Essie Angora Cardi: Color, Finish & Formula Explained
Essie Angora Cardi is a deep dusty rose with a rusty mauve-red cast and mauve, plum and subtle berry-red undertones. The standard air-dry lacquer is shade #700; the professional gel polish is #700G. Its appearance can shift with lighting and skin tone, so the undertones and finish offer a useful guide if you’re choosing a shade.
Essie Angora Cardi at a Glance
| Detail | Standard Lacquer (Air-Dry) | Professional Gel Polish |
|---|---|---|
| Shade number | #700 | #700G |
| Color | Deep dusty rose; rusty mauve-red | Deep dusty rose; rusty mauve-red |
| Undertones | Mauve, plum, subtle berry-red | Mauve, plum, subtle berry-red |
| Finish | Glossy cream; no shimmer | High-gloss; no shimmer |
| Formula | Vegan-friendly air-dry lacquer | Soak-off gel; LED/UV-cured |
| Size | 0.46 fl oz (13.5 mL) | 0.5 oz (14.7 mL) |
| Typical coverage | Opaque in 2 coats | Opaque in 2 thin coats |
| Application | Base coat, 2 color coats, top coat | Base coat, 2 color coats, top coat; cure each layer |
| Estimated wear | 5–7 days | Up to 14 days |
| Removal method | Acetone nail polish remover | Soak off with acetone |
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Photo: @nailsaloveaffair on Instagram. Shade shown: Essie Angora Cardi.
What Color Is Angora Cardi?
Angora Cardi falls between rose and mauve. Its red gives the shade warmth, while plum undertones keep it subdued. The standard lacquer has a glossy cream finish; the gel polish is high-gloss. Neither has shimmer, so the color’s depth comes from the polish itself, not reflective particles.
Bright light can bring out the rose and berry-red notes, while dimmer light may make the shade look darker and more mauve. Screens and lighting can also alter its appearance, so comparing swatches in different conditions gives a better sense of the color than relying on one product image.
Bahama Mama is deeper and more berry-plum; Eternal Optimist is lighter and pinker; Ladylike has a softer, more muted mauve tone. Angora Cardi sits between these shades, with a darkened rose color and visible warmth.
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Photo: @nailsncolour on Instagram. Shade shown: Essie Angora Cardi.
How the Polish Applies and Wears
The standard lacquer is a vegan-friendly, air-dry formula. Two coats generally give opaque color with a glossy cream finish and no shimmer. Apply thin, even layers; a thick coat is more likely to smudge before it dries.
With a quality base coat and top coat, standard Angora Cardi typically lasts around five to seven days. Wear depends on nail preparation and daily activity, and the free edge may chip before the rest of the manicure. A top coat adds shine and helps protect the color as the polish wears.
Essie Gel Angora Cardi is the professional soak-off gel option, shade #700G. It has a high-gloss, shimmer-free finish and cures under LED or UV light. Its stated wear is up to 14 days; this is a gel-polish claim, not the expected wear time for the air-dry lacquer.
Angora Cardi’s finish affects how its muted berry-mauve shade looks once dry and how much shine it reflects. Knowing the differences among common nail polish finishes can help you decide whether a creme finish suits your manicure.
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Photo: @emmaheartssnails on Instagram. Shade shown: Essie Angora Cardi.
How to Apply Angora Cardi
For the standard lacquer, begin with clean, dry nails and apply each layer thinly. Follow these steps:
- Remove old polish and make sure your nails are clean and dry.
- Apply one coat of Essie base coat and let it dry.
- Brush on a thin first coat of Angora Cardi.
- Once the first coat is dry, apply a second thin coat.
- Finish with Essie top coat and let the manicure dry fully.
Two thin coats build even coverage and help keep polish from flooding the cuticles. The gel version requires an LED lamp and must be cured according to the product directions; it does not air-dry like the standard lacquer.
Where to Find Angora Cardi
The standard #700 lacquer is available from several U.S. retailers. Prices are approximate and may change, as can stock:
- Ulta Beauty: 0.46-fl-oz standard polish.
- CVS: standard polish for approximately $10.99.
- iNail Supply: approximately $4.50; shipping fees may apply depending on order size.
- Macy’s: standard polish for approximately $9.00.
- Queen Nails & Beauty Supplies: standard polish for approximately $5.00.
Beauty Wests Angora Cardi Duo is approximately $18.95. This is a duo, not a single-bottle price. The standard lacquer contains 0.46 fl oz (13.5 mL); the professional gel polish is sold separately in a 0.5 oz (14.7 mL) size as shade #700G.
Is Angora Cardi Right for You?
Choose Angora Cardi if you want a muted rose that is darker and richer than classic pink, with a distinct red warmth. Its glossy cream finish suits a solid-color manicure, and the shade works across seasons.
The standard lacquer is for an at-home manicure and needs no lamp. The gel version requires a compatible LED curing setup and uses a professional soak-off formula with a longer stated wear period. Both formulations are in the same dusty-rose color family, but the finish and application differ.
Angora Cardi’s muted berry-mauve may look different depending on your complexion. If you have olive undertones, compare it with shades suited to nail colors for olive skin to see whether it reads softly or stands out.
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Photo: @gina_land_nails on Instagram. Shade shown: Essie Angora Cardi.
Which Essie Colors Are Discontinued?
Essie’s lineup does not include every shade permanently. A color may disappear from the brand’s range while old retailer listings remain online. A temporary stockout at one store does not confirm discontinuation; Angora Cardi, for example, remains listed as #700.
Check Essie’s current color collection and product pages for a particular shade. If it is not there, contact Essie customer service to ask whether it has been discontinued. An unavailable listing at one retailer is not confirmation.
A verified current list of discontinued Essie shades is unavailable here, so no specific colors are identified as discontinued. Confirm a shade’s status with Essie before relying on an old retailer listing.
Shades Similar to Angora Cardi
Bahama Mama is deeper and more berry-plum than Angora Cardi, while Eternal Optimist is lighter and pinker. Ladylike has a softer, more muted tone. For an OPI alternative, Malaga Wine is a deeper, redder wine shade, not an exact match.
Try Bahama Mama for a bolder, cooler look, Eternal Optimist for a brighter, delicate pink, or Ladylike for a quieter neutral mauve. Lighting and screen settings can distort polish photos, so compare physical swatches when possible before buying a supposed dupe.
A cooler mauve or warmer berry can shift the look, even at a similar depth. The shades in Essie nail polish colors give you plenty of alternatives to compare.
FAQs
Has Essie Angora Cardi been discontinued?
Angora Cardi remains listed as shade #700, and retailers including Ulta Beauty and CVS carry the standard polish. Stock can vary by store.
What is Essie’s most popular nail color?
Angora Cardi was Essie’s most-pinned shade for fall 2016 on Pinterest, with more than 400,000 saves. That figure reflects its popularity during that period, not a current all-time ranking across Essie shades.
What is Kate Middleton’s favorite nail polish?
Essie Allure is the shade associated with Kate Middleton’s wedding manicure. That association does not establish it as her everyday favorite.
Conclusion
Angora Cardi is a glossy, shimmer-free dusty rose with warm red and cool mauve-plum notes. The standard lacquer suits an at-home manicure; the gel version requires LED curing and has a longer stated wear claim.
