Sunday, July 19, 2020

Essie | Expressie Quick Dry Nail Color in "Second Hand, First Love" & "Air Dry": Review and Swatches

Disclaimer: The products featured were provided for review.
Essie | Expressie Quick Dry Nail Color in "Second Hand, First Love" & "Air Dry": Review and Swatches
Earlier this year, Essie expanded its catalogue with a whole new line of polishes that promise a "one-step color and shine" that dries within a minute. Currently available in 40 shades (depending on your location), the Essie Expressie Quick Dry Nail Color (C$9.99 for 10 ml) definitely piques my interest as I hate waiting for nail polish to dry. Therefore, I tested out a couple of shades from the collection and wanted to share with you my thoughts. To read on, click......
Essie Expressie Quick Dry Nail Polish | Angled Brush | Photo Credit: Essie
Packaging:
Before I delve into the formulation, it's worth noting that the Essie Expressie Quick Dry Nail Color features a new packaging. The taller and slimmer bottle holds 10 ml of polish while the classic Essie bottle offers 13 ml; despite this, both cost the same at C$9.99. Additionally, Essie Expressie comes with a special angled brush intended to make it easier to apply the polish with your non-dominant hand. Quite honestly, though, the angled design is so subtle that I did not notice it until I read about it on the online product description. Therefore, I'm not sure if it's really a significant update.

Formulation:
Designed as an all-in-one nail polish (no base coat or topcoat needed), the Essie Expressie Quick Dry Nail Polish boasts a one-minute drying time. I tested out two shades and while both are creamy and pigmented, I did not notice a big difference in drying time, as compared to the regular Essie polishes. After approximately 15 minutes, the polish definitely sets but the finish is still prone to dents and nicks, which are what I struggle with most when doing manicures in a hurry. So, therefore, the new formulation doesn't quite stand to its one-minute dry time claim. Regardless though, I would still recommend the polishes as the pigmentation does seem better and the color selection is quite sophisticated yet trendy. In terms of longevity, the Expressie formulation doesn't differ much from the original so however many days you get with the original, expect the same with this quick-dry version. See below for a breakdown fo the two shades I have here.
Essie | Expressie Quick Dry Nail Color in "10 Second Hand, First Love": Review and Swatches
Essie Expressie Quick Dry Nail Color | Second Hand, First Love | Two Coats with No Top Coat
Second Hand, First Love:
A muted rose cream, this is a beautiful shade of pink for those that may not usually love pink polishes. The formulation is very pigmented and even. I used two coats for the swatches above.

Air Dry:
This is a beautiful slate blue that's super pigmented and easy to work with. The color is very flattering, perfect for the fall and wintertime.
Essie | Expressie Quick Dry Nail Color in "340 Air Dry": Review and Swatches
Essie Expressie Quick Dry Nail Color | Air Dry | Two Coats with No Top Coat
Availability:
Essie is available at select retailers and at essie.com.
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