Collection: Essie 2016 Winter

Last December, I picked up three of Essie’s Winter 2016 polishes from Shoppers Drug Mart when they were supposed to be on sale for CA$7.99. I suspect that because they were from the new collection, they rang up at regular price. I asked if they could check the price in the flyer, and they kindly honored it for me, which was cool. The shades I got were Oh Behave!, Party on a Platform, and Satin Sister.

Today, I’m reviewing Party on a Platform (1007 salon / 1888 retail). Essie describes it as a “London garnet red”. The “London” makes me think it’s that classic pillar box red, though I usually associate that color as more of a bright, true red. But I guess garnets are usually a deeper red, so that seems accurate enough. This shade is a deep red, leaning a touch oxblood and mulled wine, giving it a slightly muddied look. Depth-wise, it sits just on the non-vampy side, to me.

I’ve always liked Essie red creams: yes, they do seem to do an awful lot of them, but there is usually something a little different about each one and you can’t necessarily tell until it’s on the nail. Party On a Platform is a sophisticated red and it goes easily from day to night.

The formula is ever-so-slightly jelly-like (not a true jelly) which makes it ever-so-slightly annoying to get nicely even and opaque. I used three coats for full opacity. It does apply quite well, unlike some Essies that can be too thin.

This is by no means a must-have shade, but I’d certainly recommend getting it if you spot it at a good price.

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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.

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