Seriously, This £9 Essie Nail Polish Has Officially Replaced My Expensive Milky Gel Manicures

I'm a beauty editor who has an allergy to gel nails (sob). So, one of the biggest problems I face is finding nail polishes that can compete with the gel I used to love. It's not just about it lasting without chipping, but also finding nail colours that look just as good as their gel counterparts.

One colour I find tricky to find in nail polishes is a good sheer white hue to replicate a milky manicure. Some white nail polishes are too opaque, while others are too streaky to achieve the look I'm after. However, that all changed when I tried Essie's Allure Nail Polish (£9) and it's one of the best gel polish alternatives I've tried.

Essie Allure Nail Polish

After seeing Essie's Allure nail shade all over my social feeds and on the grids of some of London's best manicurists, I knew I had to give it a try. The shade is a very sheer, slightly off-white hue that lends a sheer tint to your nails. Because it's so sheer, it is easily layered for more intensity without it going opaque. It allows your natural nails to peek through while perfecting the nail plate—it's like a BB cream for your nails.

One Coat

Here are my nails with just one coat of Essie Allure. It adds a subtle touch of colour while remaining almost totally sheer.

Two Coats

Two coats of Allure brings more of a perfecting finish to the nails and brightens the nail plate.

Three Coats

Three coats might be my favourite. After a third coat, you're left with a milky finish that makes your nails look healthy and glossy.

The Verdict

Having worn Essie's Allure nail polish over the past couple of months, I have to say I've been really impressed. Not only is it one of the best sheer white nail polishes I've tried, but it also lasts really well coupled with a top coat. I used Essie's Gel Couture Top Coat with it and it easily lasted a week without major chipping. The colour is layerable, so you can build up the coats to the intensity you require. One coat is like a "no-makeup" makeup look for your nails, two coats perfects them further and a third coat gives me the milky look I've been chasing. I also like that this nail polish isn't a brilliant white—instead, it has a cream undertone that looks flattering on all skin tones. I know I'll be picking up another bottle soon.

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