Step 1 Prep
Prep cuticles, nail, and skin with Ready. Prep. Go. Advanced Cuticle Remover.
Sheer Fantasy
A longwear, graceful sheer pink.
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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.
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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
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 125 reviews .
1 – 8 of 125 reviews
most recent
5 out of 5 stars.
Favorite "everday" polish
27 days ago
Most of the time, I just want a nail polish that looks subtle, but elegant. Sheer Fantasy is exactly that - it's that little bit of "you, but better." I can wear a single coat with a matte topcoat to look like I'm not wearing polish at all, or I can layer it to build up the color. Versatility win!
Q: goes great with this shade
A: Shiny Topcoat Gel
favorite essie color family?sheers
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
1 out of 5 stars.
Sheer fantasy nail polish- formula
10 months ago
I was very excited to try this nail polish and I followed the directions on application. And the formula does not dry compared to other formulas of this companuy
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
helpful?
response from essie:
10 months ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi there Danicat, we want to understand what happened just as much as you do. Each coat for the Gel Couture should take about 5 minutes to dry. Be sure you apply this color to bare nails and skip any base coat. 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.
Your nails only better!
11 months ago
A sheer light milky pink color that I can still see the whites of my nails through. I am fair skinned and this would make a natural French manicure easy. It's like your nails but better! The shine is unbelievable but what i wasnt expecting was the strength it added to my nails! I did use Gel Setter top coat and that may have added to the strength. Will be buying other colors.
favorite essie color family?pinks
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
great to wear foreveryday
helpful?
1 out of 5 stars.
Wouldn’t dry even after 10 minutes
a year ago
I wouldn’t recommend wouldn’t dry waited for over 10 minutes in between layers and top coat and they dented like melted off
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
great to wear foreveryday
no, I do not recommend this product.
helpful?
response from essie:
a year ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi Amy8146, We want to understand what happened just as much as you do. Each coat should only take 5 minutes for each coat to dry. 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
4 out of 5 stars.
Great neutral
2 years ago
Love this polish. Smooth, everyday neutral. I used 3 coats and 2 of top coat. Smooth application and fast drying. I gave 4 stars because it became a little more baby doll pink than had hoped with third coat.
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.
Simply great
2 years ago
Most perfect color. Easy to aply. Stronger than regular polish
favorite essie color family?sheers
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Favorite sheer
2 years ago
I do 3 layers of color and two layers of top coat with this one. Looks so glassy and dries perfectly. My favorite go-to for work. Sheers are my favorite polish. Looks so squishy and the very light pink color is flattering on many skin tones. Would love a more white version of this one for a marshmallow vibe.
favorite essie color family?sheers
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
1 out of 5 stars.
Terrible
2 years ago
Maybe if you apply it with the top coat in the morning and then don’t touch anything else FOR THE REST OF THE DAY, your manicure will still look good. The polish got all mushed overnight, despite giving it 3 hours to set. Also this color needs a minimum of 3 coats to not be completely translucent on the nail.
type of nail polish userspecial occasions only
no, I do not recommend this product.
helpful?
response from essie:
2 years ago
consumer care
Hi there Nasha… We want to understand what happened just as much as you do. The Gel Couture longwear colors should take about 5 minutes to dry. The color Sheer Fantasy should be a sheer pink nail polish. However, Gel Couture is also available in opaque pinks like the shade Matter of Fiction. 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 – 8 of 125 reviews
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9 to 38 of 125 reviews .
9 – 38 of 125 reviews
most recent
5 out of 5 stars.
Perfect sheer nude for cool toned complexions
2 years ago
Nude shades are usually too warm on me. Even Fairy Tailor is a too warm. This shade is perfectly “my nails but better” with just 1 coat. And the formula has excellent durability. I can get a whole week without chips, peeling, or scratches. The brush shape even lets clumsy me get a near perfect polish even with my non-dominant hand.
Q: goes great with this shade
A: Gel Couture Top Coat
favorite essie color family?sheers
type of nail polish usernovice/new user
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
The PERFECT sheer polish!
2 years ago
I have Sheer Fantasy and Fairy Tailor in the gel line, and love both; but Fairy Tailor is more peach and opaque than this shade. Sheer Fantasy is a truly sheer polish (no shimmer) with a “your nails but better” look that’s absolutely perfect for everyday wear. It looks great on long nails in particular. One coat is barely visible, but two coats is enough to give the impression of a very lightly pink French manicure (but it’s not opaque enough to hide stains or imperfections in the nail, so be aware). It’s such a classic look, perfect for a Grace Kelly style outfit. If you don’t need color with your outfit, and just want to look like you were born with perfect nails, this is your shade. It’s quite similar to Mademoiselle from the regular Essie line, with a very faint milkiness after two coats. Gorgeous.
Note: I have cool olive skin.
Q: goes great with this shade
A: Fairy Tailor, Ballet Slippers.
favorite essie color family?reds
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
4 out of 5 stars.
Nice but more colorful than in the photos
3 years ago
This applies very smoothly, but it's more a cool bubblegum pink, versus the relative neutral than I'm seeing in the photos. I will have to layer it with Mademoiselle (which I also like but is too yellow). I should have purchased Fairy Tailor but I thought it would be too peachy. Probably would have looked more neutral on my warm skin.
favorite essie color family?sheers
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
The perfect sheer nail polish!
3 years ago
I’m really into this two-step gel couture line! Sheer fantasy is so gorgeous, and the perfect shade of a sheer natural pink. I only used three coats and one coat of the topcoat, which is also stunning! The gloss is unreal. Overall it really looks like a gel manicure! I’m really satisfied with these products.
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.
The perfect sheer link
4 years ago
I finally found the right sheer pink! Great for a neutral look or a base for French tips.
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 all time color!
4 years ago
This is my go to for natural, milk glass look. By far my#1 shade.
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Long lasting!
5 years ago
bought the black long lasting shade since im not working during the current situation and can't wear black nail polish. I was super satisfied with the long longevity of the polish. Decided to buy a more natural shade and im very satisfied with the colour and with proper nail prep and application it really does look like a gel manicure. I used the here to stay base coat, 2 coats of sheer fantasy and then their top coat from the long lasting line. Really satisfied :)
Q: goes great with this shade
A: Base coat and top coat!
favorite essie color family?sheers
type of nail polish userspecial occasions only
great to wear forwork
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Finally a perfect sheer
7 years ago
Not a girly girl. Job requires box opening and removing cellophane wrapping from lots of things. Disastrous for nail color. After four days still looking good. Right index finger is the only one showing any wear, even that is minimal. With one more coat of the top coat I should be able to get a week out of this color. About the color, it's a perfect glossy bare pink. I can't wait to try the fairy tailor color for a perfect beige glossy bare color.
favorite essie color family?nudes
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear forwork
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Exactly what I wanted
7 years ago
I love sheer polishes. It seems unfair that some gave this polish a 1-star rating just because it’s sheer...if you didn’t want sheer maybe choose something that isn’t named SHEER Fantasy. It’s beautiful.
favorite essie color family?sheers
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Wonderful product!
7 years ago
I have been using this polish weekly for at least 3 months and have not been disappointed. It stays on with absolute perfection for 5-6 days. The seventh shows some chipping, but because the color is so close to my nail color it doesn’t show wear. I have never received so many compliments and I polish my nails myself. In addition, my nails are growing so well, that I have to file them to get my preferred length. I would like to try a whiter color like, Dress Is More, but was unable to find it. Application is easy with the brush style and it dries faster than any other polish I’ve ever used. I used 3 coats plus top coat.
Q: goes great with this shade
A: Top Coat
favorite essie color family?sheers
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Beautiful
7 years ago
I’ve been through a whole bottle of this color and love it ! Applying 4 coats gives you a more pink tone. It is so worth buying these ! The formula is super long lasting and dries quickly!
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.
Great color, long lasting!
7 years ago
This color has the perfect amount of sheer with enough coverage to make your nails look flawless. It is not as dark pink as the photos would indicate. A fresh, clean look!
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.
Love it!
8 years ago
Received in an Influenster box and loved it. The color was pretty and went on very well. Great for everyday wear. Looks good with glitter.
Q: goes great with this shade
A: Top coat
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.
Great wear!
8 years ago
I love love loved the color! Although, it is a sheer so if you want it to really pop, you have to add several coats. It gave off the look of gel- like salon done nails. Great quality and it lasted about 2 weeks for me! I received this product free for testing but opinions are my own. :)
favorite essie color family?purples
type of nail polish userblogger/fashionista
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
2 out of 5 stars.
Not for me
8 years ago
This polish was so sheer I could not tell a difference even with 3 coats. Because I layered it up so much it peeled after a couple days. I think that maybe some of the other colors would be a better fit, but for what I look for in a polish this was not a good product for me. The brush is nice, and the consistency is smooth, so I’m sure that a cookie with more pigment would be good. Disclaimer- I received this product for free in exchange for a honest review
favorite essie color family?purples
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
great to wear forwork
no, I do not recommend this product.
helpful?
response from essie:
8 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi CLP5! 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 it a try as we will be passing on your comments to others in our team.
5 out of 5 stars.
Cute color
8 years ago
I received this complimentary from Influenster for my honest review. I love this color. It is a simple pastel pink that closely resembles my nails natural color. It evens out my existing color and give some uniformity. Easy to apply. Long lasting.
favorite essie color family?pinks
type of nail polish usernovice/new user
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Nice subtle
8 years ago
The color is sheer and subtle and provides with a more natural look. The color dries quickly and stays on longer than the average polish like salon quality
type of nail polish userregular/average
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
4 out of 5 stars.
Nice, smooth look
8 years ago
I just got this color for free from Influenster for testing. I love the way it feel so light. The applicator brush is very soft. I also, loved the gel look.
favorite essie color family?sheers
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear forweddings
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
4 out of 5 stars.
Great color!
8 years ago
Color is super sheer but really beautiful. The perfect color to wear everyday and transition into night. The flatter brush held just enough product to do each nail so you didn't have to keep dipping back into the bottle. Only disappointment was that it seemed like it took longer to dry. I received this product for free for my review.
favorite essie color family?sheers
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
4 out of 5 stars.
Sheer Fantasy Review
8 years ago
I received this product from Influenster to review. I love the packaging first off, the bottles are so cute!
I love having my nails done but hate how they chip so quickly so I was excited to try this product out. Unfortunately this color was not one I would normally love, because it's so sheer. I feel like you can't really see it on my nails. But overall the product is great and I will be buying more colors!
favorite essie color family?pinks
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
3 out of 5 stars.
Very sheer
8 years ago
It's a very sheer light pink. A bit underwhelming really. I applied two coats and it looks like it could be my natural nail color (but slightly pinker of course) with added shine. Best used as a base coat IMO. If your job doesn't allow bright bold nail polish colors, this one will definitely be acceptable. Overall, amazing formula but wish the color payoff was better. I received this product for free complementary from Influenster for reviewing purposes.
type of nail polish userspecial occasions only
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
response from essie:
8 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi velinda! Thank you for sharing with us some feedback on our Polish Shade Sheer Fantasy. We are sorry to hear that this shade was a bit too light for your liking. However, we are happy to hear that you loved the formula! We thank you for giving it a try as we will be passing on your comments to others in our team.
4 out of 5 stars.
A Long lasting Great millennial pink
8 years ago
This is one of my favorite colors, also known as millennial pink. I received this product complimentary of Influenster, but all thoughts are my own. My ONLY dislike about the product is that it takes many many coats to get an actual color to pop up on my nail. Granted, the color is “sheer” but that isn’t my style, but it’s noteworthy that after several coats, you do have a beautiful color and it’s not clumpy.
Q: goes great with this shade
A: The top coat to make it Gel
favorite essie color family?grays
type of nail polish userspecial occasions only
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
4 out of 5 stars.
Sheer
8 years ago
I received this color in a VoxBox from Influenster. It is a nice color. I’m not a fan of sheer colors. I like my nail being fully covered by color. I have to put many coats to get the coverage I wanted. The nail polish did last longer than normal nail polish with the top coat.
type of nail polish userregular/average
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Long-lasting and pretty sheer color
8 years ago
This color is not one that I would usually choose for myself, but it is a really pretty sheer pink that does require at least 2 or 3 coats in order to be somewhat opaque. The brush has a rounded shape which makes it easy to paint on, and the quality is amazing! I work in a lab and was not expecting it to hold up, but it has been over a week and there are no chips or peeling at all! I received this product for free for testing purposes.
favorite essie color family?corals
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
4 out of 5 stars.
Pretty Light Pink
8 years ago
This is a really sheer light pink. If you'd like it to show up more you have to apply 2-3 coats, one coat isn't enough. I really like essie new line of gel polishes. The color lasts longer than the regular polish but not as long as a regular gel manicure at the salon. There is an instant gel-like shine and your nails feel just a little harder than they would with regular polish on top! All opinions are my own. I received this product for free to test through influenster.
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.
Your nails but better
8 years ago
Sheer color, good for a French manicure or maybe a conservative work place. Either way, I wore this for over a week to work without chips. It's great if you want some color and shine on your nails but not too much. I did receive this from influenster complimentary for review
Q: goes great with this shade
A: Gel couture top coat
favorite essie color family?blues
type of nail polish userregular/average
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
4 out of 5 stars.
Perfect "your nails but better" color
8 years ago
I did receive this as complimentary from influenster but I will give you my honest opinion. The color is very sheer (as indicated by the shade bame). That being said, I love this for an everyday color. It stayed pretty chip free for about a week used in conjunction with the gel couture top coat. I would recommend this but if I were purchasing, I would purchase in a bolder color.
Q: goes great with this shade
A: Gel couture top coat
favorite essie color family?corals
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear forwork
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
3 out of 5 stars.
This is not the color for me
8 years ago
The color isn't for me, I mean, look at the picture! The appearance of this gel couture is cute and all, but... the lasting power made me sad. If you are a busy woman, this product won't survive the house work. I washed the dishes once and that's it
favorite essie color family?reds
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday
no, I do not recommend this product.
helpful?
response from essie:
8 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi Alexaris! Thank you for sharing with us some feedback on our Polish Sheer Fantasy. We are sorry to hear that this product did not meet your expectations. We thank you for giving it a try as we will be passing on your comments to others in our team.
2 out of 5 stars.
Great Product, Bad color
8 years ago
I will admit that this lasted FOREVER! but this color was not ideal. i tried seeral coats in order to get the color as it's shown on the bottle. & Never came close. It is more or a light peach.
favorite essie color family?nudes
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
response from essie:
8 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi there! Thank you for sharing with us some feedback on our Polish Sheer Fantasy. We are sorry to hear that this product shade did not suit you. We thank you for giving it a try as we will be passing on your comments to others in our team.
3 out of 5 stars.
Could be better
8 years ago
I’ve received this in my Influenster box. At first, the color looked really pink in the bottle but it’s actually very sheer. I had to do like 3 coats for it to be opaque. Long lasting? Not for me. The polish chipped the next day.
favorite essie color family?nudes
type of nail polish userspecial occasions only
great to wear forweddings
no, I do not recommend this product.
helpful?
response from essie:
8 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi Jen7! Thank you for sharing with us some feedback on our Polish Sheer Fantasy. We are sorry to hear that this product did not meet your expectations. We thank you for giving it a try as we will be passing on your comments to others in our team.
9 – 38 of 125 reviews