Essie • Ballet Slippers • Polishes

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queenvalerie on 7/6/2011 5:48:00 PM more reviews by queenvalerie

Age: 44-55   Skin: Acne-prone, Olive, Warm   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

I love the color, just not this polish! It's streaky even after three coats, hard to apply with this little tiny brush and it take soooooooooo long to dry that in ding it up every time. I have tried on 4 seperate occasions to make this polish work because, like i said, i really do love the color. But there's just no way to do it. Sigh, its going back to Walgreens tomorrow.

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kelllyy on 7/4/2011 10:43:00 PM more reviews by kelllyy

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

The color itself is gorgeous, but the formula is really bad. It's very streaky, and the brush is too small for my liking. I will not buy it again.

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*TOP REVIEWER* sammycansing01 on 6/23/2011 12:41:00 AM more reviews by sammycansing01

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Normal, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

I have been looking for that perfect light whitish-pink for a while and BINGO! This is the nail polish that is not too white, not too pink. I absolutely love the name of this nail polish and the formula is great. This color is great when you have a tan (which I don't have) but I am saying that this is a nice, summer color for any skin tones. This is worth trying out so go check it out! :)

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Triscuits on 6/13/2011 6:01:00 PM more reviews by Triscuits

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair, Warm   Hair: Red, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

I struggled with this polish for so long, taking various methods to get a decent application, since this is an intolerably streaky polish (the worst polish I have ever come across in that respect). But the color is so gorgeous that it was worth the effort to try to figure out how to get a stress-free application from it.

This is what I found works the best for me:

Apply a basecoat
Apply 2 coats of ridge filler (you can omit the basecoat step if your ridge filler doesn't yellow your natural nail, my ridge filler is OPI which does yellow the natural nail so that's the only reason I use a basecoat prior.)
Make sure your nails are completely dry before moving on to the next step. Luckily ridge filler dries super fast, 5 minutes or less.
Your nails should be fairly creamy colored already at this point due to the ridge filler.
Apply 1 coat of Ballet Slippers (try to keep the 3 stripe rule) with a LIGHT hand and with enough polish that you don't have to redip, but not too much that you leave goopy strips. If you use a VERY LIGHT HAND you can even out the excess polish with your brush and keep application even. Do not brush your natural nail with the brush, the brush should only make contact with the polish, not your nail. That's what I mean by using a "light hand". Having the brush swiping against your natural nail is what is the biggest culprit for streaking.
You can stop here if you wish, you should have an even, noticeable, and pretty color application with just one coat if you're going for the "clean" pretty look this polish is famous for, but if you want full-on opaque color, then wait until nails are completely dry before applying a second coat.

You may also consider using a cleaned OPI brush to apply this polish, but it's not really necessary unless Essie's smaller brush is just too unworkable for you.


Anyway, yeah, this polish is a great big pain! But the color is so pretty, it's definitely worth the hassle of figuring out how the heck to get it to look right.

I hope this helps someone out there.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Beckaroosy on 5/31/2011 12:49:00 PM more reviews by Beckaroosy

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

As the store was out of Sugar Daddy, I decided to give Ballet Slippers a try. Bad decision on my part. Ballet Slippers streaks like crazy. I don't know about you, but if I'm going with a neutral color, it's because I just want something quick that going to keep my nails from looking unkempt. I don't want to work for an hour trying to get a "neutral/ natural" look! That's what I reserve my 1940s pinup looks for. Just not worth the effort and with all of the other neutral color options out there, I just returned this one.

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jatosch on 5/27/2011 11:47:00 PM more reviews by jatosch

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Brown, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Terrible! I have no idea why this particular color/product is so popular, but it is a nightmare to work with. I have never been successful using this to paint my own nails. I have taken this to the manicurist before, and it looks a bit better, but overall, the color always streaks and looks uneven. It never goes on evenly. You have to use a ton to get even coverage, and then it looks think and clumpy. Gross! I would never spent $8 to be this unhappy with a product.

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*TOP REVIEWER* pipsqu3ak on 5/8/2011 11:55:00 PM more reviews by pipsqu3ak

Age: 19-24   Skin: Very Oily, Olive, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

TO THE PEOPLE WHO COMPLAIN OF STREAKINESS: I found that for the color to be even, I had to glop it on thick. Like, if you think you have too much on your brush, that's what you need to paint on your nail. The only way it's going to be smooth is to paint on thick coats, practically just putting a huge dollop of polish on your nail and spreading it around evenly with the brush. When it's even, it's just a beautiful, clean, angelic looking color on your nails, especially if they're longer.

I love my crazy colors, my neons, my duochromes, my foils, my holos. But I was shocked at how long I wore this one.

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Beany on 5/8/2011 10:43:00 PM more reviews by Beany

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

I am a sucker for cute packaging and cute names for products, and Essie has both. "Ballet Slippers" appeared to have everything I wanted in a nail polish based on these criteria. However, the thing it didn't have was quality! It had no coverage, it streaked, and was overall difficult (and almost impossible) to work with. I finally finished (more like gave up) only to have it peel. All the Essie polishes were the same way. Not impressed!!

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thedogatemyname on 5/8/2011 9:50:00 PM more reviews by thedogatemyname

Age: 30-35   Skin: Very Dry, Fair   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

Perfect nailpolish...great price...wonderful coverage. No complaints here! The staying power is amazing. I use Essie a lot for pedicures and it's going on a month without chips. I finally have to take it off due to growth. I call it my fake shellac :) Ballet slippers is a light pink that is so beautifully feminine. Essie is my HG nailpolish.

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griziebuu on 5/8/2011 9:48:00 PM more reviews by griziebuu

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

It's definitely a light color so you need AT LEAST three coats - sometimes, I put 4-5 coats on, which I think is a bit ridiculous. I like the color...but the brush is too small and 'inaccurate': it can easily streak and can leave it looking messy. Go for it if you love the color.

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LuckyTiger44 on 5/8/2011 9:26:00 PM more reviews by LuckyTiger44

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Silver   Eyes: Hazel    

For years I saw ads for Essie, so it was really exciting to see this brand in the local CVS lately. I purchased Ballet Slippers as I wanted a sheer pink, however, this polish--even after shaking--streaks like crazy. If I even put two coats on it looked streaked. Brought it back and got my money back from CVS. Essie sucks! Never again...big, big disappointment.
And why is Essie so much more expensive than other drugstore brands when it is so horrible. Even the reviews here aren't good.

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lizzychu on 4/15/2011 9:44:00 PM more reviews by lizzychu

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

Such a pretty pinky-nude. I get an opaque finish in 2 coats, no problem with streaking. I'm loving this color for spring, and any time I want a clean, pretty, feminine and soft manicured look to my nails. This looks great on me when I'm pale in the winter and tan in the summer (I generally have a skintone somewhere in between fair and medium).

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kpegler on 4/14/2011 7:09:00 PM more reviews by kpegler

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

I LOVE this color! I have pretty fair skin NW 15/20, and this perfect subtle pinkish nude for me. It did take 3 coats, but I didn't experience the streaky problems that others seem to. I got lots of compliments at the office, so I will be wearing this color all the time!

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26cyj58 on 4/13/2011 2:38:00 PM more reviews by 26cyj58

Age: 19-24   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

Very disappointing. The colour came out blotchy and patchy. I tried an extra coat but the overall appearance didn't improve. I've got better results from Rimmel or Boots 17 and Natural Collection. This did not live up to the hype and I won't repurchase. Very poor quality indeed.

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talibear on 4/7/2011 7:43:00 PM more reviews by talibear

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Red   Eyes: Green    

For my nw15 skin, this is simply way too white with more than 1 coat. It's pretty streaky for me, and just an unattractive washed out milky look--not the classy nude/pink/light look i wanted. All a matter of opinion of course, I just thought it was kinda yucky looking!

i removed the 2 coats and switched to just 1, which is nice, but nothing spectacular at all.

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6rungirl on 4/6/2011 3:27:00 PM more reviews by 6rungirl

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Medium   Hair: Blond, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

At first I hated this polish. Could not get it to look right. Finally I learned what works for me. I apply my Essie base coat(I think it's the "grow stronger" one. It's pinkish." After that I apply ONE coat of ballet slippers. Then I apply my Sally Hansen Insta-Dri and maybe a coat of OPI topcoat if I feel like it. This works for me to get that sheer look I hoped for when I bought this. It looks classy and nice.

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morgs5555 on 3/21/2011 12:05:00 PM more reviews by morgs5555

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Curly, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

This is my favorite nude shade for my nails. Every salon always has it in stock which I love because I know exactly what I am getting.

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breakfastsong on 3/10/2011 4:43:00 PM more reviews by breakfastsong

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Coarse   Eyes: Hazel    

I kept reading in magazines about how this was a great nude color, so I picked one up and tried it.

The color itself is very pretty, but I can't see myself purchasing this again.

The brush is too small IMO. I have no problems with China Glaze or OPI polish brushes, but Essie's just doesn't seem to work well with me. Anyways it ends up looking streaky on me after 3 coats.

Personally, I think this polish is overrated.

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*TOP REVIEWER* sushiomelette on 3/10/2011 1:37:00 PM more reviews by sushiomelette

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Olive   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

Looks pretty in the bottle, but comes out slightly streaky after 3 coats. The color is pinky white, more opaque than sheer. Not my favorite, but just ok.

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*TOP REVIEWER* pink3rbellx on 2/24/2011 11:59:00 AM more reviews by pink3rbellx

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I never thought I'd own this color, but I do. I LOVE IT.
It's such a fresh, slightly pinked white. It's gorgeous and clean looking, and a color I can actually stand to leave on my nails for a few days at a time.
However, application was horrendous. I'd call myself semi-well versed in the realm of sheers, but this was another kind of beast. I had to basically flood my nails with this color or else it'd never be rid of streaks or build to opacity. It also took way more coats than I thought it would. I instinctively apply thin coats, but by the fifth, I was starting to get frustrated by its streakyness. So, I had to wear it opaque although I had planned to wear it sheer. Well, the color turned out to be gorgeous once I flooded it to opacity. *sigh* I hope application goes better next time. I have high hopes for this color. It's just so gorgeous to me, though, that I won't take any lippies away for the application. Can't say I didn't expect it..

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