As I’m sure you’ve noticed by now, new nail polish collections give me a warm and fuzzy feeling. Of course, the Essie Encrusted Treasures Collection for Holiday 2013 did not disappoint. Full of texture, glamour and jeweled finishes, this collection is just dripping with opulence and embellishment. Inspired by exquisite runway looks – think beaded gowns and couture brocades – this collection translates extremely well onto the nails, bringing a new side to Essie that we haven’t seen before.
“Ignite the Night in stunning jewel-like polish that instantly brushes on incomparable texture and Lots of Lux. Bold, daring and decadent, there’s nothing like Belugaria for a touch of deep, alluring glamour. Create stand-out style with a single accent nail or rock a suite of gemmy style with a full manicure. So, pass the Hors D’oeuvres and break out the bubbly, the world is your oyster On A Silver Platter when you adorn yourself in these three-dimensional wonders that are the very Peak of Chic!“
All of these shades can, of course, be worn alone but I think most of them (Belugaria and Lots of Lux aside) would work amazingly as jeweled top coats – especially over white, silver, navy or black shades. Anyways, without further ado, take a look at my swatches of the Essie Encrusted Treasures collection and let me know which shades you love in the comments below!
Essie Belugaria – “Holographic jet black lace” – This will hands down (nails down?) be the most talked about polish of the Encrusted Treasures collection. I think the only way I can accurately describe how this looks is as if you had dipped your tips in caviar and thrown a little sparkle in for good measure. It’s seriously different from anything else I’ve tried. I’m not going to lie to you though, this polish isn’t the easiest to work with and it might take a couple of tries to nail it. So if you don’t like the way it looks on the first try, don’t get frustrated – just take it off and give it another go. My suggestion? Apply a “thin” layer first and let it dry, then use the second coat to fill in the empty spaces. Like I said, practice makes perfect with this one and when you do get it you are going to love the results.
Essie Ignite the Night – “Sparkling hematite with a superfine matte finish” – This shade has a shimmery granite feel to it, with different shades of silver thrown in to add some dimension. The smooth finish goes really nicely with this shade although a clear top coat can definitely be applied over top to give it a fanastic shiny look.
Essie Hors D’oeuvres – “Platinum gold with iridescent silver glitter” – I love this shade, and it has quickly become one of my favourites from this collection. Super shiny and reflection, it totally reminds me of Lady Gaga’s disco ball dress and is going to be so perfect for NYE.
Essie Lots of Lux – “Shimmering lapis lazuli with a superfine matte finish” – this shade sees Essie going an exciting way towards textured finish. Reminiscent of OPI’s Liquid Sand shades, this polish dries to a sandy, textured finish with lots of sparkle. This blue shade is stunning and bold and is definitely going to be on my tips at the Toronto Maple Leaf’s game I’m going to next week!
Essie On A Silver Platter – “Pearlescent gold with holographic violet glitter” – This shade was surprising to me – it seemed to change when you looked at it from different angles. Varying between shades of pearl, yellow gold, blue and violet, it takes on a duochrome feel. Bits of shimmer give it lots of definition while the violet glitter adds a really nice effect, while the finish takes on a bit of a satin look.
Essie Peak of Chic – “Alpine white holographic rainbow fringe” – While I’m not necessarily a fan of bar glitter, this shade has really been growing on me. Worn along, it starts to take on an almost lace-like feel to it that feels dainty and feminine, while the holographic bits give it a little party vibe to balance it out.
Which shades can you not wait to try?
Price: $10 CAD
Availability: November 2013
Disclaimer: This post contains products sent from the company for editorial consideration. All opinions are purely my own personal judgements.
