It’s gonna be a big review:)
Today, I'm testing 18 Essie nail polishes from the Gel Couture series.
These are nail polishes with a gel manicure effect. In order to improve the lasting power as well as achieve a glossy effect, it is recommended to apply a top coat from the same collection. The creators promise that the nail polish would last 12 days, provided the top coat is applied every 2 days.
Price: $11.50
Volume 13.5 ml
I received these nail polishes in a beautiful gift box. Unfortunately, it is not available for purchase. But I really wanted to show it 
As always, my cat must approve the nail polishes first.
The design of the bottles is very unusual - they are twisted!
And even the brush is twisted too!
These 18 shades are excellent!
The nail polishes are comfortable in application. With most shades, two coats are enough for an even coverage. They dry pretty quickly, with a good glossy finish.
Since it’s recommended to use them with the top coat from the same line, in the next photos I’ll be wearing them with the top coat.
The nail polishes have good lasting power. I never wore them 12 days in a row, but they managed to last 4 days, which is a good result, in my opinion.
What I especially like about these nail polishes is that they don’t chip off, but slightly fade at the tips of my nails.
They can be easily removed and do not stain nails or skin.
A bit about the Essie Gel Couture Top Coat:
The bottle resembles those of the nail polishes from the same line, but it’s opaque and white.
The brush is also slightly different - the rod is straight, and the brush itself is slightly longer and with less rounded edges than that of the nail polish.
The top coat itself is not runny, but it is not thick either. On the nails, it creates a medium dense layer, giving my mani a beautiful smooth glossy finish. It takes 15 minutes to dry. I did not wait for the nail polish to dry out completely, before I applied the top coat (approximately 5 minutes), because I didn’t have much time for that.
And now about the colors themselves.
Essie Gel Couture # 20 Spool Me Over.
Beige pink. Medium thick. You can take a lot of product from the bottle without being afraid that it would stain your cuticle. In this photo, it’s applied in two coats plus top coat.
Essie Gel Couture №30 Sew Me
Beige brown. Slightly more runny than shade No. 20, but at the same time it’s more pigmented, and therefore two layers of medium density were enough to completely to cover the nail and achieve an even coverage.
Essie Gel Couture # 40 Fairy Tailor
Nude. The nail polish is pretty liquid and almost sheer - it looks colorless when applied in 1 coat. I applied three coats of medium-density, but the tips of the nails still had a slightly different color yet looked well groomed.
Essie Gel Couture # 80 Twill Seeker
Dusty purple with a small emerald shimmer. Well pigmented, medium density, not streaky. Two coats are enough to completely cover the nail plate.
Essie Gel Couture # 90 Make The Cut
Gray-beige, contains many shimmery particles.
The formula is quite thick, you can safely apply a thicker layer without streaks. You only need two coats to create a gorgeous even coverage.
Essie Gel Couture # 140 Couture Curator
Peach pink. Has a pretty liquid formula. After I applied two coats, there were little gaps, so I added the third one.
Essie Gel Couture # 160 Zip Me Up
A peppermint color with a small turquoise shimmer. Quite thick, it is better to apply with a minimum number of strokes, otherwise you may end up with streaks. I applied the nail polish in two coats.
Essie Gel Couture # 180 Dress Call
Light purple. Pleasant in the application, two coats cover the entire nail surface.
Essie Gel Couture # 190 Style In Excess
Dusty, light purple The characteristics are similar to the shade number 180.
Essie Gel Couture # 210 On The List
A coral shade. It’s pretty runny, may be applied in fairly thin layers, but has good pigmentation. Two coats cover the entire nail.
Essie Gel Couture # 230 Signature Smile
Pink with warm undertone. Its characteristics are identical to the shade №210.
Essie Gel Couture # 240 Model Citizen
A pink with blue undertone. Its characteristics are similar to the shades of №210 and №230, except that it’s a bit more liquid.
Essie Gel Couture # 260 Flashed
Red orange. Pretty liquidy, but comfortable in application. Slightly less pigmented than the previous shades, but nevertheless two layers of it are sufficient for a saturated and even coating.
Essie Gel Couture # 300 The It-Factor
Dark pink. Slightly thicker than in shade No. 260, saturated and provides a good coverage even in one coat, but the tip of the nail is distinguishable, so a second coat of lacquer is required.
Essie Gel Couture # 340 Drop The Gown
Reddish, with a crimson note. Can be applied even in one coat, but I prefer two. Comfortable in application, even if you apply too much, it won’t stain the cuticle. At the same time, the nail polish is not thick and easy to spread.
When there were only three photos left to make, I broke my nail. Therefore, I show the remaining colors on a shorter length
Essie Gel Couture №360 Spiked With Style
Dark red. On the neck of the bottle, as well as when applying the first coat you can see the crimson undertone. The formula is quite liquid but not too runny and can be easily managed with a brush. Two coats are okay for an even coverage.
Essie Gel Couture # 270 Model Clicks
Dark brown-crimson. The characteristics are similar to the shade number 360. Two coats cover the surface of the nail completely.
Essie Gel Couture # 390 Surrounded By Studs
Dark blue with warm undertones. Contains tiny blue shimmer particles. Two coats fully cover the nail plate.
