Essie Mind Your Mittens Nail Lacquer ($8.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is described as a “deep, double diamond black teal.” It’s a cool-toned, muted, blackened teal with a cream finish. It had opaque color coverage in two coats. The consistency wasn’t too thick or too thin, and it applied evenly without streaking or bubbling. Essie’s formula typically wears a week on me with minor tip wear but no chipping. NARS Superstar (LE, $19.00) is bluer, lighter. MAC Deep Sea (LE, $16.00) is brighter. Cult Nails Awakening (LE, $12.00) is a bit lighter. Essie School of Hard Rocks (LE, $8.00) is lighter. See comparison swatches.

Parka Perfect Nail Lacquer ($8.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is described as a “serenely shimmering alpine gray.” It’s more like a muted, dusty sea foam green with very fine white shimmer. The consistency was on the thicker side, and though opaque after two coats, it was streaky and looked thicker in places (didn’t level at all). L’Oreal Now You Sea Me (P) is brighter, darker. Zoya Wednesday (P, $8.00) is brighter. MAC Hyperion (LE, $16.00) is lighter, no shimmer. China Glaze Sea Spray (LE, $8.00) is very similar. Zoya Bevin (P, $8.00) is darker. See comparison swatches.

Sable Collar Nail Lacquer ($8.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is described as a “luxurious pearlescent cocoa plum.” It’s a cool-toned, plummy brown with lighter, warmer plum micro-shimmer running through it. It was fully opaque in two coats, and it applied evenly and smoothly. The consistency wasn’t too thick or too thin. There were very, very minor visible brush strokes–most of the time, I could not detect them. Guerlain Sulfurous (LE, $23.00) is much darker. Urban Decay Barlust (LE) is less plum. Le Metier de Beaute Urban Dweller (LE, $10.00) is darker and has larger shimmer (but it’s the closest of the three). See comparison swatches.

Essie Mind Your Mittens Nail Lacquer

Essie Mind Your Mittens Nail Lacquer

Essie Mind Your Mittens Nail Lacquer

Essie Mind Your Mittens Nail Lacquer

Essie Mind Your Mittens Nail Lacquer

Essie Mind Your Mittens Nail Lacquer

Essie Mind Your Mittens Nail Lacquer

Essie Parka Perfect Nail Lacquer

Essie Parka Perfect Nail Lacquer

Essie Parka Perfect Nail Lacquer

Essie Parka Perfect Nail Lacquer

Essie Parka Perfect Nail Lacquer

Essie Parka Perfect Nail Lacquer

Essie Parka Perfect Nail Lacquer

Essie Sable Collar Nail Lacquer

Essie Sable Collar Nail Lacquer

Essie Sable Collar Nail Lacquer

Essie Sable Collar Nail Lacquer

Essie Sable Collar Nail Lacquer

Essie Sable Collar Nail Lacquer

Essie Sable Collar Nail Lacquer