Hello beauties! Today I’ve got the Essie Summer 2014 nail polish collection to share with you. I have to admit…I was kind of surprised when I first laid eyes on it last month. A few of the shades didn’t exactly scream “Summer” to me. Summer polishes are often bold and bright and while Essie’s new collection is definitely colourful, a few of the new shades are more toned down than what you’d expect to see this time of year. Nonetheless, I love cream formulas, so let’s take a closer look!
The temperature is rising. It’s an urban jungle out there. Why be a damsel in distress when you can be haute in the heat? Strut your stuff in a colourful summery dress that helps you to stay cool calm and totally fierce, no fear. A few ruffles & feathers add powerful punctuation that completes the look. Shout it from the rooftops; roarrrange is the new black.
 |
| Essie Summer 2014 |
 |
| Essie Haute in the Heat Summer 2014 – $8.50 USD/$9.99 CAD |
Urban Jungle – A lovely “alabaster orchid”. This beige-y off-white cream polish stole my heart as soon as I swatched it but it may not suit every skin tone? It applied relatively well (a bit streaky at first) but levelled off in 2 coats to produce a great finish. Great as a base or wore on it’s own!Fierce, No Fear – Intense cocoa mahogany. Not gonna lie….this medium brown cream shade is not my cup of tea…well, at least not for Summer. I’d rather pair a milk chocolate shade like this with jeans, boots and a warm scarf in the Fall or Winter. It has a good formula, but I don’t see myself wearing it in the Summer.
 |
| Essie Urban Jungle (L) & Essie Fierce, No Fear (R) |
Roarrrange – An unstoppable, bold orange creme. This shade is quite pigmented and also reminds me of the Fall. Maybe because I associate orange with Halloween and not Summer? It’s slightly too dark to be a neon but definitely a bright shade. Another good formula, although I’m not too sure I’ll be reaching for this one too often this Summer.
Haute in the Heat – I love wearing red cream shades all year! This raspberry creme is sexy, sophisticated and fun. Haute in the Heat reminds me of A LOT of Style Hunter from Essie’s recent Hide & Go Chic Collection however I’d say Haute in the Haute is more raspberry (rather than red) tinged. Excellent formula. This one’s a keeper!
 |
| Essie Roarrrrange (L) & Essie Haute in the Heat (R) |
Ruffles & Feathers – Another great shade! This “peacock teal” is loads of fun but I’d describe it as more of a medium green with blue undertones as opposed to a teal. This shade applied extremely well and has a great formula.
Strut Your Stuff – This compelling “cobalt aqua” demands attention! Hands down my favourite in the collection!! It’s a gorgeous bright blue with a beautiful opacity that works great as a mani or pedi shade. The shade has a tendency to stain though, so make sure that you apply a base coat. (as always!)
Strut Your Stuff – This compelling “cobalt aqua” demands attention! Hands down my favourite in the collection!! It’s a gorgeous bright blue with a beautiful opacity that works great as a mani or pedi shade. The shade has a tendency to stain though, so make sure that you apply a base coat. (as always!)
 |
| Essie Ruffles & Feathers (L) & Essie Strut Your Stuff (R) |
Essie got the formula bang on with this collection and while not every single shade is expected for Summer, I like how unconventional it is. Strut Your Stuff is the standout colour in this collection, with Urban Jungle in close second. Namesake shade Haute in the Heat is also a great choice if you are looking for a nice red. Each swatch below is of 2 coats + no top coat.
 |
| Essie Summer 2014 Swatches (L-R): Urban Jungle, Essie Fierce, No Fear, Strut Your Stuff, Ruffles & Feathers, Haute in the Heat & Roarrrrange  What do you think of the Essie Summer Collection?Which shades are you most interested in? |
Stay Connected!