Not all summer nail polishes inspire spontaneous boogie down sessions, but the moment I peeped the creamy colors in the Essie Summer 2010 collection, my booty wanted to hit the dance floor!
Essie founder and head honcho (honchette?) Essie Weingarten said she based the six-piece collection — bright with splashes of summery greens, pinks, corals and reds — on the floral prints she’d seen on the runways at New York Fashion Week. If you like what she came up with, you can find the six shades for $48 at beauty stores, salons and also online.
- Pretty Edgy: a creamy kelly green
- Knockout Pout: a creamy bright pink
- Vermillionaire: a creamy (you get the idea here) reddish orange
- Miss Matched: a sheer (surprise!) and creamy (ha!) purplish pink
- Haute as Hello: a creamy coral
- Demure Vixen: a creamy light purple
I used two coats for these swatches, and every color applied smoothly, with the exception of Miss Matched, which was a tad streaky. All of them exhibit that classic Essie texture (very creamy) and shine.
Pretty Edgy
Knockout Pout
Vermillionaire
Miss Matched
Haute as Hello
Demure Vixen
What do ya think about these? Fun, right? 🙂 I feel more playful with them on…
I like them all, but Pretty Edgy sets my soul on fire. That bright green looks like a garden on my tips!
What a banner year 2010 has been for Essie so far, first with the fresh Art of Spring collection, then the jaw-dropping Resort collection, and now this. Keep it up, Essie, ’cause I’m loving what you’re doing. Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A+
You might like the Essie Summer 2010 collection if…
- You like flirty, feminine nails
- You’re partial to polishes with a creamy finish and lots of shine
- You like collections with a mix of edgy and classic shades
Random acts of birthday loot
Thanks for all the birthday wishes, guys! So far 35 has been great. 🙂
I woke up to a bouquet of flowers and a Starbucks latte in bed, courtesy of the two men in my life, El Hub and Tabs.
Then, I tore into my birthday care package from Hawaii. These are some of my favorite local snacks and clothes from a Waikiki surf shop called Honolua…
What do you think of the Roxy dress? Pretty, yah? It’s from my sweet mum-in-law. Not only do I love the print (it’s totes my style!), but I sure like that keyhole detailing in the back.
Thanks again for celebrating 35 with me. I hope you have a great night. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
So glad you had a happy birthday! I love those red coconut candies too.
Hmmmm….I thought Demure Vixen would be a little more interesting based on the subtle shimmer in the bottle. Still might need to check it out. Thinking it could be work appropriate but still a bit different.
I’m glad you had such a good birthday.
Could you do a quick tutorial on how you prep your nails to apply Essie polish?
I heard that it’s really hard to apply.
.-= Andrika’s last blog post… Control Fiend ! =-.
I second this request!
happy birthday! cheers to a new age year and even more fabulousness!
I am totally diggin Vermillionaire…..that orange speaks to my “i wanna be on summer vacation” heart
.-= Kajal Couture’s last blog post… RareMineralsâ„¢ Renew & Reveal Facial Cleanser Review =-.
Happy Birthday Karen! Hope your day was amazing!
Happy birthday! While you had a great birthday, I had one of the worst first day cramps ever AND a mid-term which I’m sure I did not so well on. I could do with a bouqet of flowers right now but since the f lower shops are closed, I’ll pretend the picture of yours from El Hub & Tabs are mine 😉
Glad that you had a great birthday! Did you decide what you and El Hub will be doing to celebrate it? You know that Tabs wants to have a rager and is just waiting for you guys to get out of town… hee hee
In looking at the collection, at first I didn’t think that the green color went with it but the more I look at it, the more I realize that it does. Pretty colors… I have a coupon from Ulta so I may be getting some of these.
.-= marisol’s last blog post… Abandonment issues =-.
okay, its official; when something looks good on you; im getting it. we are the same skintone and both flip and when it works for you its almost sure to work on me! love it! demure vixen is so mine. happy bday by the way!
.-= beth’s last blog post… poizenisxkandee: OMFG. =-.
Happy happy birthday ! May this year go better than the last 😀
I still love your handwriting 😛
demure vixen is so prettyfuls !
Happy birthday to my favorite beauty blogger. 🙂
Happy Birthday, Karen! We’ll love you no matter what age you are! Age is just a number. Birthday wishes from Boston! 😀
.-= Maggie’s last blog post… Summer Mermaid-esque EOTD =-.
Happy birthday Karen! I bought the resort collection (my first Essie purchase!) and fell madly in love. Going to check out Knockout Pout fo’ sho’!
Happy Birthday!! 😀 😀 😀
I totally want Haute as Hello just for the name!!!!!
.-= Catherine’s last blog post… ekiLove Kawaii Bow Earrings =-.
Happy Birthday! Thanks for all the great posts over the last year, reading them is always a highlight of my day 🙂
Art nerd comment!
I really like your photos of the nail polish swatches! The way you wrote the names with a crayon (i’m assuming….or eyeliner?) adds a fun element of texture to the photos and also really makes your nails pop by adding depth! it’s cool to see the 3 layers; writing in the background, the nail polish bottle, and then your nails in the foreground. Tis aesthetically pleasing to meh 🙂
Annnnnnd I’m glad you had a good birthday! Cheers to that and many more!
I agree! The way everything is laid out looks really nice and it also makes it easier to get a really good view of the color!
P.s. that is a really cute dress and I hope you had a great day:)
omg, love love loveee haute as hello and knockout pout <3! thanks for this karen, i have been such a nail polish hoarding fiend lately!! and happy birthday! looks like you had an awesome day 🙂
Happy Birthday!
You know we want to see a picture of you in that dress, and it looks like it would go perfectly with a Pretty Edgy mani! 🙂
Happy Birthday, Karen.
Haute as Hello and Demure Vixen are gorgeous!!! Even though I hate how the way Essie nail polishes applies, maybe I should give it another chance!?
Btw, love the WAIKIKI T-shirt!
x
Rica
.-= Rica’s last blog post… My blog sale =-.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! WELCOME TO THE 35-44 AGE GROUP WITH THE REST OF US! 😉
My favourite is Pretty Edgy!
.-= amy’s last blog post… Pacifica Perfumes “Secret†25% off Sale for Bella Koola Readers Last Day! =-.
Happy Birthday Karen! Hope you had fun celebrating!
Those Essie swatches look so fabulous on you. <3
Hope you had a lovely day,Demure Vixen is very pretty!!
.-= House of Accessories’s last blog post… Two in One Photo Prop All Fringe Baby Nest in all Blues =-.
this is late but hauoli la hanau!! do i see a bag of tomoe kakimochi? girl, does that mean el hub taught you of the joy of popcorn + kakimochi (which, unfortunately, = stinky breaf, but eh, it tastes good)?
i haven’t commented much lately but i still follow your tweets & come to MBB at least 5 times a week. if i could send you a dozen haupia malasadas as a thank you for the world of MBB without them turning into a hot coconutty slimy mess, i would gladly do so. MBB is often what cheers me if i can’t immediately run into my sweetie’s arms for a cuddle. so, for this, many thanks. =D
Happy Birthday Karen!
Happy birthday! Thank you for your blog
Hi Karen. I am happy to hear that you had a nice BDay!
You are lucky to have a nice mother-in-law 🙂
.-= Marina’s last blog post… Alice in Wonderland and NYC Insipred Books Of Shadows by Urban Decay. =-.
Ooo happy birthday, Karen! Love the flowers, your men are cute! 🙂
.-= Pinch’s last blog post… Greens Greens Greens =-.
Happy Birthday Karen!
The lowers aree so pretty, and the dress…….and right now I’d kill for a Starbucks!
Glad to hear your birthday was great! I LOVE your new dress! And, OMG, what are the red coconut balls?!?! You know I live for anything coconut!
I love your new dress and im happy that you got a much deserved awesome birthday.
Those cookies you got – ive had them and they are LOVE!!!!
I love Haute as Hello – can totally picture them on my toes! 😀
Happy to hear u had a great birthday Karen, love the dress it’s adorable!!
I love those Essie colors, especially the green one..it’s the perfect shade of green without a doubt. It kinda sucks for me because it’s so hard to find Essie in Canada and even when I do, it’s only a limited choice of colors booo!
.-= Aniela’s last blog post… 2010 MTV Movie Awards Best and Worst Dressed =-.
I just discovered your site & you are now on my Top Sites!
Hope your birthday was wonderful! I *want* that Roxy dress now and Haute as Hello may replace OPI Cajun Shrimp as my next summer coral.
Happy (late) Birthday – hope it was great! We’re the same age now. Are you from Hawaii?? I am originally – we have a lot of Hawaiian foods here in Las Vegas, but the one thing we don’t have is mochi (my favorite food ever). I can’t wait to go back and visit this summer.
.-= Jeni’s last blog post… Maybelline Dream Matte Powder =-.
I’m glad you had a great birthday.
I’m definitely going to check out that green, it’s gorgeous!
.-= gio’s last blog post… How to let your hair air dry =-.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAREN.. hope you enjoyed your birthday.
.-= Courtney’s last blog post… I cant breathe… =-.
That dress is super cute Karen!!! Happy belated birfhday 🙂 hope you had a wonderful day!!!
I LOVE pretty Edgy & Knock Out Pout
.-= Kim Porter’s last blog post… MAC In The Groove Collection – Wishlist =-.
Happy Belated Birthday!
I love these nail polishes! I have never really been into OPI- more of an OPI girl only because I felt Essie lacked bold colours….after viewing your post I really want to pick up :Pretty Edgy (maybe only for my toes), Knockou Pout, Vermillionaire and Haute as Hello – if I find that kit you are talking about (all for 48$) I will just grab that 🙂
Love your site!!
.-= ashley nicole’s last blog post… Aloe Fresh Hydrating body lotion with aloe and cucumber extracts =-.
Glad to hear the bday was good to you!
I ALMOST picked up the green Essie but resisted, I just have so much green in my collection I can’t spare room for another one to rotate to!
.-= Bunny Masseuse’s last blog post… It’s Always great to "GET" in these Great Giveaways! =-.
Demure vixen has a VERY subtle pink shimmer. others might not notice but its very pretty!
Glad you had a nice birthday 🙂 I love the kelly green polish, totally up my alley 😉
.-= Karen B’s last blog post… LORAC Cosmetics =-.
Awww happy birthday, looks like so much fun! That dress is gorgeous! I love how you displayed the photos of the nail colors, with the name written and the polish bottle. Very creative but very professional looking =)
Look at all the awesome stuff you got for your birthday!
Happy 35!
As for the nail polishes, I want them all except for Demure Vixen. That one’s just ugly.
.-= Trisha’s last blog post… Beauty Review: Avon ANEW Reversalist Illuminating Eye System =-.
Miss Matched looks good. Aww those flowers are so pretty and happy b-day^.^
That’s some great loot, Karen! Esp the dress – very nice! Essie’s definitely one of my favorite polish brands – I really like the consistency too. Lots of people swear by OPI, but I’ve just never been a big fan. It always goes on streaky for me. PS I’m sure you know this, but Essie was bought by L’Oreal a couple of months ago, so that should keep the development cash flowing! 🙂
Fun birthday loot!! Don’t you just love birthdays?? 🙂
I want the hot pink nail polish!!
OMG! Happy Belated Mirthday!! Gurl, I can’t believe you’re 35 =P I swear you’re only 27!
Happy Belated Birthday!! Looks like you got some nice presents, I bet the dress look great on you. I am so so in love with Pretty Edgy, it’s such a gorgeous green creme
.-= makeup morsels’s last blog post… Last of the Lumene Lineup =-.
Thank you for all the lovely birthday wishes, everyone. Hugs to you all!
I need Pretty Edgy in my life, NOW!!!!!!
.-= Apple Diva’s last blog post… Prom – Makeup Ideas =-.
I’m wearing it on my toes. You need it, ASAP!
I love the J.Crew Essie collection colors!
http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Browse/WomenBrowse/Women_Shop_By_Category/accessories/necessaryluxuries/PRDOVR~22678/99102123805/ENE~1+2+3+22+4294967294+20~~~17~15~all~mode+matchallany~~~~~essie/22678.jsp
I just picked up the “Jazz,” but would have also grabbed the “Peach Daquiri” had it been there.
great swatches! i love pretty edgy!
Hey Karen. Was hoping you could help me out before I made a purchase. How does Essie’s Knockout Pout compare to China Glaze’s Sugar High? I love both colors, but from the pics online they look as if they may be dupes.
Thx