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$10.99When purchased online
About this item
At a glance
Vegan
Highlights
- ESSIE STRONG START BASE COAT: clear strengthening nail polish base coat that strengthens, reinforces and hardens nails.
- STRENGTH BOOSTING FORMULA: give your weak and brittle nails a boost with this strengthening base coat infused with biotin.
- STRONGER NAILS: creates the ideal base for a beautiful manicure thanks to stronger nails more resistant to peeling, chipping & breakage.
- THE ART OF THE MANICURE, PERFECTED: high performance essie top coats, base coats and treatments, for every detail of your manicure. the perfect compliment to any essie nail polish color.
- 8-FREE VEGAN FORMULA: without formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde resin, camphor, ethyl tosylamide, xylene, triphenyl phosphate and animal derived ingredients.
- ESSIE, AMERICA’S NAIL SALON EXPERT: essie is the go-to nail brand for celebrities, beauty professionals, fashion icons and the color obsessed.
Specifications
Health Facts: Formaldehyde-Free, Toluene-Free, Animal By-Product-Free, DBP-Free, Formaldehyde Resin-Free, Camphor-Free, Vegan
Color Finish: Sheer
Color Palette: Translucent
Beauty Purpose: Nail Care
Net weight: .46 fl oz (US)
Features: Even Color
TCIN: 53634363
UPC: 095008031422
Item Number (DPCI): 052-06-1002
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
Description
the art of the manicure perfected, from America's nail salon expert: high performance essie top coats, base coats and treatments, for every detail of your manicure, the perfect compliment to any essie nail polish color.
bring the salon experience home with essie Strong Start, our strength boosting formula, infused with biotin, helps reinforce for less weak and brittle feeling nails. the result: a beautiful manicure due to strong nails more resistant to peeling, chipping & breakage.
for the perfect manicure, apply one coat of strong start base coat on nails. follow with two coats of essie original nail color. finish with any of our essie top coats. use with essie apricot cuticle oil.
bring the salon experience home with essie Strong Start, our strength boosting formula, infused with biotin, helps reinforce for less weak and brittle feeling nails. the result: a beautiful manicure due to strong nails more resistant to peeling, chipping & breakage.
for the perfect manicure, apply one coat of strong start base coat on nails. follow with two coats of essie original nail color. finish with any of our essie top coats. use with essie apricot cuticle oil.
Vegan
A product that has an on-pack unqualified independent third-party certification or a statement that the entire product (not individual product components) is vegan. See how we make shopping for wellness even easier.
If the item details above aren’t accurate or complete, we want to know about it.
Ingredients:
butyl acetate, ethyl acetate, phthalic anhydride/glycerin/glycidyl decanoate copolymer, nitrocellulose, isopropyl alcohol, acetyl tributyl citrate, dimethyl sulfone, adipic acid/neopentyl glycol/trimellitic anhydride copolymer, biotin, [+/- may contain ci 60725/violet 2], f.i.l d221743/1
Shipping details
Estimated ship dimensions: 3.74 inches length x 1.85 inches width x 1.18 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 0.13 pounds
We regret that this item cannot be shipped to PO Boxes.
This item cannot be shipped to the following locations: Guam (see also separate entry under GU), United States Minor Outlying Islands, Hawaii, Northern Mariana Islands, Virgin Islands, U.S., American Samoa (see also separate entry under AS), Puerto Rico (see also separate entry under PR), APO/FPO, Alaska
Return details
This item must be returned to any Target store.
This item must be returned within 90 days of the date it was purchased in store, shipped, delivered by a Shipt shopper, or made ready for pickup.
See the return policy for complete information.
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4.5 out of 5 stars with 258 reviews
46% would recommend
13 recommendations
value: 3.27 out of 5
easy to apply: 4.73 out of 5
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easy to remove: 4.82 out of 5
EXCELLENT NAIL TOP COAT AND BASE!
5 out of 5 stars
Would recommend
Cellefson61 - 3 months ago, Verified purchaser
It's wonderful on my Nails and helps keep them strong.
Not worth it
1 out of 5 stars
Would not recommend
SassyRed - 3 months ago
Did not do what it claims. Polish chipped and peeled.
1 reply from Essie Team team - 3 months ago
Hi There! We are sorry to hear about the experience you had with our essie Strong Start Base Coat - strengthening. Feedback from our consumers is very important to us and helps us improve all our products. We are sorry to hear that this product is not your new favorite. We thank you for giving this product a try and hope you continue to explore our other products with confidence!
Approved
5 out of 5 stars
Would recommend
Bella1512 - 3 months ago, Verified purchaser
I took my nails off from the salon and use this clear coat for just clean looking nails. I love it. So easy dries quick and helps my nails kit chip.
I love this color
4 out of 5 stars
Karen D - 4 months ago
originally posted on essie.com
I just wish you made it in the gel - it lasts so much longer!
Wire-less is more
5 out of 5 stars
luvcorgis - 4 months ago
originally posted on essie.com
Love, love, love this color. It is darker than website and looks a duty lavender with some opalescence. It looks beautiful on and wears very well. My only suggestion for Essie would be to make it JUST a bit thinner as it thickens when the bottle is about 1/3 full. I will definitely purchase again, when I can find it!
My favorite nude/pink
5 out of 5 stars
Lisek16 - 4 months ago
originally posted on essie.com
Love this color. Wore for my wedding but also for every day, looks great when tan or not, such a beautiful nude/pink that goes with absolutely everything and looks classic yet modern.
Iridescent Lilac
5 out of 5 stars
TrySetter - 5 months ago
originally posted on essie.com
Loved the color, reminds me of a more purple version of Demure Vixen or Sand of a Beach, if anyone remembers those colors. Or a pink version of Sweet Souffle. I like sheer not opaque; it works very well as a lovely one coat hint of color/shimmer.
Peels & Chips
1 out of 5 stars
Would not recommend
Amber - 5 months ago, Verified purchaser
I’m generally a fan of essie products, but this base coat is awful. My manicure looks acceptable for a maximum of three days when I use it, and often starts chipping immediately. With the other Essie base coat that I use (with the same colors and top coat) I get at least seven.
1 reply from Essie Team team - 5 months ago
Hi there Amber! We can see this wouldn’t be the result you were hoping for…and we want to understand what happened just as much as you do. This strength boosting formula, infused with biotin is made to help reinforce, making less weak and brittle feeling nails. If you would like to speak to us directly about your recent purchase, give us a call @ 866-313-7845 M-F 9 am-5:30 pm ET
THE BEST
5 out of 5 stars
denise22 - 5 months ago
originally posted on essie.com
I have ridges on all my nails and honestly never thought anything of it. ALL I buy are Essie nail polishes and when I saw this, I thought why not! I'm so glad I did. Even with just the base on, it looks so good. I did apply about 2 coats, just because I could still feel and see the ridges after the first, but whatever amount, I think it's good!
Yellow nails
1 out of 5 stars
Would not recommend
Yellow - 5 months ago, Verified purchaser
This bottom coat is horrible, it turned my nails yellow! I've tried others and had really great results, this one is a waste of money!
1 reply from Essie Team team - 5 months ago
Hi there! We are sad to hear about your experience with the Essie Strong Start Base Coat, and looked yellow. We know this can be frustrating and we will share this with our Production and development teams. We hope that you will continue to explore our products in the future.
All time favorite color!
5 out of 5 stars
Bense - 7 months ago
originally posted on essie.com
I love clean looking, sheer subtle colors on my nails. Waltz was my favorite until I found Sheer Luck. It is perfect for the look I want. When I brought it to my salon, the shop owner liked it so much she ordered it for her store.
pretty
4 out of 5 stars
jeonsoyeon100 - 9 months ago
originally posted on essie.com
nice and subtle its really cute! it can be streaky but its beautiful
Nope. Not for me. Will continue looking for a basecoat
2 out of 5 stars
Would not recommend
AlwaysAtTarger - 10 months ago, Verified purchaser
The chipping and peeing of my nail polish was immediate. I tried putting mail polish on once dried, about 3 hours after it was dry and regardless chip and peeled both times. It’s funny my polish actually lasts longer without this base coat. Didn’t really see any difference in the strength of my nails either.
1 reply from Essie Team team - 10 months ago
Hi there! We are so sorry to hear about your experience with our Strong Start Nail Treatment Base Coat! We strive to provide the highest quality products for our consumers and want to know whenever something doesn't meet your expectations. Your feedback helps us to improve and has been shared with others in the company. We sincerely hope you will find another one of our products that provides you with better results.
Fun
4 out of 5 stars
Coyay - 11 months ago
originally posted on essie.com
I have it shown over essie’s watermelon and sally hansen’s make it snappy! Although it looks pink in the bottle, it looks like a gold shimmer on the nails. Not quite what I expected but fun nonetheless ♡
Creates a very smooth canvas
5 out of 5 stars
Would recommend
emlyn - 11 months ago
I bought this when I couldn't find the brand I usually use, and I will be changing to this product from now on! My nails look so much more smooth and uniform. I love it, please don't change it!
Love this product
5 out of 5 stars
NIkki017 - 1 year ago
originally posted on essie.com
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I got this a while ago to try because I struggle a lot with my nails and nail health. They're always so brittle and weak especially with my job. I got this product to try and it works great! My nails look so much healthier, all the dents in them have slowly gone away and my nails dont break nearly as much now!
Smooth but bubbly
4 out of 5 stars
Jessejess - 1 year ago
originally posted on essie.com
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I noticed that it does work but when I use with some of my nail polishes it causes it to bubble. But overall I do like it.
Beautiful Nails
5 out of 5 stars
M1ch3113lee - 1 year ago
originally posted on essie.com
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I have been using the Essie Strong Start + Us for a couple of months and I have definitely noticed my nails are not peeling or chipping as a result of using this product. I like that when I used the strong start as my base coat my top coat of color lasted longer and didn't chip or peel off. Definitely has helped my nails become stronger.
Necessary step!
5 out of 5 stars
jcz26 - 1 year ago
originally posted on essie.com
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I love painting my nails but sometimes that leaves my nails feeling a bit brittle. This base coat is amazing and I love that it is infused with biotin to make my nails stronger. Definitely recommend!!
Game changer!
5 out of 5 stars
Brandijane44 - 1 year ago
originally posted on essie.com
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] As a person who normally uses gel nail polish, you can imagine the damage and ridges in my nails. I take breaks between gel manicures to give my nails a chance to recover. Smooth-e is amazing! Fills in all the ridges left by my gel manicure. Very even surface on my nail bed. Great product!