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.
Not really a red fan, but I love how warm this one looks!
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Love this color!
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I always think I already have a particular shade of Essie red creme but they’re always just ever so slightly different. That’s how they get us to keep buying similar shades over and over again! shakes fist
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Yes! LOL. Must have every shade under the sun!
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Beautiful shade! I don’t often wear red because they rarely look flattering with my skintone – I like this one as it’s a bit toned down. 🙂
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Oh I think if you find the right one, it’ll look amazing! 🙂 But just about everyone can do a vampy red, too.
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I laughed at your description of the formula, I struggle with those jelly-ish polishes too! I remember seeing swatches from the fall collection and then actually getting the polishes and wondering how people got a few of them opaque in two coats…
That is my kind of red, it reminds me of Dress to Kilt (my favorite) but I might need this one too :]
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Haha, oh I have such a love-hate relationship with those jellies. They look gorgeous but are such a pain sometimes. I’m not sure I have Dress to Kilt – gotta check it out! 😀
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pretty!
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of course the short comment goes through while wordpress swallows all my long comments. of course. eyeroll
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