Nails of the Week: Essie Eternal Optimist

I picked up this color because it was featured in the J Crew catalog, and if you know anything about me, it's that I cannot resist anything endorsed by Jenna Lyons of J Crew fame. I do like this polish, but I do not think that it is anything particularly special. It remind me of OPI Tickle My France-y a lot, and I'll try and do a comparison later on to compare all of my nude browns, as I have been collecting quite a lot. Eternal Optimist went on very sheer. This is three coats, and although it does not show up too well in this picture, there was a very slight visible tip line. Very slight. You'd need to be freakishly staring at my hands to discern it.

Summary? A good color, not amazing. Most likely dupable.

Nails of the Week: Essie Van D'Go

Essie Van D'Go came out earlier this year as part of their Art of Spring collection. Honestly, I have absolutely no idea why I bought this polish. It is just so not like me! And by so not like me, I mean that it is a relatively sensible color that I could wear anywhere and people won't give me weird looks.

However, after that random rant, I do admit that I like the safe peachy coral color. It's very pretty for the office, and actually I can see going well with tanned toes in a pedicure. However, I'm pretty sure it's totally dupable. The formula on this one was very thin, and it took 3 coats to get a good finish, which was annoying.

Nails of the Week: Essie Tart Deco

This is an example of a nails disaster. I decided to do my nails before work one day last week, and picked out Essie Tart Deco from the recently launched Art of Spring collection. This looked like such a pretty coral pink. I had picked it up in the mini form (because come on, who ever finishes a nail varnish?), and this was the first time I had used a mini Essie before.

Man oh man, this was work. The polish was thick, the brush tiny, and it took three tedious and difficult coats to get a reasonably even coverage. So can you imagine my horror when I used China Glaze's Quick Dry Topcoat on top and it turns from a pretty pink coral to neon orange?! I could have screamed!! Instead I had to go to work with garish nails.

Has mixing brands topcoats ever had this impact on you?

If I Had A Bunch of Money

Right now I'm kind of on a no spending kick for January in order to make up for December's excess. I am not perfect - I broke it for a nail varnish haul a couple of weeks ago, but all in all, I've been pretty good, and only a few more days to go. In the last couple of days there have been some great products launched that have really tempted me!

If I had $100 to spend, I would pick up Urban Decay's Alice in Wonderland Book of Shadows ($52). If you already have a lot of Urban Decay colors, this might not be for you, as none of these are new shades, but instead repromotes with Alice names. But if you, like me, haven't got a lot of Urban Decay, this is a double bonus, with cute packaging, and fun colors to play with. But move fast - the first batch of these sold out in a day. Check Urban Decay and Sephora for more details of sale dates.

If I had $50 to spend, it would have to go on Stila's Jewel Eye Palette ($32). A quad of super glittery gorgeous colors that go on smooth and creamy and look wet. Hello, gorgeous!! I particularly like the look of the black and the amber shades. I have been disappointed with Stila products in the past, after first going through a real love affair, but this looks like it is going to win me back into the fold!

If I had $20 to spend, I would blow it on MAC Nymphette Lipgloss ($14). The perfect spring like color to cheer me up on a winter's day! A lovely peachy pink with gold gloss, and enough staying power to keep me sweet and shiny for a good few hours. 

If I had $10 for a quick hit, I'd score Essie Eternal Optimist ($8) which is a pretty dusky rose. Super sophisticated and chic, and a pleasant alternative to all those candy and baby pinks we see.  

What would you do if you had a bit of spare cash lying around in your pocket? I'd love to hear your wishlist...

Nails of the Week: Essie Chinchilly

Essie Chinchilly is one of my all time favorite nail colors. It's a creme gray taupe color from their Fall 09 line. Simple, chic, but unexpected. It's what I go back to when nothing else inspires me or seems appropriate.

Nails of the Week: Essie Mint Candy Apple

Without flash, natural light

I've been excited about this varnish since I heard about it a couple of months ago. I finally picked it up a couple of weeks ago, and got a chance to try it out just before I headed off to Palm Beach. Yup, this is a scheduled post, and when you read this I should be poolside. This cool mint should really suit that Florida sun. I love, love the color, but the consistency of this was a real pain - it was super thick and prone to smudging, even using a super fast top coat. I do still love it though! 

With flash

What's on your nails right now?