#essie in my orbit swatches

[talonted]

The newest release from Essie is here and if you’re a fan of metallics then you are going to be in heaven… the Essie Galaxy Metal Collection* is chock full of shimmery, glowy metallics and I have them all swatched below.

The full Essie Galaxy Metal Collection is available in Superdrug – where there’s currently a 3 for 2 deal! – and four of the six will be available in Boots (‘out of this world’ and ‘stardust’ are exclusive to Superdrug) from mid November. I’ve included links to Superdrug below and will add in Boots when they launch there as well… #enabler.

A quick note about the formula: as with all metallics, you have to be careful with application. Every stroke leaves brush marks so it can look messy if you slap it on willy-nilly. However, these polishes are incredibly pigmented and apply so well that they only need two thin coats, so there’s less room for error. Another thing some people don’t like about metallics is that, because they’re so reflective, they can highlight any flaws or imperfections in your nails. To get around this you can lightly buff the nail (but don’t go overboard… read my nail growth tips post here for more information!) before application, or invest in a ridge-filling base coat.

Enough preamble, let’s get going with the Essie Galaxy Metal swatches!

in my orbit is an ‘interstellar palladium silver’ (Superdrug) and it was the trickiest to photograph. This was my third attempt and it still looks really flat and dull for some reason (the left image shows it in direct sunlight and the right in indirect light). Perhaps it’s because it’s the only one in the collection that is more of a solid colour – which is also the reason it’s my least favourite. The others have dimension to them, a shift in the colour in the light, whereas this is very much just a silver polish. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a lovely colour and if you’re missing this type of shade in your collection then this is a great formula but once you see the others in the range I think you’ll agree that it’s lacking a certain something.

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out of this world is described as a ‘galactic gunmetal with celestial lilac undertones’ (superdrug exclusive) and oh boy is it pretty. It’s a silvery-lilac that is a little bit grungey and cool and I cannot wait to wear this throughout the party season. Those brushstrokes really add to the effect I think, is that just me?

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reflection perfection is a ‘heavenly soft rose gold’ (and it’s not on the Superdrug site yet but I’ll update with a link once it appears!) If you’re a sucker for a rose gold…well, anything… then this is the one for you. It feels very modern while also being pretty and soft.

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stars aligned, an ‘illuminating burnished yellow gold’ (Superdrug). I love gold polishes, especially when I want to be a festive cliché and this one is on the right side of warm. If it was anymore yellow-toned my hands would look like they were made entirely of spam and that’s not the party look anyone is going for. The light and dark gold pigments in this give it so much dimension and stop it having the cheap look some gold polishes can have. Love!

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star dust is a ‘bright cosmic magenta’ (superdrug exclusive) and although I love the colour, it does give me spam hands. It’s quite rare to find a metallic polish range that has a pink like this, so I’m really pleased to have it. I just wish it suited my skin tone better!

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mercury in retrograde is a ‘cool steel cobalt’ (Superdrug) and I think this will be the most popular shade in the collection. It stands out in the bottle but on the nails it is even more beautiful than I expected. It has such a rich and eye-catching finish, with the silvery tones seeming to make the polish glow. Similarly to ‘star dust’, I think it’s rare to find a nice light metallic blue so grab this one before it disappears!

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And that’s your lot! Which is your favourite from the Essie Galaxy Metal Collection? Are you drawn to metallics or avoid them like the plague? What colour metallics do you think should be involved in their next collection (I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a lime green or a rust-orange…) Let me know in the comments below!

Lex

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Essie Galaxy Metal Collection Review The newest release from Essie is here and if you're a fan of metallics then you are going to be in heaven...