Stash Swatch Initiative: Essence Jacob's Protection

Hello!

Today's polish is Jacob's Protection from Essence.

Essence Jacob's Protection. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Jacob's Protection was a part of what I assume was a special edition collection for the second Twilight movie (third? I didn't fall victim to that particular craze.). It is a black jelly base loaded with shimmer. It's either iridescent shimmer that flashes blue, purple, and green or a mix of shimmers in those colors. It's hard to tell, but either way, it's really pretty.

Essence Jacob's Protection. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Swatches today are a base coat of Seche Clear, two coats of Jacob's Protection, and one coat of NYC In a New York Minute. I didn't have any problems with the formula, but I hate the brush! It's wide and flat, and I found it a bit difficult to use with precision.

Essence Jacob's Protection. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

So, I actually ended up wearing this one for our out-of-town trip last weekend. This swatch was so gorgeous, I couldn't wait to get this back on my nails. I was in a rush to do that mani before we left and must've used thicker coats than I did here. I think because of that is why this fell completely flat and dull on the nail. I was so mad and disappointed! I was stuck with what looked like pitted black polish on my nails all weekend instead of the glowing, navy sparkle-fest I was expecting! So, make sure you use a final thin coat to get this look!

I purchased this bottle a long while ago at Ulta. I doubt you can still find this one... sorry!

Essence Jacob's Protection. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

More soon! ^_^

Stash Swatch Initiative: Essence Grey't To Be Here

Hello!

Today I have my favorite grey polish swatched up for you. This is Essence Grey't to be Here.

Essence Grey't to be Here. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Grey't to be Here is a fabulous, soft, grey creme with pink and gold shimmer. The shimmer brings a delicateness to this polish that is absolutely gorgeous!

Essence Grey't to be Here. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Swatches today are a base coat of Seche Clear, two coats of Grey't to be Here, and one coat of NYC In a New York Minute. This has a decent formula that is slightly streaky on the first coat, but opaque and even in two. I don't care for the brush much on this line, but for $2, I can deal with it.

Essence Grey't to be Here. Indoors, filtered sunlight (window), no flash.

I bought this polish at Ulta, but I never have seen it there again. I've been looking for a back up bottle or two since they're tiny, but I've been unlucky so far. The search continues!

Essence Grey't to be Here. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

More soon! ^_^

Stash Swatch Initiative: Essence Space Queen

Hello!

Another Essence polish swatched today. This is Space Queen.

Essence Space Queen. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Space Queen was an impulse buy. It looked so pretty in the bottle, so I had to have it! It is simply a ton of small, iridescent glitter in a lightly tinted base. The base is too sheer to reach opacity, but I think that base color is what really appealed to me. I wanted to get this to look as much like the bottle as possible on the nail, so I layered it over yesterday's Peach & Cream. This is one coat of Space Queen over yesterday's swatch plus one coat of Seche Vite. The formula was okay -- no issues to report.

Essence Space Queen. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

This is simple and pretty. It will add a nice, subtle bit of sparkle to any mani. The iridescent glitters like to hide in most lighting conditions, but they really show up nicely outside in natural, not direct light. Check out the pretties in the shade!

Essence Space Queen. Outdoors, natural light, no flash.

Like yesterday's Essence polish, this one was purchased at Ulta.

Essence Space Queen. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

More soon! ^_^

Stash Swatch Initiative: Essence Peach & Cream

Hello!

Essence Peach & Cream. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Today, I've got a quick post on Essence Peach & Cream.

Essence Peach & Cream. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Peach & Cream is a lovely peach with subtle shimmer. You can barely see the shimmer even in the sunlight, but I promise, it is there! This polish is pale and pretty, and I kind of totally love it.

Essence Peach & Cream. Outdoors, sunlight, no flash. Hidden shimmer!

Swatches today are a base coat of Duri Rejuvacote, three coats of Peach & Cream, and one coat of Seche Vite. The formula on this polish is so-so. It went on rather streaky, so it took all of those three coats to get an even finish.

Essence Peach & Cream. Outdoors, sunlight, no flash.

I found this one in the always picked over display at my nearest Ulta. I had been on the hunt for the perfect peachy polish, and I think I found it!

Essence Peach & Cream. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

More soon! ^_^

Stash Swatch Initiative: Essence Date in the Moonlight

Hello!

Essence Date in the Moonlight. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

This is Essence Date in the Moonlight.

Essence Date in the Moonlight. Outdoors, sunlight, no flash.

I picked this up on a whim at Ulta a bit ago. I remember being intrigued by the bright blue shimmer in the deep, denim blue polish.

Essence Date in the Moonlight. Indoors, artificial light, with flash.

The shimmer is not that apparent. Had to pull out the flash to get it!

Essence Date in the Moonlight. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Swatches today are a base coat of Seche Clear, two coats of Date in the Moonlight, and one coat of NYC In a New York Minute. Terrible brush, as usual, but the formula is okay. Streaky on the first coat, perfect with a second.

Essence Date in the Moonlight. Indoors, artificial light, with flash.

More soon! ^_^

NOTW: Some Grey't Stamping!

Hello again! Happy Friday!!

Here's what I've been wearing this week.

Outdoors, sunlight, no flash.

The base for this is Essence Grey't To Be Here, which is a fabulous grey creme with pink shimmer. I'd seen it swatched a few places around the internets and was in love. I am so glad I lucked out and found this last time I was in Ulta! I now need to find a back-up because this color is great. Let the hunt begin!

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

I wanted to play up the pink shimmer, so I used my old, goopy bottle of Pure Ice Gossip to stamp the fishnet design from Konad plate m57 over top. I then added the scroll design from Bundle Monster plate BM-12 with Zoya Ibiza, and topped everything off with a coat of NYC In a New York Minute Fastdry Topcoat. I didn't intend for the blue scrollwork to look weathered, and I probably couldn't recreate it if I tried, but I love the way it looks here.

Outdoors, sunlight, no flash.

Overall, I'm loving how this turned out. I love these colors together!

Have a good weekend!! More Monday! ^_^

Stash Swatch Initiative: Essence Gorgeous Bling Bling

Hello again!!

Today I have my very first Essence polish to show you! I finally lucked out and found a display at Ulta that wasn't completely empty! It was only half empty! --_^ So, I snagged three interesting looking ones. This one is Gorgeous Bling Bling.

Essence Gorgeous Bling Bling. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Swatches today are a basecoat of Sinful Colors Nail Hardener, three coats of Gorgeous Bling Bling, and one coat of Seche Vite. I only needed two coats for opacity but waited a few days to snap some pictures, so, because of some minor tipwear, I touched up with an additional coat of color plus topcoat.

Essence Gorgeous Bling Bling. Outdoors, sunlight at sunset, no flash.

Formula was fine, but the brushes on these are big and paddle-like (similar to the Sally Hansen Gem Crush series), which are not my favorite. That aside, this is a gorgeous burnt orange creme with small gold flakies. I love the flakies in this--they're transluscent gold, I think! The base color is unusual. It's almost tomato-colored, but more orange. Reminiscent of Spaghettios sauce color for me--hehe.

Essence Gorgeous Bling Bling. Outdoors, sunlight at sunset, no flash.

In the US, I only know to find these at Ulta. I'm loving the little bottles and the price tag. They seem to have some winning colors as well. I've been on the hunt for Blue Addicted (I hear this is a Deborah Lippmann Across the Universe dupe, and Deborah Lippmann polishes are outside of my current polish budget!) since I saw it swatched somewhere ages ago. Wish me luck!

Essence Gorgeous Bling Bling. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

More soon!! ^_^