Essie – ‘Resort 2011 Collection’ (swatches & review)

Resort: a place to stay when on vacation or as the fashion & beauty world knows it, the season between Spring & Summer. This year, Essie’s Resort 2011 Collection is taking us on a big game ‘beauty’ safari with four highly pigmented new shades. Dusty hues reminiscent of 1930’s African adventures, these are all exceptionally saturated colours with an understated and sublimely wild beauty to them. All swatches are with Sèche Natural base coat, two coats of lacquer and Essie Good to Go top coat.

I can’t help but snicker every time I read the name of this polish: ‘Da Bush’ (Essie, what were you thinking?!). This is a super creamy watered down sage, with just the barest whisper of yellow leanings. Practically a duplicate for the OPI’s recently released ‘Stranger Tides’ (reviewed here), I absolutely adore this shade, which is somewhere between a sea foam and celadon green. Wonderfully smooth and requiring only two coats for full opacity, it will compliment every skin tone. Love, love, love!

‘Lion Around’ (very punny!) is a delicate & feminine dusty pink with exceptionally fine silvery shimmer swirling throughout. Noticeable in direct sun (top photo), the shimmer portrays a lovely pearly sheen and gives this polish a nice depth. Something about this shade brings to mind a vivid image of lovingly worn leather ballet slippers and I love how it comes off as both girly and edgy at the same time. Two coats was all I needed for full opacity and was pleased to see zero brush strokes and no frosty finish.

‘Your Hut Or Mine’ is a coral leaning rose with a deep carnation pink base and the finest golden shimmer swimming under its surface. Not normally drawn to these shades, something about the gold shimmer brings out the hints of coral in this shade that totally captivated me. Notice how rich the colour becomes in shaded light (bottom photo) even though you can still see glimpses of the shimmer peeking through. I have no doubt that this hue will give a fresh yet sophisticated look when worn as a pedi shade (can’t wait to see it against a tan!).

Something about ‘Fair Game’, a dusty blue that borders on grey, calls to me. As with ‘Lion Around’, it bears the same über-fine shimmer that gives it an ethereal pearly sheen, yet I love how it doesn’t come off as dated or frosty. This type of watered down blue grey shade make it highly wearable across many skin tones and for a variety of occasions, as it seems to be above trends.I love how no matter what light it’s viewed in, the shimmer is present…such a relaxing shade!

Final thoughts: Essie has found the magic formula; not known for eccentric colours, they have somehow managed to perfect the understated range of hues, all the while maintaining an urban appeal. The application on all four of these shades was incredible; super pigmented, self-levelling, no brush strokes, quick drying and a lovely glossy shine at the finish. Essie’s brushes are amongst some of my absolute favourites and I don’t think anyone will experience any application issues with them. Even the shades, while not earth shattering, I still find them all compelling and highly wearable. Animal cruelty and harmful toxin free, this is one safari you won’t regret embarking on!