Step 1 Prep
Prep cuticles, nail, and skin with Ready. Prep. Go. Advanced Cuticle Remover.
Unsalted
A dusty pale yellow nail polish.
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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.*
KEY FEATURES:
This product comes in a glass bottle:
Size: 0.46 ounces
Product Description: 1.140" Width: 1.140" Height: 3.543"
Product Form: Liquid Polish
NAIL TYPE: essie Original polish is ideal for consumers looking for a salon-quality manicure at home with saturated color payoff.*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 ●
Original Nail Polish Frequently Asked Questions:
- Using a base coat and topcoat with essie’s original enamel nail polish can help improve the wear of your manicure and increase shine. A base coat can prolong the life of your manicure, prevent chipping, and nourish your nails. A top coat can help your manicure dry faster, last longer, or create a shiny or matte texture.
- You can find essie Original enamel nail polish at most drug stores and cosmetic stores. You can also find e-retailers that carry essie enamel nail polish right here on our website.
- Essie and Gel by essie are formulated without the ingredient TPO.* The use of TPO in classic nail polishes has never been permitted, therefore absent from the brand's formulas since inception.
- essie Original enamel nail polish typically lasts up to 7 days with proper application. Using a base coat and sealing your manicure with a top coat helps reduce chipping and keeps your color looking fresh.
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
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1 to 8 of 14 reviews .
1 – 8 of 14 reviews
most recent
5 out of 5 stars.
So cute
3 months ago
Clean, creamy pale yellow with a soft milky finish. Applies evenly and feels fresh and spring-ready. Great with base + top coat for lasting wear. Subtle, chic, and vegan-friendly.
Originally posted on influenster.com
5 out of 5 stars.
Love
3 months ago
Love this nail polish and how easy it is to apply. It doesn’t need a lot of quotes and it’s not messy. And dries quickly.. I really like it and I would buy more of these
Originally posted on influenster.com
2 out of 5 stars.
Not good IMO
4 months ago
I did not personally enjoy using this nail polish. It was difficult to use. Required many layers to get a solid looking layer and it took literally FOREVER to dry. I'm talking hours. I feel like trying this nail polish ate up my entire Sunday cuz I had to do so many layers and wait so long for it to dry. After like three hours I still ruined it cuz I had to move laundry and it streaked a bunch.
The color did not work for my skin tone. I'm sure it's beautiful on people with warm tan skin, but on my pale hands the polish gave corpse vibes. It also began to peel and look very sloppy within like two days. It's affordable and easy to access so that's a plus!
Originally posted on influenster.com
response from essie:
2 months ago
Consumer Care Center
Hello Cara R, thank you for your honest feedback! We’re sorry to hear that the drying time and durability weren't up to par, and that the shade wasn't a perfect match for your skin tone. Since the color appeared too sheer, we get why the application of many layers. The big drawback to adding more than 3 thin layers is the long dry time and chipping. That being said, the formulation in your bottle sounds off. This color should be an opaque crème that only needs 2 coats and your dry time was extreme, to say the least.
5 out of 5 stars.
So pretty!
4 months ago
Really gorgeous color for spring. So easy to apply as the brush is very precise. Two coats covered everything but you could even go in with a third for a more vibrant look.
Originally posted on influenster.com
4 out of 5 stars.
A cute butter yellow nail polish!
4 months ago
🧈 Yellow might be the perfect spring color, but it’s also great for getting me out of my deep winter funk. I’ve got another opportunity to try Essie again, this time one of their Gourmet Grocery Collection options, called {Unsalted}. Described as a dusty pale yellow (or in my opinion, butter yellow). It is a regular lacquer (non-gel).
🧈 Pros: I love this shade of yellow! It is so springy and happy! A perfect butter yellow match, it’s also really nice as a base for nail art. In general, opaque in two coats, which is impressive for a yellow. The formula is not too thick, but might lean slightly too liquidy (flooded my cuticles a few times which is rare for me). The longevity seems good, though I tested this with a non-essie basecoat.
🧈 Cons: This did not self level as much as I would have liked. I felt like I needed to overwork/manipulate the lacquer more than usual, which meant patchiness and emphasis of my nail ridges. Probably would have worked more nicely with a ridge filler first. My thumbs didn’t look opaque enough in 2 coats, I think I’d need 3 there.
🧈 Unsalted is definitely a cute color, and I can see myself really excited about it in the springtime, but I wouldn’t call this formula beginner friendly. It’ll take a bit of finagling to get a good finish, and some trial and error with the thickness of the coats you want to apply. For $10 at ulta, I’m not mad at it!
Originally posted on influenster.com
4 out of 5 stars.
Perfect for spring
4 months ago
Beautiful spring and summer color! I took off a star because even after 2 coats, it’s not a solid yellow and can still see some streaks. The color does last on my nails for awhile and doesn’t chip but do wish it went on more smoothly.
Originally posted on influenster.com
5 out of 5 stars.
Great!!
5 months ago
Essie shade 1855 unsalted gives like a nice soft buttercream color. The polish dries faster than any other polish I’ve used. You shouldn’t need 2 coats, 1 coat for me was all it took. I’m impressed at how well the polish stayed on even after doing dishes. Love Essie and will continue to use!!
Originally posted on influenster.com
5 out of 5 stars.
Butter yellow is back
5 months ago
I am obsessed with this butter yellow color! At first i thought it wasnt yellow enough, but on the nails its perfect. The first layer is streaky, but a second layer is just enough for a smooth, glassy finish.
Originally posted on influenster.com
1 – 8 of 14 reviews
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9 to 14 of 14 reviews .
9 – 14 of 14 reviews
most recent
5 out of 5 stars.
Cute color
5 months ago
I love the light/soft color of this nail polish. I used it on my daughter’s nails and she loved it as well. One to two layers is perfect fine to get the look you need
Originally posted on influenster.com
5 out of 5 stars.
Nail polish
5 months ago
This is a 1 step nail polish. The pale yellow color is called unsalted. It is a nice pale color. It is very easy to apply this color onto my own fingers.
Originally posted on influenster.com
3 out of 5 stars.
Unique
5 months ago
This nail polish is very thin. which I guess means a little bit goes a long way. You do have to do several layers because it is very transparent. I do feel it's a very unique color it reminds me of buttered popcorn.
Originally posted on influenster.com
response from essie:
2 months ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi there, thank you for sharing your picture and experience with this dusty, pale yellow nail polish. We wish you were seeing the full effect of this color. This is an opaque cream color and by the second coat, the color should not be transparent.
5 out of 5 stars.
Beautiful spring color
5 months ago
This is such a beautiful color nail polish and perfect for the spring coming up. I cannot wait to use this on my toes in the sand for our next cruise.
Originally posted on influenster.com
4 out of 5 stars.
Butter yellow color
5 months ago
It’s a cute summer color and I love how it’s a nice butter yellow shade. It’s quite different from what a normally wear but it’s a very happy and bright color
Originally posted on influenster.com
5 out of 5 stars.
Beautiful shade
5 months ago
Essie Berry Naughty is a beautiful deep berry red shade that looks classy and elegant. The color is rich and smooth, and it applies evenly with just two coats. It dries fairly quickly and has a nice glossy finish. This shade is perfect for everyday wear or special occasions. With a top coat, it lasts longer and looks even better. Overall, it’s a great classic color and easy to love.
Originally posted on influenster.com
9 – 14 of 14 reviews