Essie • Smokin' Hot - Winter 2010 • Polishes

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Snaggletooth on 3/4/2013 6:55:00 PM more reviews by Snaggletooth

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Blue    

This is one of my all-time favorite polishes. I don't paint my nails all the time, but when I do I tend to like things that aren't in the standard red/pink range, and I'm *usually* not a fan of shimmer/holo/frost/etc. This is a perfect smooth cream in a dark, muted, plummy-gray. On the nail, it's not nearly as purple as it is in the bottle. Fuss-free application, opaque in two coats. Got it for eight or nine bucks at CVS.

I do wish I could take of half a point for packaging and leave it a 4.5, because, while I really like the consistency of many Essie polishes, the brushes are indeed a bit too small.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Susee on 12/5/2012 8:33:00 AM more reviews by Susee

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool   Hair: Blond, Curly, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

This is the first Essie polish I've tried, and I am impressed with the quality. It applied very smoothly and I had opaque coverage in two coats. The color is a creme, slightly purplish toned cool dark grey; for me it's unique. I've been using plums, purples, and burgandies for half my life and am now branching out to grey and blue. It is dark, but not anywhere near black. Smokin hot lasted without chipping for about 5 days; however, I use a really good basecoat that has prevented chips on all brands lately.

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JMAEGIRL on 10/20/2012 6:52:00 PM more reviews by JMAEGIRL

Age: 30-35   Skin: Very Oily, Medium, Cool   Hair: Black, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I love this shade such a pretty color. I just wish the brush was bigger.

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4misstish on 9/27/2012 12:30:00 PM more reviews by 4misstish

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Red   Eyes: Green    

This is by far one of my new favorite colors especially for fall and winter months! This shade looks amaizng on every skintone. For those who want to wear darker shades but don't want to wear black this is the ideal shade for you. I have worn it plain and with a glitter topcoat and it looks striking no matter how you use it. I would buy this again and again.

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MyNameIsHoney on 9/16/2012 6:06:00 PM more reviews by MyNameIsHoney

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Tan   Hair: Black, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Black    

Price: not bad, about $9 CAD
Packaging: I am not a fan of Essie's brushes, period. I have a wider nail bed and find the brush far too thin and 'flimsy' to leave a streak-free coat. I would also like the handle to have a bit more grip, but that's minor.
Product: if I could give this a 3.5 I would. The colour is undoubtedly beautiful and unique. Indoors where yellow lights tend to cancel out the purple undertone, this is a dark dusky gray...decent but nothing unique. In daylight though, it's a beautiful sophisticated gray with dusty-eggplant undertones. I am not a fan of Essie's formula and find it streaky with few exceptions (go overboard is a standout). It takes a lot more effort to apply than OPI, in my opinion.
I would repurchase because I haven't seen any easily-available dupes, and the purple undertone is just gorgeous for fall/winter.

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merrysunny77 on 8/1/2012 3:41:00 AM more reviews by merrysunny77

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Tan, Warm   Hair: Black, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

yay! I love this polish. Even though its from last year I just picked it up. I love vampy purples and gray purples and this looked so nice in the bottle- but I waited b/c I have others like Metro Chic and I Brake For Manicures (OPI).

This is the perfect mix of the two. dark and purple.but also with that gray/taupe undertone. The formula is great....I am a big fan of Essie polishes in general.

I love that it doesn't look black on ...so to me its like metro chic and I dont break for manicures had a baby...and on my yellow based olive to tan skin tone it doesn't look garish.

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galadriel04 on 4/11/2012 11:14:00 AM more reviews by galadriel04

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Blond, Curly, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

This was my first essie polish! It's a mix of grey, taupe and violet. It's really flattering if you have a cool undertone and I think I would buy it again. It lasts on my nail around 3 or 4 days without chipping.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Chester99 on 2/27/2012 12:49:00 PM more reviews by Chester99

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Green    

I love this shade! It's a dark taupe with a heavy purple tint on me and it's o flattering. Very appropriate for fall but looks good in a sophisticated way year-round.


Application is good, wear time is your essie standard. I would by Smokin' Hot again if I ever ran out.

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Bumster on 2/24/2012 9:31:00 PM more reviews by Bumster

Age: 19-24   Skin: Very Dry, Fair, Cool   Hair: Red, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Green    

This is one of my favorite Colors. It's a smoky purple taupe Color.
The Application was ok. 2 Coats are enough sometimes, but on some Nails I could see free Spots, so I would say it's better to use 3 Coats.
It stays on very good. I wore it for 3 Days and had a little Tipwear.
I would buy it again, because it's a very pretty Color. I wish it was more opaque, though.

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littlemissbusiness on 9/26/2011 10:49:00 PM more reviews by littlemissbusiness

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I think this a great color! While I love the new Fall Collection, this color is classic. It is a deeper grey with a touch of purple tint. I think it looks great on medium skin tones. There is something sexy about dark nail colors when the weather gets colder and we can no longer wear bright pinks!

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luvlost03 on 8/11/2011 4:39:00 PM more reviews by luvlost03

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Green    

ATTENTION I have found an exact duplicate of this shade its Sally Hansen xtream wear (round bottle) in the shade grey area. I got the sh NP first then I came across Essie smoking hot I know how popular it is Cuz I work at Ulta and everyone asks for it and we can't keep it in stock. So I tried it on with the sh grey area next to it and its an exact perfect match. Oh and the Sally one cost $2:59 at Ulta:)

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*TOP REVIEWER* niclyf on 5/15/2011 11:11:00 PM more reviews by niclyf

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

Essie Smokin' Hot was part of the Winter 2010 collection, and while it's definitely a great shade, I honestly don't understand why it goes for ridiculous amounts on eBay and is so hard to acquire.



The shade .. A greyed out medium to deep dusty purple. It's a cream shade and is a shimmerless version of Chanel Paradoxal. It applies smoothly and wears well. Initially when I saw it, I wanted it something fierce. upon receiving it via swap and wearing it .... I don't see the hype. I love the shade, but don't find it to be so stunning/unique that it's worth wild feats to acquire it. I'm happy I have it in my stash though as it's very flattering on my MMM skintone.

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mirandajulian on 4/26/2011 6:33:00 PM more reviews by mirandajulian

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I love this color - it is a beautiful grayish eggplant - very nice! It, however, does require about three coats. It has been hard to find this and am apalled that there are folks out there trying to sell a bottle of this for $20+ on ebay. I got it for $8 at a local nail salon in NYC and am so happy I decided to as this is a keeper.

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LHartford on 3/29/2011 1:02:00 PM more reviews by LHartford

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

This is gorgeous and one of my new staples. With a great top coat, this is so shiny and rich. Out of this, Essie Chinchilly and OPI You Don't Know Jacques, this is my fave of the purpley nail trend. I think it is sold out at alot of places and I can see why. GORGEOUS!

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beautynglam301 on 3/6/2011 2:07:00 AM more reviews by beautynglam301

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

Love this dark plumishhh color!
Great winter color
**MUST HAVEE COLOR!!!**
If your looking for a dark color, this is the one!

Favorite Essie Color! <3

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MerryMidnight on 1/19/2011 11:35:00 AM more reviews by MerryMidnight

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Blue    

I think I'm in love with this color.

First of all - in the bottle this one look more purplish than grey but on my nails (as you can see, photo is mine :)) is deep, dark grey with some purple undertones. It's not black but not a typical grey also. Fantastic.

Application was ok. Smokin' Hot lasted on my nails about three or four days and when I removed it, it was in very good condition - there was not any chip or somthing (I used it with Essie's First Base and Seche Vite).

Love, definitely. And must have.

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odessadaniel on 1/4/2011 6:42:00 PM more reviews by odessadaniel

Age: 25-29   Skin: Very Dry   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

This color type greyed out purples seems to be everywhere. The color is a grey with some purple undertones it's a cream finish. I brought this not realizing I already owned it because I have Nina Never Glum Plum which is an inexpensive dupe. The formula was fine for me I used three coats because I had spots.

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snis on 12/31/2010 5:24:00 PM more reviews by snis

Age: 30-35   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

I don't get manicures often but when I do I tend to go for OPI reds. I recently had a manicure as a gift at a spa and the nail tech suggested this color by Essie. I was somewhat skeptical but after trying it I loved it. It looked great with my skin tone -NC43

It's only been a few days but it seems to be wearng well. It is considered a dark gray but has some dk purple (ie eggplant) undertones to it. I usually go for polishes with a bit of shimmer but this is a very rich looking creme polish. It is part of Essies Winter Collection 2010 and apparently everyone wants it. I wanted to carry some home with me, but the spa was sold out, I checked another salon and it is backordered two months. Still looking at other places to purchase it.

I would like to see this color become a part of the permanent collection for Essie. IMHO it is head and shoulders above OPI's " You Don't Know Jacques" which is not as vibrant a color to me.

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