
Essie and Sally Hansen are two of the most well-known nail polish brands on the market. Essie's iconic square bottles are known for their vibrant shades, playful names, and long-lasting formulas, while Sally Hansen has made a name for itself with its affordable price tags and vibrant colour options. Both brands offer gel nail polishes, but which one is better?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Price | Essie: £18 at Amazon; Sally Hansen: £5 at Amazon |
| Score | Essie: 81/100; Sally Hansen: 79/100 |
| Longevity | Essie: up to 2 weeks; Sally Hansen: up to 1.5 weeks |
| Chipping | Essie: minimal; Sally Hansen: minimal |
| Shades | Essie: 70 shades; Sally Hansen: 70+ shades |
| Top coat | Essie: top coat included; Sally Hansen: top coat sold separately |
| Brushes | Essie: skinny brush; Sally Hansen: thick brush |
| Vegan | Essie: yes; Sally Hansen: yes |
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What You'll Learn

Essie Gel Couture provides a long-lasting, chip-resistant manicure
Essie Gel Couture is a long-wearing, high-shine nail polish that provides a salon-grade manicure without the need for a UV lamp. The two-step system involves applying two coats of nail polish and one layer of top coat, resulting in a long-lasting, chip-resistant manicure. The colour coat is designed to be applied smoothly and evenly, while the top coat seals in the colour, adds a glossy shine, and protects the manicure.
The Essie Gel Couture nail polish brush is designed for easy and precise application, ensuring even coverage. The formula is vegan and excludes common toxins found in nail polish formulas, making it a safe option for those with allergies. It is also fade-resistant and has a shelf life of two years when unopened.
The Essie Gel Couture collection offers a wide range of colours, including sheers, nudes, metallics, and glitters, allowing you to create a variety of looks. The top coat, which provides a platinum-grade finish, can be used with your favourite Essie Gel Couture shade to elevate your manicure and make it truly dazzling.
The Essie Gel Couture nail polish has received positive reviews, with some testers claiming that it lasted a whole week without chipping or cracking. It is also affordable, with the top coat priced between $11 and $13, making it a cost-effective alternative to a gel manicure at a salon.
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Sally Hansen's gel nail polish offers no chips for up to two weeks
When it comes to gel nail polish, two notable brands are Sally Hansen and Essie. Both brands offer an extensive range of colours and claim to provide long-lasting wear. However, one of the critical differences between the two is that Sally Hansen's gel nail polish offers no chips for up to two weeks.
Sally Hansen's gel nail polish is a popular choice for those seeking a salon-quality manicure at home. The brand promises that its gel nail polish will not chip for up to two weeks, providing a long-lasting, high-shine finish. This claim has been supported by various reviews, with one editor from Whowhatwear.com stating that the polish lasted a full two weeks without chipping and delivered a mirror-like shine.
The key to achieving this chip-free finish may lie in the formula and application process. Sally Hansen's gel nail polish is designed to provide a professional salon result without the need for a base coat or UV lamp curing. The brand recommends applying two coats of the colour polish, followed by the top coat, to achieve the best results. This simple three-step process, including colour and topcoat, is convenient and time-efficient for users.
Additionally, the Sally Hansen gel nail polish line offers a range of shades, from classic neutrals to vibrant hues, ensuring that users can find a colour to suit their preference or occasion. The polish's ability to deliver a mirror finish enhances the overall aesthetic appeal of the manicure.
While Essie is also a well-known and favoured brand, with some preferring its colour range, Sally Hansen's gel nail polish stands out for its durability and shine. With a promise of up to two weeks of chip-free wear, Sally Hansen offers a cost-effective and convenient option for those seeking long-lasting, salon-quality manicures.
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Essie's iconic square bottles are known for their vibrant shades
The brand offers a base coat, two colour coats, and a high-performance top coat for a glossy finish. Essie's nail polishes are also known for their quick drying time, with their Expressie line claiming to dry in just one minute. Essie's iconic original colour has been praised by customers, with one review stating that they love "the brush, the hundreds of colours to choose from, and the fact that it was my first favourite". Essie's nail polishes are available in 70 shades, including vibrant shades like Rock the Runway, a fiery scarlet, and more subtle hues like Bubble Bath.
In comparison to Sally Hansen, Essie offers a wider range of colours and a longer-lasting finish. While Sally Hansen's gel nail polish line also offers a salon-like finish with a mirror shine, it falls slightly short in terms of colour options and longevity, scoring 79/100 in a review compared to Essie's score of 81/100. Essie's square bottles and vibrant shades have become iconic in the beauty community, with many customers preferring their colours and finish.
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Sally Hansen's Miracle Gel has a wide range of colours
Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail Polish is a popular choice among consumers, offering a wide range of colours and a gel-effect finish. With over 70 shades available, it provides an extensive selection for those seeking high-shine nails. While some users have reported needing three coats for their desired look, the polish has impressed many with its longevity and aesthetic appeal.
The Sally Hansen brand is renowned for its thick brushes and staying power, with manicures lasting for up to a week and a half, or even nine days, without chipping. This durability sets it apart from other polishes and makes it a favourite among those seeking long-lasting nail colour.
The Miracle Gel collection stands out for its ability to deliver professional salon results at an affordable price. Users can achieve a mirror-like shine and a chip-free finish for up to two weeks, all without the need for dry time. This feature is especially appealing to those who want to save time and money on salon visits.
The range of colours available in the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel line is truly impressive. From vibrant shades to neutral tones, there is something for every taste and occasion. The Totem-ly Yours colour, for instance, is a popular choice, providing a stylish gel-effect manicure.
In addition to its colour selection and durability, the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel formula also receives praise for its affordability. With prices starting at $7.99, it offers a cost-effective alternative to salon manicures without compromising on quality.
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Essie Gel Couture has a large colour range
- Matter of Fiction: A longwear, blush pink with blue undertones.
- Princess Charming: A longwear, rose mauve with subtle nutmeg accents.
- Once Upon a Time: A longwear, icy blue with slate tones.
- Spellbound: A longwear, light moss green with golden luster.
- Daring Damsel: A longwear, brushed champagne gold.
- Good Knight: A longwear, midnight mahogany red.
Essie Gel Couture also comes in shades such as Rock the Runway, a fiery scarlet, and Bubble Bath, an iconic shade.
The large colour range, along with the long-lasting finish and professional look, are some of the reasons why Essie Gel Couture is preferred by many over Sally Hansen. Essie Gel Couture's new formula features extra longwear technology and flex.e gel technology, allowing for longer wear and a gel-like finish without the need for a UV lamp. The top coat contains a triple shine complex that provides a glass-like shine and protects the shine over time.
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Frequently asked questions
Both Sally Hansen and Essie offer a range of gel nail polishes with different features. Sally Hansen's gel nail polish is known for its affordability, thick brushes, and great staying power, often lasting for up to a week without chipping. Essie, on the other hand, is known for its vibrant shades, playful names, and long-lasting formulas. Essie's Gel Couture collection, in particular, provides a salon-grade manicure that can last for up to two weeks without chipping. Ultimately, the choice between the two brands depends on your personal preferences and specific needs.
Sally Hansen's gel nail polishes are generally affordable, often costing less than $10. Essie's gel nail polishes tend to be priced higher, typically around £18 or $10.
Sally Hansen's gel nail polish line offers professional salon results, including no chips for up to two weeks, no dry time, and a mirror shine finish. The brand also has a wide range of colour options and thick brushes that make application easier.
Essie's gel nail polish is known for its long-lasting formula, providing a salon-inspired, glossy finish. The brand offers a wide range of colours, including sheers, nudes, metallics, and glitters. Essie's Gel Couture collection, in particular, is a two-step system that delivers a long-lasting, chip-resistant manicure.
Sally Hansen's Miracle Gel Nail Varnish Duo received a score of 79/100 in a review by Good Housekeeping. Testers praised its long-lasting finish and large colour range. Essie's Gel Couture Nail Colour received a higher score of 81/100 in the same review. Testers stated that it did not chip or crack even a week after application and praised the sheen of the polish, which was enhanced by the top coat.











































