Ralph Lauren + Essie Collaboration

The new and limited edition collections of Ralph Lauren’s Big Pony Fragrances, designed by Essie Weingarten, founder and Global Director of cult nail lacquer brand essie, feature 4 scents that capture the many facets of a woman – from ‘Sporty’ (Blue #1), ‘Sensual’ (Pink #2), ‘Free-Spirited’ (Yellow #3), and ‘Stylish’ (Purple #4), along with a matching essie nail varnish shade, all in a signature drawstring pouch.

I was so thrilled to be told that I would be representing Yellow #3 – the ‘Free-Spirited Woman’! According to the press release:

“#3 dares to bottle the essence of a rebellious, free-spirited woman. Capturing this confidence in a manicure means wearing a bright yellow polish, accented with a bold and sunny floral print”

“Eccentric, rebellious and independent, this Floral Green fragrance highlights Pear & Mimosa. The crisp, bright scent represents ultimate optimism and natural feminine radiance for a woman who dances to the beat of her own drum”.

Yes … that definitely describes me. To a fault, I’d say. Rules are so meant to be broken.

There are 2 versions of each set, both coming in a matching coloured pouch:

50 ml fragrance & essie nail polish (CAD $67.00) – available at The Bay and Sears
30 ml fragrance, 50g Body Mist & essie nail polish (CAD $47.00) – available exclusively at Jean Coutu in Québec

Please note that these polishes are NOT sold individually.

This past March, I had the extreme pleasure of meeting, chatting with, and even getting my own nails done by Rita Remark, essie Canada’s lead nail artist (you can read about my experience here), and this is a lady who is not only super talented, but one of the nicest people you’ll ever hope to meet. Oh yeah, she’s also a major bombshell … The nail looks she created to match each fragrance, perfectly capture the spirit they represent and while I don’t have Rita’s mad skills, I did try my own hand at a floral accent nail – I chose a “daisy” motif in honour of Mother’s Day, and in homage to my own mom who’s name happens to also be ‘Rita’ – short for ‘Marguerita’, which means “daisy” in Greek.

Don’t you just love it when everything works out like that?

essie #3 Yellow is also unique for another reason: it’s the first time this colour is shown by essie, having never done a yellow before. As this shade is notoriously difficult to pull off, both in terms of application and skin-tone matching, I couldn’t wait to swatch it and see how it fared. I really shouldn’t have worried, however. Read on …

Is this not the cheeriest gift wrapping ever?

Ralph Lauren + essie Yellow #3 Collection

essie Canada’s super talented & absolutely gorgeous lead nail artist, Rita Remark

#3 Yellow – a warm-leaning egg yolk yellow hue in a crème finish. The perfect density formula flowed really easily, neither too thick nor too thin and while the first coat looked somewhat streaky, it was quickly resolved when I applied my second coat. Self levelling and with a super glossy natural finish, short nails won’t need more than 2 coats for full & opaque coverage. Coats applied: 3 (thin), plus top coat.

#3 Yellow

essie – #3 Yellow

essie – #3 Yellow with daisy design on accent finger (colours used: Blanc & Naughty Nautical, both essie)

Big Pony Yellow #3 Refreshing Body Mist (50 g/1.75 oz) – a lighter version of the Eau de Toilette, this Refreshing Body Mist is perfect for those hot summer days (or nights) where you want just a hint of scent, although even the one short spritz I applied, seemed to linger on my skin for hours. Refreshing and almost citrusy, there’s enough fragrance to distinguish it from a mere body product and elevate it to scented bodycare status.

Big Pony Yellow #3 Eau de Toilette (30 ml) – I’m not a floral person, I’ve stated this before, so I was pleasantly surprised to find that I not only really liked this scent, but that it actually worked with my body chemistry. There’s an interesting mix of herbaceous, floral, citrus and chypre tones, and yet there’s an undefinable “je ne sais quoi” as the fragrance dries down, leaving a hint of mystery in its wake. I like it when someone can’t put their finger on what it is exactly that makes you smell so DAMN good. This scent makes me smell that way.

Big Pony Yellow #3 Eau de Toilette

Last word: If you’re wondering what to get your mom for Mother’s Day, take it from me – a mom AND a beauty fiend – that one of these sets would be absolutely perfect. Each nail lacquer has been exclusively created for its accompanying fragrance and will not be sold separately, and as these are limited edition, once they’re gone, you’re out of luck. This collection in particular really surprised me, both the scent and the nail polish shade — a colour I did not think would suit my skin tone, and yet for some bizarre reason it does. I am definitely not complaining.