Collection: Essie 2005 Summer, Summer In the City

Earlier this year, Essie released a Retro Revival collection, consisting of six older Essie shades. I already own three of them, so there remained just three for me to pick up: Bikini With a Martini, Birthday Suit, and the infamous Starry Starry Night. I’ve already reviewed these three newer polishes, so now it just remains for me to review the three older ones that I already own.

Here’s a shot of the three Retro Revival polishes I bought, plus the originals of the other three in this collection:

• Bikini With a Martini [2006, frosted iridescent pink]
• Birthday Suit [1981 Original Launch, cheeky delicate nude]
• Cabana Boy [2005, ultra-cool pearly white]
• Life of the Party [2002, pinot noir pearl]
• Sequin Sash [2005, sheer glittery bronze with silver flecks]
• Starry Starry Night [1997, twinkling midnight blue]

Cabana Boy (507) is from a 2005 summer collection, and it’s a cool, pearly oyster white in a semi-sheer formula.

My bottle is an older one from the original collection, and the formula requires at least two coats for evenness. I found it a touch streaky, so I preferred three coats. It becomes fairly opaque by then, as well.

This is a pretty unusual white, as it has a strong dove grey tone. I actually like it quite a lot when combined with the soft, pearly finish. It does lean a bit frosty, though, so there are light frost streaks when applied.

While Cabana Boy has been discontinued by Essie, in early 2016 they brought it back in the limited edition Retro Revival collection. I’m not sure how the new version compares, but it’s worth picking up if you are digging this shade!

Essie Nail Polish retails for US$8.50 / CA$9.99–$10.99 and is 0.46 US fl oz / 13.5 mL. The polish is free of toluene, formaldehyde, and dibutyl phthalate (DBP). It is made in the USA. My bottle is older (~2005 or a bit after), so it is probably not 3-free. The new Retro Revival versions are, however.

Essie Cosmetics, founded in 1981, is based in Westfield NJ, USA. In 2010, Essie was acquired by the L’Oréal Group.