Thursday, June 10, 2010

A Cool Polish for a Hot Day: Essie Minimalistic


Ahhhh....it is so hot and humid here lately that I've been wanting to wear light colours! I know its not the same as wearing a black shirt in the scorching sun, but the idea of wearing a dark polish colour in this heat just seems unbearable...




So instead I have for you a beautiful, light, airy Essie sheer. It doesn't actually have to be sheer - this is only two thin coats, but I've gotten it opaque in three thicker ones. This is another one of those polishes that makes me feel like a thin, delicate layer of porcelain is coating my nails. The base colour of this polish is white, but it has a hint of purple tint - I've found it to be a dupe to OPI Tickets to Paradise, but I drastically prefer the formula of the Essie.

(NB: This is Essie Minimalistic black label (old one). The newer one (B3F, blue label) is a totally different colour - a light pinky-purple lilac. Essie really screwed the pooch on that one.)

Needless to say, I really love this one. And since they've changed the colour so drastically it looks like I'm going to have to conserve it! I have say though...for a muggy, buggy day like today, it was just what I needed.

Do you tend to gravitate to certain colours in the heat? Pales? Neons? Or are you a rogue and completely indifferent to sun's wrath?

kittytokaren


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16 comments:

Keke said...

I'm all for neons in the summer...maybe because they look like cool, refreshing popsicles? Right now I have CG Entourage on my tips and Colur Club Twiggie on my toes.

Unknown said...

I am big into brights and thanks to you - sheers - now. Seriously - I HATED sheers until I read your posts and now I have been wearing Essie Allure and Cool Lots on repeat for two weeks. I also found Essie Uptown Taupe to be a really nice neutral.

My favorite bight is Essie Wife Goes On. It's a bright, strawberry cream.

Sarah said...

I've been wearing pale colours lately because I love the way they look on my sunkissed hands. But if I'm feeling colourful I do like to wear brighter fun colours.

Anonymous said...

gorgeous!

Susie said...

I WANT THIS! :)
Beautiful,
Susie

Anonymous said...

now you have me curious -- how do the new & old versions compare? might you have pics?

The Glitterati said...

Damn Essie and her name-shade swapping ways! Just as I was thinking I needed to hop out and buy this one. Maybe I'll be able to track down an old-formula version somewhere.

Lacquer Slacker said...

Black label Minimalistic is nice. Essie & I have a love/hate relationship. I too polish based on the seasons or my mood. Spring and summer I must have light shades, pastels, sheers just like my outfits. Like you said, black shirt in the sun...no-no ;-D

Grace said...

I love my bright orangey-coral polishes in the summer. It just doesn't feel right wearing them any other time of the year. I also stay away from vampy colors in the summer, but I miss them! They are my favorite, but again, it just doesn't feel right wearing them in this weather.

Re: formula change - Essie is one of my most favorite brands, but they are the WORST about keeping their polish colors consistent between batches, even with the same formula. I have three bottles of Mademoiselle and there is no way anybody could tell they are supposed to be the same color without looking at the labels. They range from a pale warm pink sheer to practically white. Maybe one good thing that could come out of the L'Oreal deal is a little consistency!

Eva said...

i lovee this color!

kittytokaren said...

@Keke - MMmmm popsicle! I've never been into neons but that makes it sound good...

@Aline - Yay!! I'm so glad I've converted someone to at least try wearing some sheers! You made great choices with Allure and Cool Lots :) I have to try Uptown Taupe - and you're right, Wife Goes On is an excellent bright pink. You have fabulous taste!

@Sarah - You're right - pales look great on tanned hands!

@LisainFL - thank you! And I don't have pics of the new and old version. How I know the difference is I brought my old bottle in with me to Ulta (because I know Essie is notorious for changing formulas...) and compared. It was ridiculous how different they were.

@Susie - Then go get it! ;) Thanks friend.

@Glitterati - I think the black label version is still 'track-down-able'...I'd try eBay and the like but it shouldn't be expensive!

@Lacquer Slacker - Yeah I'm a slave to the seasons - I love vampies but it just feels odd to wear them in the heat. I'd be curious to hear more about your love/hate relationship with Essie!

@Grace - What are your fav bright orange-y corals?? Soooo curious! I also love my vamps, but prefer to wear something lighter (and every once in a while..brighter) in the summer. I totally agree about the formula change. It's terrible and maybe L'Oreal will clear that up? When I need to pick up a new bottle of Mademoiselle I always pick the pinkest one they have because mine is very pink...but ugh such a range. Dreadful.

@Eva - Thank you! I do too :)

k2k

Rebecca said...

This is very classy, I love it!

Grace said...

I love Essie One of a Kind and E-nuff is E-nuff (or however they spell it). They are both bright pinky-orangey-reddish colors that are great for summer. Also OPI Cajun Shrimp was probably my first bright coral, and it's still a favorite. A Good Man-darin from the Hong Kong collection is also growing on me. It's a little more orange than the rest of them (and I had to put in about 10 drops of seche restore to thin it out), but it's a fun summer color.

kittytokaren said...

@Rebecca - Thanks!

@Grace - I have My Chihuahua Bites which is like a more pink version of Cajun Shrimp and I love it on toes but have been too chicken to put it on tips. Should I dare? I'm loving the looks of those Essies!! Thanks for the recs, love. :)

k2k

Crystal said...

i have a pale color on my toes and ivanka on my tips, but it is raining here now boohoo....but i hear you, no dark colors for me in the heat (maybe an exception for orly la playa...hmmm

Sandi said...

I tend to wear the colors that look best with sun to bring out hidden beauty of them. That means a lot of bright shimmers and even a few vampies. Something like Diamond's Cherry Tobacco is pretty ordinary until the sun hits it and then Watch Out! And we don't get sunny, winter days in the PNW so summer is it.

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