We’ve always maintained that fashion and beauty are closely related. Take for example, Essie’s new Gel Couture Line. Inspired by couture, this range features 42 nail polishes that are divided into 4 collections – Atelier (neutrals), First Look (pastels), Fashion Show (bright shades) and After Party (deep hues). Since we are suckers for all things red, we opted for ‘Bubbles Only’, which is from the After Party collection. Here is our review.

Let’s first get to the cutest part – the bottle! In an ode to twirling dresses on the runway, this twisted glass bottle looks too chic for words. The lacquer comes with a wide, tapered brush that makes application a breeze. The brush also consists of a unique swirled stem, which prevents the polish from dripping. The exact shade name is printed on a sticker on top of the trademark white cap.

On the formula front, this product totally lived up to our expectations! Since it has a built-in base coat, we applied the colour directly on to our bare nails. The polish went on easily, without any streaking or bubbling. ‘Bubbles Only’ is a creamy, burgundy shade which requires 2 coats for complete opacity. We then used the top coat from the line to get a glossy finish.

Essie promises 14 days of wear with this product… a fact that proved absolutely true! Although our nails had grown out quite a bit, the colour stayed chip-free and rich. However, the top coat does get dull as the days go by, so we recommend that you apply a thin layer of it every few days.

With results as good as a gel manicure, without the need of UV lights, this product is a true winner! Although we had promised ourselves that we would buy only one shade, we’re pretty sure that a few new hues are going to find their way into our stash!

Price: USD 11.50