TLDR Review: Essie Strong Start Base and Top Coat
Verdict
While the Essie Nail Care Vegan Clear Base and Top Coat Strong Start offers many benefits such as improved nail health and a long-lasting salon-fresh finish, some users have reported negative experiences including nail breakage and insufficient cuticle nourishment. If you're seeking a reputable brand that enhances nail growth and longevity, it may be worth a try. However, if you're concerned about brittleness or are looking for intense cuticle hydration, you might want to explore other options.
- Top pro:
- Greatly improved the health of nails after gel salon use and discoloration.
- Top con:
- Caused significant damage to nails, resulting in brittleness and pain.
Pros
- •Greatly improved the health of nails after gel salon use and discoloration.
- •Provides a salon-fresh look that lasts for at least two weeks.
- •Works well in combination with Essie nail colors and top coat.
- •Dried quickly and had a pleasant, less intense odor compared to other brands.
- •Notable longevity; home manicures can last up to 2 weeks with proper care.
- •High-quality nail health, backed by the reputable brand Essie.
- •Application process was enjoyable with a good-quality brush that provided excellent coverage.
- •Exceeded expectations, especially considering previous frustrations with nail polish durability.
- •Effectively promotes nail growth and strength.
- •Provides a clean and nice-looking finish to the nails.
Cons
- •Caused significant damage to nails, resulting in brittleness and pain.
- •Experienced breakage in all nails after two weeks of use as directed.
- •Considered overpriced at CVS, despite the quality.
- •Minor chipping occurred after two days, leading to disappointment.
- •Did not effectively moisturize or nourish cuticles, making them feel drier over time.
- •Did not live up to expectations or promises, with a reviewer calling it a waste of money.
- •Chipping occurred almost the next day after application, indicating better basecoat options might be available.
- •Did not provide noticeable improvement in nail condition compared to other base coats.
- •Disappointment with its ability to prevent chips, with nails chipping within two days.
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How we researched this
About this review: it summarizes the professional reviews and customer ratings ShopSavvy collected for this product, alongside prices from 1 retailer in ShopSavvy's price data, most recently seen Oct 6, 2026.
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