essie gel couture pre show jitters Comparisons
This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Lots of Lacquer and its partners may earn a commission or other compensation, at no extra cost to you. Some products were sent as samples, but all were independently selected.
essie gel couture, also called “gel by essie,” is essie’s long wearing nail polish line.
You do not need a UV lamp to cure it because it’s an air dry polish that is simply formulated to have the long wearing finish and plump look that gel has.
It’s a 2 part system - you don’t need a base coat - only color and top coat, so prepping your nails really well for your manicure will be key with adhesion.
File, buff and cleanse your nail with alcohol before starting your application. Then apply 2-3 coats of color.
Whether you need 2 or 3 coats of color will depend on your opacity preference, if your nails have ridges and how thick your coats are.
I’ve worn many essie polishes with either 2 or 3 coats based on those qualities above and also how ambitious I feel that day.
The manicure usually turns out either way.
Now, if you’re a perfectionist, keep in mind that not all nail polishes dry with a smooth finish on your final coat and if this is something that bothers you, you’re in luck.
The gel couture top coat is also fast drying.
Because it dries quickly and smoothes to a glossy, plump finish, it’s actually my favorite top coat overall. I will put it over anything.
It’s one of those products that make you wish you could put it on other areas of your life to fix and smooth those things too.
But it’s just a clear coat for nails that’s really, really good.
It’s also a favorite among our readers I think because overall, everyone here tends to love light white, pink and/or peach shades, especially if they’re long wearing.
I know we have other favorite colors too - like purple and burgundy, but for some reason the “pink and white” look is everlastingly popular.
pre-show jitters has a bit of both worlds. It has a slight pinkish beige tint to it when compared to other whites, but it’s still a white.
So if you like whites, but think pure opaque whites are too much, pre-show jitters could be right for you.
We’ll start with the other gel couture shade, matter of fiction, then compare it to the standard wear shades that do need a base coat, but you can make them longer wearing by putting the gel couture top coat on them, too.
To begin, let’s refresh our memory of what gel couture pre-show jitters looks like:
As you can see it’s an opaque white, with a slight hint of pinkish beige creaminess.
Now let’s see how it compares to gel couture matter of fiction:
essie gel couture pre-show jitters VS gel couture matter of fiction
essie gel couture pre-show jitters is an opaque creamy white, whereas gel couture matter of fiction is a milky pink with a touch of sheerness.
While these shades both share long wearing capabilities and white tones, pre-show jitters is an opaque whitish beige, and matter of fiction is a slightly sheerer milky white pink.
matter of fiction is the pinkest of all shades we’re comparing in this post.
essie gel couture pre-show jitters vs essie marshmallow
These are both in the white family.
Though, they differ in that pre-show jitters is long wearing and opaque, where marshmallow is standard wear, without the hack mentioned above, and sheer.
Also, marshmallow has no specific undertones of any other shade, it’s a pure sheer white. Comparatively, pre-show jitters has cool, pinkish beige tones.
That said, the main difference between them is that marshmallow is designed to be sheer, whereas pre-show jitters is designed as an opaque shade.
essie gel couture pre-show jitters VS essie ballet slippers
These shades have light pinkish beige undertones, but are otherwise very different.
Ballet slippers is in the pink family with more pink overtones and fewer white-beige undertones, whereas pre-show jitters is in the white family with more white and beige-pink undertones.
Also, ballet slippers is a sheer shade and pre-show jitters is an opaque shade.
All in all, ballet slippers is sheer, more pink forward and standard wear; pre-show jitters is opaque, more white forward and long wear.
In my opinion, ballet slippers is the more delicate “princess nails” look of the two.
So… which of these essie shades do you like the most?
While they share that they are light shades with white tones, they’re all a little different too.
gel couture matter of fiction is the pinkest shade here, marshmallow is a classic sheer, milky white and ballet slippers is a sheer, pinkish beige.
Of them, pre-show jitters is the most bold white, although it’s still an off white. For the softest white, marshmallow is probably your best bet.
Now that we’ve reviewed the differences, are you still thinking essie gel couture pre-show jitters is your next polish?
Or do you think it’ll be one of these equally nice alternatives?
Whatever you choose…
Other Articles You May Enjoy:
As an Ulta Affiliate, this site earns from qualifying purchases.
