Comparisons are one of my fave things to do when Essie comes out with a new collection. It always surprises me when polishes that seem so similar are actually quite different. Check out my comparisons below. Hope these are helpful for you!!
You Do Blue
When I first saw Essie ‘You Do Blue’ from the Flying Solo Collection, I basically died! It is such an absolutely positively stunning polish with the most beautiful shimmer ever!! ‘You Do Blue’ is a “periwinkle blue polish with violet iridescence!” I did 3 coats here, but the polish is opaque in 2. It is an absolute must have!! See below for descriptions of the 3 polishes I compared it to!
- Bikini So Teeny – This is the first polish I was reminded of when initially swatching ‘You Do Blue.’ ‘Bikini So Teeny’ was released in the Summer 2012 Collection, and has become well known as an Essie classic. It looks absolutely stunning in the summertime with a tan. I did 3 coats of ‘Bikini So Teeny’ here. This polish has shimmer that is visible in the bottle, but not on the nail. It is also just a tad bit brighter than ‘You Do Blue.’ This one does have the skinny brush because it is an older bottle, but I have seen some of the older polishes also coming out with the wide brush. If you can find this one with a wide brush, get it…and ‘You Do Blue.’ You need them!!
- Glow with the Flow – ‘Glow with the Flow’ is another beautiful blue. It was released in the Essie Winter 2018 Collection. This is described as a “medium blue pearl shimmer” polish. This is 2 coats. This polish is a few shades darker than ‘You Do Blue,’ so no comparison here. They’re both definitely different.
- Blue-tiful Horizon – Boy does Essie know how to do their blues! ”Blue-tiful Horizon’ is another stunner! This polish was released in the Desert Mirage Collection from 2018. I totally forgot about this collection! It was such a fun one! Anyways, this polish is described as a “cerulean blue glowing with amber shimmer.” This polish is much dustier than the other three. It’s almost more of a blue-gray. The shimmer in this is also a little deeper. Another must have!!
Free to Roam
Next up is Essie ‘Free to Roam,’ a stunning pastel pink. This is the best pastel pink formula I have ever applied to my nails! I did 2 coats here, and I love it!! I love the blue tone in this pastel pink! I compared this polish to 6 other pastel pinks in my collection. The polishes do look much more similar in the photos than in real life, so no true dupes here.
- Fiji – Essie Fiji is another Essie classic. I’m not sure what collection this was released in (let me know in the comments if you know!), but I do know that Essie reformulated it in 2013. Fiji is described by Essie as a “creamy pastel pink.” My bottle of Fiji is more warm toned than Free to Roam. It also applies a little more streaky, and has a skinny brush. I definitely appreciate the formula and brush on Free to Roam, but Fiji is such a classic.
- Social Butterfly – Many of you may say that you’ve never heard of this one before. A few years ago, a “Mystery Collection” started showing up in Marshalls and TJ Maxx stores. This polish was part of that collection. Social Butterfly was one of the polishes I actually received from a nail friend from New Jersey because I couldn’t find it at my TJ or Marshalls! I saw this polish on a post, fell in love, and needed it. It is the most beautiful cool toned pastel pink. It also has a nice formula. This is 3 coats. Skinny brush. It’s a little lighter than Free to Roam, so not dupes.
- French Affair – Just another pastel pink beauty… This is ‘French Affair,’ another cool toned pastel pink by Essie. This polish was released in the Spring 2011 collection, and is another classic. This is 3 coats. The formula is pretty nice. The color is so worth it.
- Muchi Muchi – Muchi Muchi is a beautiful pink that was released in the Spring 2007 Collection. It is described as a “creamy and luscious pink with a kiss of mauve.” This is another classic Essie pink. 3 coats. It is a little less blue toned than the others, so not a dupe to Free to Roam.
- Pinned to Perfection – Pinned to Perfection is an Essie Gel Couture polish that is a slightly warmer toned pastel pink. This is 3 coats plus the Gel Couture topcoat.
- Power Punch Pink – Power Punch Pink is a polish released in the Essie TLC Collection. This is a bright, fun, Barbie doll pink. It is a little darker than Free to Roam as you can see in the above photo, but such a fun pop of color for the summer!
Without Reservations
I do not have a lot of polishes that are similar to ‘Without Reservations,’ but I instantly thought of ‘Forever Family’ and ‘Jamaica Me Crazy’ when I swatched this. ‘Without Reservations’ is a beautiful “shimmery plum.” This is 2 coats. Such a pretty polish!
- Jamacia Me Crazy – Jamaica Me Crazy is a “shimmery magenta.” This is 2 coats. It’s much more of a blue toned polish than the other 2.
- Forever Family – Forever Family is a Gel Couture polish that is described as a “mulberry red.” You can see the warmer tones a bit in this photo, but they are more apparent in real life.
Flying Solo
As soon as I swatched ‘Flying Solo,’ I was sure it was exactly the same as ‘Lounge Lover’ or ‘Pin Me Pink.’ I was wrong…again! Lol!
- Lounge Lover – Lounge Lover was released in the Spring 2016 Collection, and is described as a “coral flamingo pink.” It is a little more warm toned/orangey than Flying Solo.
- Pin Me Pink – Since Lounge Lover seemed more orange than Flying Solo, I was sure Pin Me Pink would be closer. Pin Me Pink is a “bubblegum pink” that was released in the Soda Pop Shop Collection a few years ago. It is definitely much more pink!
Check In to Check Out
Next up, we have ‘Check In to Check Out,’ a beautiful “milky coral.” Compared to the other two polishes, ‘Check In…’ is actually much more orange and less coral.
- Tart Deco – Tart Deco is described as a “colorful coral” polish. It was released in the Spring 2010 Collection. I did 3 coats here. I feel like it is pretty patchy on the first 2 coats, but it is definitely a classic!
- Exhibit A-line – Exhibit A-line is a Gel Couture polish described as a “radiant marigold orange.” This is a tad lighter/more peachy than Check In, but is pretty similar.
Check Your Baggage
Whenever Essie drops a new yellow polish, we all stop in our tracks! Yellow comparisons are one of my fave comparisons to do. Who knew there were so many shades of yellow. ‘Check Your Baggage’ is described as a “creamy bright yellow.” It has a bit of an orange tone to it compared to the others.
- Hay There – Hay There is a “buttery yellow” that was released in the Fall 2019 Collection. It is a must softer yellow than Check Your Baggage.
- Avant Garment – Avant Garment is a Gel Couture polish that was released in 2018. It’s described as a “dandelion yellow” and is a brighter yellow than the other 2 polishes.
In Plane View
Another polish I was sure I had dupes for…’In Plane View.’ It’s described as a “deep, milky teal.” All of these polishes are SO shiny and gorgeous, but not dupes!
- Satin Sister – Satin Sister is from the Winter 2016 Collection, and is described as a “dark peacock blue.” You can see in the photo above that it is more blue toned than In Plane View.
- On Your Mistletoes – On Your Mistletoes was released in the Winter 2017 Collection, and is described as an “oxford blue.” It has more of a navy tone than the other 2 polishes. It’s amazing how you can see the different green and blue tones in these polishes when swatched so close!!
Reach New Heights
I was so sure that I probably didn’t have any dupes for “Reach New Heights” that I almost didn’t do a comparison! These polishes are actually pretty close though. BUT not dupes. “Reach New Heights” is described as a “neutral based peach polish with gold pearl shimmer.” It’s actually a beautiful polish. I just don’t love it on me. It may start growing on me though!
- Home Grown – Home Grown was released in the Fall 2019 Collection. It’s described as a “golden peach polish with pearl.” It is similar to Reach New Heights, but is a tad more bronze.
- Pinkies Out – Pinkies Out was released in the Spring 2019 Collection. I forgot how much I love this polish! It’s described as a “pearly apricot coral” and has a beautiful pink-ish shimmer! It’s a tad lighter than Reach New Heights, so no dupes.
Final Thoughts
After seeing all of the swatches and comparisons from this collection, what are your fave polishes? What are your least faves? I would love to hear your thoughts!! Have an amazing day!!! XOXO