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Essie Toggle to the Top, Shearling Darling, Warm & Toasty Turtleneck Nail Lacquers Reviews, Photos, Swatches

Essie Toggle to the Top Nail Lacquer
Essie Winter 2013 Collection

Essie Toggle to the Top Nail Lacquer ($8.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is described as a “sparkling crushed garnet red.” It has a deepened, burgundy red base with ruby red micro-glitter/sparkles. To really smooth out this polish, I highly recommend a thicker, gel-like top coat so that you don’t feel the glitter. It was opaque in two coats, and the consistency wasn’t too thick or too thin. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Black Metal Dahlia (P, $10.00) is metallic, no glitter.MAC Vintage Vamp (P, $16.00) has no glitter. Le Metier de Beaute Anatolia (LE, $10.00) is lighter. China Glaze Sugar Plums (LE, $8.00) is the closest, but it is a bit more plum. Deborah Lippmann Single Ladies (LE, $19.00) lacks the glitter. See comparison swatches.

Shearling Darling Nail Lacquer ($8.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is described as a “rich, plush ebony red.” It’s a deep, dark maroon with warm, red undertones and a cream finish. It was opaque in two coats, though the consistency was a little thin. MAC Vintage Vamp (P, $16.00) is similar. MAC Underfire (LE, $16.00) is lighter. Chanel Accessoire (P, $27.00) is very similar. China Glaze Velvet Bow (LE, $8.00) is also similar–slightly cooler-toned. Deborah Lippmann Single Ladies (LE, $19.00) is similar. See comparison swatches.

Warm & Toasty Turtleneck Nail Lacquer ($8.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is described as a “wisteria pink angora.” It’s a pale, pink-tinged lavender with a cream finish. It was fully opaque after two coats, and the consistency wasn’t too thick or too thin, so it applied evenly and smoothly–no streaking. Essie Full Steam Ahead (P, $8.00) is cooler-toned, lighter. Cult Nails Love at First Sight (P, $12.00) is brighter. Essie Nice is Nice (LE, $8.00) is sheerer, lighter. Essie Bangle Jangle (LE, $8.00) is a bit lighter and grayer. See comparison swatches.

Essie Toggle to the Top Nail Lacquer
Essie Toggle to the Top Nail Lacquer

Essie Toggle to the Top Nail Lacquer
Essie Toggle to the Top Nail Lacquer

Essie Toggle to the Top Nail Lacquer
Essie Toggle to the Top Nail Lacquer

Essie Toggle to the Top Nail Lacquer
Essie Toggle to the Top Nail Lacquer

Essie Toggle to the Top Nail Lacquer
Essie Toggle to the Top Nail Lacquer

Essie Toggle to the Top Nail Lacquer
Essie Toggle to the Top Nail Lacquer

Essie Toggle to the Top Nail Lacquer
Essie Toggle to the Top Nail Lacquer

Essie Shearling Darling Nail Lacquer
Essie Shearling Darling Nail Lacquer

Essie Shearling Darling Nail Lacquer
Essie Shearling Darling Nail Lacquer

Essie Shearling Darling Nail Lacquer
Essie Shearling Darling Nail Lacquer

Essie Shearling Darling Nail Lacquer
Essie Shearling Darling Nail Lacquer

Essie Shearling Darling Nail Lacquer
Essie Shearling Darling Nail Lacquer

Essie Shearling Darling Nail Lacquer
Essie Shearling Darling Nail Lacquer

Essie Shearling Darling Nail Lacquer
Essie Shearling Darling Nail Lacquer

Essie Warm & Toasty Turtleneck Nail Lacquer
Essie Warm & Toasty Turtleneck Nail Lacquer

Essie Warm & Toasty Turtleneck Nail Lacquer
Essie Warm & Toasty Turtleneck Nail Lacquer

Essie Warm & Toasty Turtleneck Nail Lacquer
Essie Warm & Toasty Turtleneck Nail Lacquer

Essie Warm & Toasty Turtleneck Nail Lacquer
Essie Warm & Toasty Turtleneck Nail Lacquer

Essie Warm & Toasty Turtleneck Nail Lacquer
Essie Warm & Toasty Turtleneck Nail Lacquer

Essie Warm & Toasty Turtleneck Nail Lacquer
Essie Warm & Toasty Turtleneck Nail Lacquer

Essie Warm & Toasty Turtleneck Nail Lacquer
Essie Warm & Toasty Turtleneck Nail Lacquer

21 Comments

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Alia Avatar

Not a fan of Essie polishes! The formula is too thin and when applied requires 3 coats of polish and then chips cracks and peels quickly. I love Deborah Lippmann and Zoya!!@

Carolina Avatar

I’m so surprised by the look of these. Toggle to the Top looks rough, ugly, dull and not a bit sparkly, and I’m assuming that’s including the top coat. It’s like you got sand in your nail polish. Not the kind of finish I want (see Chanel’s Malice for a superior example). I’ve seen you review lots of sparkly polish, even more difficult ones to apply and make even, and not one looked as ugly as this one. Shearling Darling looked surprisingly thin for such a deep, dark colour. You’d expect it to cover the nail easily in 2 coats. I see here it got a A-, which I sort of agree. But I really think Toggle to the Top is an embarrassment. What the hell is that? And how did it get an A?

Christine Avatar

Hey Carolina,

I don’t swatch with base or top coats! Edited to add — on very rare occasions I might include one photo with a top coat (usually in the case of a matte or rubber/vinyl finish polish), as most polishes advertise glossy/shiny finishes so I leave them as is so you can see whether they really are naturally shiny or not.

Carolina Avatar

I thought all swatches (on the nails) were with base and top coat on! *confused* I didn’t know this had changed. Also I’d read your reply to a comment to say you’d used Seche Vite, so I assumed that was the top coat you had used. Well, that explains a lot, I suppose. Thanks.

Christine Avatar

I haven’t used base/top coats in a long time, at the very least! Hmm, I don’t know if maybe the context was recommending a thicker top coat, as I have used Zoya’s Armor as my go-to top coat – but that’s only if I am actually wearing nail color to travel or on my toes. I really only use Seche Vite if I need something super thick. On occasion, and I’m thinking KBShimmer, they advocate using a top coat with their glitters, so I think I may have done so there at least once… When I test wear for a new brand/formula, I test three nails without base or top coats, and then two with base/top coats. I treat it a lot like eyeshadow primer – while a lot use it, just as many brands claim their formula to be long-wearing, chip-free, shiny, etc. without extras like base/top coats – so that’s why I photograph “as-is.”

SandraJT Avatar

No offense meant in regards to your swatches but the first one looks bloody yucky. Very chunky & icky looking. I love deep burgundy shades like that, and am wearing one now, but that particular polish…no way I’d wear that.

Becca @ The Beauty Sample Avatar

LOVE Warm & Toasty Turtleneck. Will definitely be picking that one and Toggle to the Top up tomorrow! I was soo happy to see TttT because it looks almost identical (in the bottle at least–I have to compare in person) to last years Leading Lady, which I love (and am currently wearing :P). But my bottle of Leading Lady has become super chunky and hard to work with so it’ll be nice to play around with TttT for fall/winter!

Jacee Avatar

Does anyone have anything to say on how similar Toggle to the Top is to Essie Leading Lady from last winter? I have that one, but I would like a similar one that’s a bit more berry because I have cool-toned skin and my hair is dyed purple. I love Leading Lady, but the red just clashes a little too much for my taste.

Thanks for the swatches and reviews, Christine! I look to your posts before almost any beauty purchase.

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