WARNING - PIC HEAVY
This polish was *extremely* hard to photograph - purples are usually difficult to accurately capture, but the subtle shimmer and nuances in colour made it extra challenging. So I just took a ton of photos! :)
Essie Demure Vixen was the only polish from their Summer 2010 line that I was intrigued by - I felt like I've seen the rest of them before (yes...including Pretty Edgy - greens are new for Essie, but not really for other brands...plus I'm not that much of a green girl to begin with). What got me about this one was the subtle nude/lavender base colour in the promo pics, and the glisten of shimmer. When I first received this at home and saw the bottle I was actually pretty upset - I thought it would be a total poop-y, mauve-y disaster and I'd just wasted my money (and hopes!). However, on the nail, it leans way more purple on me, which is more flattering. I like that this can serve as a summertime 'edgy neutral' - it's lighter than most of the taupes that are out, and the shimmer gives it a sense of delicacy.
On to the pictures:
See how its much more dull looking in the bottle than on my nail?
Side shot to show you the shimmer:
It has the same shimmer in it as Essie Baby Cakes - the shimmer in both is actually fuchsia, but photographs blue/purple in every light. (Top: Demure Vixen; Bottom: Baby Cakes):
The shimmer makes this one! I've heard some people say you can barely see it, but I have to heartily disagree. The base colour of this polish could be extremely icky (as you see in the bottle...a dull brown-mauve), but the shimmer changes how it reacts to light and makes it much softer, prettier, pinker and more flattering. The shimmer is just so finely milled that instead of your eye detecting individual shimmer particles, the polish seems to have a glow.
I really enjoyed the formula on this one. It was a little sheer, so I used 3 coats, but they were painless - no streaking, pulling, or chalkiness.
All in all, this is an odd duck of a polish. I appreciate that it is totally different than anything I currently own and is another 'edgy neutral' I can pull out for those days when I feel like a more subdued manicure. I think that the bottle colour is still putting me off though, because I'm still a little wary of it....
What do you think? Is this working for me or no? Have you tried any of the Essie Summer 2010 offerings?
kittytokaren
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18 comments:
I love this one. I have the mini set and I've tried three of the four; I still have Haute As Hello left to wear. So far Demure Vixen is the only one that I've loved. I had the same reaction to it that you did, though. I didn't even like it that much when I first put it on my nails. It completely grew on me and by the time I took it off two days [!] later I was in love. Now I kind of want a full-sized bottle.
I'm so excited you posted this! I've been waiting to see it. :) It is an odd duck, but I like it. Very cute.
I've had my eye on this one, and I LOVE edgy neutrals, so this is right up my alley! It looks relly different on different people though...On some people it seems to pull more purple, on others it pulls more pink...I guess you really won't know til you try it out for yourself!
Very odd indeed. It looks highly mauve/lavender on you and more soft pink in other swatches. Or pinky brown.
I actually prefer it in the pink guise (purely subjective) so it's a very intriguing varnish with all these multiple personalities.
I like it on you so maybe it's to do with different cameras or different skintones. Strange indeed.
@Stephanie - Ahh yes I saw your reviews on your blog! (Which I love btw). I really liked Knockout Pout on you even though you weren't such a fan! It's so odd I really hate DV in the bottle but its so different on...I think I am going to grow to love it too!
@Sarah - It is odd, but the more I see it, the more I like it.
@Musicalhouses - I think that the pink/purple difference has to do with two things - skin tone (I'm very fair with lots of yellow undertones if that helps at all) and camera - this colour is super super hard to capture, and I tried with multiple cameras!
@jaljen - Like I said to musicalhouses, I'm pretty sure you're right - its a combo of camera and skin tone that makes it look different. It's a chameleon, and I highly recommend trying it out! I really really liked the formula!
k2k
Maybe I should pick this up. I have a two week consulting gig coming up and am already mourning the dull manicures I will have to endure until I get back to school and can wear whatever I like. It doesn't seem like the major nail blogs are swatching this collection, and there were a few colors I was curious about.
@Grace - Knowing your tastes, I think you'd like this one - and it's less boring than other "work appropriate" colours. I think I know why the major blogs aren't showing this collection - since L'Oreal bought them, we haven't been getting promo info from Essie early and I don't think they sent the collection out to anyone. I think they should - it's great PR for them!
k2k
Another lemming is born! You have great taste in the more subtle colors that have just a little something extra. I haven't picked up any from this collection yet, but this one is going on my wish list. : )
this is also the only one i picked up from the summer collection, the whole collection reminds me of the sparitual spring collection (yes i can=pretty edgy???) but this one is stunning! would be cool as a topcioat over a dark taupe too
@faerieberry - Hi there! *waves* I do love more subtle colours with hidden secrets! I think you'd like this one :)
@Crystaliciousss - Hey girl I was just looking at your blog! Ahhhh that's where I've seen it before!! You hit the nail on the head. And using it as a topcoat is a good idea...I wonder what it would do to Particuliere?
k2k
This is the only one I'm drawn to from this this collection, as well. Thanks for the great pictures!
Oh my god I love it. As if I wasn't already considering No Bees Please, this is WAY better. I have to have one of the two- I fall hard for a natural with a flash.
I hated it when I first got it but that was because I swatched it quickly with one coat! But I give it a second chance and with 3 coats I love it! I haven't been able to photograph it as well as you, so props for that! ;)
Your swatches are absolutely LOVELY. In fact, I just linked to this post in a post I wrote today. :)
thank you for this post. i keep wanting to buy this colour but i don't think it'd look good on me. regardless i will ogle your photos because it looks great on you!
It seems that the polish looks good because of the model hehe.
But it really is a unique colour. I wonder,though, if it resembles Orly's Rock Candy?
Can anyone confirm please?
Thanks
So sorry, I meant Essie Rock Candy or perhaps Zoya's Charity?
Thanks
this is pretty. :)
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