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.

• 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)