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.

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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1 to 8 of 22 reviews .

1 – 8 of 22 reviews

1 out of 5 stars.

Streaky and just bad

10 months 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.

helpful?

response from essie:

10 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 !

5 out of 5 stars.

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.

helpful?

1 out of 5 stars.

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!

5 out of 5 stars.

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?

2 out of 5 stars.

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

1 out of 5 stars.

Awful experience

a year 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:

a year 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

5 out of 5 stars.

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?

4 out of 5 stars.

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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