Essie - About the brand

The Essie brand was formulated 25 years ago in NY by Essie Weingarten and has become one of the most successful nail care Companies in the world. Essie, the ultimate colour authority, offers a line of superior nail care products with an exclusive award winning formula. Essie’s fashion-forward colours are always chic and elegant and can be worn ‘from the bedroom, to the boardroom, to the ballroom.’ Always inspired by the runways of Paris, Milan, London and New York, Essie colours are recognized worldwide because they are chip resistant, long lasting, and provide flawless coverage.

Today, Essie offers more than just nail polish; the collection has an abundance of total treatments for hands and feet and Essie has become the brand most trusted by beauty professionals, fashionista’s and celebrities alike.

ABOUT ESSIE NAIL PRODUCTS

In 1981 Essie Weingarten established Essie Cosmetics. As a child she was fascinated by nail polish, and at the age of 12 she had her first manicure. "I think I was my nail technician's youngest client ever, and nail lacquer has been my obsession ever since," confides the always candid Essie. Driven by her passion and her innate ability to key in on the hottest shades, Essie Weingarten and her partner Max Sortino created a wildly successful nail care empire. In the footsteps of cosmetic giants before her Essie created her line slowly, starting with just 12 shades and 3 nail treatments.

Essie thought Vegas would be the perfect place to launch her products. "After all, the people who work in Vegas - the showgirls, dancers, dealers - needed to take care of their hands and look good for their jobs," she says. Today, 4 of the original 12 colors are still hot sellers including: Baby's Breath, Blanc, and Bordeaux. When Essie returned to New York, the phones started ringing and orders started pouring in.

Beauty professionals quickly found Essie's chip-resistant formula, outstanding durability and fashion forward color selection far superior to anything else on the market. Soon, top nail techs, models, editors, and celebrities such as Madonna, Sharon Stone, and Cindy Crawford were among Essie's biggest fans. All were drawn to the line's exceptional quality and whimsical shade names. Ballet Slippers (designated a "classic" by beauty industry insiders), Mademoiselle, and A-List are amongst Essie's most popular award-winning shades. Essie introduces 4 new collections a year seasonally and the line includes over 200 shades.

ESSIE TIPS AND TRICKS

What do you have in common with Madonna, Sharon Stone and Cindy Crawford? Yes, you are beautiful and you have discriminating taste in your nail colour. Essie is the name behind the nails and when the A-Lister's need to look their best, Essie is what they use.

For over 25 years, Essie has been the beauty industry's leading authority on nail care and colour. From humble beginnings of 12 colours, the rainbow Essie now offers has grown to more than 200 of the hottest shades with the most memorable names. And Essie doesn't stop at just nail colour; there is a complete line of professional nail care products that help promote health and beauty for every hand they touch.

Need some fresh ideas in nail colour combinations for that hot date or important interview? Let the Queen of Polish be your guide to the perfect manicure and pedicure with these sensational colour innovations. Mix and match to create your own personal look.

Great colour combinations:
Sheer Bliss & Waltz
Ballet Slippers & Limo-Scene
Allure & Vanity Fairest
Sugar Daddy & Fed-Up
Dune Road & Ballet Slippers
Marshmallow & Mademoiselle

ESSIE'S HELP SELF CORNER

Dear Essie,
Help! I just cracked a nail and can't get to a salon. What can I do?

It's always sad when you have ten perfect nails and one starts to break. Here's what you can do to save that nail and prevent it from breaking further.

Cut a small strip from an unused tea bag and cover the break using Essie's '3-way glaze' or nail glue if you have some. The '3-way glaze' will glue the tea bag fabric over the nail and act as an instant patch. Add the topcoat and voila! Your nail will be as good as new.

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Dear Essie,
Ouch! I just got a horrific paper cut on my index finger that really smarts. What can I do?

You can place a small drop of base or topcoat to seal the cut. It will sting a little when first applied, but after the cut has been sealed, it won't hurt anymore!

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Dear Essie,
I got my nails done five days ago and they are starting to look dull. I can't get to a salon for a fresh manicure. What can I do to get that 'just back from the salon' shine?

Although our topcoat is strong, durable and lasts for up to a week, everyday tasks like gardening or washing dishes can wear away the topcoat leaving nails looking dull. Refresh that mani with 'shine-e', the nail solution that restores shine and helps prolong the life of your nail colour.

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Dear Essie,
My cuticles get so dry between manicures and I am especially prone to hang nails. Do you have a product that can help me?

Our hands are always exposed to the outside world and nails and cuticles can suffer, especially in winter. Try our 'apricot cuticle oil'. Its gentle, natural oils moisturize dry cuticles and also helps prevent hang- nails. Apply just before bedtime so those helpful oils can do their magic overnight. Use 'apricot cuticle oil' on your toes too to keep those cuticles soft and manageable.

Another secret is to place some' apricot cuticle oil' underneath nails to add needed moisturizing agents especially during those drying winter months.

Travelling? Take our 'cuticle pen' with you. Its small compact size will fit in your cosmetic bag and can even be taken on board for those long flights. It is easy to apply with no fuss, no muss.

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Dear Essie,
I like to let my nails 'go bare' sometimes, but they are an ugly yellow colour. Is there something that I can use to get my nails looking healthy again?

There are many things that can discolour nails, for instance, using harsh household cleaners can be a leading culprit. Be sure to use gloves and keep those hands and nails protected from chemicals. A little secret I use is to apply the peel of fresh lemon or grapefruit to discoloured nails. The citric acid will help remove the yellow colour from nail surfaces. Also, use our special 'non-yellow topcoat' on your next manicure to help prevent the nail colour from turning. Special ingredients help protect nail colour from harmful UVA/UVB rays. Think of it as sun block for your nails and ladies, please, whether you're washing dishes, the dog or the car, put those gloves on. Your hands and nails will thank you!

Also remember, your nails are not tools. Do not use your nails in place of screwdrivers, pliers or wire strippers. No matter how tough you think your nails might be; nothing is more likely to ruin a perfect 10 than using them as a paint scraper!

For years women have been taking care of their faces with top-quality products laced with the latest technologies in anti-aging skin care. But only in recent years have women begun to look at their hands as vulnerable to aging. The hands (after the face) are one of the first places to show the signs of aging, so why wouldn’t women want to give their hands a facial?

The latest product line from natural nail and polish company essie is essie ejuvenate, a comprehensive luxury hand treatment system that helps to combat signs of aging and reveal new, younger-looking skin. Launched at ISSE, the four-piece product line includes HydroTherapy Hand Revitalizer (cleanse), Microdermabrasion Hand Refiner (exfoliate), Advanced Radiance Hand Treatment (treat), and Intensive Recovery Hand Cream (hydrate).

According to Essie, the line is “infused with proven spa-quality age-defiers including rice extract, arginine, vitamins A & C, glycolic acid, and licorice root extract, and essie ejuvenate helps slow the signs of aging.” If you would like to try it out, the four-step system also comes in a Discovery Set (1-oz. of each product). The scent is really luxurious and feels great on my skin.