essie Gel Setter Top Coat - gel-like finish - 0.46 fl oz: Animal By-Product-Free, Formaldehyde-Free, Vegan
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Guests are saying
The Essie Gel Setter Top Coat is praised for its ability to transform basic nail polish into a salon-quality gel manicure. Guests appreciate its high shine, quick drying time, and long-lasting finish. However, some guests experienced issues with the product becoming thick and goopy over time, and a few reported peeling and chipping within a short period.
Summary created by AI from text of reviews reflecting recent feedback provided across different star ratings (includes incentivized reviews)
4.2 out of 5 stars with 363 reviews
easy to apply: 4.63 out of 5
easy to remove: 4.64 out of 5
long lasting: 3.9 out of 5
quality: 3.93 out of 5
value: 3.75 out of 5
67% would recommend
87 recommendations
3 out of 5 stars
Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
12 March, 2026
Shrinkage
I really wanted to love this product. I bought a fresh bottle with a fresh bottle of matching polish. It gives a great finish and it lasts a long time. But after a day, the shiny topcoat starts to pull away from the polish on the sides and especially the tip. I’ve tried all different techniques and I’ve been polishing my nails for 55 years and usually get a professional look. Other than that I liked it.
1 reply from Essie Team team - 19 days ago
Hi Linda. Thank you for reaching out to Essie. We are sorry to hear about the experience you had with the Gel Setter Top Coat. We would like to speak with you directly about it. Please give us a call at 866-313-7845, M- F, 9am - 5:30pm, ET and let us know you contacted us through a review. It would be helpful if you could have the product available when you call, as well as providing the agent with your username. Looking forward to speaking with you.
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
29 January, 2026
Fave new top coat
I've tried all the top coats and hands down this is my new go to. Dries very fast and with a nice shine. I usually chip my nail polish unfortunately fast but they last longer when using this top coat.
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
25 November, 2025Verified purchase
Love
New favorite always used Essie gel top coat! But this has become my new favorite. Dries fast long lasting and has a nice shine.
5 out of 5 stars
7 October, 2025
Nice!
This product is great! I was using Seche Vite but that kept getting gummy after using it for 2 or 3 manicures. I switched to Essie Gel-Setter and it's so much better. Yes, it takes a little longer to dry than its competitor (but it's still quicker than regular polish top coat) but its worth it because it doesn't get gummy AND I think it lasts longer - Seche Vite would start dulling my nails after a week but with Essie my nails still look great after a week!
5 out of 5 stars
3 September, 2025
originally posted on essie.com
Soooo good
It’s the best top coat ever. I live and breathe by this stuff. Use it weekly. My only complaint it is hard to find in my area
5 out of 5 stars
6 August, 2025
originally posted on essie.com
The absolute BEST top coat on the market!
I am an indie nail art lover, but also someone who works in surgery, so I am not allowed to wear gel polish or acrylic nails. Prior to finding this bottle, I used Mooncat’s Speed Demon topcoat, which I absolutely loved, but hated how it would get thick, stringy and virtually unusable after just two or three uses. I consulted people in the nail polish community and Essie Gel Setter Top Coat was the name that kept coming up. I bought a bunch of different brands to trial, from Sally Hansen to KB Shimmer and everything in between. Essie was a clear winner and now I understand why. If you like that crystal clear, glossy, plump, hard like glass finish then you won’t be disappointed with this one! It also dries pretty fast considering, and won’t shrink or crack the polish underneath.
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
15 July, 2025Verified purchase
Great product
Used this as a top coat for my nails for my wedding. It made the polish last so well. No chipping until after we got back from a beach honeymoon! Sand is usually abrasive so I was impressed this top coat worked so well.
2 out of 5 stars
3 June, 2025Verified purchase
Great the first few uses!
The first few times i used it was great quick drying less than 5 mins!! However I used it about 3 or 4 times ( bottle is still more than half way full ) but today after having it for about two months top coat has thickened a lot, it’s become sticky and hard to apply smoothly, like it’s starting to dry out in the bottle. Its about the third bottle i buy and it has happened to all of them. (However it does my nail polish last about 5 days before it begins chipping.. i do alot of cleaning and they have held up well. )I store it in a shelf in my closet its dark and cool but maybe im storing it wrong? I'm not sure but ill be switching brands.
1 reply from Essie Team team - 10 months ago
Hi there JAriass! Thank you for reaching out to us about the Gel Setter Top Coat, we are disappointed to hear that you did not get the results you expected and had some chipping and the texture is thickening. We will share this information with our production teams, we would like to assist you as best we can. please call us directly at call us at 1-866-313-7845, Monday - Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.
5 out of 5 stars
8 May, 2025
originally posted on essie.com
Survives a nurse’s week with no problem.
I am a nurse and do not get gel nails for a few different reasons relating to my job, but I still want a manicure that looks good and stays looking good. I wash my hands or use hand sanitizer more times in a day than I can count, and after 3 days in a row, prior manicures were removed after the second day because of how bad they looked. This top coat, when all layers are given a chance to dry, helps my nails survive not only a 3-in-a-row, but my days off as well. Sure, a little chipping happens, but when you use and wash your hands constantly, it’s a small price to pay. 100% recommend this top coat to anyone who doesn’t want to pay salon prices (or doesn’t have the time) and wants a gel finish manicure that lasts.
5 out of 5 stars
26 February, 2025
originally posted on essie.com
Great product!
I’ve used Essie gel setter and it works great! My polish has lasted 2 weeks. The other users may have used old polish from their pics. I’ve done that too.
4 out of 5 stars
12 February, 2025
originally posted on essie.com
Great Choice!
Glad I grabbed this. Had to go out for birthday with wrecked nails. Used today, I agree this gel setter changed my entire tude about doing my nails.
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
13 November, 2024Verified purchase
Awesome
I love using this after using non toxic nail glue and nail art.
1 out of 5 stars
Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
3 November, 2024Verified purchase
Peel away
Peeled like an item from a kid’s nail kit. I would not recommend.
1 reply from Essie Team team - 1 year ago
Hi there! Thank you for your feedback on the Gel Setter Top Coat. We are sad to hear that you did not see the results you expected and you had peeling. We will share this information with our production and development teams, and we hope that you will continue to try and use our products in the future with satisfaction.
1 out of 5 stars
Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
21 October, 2024
Didn’t even last two days
I got this because of the reviews. I needed my mani to last a while since I was going to a wedding. Two days after application I look down and see it started to crack and flake off. I’ve never had a top coat do that before. The one from the dollar tree works better.
1 out of 5 stars
Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
17 October, 2024Verified purchase
Pretty but malfunctions
This definitely makes the polish shine like gel, but then it peels off. I've tried it alone and on top of other polish, and it peels off as soon as it dries.
1 reply from Essie Team team - 1 year ago
Hi there! Thank you for your feedback on the Gel Setter Top Coat - gel-like finish. We are sad to hear that you did not see the results you expected and you had peeling. We will share this information with our production and development teams, and we hope that you will continue to try and use our products in the future with satisfaction.
1 out of 5 stars
Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
21 September, 2024
Goopy
Used a few times and it was great. Maybe the 4th time went to use it and it had thickened so much it was so goopy and gross and not even usable anymore. Disappointed
1 reply from Essie Team team - 2 years ago
Hi there! Thank you for your feedback on the Gel Setter Top Coat. We are sad to hear that you did not see the results you expected with this top coat. We will share this information with our production and development teams, and we hope that you will continue to try and use our products in the future with satisfaction.
5 out of 5 stars
14 September, 2024
originally posted on essie.com
Game changer
This top coat is a game changer for me! Regular mani with the gel look- it stays chip free for a whole week, and it also is easy to remove unlike actual gel. I talk this up to all my friends, completely worth the impulse buy!
4 out of 5 stars
Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
1 August, 2024Verified purchase
My nails still chipped I don't know if this worked right
I don’t know if I should write this a three or four. I don’t understand exactly what it’s supposed to do. I guess is my issue I used it. It did set, but it didn’t like a gel. Not the length I was expecting, but that’s OK. I’m talking about the shine level. It was just me and my nails chipped within two days. I get my nails done a lot, so maybe I just don’t understand what a topcoat supposed to be doing, but I thought it was supposed to extend the life of my nail polish which just did not seem to do at all.
2 out of 5 stars
28 July, 2024
originally posted on essie.com
Never fully dries...
I really want to love this because it really does give your nails the gel manicure look.... But my gosh, it's like it NEVER completely dries! Maybe it's just me, I don't know. It also creates a lot of air bubbles when you put it over a sheer/jelly formula.
1 reply from Consumer Care Center team - 2 years ago
Hello Sxp89. Thank you for sharing your experience with the gel-setter. Something doesn't sound right with the bottle you have, and we want to understand what happened just as much as you do. 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
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
12 July, 2024Verified purchase
Get it! Will not disappoint!
This is the holy grail of top coats! It took my basic nail polish to the next level and looks like a salon-quality gel manicure. Highly recommend, 10/10!