Step 1 Prep
Prep cuticles, nail, and skin with Ready. Prep. Go. Advanced Cuticle Remover.
Sugar Daddy
A sweet pink, perfect for a french manicure.
- FLAWLESS COVERAGE: Achieve a flawless manicure by applying 2 coats of polish. Apply a thin 1st coat, and while the polish is still tacky, follow with a 2nd coat.
SALON-QUALITY FORMULA: Essie original nail polish provides a salon quality, vegan formula for flawless coverage.
EASY GLIDE BRUSH: Our exclusive easy-glide brush allows for quick, even professional application on nails.
ENHANCE YOUR MANICURE: A base coat and top coat are recommended to enhance the wear of your manicure. A base coat can prevent chipping and nourish your nails. A top coat will make your manicure dry faster, last longer, and create a shinier finish. - How to use essie nail polish:
- First, apply 1 coat of your favorite essie base coat.
- Then, apply 2 coats of essie nail polish.
- Finish your salon-quality manicure with 1 coat of any essie top coat. -
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
Similar shades
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1 to 8 of 96 reviews .
1 – 8 of 96 reviews
most recent
4 out of 5 stars.
Perfect sheer pink
5 days ago
Perfect sheer pink color. Its a deeper pink tone than mademoiselle. I love it.
favorite essie color family?pinks
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
1 out of 5 stars.
Bring back the ORIGINAL Sugar Daddy color
30 days ago
I, too, am disappointed with the color change. I'm also disappointed with the generic answers I see from Essie. For the sake of greed and profit, Essie has changed a classic staple product. It used to be a subtle natural pink, now it's giving cheap bubble gum pink. Since I don't want to be let down again, I am finished trying any more colors.
type of nail polish userregular/average
helpful?
1 out of 5 stars.
Disappointed in the color change.
9 months ago
Very disappointed in the color change. The old color was far superior. Essie could have just made a new color and sold that alongside the original Sugar Daddy. Switching to a different brand because this continues to happen.
type of nail polish userregular/average
no, I do not recommend this product.
helpful?
response from essie:
9 months ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi there Polished365, we’re sorry to hear this sheer sweet pink is no longer your favorite! The production of our iconic shades has advanced over the years – higher quality standards, pure color pigments, and new innovative ingredients allow for a better, more consistent product, but also can result in some color variation from the past. Despite the disappointment, we appreciate hearing your feedback and will share your comments with Essie and her creative team!
1 out of 5 stars.
Not the same color as before
10 months ago
I’ve used Sugar Daddy for years as a clear neutral for natural looking nails. Essie intensified the pink tint and now it no longer looks natural. My opinion is that it actually makes my nails look like they’re infected. Yuck! I wish I had checked for updates before buying.
type of nail polish userregular/average
helpful?
response from essie:
10 months ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi here Miashopper, we’re sorry to hear that the color ‘sugar daddy’ is no longer your go-to neurtral! The production of our iconic shades has also advanced over the years – higher quality standards, pure color pigments, and new innovative ingredients allow for a better, more consistent product, but also can result in some color variation from the past. For a more nude sheer, take a look at the colors ‘ballet slippers’ and fairy tailor Meanwhile, your comments will be shared with Essie and her creative team!
1 out of 5 stars.
Bring back the old sugar daddy color!
10 months ago
Bring back the old sugar daddy color please!!! Why did you change the color? I see you respond to everyone saying that it’s just from aging of the color or something. But I’ve been using this color for 10yrs and never had this issue. My manicurist has one left of the old color. All the new bottles are way too pink. Now I have to look for a new color all over again. Please bring back the old color - call it something else if you need. But please just bring it back! It was perfect.
type of nail polish userregular/average
helpful?
response from essie:
10 months ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi here Verbal, we’re sorry to hear this sweet, sheer pink it no longer your favorite! The production of our iconic shades has also advanced over the years – higher quality standards, pure color pigments, and new innovative ingredients allow for a better, more consistent product, but also can result in some color variation from the past. Comments like yours help us to better understand the kind of colors our consumers crave, you comments will be shared with Essie and her creative team!
1 out of 5 stars.
Changed the colour but not for the better
10 months ago
It’s a shame but they changed the sugar daddy original colour which was lovely and very subtle. The new one is pink and really has nothing to do with the original one. Please bring the old one back.
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
helpful?
response from essie:
10 months ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi there Celfk, we wish this sweet pink sheer nail color was still your favorite! The production of our iconic shades has advanced over the years – higher quality standards, pure color pigments, and new innovative ingredients allow for a better, more consistent product, but also can result in some color variation from the past. Its extremely valuable to hear what kind of colors consumers crave, your comments will certainly be shared with Essie and her creative team!
2 out of 5 stars.
Yellow?
a year ago
At first I thought I loved this polish but after a few wears I have changed my mind. The colour starts out as a very pretty sheer with just a hint of pink, but after a day or two it develops this ugly yellow tone to it. I can even see a bit of the yellowing going on inside the bottle. I've only ever seen that happen to very very old polishes so I'm pretty disappointed that it's happening to a brand new bottle already. It also takes a very delicate hand to apply it without streaks and takes forever to dry. Not a fan after all
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
no, I do not recommend this product.
helpful?
response from essie:
a year ago
Consumer Care Center
Hello Ffmm. Thank you for sharing your experience with the color 'sugar daddy'. We want to understand what happened just as much as you do. Certain polish pigments can fade over time when exposed to natural light. This is why, when you go on sunny vacations, you might find that manicure shades shift slightly during wear. By the second coat your color should look perfect and the results should dry in minutes. If you would like to speak to us directly about your recent purchase, give us a call @ 866-313-7845 M-F 9 am-5:30 pm ET
1 out of 5 stars.
Please bring back the original Sugar Daddy color.
a year ago
The Original Sugar Daddy polish was a classy sheer with a slight peach/pink. It was my number one most popular polish because it looks sensational with most skin colors….and had a beautiful upscale finish.
This ‘redo’ of Sugar Daddy looks like every other bubble pink on the market.
Please bring back the original color formula. Please!!
Q: goes great with this shade
A: Not the new shade. OG shade always!
favorite essie color family?sheers
type of nail polish userprofessional
great to wear foreveryday
no, I do not recommend this product.
helpful?
response from essie:
a year ago
Consumer Care Center
Hello Jones35! Thank you for reaching out regarding the the color 'sugar daddy'. We are sorry to hear you no longer find the color to appear the way it used to. Aging of polish ingredients may cause color 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 color pigments, and new innovative ingredients allow for a better, more consistent product, but also can result in some color variation from the past.
1 – 8 of 96 reviews
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9 to 38 of 96 reviews .
9 – 38 of 96 reviews
most recent
1 out of 5 stars.
Not the same color
a year ago
The color is not the same as the my old bottle, this is much more bubble gum pink vs a blushed nude the color used to be. .
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
helpful?
response from essie:
a year ago
Consumer Care Center
Hello ksferr82. Thank you so much for sharing your experience with your recent purchase of the color 'sugar daddy'. We know how frustrating it can be when a product does not meet your expectations. Aging of polish ingredients may cause color to fade, yellow, or shift over time so your old bottle may have changed. The production of our iconic shades has also advanced over the years – higher quality standards, pure color pigments, and new innovative ingredients allow for a better, more consistent product, but also can result in some color variation from the past. If you would like to speak to us directly about your recent purchase, give us a call @ 866-313-7845 M-F 9 am-5:30 pm ET
1 out of 5 stars.
Why change did Essie change Sugar Daddy color?
a year ago
I’m a professional manicurist for over 25 years and one of the polishes I use the most is the “original version” of Sugar Daddy. It’s been a main staple color in my kit because its sheer peachy pink looked amazing against all skin tones and great on camera for the commercial production shoots I work on.
You can imagine my surprise and disappointment when I discovered a new Sugar Daddy color at my beauty supply. I thought it was a mistake in the dye lot so I went to other stores looking for the original. No luck.
I decided to try this new version and it does not compare to the original.
Please bring back the original Sugar Daddy color.
type of nail polish userprofessional
helpful?
response from essie:
a year ago
Consumer Care Center
Hello Ocurlygirl! We’re sorry to hear the color 'sugar daddy' is no longer the color you were expecting. This color should be a sweet pink with a sheer finish, perfect for french manicures. The production of our iconic shades has also advanced over the years – higher quality standards, pure color pigments, and new innovative ingredients allow for a better, more consistent product, but also can result in some color variation from the past.
1 out of 5 stars.
Doesn't dry
2 years ago
Doesn't dry. Saw another review saying the same thing I have tried hours and different layers and it never dries. It remains wet and easily smudged. I came here to check if I accidentally bought a gel polish
type of nail polish userregular/average
helpful?
response from essie:
2 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hello Jm18. Thank you very much for your feedback. We are very sorry to hear about your experience with the color 'sugar daddy'. This is not normal for any of our nail enamels. If you would like to speak to us directly about your recent purchase, give us a call @ 866-313-7845 M-F 9 am-5:30 pm ET
1 out of 5 stars.
Polish does not dry
2 years ago
I have tried and tried to get this nail polish to work but it just doesn’t go well for me. It never dries, no matter how long I wait for it it dry it never seems to. I did one layer and waited 25+ minutes and then did a second layer and 2+ hours later it still is not dry, it continues to smudge and smear. I do thin layers so it has ample time to dry. I have tried countless times and no matter how long I wait or how thin of coats I do the polish DOES NOT dry.
favorite essie color family?nudes
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
great to wear foreveryday
no, I do not recommend this product.
helpful?
response from essie:
2 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hello Lb123. Thank you for sharing your experience with the color 'sugar daddy'. We want to understand what happened just as much as you do. This color should dry in minutes. Even with a base coat, 2 coats of color and a top coat, all should be dry in 15 minutes or less. If you would like to speak to us directly about your recent purchase, give us a call @ 866-313-7845 M-F 9 am-5:30 pm ET
5 out of 5 stars.
This shade has quiet luxury vibes
2 years ago
Two coats and this barely-there milky pink makes your nails look like they're wearing a pale, sheer pink lip gloss. Sugar daddy is easy to work with, super forgiving and perfect for elevating your look and boosting your mood. A go-to for anytime you need a boost of confidence but don't want your nail color to be yelling.
favorite essie color family?reds
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
great to wear fordate night
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Looks lovely
3 years ago
I picked this up at target the other day and painted them yesterday morning. It’s a really pretty milky pink. This is with a base coat primer and then two passes with sugar daddy. I’ve got naturally pink nail beds and white tips. So in conjunction with the opacity of the polish it creates this really pretty ombré effect. :)
type of nail polish userregular/average
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Yummy
4 years ago
wore it to my dinner with my daddddyyy lol so cuteeeeeee
Q: goes great with this shade
A: sand topez
favorite essie color family?pinks
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
great to wear fordate night
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Great & subtle!!
5 years ago
I just bought this shade a few weeks ago and am loving it! It basically gives my nails a more healthy look than normal. I wear 3 coats and get a sheer pastel pink look. It looks very shiny and lasts for about a week and a half with a top coat, a week without.
favorite essie color family?sheers
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
My new fav color
5 years ago
I am so in love with this color! I bought this because I needed a nice light pink and I was not disappointed with this color. It lasted a long time without chipping. It applied easily and dried quickly. It is the perfect color! After a few days I added designs on top to dress it up and it was gorgeous!
favorite essie color family?pinks
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
4 out of 5 stars.
Excellent nude
6 years ago
I'm fail and very cool-toned; this color suits me very well as a nude. I wouldn't wear it on its own without french tips that I don't trust my shaky hands to apply, but I think it would be excellent for darker cool tones.
I'm fond of pairing this with a glittery overcoat on my accent nails; this has become one of my favorite ways to wear my nails.
Q: goes great with this shade
A: Licacism, A Cut Above
favorite essie color family?metallics/glitters
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Naturally beautiful
6 years ago
My favorite color I wear this nearly all the time .
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.
Lovely sweet pink, legendary name lol
6 years ago
My first essie nail color and it did not disappoint. I love how wearable this color is; it's classic, elegant, and cute. Holds up well over time, doesn't chip when coats are applied, dries appropriately. Color's name is a great bonus lol.
favorite essie color family?pinks
type of nail polish usernovice/new user
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
1 out of 5 stars.
Would have given it zero stars if I could
7 years ago
This nail polish is not worth your time or money. To start, I had to put on six coats just for the color to show up on my nails. Then I put on an Essie Matte About You Top Coat which is cute, but did absolutely nothing to protect my nails!!!!! I sat around doing nothing for two hours so my nails would dry, but when I got up to do stuff again my nail polish smeared (and not just a little bit - half the nail came off)! I will not be buying another Essie product again! I have heard such great things about this company, but I am extremely disappointed and dissatisfied!
type of nail polish userregular/average
no, I do not recommend this product.
helpful?
response from essie:
7 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi there! We are so sorry to hear this is not your new favorite polish shade. Click into this essie color bar and slide your way to the perfect essie nail polish shade by following this link: http://tinyurl.com/ybud4bjr. For quick drying, we also suggest trying our speed.setter top coat! This high performance top coat dries in under a minute, and works with any essie enamel polish for an ultra-shiny finish! We hope this is helpful and you give our polishes another try!
1 out of 5 stars.
Bottle does not reflect true color. Sheer.
7 years ago
I bought this color in stores and was very excited about it. It appears to be a light baby pink color. However, it is the color of my nails naturally. I applied multiple coats and it is way too light. It looks like I don't have any nail polish on. The description online suggesting it's use as a base for french manicure is accurate but the bottle color is very misleading. Too sheer
favorite essie color family?blues
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday
no, I do not recommend this product.
helpful?
response from essie:
7 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi! Thank you for your feedback. sugar daddy is one of our sheer colors. For a more vibrant color we recommend checking out our minimalistic shade! We hope you check it out!
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
This is my go to color and i always get so many compliments on it. Its worth the extra few bucks and last longer than less exspensive brads.
Originally posted on influenster.com
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
I love this brand an apology so much it is such a good grandma has such a good variety of colors but this color in particular I really like because I’m super pale but it doesn’t make me look more pale and it’s really great for this like a mix between winter and fall that we’re going through Minnesota right now so this is wonderful and I love it
Originally posted on influenster.com
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
Essie has a good color range . This color is super cute!! Perfect for clean nails . I prefer nudes and clean colors on me . Easy to apply but the brush is quite thin so will need more than one stroke .
Originally posted on influenster.com
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
Love Essie and love their bright colors, also love their not so bright colors. Essie is my second favorite line of color. Anytime i walk into a store, I have to stop and see what Essie has for colors! I always recommend them!
Originally posted on influenster.com
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
Love this nail polish it’s a pink nude and I absolutely love it. I love how easy it is to apply and how long lasting it is also. Super good value
Originally posted on influenster.com
4 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
I love Essie nail polishes!!! I have had some they were better than others but for the most part they are great!! I love the color choices, and the polishes their selves are very smooth. They aren't too think or too thin. 2 maybe 3 costs at most.
Originally posted on influenster.com
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
This soft baby pink polish is purfectt for a no-chip manicure . A gorgeous color for brides. It doesn’t smell that strong as other nail polishes. I used Essie on my previous jobs. I strongly recommend it.
Originally posted on influenster.com
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
This color is so gorgeous and its stays chip free up to 2 weeks! I love all my essie finger nail polish! Definitely worth the buy.
Originally posted on influenster.com
2 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
I usually love this brand but this color isn't very pigmented. It takes multiple coats to get a good color and it dried with bubbles in the polish.
Originally posted on influenster.com
response from essie:
7 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi there Danielle! We're so sorry to hear the results from the shade sugar daddy weren't what you had hoped they would be. This shade is a sweet, sheer pink, perfect for a french manicure. All of our nail colors should produce the target shade by the time the second coat goes on the nails. Even if you were hoping for a more opaque color, your results shouldn't leave bubbles on the nails. We can't tell if there's an issue with the this bottle or just the application of the extra layers of color. If you would like to speak to us directly about your recent purchase, call us @ 866-313-7845 M-F 9 am-5:30 pm ET and provide the reference number 5559445. If you call, have your bottle of color with you.
4 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
Good polish. I only really use it on my little one. Loves to get nails painted and look pretty. Long lasting and doesn’t chip as easily as others. Love the shade range and the pricing is great too. No complaints.
Originally posted on influenster.com
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
I love Essie polish in general but this is my favorite color.it’s easy to apply and a pretty shade of nude pink!
Originally posted on influenster.com
4 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
This is the only nail polish I use. Good quality and worth the price. I like the gel option too
Originally posted on influenster.com
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
Essie is my go to brand. They consistently make quility nail polishes that don’t dry out quickly. Their nail polishes are nearly always opaque in one coat and they dry quickly with a beautiful shine!
Originally posted on influenster.com
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
I am in love with essie nail polishes because they show off alot of color and it leaves in a nice beutiful shine to the finish look
Originally posted on influenster.com
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
I LOVE Essie polish. Goes on smooth and with the top coat it stays on and looks like I paid big money for a manicure!
Originally posted on influenster.com
5 out of 5 stars.
Streak Free. It's really stream free
7 years ago
I bought this yesterday and gave myself a manicure last night. It is the sheerest, prettiest pink color. This is like my own natural nails only better. I've heard that before, but in this case it's true. I used 3 coats over a base coat and then used a top coat. My nails look healthy, groomed, and beautiful. It really is streak free and not too milky. Will I buy again? Yes.
I am not the best at home manicures, but my nails look as good as if they were done in a salon. The polish dried fast and is streak free. Most nude polishes I've tried require 3 coats to hide the streaks, and then they look too milky/opaque. Sugar Daddy is a miracle in a bottle.
favorite essie color family?nudes
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
9 – 38 of 96 reviews