 3rd, 2011 at 6:18 pm

      Yay, yay! That’s my fave. I’m sure it’ll also look purrrr-fect against the backdrop of Missy’s fur. MEOW!

      Reply
  8. Gabi says

    October 3rd, 2011 at 6:22 pm

    I never have been a fan of Jersey Shore. I’ve actually never even seen an episode. As for the polish, I’m really interested in Brooch the Subject and Bangle Jangle. Oh, and your hair looks especially cool in this post. All wavy..:D

    *Click on my name to check out my blog!*

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 3rd, 2011 at 6:23 pm

      Yup, I have wavy hair!

      Reply
  9. mn says

    October 3rd, 2011 at 7:54 pm

    Karen, you crack me up. Just to let you know your post is my study break (actually, it’s my work break- I work from home).
    I like Cocktail Bling & School of Hard Rocks on you- they come accross as totally different colors than in the bottle.
    Regarding Jersey Shore- hadn’t seen a single episode ever but they had a marathon a few wks ago and I actually caught quite a few in a row- had to laugh at the one where the guy knocked himself out against the wall !?! Seriously?

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 4th, 2011 at 10:01 am

      Hi MN,

      That’s cool that you work from home. What do you do?

      LOL… the guy who knocked himself out was Mike (aka “The Situation”). Funny story: I read a news bit a while back about how Abercrombie & Fitch was unhappy about seeing him wear their clothes on the show, so they offered to pay him to NOT wear their gear.

      Reply
  10. Ange says

    October 3rd, 2011 at 8:20 pm

    I have a question about the drying time, how long does it usually take for one coat to dry? what about two coats? I see so many colors from Essie that I want but I’m really accidental and the only polish I’ve ever own are those “60 second” ones :X Thank you : D

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 4th, 2011 at 9:59 am

      Hi Ange,

      On the spectrum of drying time Essie seems to take a little longer. I’d estimate about an hour if I use drying drops to speed things along.

      Reply
  11. Nina says

    October 4th, 2011 at 5:44 am

    karen — your pictures slay me! omg so adorable!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 4th, 2011 at 9:58 am

      Aw, thanks Nina. 🙂 It’s all Tabs — he runs the show here. You know bossy kitties can get.

      How’s work going today? Good, I hope.

      Reply
      • Nina says

        October 4th, 2011 at 1:10 pm

        work is good, totally surprising! 🙂

        Reply
        • Karen says

          October 4th, 2011 at 6:24 pm

          Yay! I love those days when everything goes your way at work. 🙂 Hope it continues through the rest of the week.

          Reply
  12. Kim says

    October 4th, 2011 at 6:39 am

    I usually go the boring route, so Brooch for me. 🙂 Baubles looks excellent on you, though. I’d give it a try on my toenails for sure!

    I’ve seen a few minutes of Jersey Shore (my friend was watching a marathon of it like a year ago, maybe). The gif above kind of gave me vertigo, though. HAHA!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 4th, 2011 at 9:57 am

      Brooch is pretty. Quiet, but still pretty. Would you do it on fingers or toes?

      LOL… the entire show gives me vertigo. I need to stop watching it!

      Reply
      • Kim says

        October 4th, 2011 at 11:42 am

        I think I’d do it on my fingers; usually I go for something dark on my toes. In the summer, I wear a lot of I’m with Brad. It’s that great kind of color that can look purple or burgundy or brown depending on the color of my shoes. Very versatile! 🙂 I have a hard time with anything dark on my fingernails because it tends to look like a hot mess before I get around to removing it. With the light stuff, it’s much harder to tell. Gosh, that really makes me sound lazy! Sadly, it’s true!

        OMG, totally laughing about your vertigo comment. My friend feels the same but gets glued to it. I was like “You know, I’m talking to you here” and she was laughing while still looking at the TV and replied “I’m so sorry; I don’t know what’s wrong with me; I just can’t look away!”. I guess it’s addictive. 🙂

        Reply
        • Karen says

          October 5th, 2011 at 8:09 pm

          Sounds like we need to get you some Seche Vite for your fingers. Have you ever tried it before? It’s like the Cadillac of nail polish top coats. Swear your mani won’t look like a hot mess when you have it on.

          AND hahaha re; your friend. See, Jersey Shore addiction is a legit disease!

          Reply
          • Kim says

            October 6th, 2011 at 6:42 am

            I actually do have some Seche, but my laziness is also a disease. I’m usually throwing on a coat of polish in the car on the way to wherever we’re going. I know a base coat and top coat would be a big help in the chipping department, but darned if I ever get to it! 🙂

  13. Tiffany C. says

    October 4th, 2011 at 8:22 am

    i have never watched an episode of jersey shore and i don’t ever want to!! what that guy is doing with his hand reminds me of John Cena. My little brother used to do this all the time because of him, LOL!!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 4th, 2011 at 9:55 am

      The first season was (gasp!) actually pretty darn entertaining. I think the cast seemed more real then. If you ever want to turn your brain into a pile of mush (say, after a hard day at work), then it fits the bill, LOL!

      What shows do you like to watch? I do a mix of reality, sci-fi and good old detective stuff.

      Reply
  14. Swatch And Learn says

    October 4th, 2011 at 9:06 am

    School of Hard Rocks and Bangle Jangle were the only two I bought from this collection. LOVE THEM! And they’re so pigmented.
    Swatch And Learn recently posted … China Glaze Liquid Leather Swatches & Review

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 4th, 2011 at 9:54 am

      Isn’t School of Hard Rocks amazing? Have you done a mani or a pedi with either color yet?

      Reply
      • Swatch And Learn says

        October 10th, 2011 at 12:17 pm

        Yup, I wore both of them already, but only as separate full manicures. (I think I only paint my toenails about twice a year…haha, whereas my fingernails are always painted.)
        Swatch And Learn recently posted … China Glaze It’s Alive Swatches & Review

        Reply
  15. thepaigest says

    October 4th, 2011 at 12:05 pm

    Oooohhh I love cocktail bling!! I love the name size matters… and I love that it’s on your ring finger lol . I can’t get enough nudes though!

    Hugs!

    Reply
  16. thepaigest says

    October 4th, 2011 at 12:09 pm

    DO you watch the Soup?? I love when he says Jionni!!!!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 5th, 2011 at 8:05 pm

      I haven’t seen the show in ages… but I can imagine that being pretty damn funny, haha!

      Reply
  17. CC says

    October 4th, 2011 at 5:45 pm

    Ahhhh I love Essie. Thx. Karen!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 5th, 2011 at 8:05 pm

      You’re welcome, CC!

      Reply
  18. Christy says

    October 4th, 2011 at 8:49 pm

    I’m liking School of Hard Rocks. Hope I’ll get to see those soon around here 🙂

    Hahah, I have only watched a handful of Jersey Shore episodes, but is slightly addictive…. Actually, when I was at Pure in Las Vegas, I saw Jwoww. She’s so tiny!
    Christy recently posted … NOTD: OPI Miss Universe It’s My Year Nail Lacquer

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 5th, 2011 at 8:06 pm

      Really? I always thought she was tall… Maybe it’s because she’s always standing next to Snooks. 🙂

      Reply
  19. Karen K says

    October 9th, 2011 at 2:43 pm

    I don’t watch Jersey Shore but that hand movement sounds like something he picked up from a pro wrestler named John Cena. It’s one of his little signature moves. Don’t ask me how I know…EX-bf. EX being the operative word! LOL!

    Bought the little Essie kit with four of these colors. Had everything except the green and nude ones. Of course now I want that green one!

    Reply

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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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