Category: essie

Essie ‘Be Them All’ Collection – Swatches & Review

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[A note: I’ve been destashing! I went through and got rid of over half of my collection, and there’s some greatly discounted, mainly mainstream polishes looking for new homes (US only, I’m sorry to my international friends, the shipping just isn’t feasible or cost effective). You can check out what’s available on my destash Instagram @GingerlyPolishdestash or by checking out this Google Doc! Feel free to message me on IG or email me if you’re interested in any shades!]

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Let’s begin this post by saying that Essie has been on quite the silly little journey lately. I get it, Essie, I turned 30 last year and I feel a little silly at times too.

But it all began in 2023 when they released a UK exclusive winter collection called Just Chill. Yes, this was very strange for a US based brand that had been steadily releasing collections to their American customers for the entire year and had never missed a seasonal release previously. It was like ‘A Year Without a Santa Clause’ (was that too niche of a reference, was that too millennial of me, did anyone else watch that growing up). And that UK collection had some gorgeous polish colors in it, but like a baby, I forgot about it as soon as it was out of my sight.

2024 came, and there was again, no winter release – not even in the UK either. Still strange, but again they had been steadily releasing collections all throughout the year, so I wasn’t worried. Then in February of 2025 (I’m crosschecking the timeline by @essie_obsessie’s account – if you’re interested in anything and everything Essie, I highly recommend her account) suddenly, the Just Chill collection reappeared as a US release. Essie didn’t formally announce it at all, and it hasn’t appeared on their website, but apparently it was our Spring 2025 collection (I do have it and will be swatching it up soon). Also, the US release only came with 5 of the 6 UK shades, missing ‘Easy Freezy’ and instead replacing it with ‘Muchi Muchi’, an already permanent shade.

Weird, but alright new shades, sure! I did say they were gorgeous so I was glad to be able to snatch them up. Then later that month, there was an official announcement for the ‘Be Them All’ collection (which this post is covering today). When this collectoin was originally released, it featured 10 shades: 6 cream enamel shades and 4 special effects toppers. But now, as of this blog posting, suddenly the Essie website is only featuring 7 shades of the 10 shades, with 3 of the creams missing. They’re still featured in the Be Them All header photo, but they’re missing from the specific collection listing.

Because suddenly, those shades are shown in a new release called ‘Riviera Rush’. THAT collection hasn’t been officially announced on Essie social media but you can find the shades at Ulta now (at least the cremes). Those shades include 3 new cream shades, 2 new special effects polishes, the 3 creams from Be Them All (including the namesake polish of that set) and 1 re-promoted special effect polish that came out in the original release of the line in April of 2024.

I cannot understand it, and of course, Essie will not be explaining any of this. We can simply speculate, like hey maybe it’s tariff related, maybe it’s inflation related. Either way, it’s all simply fascinating to me and I just had to lay it all out for someone else and get it out of my brain. (I had also already typed out and finished this post once, and then WordPress didn’t save it and I lost it all, so I had to extra talk about it).

We’re beginning with that whole history lesson to set up the fact that this post will be going over the ten shades of the ‘Be Them All’ collection and I just wanted to explain why there might be some discrepancies when you look up this collection later. I shall be swatching it as it originally released, so this clearly means that this blog is now helping to record history. You’re all welcome.

So okay yes, the Be Them All collection. As I mentioned a few times, it released with 10 shades: 6 cremes and 4 special effects toppers. Essie notes with this release: “Who wants to tick one box when you can be them all with loud and vibrant shades that showcase every side of you”. So it’s about how you’re not just one thing, you can Be Them All. Get it. (The redoing of this entire post is clearly getting to me, I’m getting Bold Happy).

The 6 cream shades are available from Beyond Polish. You can use code GingerlyPolished for 10% off individual items. It is affiliated so I would earn a tiny little commission for each sale, so absolutely no pressure to use it. And then for the 4 shimmery special effects shades, Essie says they are exclusive to CVS.

Okay PHEW let’s finally get on into these swatches!

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Essie ‘Punk at Heart’ Fall 2024 Collection – Swatches & Review

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We have a few fall collections still to review and talk about here, and of course, we wouldn’t let a season go by without some new Essie.

Essie’s newest seasonal release is called the ‘Punk at Heart’ collection, and it’s their traditional 6 bottle release. Essie describes this set as helping you “break the mold and step into your rebellious era with these six edgy limited-edition shades”. Now, mainstream brands will only ever go so “rebellious” and “edgy” so don’t expect anything too crazy here. It’s the same vibe as when child me thought songs on my Hilary Duff CD were “hardcore” because they had electric guitars.

I say this jokingly, and with love, as it’s still a fun and unique color palette and I was excited to swatch it up. We have 4 creams and 2 shimmers here. It’s not the typical fall shades, and there are even a few colors you fully wouldn’t expect for the season. But it does still feel fall, in the way that (most of) these shades feel suited for cooler weather. It’s not a regular collection, it’s a cool collection.

These are available on the Beyond Polish website (code: GingerlyPolished gets you 10% off individual items. Now it is an affiliate code, so I would get a small amount of commission if you use it – no pressure as always! I purchase all of my Essie polishes from Beyond Polish now, and I would never recommend a place I didn’t myself love).

Let’s get on into the swatches!

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Essie ‘Nail Art Studio’ Jelly Polishes – Swatches & Review

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Earlier this year Essie dropped EIGHTEEN new polishes at once (they don’t need sleep over there clearly), all under the label of their new “Nail Art Studio” line. They describe this line as “your DIY design destination for everything nail art”.

Now, of course, this can seem like an exaggeration and duh, of course there are hundreds of nail art products out there. We’re not talking about striping tape and dotting tools and charms here – Essie is staying in their lane and experimenting with regular polish. They’re filling in an area they were lacking before in their own product collection, and listen, we love the idea of shades perfect for layering and combining. Overall I was just very interested to see what we were working with when these were announced.

In this newness, we have 9 “special effect” shades, and then 9 jelly polishes. And today we’re starting by looking at those jellies first. They’re in a range of more “classic” colors, as you would expect when building up a palette for nail art. And spoiler alert, some of those colors are more successful than others.

You can find these online on Ulta’s website or on the Walgreens website (they might be available in store at either of these places as well). With Ulta they’re more expensive, but you can get points (but their packaging is also terrible) so up to you to decide. Now let’s get on into those swatches!

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Essie ‘Sol Searching’ Summer 2024 Collection – Swatches & Review

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Why yes, I still have more summer collections to swatch up for you, I know you’re so excited! It’s only July, so there’s still plenty of warm weather to enjoy (even though Fall collections will start releasing on August 1st, I’m just warning you).

Alright, today we’re looking at the final mainstream summer collection review (China Glaze didn’t have a summer release this year!) with Essie’s newest seasonal release. This is called ‘Sol Searching’ and it features 4 creams and 2 shimmery shades. This is a more muted color palette overall, and one might even call it more “zen”. So if you’re looking for some meditation for your summer, and you’re not feeling the neons, these shades could be perfect. Between this collection, Essie and Orly, we have a wide range of such interesting “nontraditional” summer shades. You can really find a little something for any nail mood.

I like to purchase all of my Essie shades, including this collection, from Beyond Polish. You’ve heard me talk about Beyond Polish enough and I order from them all the time. They’re always reliable, and you can get a lot of brands for a nice little discount. (You can also use my code GingerlyPolished for 10% off individual items. That code is affiliated, which means I would receive a little commission, so no pressure as always. I’m just here to get you some savings! And I ordered from Beyond Polish long before I had an affiliate code with them.)

Now let’s hop on into those swatches!

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Essie Blushin’ and Crushin’ Spring 2024 Collection – Swatches & Review

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Have I mentioned that it’s still cold here in Chicago enough times yet? We had snow this week. SNOW. In APRIL. I think I’m allowed to keep mentioning that I want spring until it actually stays here for more than a week, okay.

As always, we’ll just soften our weather woes with nail polish. We can always pretend it’s spring with warm glowy spring tones on our fingers. And you know the best way to truly avoid the cold is to not go outside at all and just paint our nails. Modern solutions, and all that.

So let’s stay in the warmth and talk about some new nail polish!

This is the Essie ‘Blushin’ & Crushin’ collection, and it’s their newest seasonal release for Spring 2024. We have 3 creams, and then we have 3 gorgeous squishy shimmer shades. This is just a fun little color palette that really hits every sort of spring mood one could have throughout the season.

These shades are available on the Beyond Polish website where code: “GingerlyPolished” will get you 10% off individual items. It is affiliated which means I’ll get a small commission for each order, but as always no pressure to use it!

Alright, all of that starting information is out of the way, let’s get on into the swatches!

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Essie Fall 2023 Collection – Swatches & Review

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PURCHASED

If you haven’t heard me say 16 times already in every post, fall is my absolute favorite season of all – it’s all my Midwestern upbringing. I love the cooler temperatures (even if it does lead to freezing winter), the changing leaves, the pumpkin everything, just the vibes. And I especially love all of the colors, both in clothing and in beauty – the olives, the mustards, and the burnt oranges, and then on the other side, with the deep and vampy shades. Now in the nail world, Orly has us covered with the mustard, the green, and the pumpkin orange in their fall release – and now Essie is here to help us all with our bold and dark sides.

For that new seasonal release from Essie, we have 6 cream shades, with 5 in deeper, vampier (read that correctly, not vampire) colors, and then 1 lighter neutral. This might be a boring set to some with all creams, but I’ll always take a rich and pigmented cream any day. I know I love the Essie formula, so as long as it was up to their normal standards, I had high hopes for this set.

These are available from BeyondPolish.com (affiliate link) and if you use the code GINGERLYPOLISHED you can get 10% off individual polishes. It is affiliated which means I get a little percentage from any sales – as always no pressure to use that code, but of course I appreciate any of y’all who have!

Now let’s get on into these gorgeous shades!

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Essie ‘Push Play’ Summer 2023 Collection – Swatches & Review

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AFFILIATE CODE

Well hello there! We’re looking at another summer collection today, buddies! Who doesn’t love that. I’m working on catching up on lots of blog posts so we’re keeping this intro short and sweet and getting right into the polishes.

Today as the title says, we’re looking at Essie’s newest seasonal release, and it’s the ‘Push Play’ collection for Summer 2023. It features 6 rich and saturated cream shades all in a more primary color palette. Essie says to “embrace your inner kidult with six joyfully saturated shades”. So yes, it’s inspired by those bright summer toys of our childhoods all around. I think it matches the theme so well, and they’re perfect “base” colors to add to a collection.

I purchased these from Beyond Polish. As always I do have an affiliate link/code for Beyond Polish that gives you 10% off individual items (it won’t work on the full collection bundle) – GINGERLYPOLISHED. I do make a small commission from this, but I’m only here to promote shops I love, and I purchase every Essie collection I can from them for the discounted prices. So no pressure to use that, but if you want a discount and want to send a lil love my way, I appreciate it!

Now let’s get into the swatches!

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Essie ‘Feel the Fizzle’ Spring 2023 Collection – Swatches & Review

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AFFILIATE CODE/LINK

We’re continuing with the spring collections, and this one just might be the most Spring™ of them all. It just slaps you in the face with the most Spring colors you could imagine. It fills your mind with chirping birds, blooming flowers, warm sun on your face – okay I’m done. So yes, it’s very spring, yes.

And I’m talking about the newest seasonal release from Essie. This is the ‘Feel the Fizzle’ collection for Spring 2023, and it features 5 saturated spring cream shades, and 1 iridescent topper. Super gorgeous, and just imagine those skittle manicures you can wear with these.

I purchased this lovely little set from Beyond Polish (exciting, this is now an affiliate link! Which means if you click on that and purchase through it, I’ll receive a little commission. You can use GINGERLYPOLISHED for 10% off your order as well – on regular priced items, not the bundle, but no pressure either way! You can just go to Beyond Polish’s website on its own. I wouldn’t link to any websites I don’t use and trust and love myself). Beyond Polish does also have an Essie bundle that gives you a little discount as well if you’re not comfortable using my code! (Essie releases far too much to pay full price amirite).

Alright enough talking about how Spring it is, and let me just show you! Into the swatches!

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Essie Valentine’s Day 2023 Collection – Swatches & Review

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It’s another February, and so that means another Valentine’s Day collection from Essie (no you’re NOT reading this after Valentine’s Day is already past, idk what you’re talking about). China Glaze has us covered for Halloween, and Essie has us for Valentine’s. We’re slowly getting covered for every major holiday, and next up, I’m expecting greens for St. Patrick’s, thank you very much.

ANYWAYS, as always, Essie has blessed us with another 6 piece collection to help us celebrate love. Nail polish will always be #1 in my heart (and okay, fine I guess my boyfriend too) so of course I’m excited to have even more to put on my fingers. Let’s talk about these shades.

Since Essie has done many a Valentine’s release by this point, we’ve gone through quite a lot of pinks and reds. So for this one, they venture on down into some “non-traditional” Valentine’s shades, like rich blues, dusty purples and some gorgeous shimmers. AND I’M NOT MAD AT IT. I’m a lover of all colors, I welcome them all, and we’re here to celebrate Love Day with any shade. They also of course have the little bottle detailing – with some little flames and hearts wrapped around the bottom of the cap. Cute as always.

I purchased these from Ulta (and yes, dealt with their lack of padding for glass nail bottles again), and I’m sure you can find them at other various drugstores like Target, CVS or Walgreens. Ulta still has them in stock and shipping if you don’t feel like hunting them down.

Alright, enough talking, let’s get right into the swatches!

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Essie ‘(Un)guilty Pleasures’ Collection – Swatches & Review

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It’s TIME. It’s the start of NEW ESSIE collections for 2023. And if any other years are an indicator, we’ll have a LOT of collections and releases and I’ll do my best to keep them all straight and reviewed for you – at least with the regular lacquer. I can’t be throwing the Expressie and Gel Couture lines in there too, I’m not made of money. But regular lacquer will keep us more than busy, there are already 4 collections out that I know of, WE GOTTA GO, GO, GO. (Of course, I always say, choose based on your own preferences and budget and likes, no need to buy every collection like I do, I do it to review and help y’all out here).

So let’s look at this first one. This is the ‘(Un)guilty Pleasures’ collection. This one features 6 rich and saturated cream shades, all with a theme around self-care and relaxing. I’m never mad at that idea.

I purchased this set at a discount from Beyond Polish. (exciting, this is now an affiliate link! Which means if you click on that and purchase through it, I’ll receive a little commission. You can use GINGERLYPOLISHED for 10% off your order as well – on regular priced items, not the bundle, but no pressure either way! You can just go to Beyond Polish’s website on its own. I wouldn’t link to any websites I don’t use and trust and love myself). Beyond Polish does also have an Essie bundle that gives you a little discount as well if you’re not comfortable using my code! It’s my go-to place to buy Essie at this point, as they have great prices. But of course, if you want to see them in person or grab a few shades without shipping, they’re also available at Target.

You’ll be seeing me so much for future Essie posts as well, so let’s get right into these gorgeous shades and swatches!

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