essie gel couture bubbles only VS forever yummy

Updated 2025.11.25. This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something through these links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Do you love deep, rich and creamy red nail polish? Do you love nail polishes that are easily accessible at price points you can afford? Do you love brands that make reliable formulas that last?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you’re exactly where you’re meant to be.

In this post, we’re going to compare two creamy rich red nail polishes from essie - a drug store brand that is one of our reader’s favorites. Founded in the early 1980s, essie is known for their reliable, pigmented formulas.

Both essie gel couture bubbles only and forever yummy are currently best sellers from essie. forever yummy is described as a creamy tango red, and bubbles only is described as a classic burgundy cream.

These beautiful polishes have these qualities in common: they’re both made by essie, opaque in two coats and cream finish.

They differ in that bubbles only is a deep burgundy; forever yummy is a rich red.

Also, bubbles only is a long wear gel couture formula; forever yummy is a standard wear formula.

essie gel couture is now also known as gel by essie - it’s a long-wear polish that doesn’t require a UV lamp. I love both the standard wear and long wear essie formulas, but the gel couture line is especially nice as it really does last.

That said, you can use the essie gel couture top coat, with any essie standard formula to extend the wear.

So in today’s post, mostly focus on the color.

To get a visual idea of these similarities and differences, below you will find three swatches of essie gel couture bubbles only and three swatches of essie forever yummy, both shown in two coats.

To end, you’ll see a final comparison photo.

Let’s begin!

essie gel couture bubbles only swatches:

essie bubbles only is a long wearing burgundy cream. It’s one of my favorite burgundy nail polishes.

Now for essie forever yummy swatches:

essie forever yummy is a rich, cherry red cream.

The final comparison photo:

All in all, these are both lovely, rich reds that you will enjoy, especially if you love quality red nail polishes.

To decide which color is right for you, consider these questions: 

• How deep of a red do you need?

Burgundies are always deeper and darker than reds. 

• Do you need the formula to be long-wearing?

Of the two, just bubbles only is designed for up to 14-day wear.

For a long-wearing burgundy, get essie gel couture bubbles only. To get the longest weartime with this formula, pair it with the essie gel couture top coat. For a rich red with a 5-7 day wear time, get essie forever yummy. To get the longest weartime with this formula, pair it with the essie strong start base coat and essie gel-setter top coat.

Other Articles You May Enjoy:

• Bold & Beautiful Red Nail Ideas

• essie gel couture Nail Polish Colors

• essie gel couture Nail Polish Review

• essie Red Nail Polish

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