ESSIE VALENTINE’S DAY 2023 COLLECTION
The new Essie Valentine’s Day 2023 Collection is a collection of 6 beautiful Valentine’s Day inspired polishes. These polishes aren’t necessarily the colors that you would typically associate with Valentine’s Day; however the names are perfect for the holiday, and the colors are perfect for Spring. I purchased these from Ulta Beauty, but they are also available on Amazon! Keep reading for photo swatches, or watch the video below for comparisons and live swatches.
“U WISH”
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“U Wish” is a ‘mid-toned red with a shimmer finish.’ This polish does lean a little more coral than red and is opaque in 2 coats. I think this polish is pretty, but not necessarily very unique. If you’re on the hunt for a shimmery coral, this is a great polish. It can be a bit streaky on application, so use caution with your brush strokes.
Fuel Your Desire
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“Fuel Your Desire” is an ‘iris purple with red undertones.’ This beauty is an absolute must have. The application is flawless, and opaque in 2 coats. When I first saw this polish, I immediately thought of Essie ‘Splash of Grenadine,’ but it wasn’t a dupe. Check out my video to see how this compares to other polishes. I was surprised that it wasn’t a dupe for anything in my collection.
Burning Love
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“Burning Love” is a ‘rich muted coral with red undertones.’ This polish seems to be more of a burnt red than coral polish. The application is fabulous, and this beauty is opaque in 2 coats. One of my least favorite colors in the collection, but I’m sure this will be a fave for many of you. I’m just not a huge fan of shades like this unless it’s Fall.
Flirt with Freedom
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“Flirt with Freedom” is a ‘blackened purple with a shimmer finish.’ I love the finish of this polish, but I wasn’t excited about how sheer it was on the first coat. It built up very nicely on the second coat to make it a fabulous two coater though. The shimmer and tone of purple in this polish make it very unique, and a great polish to add to your collection.
License to Thrill
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“License to Thrill” is a ‘cobalt blue with red undertones.’ I’m obsessed with this blue, but I also recommend wearing a good base coat under it to prevent staining. Really, you should always wear a good base coat under polishes. This beauty is a 1-2 coater, and is a must have. No, it doesn’t necessarily say “Valentine’s Day,” but it’s still so perfect for Spring.
No Ex-Pectations
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“No Ex-Pectations” is a ‘cool deep gray with purple undertones.’ This polish is a gorgeous two coater that applies like butter. If you’re on the hunt for the perfect grayed out purple, this is it. I was surprised to find that I had no dupes in my collection for this polish.
So, what are your thoughts on the Essie Valentine’s Day 2023 Collection? Do you plan to pick any of these up? Also, I’d love to hear your thoughts on whether or not you care that some of these colors don’t necessarily scream Valentine’s Day. I am totally okay with it to be honest. I have enough pinks and reds in my collection that I didn’t need to see another collection of pinks and reds.
Check out a few of my other 2023 polish posts: