NOTD - Essie 'Dive Bar' review

Dive Bar by Essie

If you've read my previous posts or follow me on Twitter you will know of my love of Essie nail polishes.

I first saw a tweet by Rachael from Made up of regarding this polish and as it was on 3 for 2 at Boots at the time, I rushed in and got my mitts on this.

In the bottle it is the most gorgeous of gorgeous shades.  It looks like the colours of a peacock or spilled oil, all glistening emerald greens, petrol blues and iridescent purples.  Unfortunately I found it does not translate as such onto your nails.  Yes the colour is shimmering with high shine, yes it IS a stunningly beautiful shade.  In some lights it looks blue and in others green, but where is the purple?  As Essie describe this colour as a mysterious blackest blue with shimmer I should have known that there was to be no purple in it and I now believe, after showing the bottle to Mr B.P., that it is just an illusion of light against glass. What a total shame!

After 2 days a little tip wear on ring finger

This shade is so glam and I would have been chuffed if it appeared in the bottle as it does on my nails, but as it doesn't and as I just can't get that gorgeous purple hue out of my mind, for me this is 'nail fail'.

I think to make it work for me I am going to have to layer it with a shimmer/glimmer top coat to keep me happy.  What would you guys recommend as a complimentary top coat?

Do you have any 'nail fails'? Which polishes did you rush out to buy only to be disappointed?