Essie Winter 2010 Collection Review, Photos, Swatches
Essie Nail Lacquer: Going Incognito, Hot Coco, Luxedo
Essie Winter 2010 Collection
Though on the way out, here are long overdue swatches for Essie’s winter collection, which includes: Going Incognito (deep emerald green), Hot Coco (tawny sepia), Luxedo (deepest plum), Masquerade Belle (black ruby), Silken Cord (risque red), and Smokin’ Hot (stone-cold fox gray). Each bottle retails at $8 a pop, and I spotted them online still at Apothica
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- Going Incognito is a deep emerald green cream–almost a blue-tinged green (not quite into teal territory). It’s opaque in two coats. ORLY Enchanted Forest is the closest dupe I can think of, though it is greener (less blue).
- Hot Coco is a pink-tinged mid-tone taupe cream. I can totally see the sepia in this. If you wanted to get into nude nails but found nudes too pale and washed you out, this is a nice take on it. Two coats. It seems a little similar to China Glaze Heirloom Organza.
- Luxedo is a blackened plum cream. It’s very inky and barely stays purple in low light conditions as it turns nearly black. It’s nearly opaque in one coat, though I did two here. Itl ooks a lot like Essie’s Velvet Voyeur (from fall).
- Masquerade Belle is a deep, velvety red-brown cream. Two coats. It’s darker and redder then MAC Dance All Night.
- Silken Cord is a bright coral-red cream. It’s a surprisingly bright shade for winter–feels like something for a summer launch. I used two coats. It’s a lighter version of Zoya’s Maura.
- Smokin’ Hot is a purpled gray cream. I used two coats, though I noticed a touch of drag with this one. The base color is reminiscent of Chanel’s Paradoxal. It is a darker version of Essie’s Merino Cool (from fall).
my thoughts on the formula: The formula was really nice on these; not too thin, not too thick, and the majority were pigmented enough to use just two coats of polish. The only shade I had any issues with was Smokin’ Hot, wihch seemed a little thin in places.
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- Product: 27/30
- Value: 8/10
- Ease of Use: 4/5
- Packaging: 4/5
final thoughts: This collection actually looks similar to Essie’s fall collection, but the shades are different, some more so than others. The formula was easy to work with, and Essie really does do creams well, so they are in their element with these six.
where to buy: Apothica
Essie Nail Lacquer: Going Incognito, Hot Coco, Luxedo
Essie Nail Lacquer: Going Incognito, Hot Coco, Luxedo
Essie Nail Lacquer: Going Incognito, Hot Coco, Luxedo
Essie Nail Lacquer: Masquerade Belle, Silken Cord, Smokin’ Hot
Essie Nail Lacquer: Masquerade Belle, Silken Cord, Smokin’ Hot
Essie Nail Lacquer: Masquerade Belle, Silken Cord, Smokin’ Hot
Essie Going Incognito Nail Lacquer
Essie Going Incognito Nail Lacquer
Essie Going Incognito Nail Lacquer
Essie Going Incognito Nail Lacquer (Flash)
Essie Hot Coco Nail Lacquer
Essie Hot Coco Nail Lacquer
Essie Hot Coco Nail Lacquer
Essie Hot Coco Nail Lacquer (Flash)
Essie Luxedo Nail Lacquer
Essie Luxedo Nail Lacquer
Essie Luxedo Nail Lacquer
Essie Luxedo Nail Lacquer (Flash)
Essie Masquerade Belle Nail Lacquer
Essie Masquerade Belle Nail Lacquer
Essie Masquerade Belle Nail Lacquer
Essie Masquerade Belle Nail Lacquer (Flash)
Essie Silken Cord Nail Lacquer
Essie Silken Cord Nail Lacquer
Essie Silken Cord Nail Lacquer
Essie Silken Cord Nail Lacquer (Flash)
Essie Smokin’ Hot Nail Lacquer
Essie Smokin’ Hot Nail Lacquer
Essie Smokin’ Hot Nail Lacquer
Essie Smokin’ Hot Nail Lacquer (Flash)
How does Going Incognito compare to OPI Jade is the New Black?
I don’t have that shade, sorry!
OPI Jade is brighter, less smokey than going incognito. I prefer Jade over incognito, it looks much more interesting.
I own JITNB. The base color is close, but it is not blue toned like Going Incognito.
When I first tried Jade I was really disappointed. It was much darker than most of the swatches, it seemed like a rather lifeless dark green on me. Quite “smoky”, greyish dark green.
Going Incognito I immediately loved. It is a very deep, dark, jewel tone IMO, emerald describes it well I think. And yes it has some dark blueness to it, which I do not see in Jade at all, but it is definitely not teal, but dark green. hard to describe. They are *very* different, and I love incognito way better. Does this help? 🙂
Jade is the New Black is lighter but in the same range of color.
This one is darker and more on the cooler side. Jade is brighter.
Gosh these are BEAUTIFUL! 🙂 must check if they are in NZ!
Luxedo is my favorite of these! 🙂
Your nail swatches are so pretty! Are the polishes this glossy on their own or are you wearing a top coat?
Zoya Armor! 🙂
I own about 4 shades from this collection and i think the only one i really love is Going Incognito. The rest didnt really make me happy at all.
I like! Hopefully I’ll have a new job by then to wear these beauties to!
Hi Christine, in terms of quality, which would you recommend more, OPI or Essie?
I don’t use OPI!
Those are so beautiful. I wish I could get into creams on my nails, but I can’t. Weird, huh?
Luxedo reminds me of OPI William Tell Me About OPI.
Christine, is there a good base coat you could recommend? I have Luxedo and love it, but I never want to leave it on for very long without a base coat because it’s so dark and I don’t want it to stain my nails.
Zoya Armor!
I love Going Incognito! Thanks for the swatches!
I love Going Incognito has been my favorite polish since I got it before Christmas. Christine, why did you vote it B+ only? Did I overread something you did not like? Or do you generally prefer other polish brands?
Smokin’ Hot brought down the overall grade!
I can’t even look at these. I’m waiting for summer and not going a minute past that!
The only color that interests me is Smokin Hot, but if it gave you a bit of trouble, it’ll give me tons, so…pass.
Going Incognito looks great – and very unique! It’s such a lovely change from the usual red-black-red-red-red-gold!-red-black of holiday collections 😛
I think I’m confused. Didn’t Essie Spring 2011 just come out? And now Winter 2010?
As I mentioned in the post, these are long overdue…
formula looks great, but not the colours, at all :S
Oh nevermind. I was thinking this was Winter 2011. Ha sorry about that. Glad this got posted though!
I like Luxedo, Silken Cord and Smokin’ Hot =)
Would you say Smokin’ Hot is similar to Models Own Purple Grey? Thank you!! =)
I don’t have any Models Own polishes 🙁
I’m loving that green, though I feel like I’ve seen Essie put out very similar colors before.
I have smoking hot and love, love, love it!! Essie is probably my favourite brand of nail polish ever!!
I really like Going Incognito, might have to put my hands on that one too haha
Loving all the shades, I have to say from what i can see Going Incognito is very similar to Jade is the New Black by OPI
Oooh I like the look of Going Incognito and Smokin’ Hot, although I do own Paradoxal, I just love dark/dirty purple shades 🙂
I like Smokin Hot and Luxedo
Hi Christine, how do you think Luxedo compares to OPI’s Lincoln Park After Dark?
I don’t have that shade, sorry!
from the swatches, it looks like luxe is slighltly darker than LPAD, but almost the same shade.
Nice…I love the purple one.
I don’t know what happened, but my previous comment has dissapear ¬¬
I said I like very much the coral one! It’s a really pretty shade =)
And asked you, Christine, if you find Smokin’ Hot similar to Models Own Purple Grey?
Looking at the photos, I may say they are identical!!
I don’t own that one 🙁
Luxedo is almost identical to OPI’s William Tell Me About OPI from the Swiss Collection, and Smokin’ Hot is the best Chanel Paradoxal dupe I’ve ever seen! (I have both the OPI and Chanel polishes)
I KNEW I should’ve got these right when they came out!!! I thought they were beautiful just in the pics, but the swatches solidify that I WILL be buying the full size, full set!!! 🙂 THANKS!