Discover the Artistry of Essie's Handmade With Love Collection
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Difficulty Obtaining the Collection
- The Frustrations with Essie
- Swatch Review: Cut It Out
- Swatch Review: So Gifted
- Swatch Review: Pencil Me In
- Swatch Review: Piece of Work
- Swatch Review: Crochet Away
- Swatch Review: Paint Brush It Off
- Swatch Review: Two DIY Four
- Swatch Review: Handmade with Love
- Swatch Review: In Pursuit of Craftiness
- Final Thoughts
Introduction
Welcome to another nail locker therapy session! In today's article, we will be diving into the latest Essie collection called "Handmade with Love". This collection consists of nine beautiful shades that are now available on Amazon. However, getting hold of all the pieces in this collection has proven to be quite a challenge. But thanks to the help of Brandi from Live with Biv, I finally have all the polishes I need to bring you this swatch review. So without further ado, let's explore each shade and see if they are worth adding to your nail polish collection.
Difficulty Obtaining the Collection
Essie has been causing quite a frustration lately when it comes to accessibility. It seems like they only want to work with large corporations like Amazon, making it harder for consumers to get their hands on their desired polishes. Gone are the days when Essie was readily available from various e-tailers. Now, it's become a headache trying to find and purchase their products. The limited availability and frequent out-of-stock situations have left many nail polish enthusiasts dismayed. Let's hope Essie addresses this issue soon and makes their products more accessible to everyone.
The Frustrations with Essie
It's understandable to feel frustrated with Essie's approach of exclusively partnering with large corporations. It almost feels like they are trying to create a monopoly in the nail polish industry. This move restricts smaller retailers and e-tailers from offering Essie products, making it harder for consumers to find what they want. This shift towards working only with big companies takes away the convenience and variety that Essie used to offer. Hopefully, Essie will reconsider their strategy and find a balance that benefits both consumers and retailers.
Swatch Review: Cut It Out
Let's start our swatch review with the shade "Cut It Out". Described as a light gray, this polish immediately became a favorite for me. Gray shades are not something I have a lot of in my collection, so finding a good one always excites me. The formula of "Cut It Out" is excellent, gliding smoothly onto the nails. It provides full coverage in just two coats, leaving a perfect finish. If you're a fan of gray shades and Essie, this polish is a must-have.
Swatch Review: So Gifted
Next up, we have the shade "So Gifted," a beautiful peachy color. When it comes to light shades like this, achieving opacity can be a challenge. However, "So Gifted" proved to be an exception. It provides complete coverage in just two thin coats, without any streakiness. The formula is impressive, and the shade itself is undeniably gorgeous. As part of the "Handmade with Love" collection, it perfectly embodies the theme and is definitely worth adding to your nail polish stash.
Swatch Review: Pencil Me In
Moving along, we have "Pencil Me In," a magenta pink shade. This polish has the potential to be a one-coater, as the first coat provides good coverage. However, to achieve full opacity, a second coat is required. The formula is consistent with the others in this collection, smooth and easy to apply. The only slight drawback is that the color dries down slightly darker than it appears in the bottle. Nevertheless, "Pencil Me In" is a stunning polish with a vibrant pop of color.
Swatch Review: Piece of Work
Let's now explore the green shade in the collection, "Piece of Work." Greens may not be everyone's cup of tea, but this one is undeniably beautiful. It has a Shrek green vibe that feels unique and fun. The formula is on par with the other polishes in this collection, providing smooth and opaque coverage in two coats. If you're looking to add a touch of vibrancy to your manicure, "Piece of Work" is a great choice.
Swatch Review: Crochet Away
Prepare to be surprised by "Crochet Away," a cool-toned brownish color that quickly became a favorite of mine. Cool tones always appeal to me, whether in makeup or nail polish. The formula of "Crochet Away" is absolutely stunning, delivering flawless application and complete opacity in two coats. As with some other shades in this collection, it dries down slightly darker than it appears when wet. Overall, "Crochet Away" is a beautiful and unique addition to the "Handmade with Love" collection.
Swatch Review: Paint Brush It Off
"Pain Brush It Off" is the next shade we'll be reviewing. Unfortunately, I don't have an official description for this polish, but it's a captivating color nonetheless. The formula is consistent with the other polishes in this collection, providing a smooth application. While it may appear to be a one-coater, a second coat is needed for full coverage. Similar to a few other shades, "Paint Brush It Off" also dries down slightly darker than it appears when wet. Overall, it's a stunning addition to the collection.
Swatch Review: Two DIY Four
Introducing "Two DIY Four," the vibrant orange shade in the collection. Its formula leans towards a jelly-like consistency, resulting in a slightly streakier application compared to the other polishes. While it may not be a one-coater, the second coat provides full coverage. Like some of the other shades, "Two DIY Four" dries down darker than it appears when wet. Nevertheless, this vibrant orange color adds a playful and summery touch to any manicure.
Swatch Review: Handmade with Love
Now let's explore the namesake of the collection, "Handmade with Love." Described as a coral red, this shade aligns with the popular color trend for this summer. It evokes memories of other stunning coral red polishes, like Cirque Colors' "Pyro." While not an exact match, "Handmade with Love" captures a similar essence. As with some other shades in the collection, it dries down slightly darker than it appears when wet. Overall, it's a beautiful and versatile polish that deserves a spot in your collection.
Swatch Review: In Pursuit of Craftiness
Lastly, we have "In Pursuit of Craftiness," an ever-elusive polish that was missing from my collection. Thanks to Brandi, I finally got my hands on it. This shade can be described as lavender, although it appears more blue to my eyes. Its formula is similar to "Two DIY Four," with the first coat being slightly streaky. However, the second coat delivers full coverage. Like many other shades in this collection, "In Pursuit of Craftiness" also dries down darker than expected. Despite the confusion around its color description, it's a beautiful polish that adds a touch of uniqueness to the collection.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the Essie "Handmade with Love" collection may be on the boring side due to the lack of variety in finishes. However, the cream polishes in this collection excel with their excellent formulas. If you're a fan of cream polishes and prioritize a smooth application, these shades are a must-have. Despite the frustrations with Essie's accessibility, this collection showcases some beautiful colors that are cohesive when worn together. Hopefully, Essie will listen to its consumers and offer more diverse finishes in their future collections.
Highlights
- The "Handmade with Love" collection from Essie offers a range of stunning cream polishes.
- These polishes provide excellent formulas with smooth and easy application.
- The shades are cohesive when worn together, creating a beautiful nail art display.
- Essie's limited availability and exclusive partnership with large corporations have frustrated consumers.
- Nail polish enthusiasts desire more variety in finishes in Essie's collections.
FAQ
Q: Where can I purchase the Essie "Handmade with Love" collection?
A: The collection is currently available on Amazon and the Ulta website.
Q: Are the polishes in this collection only available as creams?
A: Yes, the "Handmade with Love" collection features nine cream polishes.
Q: Do the polishes in this collection require multiple coats for full coverage?
A: Most of the polishes in this collection provide full coverage in just two coats.
Q: Can I expect the colors to dry down darker than they appear in the bottle?
A: Yes, several shades in this collection dry down slightly darker than they appear when wet.
Q: Will Essie address the accessibility issues with their polishes?
A: While it's uncertain, consumers hope that Essie will reevaluate their strategy and make their products more readily available.