Step 1 Prep
Prep cuticles, nail, and skin with Ready. Prep. Go. Advanced Cuticle Remover.
Chinchilly
Jet set cool. A sleek granite gray nail polish that positively radiates urban chic and subtle sophistication.
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RICH COLOR & SHINE: All essie Original nail polishes offer a salon-quality, billion pigment formula that is vegan, providing saturated color payoff and shine in every coat.
PATENTED CAMEL-STEM BRUSH: Our exclusive, patented camel-stem brush is designed for professional results at home. It provides controlled formula flow for precise application, ensuring a smooth, even finish.
FLAWLESS APPLICATION: Achieve the perfect manicure and pedicure by applying two coats. Apply a think first layer and then a second while tacky for a vivid, streak-free finish.
7-DAY WEAR: Elevate your look with a base and top coat. A base coat strengthens your nails and creates a smooth base, while a top coat locks in color with lasting shine and chip protection. Enjoy up to 7-day wear when paired with our Stay Longer top coat.BEST SELLER: 1 bottle of essie Original nail polish is sold every 5 seconds.*
*L’Oreal custom product hierarchy calc based on USxAOC NIQ Scantrack for nail color. 52WE 12/ 27/25. © 2026, Nielsen Consumer LLC
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Prep: 1 coat of essie Strong Start base coat to strengthen nails and create a smooth base.
Color: 2 coats of your favorite essie Original nail polish for rich color and shine.
Shine: 1 coat of of essie Stay Longer top coat to lock in color with lasting shine and chip protection.
Care: Finish with On A Roll Apricot Nail & Cuticle Oil to condition cuticles and prevent dryness.
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essie is a vegan brand – contains no animal-derived ingredients.
Full ingredient list:
ETHYL ACETATE BUTYL ACETATE NITROCELLULOSE TOSYLAMIDE/EPOXY RESIN TRIMETHYL PENTANYL DIISOBUTYRATE ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL TRIBENZOIN STEARALKONIUM HECTORITE ACETYLATED HYDROGENATED CASTOR GLYCERIDE ADIPIC ACID/NEOPENTYL GLYCOL/TRIMELLITIC ANHYDRIDE COPOLYMER SUCROSE ACETATE ISOBUTYRATE STEARALKONIUM BENTONITE SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE BENZOPHENONE-1 SILICA BARIUM SULFATE DIACETONE ALCOHOL CALCIUM ALUMINUM BOROSILICATE STYRENE/ACRYLATES COPOLYMER CITRIC ACID ALUMINUM CALCIUM SODIUM SILICATE ALCOHOL DENAT. CALCIUM SODIUM BOROSILICATE COLOPHONIUM / ROSIN / COLOPHANE ALUMINA DIMETHICONE ISOPHORONE DIAMINE/ISOPHTHALIC ACID/TROMETHAMINE COPOLYMER TIN OXIDE CALCIUM TITANIUM BOROSILICATE DIETHYLHEXYL ADIPATE n-BUTYL ALCOHOL AQUA / WATER / EAU TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE TALC ACETONE ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE [+/- MAY CONTAIN / PEUT CONTENIR CI 77891 / TITANIUM DIOXIDE MICA CI 19140 / YELLOW 5 LAKE CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 / IRON OXIDES CI 77510 / FERRIC AMMONIUM FERROCYANIDE CI 77007 / ULTRAMARINES CI 77000 / ALUMINUM POWDER CI 15850 / RED 7 LAKE CI 15880 / RED 34 LAKE CI 15850 / RED 6 LAKE CI 77266 / BLACK 2 CI 42090 / BLUE 1 LAKE CI 77742 / MANGANESE VIOLET CI 77288 / CHROMIUM OXIDE GREENS CI 77510 / FERRIC FERROCYANIDE CI 45410 / RED 28 CI 73360 / RED 30 LAKE CI 60730 / EXT. VIOLET 2 CI 60725 / VIOLET 2 CI 45380 / RED 22 ]
Enhance your manicure
Step 2 Prime
Apply 1 coat of base coat to reinforce and harden nails.
Step 3 Paint
Apply 2 coats of essie original nail polish.
Step 4 Seal
Apply 1 coat of top coat for a plump, shiny finish.
Shop the routine
"essie original color is iconic. I love the brush, the hundreds of colors to choose from, and the fact that it was my first favorite." - Rita Remark, essie Global Brand Ambassador
Similar shades
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great to wear for
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1 to 8 of 20 reviews .
1 – 8 of 20 reviews
most recent
5 out of 5 stars.
Best Color in the line.
4 years ago
I have been buying this color for years and it is by far the best one Essie makes (in my opinion). I always get compliments. It's a soft grey without being too cold. Simply beautiful. Now if only they would bring back "silver bullions" and "secret affair"!!
favorite essie color family?blues
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
New favorite!
6 years ago
I can't believe it took me so long to get this shade! This is a perfect winter color and looks great with my skin tone. I love the moody mauve/grey tones of this color. Plus, it's great quality. It dries quickly, has a great finish, and lasts for days. 10/10
favorite essie color family?nudes
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Just never discontinue Chinchilly
7 years ago
The colour (a grey that seems warm and cool at the same time) and finish (crelly) are awesome. Depending on the rest of the outfit it can look more professional or more edgy or more casual, but never boring. I love to combine it with other neutral/earth-tone colors and/or black, mixed silver and gold jewellery and a bold red lipstick.
The polish lasts for a whole week on me (two coats of colour worn with base and top coat), similar to most Essie polishes.
Q: goes great with this shade
A: Essie base / top coats, Essie reds
favorite essie color family?reds
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
1 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
I'm not a fan of Essie polish anymore. Their formulas seems to be even thinner than it used to be. It's hard to get good coverage. And when I finally do get good coverage it chips like crazy. I've been wearing socks and sneakers for the last couple weeks. I painted my toes this Essie grey color. Two days I had chips. And I used the same technique to apply as other polish, which lasts me much longer. Sorry Essie, but you're out.
Originally posted on influenster.com
response from essie:
7 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi Shellie! We are very sorry you had this experience with our chinchilly! We appreciate your comments and will be passing them along to our team!
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
I love Essie. It’s my favorite brand and i love this color. I’ve been buying it for years
Originally posted on influenster.com
4 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
I really enjoy essies nail polish. It goes on smoothly and they have such a great range of colours. The nailpolish is also pretty chip resistant.
Originally posted on influenster.com
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
I am obsessed with this color. It’s beautiful and I always receive compliments when I actually have my nails painted.
Originally posted on influenster.com
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
This is a great color for fall or winter. I definitely recommend the Essie brand, I believe it it way better than alternatives. It is the perfect price and the bottle lasts awhile.
Originally posted on influenster.com
1 – 8 of 20 reviews
Customer Images and Videos
Filter Reviews
rating
type of nail polish user
great to wear for
age
skin tone
where do you use essie?
locale
9 to 20 of 20 reviews .
9 – 20 of 20 reviews
most recent
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
I love the color on this nail polish I have always gotten compliments, and it’s such a pretty fall color and I always keep buying this one it’s cheap and way to use and it’s my favorite color out of all
Originally posted on influenster.com
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
I love this shade of nail polish for the fall and winter seasons particularly. It's great quality nail polish and lasts a long time (weeks sometimes, for me). Considering the price is a bit high, I still feel like you get your money's worth. I would highly recommend it to others.
Originally posted on influenster.com
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
The best winter color!!!! It’s a nude shade and goes with everything. I love love it! If you see it grab it! I can’t wait to wear it again this winter.
Originally posted on influenster.com
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
I love this color! It’s beautiful and perfect for fall and winter. It goes on smoothly and looks great with just two coats.
Originally posted on influenster.com
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
I bought Chinchilly, which is a gray color. I love the color, and the polish dries surprisingly quickly. I found two thinner coats works really nicely to give the best effect. I would also recommend not using a base coat, but definitely use a top/clear coat to seal the color in. I like to put Essie's sequin stash ( a personal fav) on as a top coat, as it adds some oomph, without detracting. I would definitely recommend this color, especially for someone who wants something a little different for anything from everyday, to a formal event (like prom!)
Originally posted on influenster.com
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
Great fall color with awesome and smooth application. For the price and availability, Essie is very affordable.
Originally posted on influenster.com
4 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
Loveeeee the color so much, one of my favorites. Got it done at a nail salon and had to buy it myself! Wore it for months. My only problem is that if it’s not gel (done at salon) it comes off so quickly (regular polish at home), I’m constantly touching up
Originally posted on influenster.com
5 out of 5 stars.
My go to everyday
7 years ago
I bought this a while a go and is my favorite so far, my go to everytime and so wearable for everyday and work
Q: goes great with this shade
A: Merino cool
favorite essie color family?nudes
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
The best nail polish out there!!!
8 years ago
I have been a big fan of Essie and their polish colors (and names) for over 35 years now and let me tell you that it is very strong and my nails are natural...Right now I am wearing High Maintenance underneath a coat of Peek-A-Boo and I get many compliments.
Q: goes great with this shade
A: The Essie Quick Dry Drops
favorite essie color family?blues
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Great formula
8 years ago
Chinchilly is by far one of the best formulas of polish that Essie has on the market! I love it!
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
go to color
8 years ago
i wear this all the time. get many compliments on it
favorite essie color family?grays
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Classic
8 years ago
A classic beauty! Color looks amazing and has a great formula. Easy to apply on. 2 rich coats are sufficient to achieve my desired opacity but you can add one more for a thicker look.
Q: goes great with this shade
A: grow stronger & gel setter TC
favorite essie color family?corals
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
9 – 20 of 20 reviews