12 Pretty Essie Nail Art Studio Special Effects Swatches

essie nail art studio special effects swatches review - best essie nail polish swatch nail topper - Lustrous Luxury vs Cosmic Chrome vs Separated Starlight vs Gilded Galaxy - Astral Aura vs Ethereal Escape vs Frosted Fantasy vs Mystic Marine

A review of Essie Nail Art Studio Special Effects nail polish colors with swatches from Cosmic Chrome to Gilded Galaxy, Fiercely Faceted, Ethereal Escape, Spectrum Shift and more!

There may be affiliate links in the content you're reading on this blog. When you purchase from my links, I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) which helps me provide even more awesome content for you :)

Anyone who’s following Essie and their regular new releases cannot have missed the Nail Art Studio Special Effects collection released a few months ago.

When I first saw the Nail Art Studio collection, I actually didn’t really understand what was going on at first.

I had to take a closer look to realize that in this collection, two ranges had been developed:

the Special Effects nail polishes
and the Jelly Gloss nail polishes

You can see a few of the Jelly Gloss colors I have in the huge Essie Nail Polish Comparison post I recently shared with you (over 80 colors are swatched in there!).

I’m still to write my complete review of the Jelly Gloss colors, and pondering whether to get a few more because I love them.

What’s for sure, though, is that I loved the first eight colors I got so much that I then purchased the latest four Essie released: Spectrum Shift, Fiercely Faceted, Identity Illusion and Reality Reflection.

Such pretty names they have!

Oh, and did you know Essie has released an Essie x Disney’s Snow White collection?

I mean, one of them is a gorgeous, oh so gorgeous green nail polish.

And if you’ve been here before, you know that while I collect the green Essie nail polishes, I do think there are way too few.

Especially since Sweater Weather was discontinued, and I’ve never been able to get my hands on it.

Anyhoo.

Let’s get to the review and all the beautiful swatches of the Nail Art Studio Special Effects nail polishes!

essie nail art studio special effects swatches review - best essie nail polish swatch nail topper -

Here’s what Essie says about the Nail Art Studio range, which encompasses the Special Effects and the Jelly Gloss collections:

unlock limitless self-expression with essie nail art studio, the first diy design destination for everything nail art. creatively designed by you at home. no salon necessary.

And here’s what the brand says about the Special Effects range specifically:

fuses duochrome flips with holographic & light-reflecting finishes to take any manicure to another dimension

from chrome at home to pixel pearls, transform any mani into a hi-beam dream

wear alone, layered, paired, or over any essie color

All the Essie Nail Art Studio Special Effects Nail Polish Colors Referenced in This Guide

These are the Essie Nail Art Studio Special Effects colors swatched and reviewed in this guide:

I finally got my hands on these babies a couple of months ago and have been trying them out mostly on their own.

Since I’m editing this post to add the four new colors released recently, I will add all of the bottle pictures and swatches at the end of the post.

As usual, they are compared between one another to help you assess the difference in texture, finish, coverage and color.

They can be used for layering, and I actually got Ethereal Escape with Bahama Mama in a set (they do look outstanding together).

If I’ve mostly worn them on their own, I do have lots of ideas for layering that I’ll share below.

Some of the Nail Art Studio Special Effects are duochrome nail polishes.

Should you have read some of my posts, you know that anything from duochrome to multichrome and oil slick is my jam.

Others are more glittery, like Lustrous Luxury, while others, like Separated Starlight and the new Identity Illusion are transparent with huge glitter chunks.

The formula is quite similar to other popular Essie nail polishes, not too runny nor too thick, quite fast-drying, and long-lasting.

I feel like these are enough to wear without a top coat when it comes to glittery colors, although for others, like Mystic Marine or Gilded Galaxy, wearing a top coat is interesting.

Not only to make them last longer, but also to bring out any little ounce of shine and duochrome in the colors.

Essie Nail Art Studio Special Effects Swatches: Lustrous Luxury vs Cosmic Chrome vs Separated Starlight vs Gilded Galaxy

Essie Lustrous Luxury Swatch

Here’s what Essie says about the Lustrous Luxury nail polish:

your nails are your canvas. decorate them with a holographic effect vegan nail polish with dimensional purple flip chrome. layer with other essie polishes for a nail art look.

Here’s what I say:

Just one coat of Lustrous Luxury is already enough for a brilliant effect that offers silver glitter on a duochrome purple base.

Gorgeous on a light grey like Cocktail Bling, but also on a dark purple nail polish like Bahama Mama or, for other brands:

OPI Spare Me a French Quarter
Douglas Singular Mocassin

Shop Lustrous Luxury

Read: Milky, Soap & Sheer Nails: 24 Natural Nail Polish Colors Swatches

Essie Cosmic Chrome Swatch

Here’s what Essie says about the Cosmic Chrome nail polish:

chrome at home? the universe listened and is delivering this sheer silver satin chrome effect nail polish for your next manicure. layer with other essie polishes for a nail art look.

Here’s what I say:

Probably one of the most famous Essie nail polish colors from the Special Effects range, Cosmic Chrome really is a gorgeous color to wear on a brown nail polish for that Hailey Bieber vibe.

If all the Nail Art Studio colors are swatched here with three coats, one is more than enough atop a dark nail polish, like Wicked, Licorice, or one of Essie’s neutrals.

Shop Cosmic Chrome

Essie Separated Starlight Swatch

Here’s what Essie says about the Separated Starlight nail polish:

have you ever wanted to touch the stars? you can get close with this dazzling gold flip large flaky pearl effect vegan nail polish. layer with other essie polishes for a nail art look.

Here’s what I say:

One of my favorites, Separated Starlight really is one of the most groundbreaking glitter nail polishes I currently own…

And we all know I’m not a glitter girl to start with.

This is the kind I wear on a dark, navy blue nail polish for a starry night effect (why does this trend not exist?!), on a black, purple, mauve, or even white polish.

A few colors to wear Separated Starlight with:

Essie Blanc
OPI Black Cherry Chutney
Butter London Frolly

Shop Separated Starlight

Essie Gilded Galaxy Swatch

Here’s what Essie says about the Gilded Galaxy nail polish:

you’re golden, so make your nails just as special with a multi-dimensional pearl effect vegan nail polish with a smooth, satin chrome finish. layer with other essie polishes for a nail art look.

Here’s what I say:

Another one of my favorites, Gilded Galaxy is a gorgeous duochrome nail polish that goes from pink to green and turquoise on a somewhat nude base.

It’s perfect to wear on its own, although one coat of this on top of Caviar Bar from the Gel Couture range and it’s… *chef’s kiss* (hate that expression, but it is).

Shop Gilded Galaxy

Read: Purple Nails: OPI Achieve Grapeness Swatches (Nature Strong)

Essie Nail Art Studio Special Effects Swatches: Astral Aura vs Ethereal Escape vs Frosted Fantasy vs Mystic Marine

Essie Astral Aura Swatch

Here’s what Essie says about the Astral Aura nail polish:

add an other-worldly glow to your nails with this bubble gum pink effect vegan nail polish with purple flip pearls. layer with other essie polishes for a pink chrome nail art look.

Here’s what I say:

Astral Aura and Ethereal Escape we’ve got right below are two really sheer nail polishes, duochrome, and glittery.

Man, they’ve just got it all.

Astral Aura has a bright pink to purple/blue duochrome, of the kind I really like.

So much so that I’ve already mentioned some of my favorite purple blue duochrome nail polishes in the past!

This one on top of Essie Licorice, Muchi Muchi if you’re looking for more of a spring nails effect, or even From Me to Me… Yessir.

Shop Astral Aura

Read: 9 OPI Sheer Nail Polish Swatches from Bubble Bath to Funny Bunny

Essie Ethereal Escape Swatch

Here’s what Essie says about the Ethereal Escape nail polish:

paint on this dreamy digital purple effect vegan nail polish with purple flip pixel pearls and transform your mani into a masterpiece. layer with other essie polishes for a nail art look.

Here’s what I say:

Where Astral Aura is more of a pink to purple/blue color, Ethereal Escape is more of a fully blue to purple duochrome.

Absolutely stunning on dark blue and purple nail polish.

Again, very sheer no matter how many layers you put on those nails, and perfect for the slightest vibe of 70s/80s fun.

Shop Ethereal Escape

Read: 10 Pretty Drugstore Berry Nail Polish Colors Swatches

Essie Frosted Fantasy Swatch

Here’s what Essie says about the Frosted Fantasy nail polish:

there’s no one right way to wear this jelly blue effect vegan nail polish with gold sparkling pixel pearls, only your way. layer with other essie polishes for a nail art look.

Here’s what I say:

While Frosted Fantasy looks more blue in the bottle, on the nails, it’s another story.

It looks really teal to green with golden sparkle, and, I kid you not, strongly reminds me of one of the Douglas nail polishes I love the most: Paranoid Blue.

The difference is that Paranoid Blue is more opaque from the get-go, whereas Essie Frosted Fantasy is meant to be sheerer.

Use it on Off Tropic for a nature-inspired, multidimensional mani!

Shop Frosted Fantasy

Read: 16 Pretty Brown and Mocha Mousse Nail Polish Swatches

Essie Mystic Marine Swatch

Here’s what Essie says about the Mystic Marine nail polish:

layer on a dimensional red flip pearl effect vegan nail polish with a smooth satin chrome finish & transform your manicure. layer with other essie polishes for a mermaid nail art look.

Here’s what I say:

Mystic Marine is one of the Special Effects colors I really couldn’t wait to get my hands on, and I’m so happy I finally got it.

Here, we’ve got a turquoise slash mint green nail polish with red duochrome – do you know how often this happens?

Not often, let me tell you that.

I’m yet to try Mystic Marine on top of one of my red Essie nail polishes, like Forever Yummy, Russian Roulette or Too Too Hot, or a teal blue polish like Go Overboard.

Will post updates as soon as I try anything noteworthy!

Shop Mystic Marine

Read: Latte Nails: 8 Gorgeous Nude and Light Brown Nail Polish Swatches

New Essie Nail Art Studio Special Effects Colors

Essie Nail Art Studio Special Effects: Identity Illusion vs Fiercely Faceted vs Reality Reflection vs Spectrum Shift

Then, we have the four newest colors in the Nail Art Studio Special Effects range, which appears to have been released earlier in stores in the USA and the UK.

On the Essie website, Spectrum Shift and Reality Reflection are supposedly only available at CVS, but I’ve seen online pictures of shops carrying the whole range.

And since all four new colors are part of the Be Them All collection released for spring 2025, it would make sense they’re available everywhere, right?

review essie Nail Art Studio Special Effects Swatches: Identity Illusion vs Fiercely Faceted vs Reality Reflection vs Spectrum Shift

However, online, they currently seem to be almost only available in the UK at Boots, or on European websites.

Anyway, like most Essie nail polishes, I’m sure they’ll make their way everywhere soon…

Especially given that some, like Spectrum Shift and Fiercely Faceted really are some gorgeous, gorgeous colors to layer on top of classic purple or red nail polishes.

Essie Nail Art Studio Special Effects Swatches: Identity Illusion vs Fiercely Faceted vs Reality Reflection vs Spectrum Shift

Essie Identity Illusion Swatch

Here’s what Essie says about the Identity Illusion nail polish:

your nails are a canvas; paint on your true self with this large green flaky pearl vegan nail polish with iridescence. layer with other essie polishes for a nail art look.

And here’s what I say:

Love Identity Illusion – like Separated Starlight, it’s translucent with huge glitter chunks.

Only this one has mint green flakes instead of golden; it’s so pretty and gorgeous on top of green nail polishes, teal blue and on top of duochrome blue polishes like Douglas Sea Witch.

An easy-to-wear glitter nail polish to add an extra touch of sparkle, and the glitter applies evenly and beautifully!

Shop Identity Illusion

Essie Fiercely Faceted Swatch

Here’s what Essie says about the Fiercely Faceted nail polish:

show off every sparkling side of you with this metallic orange vegan nail polish with particle pink and gold flip pearls. layer with other essie polishes for metallic nails.

And here’s what I say:

Fiercely Faceted was one of the two new Special Effects nail polishes I really wanted, and I’m not disappointed in the slightest.

We have here a glitter slash metallic nail polish which, depending on the lighting, looks more orange, red, pink, and with a touch of gold at some angles.

Layered on top of a red polish (till now, I’ve only worn it on top of a CND Vinylux nail polish, the striking Hollywood), Fiercely Faceted’s effects all come to life in a breathtaking way.

Shop Fiercely Faceted

Essie Reality Reflection Swatch

Here’s what Essie says about the Reality Reflection nail polish:

reality is what you make it with this smooth deep blue pearl vegan nail polish with a subtle purple flip. layer with other essie polishes for a nail art look.

And here’s what I say:

Depending on the lighting and angle, Reality Reflection is a really cool-toned blue with the slightest purple shimmer.

Like Mystic Marine, it offers very good coverage from the first coat while remaining kind of sheer.

It’s swatched here, like all the others, with three coats so you can see the shift in color – really pretty on top of a black or purple nail polish.

I’ve only worn it on top of the CND Vinylux Tango Passion polish till now, and it looked almost fully opaque with just one coat.

Shop Reality Reflection

Essie Spectrum Shift Swatch

Here’s what Essie says about the Spectrum Shift nail polish:

standards are shifting so enter your unconventional era in this deep teal metallic vegan nail polish with a multi-dimensional particle flip pearl. layer with other essie polishes for a nail art look.

And here’s what I say:

I only have a few green brown to blue brown nail polishes in my stash, maybe three or four tops, and Spectrum Shift is an amazing addition.

Really sheer and glittery from the first coat, it goes from teal to green and purple depending on the lighting and just gives a really wow effect.

Counter-intuitive, maybe, but I’ve worn Spectrum Shift on a red nail polish as well (I do love combining blue and red for some reason!), and the result was unexpected and beautiful.

Will wear it on top a neutral Essie color or a brown too, though, to see what color shows up more, but I’m thinking Odd Squad or No To-Do would be great with this one.

Shop Spectrum Shift