Average rating includes incentivized reviews gel by essie

Pre-Show Jitters

Don’t freak out – chill out. This longwear, alabaster white nail polish smoothes everything over with a touch of cool.


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.

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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14 reviews with 5 stars.
4 reviews with 4 stars.
0 reviews with 3 stars.
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3 reviews with 1 star.

overall rating

4.1

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1 to 8 of 22 reviews .
1 – 8 of 22 reviews

Streaky and just bad

a year ago
[Employee of essie] Not opaque. Looks so shotty and streaky. Totally unflattering.
Q: goes great with this shade
A: Top coat
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
great to wear foreveryday

no, I do not recommend this product.

  • Review photo 1.
  • Review photo 2.
  • Pre-show jitters plus blushed metal topcoat
helpful?
response from essie:
11 months ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi Amynails ! Thank you for sharing your experience with the Pre-Show Jitters '. We can imagine how frustrating it is seeing streaks when applying your nail color... but all essie nail enamels should look perfect by the second coat. So don't fret that first coat !

Beautiful Color!

a year ago
10/10!!! So beautiful! A perfect white! I love the color looks so good on my skin tone!
favorite essie color family?reds
type of nail polish userblogger/fashionista
great to wear foreveryday

yes, I recommend this product.

  • Review photo 1.
helpful?

Terrible

a year ago
absolutely terrible. It goes on patchy and basically the color of white chalk. I just got it, doubt I can return it otherwise i will throw it out.
favorite essie color family?nudes
type of nail polish userregular/average

no, I do not recommend this product.

helpful?
response from essie:
a year ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi abp6719! Thank you for sharing your comments on our pre-show jitters. 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!

The best nail polish I ever used.

a year ago
Pre-Show Jitters is a fantastic product. I have very weak nails, this product stays on and keeps my nails strong. The brush is shaped perfectly to cover in two strokes.
type of nail polish userregular/average
helpful?

Disappointed

a year ago
The color is beautiful but the polish became tacky during the first use. Would not use again
type of nail polish userregular/average
helpful?
response from essie:
a year ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi there Shapadi, we would be disappointed too. The Gel Couture long wear colors should dry within 5 minutes after 2 coats of color and the Gel Couture Top Coat. Be sure to skip any base coat, this formula adheres best to bare nail. 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

Awful experience

2 years ago
Awful nail polish it was string, very hard to put on and started drying as I try to put on an even coat
Q: goes great with this shade
A: Essie good as new
favorite essie color family?sheers
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday

no, I do not recommend this product.

helpful?
response from essie:
2 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hello Ana00. Thank you for sharing your experience and pics with the Gel Couture longwear color 'pre-show jitters'. This looks and sounds completely wrong for this and any essie nail enamel. We want to understand what happened just as much as you do! Every essie nail enamel should flow on easily and by the second coat the colors should be perfect. 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

Essie is My all-time favorite !

2 years ago
I have been an Essie fan for over 30 years when I first started doing my own french and swiss style manicures. At that time I used the Marshmallow or Ballet slipper on the whole nail and a solid white on the tips. For years now I have used Pre-Show Jitters Gel polish and love it! I mostly do my own but when I treat myself to a mani or pedi at the salon I bring my polish with me and the nail technicians always comment on how much they like this color. Many compliments over the years on my Essie nails 🤍
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
helpful?

Love the color

7 years ago
I bought this a month ago and my color has stayed on and chip free for a month. This is great.
Q: goes great with this shade
A: Gel setter
favorite essie color family?nudes
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
great to wear foreveryday

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?
1 – 8 of 22 reviews

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14 reviews with 5 stars.
4 reviews with 4 stars.
0 reviews with 3 stars.
1 review with 2 stars.
3 reviews with 1 star.

overall rating

4.1

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9 to 22 of 22 reviews .
9 – 22 of 22 reviews

New favorite

7 years ago
Got pre show jitters today in gel couture. I love this color. It’s a creamy pale pink. This color is clean and classic.
favorite essie color family?white
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
great to wear foreveryday

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

Summer Favorite

8 years ago
My absolute favorite color by Essie! Nice, clean color. Perfect for summer
type of nail polish userregular/average
helpful?

Makes my tan pop!

8 years ago
I've wanted this color since it came out and recently decided to go ahead and buy it. I've tried other white essie nail polishes, and this is my favorite because it has a pink cream tint to it. Looks very good with tan skin, and goes with every outfit.
Q: favorite color?
A: Midnight cami, Find me an oasis
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
great to wear foreveryday

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

Long lasting shine!

9 years ago
I received a free sample from Pinch Me and have to admit I was a bit nervous using but I absolutely loved it! It seems to last forever without needing any touching up and the shine is incredible!
Q: favorite color?
A: Any of the pinks
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

Great polish

9 years ago
I loved the color. It did not chip for 3 days which is amazing for me. It went on smooth and looked great.
Q: goes great with this shade
A: Unsure
Q: favorite color?
A: Blue
type of nail polish userspecial occasions only
great to wear foreveryday

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

Goes on easy. Dries quickly and beautifully.

9 years ago
I got this polish from Pinch Me to try and review. It's not a color I would purchase but looking beyond that to the actual product, I would buy Essie in a heart beat. The polish went on smoothly, dried quickly and lasted longer than I expected. Even on my toes - which spend most of their time in work shoes - the polish held up.
Q: favorite color?
A: Don't have one.
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?
9 years ago
This is a great alternative to a gel manicure and less expensive too. My daughter and I love to do mother daughter nail painting. This nail polish is easy to put on. I felt like it took around the same time to dry as other nail polishes. There is a color coat and a top coat. It does not chip easily which is great! I received compliments on the color several times. I was able to keep this polish on for two weeks without having to switch. I would recommend this product to other people just for that. Excellent product!
Q: favorite color?
A: Anything Purple
type of nail polish usernail art lover
great to wear foreveryday

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

Great shine!

9 years ago
Normally, I don’t wear very dark nail polish, but the gloss on the Essie nail polish was so great that my nails sparkled! These polishes cover well and are easy to apply, Both the base coat and top coat dried fast. I highly recommend Essie nail polish!
Q: favorite color?
A: Wrap Party
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

Gel nails without the hassle

9 years ago
My mani lasted about 10 days without any chipping, 2 coats and a clear top coat. Same gel look without the hassle of the uv light.
Q: favorite color?
A: Sweet peach
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

Great gel manicure alternative

9 years ago
I received thru Pinchme to try this product and am so glad I was able to! I usually don't bother with manicures because they just don't last long enough for me to find value. This is a great AND long lasting alternative to a professional manicure. It wasn't until almost 2 weeks that you could really start to see the wear on the nails, which is a great success in my opinion. Application was easy and fairly quick, which I also appreciate. It was a little more difficult to remove, but nothing frustrating or detracting from the product's great qualities.
Q: favorite color?
A: don't have just one!
type of nail polish userspecial occasions only
great to wear foreveryday

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

Love the smooth finish & longer lasting polish!

9 years ago
I received this from PINCHMe to test out. I love that this is easy to apply and has a smooth finish on it. My nails dried pretty fast! I am hard on my hands and over a week later I barely have chips on the nails. It comes off really easily with nail polish remover and doesn't mess up my nails like traditional gels do from the salon.
Q: favorite color?
A: All of them!
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

Color and finish are flawless

9 years ago
I had many ask where I had my nails done! Such a compliment because I am not very talented doing my own nails.
Q: favorite color?
A: Ice blue
type of nail polish usernovice/new user
great to wear foreveryday

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

Smooth application and long lasting

9 years ago
Using this gel polish is a dream. It applies smooth and stays forever. The color is subtle yet eye catching. The gel coat provides smooth coverage. I love it.
Q: favorite color?
A: all
type of nail polish userspecial occasions only
great to wear foreveryday

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?

Never going back to the salon

9 years ago
Just purchased "Pre-show Jitters." It has an ever-so-slight touch of pink which I adore, and is opaque. Have been searching for this dream color in a polish for years. The brush makes application a snap. Bye-bye gel manicures at the salon, hello Essie Gel couture!
Q: favorite color?
A: Naughty Nautical
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
great to wear foreveryday

yes, I recommend this product.

helpful?
9 – 22 of 22 reviews