16 Essie Nail Polish Shades Our Beauty Editors Love
March 27, 2023
Whether you’re hemming and hawing in front of a wide array of nail polishes at the salon or sifting through your own collection at home, deciding on a nail polish color is one of the hardest easy tasks you can take on. To help make the decision a little clearer before your next manicure, our editors rounded up 16 of their favorite nail polish shades from cult-favorite nail care brand Essie.
From sheer, flattering nudes to classic reds and funky holographic colors, there’s a polish for every manicure enthusiast’s taste. Keep reading to discover a new favorite shade of your own.
Essie In the You-niverse
“I can already tell that this milky, taffy pink shade is going to be my go-to nail color this spring. It has the versatility of a classic light pink nail polish, but the lavender undertones give it a playful flair.” — Jordan Julian
Essie Feel the Fizzle
“Glittery polishes have my heart, and this darling bubblegum pink hue is no exception. It’s sparkly and energetic, like a sugar rush in a bottle, and easy to layer — one coat gives a cheer, barely there finish, while two or three provide an eye-catching gleam.” — Ariel Wodarcyk
Essie Gel Couture Last Nightie
“As someone who is always getting their hands dirty (gardening, cooking, making pottery…) it’s really difficult to find a polish that won’t get ruined immediately. My go-to is something that blends in with my natural skin tone, so when the inevitable chipping does happen, it’s not super noticeable. I love the Gel Couture formula because it lasts longer than regular polish, and this shade has just the right amount of shimmer to make it feel a bit more special!” — Juliana Campisi
Essie Wicked
“Ever since I could remember, my mom always despised the idea of me wearing black nail polish. Instead, I opted for a similarly dark but not-quite-black color to please her: Wicked. This off-black burgundy is a must-try if you’re looking for a not-quite-black shade, too. It’s stunning all year round too — whether you’re feeling witchy in the fall or edgy in the spring and summer.” — Alanna Martine Kilkeary
Essie Gel Couture In-Vest in Style
“Another almost-black shade I love is In-Vest in Style: the ultimate dark blue/teal green. It’s moody, but crisp and even sort of classy. I love wearing it on my toes all year round, as it looks stunning in sandals but can be cozy in socks too! — AMK
Essie Geek Chic
“I’ve had metallics on the mind lately, and this holographic silver polish satisfies my heavy metal fixation. Depending on the light you look at it in, the color can appear more green, purple, silver or pink — it’s a shade that always keeps you on your toes.” — AW
Essie Expressie Unapologetic Icon
“From the brand’s quick-dry collection, Unapologetic Icon is a crisp, creamy white. I love the idea of using this polish to create fun, graphic nail art.” — JJ
Essie You’re Scent-sational
“For when I want to change it up and add some color, I’ve been loving “You’re Scent-sational” – a bright, happy yellow that’s perfect for spring. We all know that spring weather is a bit chaotic, so even on rainy days, this color adds a fun pop of sunshine.” — JC
Essie Gel Couture Rock the Runway
“My go-to nail polish color for a summer pedicure is a bright fire-engine red, like Rock the Runway. The best part about this color is that it's offered in Essie’s famous long-lasting Gel Couture formula. I can wear it for a good two weeks without major chips, fading or dullness taking over” — Victoria Moorhouse
Essie Mademoiselle
“In my opinion, a sheer baby pink shade is a nail polish collection staple. I love this one because with two coats it provides a semi-transparent color that creates a natural, polished look. With three coats, it appears almost completely opaque and looks incredibly flattering on a wide range of skin tones.” — Alyssa Kaplan
Essie Topless & Barefoot
“If I’m going to the salon to get my nails done, there is an extremely high chance (read: like a 95% chance) I will walk out with a nude manicure. One of my all-time favorite polishes is the soft pinky-beige cult-classic Topless & Barefoot. I find that it goes with everything in my closet and looks fantastic with a squoval nail shape.” — VM
Essie Geranium
“Geranium is my go-to color for manicures and pedicures. This fiery reddish-orange shade is a natural fit for summer, but it’s also a quick and easy way to brighten up my mood on dreary winter days. It also looks great on everyone, from super fair skin tones like mine to deep complexions.” — AW
Essie Keep Branching Out
“Finding a nude nail polish that isn’t too warm or cool can be super difficult, but I think I found the perfect shade for my skin tone. Keep Branching Out is a soft, pastel taupe nail polish with yellow undertones. I love wearing this shade when I’m going for more of a minimalistic look!” — Kat Pierre
Essie Expressie Air Dry
“I’m not going to lie, when I first saw this nail polish, it was completely out of my comfort zone. I’ll take a bright red or a fun blue any day, but I could not see myself wearing gray nail polish. Once I swiped it on, however, I quickly fell in love with the moody color and its cool blue undertones. It goes with everything and is a more unexpected neutral than a classic nude.” — AW
Essie Infinity Cool
“I’ve tried several navy blue nail polishes over the years in the hopes of finding the most flattering one — and this is definitely it. While others were so deep they just looked black on the nails, this one has just the perfect amount of white in the base, giving it the ideal saturation. It’s my favorite dark nail polish to sport year round.” — AK
Essie Flight of Fantasy
“Summer is coming up hot, and I’ve been reaching for the prettiest pastel colors to paint my nails. This is a muted, pastel blue nail polish with yellow undertones. I get a pretty opaque color payoff on the first swipe, making it an easy mani day. Catch me in this shade all season long!” — KP
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