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Essie Cascade Cool Nail Lacquer Review, Photos, Swatches

Essie Cascade Cool Nail Lacquer
Essie Cascade Cool 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.

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

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

33 Comments

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Dominique33 Avatar

Yes it’s very pretty, lovely for spring and summer as well. Cascade cool goes very well with Ratin Jot, I only wear nail polish during summer ( hands I mean ) and I simply love the colour. Essie colours are great and usually easy to apply except the pastel shades a bit difficult to work with, but Cascade cool is gorgeous.

Susann Avatar

I usually go for darker polishes, but they are very unforgiving if you are not very good at applying it (namely me ) This girly pink is lovely though – quite vintage looking I think

Kiss and Makeup Avatar

Pretty. Very cute and girly. But it’s not a shade I’d wear myself. Or maybe I would, but then I’d make sure to combine it with a really kick-ass rock chick outfit! To lower the Barbie level a bit 🙂

AngieLid Avatar

Hi Christine. I’m subscribed to your newsletter but I never seem to get it. I’ve checked my spam folder, etc but nothing. Any tips on how I can get it? I love your newsletters!

Ina Avatar

Really nice color! I bought MAC’s St. Germain but its a real pain to apply! Goes on all streaky and does not even out! That being said, I should have bought this one and saved me some $$

Suse Avatar

Stupid question (stupid because I’ve read it so many times and not every really been paused by this before): how can I tell if I have warm or cool skin tones? How would you describe your skin tones?? I’m looking for a gorgeous opaque light candy pink – Essie’s muchi muchi was close, but a little bland…

Jade Avatar

I loved this shade when you reviewed it at the time, and I still love it now. I can never find it when I look at the display though! I want it!

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