40 Iconic Essie Nail Polish Shades to Add to Your Mani Rotation
June 01, 2023
For us, a fresh manicure is one of the quickest and easiest confidence boosts out there. Whether you swipe on a neutral polish that lets your outfit take center stage, a bold red that matches your lipstick or a bright shade that scores you tons of compliments, a fresh manicure and pedicure is the cherry on top of any look. Below, we rounded up 40 of our favorite nail polishes from Essie, from tried-and-true classics like Ballet Slippers to edgy chrome-inspired topcoats.
Essie Press Play
Cobalt blue looks aquatic and fresh on every skin tone, making it one of our favorite nail colors of the moment.
Essie Ballet Slippers
This sheer pink shade is a holy-grail neutral. It blends in seamlessly with any skin tone and is the perfect base for fun nail art or a classic French tip.
Essie Mint Candy Apple
Essie Mint Candy Apple is our go-to mint green. It’s an opaque cream that’s fun, vibrant and pops in any season.
Essie Wicked
Dark nail polish lovers will covet this inky red, almost-black shade. It adds a vampy touch to any manicure and works as a beautiful red-tinged nude on deep skin tones.
Essie Blanc
There’s nothing fresher than a matching white mani and pedi. Blanc is a must-have for all white polish lovers.
Essie Watermelon
Watermelon gives your nails a fresh, juicy pop of pink that livens up any look. It’s bright without veering into neon territory.
Essie Bikini So Teeny
Dip your nails in this shimmering, pool-blue shade for a reminder of summer anytime of year. The soft, pearlescent sheen sparkles in the light.
Essie Expressie FX Holo Top Coat
Essie Expressie’s line of FX top coats add a layer of high-impact sparkle and shimmer to any nail color. Holo FX is a disco ball-inspired shade that’s perfect for the life of the party.
Essie Russian Roulette
No nail polish collection is complete without a classic red. This bright orangey shade has major star power.
Essie Marshmallow
Marshmallow is the definition of a barely-there nail polish. This transparent nude shade leaves just a trace of color on your nails, giving them an elegant, glossy and natural look.
Essie Piece of Work
Switch up your nail polish rotation with this unique yellow-toned green. We love it by itself or paired with a gold accent nail.
Essie To DIY For
Consider this burnt orange shade an elevated neutral. It’s versatile enough to match any outfit but still provides a rich, vibrant pop of color.
Essie Expressie Air Dry
For a neutral that isn’t nude, we love this slate gray hue. The fast-drying formula is ideal for last-minute manicures before you rush out the door.
Essie Going Steady
This glimmering shade has a mesmerizing opal-like reflect that looks extra dazzling when paired with lots of cool rings.
Essie Geranium
We can’t help but smile when we paint our nails with this playful reddish-orange lacquer. You can achieve opaque, streak-free color with just one coat.
Essie Go Ginza
A soft lavender is an unconventional yet romantic alternative to classic pink or nude. We love this cotton candy shade.
Essie Gel Couture Rock the Runway
Rock the Runway is a bright, sultry red that simmers on any skin tone. The at-home gel formula helps your polish last longer without the need of a UV lamp.
Essie Slumber Party On
For a pop of pink that’s surprisingly subdued, try this muted magenta. It’s the perfect in-between shade of bubblegum and berry pink.
Essie After School Boy Blazer
Navy blue is a preppy classic. This one is inky enough to almost pass as black, until you spot the rich blue reflect in the sun.
Essie Expressie Strong at 1%
We adore Strong at 1%, a soft, picnic-ready peach shade. The formula dries down in only one minute.
Essie S’il Vous Play
Get playful with this glamorous, glitter-filled pink. Shot through with sparkle, this polish is every pink lover’s dream.
Essie Licorice
Black nail polish is essential — it can veer edgy or classic depending how you wear it, and it’s flattering on everyone. Plus, when you’re wearing Licorice, you’ll never have to worry if your polish matches your outfit.
Essie For the Twill of It
This metallic shade looks like an oil slick: It mixes purple, silver and green for a nail color that’s totally one-of-a-kind and interesting.
Essie Off the Grid
Off the Grid is a rich cocoa shade with yellow undertones that makes for a flattering nude on tan and deep complexions.
Essie Gel Couture Spiked With Style
Deep red polish never goes out of style, which is why this burgundy pick belongs in your stash. The gel formula is long-lasting with a high-shine finish.
Essie Expressie Mall Crawler
Channel early 2000s realness with this sheer bubblegum pink polish. It dries down faster than you can type “O-M-G” on a flip phone.
Essie The Snuggle Is Real
You can match your go-to neutral lipstick to your polish with this flattering rosy nude.
Essie Matte About You Matte Finisher
Give any nail color a makeover with this flat matte top coat. It looks especially cool painted on just a nail or two for a matte accent.
Essie Jade It Happen
Keep cool, calm and collected with this jade green lacquer. It’s a cool-toned cream that might make green your new signature color.
Essie Expressie Cold Brew Crew
Get a jolt of caffeinated energy with this bold brown hue. Come fall and winter, Cold Brew Crew is our go-to neutral.
Essie Gel Couture Jewels and Jacquard Only
This striking teal is fit for royalty — or a DIY mani expert like you. Pair it with the Essie Gel Couture Top Coat to extend your weartime.
Essie Mademoiselle
Give your nails a soft, understated sheen with this sheer pink. It’s the perfect way to get in on the naked nail trend.
Essie Air Spun Fun
A milky pink that’s totally opaque is hard to come by, but with two coats, this polish provides full rosy coverage.
Essie Expressie Up Up & Away Message
Express yourself with this punchy teal color. We love it painted on the tips of each nail for a refreshing spin on a French manicure.
Essie Gel Couture Scarlet Starlet
All eyes will be on you when you wear this mesmerizing ruby red shimmer. Amp up the Old Hollywood drama by painting this polish on long, almond-shaped nails.
Essie Good as Gold
Gold jewelry lovers, this is the polish for you. It’s a soft, champagne-y gold filled with beautiful flecks of shimmer.
Essie Expressie Sh00k
It’s hard not to love this sunny yellow shade. Paired with flower nail art, it’s like a garden party on your fingers.
Essie Expressie Checked In
This rosy pink polish features swirls of silver shimmer for an eye-catching, iridescent finish.
Essie Chinchilly
Go soft and muted with this classic taupe polish. It’s chic, it’s versatile and it’s the perfect shade for when you just can’t choose between a rainbow of nail colors.
Read more
