[Purchased, affiliate links used]
Hi friends! I know say I this in every single Essie blog post but I am forever in shock at the sheer number of nail polish collections Essie releases throughout the year! I have their new plant based line to be swatched and I have a new Expressie line expecting to arrive tomorrow.
I literally went from owning 5 Essie’s to have nearly a full helmer drawer worth of Essie in just a few months! I’m still a little salty that I waited so long to buy more from this brand, I really have fallen in love.
This collection is exclusive to Ulta and is inspired by the “glamourous dressing rooms of old Hollywood starlets”. Other than that, I don’t have much information on this one. I do think this is a limited edition release though.
I purchased this collection from the Ulta website, feel free to use my affiliate link to pick this up if any strikes your fancy!
Live Swatch Video
Essie is a US based mainstream brand. Their polishes are in 13.5ml bottles, 8 free vegan and cruelty free.
Born To Adorn
Description: an antique yellow gold with a pearlescent finish
Born To Adorn this polish was hard for me. Mainly because of my general dislike of pearlescent finishes and my general love for the color gold. I love the shade of gold but could have done without the pearl effect.
Formula was fantastic however it was a little sheer so you do need to build this one up to reach full opacity. Because it is a pearl finsih, you do get brush strokes but they’re not as bad as some other pearlescents I have tried.
My photos show Born To dorn in 3 coats plus glossy top coat.
Not So Naturale
Description: a sage green with blue undertone
Not So Naturale talk about opaque! This polish had a great formula. It was a little bit on the thicker side but the application was buttery smooth and it self leveled perfectly. It was also opaque in 1 coat for me.
I did notice that it seems to dry down just a little bit darker than it applied but it’s a very slight difference. Color wise, I don’t really care for this polish but it’s nice nonetheless.
My photos show Not So Naturale in 2 coats plus glossy top coat.
This isn’t a dupe for Title The World from the recent Regal Rebel. It’s more blue/cool toned.
Pretty In Pearls
Description: a Blush pink with neutral undertones
Pretty In Pearls was the least “me” shade out of the collection. It’s exactly as described.
I found the coverage to be pretty streaky and uneven on the first coat but everything evened out nicely for me with the second. This isn’t really a color that I gravitate towards but I can admit that I liked how it looked on me. Maybe one day I can wear colors like this without talking myself into disliking them.
My photos show Pretty In Pearls in 2 coats plus glossy top coat. This seems to dry down just a little darker than it applies.
Primp & Powder
Description: a light lavender creme
Primp & Powder had a pretty good formula. I expected it to be a little streaky and it was but all of the streaks evened out on the second coat. Self leveled was perfect on it.
To get the color description for this one, I had to look up the difference between lilac and lavender. This is a cool toned purple so I am going with lavender for my description.
My photos show Primp & Powder in 2 coats plus glossy top coat.
Unhidden Gems
Description: a mauve plum with red undertones
Unhidden Gems this is another color that in general, I am not a fan of. Just like the previous shade I feel like I should rethink that because I kinda like how it looks on me?
I would say the description is a little off. I don’t see ANY mauve in this but I can buy a red toned plum for sure. The formula and application were both fantastic as was the coverage.
My photos show Unhidden Gems in 2 coats plus glossy top coat.
Vintage Vanity
Description: a dark berry
Vintage Vanity while this is not a color that I personally gravitate strongly towards, this is a beautiful color nonetheless! To my eye, this a deep red toned berry shade.
Coverage was surprisingly good on the first coat. Not quite a one coater but close. It is also very pigmented so be sure wear base coat.
My photos show Vintage Vanity in 2 coats plus glossy top coat.
Final Thoughts
None of these colors were really me colors. Also since we are nearing the official start of summer, the color story just isn’t the vibe that I am feeling at the moment. I recognize that this isn’t a summer release so I will give Essie a pass on that. I do think for the theme, the colors do seem fitting.
This was a fantastic collection formula wise. I do wish there was one more non-creme finish in the bunch, but again for the theme these do seem fitting.
My top picks are going to be Born To Adorn and Primp & Powder.
I would love to know what you think of this release, let me know down in the comments!
Essie
13.5ml, 8 Free, Not Tested On Animals & Vegan
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Sale Info
The Vintage Vanity collection is available right now on the Ulta website. This should be popping up in store at any time now. It is exclusive to Ulta.
If you would like to shop more Essie release do consider using my affiliate code, NicoleLovesNails on BeyondPolish.com. Essie is also sold at the following retailers: Ulta, Target, Rite Aide, Walmart and Amazon. These links are affiliate links. Using my affiliate links/codes helps me keep purchasing all of these collections to review but as always, no pressure to use them!
