Essie’s Two-Step Gel Couture Nail Polish Gives You the DIY Mani of Your Dreams
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Problem: I love the lasting effect of gel polish, but high salon prices, harmful UV exposure, and damaging self-removal tactics leave something to be desired.
Solution: Essie Gel Couture Nail Polish, a simple, two-step nail polish system that gives you long-lasting, gel-like results without a UV lamp.
If you told me a year ago that I'd soon be swapping my regular salon visits for a DIY approach, I probably wouldn't believe you. Visiting the salon is an experience, after all. But let me tell you, applying Essie's easy, long-lasting Gel Couture Nail Polish is an experience in itself.
Every 3 weeks, I'd take a trip to my favorite local nail salon, armed with an almost-filled punch card, set of unsightly nails, and a pair of comfortable flip-flops — no matter the season. I'd walk in, and the nail techs warmly greet me by name. I'd instantly be handed a bulky book containing a rainbow of gel hues, and the cheery colors fill my heart with happiness. Maybe it was just a high from the polish fumes, but hell, I'd feel like I was home.
My girl Sally would bust out a UV lamp, then carefully swipe on each stroke (while prying about my dating life). By the time she was done, my nails never looked better. My fingertips — now battered in a slick summery blue hue — would fumble for my credit card, and before I know it, I'd just spent more than I would've on 2 weeks worth of groceries.
But aside from the irreparable damage to my bank account, getting a gel manicure can leave your nails feeling brittle after the polish is removed (especially if you tend to pick at them, like I do). Not to mention that the UV light used to cure the polish is debatably unsafe for your skin.
So when I discovered Essie Gel Couture Nail Polish, a DIY gel alternative that provides the same long-lasting glossy look without a UV lamp or damage, I was sold. It claims to combine the quality and convenience of a salon visit with a chip-free formula that lasts up to 14 days, and the safety and affordability of an at-home mani.
For those of you who struggle with painting your own nails, I promise you, the process is easy. It involves just two simple steps: Applying two coats of color polish, followed by a thin layer of Essie's quick-drying Gel Couture Top Coat. The collection is formulated with impressively vivid pigments, you don't have to lay each coat of lacquer on thick, resulting in a faster drying time and a longer wear time.
The packaging itself is specifically designed to give you full control and effortless application, thanks to a sleek twisted bottle and applicator that work together to funnel out excess polish and keep it from pooling up on your nail bed. The brush features tapered bristles that fan out to fully cover each nail in two quick strokes, so you can finish a full hand in under a minute.
The results are nearly identical to what you'd receive at the nail salon, and pretty painless too, if the lack of a ring on your left hand tends to be fodder for uncomfortable in-the-chair conversation. I found that it dried fairly quickly — perhaps not as fast as a salon gel mani, but definitely faster than traditional nail polish (which 100% of the time I end up smudging).
My manicure impressively held up chip-free until the 16-day mark, and stayed fully intact for about a week before I spotted a few fairly unnoticeable cracks. You may start to see a space between your cuticles and the polish as your nails grow (also typical with gel), but the lacquer doesn't lift or get caught on fabrics and surfaces with extended wear. Best of all: Essie Gel Couture Nail Polish is easily removed with any acetone nail polish remover, so you can keep your nail beds healthy and save the tin foil for your leftovers.
If you prefer being pampered by a professional, Essie Gel Couture Nail Polish is offered at several salons — though keep in mind, you may have to pay an additional fee. The collection features more than 60 colors, so no matter your mood, there's a long-lasting hue out there that'll perfectly fit your vibe.
Read More:
Olive & June's Poppy Nail Polish Handle Is a Miracle Product for DIY Manis
Top Long-Lasting Dip-Powder Nail Kits That Bring The Salon Home
Enjoy Mess-Free Manicures With Edge Perfection's $10 Cuticle Barrier
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