If you have a complicated relationship with gel manicures, you’re not alone. Yes, they look great and last forever, but they’re pricey and something of a sensory nightmare to remove. That’s why we became early card-carrying members of the Essie Gel Couture Nail Polish fan club. This long-wear formula mimics the look and feel of gel, comes in a vast array of shades, and removes easily like standard polish, bringing you a best-of-both-worlds situation. Now that this two-step system is on sale for Amazon Prime Day, we’re definitely expanding our collection while the prices are low. Usually priced at $22, you can snag a set for just $16 between July 7 at 4:00 PM PST and July 11 at 3:59 PM PST.
“Essie, which launched over 40 years ago, has been one of my favorite polish brands since I started painting my nails in kindergarten—but when the brand swapped to wider brushes in 2018, it truly became the lacquer to beat,” says content director Kara McGrath. “That larger brush means fewer strokes to cover your nail, making it easier to apply thin layers—a crucial step in creating a long-lasting manicure with regular polish.” McGrath adds that a recent application lasted five days flawlessly, with minor chipping only appearing on days six and seven, likely due to hardcore knitting sessions.
The praise doesn’t end with our editors—pros dig this polish, too. “The special bottle is shaped like a twisted gown on a runway and has a brush stem that controls the flow of polish,” explains New York City-based nail artist Julie Kandalec. “The names are absolutely the cutest too, and drawn from fashion and couture, like ‘Bodice Goddess,’ ‘Chiffon the Move,’ and one of my personal go-to reds, ‘Rock the Runway.’”
Grab a set of Essie’s Gel Couture Nail Polish on sale during the Amazon Prime Day sales event and thank us later.
More Amazon Prime Day shopping inspo coming at you in 3, 2, 1:
