step 2:apply the specially formulated, platinum grade finish gel couture top coat to your manicure. this seals in the nail color and provides an instant gel-like shine. Consider lifestyle. Nail polish wears differently on everyone. Some naturally experience shorter wear due to nail type and condition, and others have lifestyles that expose manicures to chips and peeling. Here are just a few reasons for chipping and peeling: Adding a top coat is an important step, designed to seal, shine, and extend the wear of your manicure. However, some essie polishes have unique effects and finishes that do not require a top coat. Make sure to use the right base coat for your particular look! For example, the gel couture shades require a specially formulated gel-like top coat. Another exception to this is essie TREAT LOVE & COLOUR which has a semi-gloss finish alone and has not been designed to be used with a top coat. Protect the nail plate. Always apply a base coat before enamel color application—this creates a protective barrier between the nail plate and the color coat to prevent pigment transfer and staining. Aging of polish ingredients may cause colour to fade, yellow, or shift over time—discard any bottles that have been opened more than 2 years (or that are unopened but have been stored for more than 2 years). The production of our iconic shades has also advanced over the years – higher quality standards, pure colour pigments, and new innovative ingredients allow for a better, more consistent product, but also can result in some colour variation from the past.

A primer is not always needed. For normal nail types, a base coat can provide the perfect foundation for your polish. Ultimately, these ‘free’ formulas are better for your nails. Olive & June Super Glossy Top Coat has the highest certification on our list with 15-free. Or if you prefer more of a traditional gel manicure, please visit the salon locatorto find an essie gel salon near you.These are stainless steel mixing balls to help mix the color and ensure it stays at the right consistency for a fluid, flawless application. Essie offers a range of nail care products – from base coats, top coats and cuticle care - each one a champion of a bene fit to help achiever the art of the manicure. For a full list of available care products, please visit our nail care section. pro tip:gel couture is formulated as a system. it’s important to use the gel couture color and top coat together for maximum results and a couture essie manicure you can covet.

Know your neons. Neon pigments are especially prone to fading. These shades are released as limited edition shades and should be discarded when they reach their expiration. Our LOVE by essie 80% plant-based formula was carefully created with the best ingredients to deliver the same salon-quality wear & shine our consumers know and expect from essie nail color.Generally speaking, yes. For the healthiest top coats for your nails, look for formulas free of common toxins, like ibutyl phthalate (DBP), toluene, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, camphor, ethyl tosylamide, and/or xylene. A simple way to do so is to look for five-, seven-, and eight-free certifications (though, some polishes nix even more questionable ingredients, like Olive & June Super Glossy Top Coat, which is 15-free). Essie has recently updated the entire care line—offering a more streamlined selection of products that have been optimized for performance. Several products are being phased out as part of this process. For a full list of current care products, please visit our nail care section .