essie Gel Couture Nail Polish - Matter of Fiction - 0.46 fl oz
$12.99
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- Highly rated$9.99 - $10.99Buy 1 get 1 25% off cosmetic & nail care products4.5 out of 5 stars with 8736 ratings
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Guests are saying
This nail polish offers a beautiful range of colors and a gel-like finish without the need for UV light. Many guests appreciate its long-lasting wear, quick drying time, and smooth application. While some colors may require multiple coats for full opacity, the overall quality and durability make it a favorite among those seeking salon-quality results at home. Guests also enjoy the ease of removal with regular nail polish remover, enhancing its appeal for at-home manicures.
Summary created by AI from text of reviews reflecting recent feedback provided across different star ratings (includes incentivized reviews)
4.5 out of 5 stars with 3283 reviews
easy to apply: 4.41 out of 5
easy to remove: 4.39 out of 5
long lasting: 3.94 out of 5
quality: 3.95 out of 5
value: 3.72 out of 5
71% would recommend
447 recommendations
2 out of 5 stars
Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
7 September, 2026
(no review title)
Streaks
1 reply from Essie Team team - 8 days ago
Hi there Sheila, thank you for sharing your feedback with us, and we completely understand how frustrating it is when a product lets you down. All of our nail colors should look perfect by the second coat. We want you to love your results so 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
Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
3 September, 2026
Love the color, HATE the formula.
I purchased Essie Gel Couture in the shade Paisley The Way. This was my first and last essie purchase. I was hesitant to buy based off of the price, as I usually purchase nail polish from places like dollar general or the like, but decided to go for it because the color was exactly what I was looking for. My experience was that the polish seemed very liquid, applied very patchy (even with two coats) and it was so messy when I took it off, it got all over my hands.
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
2 September, 2026Verified purchase
Best nailpoish EVER!
Love this product! Dries quickly and looks like a fresh manicure from a salon. Buy it in every color!
5 out of 5 stars
27 August, 2026Verified purchase
(no review title)
Color holds long
1 out of 5 stars
Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
27 August, 2026Verified purchase
Bait and switch
As you can see it is advertised as a “gel” but it IS NOT! It is an enamel polish and a poor one. Poor coverage (used on my toenails since my fingernails require gel. Very disappointing and marred to show up to my wonderful nail tech with this OVERPRICED item, which is of no use.
1 reply from Essie Team team - 24 days ago
Hi there Lynnette, we are so sorry to hear about your experience, and we completely understand your frustration. Poor coverage is definitely not the quality we strive for. The Gel Couture formula is a 2-step system combining a color coat and a topcoat designed for gel-like finish and long-lasting performance without needing a UV or LED lamp. For best adhesion to the nail, this nail enamel is applied to bare nails, (no base coat). 2 coats of color and the Gel Couture Top Coat deliver a long wearing mani that easily removes with your regular polish remover. 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
26 August, 2026
originally posted on essie.com
Better than expected!
This was my first time trying out Essie's Gel Couture nail polish collection and I am very happy with this discovery! In terms of the color, I spent a long time debating between different Essie pink shades, as they have many available options. I was looking for a classy pink that was clearly pink but still somewhat discreet, as the other pink shades seemed too neutral, too white, or too sheer. After reading other people's comments about this specific color's sheerness, I worried it would take way too many layers of polish to get my desired result. Do not worry!!! The 1st layer was indeed very sheer, but after the 2nd layer, the pink color was already more visible, and I ended up doing 3 layers to get the results I had envisioned - a true soft pink (though it leans more towards a warm tone). I am new to doing my own nails at home and I though it was very smooth and easy to apply on the nail. It has a beautiful shiny finish that looks and feels like gel, but keep in mind that I also used a base coat, the Essie Gel Couture top coat, and allowed the nail polish to dry in between applying layers! Considering that I do cleaning and wash the dishes around the house, these have lasted me a surprisingly longer time, whereas regular nail polish only lasts me about 3-4 days. This picture is 1 week into having painted my nails, and while I did notice some shrinkage around the nail, the polish remains intact with minimal to no chipping. Overall, I am very happy with the results and would definitely recommend Essie's Gel Couture nail polish collection (I am personally going to purchase in more colors).
2 out of 5 stars
Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
23 August, 2026Verified purchase
(no review title)
Color needs a few quotes because it's see through and doesn't dry fast enough. Didn't like the quality.
1 reply from Essie Team team - 1 month ago
Hi there Alejandra, thank you for sharing your honest feedback with us! We're so sorry to hear that the coverage and drying time didn't meet your expectations. Just to share a bit about the formula, some of our shades are intentionally designed with a sheer finish for a lighter, translucent look. However, we completely understand that this wasn't what you were hoping for. This long wear formula should go onto bare nails (skip the base coat) and by the second coat your color should be perfect. Applying more than 2 coats of color can lead to extended dry time and easy chipping. 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
22 August, 2026
originally posted on essie.com
Highly recomended
I've been biting my nails for as long as I can remember and this nail polish was the only one that made my nails grow strong. Fairy Tailor has this very beautiful and girly color, and the quality is insane. I highly recommend. Now I'm just looking for the perfect combo for a French manicure, but overall I highly recommend essie nail polish
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
15 August, 2026Verified purchase
love this polish!
looks just like a gel pedicure and has lasted! very easy to use formula!
5 out of 5 stars
14 August, 2026
originally posted on essie.com
Favorite polish ever
This is the best shade of pink Essie has ever made, I get so many compliments when I wear it and the Gel formula is easy to apply with great shine in the top coat and it lasts like a no chip. This should be a permanent shade
5 out of 5 stars
14 August, 2026Verified purchase
(no review title)
Beautiful color
4 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
11 August, 2026Verified purchase
nice color
nice color and stays well but need multiple coats
5 out of 5 stars
6 August, 2026
originally posted on essie.com
Love this color!
Love the color! A deep almost black blue! Goes great with any outfit!!
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
3 August, 2026Verified purchase
(no review title)
Great color and quality.
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
28 July, 2026Verified purchase
Essie Gel Polish - rock the runway RED
I love the Essie Gel polishes. With a top coat, I can usually get a full seven days wear with very minimal, if any chipping. Photo is day 7. While I would like to see pricing less than $10 a bottle, the polish is worth paying a little more.
3 out of 5 stars
Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
26 July, 2026Verified purchase
Good but not so good
Well it’s a great and it does chip even with topcoat I would say it takes about 3 days before chipping . I like that there no UV gel BUT it does stain your nails
1 reply from Essie Team team - 2 months ago
Hi there! We appreciate you taking the time to reach out about our Gel Couture Nail Polish. Consumer feedback is very important to us and allows us to improve all our products. We will be sure to pass all your feedback along to the appropriate team. We hope you will continue using more of our products soon with full satisfaction with the results!
5 out of 5 stars
20 July, 2026
originally posted on essie.com
THE BEST POLISH EVER!
5 plus stars! I have been polishing my own nails for 40 plus years now. I have always loved and used OPI. I am very hard on my hands between work, garden and home improvements. This is by far the best polish that I have used. A month ago, I decided to try this polish out on a whim while at the store to pick up a fresh bottle of polish. I am sooooo impressed! It goes on amazingly smooth, dries so quickly, and does not chip! I have gotten 2 weeks without a chip on my hands just to see how long it could go. I do my hands every 7 to 10 days and no chips. My toes are on 21 days and are still shiny and no chips! This is by far the best polish that I have ever used. The caviar bar color is awesome! I rarely leave reviews, but this polish is just that good.
1 out of 5 stars
Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
16 July, 2026Verified purchase
Clumpy, thick and streaky application.... Terrible!
TERRIBLE. Goes on thick, clumpy, & streaky. Will be returning!
1 reply from Essie Team team - 2 months ago
Hi Lexomatic. Thank you for reaching out to Essie. We are sorry to hear about the experience you had with the Gel Couture Nail Polish. We would like to speak with you directly about it. Please give us a call at 866-313-7845, M- F, 9am - 5:30pm, ET and let us know you contacted us through a review. It would be helpful if you could have the product available when you call, as well as providing the agent with your username. Looking forward to speaking with you.
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
16 July, 2026Verified purchase
(no review title)
fairy tailor is the best nude! love the consistency and looks of this polish!
2 out of 5 stars
12 July, 2026Verified purchase
(no review title)
Did not like the polish.
1 reply from Essie Team team - 2 months ago
Hi there! Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. We are truly sorry to hear that you did not like our Gel Couture Nail Polish in First Fitting. We want you to love your manicures, and we would love to know more about what went wrong—whether it was the shade itself, the dry time, or the wear. Our Gel Couture formula is designed to deliver a long-lasting, gel-like shine in a simple two-step process: Step 1: Apply two coats of the Gel Couture color (like First Fitting). No base coat is needed! Step 2: Follow with our specialized Gel Couture Platinum Grade Top Coat to lock in the color, prevent chipping, and provide that high-gloss, cushiony finish. If you didn't get the wear or finish you expected, we highly recommend pairing the color with our Gel Couture Top Coat for the best results.