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.
Find your perfect shade, with 1 bottle sold every 5 seconds.
Color with a Reputation
Anyone can create color, but only essie earns a reputation worth keeping. Discover our collection of instantly recognized, impossible-to-imitate shades that always make a statement.
Master a salon-quality nail look
2. Color
Apply 2 coats for optimal opacity.
3. Top Coat
Apply 1 coat for up to 7-day wear.
Shop your essential essie 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
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
1 to 8 of 14 reviews .
1 – 8 of 14 reviews
most recent
5 out of 5 stars.
So cute
5 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.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Love
5 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
helpful?
2 out of 5 stars.
Not good IMO
5 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!
helpful?
response from essie:
3 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!
6 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.
helpful?
4 out of 5 stars.
A cute butter yellow nail polish!
6 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!
helpful?
4 out of 5 stars.
Perfect for spring
6 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.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Great!!
6 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!!
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Butter yellow is back
6 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.
helpful?
1 – 8 of 14 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 14 of 14 reviews .
9 – 14 of 14 reviews
most recent
5 out of 5 stars.
Cute color
6 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
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Nail polish
6 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.
helpful?
3 out of 5 stars.
Unique
6 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.
helpful?
response from essie:
4 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
6 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.
helpful?
4 out of 5 stars.
Butter yellow color
6 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
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Beautiful shade
6 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.
helpful?
9 – 14 of 14 reviews