Essie Viva Antigua! from the upcoming Summer 2016 Collection is a turquoise that makes you want to jump into the hammock with your tropical beverage and enjoy the warm sun!

It’s a summer daydream in a bottle!

This is one of my favourites from the collection because it is happy-go-lucky, has a little bit of sparkle, and the colour pops.

If Ariel, the Little Mermaid, wore nail polish, I imagine this would be the one to complement her fiery red hair and seashells. When I look at Essie Viva Antigua!, it brings to mind a mermaid’s tail,  not that I’ve ever seen one…yet! 😉

Since I won’t be devoting a separate post for this nail art, I thought I’d include it here because the base colour is Essie Viva Antigua!

I was inspired by Essie’s Camo Waves nail art that was featured in a press booklet I received. Although I used the same three nail polishes (Viva Antigua!, Loot the Booty, and Coconut Cove), I put a slight twist on the design. Instead of horizontal waves and copying the design exactly, I painted them on a slant.

Painting abstract designs is really fun because you can be as messy and carefree as you want. There’s no pressure for perfection. It’s all happiness!

I painted this without the intention of ever sharing it. Then, at the last minute, I grabbed my camera. Hehe, nail-blogger habits, I guess!

Essie Viva Antigua! Pictures

Essie Viva Antigua! Swatches

All swatches have:

• OPI Nail Envy Nail Strengthener – Original version (Used as a base coat)
• 2 coats of Essie Viva Antigua!
• Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

Artificial Light Photos

Natural Light Photos

Claim: TRUSTED

• Iridescent crystalline turquoise (Yes)

Key Notes

• Name: Essie Viva Antigua!
• Collection: Essie Summer 2016 Collection
• Press Release: Click here to see the official Essie Summer 2016 Collection press release!
• Quick Look: Click here to see my Essie Summer 2016 Collection swatches!
• Colours Available in the Collection: Viva Antigua!, Tribal Text-styles, Loot the Booty, Hiking Heels, Berried Treasures & Coconut Cove
• Amount: 13.5 mL (0.5 fl. oz.)
• Retail Price: $9.99 CAD
• Disclosure: This post contains a press sample provided by PR.
• Where to Buy: Trade Secrets, Nail Polish Canada, salons, drugstores & select beauty destinations (Official launch date: May 17, 2016)

Essie Viva Antigua! Review

Colour

Pretty and delicate like a tulle skirt, Viva Antigua! by Essie is a turquoise that bottles up summer by the beaches and those balmy weekends spent daydreaming.

It’s one of my favourites in the Essie Summer 2016 Collection because it’s not so pale that it looks anemic, yet it’s also not bright. It falls in the comfortable middle ground that, I feel, most people can pull off.

Finish

Adding a bit of fairy glamour to the nail party are fine sparkles that create just enough twinkle to keep your manicure looking magical!

The finish is smooth, not gritty, and the delicate sparkles seem to be quieter on the nail compared to how they flashy they appear in the bottle.

Application & Formula

Viva Antigua! by Essie has a great formula that isn’t too thin or too thick. I found it easy to paint onto the nails, and it only took two medium coats for full coverage.

On its own, it still maintains some shine, but as usual, I applied a shiny, fast-drying top coat to seal the deal!

Ingredients

This nail polish doesn’t contain any Formaldehyde, Toluene, or DBP, which makes it a good choice if you’re making conscious shopping decisions.

Pros Happy turquoise Subtle fairy shimmer adds a magical touch Great formula Full coverage with 2 medium coats No Formaldehyde, Toluene, or DBP

Cons As of the time I wrote this blog post, it has not officially been released yet. Hehe, yeah, I couldn’t come up with a major Con here because I love this polish!

Final Verdict: 9.5/10

Essie Viva Antigua! is summer for your nails, and who doesn’t want that? It’s cheerful and subtly sparkly with a punch of personality! If you love turquoise nail polish, this is a fun one to wear. Plus the formula won’t have you bending over backwards like a Cirque du Soleil performer!

When you think of summer, what nail colour immediately springs to mind? (For me, it’s yellow, followed by coral and turquoise.) When you go on vacation, which one nail polish would you take with you?