Essie In the Cab-ana Nail Lacquer ($8.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is described as a “self-assured aqua azure.” It’s a brightened, light-medium blue with a hint of aqua in it with a cream finish. The color reminds me of swimming pools! OCC Pool Boy is bluer but was the only possible dupe I could think of.

This was a little streaky on the initial coat, and the second covered and smoothed out the majority of the polish, but there were a couple places I could see issues with at a distance. It was mostly opaque after two coats, except where the streaks were not covered entirely. The polish itself was somewhat thick, so it was a bit harder to control the thickness to get even coats of the shade. The drying time was slightly longer than average due to the thicker consistency. I typically get a week of wear out of Essie’s formula with minor tip wear but no chipping.

P.S. — And if my bottle looks tiny, it’s because I bought the mini version since you and I both know I’ll never finish a full-sized bottle so I thought the minis would suffice for review purposes!

The Glossover

	In the Cab-ana B
	This was a little streaky on the initial coat, and the second covered and smoothed out the majority of the polish, but there were a couple places I could see issues with at a distance.
	Product 8.5/10 Pigmentation 9.5/10 Texture 7.5/10 Longevity 9/10 Application 4/5
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Essie In the Cab-ana Nail Lacquer

Essie In the Cab-ana Nail Lacquer

Essie In the Cab-ana Nail Lacquer

Essie In the Cab-ana Nail Lacquer

Essie In the Cab-ana Nail Lacquer

Essie In the Cab-ana Nail Lacquer

Essie In the Cab-ana Nail Lacquer

Essie In the Cab-ana Nail Lacquer

Essie First Timer Nail Lacquer ($8.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is described as an “adorable newbie green.” It’s a more vibrant take on mint green–there’s a little green and aqua mixed together to create something deeper and richer than your typical pastel mint green, but it’s not neon or a medium-colored shade either. Dior Samba is a bit darker, not quite as bright. Illamasqua Nomad is similar, perhaps a bit less green.

The consistency was slightly thicker than average but the thickness did not impede application. First Timer applied beautifully with full color coverage in two quotes, no streaking or bubbling, and the polish didn’t pool along the edges. The drying time was average and had a slightly shiny finish when all was said and done. I normally get a week of wear out of Essie’s formula with minor tip wear but no chipping.

P.S. — And if my bottle looks tiny, it’s because I bought the mini version since you and I both know I’ll never finish a full-sized bottle so I thought the minis would suffice for review purposes!

The Glossover

	First Timer A
	I liked that it's a more vibrant take on mint green; it's brighter and bolder, but it's not neon or dark.
	Product 10/10 Pigmentation 10/10 Texture 10/10 Longevity 9/10 Application 5/5
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Essie First Timer Nail Lacquer

Essie First Timer Nail Lacquer

Essie First Timer Nail Lacquer

Essie First Timer Nail Lacquer

Essie First Timer Nail Lacquer

Essie First Timer Nail Lacquer

Essie First Timer Nail Lacquer

A Blue Ravaged By Brush Strokes

Essie Blue Rhapsody Nail Lacquer ($8.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is described as a “jazzy blue metallic.” It’s a subdued bluish-silver with a frosted, metallic finish. The dry down is a shiny matte; it has a flat look, but it’s not truly matte and there’s a sheen there. Out of the blue nail polishes I’ve reviewed, I couldn’t find or think of a dupe.

Blue Rhapsody wasn’t thin, but it wasn’t so thick that it was goopy or difficult to use because of the consistency. What made it harder to apply was actually how quickly it dried down; it had a tendency to very nearly dry before you finished applying a single coat, and this is where streakiness and drag happened more readily. With the strong metallic finish, there are noticeable brushstrokes, and the worst part about them is that they look a bit raised, too.  It was opaque after two coats.

In regards to wear, this wore well on me. I tested it without a base/top coat (so just two coats of the polish itself), and it wore for seven days with minor tip wear (a little more than I see with Essie’s creams/shimmers but barely more) and no chipping. It was the same amount of wear with a base and top coat. However, it’s worth noting that some Temptalia readers had notable problems with wear when it came to Essie’s Mirror Metallics.

The Glossover

	Blue Rhapsody C+
	While it dries down quickly--great for anyone who is impatient about polish--it's almost too quickly and makes it harder to disguise the brushstrokes.
	Product 7/10 Pigmentation 10/10 Texture 7/10 Longevity 8.5/10 Application 3/5
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Essie Blue Rhapsody Nail Lacquer

Essie Blue Rhapsody Nail Lacquer

Essie Blue Rhapsody Nail Lacquer

Essie Blue Rhapsody Nail Lacquer

Essie Blue Rhapsody Nail Lacquer

Essie Blue Rhapsody Nail Lacquer

Is That Highlighter All Over Your Nails?

Essie She’s Picture Perfect Nail Lacquer ($8.00 for 0.46 fl. oz.) is described as an “iridescent, reflective lilac.” It’s a medium lilac purple shot through with ultra-fine fuchsia-pink iridescent shimmer. I can’t emphasize enough how subtle the shimmer is and how little it really reflects–it takes a lot of direct light and shifting to see it. Cult Nails Charming is warmer, less blue-based. Zoya Caitlin is much darker and bluer. Essie Lilacism is much lighter.

I’ve been having some good experiences with recent Essies–this one was a little less stellar. Good, just not perfect. The formula on this particular shade was a little thick, so getting even coats that don’t take too long to dry was more difficult. The drying time still seemed a little long, and it’s not at all forgiving if you move to apply your second coat too early–you’ll definitely get drag. The color itself is opaque after two coats.

The Glossover

	She's Picture Perfect A-
	As long as you're aware that the reflective shimmer is very subtle, it's worth a look. It's not a color I could easily find dupes of, even of just the base color. It looks prettier in the bottle, because the iridescence is more pronounced.
	Product 8.5/10 Pigmentation 10/10 Texture 8.5/10 Longevity 9.5/10 Application 4/5
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Essie She’s Picture Perfect Nail Lacquer

Essie She’s Picture Perfect Nail Lacquer

Essie She’s Picture Perfect Nail Lacquer

Essie She’s Picture Perfect Nail Lacquer

Essie She’s Picture Perfect Nail Lacquer

Essie She’s Picture Perfect Nail Lacquer

A Little Cotton Candy for a Summer Treat

Essie Cascade Cool Nail Lacquer ($8.00 for 0.46 fl. oz.) is described as a “creamy, sweet dusty pink.” It’s a light-medium cotton candy pink with blue undertones and a cream finish. Not quite Pepto pink, but it gives me similar vibes. You know, it’s funny: MAC makes a LOT of the blue-based, cotton candy pinks in the world (and not just nail color); all of the closest shades to this are by MAC. MAC Saint Germain is slightly pinker, less cool-toned. MAC Vagabondage is a smidgen lighter. MAC Ice Cream Cake is a fraction darker. Zoya Rory is somewhat similar in color, but it has a very shimmery finish, so they aren’t really dupes.

This color was totally opaque in two coats, and they were two beautiful coats at that. The formula was not too thick or too thin, so it applied evenly, fluidly, and I didn’t have problems with it pooling along the sides of the nail or bubbling.  I’m a huge fan of Essie’s creams; they’re just really easy to use, because they have a good consistency and excellent pigmentation.  I typically get a full week of wear without chips and minor tip wear with the brand’s formula.

The Glossover

	Cascade Cool A+
	A lovely cool-toned blue-based pink that's fully opaque and not at all streaky that should work nicely on those with cooler complexions. On warmer skin tones, it can still work, but it won't be quite as naturally flattering.
	Product 10/10 Pigmentation 10/10 Texture 10/10 Longevity 9.5/10 Application 5/5
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Essie Cascade Cool Nail Lacquer

Essie Cascade Cool Nail Lacquer

Essie Cascade Cool Nail Lacquer

Essie Cascade Cool Nail Lacquer

Essie Cascade Cool Nail Lacquer

Essie Cascade Cool Nail Lacquer

Pop of Pink to Keep Your Summer Bright

Essie Off the Shoulder Nail Lacquer ($8.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is described as “a bold hot pink.” It’s a brightened medium pink with subtle cool undertones with a cream finish. Cult Nails Untamed is similar but has a jelly finish and contains shimmer. MAC Pink Nouveau is darker. Chanel May is several shades lighter and more yellow-toned. MAC Ice Cream Cake is much, much cooler-toned. MAC Galore Pink is a smidgen lighter. Zoya Jolene is brighter.

What a happy, perfect-for-summer pink cream!  It has an immaculate formula, too–naturally glossy, full color coverage in two coats, and applies evenly without a fuss. I didn’t experience any bubbling, streaking, or pooling of the polish along the edges of the nail. I typically get a full week of wear with Essie’s formula with some minor tip wear but no chipping to speak of.  When I was swatching through some Essies last week, I was reminded of how much I love their cream formula.

The Glossover

	Off the Shoulder A+
	What a happy, perfect-for-summer pink cream! The formula was top notch with opaque color in two coats. Not terribly original, but a very fun shade to wear this summer.
	Product 10/10 Pigmentation 10/10 Texture 10/10 Longevity 9.5/10 Application 5/5
	Where to Buy
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Essie Off the Shoulder Nail Lacquer

Essie Off the Shoulder Nail Lacquer

Essie Off the Shoulder Nail Lacquer

Essie Off the Shoulder Nail Lacquer

Essie Off the Shoulder Nail Lacquer

Essie Off the Shoulder Nail Lacquer