I have two Essie Nail Polishes, being "Shelter Island" and "Over The Top". Shelter Island is a beautiful, bright, sky blue from the North Fork Summer 2009 collection (it may have been a Limited Edition) and Over The Top is a dramatic, metallic, midnight grey with a hint of shimmer that is very similar to China Glaze's "Black Diamond".
The cute, Essie embossed, clear, square glass bottles show off the polish colours perfectly and make standing them in my nail polish rack a breeze as they line up nicely (unlike oddly shaped triangular or completely round, ball-shaped bottles). The white lid on the bottle is the perfect length and shape to make painting my nails a comfortable task and the formula is just perfect; not too thin and not thick and gloopy.
I find the brush a little on the skinny side, so I have to use 4 or 5 strokes when painting my nails (especially my big toes), but after a bit of practice I've gotten my technique down and can get the colour on perfectly in just two coats.
I'd definitely recommend Essie Nail Polishes and have my eye on a few more of the colours in their current ranges!
I purchased the shade 'as gold as it gets' from a seller on trademe with intentions on using it for a feature nail when I put my jamberry wraps on. However my nails were looking a little plain and I wanted to try it out.
The bottle is a wee glass see through pottle with ESSIE written up the side of it. White screw top lid. Undo the lid and pull it out, on the end it the wee brush applicator. It's such a perfect size for my nails! All I need is three strokes with this brush and my nail is covered perfectly.
The formula smells really strong! I imagine if you ever got a colour that needed a few coat you might wind up with a headache from the smell. It's a medium thickness so not too sheer and not too thick. Slides on nicely and drys sleek and shiny.
I have a shade which is just a gold glitter I've had it on my nails for a week and it hasn't worn off at all! No chipping either.
For the retail price I ask myself is it worth it?! YES IT IS! If you want a nail polish that us going too last this is the nail polish is for you :)