As always when I find something that makes me enthusiast I have to let it out, or I feel my head exploding.
And girls, I really have to shout this out loud: I FOUND THE BEST NAIL POLISH EVER.
P-E-R-F-E-C-T
And what’s its name?
Essie, of course!
Yes I know, as always you’ll think that I discover things AGES after all the world knows about them and I even pretend to be all excited about it, but I am not living in New York, in my city there is not a manicure shop every 5 meters and the few ones that you can find never heard even about O.P.I. so just let me spread around hearts and stars and positive pink rays of joy like a manga character for the discovery of my new best friend.
Ok, so you should already know I like to keep my nails polished.
Maybe you don’t know this but I’ll tell you now, the polish colors I prefer are the very dark ones (on short nails of course) but I think you’ll all agree if I say that you just freak out if you want to keep them spotless each and every day.
You also know how much I love red and, of course for Murphy’s law, polishes with red pigments are the most difficult to apply in a decent way and the first that leave your nails (in fact you’ll always see my nail painted in dark blue or cold mauve when I travel and I know I won’t be able to do my manicure in two or three days).
Result: you need a perfect polish for all of this (dark polish + in red tones + that lasts long) but I never found one. Until a couple of days ago.
Saturday I was in Cologne, I entered Douglas and bam! right in front of me, a giant shelf full of O.P.I and Essie nail polishes.
In Italy we didn’t have O.P.I. and Essie, and I think I might moved to the other European country that don’t have them as well – very smart of me (if you like make-up and beauty stuff, Belgium is HELL).
So I start to jump around the shelves like a crazy lab mouse facing a massive dose of exciting drugs under experimentation and of course attracting the attention of one of the shop assistants.
After I manage to become her best friend in 5 minutes (I am a social handicapped person, but I don’t know why I have this good vibe with shop assistants and waiters, we’re just on the same wavelength) and after she tells me 10 times how much she loves my ring and my leopard ballet flats (new… because I am a girl who knows how to save money), I pick my very first two Essie nail polishes, excited like a teen ager reading a letter from her first romantic love.
And guess which colors? A deep red and a dark burgundy.
Of course, red pigments! How smart of me! I realize only in the train back home that I might have screwed my very first professional-nail-polish experience (no, I don’t consider Chanel polishes professional. In fact, I have to say I was quite disappointed by the few I’ve tried) by choosing two red tones.
I am so afraid to face the depressing reality (aka to have wasted this first experience and 27 euros in a couple of polishes that will leave me unsatisfied) that I leave the two cute bottles on the table waiting for one full day (an eternity, if you measure with the “excited Al after shopping-I-have-to-try-everything-NOW reference system) before trying them out.
And, surprise surprise, Essie defeats the law of red.
Such a smooth application that, believe me, I just wanted to cry of happiness. To satisfy my excitation I had to paint also my toes (even though sandal season is far). The color is vibrant, full, creamy but liquid enough to permit a super precise application.
So there I go with my foxy lady red nails under the shower. I’m sure I’ll screw them up immediately. And instead there they are, perfect as a dream. The day after they resist amazingly to a full day of lattice gloves, pure ethanol (to disinfect my hands after the lab work, what did you understand?? No party time here!) and diet coke cans. And when I go back home I discover that my freshly painted toenails perfectly resisted to a day in ballet flats without collants.
Magic.
And here they are still, after three days, beautiful, shiny and perfect as the very first day.
So my lack of faith in red polishes was destroyed by Essie, the scientist in me says that the tests were fully passed and the romantic girl in me says I’ve found a new love.
You heard me, from now on no Chanel, O.P.I., Maybelline (they’re quite good I have to say) or any other brand, it’s Essie forever.
And I think you should really try them too. If you’re in one of the beauty-forgotten countries like Belgium you can find some colors on HQhair (it’s quite a good shop for make-up, I bought there 4 or 5 times and I was always happy) and tons of them on eBay!
So let me know! If you tried them and you love them, if you tried them and you hate them, if you’ll try them and you’d like to share your color picking, I’m here and these ears hear nothing else but the word “Essie” right now!
A kiss!
Al
PS: when I showed the drawing to Tommy he said “it’s nice… but why she has that giant handbag?”
mmmmhhhh….
Please tell me the polish bottle doesn’t look like a handbag!
PPS: I forgot to tell you the colors I picked! “Limited addiction” and “wicked”, love love love them!!
PPPS: If I missed the arrival of make-up civilization in Italy (aka OPI, Essie and NYX in every beauty store) let me know, that I’ll plan my shopping for the next holidays! ;-)
Oh my, why I always write these hyper long posts forgetting that I also have to translate them in Italian??? S**t!
But Good night! :*
Very fun post, I will definitely try Essie. I always have nail polish on but they rarely stay perfect!
LOL I’m glad you enjoyed it! If you try the nail polish then pass by to tell me if you liked it! ;-)
ahahahahahahah I thought it was a giant handbag too, and that you’d rant about the size of your suitcase again :P
Anyway this post is very interesting….pity I can’t buy it anywhere here…plus it seems way too pricey for me :( but I’ll keep that in mind! You know I prefer vibrant colors on short nail, too? Don’t know why!
Kisses :*
Nooooooooooooooo!!!!!
Is my ability to draw nail polish bottles so terrible?? XD
It’s not expensive, I payed each 13,50 euros which is the price of any L’Oreal polish and just a couple of euros more than Maybelline for example. Of course if you consider the mini Mavalas it’s expensive, but I find it quite cheap for the quality and the size.
I do prefer every color with short nails, I wear them longer only with neutrals but I don’t wear them too long anymore.
kiss kiss kiss
no no I hate mini Mavala-s too :/
8 euros is the maximum I ever paid for a nail polish so far, but I think that if it keeps all of its promises like the one you described it could be worth it!
These days I’m anticipating summer by wearing an adorable coral red *_*
Some mini Mavala are not bad, I found a couple of colors that can last even 4 days without re-touch but the others… bleah!
I love coral red!! I think I’ll buy one as soon as I get a bit (artificially) tanned :D
Wait Essie costs 13,50 euros?! We can get it for half the price in Malaysia: http://www.nailfiesta.com/
I’m an OPI supporter though. Haven’t found any Essie colours that I like.
Interesting! I’ve never heard of this “law of red” for red nail polishes before. The ones I have in my collection are from SpaRitual (vegan, 3-free formula) and Joe Fresh (Canadian bargain brand) and they both last pretty well. Very pigmented and I can go 4-5 days before seeing my first chip.
Well, basically is an hypothesis of mine :D but red is really a difficult pigment (if you notice, red clothes are the most dangerous in the washing machine too), I noticed this when I was painting with natural oil colors in high school (it’s like they did it until synthetic colors came out. You have to mix the pigments to an organic binder, I used mainly eggs). I noticed that my blue-based polishes were lasting much longer and were easier to apply than the red ones so I suppose it’s for the same reason… But apparently there are polishes that defeat the “law”! :D
I’d like to try these ones, maybe I’ll find them in some e-shop?
Ah! Essie is 3-free too! Love this polish everyday more :D
Oooh sounds good to me, I’ll remember that next time I’m searching for another nail varnish! :)
x
Let me know if you try one then! And which color you chose, I’m a curious girl ;-)
Love your post, so funny (as always!)
I’m totally crazy about nail varnish, Essie and OPI are my favorites ;) i’m gonna check out “limited addiction” and “wicked”, to visualize exactly them.
Bises!
P.S/ OMG! men! no, your polish bottle doesn’t look like a handbag ;)
ahahaha Oh my thank you so much my dear, I’m glad you don’t see the bottle as a piece of luggage, I was really starting to think to convert the post name from “Essie” to “Samsonite” LOL
uhhhh a fellow Essie addicted?? Tell me, which colors do you like? Which ones do you suggests? I want mooooooore!!! :D
kisses!
Believe it or not, I just finished writing a post about my essie collection. It should be up later this week. Aren’t they the best?
tinyaltars blog
ahahahaha telepathy!!!
Let me know when it’s out (but I’ll be checking your blog anyway), I so want to read it!!
a kiss!
Al once again you caused me to stare at my laptops screen for a complete minute, looking blankly at the astonishing drawing that you made. if a foreign person saw me, she/he would think that i was either having an epileptic seizure or i had major brain damage (or both, keep in mind i look abnormal when im normal) . thats how strong your talent hypnotised me. seriously woman why is this drawing so PERFECT ?!
xxxChloé
p.s. the nailpolish looks amazing but i really dont like red nails. i prefer midnight blue or clear gloss, and sometimes black.
ahahahahah Chloè you’re so crazy!!
By the way my favorites are also very dark polishes (especially dark blue, dark burgundy and purple) and the Chanel Particulière (it really goes with any outfit and color) but still you know I have a soft spot for red… ;-)
I found out about Essie 3 years ago when I visited my best friend who studies in the US. Here in Greece they are available in nail salons and hair salons but they are pricier than the US (15€ compared to 8$). Last year that I went to NYC I bought 4 nail polishes!!!
I totally recommend you to buy the top coat they have called “Good To Go” it dries off very very fast, so I usually do my nails before bedtime and guess what? no marks from the pillows, sheets etc anymore on my nails!! So any kind of nail polish+Good To Go = success!!!
I also use their base coat as well :)
Gotta have these coats then!! I was about to buy one in Cologne, but it would have costed me too much so I just decided to buy the two colors… But I’ll get them ASAP!
It’s incredible how everything is cheaper in US… Those lucky bastards -_-’
kiss!
:-DDD
Fantastico questo post!
Anche io sono una fanatica di smalti ma purtroppo non li so stendere quindi i colori scurissimi (tipo Vendetta o Black Satin) sono riservati solo ai giorni in cui faccio la manicure professionale.
Sono d’accordo con te sulla qualità mediocre di Chanel: purtroppo si stendono con difficoltà e durano molto poco. E lo sai che Black Satin mi è addirittura rimasto appiccicato alle calze?! E considera che erano passate non 2 ore ma 24 da quando avevo fatto la pedicure!
Ovviamente in Italia (che io sappia, ma non faccio molto testo perché vivo in provincia!) non si trova né OPI né Essie. OPI lo vedo sempre in aeroporto a Monaco ma ancora non mi sono decisa a sperimentarlo mentre Essie non l’avevo mai sentito nominare fino ad oggi!
Certo che sono curiosa di provarlo! Uno smalto che dura perfetto per giorni è una manna dal cielo!
Fino ad ora nella mia personale classifica di facilità di stesura e durata al secondo posto metto Dior (fino ad ora ho provato solo il gris montaigne, ma il pennellino piatto mi ha già conquistata!) e al primo posto senz’altro Uslu Airlines.
Li conosci?
Sono dei cosmetici tedeschi favolosi, che ovviamente non si trovano in Italia e ovviamente costano uno sproposito!
Io ne ho comprata una boccetta online riuscendo non si sa per quale miracolo a by-passare le spese di spedizione folli, e un’altra a Berlino. I colori sono pazzeschi e la durata è super! Se in Belgio si trovano ti consiglio di provarli!
Baci.
P.S. Davvero le profumerie belghe sono un inferno?!? Chissà perché me le immaginavo fighissime e piene di ogni ben di dio!!!
P.P.S. Anche io sono la migliore amica della commessa della mia profumeria! Quando vado a comprare gli smalti sembriamo due pazze esaltate!!!
Oh… mio… dio!!
Sto guardando la cartella colori di Essie!
Un delirio!!!
E’ un delirio lo sooooo!!!! ahahaha ti giuro che in quella profumeria sembravo davvero pazza: prendi la bottiglietta marrone- posa la bottiglietta marrone, prendi la bottiglietta malva-posa la bottiglietta malva, prendi la bottiglietta corallo-posa la bottiglietta corallo… e cosi’ via per i 35 colori rimanenti LOL
Ti consiglio di provare HQhair se ne vuoi comprare qualcuno, il sito è molto buono e affidabile io mi sono sempre trovata piuttosto bene e siccome è in UK le spese di spedizione sono accettabili e non c’è dogana (hanno una selezione di prodotti infinita, puoi tranquillamente passarci le giornate XD)
Dior ancora mai provato, ma mi ispiravano in effetti, Uslu Airlines non l’ho mai vista ma me la segno per la prossima volta che passo dalla Germania…
E in Belgio, si’ purtroppo è una tragedia. Anche le estetiste e le parrucchiere sono abbastanza penose (una volta sono stata dal parrucchiere super famoso dello show business, Clientology, mi son detta spendo di più ma almeno me li fanno bene… Risultato: spuntatina invisibile, 55 euro SENZA messa in piega, giusto una sfonata veloce… ma che siamo scemi??)
Per fortuna Germania, Francia e UK sono vicine e ci vado spesso (leggi: scorte in profumeria!) e le mie visite quasi-bimestrali in Italia sono dedicate a capelli, ceretta a regola d’arte (il resto dell’anno la faccio da me) e manicure/pedicure… Ma una fatica…
Un bacio!!
Amazing drawing!
I’ve tried Essie, because in the USA it’s a very known brand for nail polish, but I’m sticking to O.P.I. Somehow they have to only nail polishes that don’t leave colour stains on my nails after removing the nail polish. Plus, the cute names of their nail polishes make it fun to pick a color ;)!
Thank you Salony!!
Do you wear a transparent base coat? Because in this way, no nail polish will ever leave stains, guaranteed ;-)
It’s true that OPI has more color choice than Essie and they are also amazing nail polishes… But my heart is sold LOL
a kiss!
I love this illustration. I want what the girl is wearing and I want a print. I’m a stickler for well groomed hands and finding the right red is time consuming but worth it.
Oh my Lindsay, thank you so much! You want a print of the drawing?? Seriously? Did I misunderstand? LOL I’ll send you a mail in the next days, if that’s what you want :-)
For the red… now that I found the perfect deep red I am in searching for the perfect coral one! I’m already in the mood for summer feet
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