Average rating includes incentivized reviews gel by essie

Fairy Tailor

A longwear, sheer nude pink.

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 Polish

NAIL TYPE: Gel by essie Longwear Nail Polish is ideal for consumers looking for a chip-resistant manicure, with no UV needed.
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.
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:

Yes, our gel-like nail system is designed to work as an easy 2-step routine to deliver the intended 15-days of longwear and high shine; Step 1: Gel by essie color coat followed by Step 2: Gel by essie top coat. Using the two polishes together maximizes performance.
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.
Gel by essie longwear nail polish is formulated to be chip resitant with extended wear up to 15-days, and with a gel-like, high shine finish without the need of a UV lamp. Original essie nail polish is a traditional lacquer formula, offering normal wear performance.
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 1 Prep

Prep cuticles, nail, and skin with Ready. Prep. Go. Advanced Cuticle Remover.

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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overall rating

4.3

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1 to 8 of 165 reviews .

1 – 8 of 165 reviews

3 out of 5 stars.

Good until it wasn’t

20 days ago

These were my favorite about a year ago. If you do all the manicure/pedicure prep, painted your nails and let them properly curate and dry w/ the clear layer too, they lasted chip-free for about 3 weeks. But now you can’t use the color polish more than three times without it getting chunky. I’m so fed up with companies not making anything to last these days. I bought a color 2 months ago c used it twice, and it’s already creating bubbles in my nails.

type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist

helpful?

response from essie:

20 days ago

Consumer Care Center

Hi there Cfrench, We hear your frustration loud and clear, and we are so sorry that your recent experience hasn't lived up to the high standards you’ve come to expect from us. Hearing that a color you’ve only had for two months is already bubbling and thickening is definitely not the quality we strive for and should not be happening. 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.

nice if you give it a try

a month ago

Originally I hated this shade. I bought it on amazon so I didn't know how sheer it would be, but if you use a few more coats its no longer sheer and its the prettiest shade of pink so I would def recommend it if you willing to give it a fair try.

type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist

helpful?

1 out of 5 stars.

Not gel 😭🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥

8 months ago

I went to the store looking for help nail polish. I assumed the Essie nail polish labeled gel couture was in fact gel. I brought it home still assuming it was gel. I put it on and under the UV light again assuming it was gel. It was taking a long time to cure and it started peeling off, I don't know if the UV lamp was the reason it started peeling or if it was the nail polish. The label was lying and if you were hoping for gel nail polish DO NOT BUY

Q: goes great with this shade

A: Idk

favorite essie color family?pinks

type of nail polish usernail art lover

great to wear foreveryday

no, I do not recommend this product.

helpful?

response from essie:

8 months ago

Consumer Care Center

Hi Mollypoop., thank you for sharing your experience with our Fairy Tailor. We are sorry to hear that you were looking to purchase a salon gel. The gel couture nail enamels and top coat are applied like a classic nailcolor, no UV or LED lamps needed. Removal is just as easy, use your polish remover just like you would with a classic nail color.

5 out of 5 stars.

Fairy Tailor is the best sheer pink color

a year ago

Two coats and it's a lovely French nude. 3 or 4 coats and you'll get a very nice healthy looking nails. This is the color I've been searching for and I'm so happy it exists. I think this color flatters every skin tone. Essie please make sure this color never discontinues!

favorite essie color family?pinks

type of nail polish userregular/average

great to wear foreveryday

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

1 out of 5 stars.

Disappointing

a year ago

I really thought I’d found my new go-to nail polish . love the color, it’s very easy to use, doesnt Chip easily… Great- on day 1. On day 2 it already Starts to get a very prominent yellow-ish undertone so my Hands/ Nails Look awful and Id have to remove the color the very Next day already. I am very dissappointed.

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:

a year ago

Consumer Care Center

Hey there! Thank you for your feedback on our Fairy Tailor, we are sad to hear that this did not meet your expectations,and chipped. We understand that this can be frustrating, and we will share this information with our production team. We hope that you will continue to try and use our products with satisfaction in the future.

5 out of 5 stars.

this polish helps my weak nails so much!

a year ago

This is the first polish I've ever gone through a full bottle of. I was looking for a longwear, neutral polish that would go with anything but still hold up to daily handwashing and cleaning chemicals at my childcare job. My nails have always been brittle, flaky and weak, but this polish has helped me keep them long for up to a few weeks at a time! It lasts for almost a week on my nails, is easy to remove and looks good with either one or two coats! As I near the bottom of the bottle it's gotten a little thick and harder to apply, but I suspect that's because I've used it so often that it's spent too much time exposed to air. I love love love this polish and plan to buy it again!

Q: goes great with this shade

A: base coat & gel couture top coat!

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.

Dreamy, elegant and straight out of a fairy-tale

2 years ago

Cant stop gushing over my nails...such a beautiful shade!

favorite essie color family?pinks

type of nail polish userspecial occasions only

great to wear forweddings

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

5 out of 5 stars.

Gorgeous milky sheer

2 years ago

Fairy Tailor is the perfect sheer polish for my cool olive skin. It’s sheer but slightly milky, so it hides all the little imperfections in my nails in just two coats and makes them shine. This shade makes my nails look polished, clean, flawless, like I’ve just had a French manicure—or like I don’t actually need one. It looks best on longer nails, where I can see my natural nail tips through it (I never use it when my nails are short). The wide brush is very forgiving, and two swipes will cover most of my nails. I do coat the top edge of my nails to stop any chipping, and I also use the “dot of polish” application method for a flawless finish. With this, my nails stay perfect for at least a week: I change my polish weekly, but I’m sure it would last another week if I left it. This is the perfect shade for work, weddings, dates, anything really. It’s my go-to shade, and I already need to buy a second bottle!

Q: goes great with this shade

A: Mademoiselle, Ballet Slippers

favorite essie color family?sheers

type of nail polish userregular/average

great to wear foreveryday

helpful?

1 – 8 of 165 reviews

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9 to 38 of 165 reviews .

9 – 38 of 165 reviews

5 out of 5 stars.

Great colour, quality brush perfect nude hue

3 years ago

I have been using Essie Ballet Slippers in regular colour and tried Essie Fairy Tailor in the Gel couture range for a change and love the colour, the application was superb however I required 3 coats to get an even streak free finish. Fairy Tailor is The Perfect, most amazing slightly pinky sheer nude - the IT colour of now. I sealed my colour with the Essie Gel Setter clear top coat.

Q: goes great with this shade

A: Essie Ballet Slippers and Top Coat

favorite essie color family?nudes

type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist

great to wear foreveryday

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

1 out of 5 stars.

Do not recommend!

3 years ago

I bought this nail polish because I love the color but when I put it on I was so disappointed in how much bubbles starting coming out so quickly and white spots. Didn’t even dry up so quick it would take hours to dry up… So disappointed

favorite essie color family?pinks

type of nail polish usernovice/new user

no, I do not recommend this product.

helpful?

response from essie:

3 years ago

consumer care center

Hi there Carla! We want to understand what happened just as much as you do. Nothing in your description of this color sounds right for any essie nail enamels. All our nail color should look perfect by the second coat. The gel couture colors should dry in about 5 minutes and none of the nail colors should leave bubbles. If you would like to speak to us directly about your recent purchase, give us a call @ 866-313-7845

5 out of 5 stars.

Very classy

4 years ago

I often like my nails short and suitable and this polish is perfect for when my nails are short. I like the barely there color but the slightest pink and very shiny. Also with my pale skin the color is a nice understated look. I don't love it when my nails are long, but when they are short it is perfect. The longevity of the gel couture line cannot be beat.

favorite essie color family?pinks

type of nail polish userregular/average

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

2 out of 5 stars.

Already chipped….

4 years ago

When I bought this nail polish I didn’t realize how sheer it was. I did 4-5 coats to make it opaque and the one coat of the topcoat. I painted my nails on Thursday and it is now Sunday.

type of nail polish userregular/average

no, I do not recommend this product.

helpful?

response from essie:

4 years ago

Consumer Care Center

Hi Makayla! We are sorry to hear the shade Fairy Tailor appeared too sheer on your nails and chipped. We strive to provide our consumers with products they love and always want to know if a product does not meet expectations. Your feedback is very valuable to us and will be shared with the rest of our team. In the meantime, we hope you give our other polishes a try! We have a feeling you may benefit from using a bolder shade such as the the it-factor. https://tinyurl.com/yeef3qvb We think you will love it! Thank you again for reaching out.

5 out of 5 stars.

The polish I've been looking for all my life!

5 years ago

I just painted my nails yesterday, so I don't know how durable they will be, but everything else is AMAZING! The color is just what I was looking for, it is sheer, but two layers make it this just perfect milky pink, it dries quickly, and the application is so easy, this is the first time in my life I have managed to make my nails look this good with minimal effort! I am so in love with this product, I'm throwing away all my other polishes!

favorite essie color family?sheers

type of nail polish userspecial occasions only

great to wear foreveryday

helpful?

5 out of 5 stars.

Best gel polish

5 years ago

I used to use OPI and tried essie for the first time. I really like the quality of color and the top coat shine go hand in hand. I can’t wait to try out other colors I think their advertisement is pretty accurate.

favorite essie color family?corals

type of nail polish userregular/average

great to wear foreveryday

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

5 out of 5 stars.

Best polish

6 years ago

This is the best polish I’ve ever used so far. No streaks. Pretty sheer pink! Used 3 coats then 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.

Pleasently surprised

6 years ago

Looks good. Hope it lasts. Will be looking for more shades .

favorite essie color family?nudes

type of nail polish userregular/average

great to wear foreveryday

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

4 out of 5 stars.

Mostly what I expected!

6 years ago

I purchased this nail polish a few weeks ago and have applied a fresh coat once a week. It lasts pretty long considering that I work a lot with my hands (I am a chemist) and I appreciate that the most! My only criticism is that the polish is a bit lighter than I expected, since the product’s pictures give the idea that you’re buying a more “milky” pink rather than a sheer pink.

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.

Bought but didn't realize it was sheer

7 years ago

Great color. I would only recommend one slightly thicker coat before the top coat in order to minimize streaks. I didn't realize this was sheer and that's on me.

Q: goes great with this shade

A: Gel top coat

favorite essie color family?nudes

type of nail polish usernovice/new user

great to wear foreveryday

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

5 out of 5 stars.

7 years ago

I love this line from Essie! The twisted bottle is aesthetically pleasing and I like the packaging. This shade is also gorgeous. I frequently receive complements on my nails when I wear this! I’d buy again.

Originally posted on influenster.com

5 out of 5 stars.

7 years ago

I seriously only buy Essie gel couture. They are the best nail polishes. Short fat brush makes it go on smooth and lasts forever

Originally posted on influenster.com

4 out of 5 stars.

7 years ago

In terms of at home nails, this lasts the longest. Tons of cute colors and the top coat really seals the color and makes it last longer than the average do it yourself mani

Originally posted on influenster.com

5 out of 5 stars.

7 years ago

Who doesn't love essie? This nail polish goes on smoothly and covers extremely well with even one coat. The color is gorgeous and I adore it. Essie nail polish is extremely good quality and my manicure looks great for at least a week or more. I definitely recommend last nail polish

Originally posted on influenster.com

3 out of 5 stars.

7 years ago

i think the nail polishes by essie are alright but really nothing more than that, the price is definitely too high

Originally posted on influenster.com

response from essie:

7 years ago

Consumer Care Center

Hi Melissa! Thank you for your feedback on our fairy tailor! All of our feedback from our consumers is very important to us and helps us improve our products. We appreciate it!

4 out of 5 stars.

7 years ago

Tried this Essie gel couture fairy tailor polish one time. Needed a nice add of shine to my nails and thx to my friend having this handy I was able to get exactly what I thought was

Originally posted on influenster.com

5 out of 5 stars.

7 years ago

Essie is the best nailpolish brand i have ever used. The colors they have are amazing. And it s very long lasting. And the bottle is so nice. I also love their packaging. Very classy indeed

Originally posted on influenster.com

4 out of 5 stars.

7 years ago

Beautiful color, nice polishes! It 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

Love this nail polish! It's a beautiful shade that makes me want to be a princess for a day! Such a girlie shade! This color looks amazing on my nails!

Originally posted on influenster.com

5 out of 5 stars.

7 years ago

This is not the exact color I used but the one I did use stied super fast and lasted very long. I was shook because usually all the nail colors I buy are pricey and they dry so slow. I totally recommend essie!

Originally posted on influenster.com

5 out of 5 stars.

7 years ago

I love this formula. It dries and applies nicely. This polish lasts close to 5-6 days on me. Beautiful color!

Originally posted on influenster.com

4 out of 5 stars.

Way more than 2 coats

7 years ago

I bought this a couple days ago and was really excited about the color. I did like it a lot, but it took about 4-5 coats to become truly opaque. I would buy again, but was a bit dissapointed it was really sheer. Besides that, it was a great color and dryed fairly quick allowing me to put on the many coats in a decent amount of time.

favorite essie color family?blues

type of nail polish usernail art lover

great to wear foreveryday

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

4 out of 5 stars.

Great for at home manicures!

8 years ago

I tried this product out and I really enjoyed it! First off I love the light sheer pink color,it’s so pretty and my kind of shade. It was easy to apply just needed 2 coats. The topcoat made it so shiny and looked liked I got my nails done at the salon when I did it right from my own home. It lasted a little over a week which is pretty good for polish! I definitely want to try out other colors from this line.

favorite essie color family?nudes

type of nail polish userregular/average

great to wear foreveryday

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

4 out of 5 stars.

Cute Color! Definitely sheer

8 years ago

This is such a pretty, delicate color - a slightly milky nude pink. I've been on a delicate kick lately so I really liked this one. The brush applicator made it super easy to apply, which is good because I had to apply about 3-4 coats to get the color I wanted. If you're into sheer color, this is definitely for you. If you want a bit more opacity, all you need to do is add more coats! The coats dried pretty quickly so my didn't feel gunky or thick with the extra coats on. I used this polish with the essie gel couture top coat and it lasted about 3 days without chipping and a whole 10 days before I got bored and chipped it off. This was my first time applying nail polish in about 8 months, so my application around my cuticles was a little rough but I included a (filtered, but solid representation) picture for y'all! I received this polish complimentary for the purpose of testing

favorite essie color family?nudes

type of nail polish userregular/average

great to wear foreveryday

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

4 out of 5 stars.

Perfect nude color!

8 years ago

This color is perfect for spring and around the office! The formula lasts noticeably longer than regular nail polish and doesn’t chip as easily. I received this for free from influenster.

Q: goes great with this shade

A: Gel top coat

favorite essie color family?nudes

type of nail polish userregular/average

great to wear forwork

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

3 out of 5 stars.

Fast, easy application

8 years ago

I usually prefer darker colors, but this does look good on longer nails. The first time i wore this polish and top coat, it lasted a week with almost no chipping. Second time, i was able to peel the polish off in large pieces after a few days. No idea what i did differently. But it does look nice. I received this polish and top coat complimentary for review.

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?

response from essie:

8 years ago

Consumer Care Center

Hi naturallight11! Thank you for sharing with us some feedback on our Gel Couture Polish. We are sorry to hear that you did not get the results in which you expected the second time around. For the best results, we recommend applying two coats on bare, clean nails and follow up with the Gel Couture Top Coat.

5 out of 5 stars.

Nice

8 years ago

This polish is a pretty color to use. Spring is here and this color says it all. I just wish it would show more without 5 coats. I received this free for testing.

Q: goes great with this shade

A: Clear top coat

favorite essie color family?purples

type of nail polish userregular/average

great to wear foreveryday

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

3 out of 5 stars.

Great color

8 years ago

The color is one of those sheer pinky colors. I am a fan of those colors along with nudes. When I received this color I was excited to try it and I loved it after I applied it.

type of nail polish userregular/average

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

response from essie:

8 years ago

Consumer Care Center

Hi Sunny09! Thank you for sharing with us some feedback on our Gel Couture Polish. We are happy to hear that you enjoyed using the product and hope you will continue to do so with great satisfaction!

4 out of 5 stars.

Very Sheer polish

8 years ago

I love Essie nail polish. I received this polish in an Influenster box with free samples. I applied two coats of polish. Still very very sheer and see through. Really not my color preference but great quality polish.

Q: goes great with this shade

A: 00 topcoat

favorite essie color family?nudes

type of nail polish userregular/average

great to wear foreveryday

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

4 out of 5 stars.

Naturally Pink easy to love

8 years ago

I am just head over heels about this color! Its naturally pink, its wonderful alone (with 2 coats) or a French mani (with 1 coat). I was amazed how quickly the coats dried! The brush is thick and broad and coated much of my nail in one stroke, so evenly I wont deny I was worried at first but I wasn't dissatisfied! I didn't experience with using this well over a month is no clips. To me it looked like a pro gel mani and removal was a breeze! I recieved this complementary of Influenster.

Q: goes great with this shade

A: French Mani

favorite essie color family?nudes

type of nail polish userregular/average

great to wear foreveryday

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

9 – 38 of 165 reviews