NAILS . ESSIE . SPRING 2015 COLLECTION

When you live in a country that experiences all four seasons you're bound to have a beacon for Spring – a sign that indicates the cold, bundled-up days have almost past. For a beauty blogger that beacon is the anticipated release of the year's Spring nail polish collections. And the collection destined to rule them all this Spring is the Essie Flowerista Collection. 'Whether the look is futuristic minimalism or nouveau bohemian, the name of the game is flower power. The Spring 2015 Collection is in full bloom, celebrating the fresh perspectives and energetic nature of the spring season.'

This collection brings added excitement as it marks the first collaboration with designer Rebecca Minkoff, who is joining Essie as their Global Colour Designer. Together, Minkoff and Essie have created a collection consisting of six polishes, three brights and three neutrals, for a refreshing twist to the typical floral-inspired collection. I was enamoured with all six shades when I saw the release on Nail Polish Canada, but it was Garden Variety and Petal Pushers that came home with me in the end. I presume that Garden Variety will be the only brightly-coloured polish making its way into my polish collection this spring given my current addiction to neutrals. The deep, creamy teal blue polish had me at first swatch and has left me day dreaming of outfits to pair it with ever since. Petal Pushers on the other hand is a shade I'm much more comfortable and familiar with. Described as a cool rain slate, this shade will undoubtedly become a go-to of mine year round and will work wonders when incorporated into nail art designs – especially when paired with Garden Variety. 

What are your thoughts on Essie's Spring Collection?

AM¥     XO

ESSIE . CASHMERE MATTE COLLECTION + SWATCHES

I've had one hell of a time trying to track down the latest Essie polish release, the Cashmere Matte Collection, after it almost instantly sold out online. But luckily my local Shopper's Drug Mart had just received them and the sales associate was kind enough to scour through the newly delivered shipment to find the four shades I had my eyes set on from the get-go: Wrap Me Up, All Eyes On Nudes, Comfy In Cashmere and Just Stitched. The collection is totally unique, with a satin-matte finish that dries quickly, leaving a suede-like texture – and two of the polishes feature a pearlized matte finish that is beyond gorgeous.

All of the polishes are on the thicker side and therefore a little tricky to apply, requiring three thin coats for the best results. But if you've got patience the pay off is totally worth it. Wrap Me Up is a beautiful soft white with the slightest bit of pink – it's romantic and totally office worthy if you're looking to avoid a stark white. The other nude in the collection, All Eyes On Nudes, is a camel-toned polish that looks so luxurious when paired with gold accessories. I'm just hopeful that it will still look as chic when summer comes around and I have a tan as some polishes can look muddled when there isn't enough contrast between your skin tone and the polish. Next up is the darkest polish I went for, Comfy In Cashmere, a taupe polish filled with a blue iridescence that can be seen at all angles. Out of all the polishes in this range this one was by far the easiest to work with and was some-what self-leveling. The final polish, Just Stitched, is also filled with a blue iridescent shimmer but the finish is a little more subtle. I usually steer clear of baby pink polishes, but the pearlized matte finish and subtle iridescence make it a must have.

There are two more shades available from the collection, Coat Couture and Spun In Luxe, however I simply didn't gravitate towards them – too dark, too matte, too something... just not my style.

THE SWATCHES

Swatched in Natural Light . Wrap Me Up, All Eyes On Nudes, Comfy In Cashmere, and Just Stitched

Have you spotted these polishes yet? What shade is your favourite?

AM¥     XO