We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Style Nails The 12 Most Popular Essie Nail Colors Of All Time These classic best-sellers will never go out of style. By Patricia Shannon Patricia Shannon Patricia Shannon gives how-to content a can-do attitude, sharing her knowledge and research on housekeeping, decorating, gardening, etiquette, beauty, and more. She has been writing and editing lifestyle content for more than a decade. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on March 25, 2024 Essie If we're talking nail polish, the conversation isn't over until we've named the shades that we have in constant rotation, and Essie is always in the mix. There's nothing that can bond two people together faster than a shared love of the perfect neutral pink or favorite summer red. Since its founding in the 1980s, Essie has been dishing out staple nail colors that have withstood the test of time. The proof is in these most beloved Essie nail polishes. Take a trip down memory lane, and revisit the 12 best Essie nail polishes of all time—that you can still get your hands on today. The Best Essie Nail Colors For Spring 2024 Essie Ballet Slippers Essie View On Walmart $10 View On Target $10 View On Ulta $10 Launched in 1984, Ballet Slippers is the best-selling Essie shade of all time and for good reason. It's the go-with-everything, season-less, perfection-in-a-bottle polish. Essie Mint Candy Apple Amazon View On Amazon $9 View On Walmart $9 View On Ulta $10 Launched in 2009, interestingly enough this crisp color wasn't a summertime launch, Mint Candy Apple was part of the year's winter trend collection. The brand bought it back permanently in 2013. Essie Geranium Amazon View On Amazon $10 View On Walmart $9 View On Target $10 Essie didn't go subtle with this one that launched in 1981. The fiery red-orange lacquer was one of the first 10 Essie shades to hit the market. Lucky for us, it has stuck around for the long haul. Essie Blanc Walmart View On Amazon $10 View On Walmart $10 View On Target Here's another one of the very first launches to come from polish powerhouse Essie back in 1981. This time, the hue is a crisp white that reads on-trend neutral and is just as relevant now as it was nearly 40 years ago. Essie Play Date Amazon View On Amazon $8 View On Walmart View On Target $10 Is purple a little too playful for you? Take a walk on the wild side and dip your toe into the purple pool with this soft lacquer that launched in 2012. It's just a step beyond your lilac comfort zone, we promise. Are you up for the challenge? Essie Fiji Amazon View On Amazon $10 View On Walmart $9 View On Target $10 If you're looking to find out when summer truly begins in the South, just keep checking your local store's stock of fan-favorite Fiji. First launched in 1999, it sells out in a hot minute once beach season arrives. Essie Gel Couture Rock the Runway Target View On Amazon $10 View On Walmart $15 View On Walmart $10 Launched in 2016, this cheery red shade was one of Essie's first long-wear gel launches. When you're in the mood for red nails, Rock the Runway doesn't disappoint. Essie Bikini So Teeny Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon $9 View On Walmart $9 View On Target $10 Since 2012, this perfect cornflower blue has been waiting to grace fingers and toes every spring and summer—and folks keep coming back to it. Essie Marshmallow Ulta View On Amazon $10 View On Walmart $10 View On Target $10 Another longtime favorite neutral by Essie, Marshmallow is a cloudy sheer white nail polish with a cream finish that feels perfect for a summer mani. Essie Licorice Amazon View On Amazon $9 View On Walmart $10 View On Target $10 There's always a need for a staple glossy black nail polish, whether for those who like a dark manicure or whenever Halloween comes around. Essie Licorice comes through super opaque and ultra-shiny. Essie Mademoiselle Essie View On Amazon $6 View On Walmart $12 View On Walmart $10 Essie dubs this forever best-seller "the most classic, grown-up pink," which is what brings customers back to it year after year. Essie Gel Couture Haute to Trot Essie View On Amazon $10 View On Walmart $15 View On Walmart $10 Essie offered up the most charming violet rose shade in 2016, and for those who prefer a more robust version of baby pink, it's a staple. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit