Back in August, I was privileged to have been given both the Winter 2015 and Luxe Effects 2015 collections but as we were still in the grip of summertime heat, I was in no position to really appreciate the inspiration behind these shades. Fast forward to right now with winter fully upon us, and I’m totally loving these beauties. Yes, I like to be seasonally appropriate that way. Sometimes.

With the bottles of both collections arrayed in front of me, I was inspired to create a combination post, and something about the tones of the Luxe Effects shades made it so easy, helping to make my limited nail art skills appear that much more intricate. As a self-professed colour-purist (and mega glitter-avoider), no one was more surprised than me to find how much FUN I had. It might be time for me to rethink my stance on glitter.

Essie | Luxe Effects 2015 Collection

Peak Show | A white-based icy pink crème hue in a formula that shows good density and flow. Since the first coat will probably be a touch patchy, I suggest 3 thin layers for a perfectly even & opaque finish. Confession: this is my absolutely fave way to wear pink (and yes, I’m somewhat obsessed with any variation of white nail polish).

Coats: 3 (thin) plus top coat

Virgin Snow | If clouds had a baby with lilacs, this is the colour they’d produce (as weird as that sounds, I stand by it). A similar formula to Peak Show but with better opacity, this is is a blue-leaning baby lilac hue with grey undertones – the entire combination seeming somehow muddied up, and just so.damn.beautiful. It’s really like looking at a twilit sky reflecting on pristine snow (totally waxing poetic here). Love x billion for this shade.

Coats: 2 plus top coat

Frilling Me Softly | (over Virgin Snow) A clear base filled with silver bar and hexagonal glitter pieces (small, medium & large). As each brush stroke pulls out quite a healthy scoop of glitter, there’s no fishing around needed, although you may need to nudge some bar glitter into place if it passes the nail’s free edge. Of course, I just had to mattify things as well – which is in fact my fave way of wearing glitter, as a matte coat makes everything look more modern and makes any glitter pieces stand out uniquely.

Coats: 1 (no top coat)

Essie | Frilling Me Softly over Virgin Snow (matte)

Altitude Attitude | A colour-saturated watermelon red hue with magenta undertones in a crème-jelly hybrid formula. Amazing flow & density, making application a breeze and leaves behind an über-glossy finish that really doesn’t even need top coat (see the difference: my ring finger has no top coat added). As there is a stain potential, don’t skip on base coat first.

Coats: 2 plus top coat (except ring finger)

Tassel Shaker | (over Altitude Attitude) A clear base filled with copper, gold and bronze fine bar glitter strands. There’s a good amount of glitter per brush stroke to provide good coverage, without any extra fishing needed. Something about these Luxe Effects shades inspire me and I couldn’t help but play; as seen in the above swatch, it’s quite easy to create number of looks with Tassel Shaker, from dots (which wound up looking like stars due to the bar glitter – a happy coincidence), stripes, all over application, or just on the tips for a shimmery touch. If I can do it, anyone can.

Haute Tub | A mid-sheer blackened base hue filled with multi-chrome ultra fine shimmer (predominantly magenta-coloured, but with flashes bronze, green, purple and blue seen at some angles). The hybrid crème-jelly formula leans on the thick side but is still very easy to work with (and has the benefit of not pooling into cuticles or along nail sides), falling in a self-levelling way and finishing up glossy. Bonus: non-staining upon removal. I couldn’t resist adding a matte top coat to see what effect I’d get (so much love for this finish), then even played around with some free-hand nail art via a flashy silver tip using Apres-Chic.

Coats: 2 plus top coat (as well as matte top coat)

Essie | Haute Tub (in direct sunlight)

Essie | Haute Tub (matte)

Essie | Haute Tub with Apres-Chic on tips

Apres-Chic | A white-based metallic silver in one of the best formulas to date that I’ve come across for this type of polish. Naturally, a steady hand is needed to avoid any potential visible brush strokes but the formula seems to level things out as it dries, turning it quite even-looking all on its own. Like newly-forged steel (makes me think of sword blades), the brilliance can be blinding in direct light – so gorgeous, and really doesn’t benefit from added top coat (except for protection purposes). There will probably be some shimmer spread upon removal, so be warned (but who cares – the finish makes it worth the effort). Bonus: this makes an excellent nail art shade as well – think: silver gradient tips.

Coats: 2 plus top coat (except ring finger)

Fringe Factor | (over Apres-Chic) A clear base filled with plum bar glitter. The formula here was the thickest of the four Luxe Effects and while it worked in my favour to create this ombré look, you’ll probably need to go in with a couple of coats for allover coverage. For the above look and working backwards (from the tip up), I applied the first coat, concentrating more along the edge. A second coat of glitter was again added to just the edge and spread out (more like’ shmooshed’ out using the brush), with everything topped off by a layer of top coat which smooths things out and covers any demarcation lines.

Essie | Fringe Factor over Apres-Chic (macro)

Shall We Chalet? | One word: SPECTACULAR. Yes, it’s a red and we all have about a zillion reds in our stash, but this blue-based hue is still amazing regardless. A hybrid crème/jelly formula, this colour-drenched shade applies in a completely self-levelling way and finishes up with a mirror-like glossy shine (once again, ring finger is left bare of top coat to show how intense the gloss truly is). Any staining potential is quite low, but I wouldn’t skip on base coat just the same.

Coats: 2 plus top coat (except ring finger)

Fashion Flares | (over Shall We Chalet?) A clear base filled with metallic magenta bar glitter as well as black hexagonal glitter (small, medium & large). Let me begin by saying that I was blown away with Fashion Flares on so many levels: application was superb with good coverage by even the first coat, and I became slightly obsessed with the textured & multi-level effect it gives to nails. Just when I thought it couldn’t get better, the matte layer  I added for the last swatch, took things up several notches and really made the glitter pattern stand out in a stylized artistic way. Just, WOW.

Coats: 2 plus top coat, and matte top coat added last.

Essie | Fashion Flares over Shall We Chalet? (matte)

With the spring collections about to make their debut all over counters, there’s thankfully still time to scoop up any (or all) of these shades. Essie’s entire Winter 2015 Collection is a big hit for me, with absolutely zero duds in the bunch. Peak Show and Virgin Snow are absolutely breathtaking and will be still wearable once the warmer weather hits, while both Haute Tub (don’t you just love that name?) and Apres-Chic each have a totally unique appeal. Even the two red shades have their merits, although if forced to pick one, I’d say that Shall We Chalet? is well worth adding to your stash. The bar glitter of Luxe Effects may not be everyone’s cup of tea (I’ve never been a big fan … until now), but there’s no denying how much interest they can add to your existing mani – and you don’t even need to go all out; a simple accent nail will do. See? Fun & easy-peasy.

Product samples kindly provided for my unbiased consideration