Thursday, 13 September 2012

NOTD: Essie - Fiji

Essie Fiji £7.99

Ignore what looks like crust on the sides of my nails, I got a bit carried away with top coat and didnt realise how bad it look untill I uploaded these photos. The joys of macro.

Products Used:
Nails Inc Kensington Caviar Base Coat
Essie Fiji (2 coats)
Sally Hansen Insta-Dri

I dont think its too obvious in photos but the finish was quite patchy with only 2 coats. I think I'll definitely need to use 3 coats next time. I love the colour but its the type of shade that shows up any imperfections so if you have bad ridges you might be best giving Fiji a miss. Dont even try doing thin coats, it'll be a streaky mess. I found 2 thick-ish coats to be best but I'll add a 3rd coat next time. The diffusion line brushes are a million times better but I'm still not convinced Essie is for me. I love the colours but the formula is lacking.

Essie Fiji available from Boots & Superdrug

28 comments:

  1. This is one of my least favourite Essies formula wise out of the ones I've tried. I find it so hard to apply :(

    http://wewereraisedbywolves.blogspot.co.uk/

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    Replies
    1. I only own 3 or 4 Essie polishes and only like the formula of one. The colours are gorgeous, I love all the milky shades but the formula really lets them down.
      xo

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  2. such a pretty colour, shame about the formula! i've yet to find a baby pink that's a one or two coat wonder though xx
    http://cloudsandcuticleoil.blogspot.co.uk/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Theres one from Nails Inc, cant think of the name right now but it gives brilliant, non streaky coverage in 2 coats. Its a lot pink-er than Fiji though.
      xo

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  3. I really like this colour. Fiji is on my wishlist. x

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  4. I love Essie colours but I agree, the formula isn't up to scratch. I have my eye on Mojito Madness and the metallics range x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The metallics range looks realy lovely. I dont know why but I always feel like I dont suit metallic polishes.
      xo

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  5. This looks gorgeous on you. I own it but I'm always to impatient to allow three coats to dry! x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You need to get Nails Inc Kensington Caviar Top Coat or Sally Hansen Insta-Dri if you havent already. They dry straight away and fully harden within around 5 minutes. I'd be lost without them.
      xo

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  6. this is a lovely colour, i personally think three coats for the price of the polish isnt great, its still a gorgeous colour :) xo

    vintage-teapot.blogspot.ie

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    Replies
    1. I agree. You'd expect perfect coverage in 2 coats from a professional brand.
      xo

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  7. I love the colour, I've got Essie Ballet slippers which is quite similar and streaky too, which is frustrating as it's such as pretty colour and my other 'darker' Essie colours like Mint Candy Apple don't streak like that. I wish Nails Inc did a colour like this. I haven't been able to find one yet :(
    Great blog!!
    Daniella x

    http://daniella-r.blogspot.co.uk/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks. I think Ballet Slippers is a sheer shade isnt it? I dont own it.. yet. ;) Fiji is opaque but for whatever reason it just wont apply evenly and seems to pool in certain areas which leaves other areas looking patchy.
      xo

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  8. This is cute! I thought I must be applying these pastels wrong! I can never get them even! I'm glad I'm not the only one!

    missstephanieusher.blogspot.com

    xxxxx

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    Replies
    1. You're not alone :) Pastels are almost always streaky because theres so much white added to the shade.
      xo

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  9. I've currently got this on my nails too! I love the shade, and the brush, but agree about something not quite right formula wise- give me 24 hours and there'll be a guarenteed chip. I look past this often though, I just love the shade, so easy. xxx

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    1. Nail twins :D I'm the same, if I love a shade I'll forgive it for chipping easily.
      xo

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  10. This is the 2nd time in as many days that I've read bad things about the Essie formulas. I don't have any but always assumed that they were really good because everyone seems to be buying them. Nice honest review!

    Lauren
    pinkforflamingos.blogspot.com

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    Replies
    1. I always thought the same but the brushes of the regular line are awful, they make the streaks even worse because they're so thin. The diffusion brushes are a lot better but the formula is still a bit off. I've heard a lot of people say they chip quite badly too. The colours are gorgeous though, especially the soft shades.
      xo

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  11. i've heard quite a lot of negative stuff about essie actually, for the price, sounds like they should be a lot better! gorgeous colour though!

    currently having a 100 follower giveaway! x

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    Replies
    1. Essie seems to be the 'IT' nail polish brand of the moment. They could definitely be alot better.
      xo

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  12. I didn't even notice the top coat residue--your nails look fantastic! :)

    xx Veronica

    http://frowardfashion.blogspot.com

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  13. This is such a gorgeous colour but a bitch to apply even with the new brush. The dark colours that Essie do always apply like a dream especially with the new brush. xx

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    Replies
    1. I havent tried a dark shade with the new brush but Smooth Sailing (think thats what its called) was so easy to apply.
      xo

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  14. Agreed!! The color is gorgeous but the application is definitely not the best...I love the fact that it is opaque but then you still need 3 coats to get it even...WTH Essie??!! Since I haven't found a comparable dupe yet, I'll still be using this one though... xx

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