Essie Bikini So Teeny Swatch & Review

Essie has launched its Bikini So Teeny Collection, I picked up Bikini So Teeny which is a lilacy cornflower blue with subtle silver glitter (you can't really see it on the nail). It has a nice consistency and was opaque in 2 coats with a shiny finish. The one thing worth noting is that if you use a topcoat it darkens the colour quite a lot and looks a bit more purple.

I get about 3 days wear from Essie polishes before I get any tip wear. Overall it's a very cute shade and I don't have anything else quite like it so thumbs up!

Essie Brazilliant Swatch & Review

Essie's Brazilliant nail polish is a bright tangerine orange with beautiful hot pink shimmer. This colour really varies depending on what light you happen to be in. I think it's very pretty and summery, perfect with a tan! The formula is on the thick side but is quite pigmented and goes on opaque in just 2 coats. I get around 3 days before I experience any tip wear which is about standard for me.

Essie Brazilliant (daylight)

Essie Brazilliant (indoors)

Essie Ole Caliente Swatch & Review

Essie Ole Caliente (daylight)

 This is Essie's Ole Caliente which came out with the Spring 2012 Collection. It's a gorgeous bright cherry red with a glossy shine. I really love this sort of shade- bright but very chic and grown up, it also suits a lot of skintones. It goes on with almost opaque coverage (2 coats here) but if you were careful you might be able to get away with just one. With a decent base and top coat I can get about 4 days wear out of this before it starts looking a little scruffy. I will definitely be repurchasing this one!

Essie Ole Caliente (flash)

Essie Punchy Pink 694 Swatch, Review & Dupes

This is probably my favourite pink nail polish of all time. Essie Punchy Pink 694 is a bright warm neon pink. It's lighter than most other neons which really sets it apart. I also like the way it makes me look a lot more tanned than I really am. It dries to a matt finish so you'll need a topcoat to get it glossy. My one is on the thick side but it's still easily applied.

Essie Punchy Pink (flash)

I used 2 coats here which is fine for real life (the camera picks up any unevenness). I get good wear out of these, approx 3-4 days before I get any tip wear. As for dupes Essie's Pink Parka is about the closest (a bit cooler in tone) or Models Own Bubble Gum (slightly darker and cooler in tone)

UPDATE: More Comparisons...

From Thumb to Pinkie: Models Own Bubble Gum, China Glaze Pink Voltage, Nina Pro Fuchsia Rage, Essie Punchy Pink, Essie Pink Parka

From Thumb to Pinkie: Models Own Bubble Gum, China Glaze Pink Voltage, Nina Pro Fuchsia Rage, Essie Punchy Pink, Essie Pink Parka

Illamasqua Nomad Nail Polish Review and Swatches

From Illamasqua's new Human fundamentalism collection I have the Nomad nail polish. I was curious about this colour even though I rarely stray from red/neon coral/pink. It's a bright creamy jade green, almost neon looking. Opaque in 2 coats. I couldn't quite find a dupe for this one either, China Glaze Aquadelic was more blue, Essie Turquoise and Caicos was lighter, Chanel Nouvelle Vague again was more blue and China Glaze Four Leaf Clover was similar but slightly darker.

Also, once this was on my nails it kept reminding me of Grasshopper Pie...

You can buy this at illamasqua.com