Step 1 Prep
Prep cuticles, nail, and skin with Ready. Prep. Go. Advanced Cuticle Remover.
Matter Of Fiction
A longwear, blush pink spun with blue undertones.
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UP TO 15-DAY LONGWEAR. NO UV. Our Gel by essie 2 step color and top coat system gives you a plump, gel like manicure at home that lasts up to 15 days with the reapplication of top coat at day 7. No UV light needed.
PLUMP, GEL LIKE COLOR AND HIGH SHINE. Use Gel by essie 2 step color and top coat system for a plump, high shine manicure. Our patented swirl stem brush distributes product evenly on nails for a smooth finish.
CHIP-RESISTANT FORMULA. All Gel by essie shades are formulated with flex.e gel technology that bonds and moves with nails to resist chipping.
EASY APPLICATION & REMOVAL. First, apply 2 coats of Gel by essie nail polish, no base coat needed. Then, apply 1 coat of Gel by essie top coat. No UV light needed. Easy, gentle removal with acetone or non-acetone nail polish remover. No harsh scrapping or soaking.
ASSORTMENT OF SHADES. Gel by essie comes in an extensive range of trending and high-performance colors. Now available in 8 diamond-dusted shades.
KEY FEATURES:
This product comes in a glass bottle:
Size: 0.46 ounces
Product Description: Depth: 1.53"" Width: 1.53"" Height: 2.81""
Product Form: Liquid PolishNAIL TYPE: Gel by essie Longwear Nail Polish is ideal for consumers looking for a chip-resistant manicure, with no UV needed.
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How to use Gel by essie's 2-step color and top coat system:
First, apply 2 coats of Gel by essie long lasting nail polish. No base coat needed.
Then, apply 1 coat of Gel by essie top coat nail polish. No UV light needed. Reapply top coat on day 7.
Easy, gentle removal with acetone or non-acetone nail polish remover.
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essie is a vegan brand – contains no animal-derived ingredients.
Full ingredient list:
BUTYL ACETATE ETHYL ACETATE NITROCELLULOSE TOSYLAMIDE/EPOXY RESIN ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL ACETYL TRIBUTYL CITRATE DIPROPYLENE GLYCOL DIBENZOATE SUCROSE ACETATE ISOBUTYRATE ACRYLATES COPOLYMER STEARALKONIUM HECTORITE PROPYL ACETATE OCTOCRYLENE TRIBUTYL CITRATE ADIPIC ACID/NEOPENTYL GLYCOL/TRIMELLITIC ANHYDRIDE COPOLYMER ALCOHOL DENAT. HYDROGENATED ACETOPHENONE/OXYMETHYLENE COPOLYMER DIMETHICONE SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE BARIUM SULFATE CITRIC ACID OXIDIZED POLYETHYLENE CALCIUM ALUMINUM BOROSILICATE BENZOPHENONE-1 SILICA CALCIUM SODIUM BOROSILICATE COLOPHONIUM / ROSIN / COLOPHANE TIN OXIDE ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE MAGNESIUM SILICATE CI 77002 / ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE [+/- MAY CONTAIN / PEUT CONTENIR CI 77891 / TITANIUM DIOXIDE MICA CI 77491, CI 77499 / IRON OXIDES CI 15850 / RED 7 LAKE CI 19140 / YELLOW 5 LAKE CI 15850 / RED 6 LAKE CI 15880 / RED 34 LAKE CI 77510 / FERRIC AMMONIUM FERROCYANIDE CI 77163 / BISMUTH OXYCHLORIDE CI 77266 / BLACK 2 CI 77000 / ALUMINUM POWDER CI 77400 / BRONZE POWDER CI 42090 / BLUE 1 LAKE CI 77510 / FERRIC FERROCYANIDE CI 77288 / CHROMIUM OXIDE GREENS CI 77820 / SILVER
Gel by essie longwear nail polish FAQs:
- No, the longwear Gel by essie system does not require a base coat. We recommend sticking to the easy 2-step system, color and top coat.
- No, you do not need a UV lamp with essie longwear gel nail polish. You can achieve gel-like results without the use of a UV light.
- essie and Gel by essie are formulated without the ingredient TPO. The use of TPO in classic nail polishes have never been permitted, therefore absent from the brand's formulas since inception.
- Easy, gentle removal: with acetone or non-acentone nail polish remover. No harsh scraping or soaking.
- Yes, essie longwear gel nail polishes are vegan, formulated without animal-derived ingredients, and all essie products are cruelty-free.
How to use longwear nail polish
Step 2 Paint
Apply 2 coats of color. No base coat needed.
Step 3 Seal
Apply 1 coat of top coat for glass-like shine. No UV lamp needed.
Shop our longwear manicure routine
"Gel by essie is the luxe choice. Everything from the bottle to the seamless application, to the extended wear is elevated." - Rita Remark, essie Global Brand Ambassador
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1 to 8 of 40 reviews .
1 – 8 of 40 reviews
most recent
1 out of 5 stars.
Too runny
a year ago
Very runny and thin. Needs at least 4 coats to be fully opaque. Not at all like gel polish. Want my money back would not buy again.
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
helpful?
response from essie:
a year ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi Keek! Thank you for sharing some personal feedback with us. We are sorry to hear that the Matter Of Fiction nail polish did not leave you with the results in which you expected. We thank you for giving this product a try as we will be passing on your comments to others in our team. We would love to assist you with finding the best suited product and shade for you, please call us directly at 1-866-313-7845, monday - friday, 9 am to 5 pm .
2 out of 5 stars.
Bad reaction to this product
a year ago
After taking this polish (#139, purchased at Target in Manhattan, NYC) off after 2.5 weeks all of my nails had white discoloration spots! I never experienced this reaction from any other brand or other Essie nail polishes. I called Essie to inform them of this issue.
Also the product is a bit too thick and is not as easy to apply evenly.
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
helpful?
response from essie:
a year ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi Iris7, we can see this wouldn’t be the result you were hoping for…and its certainly unusual for any color, including the Gel Couture color 'matter of fiction'. We're so glad you contacted us already so we could document your experience!
5 out of 5 stars.
Impressed!
4 years ago
I am seeking to eliminate as many toxins as possible. I heard that Essie is committed to this as well and love them for that. This has stayed on my toes perfectly for three weeks. It looks like gel, easy to put on and makes me feel positive due to having less toxins on my body. I used Matter of Fiction and it's the perfect, light pink shade for me. I did use three coats of color because I like it to be very opaque.
favorite essie color family?nudes
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
1 out of 5 stars.
Chips/peels easily
6 years ago
I bought this polish and the top coat about a week ago, and I've already had to apply it twice within the week. The color is nice, and I like the brush, but after one day, the polish was lifting from the tips of my nails. It was almost like tape, I could try to press it down back on my nails and hope it wouldn't catch, or I could completely peel it off. I was able to completely peel off the polish just from the small flap. I removed it completely with nail polish remover and decided to redo my nails, thinking I had messed up somehow. The same thing occurred, and after one day, there are already chips along the tips of my nails. All I've been doing is writing, so I see no reason as to why this happened. This is my first time purchasing and using essie polish, and I was really disappointed.
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
no, I do not recommend this product.
helpful?
response from essie:
6 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi there! Thanks for the feedback. We make every effort to provide the highest quality products for our consumers and want to know whenever a product does not meet your expectations. Essie pro tip: to further extend the life of your nail polish, apply a thin layer of top coat every two days after your manicure. This re-stabilizes the polish, further preventing chips, and refreshes the shine. Always remember to polish along the tip of the nail with each step. By capping the tip of each nail, the polish can hug our nail even closer, prolonging the wear of your color manicure. We hope this was helpful and you give our polishes another try!
5 out of 5 stars.
Classic color!
7 years ago
Love this shade of pale pink. What I love the most of this nail polish is the opaqueness and the creaminess of the color. I got so many compliments wearing this shade. Everyone needs this colors!
favorite essie color family?pinks
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
great to wear forwork
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Beautiful Color
7 years ago
I received this bottle of polish as a gift and I love it!
favorite essie color family?reds
type of nail polish usernovice/new user
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Love love love
7 years ago
I bought this a couple of weeks ago and I am in love. I did the mani myself and a couple of my girlfriends asked where I got my nails done, they couldn’t believe I did it myself. Highly recommend this.
favorite essie color family?pinks
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
4 out of 5 stars.
Long lasting
7 years ago
After applying the top coat, I could immediately tell the polish would hold. I didn't have to worry about them chipping. I received this product complimentary for testing purposes from Influenster.
favorite essie color family?pinks
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
1 – 8 of 40 reviews
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9 to 38 of 40 reviews .
9 – 38 of 40 reviews
most recent
4 out of 5 stars.
Love how long it lasts!
7 years ago
This is such a nice change from having to pay to go to a salon to get gel. It lasts just as long, no light needed and is a one time cost!!
favorite essie color family?pinks
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
4 out of 5 stars.
Aussie-Awesome
7 years ago
I Bought this nail polish and i fell in love with rhe colors i would recommend for all to but i purchased this with my own money
Q: goes great with this shade
A: Bluw
favorite essie color family?pinks
type of nail polish usernovice/new user
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
4 out of 5 stars.
Long lasting, beautiful color!
7 years ago
I bought this a month ago when I got engaged, the color is perfect for showing off my new ring to everyone! It’s the perfect light pink that goes with everything.
favorite essie color family?pinks
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
pink love
7 years ago
essie makes such wonderful shades & the polish lasts so long on my nails! i can go a few weeks with the same color until it starts chipping which i have never found in another nail polish before! this shade is one of absolute favorites and i would definitely definitely recxomend!♡
Q: goes great with this shade
A: nudes
favorite essie color family?pinks
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Easier polish is simply the BEST!
7 years ago
I bought my polish from Target. I absolute love the shade range. This polish last forever on my nails and I work with my hands. I love how easy the application process is. I am reviewing this polish as part of a contest.
favorite essie color family?pinks
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
FAVORITE Color!
7 years ago
I usually wear sheer polishes but I am absolutely obsessed with this color! I can wear it for a week without any sign of chips and it goes on pretty smooth for a milky, opaque polish. I have fair skin and find the color extremely flattering - some similar shades are a little too blue, but this looks great. Probably wearing this for my wedding!
favorite essie color family?pinks
type of nail polish userblogger/fashionista
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Beautiful polish
7 years ago
I love this pink! It’s the most perfect girly pink from this line. This polish took 3 coats plus the topcoat. The Gel Couture polishes last so well!!! I can easily get 7-10 days out of them!!! I purchased this polish as part of contest, but I have many other Essie Gel Couture polishes that I love just as much!!
favorite essie color family?pinks
type of nail polish userblogger/fashionista
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Fav summer color !
7 years ago
Perfect neutral ! Goes with everything, looks great with a tan too
favorite essie color family?pinks
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Pretty in pink
7 years ago
I bought this nail polish to review for a contest. Drys easily, looks amazing, color is poppin. The price is Great. So impressed with how long it lasts.
favorite essie color family?pinks
type of nail polish usernovice/new user
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
4 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
I love the formula of these polishes. The gel formula definitely has a high shine and stays on very long
Originally posted on influenster.com
4 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
I use this polish sometimes because it’s nice and simple. Easy to match with and looks nice on my hands and feet.
Originally posted on influenster.com
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
love essie nail polish, super cute with beautiful finish. i always bought nude tones , 5 star, sometimes i found at dolar tree store
Originally posted on influenster.com
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
Beautiful color with great staying power. The color is perfect for those times you want a nude-ish polish.
Originally posted on influenster.com
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
Love this line I use the top coat in this line on other polishes and I can easily get 1.5 weeks before chips
Originally posted on influenster.com
4 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
Good product! Definitely takes some getting used to as the gel polish applies differently than regular. You have to apply thin layers but after you get the hang of it, it’s great! Lasts longer than regular polish and I like that you don’t have to soak off the gel.
Originally posted on influenster.com
4 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
Nice color nice formula but it still chipped on my nails but I haven’t found one that doesn’t
Originally posted on influenster.com
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
I love this nail polish it is gel and it stays on for a really really really long time and I really think that everyone to get it
Originally posted on influenster.com
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
My sister received this from influenster and I am in love. A good value, dries quick and lasts up to 14 days! Love the packaging and very original shape. Recommend it!
Originally posted on influenster.com
3 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
Not sure about essie’s gel couture, i have tried it once and not sure about the color wasn’t the same color as the bottle, very much lighter than i thought. Pretty decent pricing.
Originally posted on influenster.com
response from essie:
7 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi Kelly! Thank you for your feedback! We recommend trying our haute to trot. This is a longwear, handcrafted lavender rose. We hope you check it out!
4 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
I love their color variety and how long they last. And then that is completely amazing I received a few in my boxycharm subscription and I use them all the time
Originally posted on influenster.com
4 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
I personally don't like to get gel manicures because my nails are already weak, so being able to use a gel polish was amazing. The gel polish did last a little longer than a regular nail polish which is ideal. I would love to try in other colors.
Originally posted on influenster.com
5 out of 5 stars.
Long lasting
7 years ago
I usually use gel with the lights, but sometimes I just want easy removal. I thought I’d try this because I loved the color, but was skeptical because these types re usually streaky and too sheer. I was really surprised at how well this applied with just two coats and dried fairly quickly. Lasted 6 days before I got a tiny chip at the tip.
favorite essie color family?pinks
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
1 out of 5 stars.
Comes off within a day
7 years ago
Bought it at Target about a month ago. I thought I had my new love. Since then I had to repaint my nails 3-5 times a week. Could be more but who has time for that? Streaky, bubbles and it comes off within hours of application. Yes, Customer Service, I apply two coats over clean nails, followed by the platinum top coat you recommend. It is pretty pricy especially when you consider the hassle. Old bottle?
favorite essie color family?nudes
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 Kc333! Thanks for reaching out to us today! Feedback from our consumers is very important to us and helps us improve all of our products! We apologize that you did not end up liking this product and appreciate you sharing your experience! We thank you for giving this product a try as we will be passing on your comments to others in our team.
2 out of 5 stars.
What is wrong with this???
7 years ago
I thought I was in love with Essie gel couture polish-my initial experience was great...fairy Taylor....sheer perfect polish-& it lasted forever! So I brought matter of fiction—-WHAT a streaky mess!!! Tried 3 different times to get good results-yuck. What a waste of money.
favorite essie color family?sheers
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! Thank you sharing with us some feedback on our Gel Couture Polish. For the best results, we recommend applying two coats on bare, clean nails. If you would like to further discuss this experience, please give us a call at 1-866-313-7845 Monday - Friday, 9 am to 5 pm (est).
5 out of 5 stars.
Lasts over 14 days!
8 years ago
This really does last 14 days. My nails started chipping around that time. My toes still looked great after 3-4 weeks. Will definitely buy more colors!
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.
Best Gel Nail Polish I've Found!
8 years ago
This gel polish is awesome. I bought it with the top coat at Target and was going to take it back because I had buyer's remorse about spending so much on nail polish, but I thought I would give it a try. I'm so glad I did! I'm on day 5 of this polish and I just now chipped my thumb nail (which is what reminded me to review). The nice thing about this nail polish is that it just peels right off! I used to use Sally Hansen Miracle Gel polish and now I'll never go back! While that stays on for a few days, once it starts chipping it chips badly and is so hard and messy to get off! I have a feeling I'll just peel this polish right off! Also, as far as this color-- I applied 2-3 coats and got a really pretty pale pink! I'm considering just using this polish instead of going to get a manicure for my engagement photo session. It's that good!
favorite essie color family?reds
type of nail polish userblogger/fashionista
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Long Lasting Beautiful Color
8 years ago
I have tried dozens of gel nail polish systems and by far Essie’s gel couture has been the best.
The gentle pink color made my nails look like a fresh French manicure, which is perfect for everyday wear or any special event.
I am most impressed with how smoothly it went on, how strong it is, and it lasted me about 10 days. Not bad!
I look forward to trying other colors, and just so you know I did receive this polish for testing purposes for free!
Q: goes great with this shade
A: Gel Top Coat
favorite essie color family?pinks
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
LOVE IT!
8 years ago
I bought this color to use in a wedding this upcoming weekend. Beautiful Color, Polish was smooth and applied well. Due to it being such a light color, I did need three coats before the top coat. It is pretty fast-drying as well.
favorite essie color family?pinks
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
4 out of 5 stars.
Polish is great, but the color is just ok.
8 years ago
I was excited to try Essie's new gel couture collection. The brush shape is awesome and the polish is easy to apply, but the color wasn't great on my pale winter hands. It's hard to distinguish between my finger and my nail. Ha! I might enjoy it more in summer. The polish itself is going strong after three days already. Color me impressed!
favorite essie color family?grays
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
3 out of 5 stars.
Quality good but not color
8 years ago
The shape of the bottle is actually intuitive and easy to hold on to while painting your nails. The overall quality of the product is great but the color was too sheer for my personal liking. If that's the look you're going for then this shade is for you. You need at least 3 coats to get an opaque look. *I received this product free for testing purposes.
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
response from essie:
8 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi carissa36! Thank you for sharing with us some feedback on our Gel Couture Polish. We are sorry to hear that this shade did not suit you.. We thank you for giving this product a try as we will be sharing your feedback to the rest of our team!
9 – 38 of 40 reviews