turn 'n' pose

I personally don't have the time or money to get my nails done professionally. But I do like seeing them glisten and I have a number of different brand of nail polishes that are all supposed to last a long time and look amazing. Some live up to that, some do not. The Gel polish innovation, especially for the home user, is big right now and I have tried a couple different brands before essie. The photo does not show how shiny the nails really were. Application: I'm not the best at applying nail polish so I appreciate a product that helps me out and has a smooth application. I was really impressed with the wand and how easily it moved over the nail. The bristles held a lot of polish, even after I wiped some off. They fanned out nicely to distribute the polish around the nail. Bottle design: I really like bottles that I am confident will not easily tip over. Some brands gave me great anxiety because I worried I need to put sand bags around them just to prevent a horrible accident. The essie bottle, with the lovely twist, is very easy to hold. It feels secure and I didn't think the bottle was "tippy", even when I had it on an uneven surface. More importantly, it was easy to grab awkwardly with a hand that had wet nails. Durability: For me the shine lasted 100% for a week and after that, it lost some shine. In addition, after a week I had some light chipping off the ends and sides of the nails. It might not have been noticable if I was wearing clear polish only, but it definitely was with color polish. I did prepare my nails before painting them, and did two coats of the color (step 1) and one of the clear Gel Couture top coat (step 2). I would say I am impressed overall with the essie brand Gel polish set, but it was not the perfect, long-lasting polish I was hoping for. Although the polish, when new, looked very beautiful, I don't think this can quite compare with a salon gel in terms of durability. Since this is a fraction of the cost, I do think it is well worth the price and recommend it on that basis. I received the Gel Couture nail polish and clear top coat for free from PINCHme.com.

I really love the color I received as a free sample. I was so surprised at how quick it dried. Such a great idea for every age with a busy lifestyle. Long lasting and high shine.

Received as a sample through PINCHme. Color is rich and gorgeous. I had multiple people compliment me. The brush is wider than traditional nail polish brushes. At first I liked it but it got messy when trying to get into the edges. I don't have a lot of experience doing my finger nails and when I tried to paint my fingernails it was really hard with the wide brush. The polish got gummy too quickly and I ended up removing all my fingernail polish. It's been a week and no chipping on my toes. Overall I like it but not a fan of the wider brush.

Received a sample through PinchMe. Love the lasting wear. It lasted for well over two weeks running after twin boys. Received many compliments on the color. The only downfall is it took me a while to figure out to mix it properly

The new Essie gels have beautiful colors and dry fast. The color didn't last long for me. I was really hoping for at least 3 - 4 full days but that wasn't the case. Starting chipping after day 1. Worth a try for a quick and pretty polish.

Received thru Pinchme to try. I am a inventory specialist and my hands are constantly moving products & stacking. Held up well for about 10 days, that's saying a lot with what my nails go thru. Was really impressed when I did 3 days of blue jean inventory, it protected my nails & polish and shine stayed intact. Usually my manicure is gone in two or three days. Thank you Essie for such a wonderful product.

I absolutely loved this nail polish!! Easy with no need for a light and lasted easily 10-14 days. Did go on a little thick and take longer to dry than regular nail polish, but no chips or cracks. Also was more difficult to take off, had to use remover with acetone. Overall really happy with the product!!