1. Base Coat
Apply 1 coat to bare nails to prime for color while strengthening.
Original Nail Polish Frequently Asked Questions:
Discover essie's original professional nail polish
As the color authority since 1981, all essie original nail polishes offer vivid, streak-free color. Get saturated payoff and shine in every coat with our billion pigment formula and patented camel-stem brush for precise, controlled application.
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2. Color
Apply 2 coats for optimal opacity.
3. Top Coat
Apply 1 coat for up to 7-day wear.
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"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
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1 to 8 of 56 reviews .
1 – 8 of 56 reviews
most recent
5 out of 5 stars.
dreamy
9 months ago
i really wanted to try jelly nails, but couldn't drag myself to a salon. this is perfect for an at-home manicure. i love that it's buildable so you can really play around with how sheer or opaque you want it. this was 3 coats topped off with ethereal escape from their special effects line!
type of nail polish userregular/average
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Cute!
a year ago
This product is easy to open and has a pleasant scent. It provides buildable coverage and a smooth finish with each coat. The packaging is adorable, and there are a variety of effective colors to choose from. I’m definitely going to buy the collection.
helpful?
2 out of 5 stars.
Almost no pigment
a year ago
Nail polish pretty liquid. Has regular smell. Has nice design. Dry time as always. It is not hard to remove this nail polish. Easy to paint and easy to remove!
helpful?
response from essie:
a year ago
Consumer Care Center
Hello annao151! Thank you for sharing your experience with the nail art studio jelly gloss in the color 'orchid jelly '. We are delighted to see you find this midtone purple jelly nail polish with blue undertones so easy to put on and easy to remove. You're right...a jelly gloss is different from a classic nail enamel. It’s made to go on in thin, buildable layers to customize your look. Use it alone or with up to 4 coats depending on the look you're going for, or layer over your favorite essie nail enamel for a unique finish!
4 out of 5 stars.
nice but not for me
a year ago
unfortunately i found this color to be unflattering on me, but it's super cute! this photo shows one coat of all the colors plus one of my natural nails. the application was fine and overall really nice polish, but i will choose a different shade
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
A great buildable polish!
a year ago
This is a great solid polish. The texture is thin but it adheres to the nail nicely. I like that this formula allows for buildable coverage. This took three coats but the drying time was fast! The classic Essie packaging never misses and the smell was no more overbearing than other polishes.
helpful?
3 out of 5 stars.
Sheer jelly gloss
a year ago
The orchid jelly shade is the least sheer out of the blue and dusty rose color I received. The purple color is pretty however I did not want to paint several coats to get it somewhat opaque. I like that the coats stay thin so it doesn’t feel too thick.
helpful?
response from essie:
a year ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi stellaw31, thanks for giving the nail art studio jelly gloss in 'orchid jelly' a try. We're glad you enjoy this midtone purple jelly nail color with blue undertones. Go for those layers...a jelly gloss is different from a classic nail enamel. It’s made to go on in thin, buildable layers to customize your look. Use it alone in up to 4 coats depending on the look you're going for, or layer over your favorite essie nail enamel for a unique finish!
5 out of 5 stars.
Great Color and Longevity
a year ago
This nail polish is great for a variety of looks depending on how many coats you use. The purple is fantastic and a go to for spring and summer time. Application is easy with the brush and dries fairly quickly and last a very long time. For sure recommend.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Nice color
a year ago
I got this one from Influenster in exchange for my honest review. Essie orchid jelly is very cute purple. The color is jelly but it cover your nail enough to make it pretty. Love it
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1 – 8 of 56 reviews
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9 to 38 of 56 reviews .
9 – 38 of 56 reviews
most recent
4 out of 5 stars.
Chic and Sheer
a year ago
The Essie Jelly Gloss nail polish is great for a sheer look but still adds a chic and pop of color. I’m glad to have this addition to my nail polish palette and collection. I’ve only worn this on its own but can see it be a layering look or design a custom look for your nails. If you do apply this color alone, I would recommend adding more than one layer as the first application is very sheer. But once you layer, the color shows more prominently. It also does have a jelly gloss feel and makes my nails feel so shiny. Lastly drying time was a lot faster than expected. Within five minutes, my nails were already dry and ready for show off. I highly recommend and love that I can layer and build on the colors without having the polish look streaky.
helpful?
3 out of 5 stars.
Not the best
a year ago
I really enjoyed the color this product has! However, it took multiple thick coats to see a nice pop of color and was a bit too opaque for my liking. The quality seemed great though!
helpful?
response from essie:
a year ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi christinar108, thank you for trying the nail art studio jelly gloss in the color 'orchid jelly'. We wish you saw the results you were ultimately hoping for, but you're right...a jelly gloss is different from a classic nail enamel. Its made to go on in thin, buildable layers to customize your look.(for best results, apply thin coats to build color) Use it alone in up to 4 coats depending on the look you're going for, or layer over your favorite essie nail enamel for a unique finish!
4 out of 5 stars.
Great
a year ago
Essie’s sky jelly nail polish is simply some of the best. It offers a great performance with minimal cost and low drying times. Just a few swipes over the nail is all you need !
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
when you don’t have time for the salon!!!
a year ago
I love to make sure my nails are done and essie is the way to go! It’s very lightweight yet build able. the color is very cute and light yet strong. It glides on very smooth its more on the liquid side but it doesn’t move around too much. And a little goes a long way. It’s a great pro it for the price! Nail salon quality at home! Doesn’t have a strong scent like the salon though. As well as, it dries very quickly.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Great nail polish
a year ago
I actually really liked this product! I was a little skeptical because when I put it in the appearance was very transparent. After just one more coat it was full coverage. It’s dried very smoothly into a pretty vibrant color: I would definitely recommend!
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
The Orchid jelly color is perfect!
a year ago
The Orchid Jelly color here is absolutely to die for! Far and away it’s my favorite of the offered line. It fits in thick enough and has great gloss to it. It pops but not too much! Love it!
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Purple Jelly Excellence
a year ago
This polish gives you the perfect jelly nails without the salon visit. The shade is semi-sheer and wears well. Really loved the shade of purple. Very elegant.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Long lasting
2 years ago
The best long lasting nail polish. The scent is very strong like the other ones, it is easy to apply specially when the cuticle is well maintained.
helpful?
4 out of 5 stars.
Pretty color and nice shiny polish!
2 years ago
It’s is a typical nail polish bottle in regards to the applicator, making it very easy to apply. The bottle comes full with polish and not much is needed to coat nails. It is a very pretty color with almost a translucent like shine. The only issue I had with it was I noticed was very small bubble like air pockets after applying but that could be because I did not use a top or bottom coat. The smell is not strong just a faint nail polish scent. It dried fairly quick in its own so that was nice!
helpful?
4 out of 5 stars.
Nice!
2 years ago
Pretty color, I really like the purple. It goes on smoothly and the brush is nice. easy to control the placement of the product. The drying time is that of normal polish in my opinion.
helpful?
3 out of 5 stars.
Not my favorite
2 years ago
Not a fan of gel nail polish. Doesn't sit right on my nails due to health issues. Love the color though and love Essie. I am sure this would work for others.
helpful?
response from essie:
2 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hello ericajaneemiller. Thank you for taking the time to review the Nail Art Studio Jelly Gloss Nail Polish color 'orchid jelly'. We wish this nail color formula worked for your nails, but we're delighted to hear you loved the color of this midtone purple jelly nail polish with blue undertones.
5 out of 5 stars.
Such a summery color
2 years ago
I absolutely loved how easily it applies and the color of is gorgeous and so summery. Works perfect even when applying one coat, doesnt take much time to dry.
helpful?
4 out of 5 stars.
Jelly Gel Newbie
2 years ago
I’m new to jelly gel nail polish but I love Essie as a brand! These reinforce the brand’s excellent products. I appreciate that even though jelly’s are less pigmented, they are easy to apply and provide a light tinted look!
helpful?
3 out of 5 stars.
Too thin
2 years ago
These polishes are for sure Jelly. They are so translucent id almost use them as a top coat. Overall the finish and coverage just weren't what I prefer alone. I'll be pairing them with other polishes to create an iridescent effect.
helpful?
response from essie:
2 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hello bayleighm6. Thank you for trying out the nail art studio special effects color 'orchid jelly'. We wish you could see all the results you were hoping for. This midtone purple jelly nail polish with blue undertones; can be worn alone in buildable layers (yes go 1, 2, 3 or even 4 layers to get the jelly look you want. Or use it as a toned top coat to add an extra pop of color to your favorite essie nail enamel!
3 out of 5 stars.
Pretty purple color, okay polish
2 years ago
This nail polish is decent, but not my favorite. The formula is very liquidy and hard to apply enough to see the color clearly. The color itself is nice and removal is simple. Drying time is decent as well.
helpful?
response from essie:
2 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hello graciek43. Thanks so much for sharing your results with the Nail Art Studio jelly gloss color 'orchid jelly'. We wish you were seeing the color pay off you were hoping for. This is not the classic nail color from years gone by! The jelly glosses are a sheer, yet buildable jelly gloss finish designed for layers of unique looks. Sheer enough for a juicy glaze, or layer for richer color...swipe on 1, 2. 3 or even 4 coats to get the look you crave. Or layer over your favorite essie nail enamel for an extra pop of color!
5 out of 5 stars.
Highly recommend
2 years ago
The packaging was amazing. The color is great when applied only needed two coats which is perfect drives very fast. The removal process was very easy. Does not have a strong scent. Highly recommend.
helpful?
4 out of 5 stars.
Fun new jelly colors
2 years ago
I received this free from Influenster in exchange for my honest opinion. This is a really nice jelly polish. It builds up great and allows for layering over other colors. The brush is a great shape, a couple of swipes and my nail was covered. I also found that it dries pretty quickly. If you like see through colors or doing nail art at home, I recommend these polishes.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Essie jelly gloss
2 years ago
I enjoy painting Essie orchid jelly polish. The color is light violet when apply. It is dry pretty quick and so easy to apply. The polish is very smooth and shiny. My kids love the color .
helpful?
4 out of 5 stars.
New to jelly, but can dig it
2 years ago
I was impressed with this product, but do wish it had a little more staying power. I don’t mind that it took me a few coats to achieve my desired pigment. It’s nice to be able to control the look in that respect. It does have a glossy shine that makes top coat seem unnecessary.
helpful?
4 out of 5 stars.
Super pretty!
2 years ago
*I received this product complimentary from essie and Influenster for my honest review*
I received two different colors from essie and Influenster, one was orchid jelly and the other was sky jelly. I really liked both of the colors! They were quite sheer but after a couple of coats, their colors were enhanced. They’re both light pastel and so dainty. The colors give a vintage, but colorful feel. The only downside is that it chips really easily. But, it’s definitely a 8/10 for me!
helpful?
4 out of 5 stars.
Beautiful color, needs 4 coats
2 years ago
I love Essie products and are on of my go to brands. But have not had a chance to try the Jelly Gloss line until now. I thought the color was really beautiful and light. I took me three coats but I think 4 would be the desired look if you want it completely saturated. Although I didn’t try this, since it is so light you could experiment using different colors for an artistic effect. The only knock is I had this on for a couple hours before using my hands to do a task. The polish scrunched up which was a bummer.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Awesome color
2 years ago
I love this color! It’s a perfect color for the summer and for spring! It’s not too bright so it’s nice to have on for a while! It goes on super smooth and doesn’t take long to dry either!
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Long lasting
2 years ago
I received this product free from Influenster and Essie in exchange for my honest review. This gel polish is great and good quality. It lasts a long time and does not flake off easily. I also love how quickly each coat dried and how shiny it is finished.
helpful?
2 out of 5 stars.
Runny
2 years ago
I received this product for free from Influenster and Essie in exchange for my honest review. (Incentive) I wasn’t a fan of this product I had to use multiple coats just to get any color and by that time it was to thick and tacky looking. I normally wear gel polish but this one wasn’t what I expected. It lasted about a week and a half before it started chipping. It was runny when I put it on also. I just want a fan of this product and I won’t purchase it again.
helpful?
response from essie:
2 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hello southerngirl, thanks for sharing your experience with the Nail Art Studio Jelly Gloss Nail color 'orchid jelly'. We wish you could see the results you were hoping for. This midtone purple jelly polish with blue undertones is a sheer, yet buildable jelly gloss finish designed for layers. Wear it alone in 1, 2, 3 or 4 coats for the look you want or layer with other essie polishes for a creatively stunning nail look.
5 out of 5 stars.
Great polish! Love the color
2 years ago
Essie has always been my favorite polish, I love adding new colors and this jelly gloss is so shiny! The packaging is so sleek! This polish always dries down so quick and effortlessly.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Beautiful Jelly Nails!
2 years ago
This is a cute jelly polish. The color that it gives the nail is accurate to the polish in the jar. I feel like it only took five minutes to dry so it felt like any other nail polish in that area. I like that it does the translucent effect very well. You can see my natural nail and then a tint of the color. If you want more of a solid color from the jelly on days that you want to change things up, you can add more coat layers. The dry time is about ten minutes for that. The scent is of this polish very strong and my fingers smelled like it all day after usage. Surprisingly the polish is very durable. I was able to shower, wash hands a lot of times after baking, and do other activities without worrying about the polish coming off. There’s this nice smooth coat the jelly gives after doing my nails. The jelly has the same consistency as regular nail polish. It’s very great for combining different colors too! It’s made me want to wear polish more often!
helpful?
2 out of 5 stars.
Not a solid color
2 years ago
This was not my favorite shade by Essie. As you can see by the photo it is quite translucent. This was after 2 coats and it is still pretty opaque. It also bubbled a little bit after applying the second coat.
helpful?
response from essie:
2 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hello ashleym1595! Thank you for sharing your pic and experience with our nail art studio jelly gloss color 'orchid jelly'. We are sorry to hear this midtone purple jelly nail polish with blue undertones wasn't the perfect shade for you, Unlike a classic nail enamel, the jelly gloss goes on in one to two coats for a sheer wash of color, continue layering for a luscious milky-glaze, go to 3 or even 4 coats. Also perfect for layering over your favorite colors for a unique finish.
5 out of 5 stars.
Gorgeous muted lilac jelly
2 years ago
Orchid Jelly is sooo pretty! It is a nice muted lilac color, not quite as warm as the website shows. In my photo I put on two coats, and it has the perfect translucent jelly look. One coat would be great for overlaying other colors but two coats is beautiful on its own. Super easy to apply. The polish is so smooth and the color lays very evenly, it’s not patchy like other jelly polishes can be. It’s a thinner polish so it dries by the time you move onto your second coat. I’ve had it on for about 4 days now and there’s only one small chip which is pretty good!
helpful?
3 out of 5 stars.
Jelly and Glossy
2 years ago
First of all the color is super nice! Very easy to apply, I applied two coats to get the color, but I think three coats should have been better to see the color. It is definitely glossier than other nail polishes. I wish it would have stayed longer on my nails.
helpful?
response from essie:
2 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hello tomgs. Thank you for sharing your pics and experience with the nail art studio color 'orchid jelly'. This sheer, buildable jelly gloss finish can be worn in multiple layers depending on the look you want, 1,2,3,4 coats or top your favorite essie nail colors instead!
4 out of 5 stars.
Really pretty purple jelly
2 years ago
This is a nice purple jelly nail polish. I used it this week with a glitter in between, to do a jelly sandwich. And it looks really good. The polish lasts for a good amount of time just like any other Essie brand polish.
helpful?
9 – 38 of 56 reviews