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Wednesday 20 March 2013

NOTD: Essie, Bikini So Teeny

I've actually had this little gem knocking about in my collection since December when I picked it up in a spur of the moment TK Maxx haul and have only now tried it. This is my first ever Essie polish and I have some mixed feelings...


Essie polishes come in rectangular bottles, contain 15ml of product and retail at £7.99 each. This shade is from the Summer 2012 collection and was enormously popular at the time. I'll admit, I'd been lusting after it for an absolute age. I'm a huge fan of pastels and pale blues are a particular favourite of mine so it was only a matter of time (and TK Maxx sales) until it was with me. Bikini So Teeny is a beautiful cornflower blue which can read almost sky blue in artificial light. The pale shimmer running through it makes for a really multi-faceted colour and I constantly find myself looking at my nails when I'm wearing it.


I really like the packaging of Essie polishes, they're very distinctive and the raised logo on the glass gives them a slightly higher end feel. The biggest disappointment for me was how sheer this shade is. I ended up having to apply four coats which is absolutely ridiculous. I could still see the faint outline of the white tips after that. The drying time was fair but nothing to get excited about. BUT, the wear time is outstanding! It's been a week now and there isn't a single chip. I applied it without a base coat or top coat and it's still just as perfect as when it was first applied. For that reason alone I can understand why Essie is so raved about. However, I'm usually the sort of person that changes my nail varnish every two or three days so longevity isn't so much of a selling point for me personally so I wouldn't pay full price for them. Luckily there are a few great bargains around and you can usually find select colours on Fragrance Direct for £1.99 each.

Final Verdict: Takes several coats to reach opacity but lasts forever when it's on. Beautiful colour.

Do you have a favourite Essie shade? How often do you like to change your nail colour?

Lauren

21 comments:

  1. I want this shade so bad, it's beautiful! Xx

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    1. It's been on Fragrance Direct recently, worth a look :) x

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  2. Ooooh it's like 1 in 1 with Orly Snowcone, which is my most fav)))) I never tried Essie though..

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    1. ooh that sounds pretty :) It's okay in my opinion, but I could live without it. Amazing colour selection though x

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  3. I ordered this colour the other day and I'm waiting for it to arrive. Such a shame it takes that many coats to get a good pigmentation :/ Great review though!

    http://annettibus.blogspot.ie/

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    1. It is a real pain in the bum :( such a gorgeous colour though! x

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  4. This is one of my favourite nail polishes, I love it!

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  5. I bought this last weekend from Fragrance Direct! Bargain!! xx

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    1. They really are! Should really pop an order in myself sometime :) xx

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  6. I had the opposite experience with my first Essie polishes (I bought the Winter collection) - they chipped in a matter of hours :( all of them! Sad times.

    Elspeth xx

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    1. Oh you're kidding :( maybe the formula was a little different? Such a pity. Sorry to hear that xx

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  7. Glad you finally tried this one out!! But (as I think you know) I'm with you on these being WAYYYY overhyped in the polish/beauty world.

    Cassie
    thriftthick.blogspot.com

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    1. haha me too :) I knowwww. I think the formula varies wildly though so there are a lot of hits and misses :/ shame. Love the colours x

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  8. Woah! Four coats! But the color is soo beautiful x

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  9. Essie is definitely the best nail varnish I've come across for durability! I used to wear it for a week at a time in my old office job & it still didn't chip :) xxx

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  10. Oh god, I love this nail polish.. baby blues are my favorites :)
    xx
    http://holaflo.blogspot.com.ar/

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