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Essie Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Imagination In Colour

Tag Archives: Essie

Models Own Pro Limited Edition – Swan Lake

August 6, 2011 7 Comments

By the time you’re reading this I will *hopefully* be on the lovely island of North Uist, Scotland 🙂 as it turns out I’m a crap blogger and never managed to get round to the scheduled posts and I don’t get how to do the whole guest blogging thing. Well anyway, who knows, I may even have 3G connection on North Uist. It’s weird writing this while trying to keep in mind that you’ll be reading it next week. It is, by the way, currently Thursday 28th July. Anywho, I’m very sorry to be disappointing but I thought I’d break up those long 2 weeks away with this post.

Enter Swan Lake!

If you look at the bottle in the photo below, this was not what I paid £8 for at 3 coats!!!
As you can hopefully see, the bottle colour is *very* misleading, I was expecting a lovely taupe-y shimmer. Nevertheless it inspired this gradient mani.
Pinkie to thumb: Boots 17 Peacock, Boots 17 Supreme Shine Wave, Nails Inc Electric Teal, Essie Lapis of Luxury, Barry M Blue Moon.
Thumb to pinkie: BeautyUK Slate, Barry M Mushroom, Nails Inc Fashion Fawn, Oh My GOSH Nude Champagne, Barry M Matt White.
I have to say, it does have a lovely unique finish even despite the sheerness. You know when you look into a lake or into the sea in the sun and it glistens in a lovely fluid, silvery way? Well it’s like that. It’s beautiful. Still I was disappointed with the price!
Anyway, layered over the top of other colours it looks absolutely beautiful. It dries quickly, and is fairly easy to control. I’m not a fan of the square lid, it doesn’t hinder the application too much but for a ‘Pro’ polish you would expect something a little easier to work with. The glittery shimmer spreads evenly across the nail so that isn’t a bother.
Overall I have very mixed feelings about this polish. For my first Models Own Pro polish, for the price, I can’t say I’m that impressed. However, the glistening effect of the polish has won my heart over. Just beware of this one if you were expecting a more opaque colour. Personally I would expect at least a hint of the taupey brown jelly base on the naked nail but apparently not – I only saw this when it was put over the Barry M Matt White!
Hope you are all well, and I’ll be back in a week!
Emma xxx
Disclaimer: Everything mentioned in this blog post was either bought by myself with my own money, or given to me as a gift from friends/relatives. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Updated Nail Polish Collection

May 3, 2011 21 Comments

This isn’t a showing off post, au contrare, I wish I had more – lol.

I thought that maybe for the benefit of you all I would put up some photos of my current collection, and say for example you want to see a picture of a particular polish I happen to own you can let me know in the comments box. I will also link pictures I have already taken when I name the polishes, if that makes any sense. Basically click the blue words if you want to see the pics.

Grouped by brand.

Here is my storage, I managed to find a large shoebox which will fit perfectly for the next 20 or so polishes, then I suppose I’ll have to move on to bigger and better boxes.
So this is going to seem like a tiny collection to certain among you who will no doubt have about ten times the amount that I do 😛 Believe you me I plan on expanding my collection for ever and always to the extent that income allows. Haha.

Left-Right: Gosh 60 Lambada, Rio Nail Art Pen Red, Collection 2000 Hot Looks 29 Big Hair, No.7 Stay Perfect 93 Salsa, Rimmel London 60 Seconds 300 Movie Star, Illamasqua Scarab, Chit Chat Sweet Maple.

Left-Right: BeautyUK 33 Coral Surprise, Barry M 136, Rimmel London I , Rio Nail Art Pen Yellow, Barry M 307 Lemon Ice Cream.

Left-Right: Chit Chat Seamoss, Barry M 304 Mint Green, GOSH 548 Green Hawaii, Barry M 290 Spring Green, Rio Nail Art Pen Green, GOSH 564 Golden Dragon, Rimmel London I

Left-Right: Marks & Spencer Duck Egg (EM), Barry M 317 Blue Moon, Revlon 044 Blue Lagoon, Barry M 295 Pure Turquoise, Boots 17 Fast Finish Catwalk Couture, Marks & Spencer Bright Aqua (M2), Essie Lapis of Luxury, Barbara Daly Denim, GOSH Special Edition 001 Lavender Love.

Left-Right: Boots 17 Fast Finish Peacock, Collection 2000 Hot Looks 37 Bongo Beat, Accessorize Illusions 39 Mermaid, Barbara Daly Aqua Shimmer, Illamasqua Viridian.

Left-Right: Barry M 294 Cyan Blue, Barry M 297 Blue Glitter, Nails Inc x Diet Coke Denim, Rio Nail Art Pen Blue, Marks & Spencer Lagoon (RC), 2true Shade 14, Nails Inc Chandos Place, Barry M 292 Navy.

Left-Right: BeautyUK 51 Smokey Lilac, Nails Inc. x Diet Coke Heather Grey, Natural Collection Lunar Haze, Barry M 308 Berry Ice Cream, GOSH 571 Wild Lilac, Collection 2000 Hot Looks 42 Teeny Bikini, Barry M 161 Vivid Purple, Barry M 312 Indigo.

Left-Right: Maybelline Forever Strong Pro 76 French Manicure, Barry M 264 Pink Iridescent, Rimmel London 60 Seconds 210 Ethereal, Accessorize 9 Fudge, MaxFactor Nailfinity 882 Angel Nails, L’Oreal Paris Resist & Shine 103, Barry M 309 Strawberry Ice Cream.

Left-Right: Rio Nail Art Pen Pink, No.7 Stay Perfect Milan, Barry M 305 Pink Flamingo, Boots 17 Lasting Finish Pink Grapefruit, Revlon 040 Fuchsia Fever, Unknown Pink from Argos Pretty Pink Makeup Palette, No.7 Speed Dry 41 Cherry Tang, NYC in a New York Color Minute 224B Times Square.

Left-Right: Accessorize Illusions 35 Pink Spice, Nails Inc. Chester Place, L’Oreal Resist & Shine Titanium 603, OPI DS Jewel, Barry M 165, Nails Inc. Petticoat Lane, No.7 Stay Perfect 105 Damson Dream, Marks & Spencer Aubergine (EP), Nails Inc. Victoria.

Left-Right: Barry M 310 Mushroom, Nails Inc. Battersea Power Station, Boots 17 Lasting Finish Toasted Almond, Accessorize 48 Magical Mocha, Unknown Gold from Argos Pretty Pink Makeup Palette.

Left-Right: Rio Nail Art Pen Silver, Accessorize 45 Dove, Rimmel London 60 Seconds 805 Grey Matter, Models Own Smash Up Silver, Chit Chat Starshine, Rimmel London I GOSH 549 Holographic, BeautyUK 50 Slate, No.7 Stay Perfect 62 Night Silver.

Left-Right: NYC Long Wearing 105 Starry Silver Glitter, Max Factor Nailfinity 133 Extra Frost, Rio Nail Art Pen White, Rio Nail Art Pen Black, Rimmel London I Barry M 311 Nail Effects Black, Models Own Smash Up Black.

Left-Right: Nails Inc. A+E Base Coat, Rimmel London Stronger Double Duty Base Coat, Barry M 3-in-1 Base Coat Top Coat  & Nail Hardener, Sally Hansen Nail Shine Miracle Top Coat, Rimmel London Lycra Pro Matte Finish Top Coat.
So once again if you didn’t read at the top 😛 comment if there’s any of these you’d like to see before you buy, as such, or even if you feel my pictures don’t show you what you want to see 🙂 I will also strive to update this every time I post pictures of each colour as and when.
Emma xxx

Disclaimer: Everything mentioned in this blog post was either bought by myself with my own money, or won in competitions, or given to me as a gift from friends/relatives. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Essie Lapis of Luxury vs GOSH Limited Edition Lavender Love Swatch Comparison

April 17, 2011 4 Comments

Before you go any further, apologies for the dire state of these swatches I was in a hurry but wanted to get it done 🙁 sorry…

On my index and ring finger is GOSH Lavender Love, and on my middle and pinkie finger is Essie Lapis of Luxury.
Dupes? Not at all.
It was so tricky to try to capture the differences between these polishes because on flash they look identical. However, as you can (hopefully) see, the Essie is much more blue-grey toned, while the GOSH is very much more purple.
Formula-wise this is 2 coats for the Essie and 1 coat for the GOSH. I’m inclined to say I prefer the GOSH because it dries much more quickly and is much more opaque in 1 coat. However I still have some love for my Essie 🙂
I hope this helps anyone who might be wondering if they are similar.
Emma xxx
Disclaimer: Everything mentioned in this blog post was either bought by myself with my own money, or given to me as a gift from friends/relatives. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Essie Lapis of Luxury

March 3, 2011 4 Comments

Rumoured to be the cornflower polish seen in Rihanna’s “What’s My Name” music video, the moment I saw this I knew I HAD to have it. So eBay produced the goods 😀
Lapis of Luxury is part of the Resort Collection, released last summer, and all four polishes are still available on eBay. I (well, my Mum) paid £9 for this, all 15ml, with free postage, and she gave it to me for Christmas!
I am still consumed by a whirlwind love affair with this colour. I honestly haven’t seen anything quite like it. It has that perfect slightly-sheer finish, while the colour is still rich and eye-catching. It’s a blue with just a hint of lilac, not enough to really call it real ‘cornflower’ but in my eyes, prettier.
I only have two problems. The first is the dry time. After applying 2 coats overnight and a third the next day, 12hrs after my third application I went to sleep, thinking it was fully dry, and woke up with the most horrendous sheet marks! I mean really… as a ‘high end’ polish, you would think it’d be dry after 12hrs… My second issue is finding clothes to wear with it! I have now settled for a tasteful clash with this polish. I really don’t have anything that goes with this so I just hope that what I wear looks okay with it! Haha. I love the colour too much to not wear it.
I am now mourning the loss of what must be about 3ml, after just 3 wears. 1ml a wear?! Aargh. I think this I will save for long-term wears, i.e. more than 2 days, as the wear is quite good.
The gains outweigh the losses!
From the collection, I am desperate to get my hands on Turquoise & Caicos, but even more desperate to find a dupe that will hopefully be cheaper and faster-drying!
Hope you like the colour as much as I do 😀
Emma xxx

Disclaimer: Everything mentioned in this blog post was either bought by myself with my own money, or given to me as a gift from friends/relatives. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Nail Polish Collection As Of 13th January 2011

January 13, 2011 6 Comments

Considering I only had about 4 nail polishes at the beginning of December… I have gone a bit nail polish mental! 🙂 Maybe it’s just the colours, I hate routine and since buying/receiving all these polishes I have been changing them every day lol – until my nails split at which point I realised I should really consider the health of my nails before abusing them 😀 they are happy nails now though. So here we go:
L-R: GOSH 60 Lambada, Rio Nail Art Pen Red, Collection 2000 Hot Looks 29 Big Hair, Rimmel 60 Seconds 300 Movie Star, ChitChat Sweet Maple, Barry M 136, Rimmel Lasting Finish 050 Tangerine Queen, Rio Nail Art Pen Yellow.
L-R: ChitChat Seamoss, Barry M 290 Spring Green, Rio Nail Art Pen Green, Rimmel Lasting Finish 238 Forest, Collection 2000 Hot Looks 37 Bongo Beat, Boots 17 Fast Finish Peacock, Boots 17 Fast Finish Catwalk Couture, Barry M 295 Pure Turquoise.
L-R: Essie Lapis of Luxury, Barry M 294 Cyan Blue, Rio Nail Art Pen Blue, Barbara Daly Aqua Shimmer, 2True Glossywear Shade No. 14, Barry M 292 Navy, Barry M 312 Indigo, Barry M 161 Vivid Purple.
L-R: Barry M 308 Berry Ice Cream, Natural Collection Lunar Haze, Collection 2000 Hot Looks 42 Teeny Bikini, Barry M 165, Rio Nail Art Pen Metallic Pink, L’Oreal Resist & Shine 603, Unknown Makeup Palette Nail Polish.
L-R: Max Factor Nailfinity 882 Angel Nails, L’Oreal Resist & Shine 103, Maybelline Forever Strong Pro 76 French Manicure, Unknown Makeup Palette Nail Polish, Rimmel 60 Seconds 805 Grey Matter, Rio Nail Art Pen Metallic Silver.
L-R: ChitChat Starshine, NYC Long Wearing 105 Starry Silver Glitter, Max Factor Nailfinity 133 Extra Frost, Rio Nail Art Pen White, Rio Nail Art Pen Black, Sally Hansen Nail Shine Miracle Top Coat, Barry M 54 Basecoat Topcoat & Nail Hardener 3 in 1.
If you haven’t heard of ChitChat, it’s from Poundland (don’t judge me ;)) they aren’t actually that bad, they have a much nicer smell than most nail polishes (though I don’t know whether that means they are cheapie harmful fumes!!!) and they do look really lovely over the top of some polishes. They are too sheer really to wear alone, and I wouldn’t say they are of great staying quality! Hence why I would only use them over the top of another polish.

The two unknown polishes are from a makeup box given to me for my birthday last year, which I would definitely recommend. It isn’t tested on animals (BUAV approved), and the eyeshadows particularly are of fairly good quality considering the price. It’s called PrettyPink, and is (or was!) from Argos.
In total I think I have 42 coloured polishes and 2 Topcoat Basecoats, and I don’t think I’ll be stopping any time soon!
Emma xx

Disclaimer: Everything mentioned in this blog post was either bought by myself with my own money, or given to me as a gift from friends/relatives. All opinions expressed here are my own.