Review: Essie Gel Setter

I know that a great top coat is the secret to a long-lasting manicure. And you all know that Sally Hansen’s Mega Shine top coat has long been my top coat of choice. I swear by it. I’ve tested my share of other top coats and have experienced terrible sheet marks, chipping, lackluster shine, you name it. Few have compelled me to actually repurchase or even wear a second time.

But Essie released their newest top coat, the Gel Setter, not long ago. And because Essie is just Essie, I had to try it. Here’s what I found:

Drying Time

Drying time is one of the things I most look for in a top coat because I’m usually doing something, anything, soon after a DIY manicure. The Gel Setter’s drying time was much quicker than expected, and I actually had to work quickly to get smooth coats. The polish dries so quickly you may notice a little dragging between swipes.

In comparing drying times among Gel Setter and Mega Shine, I’d say both are quick to dry. Because Essie’s is a “gel” formula, there was that dragging, which I never experience with Mega Shine. I’d say both are completely dry about as quickly.  

Shine

The shine really is about what you’d expect from any gel. It's reflective and even while reading a book or typing on my keyboard at work, I kept getting distracted by my super shiny nails. Many top coats will give you shine for a day or two, but the Gel Setter’s shine looked fresh the entire time I wore it.

From the time I’ve tested the Essie Gel Setter and the years I’ve used Sally Hansen’s Mega Shine, I would say this is among the few things that truly differ in the formulas. The Gel Setter’s shine seems to stand the test of time, by just a tad.

Strength

You know those top coats that are so soft they’re malleable and you get sheet marks, even if you go to bed hours after having done your nails? The Gel Setter has a strong, resilient finish. I even went as far as digging and dragging my nail across the finish to test it, with no scratches in sight. Definitely no sheet marks here.

Wear Time
When your DIY (or salon) manicure is properly done - short length on nails, buffed tips, base coat and capped nails on that final coat of polish - the Gel Setter should get you through 4-5 days chip-free. I extended my wear time to about a week, with minor chipping. My favorite neutral polishes that best hide chips include Essie’s Minimalistic and Ballet Slippers.

Gel Formula
In defense of every brand trying to recreate a gel formula in a nail polish, this is a difficult thing to do. That said, Essie’s Gel Setter won’t give you that salon gel wear time. But this is actually a good thing. I think I’ve nearly ripped off a nail trying to remove gels. But it will give you a much thicker, longer lasting and shinier manicure than any other top coat.

So am I ready to trade my Sally Hansen Mega Shine top coat just yet? No, I’m not. Yeah, the shine is just marginally better on the Gel Setter, but there is that slight difference in drying and dragging, which the Mega Shine has a one-up on. There’s also price point, the Gel Setter’s being slightly more expensive. At the end of the day the $1 to $2 difference won’t make or break me, but just one other factor to consider. I see myself continuing to use both of these in the future.