Essie Mesmerize was the first Essie nail polish that really got my attention. Up until they put this out, Essie mainly churned out very traditional hues like reds, pinks, whites, and sheers.
I remember how blown away all us nailphiles were when Essie put out a blue nail polish! It made me so excited and curious to see how they would explore new colour territory.
This is a nice blue, sure, but I mainly bought this because of what it represented – the shift from conservative to modern. As a nail-polish collector/lover, I just had to have it because it was an important piece of lacquer history.
P.S. Every single time I look at this polish, I always have this train of thought: Mesmerize – Hypnotize – Notorious B.I.G…and then I end up singing, “Biggie, Biggie, Biggie, can’t you see? Sometimes your words just hypnotize me. And I just love your flashy ways.”
Essie Mesmerize Pictures
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Natural Light
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Essie Mesmerize Swatches
All swatches have:
- Nail Tek Foundation II Base Coat
- 2 coats of Essie Mesmerize
- Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat
Flash Photos
Sunlight Photos
Natural Light Photos
Claim: TRUSTED
√ Royal blue
Key Notes
- Name: Essie Mesmerize
- Collection: Essie Summer 2009 Collection
- Colours Available in the Essie Summer 2009 Collection: Mesmerize, Eternal Optimist, Flawless, Status Symbol, One of a Kind & Lacquered Up
- Amount: 15 mL (0.5 fl. oz.)
- What I Paid: $3.80 USD
- Where to Buy: Head2Toe, Trans Design & Nailsupplies
Essie Mesmerize Review
Colour
Mesmerize by Essie is a primary blue that’s bold without being dark. This kind of blue never gets accidentally mistaken for a black, and that’s why I like it. It’s not so faint that it looks like it was munching on celery all day, but it’s not so dark that it looks vampy.
I think that this would look great as the base for Cookie Monster nail art!
Finish
Mesmerize by Essie has a creme finish, which I think is very fitting. Instead of throwing around a lot of bells and whistles when Essie surprised us all with this hue, they still kept it simple and very true to their brand’s clean appeal.
Application & Formula
The formula on this one was great! It was so pigmented even with just a single coat, but I used two to even everything out and for full opacity.
The consistency of the polish was wonderful because it was easy to control, and it was thick enough so you don’t have to worry about flooding your cuticles.
Pros
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Cons
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Final Verdict: 9/10
Not only is Essie Mesmerize a colour that I found really easy to wear, but I think it’s very simple and flattering enough for nearly anyone.
And what I keep harping on is that I love what this colour represents. It shows that even a more conservative brand like Essie is still keeping an open mind and listening to women’s (and men’s) desire to express themselves more creatively with their nails. 🙂
Did a brand ever put out of a polish that really surprised you because it was uncharacteristic of the company? Do you like blue cremes? Or do you need some shimmer, glitter, or flakies to make it more wearable?
Will have to get this, because I’m all about blues. Have never tried an Essie for the reasons you said. No Ballet Slippers for me!
Hey Barbara!
Wow, I’m surprised that you’ve never tried any Essie polishes. Lately they’ve been really breaking out of their box. Heck, they even have flakies and glitters! 🙂 Mesmerize is still a standout in the Essie arsenal for me.
This is a beautiful colour! This would be one that when you look down at it throughout the day you can’t help but smile 😀
Hey Erica!
You’re right – I kept looking down and smiling all day long. This shade of blue is just dramatic enough without being very flashy.
This is such a pretty blue. I’m definitely a blue creme lover and I love it on you. Oh, Mary, now you have another song in my head. I was bopping my head while reading the words, lol.
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Hey MariJo!
Thank you so much! 🙂 And I think blues look so great on your skin tone, too. That’s the beauty of blues – they seem to work with a wide variety of skin tones. Very easy to sport. 🙂 Haha, sorry for the ear worm. 😉 Now, let’s bob our heads together.
Wow! Really pretty! Does it have a just a hint of shimmer or is that my eyes playing tricks on me? Maybe if I didn’t have my nose pressed to the monitor it would help.
It is nice to see Essie stepping outside their comfort zone. I’ve avoided most of their polish for a long time for that very reason…they always seem to do so many neutrals and while I can’t speak for everyone, I’m anything but stuck in neutral.
Hey karen!
It would look pretty with shimmer, but nope, this just has a standard creme finish as far as I could tell. (I need to invest in a magnifying glass. Seriously! I think it would make it easier for me to see all the slight polish nuances.)
Yes, I know you! 😉 When it comes to polish, you put the pedal to the metal!
I love it when Essie does fun polishes because my expectations are so low—if China Glaze or OPI do a color like this it’s kind of boring because they’re known for their exotic offerings, but the only other Essie polish I’ve been much interested in is Sag Harbor, because for some reason it’s the only blue-grey polish I’ve found. Lots of greige and cement-grey polishes, but nothing else with a bluish tint.
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Hey thecandiedmango!
Good point, and it’s very true! I feel the same way – China Glaze and OPI are way more daring than Essie, so if they put out a blue like this, it wouldn’t be quite a shocking.
ooooooooooh. I’m definitely mesmerized by this color *_*
Hey Lawren!
Hehe, join the club. What do club members do? We all just stare at our nails. Yeah, fun, right? Okay, maybe we need to start a more exciting and productive club! 😉
I love blue nail polish! 🙂
Hey Sandra!
Me, too! 🙂 Which is your favourite blue nail polish?
I’ve been loving Essie polishes lately and never thought of them as conservative. Hm, maybe I’ve just learnt something about my style.
Hey Ashley!
Essie is branching out more now, though, than ever before. 🙂 They’re not as conservative as they used to be.
What are your favourite colours by Essie?
I loved Mesmerize too!! Your part about the song lyric made me chuckle, I’m the same way! Some of the new polish names make me feel like I’m in a pop culture vacuum with all the references to books, music, cartoons and video games! Just as an FYI if you have an Ulta near you- their color Blue Streak is very similar to Mesmerize but their website shows it darker IMO than it really is. I have Blue Streak and love it too- another great royal blue! P.S. Essie Dive Bar is a staple for me (buy it- I promise you’ll love it if you don’t already!) xo, E.
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Hey ManiCuriously!
Unfortunately, no, there isn’t an ULTA near me. 🙁 I’m in Canada, so I don’t think there are any here yet, but I hope they’ll cross the border soon! 😀
Cool – thanks for the heads up. The next time I look at Essie polishes, I’ll have to make a point to look for Dive Bar.
I second Dive Bar! 😀
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I. Must. Find. This!
When it comes to blue shades I like them cream best (or with a subtle something).
I am more and more a fan of everything blue. My favourite Essie blue is “Bobbin off baubles”!!! A bit darker/murkier navy shade
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Hey Marta!
You know, maybe you could collaborate with OPI and come out with a Smurfs Collection. There would be tons of blues, and I think it would be a hit since it’s so nostalgic.
I would totally buy that collection if it ever happens. Just saying. 😀
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Hahaha, Carmela the Blue Fiend! 😛 I know you always need your fix…hehe!