essie nail care, strengthener treatment, vegan, Hard To Resist Advanced, 0.46 fl oz

My nails were so brittle after wearing gel polish for many months. I used this polish for about a month and my nails look better than ever. You have to keep applying the polish over several days because it's very light and peels off but it's well worth it. My nails are growing long and are no longer splitting and chipping.

As a big fan of Essie products, I purchased Essie's Gel Setter top coat in 2015; when I initially tried it, I didn't love it, and didn't think it was any better than others (Essie's Good to Go top coat has always been a favorite). I've kept it with my nail polish supplies, however, and have tried it periodically.Fast forward to late September 2017, when two minor changes to my nail polish routine have COMPLETELY changed my mind about this top coat, which is rapidly becoming my new favorite! With this new routine, I find that I can regularly get a full 7-10 days out of my manicure with no (or nearly no) chipping; this is especially true if I reapply the top coat 4-5 days after my initial manicure. It really does do a great job of mimicking a shiny salon gel manicure, without the damage and removal hassle that can come with gel polishes.So what's my routine?1. After my cuticles are pushed back/trimmed (I love the CND CuticleAway Gel for this) and my nails are filed/buffed, I wash my hands thoroughly with soap and water, scrubbing with a nail brush.2. After drying my hands, I use acetone or alcohol to clean my nails, ensuring that there's no soap or lotion residue on the nail surface.3. I apply one quick coat of OPI's Bond Aid to my clean natural nails; this dries almost instantly, and is a huge help with polish adhesion.4. I apply one coat of Essie's Grow Stronger Base Coat to my nails, and let dry for about a minute. This is the first of the two changes I made recently, and changing to this base coat has made a world of difference in terms of preventing chips.5. I apply two coats of regular Essie polish (in whatever color suits my mood - generally, it's Mademoiselle if I'm going light, or Wicked or Carry On if I want a darker color). I wait about 30 seconds between coats.6. I finish my manicure with one coat of Essie Gel-Setter Top Coat.7. I then let my nails air dry - NOT UNDER A DRYER - for about 15 minutes. This is the second change I made to my routine. If my nails are not dry by this time, I then use a standard nail dryer fan (with UV lamp) for regular polish (not a gel dryer) to finish drying my nails. This gives the polish layers some time to cure, and ensures that bubbles don't form.I've attached a picture of my most recent regular manicure (I am wearing Essie's Mademoiselle) using the routine described above, taken after four days of wear. I have not reapplied the top coat. It's maintained its super shiny finish, and so far, I have no chips or lifting - and I've been using my keyboard constantly, and have done dishes and used antibacterial wipes and other cleaning products on various surfaces (with no gloves). Hope this is helpful!I paid FULL price for this product, and have not been given any discounts or incentives in exchange for leaving my review.

This is a great and inexpensive cuticle oil with a brush applicator. It is a slightly watery formula but it keeps cuticles and nails hydrated. The skin around my nails look a lot healthier and have less hanging skin and hangnails since I have decided to keep them moisturized. Has a light scent of apricot.

he Essie Natural Mani Kit in Ballet Slippers gives that fresh, clean nail look with very little effort. It’s a great option if you want a subtle, natural manicure without going to the salon.Pros:Classic Shade: Ballet Slippers is a timeless, soft pink that works for everyday wear, weddings, or professional settings.Complete Kit: Comes with everything you need—base coat, color, and top coat—for a polished, long-lasting finish.Smooth Application: Goes on even and streak-free, especially with the wide brush.Quick Dry Time: Dries faster than many other polishes I’ve used—great for busy mornings.Long-Lasting: With the full kit, my nails stayed chip-free for about a week.Cons:Takes 2–3 Coats for Opacity: The color is sheer, so you may need multiple layers to get the look you want.Small Bottles: Great for trying the kit, but smaller than standard Essie polish sizes.Not for Bold Color Lovers: If you want bright or bold, this kit leans very neutral and soft.Final Thoughts:If you're going for a natural, polished look that’s classy and easy to apply at home, this kit is a great pick. Perfect for a minimalist manicure that still feels put-together.Highly recommend if you like soft, clean nails without the fuss.

Easy to use and softened my cuticle area.

I wear acrylic nails and they have RUINED my natural nails. They were weak, brittle, splitting, wouldn't grow. I wanted to stop wearing the acrylic nails to help my nails recover but my nails were a mess. I bought this based on the positive reviews, hoping for the best but not expecting much. I was very positively surprised. This stuff works great! My nails are stronger, way less brittle and they have started growing! No more splitting! In the beginning, i wore 2 coats of it under my acrylic nails and that actually protected them and my nails grew and hardened under them. I am very happy with this product!! My only con would be I don't love the smell, but other than that it's great. It evens dries pretty quickly!

I just finished the bottle. I paint my nails right around twice a week and this base coat has been SO nice. Gives the nail a tiny bit of extra thickness and had a nice pink hue and high shine. There were a few times I was tempted to not paint my nails on top of it, because it looked so nice!!! Will buy again

Loved this product for 2 months and realized my nails were turning yellow 😞