essie Nail Care, 8-Free Vegan, Speed Setter Top Coat, quick-dry nail polish, 0.46 fl oz

Definitely my all time, personal favorite top coat. It’s thick and easy to apply. It dries fast, has a nice hard layer which helps my nails not to snag or break, and gives a nice shine.

I’d been struggling with easily dehydrated, hard, cracking cuticles for at least a year. They would dry out and bleed constantly, even with lotion after every hand wash (I wash my hands pretty often). I put this on my cuticles every time I washed my hands for the past couple of weeks and now they’re starting to heal and soften up again. Consistency is key, but it does work!

This is wonderful! It is convenient to carry in your purse or keep on your desk. It is an oil but does not leave your hands feeling greasy. And the smell is heavenly!

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.

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.

If you’re like me and want the best bang for your buck with at-home manicures, add Essie Good to Go to your routine. Two coats are all you need: your regular nail color and this top coat. It levels out streaks, dries quickly, and leaves a glassy finish that keeps my nails looking fresh for days with far fewer chips. Tips: apply a thin layer, “cap” the free edge, and let it set for a few minutes, you’ll get that durable, glossy seal that makes even budget polishes look luxe. I’ve tried plenty of top coats; this is the one I keep repurchasing.

This top coat is great. It dries so quickly, is shiny and protects your polish. I will never use another top coat. It's simply the best!

I like that this polish work as both a base and top coat. I love that Essie is vegan and 8 free as well. It’s affordable compared to other companies that sell vegan ‘X amount free’ nail polishes and products. This bottle while last me a long time so that’s awesome! It gives your nails a shiny top coat and would even work on its own without a polish to give your natural nails a bit of a shine.I do have to say that I hate the way it smells. It filled the whole room the instant the cap came off. I am extremely sensitive to smells so the experience was a bit over stimulating. I even wear a mask while painting my nails to try and avoid the smells but this polish permeated everything. Once the cap was back on, the scent calmed down. So thankfully only one coat is needed before and after the color polish.Edit:It’s been over a week since I painted my toes and there is no chipping. They still look great and are holding up nicely.I painted my finger nails 3 days ago and 2 of my nails have chipped badly and a third has just started chipping. I updated my rating to a 3 star due to this.The polish works great for toes but not so great for fingers