16 Essie Nail Polish Shades Our Beauty Editors Love

Essie Wicked 

“Ever since I could remember, my mom always despised the idea of me wearing black nail polish. Instead, I opted for a similarly dark but not-quite-black color to please her: Wicked. This off-black burgundy is a must-try if you’re looking for a not-quite-black shade, too. It’s stunning all year round too — whether you’re feeling witchy in the fall or edgy in the spring and summer.” — Alanna Martine Kilkeary

Essie Gel Couture In-Vest in Style

“Another almost-black shade I love is In-Vest in Style: the ultimate dark blue/teal green. It’s moody, but crisp and even sort of classy. I love wearing it on my toes all year round, as it looks stunning in sandals but can be cozy in socks too! — AMK

Essie Geek Chic

“I’ve had metallics on the mind lately, and this holographic silver polish satisfies my heavy metal fixation. Depending on the light you look at it in, the color can appear more green, purple, silver or pink — it’s a shade that always keeps you on your toes.” — AW

Essie Expressie Unapologetic Icon

“From the brand’s quick-dry collection, Unapologetic Icon is a crisp, creamy white. I love the idea of using this polish to create fun, graphic nail art.” — JJ

Essie You’re Scent-sational

“For when I want to change it up and add some color, I’ve been loving “You’re Scent-sational” – a bright, happy yellow that’s perfect for spring. We all know that spring weather is a bit chaotic, so even on rainy days, this color adds a fun pop of sunshine.” — JC

Essie Gel Couture Rock the Runway

“My go-to nail polish color for a summer pedicure is a bright fire-engine red, like Rock the Runway. The best part about this color is that it's offered in Essie’s famous long-lasting Gel Couture formula. I can wear it for a good two weeks without major chips, fading or dullness taking over”  — Victoria Moorhouse

Essie Mademoiselle

“In my opinion, a sheer baby pink shade is a nail polish collection staple. I love this one because with two coats it provides a semi-transparent color that creates a natural, polished look. With three coats, it appears almost completely opaque and looks incredibly flattering on a wide range of skin tones.” — Alyssa Kaplan

Essie Topless & Barefoot

“If I’m going to the salon to get my nails done, there is an extremely high chance (read: like a 95% chance) I will walk out with a nude manicure. One of my all-time favorite polishes is the soft pinky-beige cult-classic Topless & Barefoot. I find that it goes with everything in my closet and looks fantastic with a squoval nail shape.”  — VM

Essie Geranium

Essie Keep Branching Out

Essie Expressie Air Dry

“I’m not going to lie, when I first saw this nail polish, it was completely out of my comfort zone. I’ll take a bright red or a fun blue any day, but I could not see myself wearing gray nail polish. Once I swiped it on, however, I quickly fell in love with the moody color and its cool blue undertones. It goes with everything and is a more unexpected neutral than a classic nude.” —  AW

Essie Infinity Cool

“I’ve tried several navy blue nail polishes over the years in the hopes of finding the most flattering one — and this is definitely it. While others were so deep they just looked black on the nails, this one has just the perfect amount of white in the base, giving it the ideal saturation. It’s my favorite dark nail polish to sport year round.” — AK

Essie Flight of Fantasy

“Summer is coming up hot, and I’ve been reaching for the prettiest pastel colors to paint my nails. This is a muted, pastel blue nail polish with yellow undertones. I get a pretty opaque color payoff on the first swipe, making it an easy mani day. Catch me in this shade all season long!” —  KP