This £10 Nail Polish Colour Just Convinced My Friend I Dropped £100 on a Manicure
I tried Essie's new Glass Nails polishes, and they achieved the sheer, glassy nails of my dreams.
Don't get me wrong, I just adore a nail trend or trying a new nail colour as much as the next person. But I'm a creature of habit, and so I always return to my favourite classic nail colours. For me, that's usually a sheer pink nail colour or milky, sheer white nail polish that gives me a "no-makeup" makeup effect to my nails. There's something about those sheer nail colours that I just cannot get enough of (boring? Maybe. Classy? 100%). So, when I spotted that Essie has launched a range of Glass Nails polishes (£10), I scrambled to get my hands on them. Scroll ahead for my favourite shades and swatches, and my honest review of the glass nail polishes.
Essie Glass Nails Polish
Shades: 6
Finish: Sheer, jelly-like finish
Pros
- Leaves nails with a sheer, glassy glow
- Can be worn sheer, or layered for a jelly-like effect
- Mix of neutral and bright shades to choose from
- You can combine shades for different effects
Cons
- Some shades require multiple coats for a bolder effect
- Chips quickly without a top coat
The Shades
The Essie Glass Nails polishes are aptly named. The formulas are very sheer, with one coat leaving a glassy translucent veil on the nails, and two or more coats delivering a juicy, jelly-like tint that's so pretty. There are six shades to choose from, ranging from milky cream and pinks through to bolder sheer reds and pinks and even deep blue, so there's something for everyone in this collection. Naturally, with me being the nail minimalist that I am, I went for Crystal Ball (a sheer, creamy tone) and Cin Cin (a juicy jelly pink) to test below.
Crystal Ball
Crystal Ball is the most minimalist of the bunch, which has a very sheer consistency with a hint of creamy milkiness to it. If you're going for this shade, I'd highly recommend layering it up. One coat looks totally sheer, two coats add a healthy glow, but three coats is the sweet spot, in my opinion, which is pictured above. It makes my nails look healthy with a subtle glow. For a milky nail finish, a fourth coat would do the trick if you want more opacity.
Cin Cin
I was instantly drawn to the juicy pink hue of Cin Cin. Here it is above with one coat. It's subtle, but it has added a subtle pink tint to my nails that instantly makes them look healthy.
Two Coats
With two coats of Cin Cin, there's more a vibrant blush tone that is still pretty sheer.
Three Coats
Three coats of Cin Cin might be my favourite! It's got more of a jelly finish and instantly brightens up my hands.
Crystal Ball + Cin Cin Layered
I had a hunch that Crystal Ball and Cin Cin might make a good layering combo, and this is the result. I used three coats of Crystal Ball, with one coat of Cin Cin on top, and I love how the milky base makes the pink pop.
My Verdict
As a lover of sheer nail polishes, these scratch my itch for those glassy, juicy nail looks. Needless to say, if you want an opaque look, these aren't the nail polishes for you, but if you love a translucent finish, you'll adore them. It's worth noting that Crystal Ball needs a fair few coats to show up, but it's worth it for the result, and I'll be wearing Cin Cin year-round for a pink jelly-like manicure. Cin Cin is so good, in fact, that one of my friends assumed I had booked in for a gel manicure at a famously pricey salon when she saw my new set.
They're both incredibly shiny and glossy, holding up to their glass nail name, but I'd recommend wearing them with a nail top coat like Essie Gel Couture Top Coat, which really seals it in with a gel-effect finish. In fact, trying these two shades from the collection has inspired me to dip a toe in the brighter shades. Shop them all below.
Shop the Shades:
Cin Cin is a jelly-like pink that makes your nails just glow.
With a soft, milky hue, this sheer cream polish can be layered for a soft veil of colour. It looks amazing as a base colour when paired with the Cin Cin shade above, too.
This sheer red is just begging to be paired with an Aperol spritz come summertime.
I just want to dive into this pool-like blue. It would look stunning to create a colourful French tip with a jelly finish.
The sheerness of this rich, jammy shade makes it very wearable year-round.
Why not try a dark jelly as an alternative to burgundy nails?
Why Trust Us
AtBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our editors have tested thousands of products, including some skincare, makeup, hair and nails, over the years and work closely with trusted experts—dermatologists, make-up artists and leading industry insiders—to ensure every guide is well-researched, inclusive and relevant to you.
We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we’d truly recommend to a friend.
