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sunshine123
Cleveland, OH, United States
Review1
Votes0
Age25 to 34
1 out of 5 stars.
why are 0 stars not possible? one is too much..
10 years ago
I like using dark nail polish like reds and blacks and blues and greens. And some of those shades are hard to get off, discolor the nail even.
I mainly bought this base coat to protect my nail from getting discolored.
Every time I have used this base coat it has helped to get the nail polish off without any residue - because it just peels off! The nail polish comes off in one big flake sometimes! And that usually happens even as soon as the same day, on the second day at the latest.
I am attaching a picture of starry starry night peeling off. I cannot get a better close up with my cell phone camera but you get the idea of how all the layers come off as one.
No, I do not recommend this product.
Originally posted on essie.com
Response from essie.com:
10 years ago
ccc
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We make every effort to provide the highest quality products for our consumers and want to know whenever a product is not satisfactory.
We are always looking for ways to improve our products. We will be forwarding your experience to the appropriate department. In the meantime, we suggest All in One or First Base base coat.
Gracie
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Review1
Votes0
3 out of 5 stars.
Hard to tell if actually strengthens
10 years ago
As the title of this review implies, I had a hard time trying to decide whether or not this base coat actually made any difference to my nail. As someone with relatively healthy and strong nails already, I am going to have to say no, I didn't see any difference. However, maybe someone with weak nails to begin with might find this useful. I'm still rating this base coat as "average" because I found it easy to apply and quick to dry. I typically use basecoats to prevent coloured nail polishes from staining my nails, and this one does the job fine. Basecoats are also known for helping colours appear more vibrant and last longer. I honestly don't think it makes a difference though.
Originally posted on essie.ca
nickleknacker
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Review1
Votes0
Age18 to 24
5 out of 5 stars.
Stronger nails FAST!
10 years ago
TRULY LOVED THIS PRODUCT!
I don't know if you guys know what it's like to have sand paper nails after taking off a pair of acrylics.
After applying this onto my nails, they were a nice glossy and strengthened feel. It dries clear and DOES NOT change the colour of your top polish.
It's the perfect base coat for those who happen to have frail, brittle or damaged nails - as it gives them a little more support.
It will be nice to see how this effects breakage and I promise to update this review after some longer usage.
(I received this product to test by Influenster but all the views are my own.)
Yes, I recommend this product.
Originally posted on essie.ca
Oneninetypointsix
Review1
Votes0
Age17 or under
5 out of 5 stars.
Strengthening Af
11 years ago
ive been trying to strengthen my nails for a good 2 years because they are very weak. yesterday while shopping with my cousin we went into sephora and i was looking at all the nail polishes when a guy came over to help me. he asked if tere was a color i would like him to help me find and i said i was just looking as my nails were too weak to paint and he offered the base to me. To be honest i didnt belive that it would do what e said but bought it anyways cuz he was cute. but that night i painted a layer on my nails and this morning i saw a great difference in my nails. Really love this product!
Yes, I recommend this product.
Originally posted on essie.com
Kyla
Saint Marys City, MD, United States
Review1
Votes0
Age18 to 24
5 out of 5 stars.
Miracle in a bottle!
10 years ago
I bought this about a month ago because I am genetically plagued with weak nails; no matter the vitamins I take or how gentle I am with my hands, my nails always split and break. A friend told me that a strengthening base coat would help my manicure last. This product does all of that and more! Using this base coat extends the life of my manicure by several days, while protecting the nail underneath and helping it grow and not break. It is good to use on its own or with nail polish on top. This was my first Essie product and I am extremely pleased with it; would recommend to anyone.
Yes, I recommend this product.
Originally posted on essie.com
shineetina
Toronto
Review1
Votes0
Age18 to 24
4 out of 5 stars.
Great base coat but not my thing
10 years ago
I received this base coat to test out and I think it's great! It drys fast and easily applied but the colour it leaves and the fact that the nail polish I apply on top does not dry fast is a downer. If you are patient and like the white-ish colour then this a good product for you.
Yes, I recommend this product.
Originally posted on essie.ca
abcde
New York
Review1
Votes0
Age25 to 34
5 out of 5 stars.
really works!
3 years ago
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] My aging (!) nails were getting thinner, weaker and brittle. I use TWO coats of “Grow Stronger” and the first color coat. Any color you like. The After thoroughly dry, I add the second color coat, and Gel,Couture top coat. I have not had a chip in over 2 years. I think it must bond to the nail, because when I have NO polish on, my nails feel stronger and no longer “crack” at the sided. My manicures last 3+ weeks...or until, ya know, they’ve grown in too much to look good. I have my mom doing the same routine. At 91, her nails rock, and she is hard on her hands,
Originally posted on essie.com
xyzdfdgf
Review1
Votes0
Age25 to 34
4 out of 5 stars.
really works!
3 years ago
My aging (!) nails were getting thinner, weaker and brittle. I use TWO coats of “Grow Stronger” and the first color coat. Any color you like. The After thoroughly dry, I add the second color coat, and Gel,Couture top coat. I have not had a chip in over 2 years. I think it must bond to the nail, because when I have NO polish on, my nails feel stronger and no longer “crack” at the sided. My manicures last 3+ weeks...or until, ya know, they’ve grown in too much to look good. I have my mom doing the same routine. At 91, her nails rock, and she is hard on her hands,
Originally posted on essie.com
1 – 8 of 186 Reviews
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LYT912
Atlanta, GA
Review1
Votes0
Age45 to 54
5 out of 5 stars.
Really works!
6 years ago
My aging (!) nails were getting thinner, weaker and brittle. I use TWO coats of “Grow Stronger” and the first color coat. Any color you like. The After thoroughly dry, I add the second color coat, and Gel,Couture top coat. I have not had a chip in over 2 years. I think it must bond to the nail, because when I have NO polish on, my nails feel stronger and no longer “crack” at the sided. My manicures last 3+ weeks...or until, ya know, they’ve grown in too much to look good. I have my mom doing the same routine. At 91, her nails rock, and she is hard on her hands,
Yes, I recommend this product.
Originally posted on essie.com
Bryght
Long Beach, CA, United States
Review1
Votes0
Age35 to 44
5 out of 5 stars.
Love this base coat!
11 years ago
I am a nurse and a swimmer who spends a lot of time in the pool or washing my hands. All of the chemicals in the pool and the 100 times a shift I wash my hands can/will cause your nail to break and split. I have been using grow stronger for 4 weeks now and I notice a HUGE improvement in my nails! They are stronger, healthier, growing faster and they stopped splitting! I do my own manicures at home and my routine is 1 coat of grow stronger, 2 coats of any essie nail polish and no chips ahead top coat! I just adore essie products! Thanks essie!
Yes, I recommend this product.
Originally posted on essie.com
Ashlee
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Review1
Votes0
Age25 to 34
5 out of 5 stars.
Miracle in a Bottle
8 years ago
I feel like the before and after speaks for itself. I’ve always had short nails because one or two would always break. I’d been looking for a strengthening base coat with some colour as I didn’t want just plain nails. I tried opi and many other brands. This is my go to and my nails have looked like the after picture for 3 months. No breaking. My routine is 3 coats plus a top coat. I leave that for 4ish days and then take it back from and give my nails a break. 2 days later I repeat. People don’t believe that they aren’t acrylic nails.
Yes, I recommend this product.
Originally posted on essie.ca
TheBookChick
Simcoe, ON, Canada
Review1
Votes0
Age25 to 34
5 out of 5 stars.
Strength and Shine
10 years ago
I love this base coat- it glides on smoothly and provides a fantastic base for my favourite Essie polishes. I actually apply it to my fingernails even when I'm not planning on putting polish on right away. The formula promises to help my weak nails grow stronger and since I work in a manufacturing environment that is hard on my nails and hands I like to have this on all the time. Even on its own it provides a great shine! A + formula from Essie. I received this product from Influenster in exchange for my honest review.
Yes, I recommend this product.
Originally posted on essie.ca
bunny_stac7
New Tecumseth, ON, Canada
Review1
Votes0
Age25 to 34
2 out of 5 stars.
Chipped So Soon
10 years ago
I was not impressed with this base coat and it is unfortunate as I am a BIG Essie nail polish fan otherwise. I was able to try this product at no charge in exchange for my reviews, and wish to thank Influenster for this chance! #ESSIENAILEDIT. The very next day I had a few nails that were almost half gone; chipped off already! That is not what I expected from Essie products, nor will I get the time back it took to do that manicure!
No, I do not recommend this product.
Originally posted on essie.ca
taryng
Review1
Votes0
4 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
I do my nails about once every week/week and a half and I’ve been using this base coat for a long time. I wish the brush was bigger, and I wish it would dry out faster if you put on a second layer. It lasts for a good amount of time, but nail polish only lasts as long as the quality of the paint job is high. Without good application of the base, color, top coat, including sealing the tips, your nails won’t last too long.
Originally posted on essie.com
Dana1962
Sheboygan County, WI, United States
Review1
Votes0
Age45 to 54
5 out of 5 stars.
Works better than anything else I have tried
10 years ago
I bought this months ago after trying everything I could get my hands on for years to try to get my nails to be stronger. Nothing worked until I got this. I wish I would have tried this years ago! I don't know if it was out years ago....but if I had heard about it sooner I definitely would have given it a try. Now I heard that it is being discontinued from a couple of retailers. I certainly hope not!
Yes, I recommend this product.
Originally posted on essie.com
LiLo
Los Angeles, CA, United States
Review1
Votes0
Age18 to 24
5 out of 5 stars.
Love it!
10 years ago
I am so glad I bought this. After my first use I could tell that they were somewhat smoother, but after my second and third time they feel SO much smoother. I remove my nail polish and when I feel the surface of my nails it feels as though I already have a protective top coat on. No ridges are felt anymore and they feel quite stronger. Sometimes I wear it on it's own and it gives my nails a nice little shine.
Yes, I recommend this product.
Originally posted on essie.com
caitlinf
Denver, CO, United States
Review1
Votes0
Age18 to 24
5 out of 5 stars.
Best base coat on the market. Period.
11 years ago
I've tried several different base coats over the years. The best I used were Essie but I wasn't in love with any - until I tried this one. Not only have I noticed a significant improvement in nail strength, but the thick formula makes a perfect smooth canvas for polish. My home manicures look professional when I use this base coat. I'm a life long user after just one bottle!
Yes, I recommend this product.
Originally posted on essie.com
samanthatc
Review1
Votes0
4 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
It’s a good base coat, however I haven’t actually noticed a difference in my nails when applying before polish. It’s nice alone as well if you want to take a break from polish, I prefer to use it that way. Though I haven’t noticed a difference in the health of my nails when applying before polish, it does make my polish last longer without chipping.
Originally posted on essie.com
Kimbuckton
Maple Ridge, BC, Canada
Review1
Votes0
Age25 to 34
5 out of 5 stars.
Grow Stronger base coat
10 years ago
I really like this base coat. I love how the polish sticks to it without being streaky or slicking off like some other base coats do. Very easy to use. I also like that it has a bit of color in it that give your nails a nice neutral base so the colors come out more opaque. This is a winner
I received this product for free to review for Influenster
Yes, I recommend this product.
Originally posted on essie.ca
lizethg
Review1
Votes0
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
After a bad manicure where my nails were left too thin my mom gave me her bottle of Essie grow stronger. She swore by it and she was absolutely right. It did help my nails tremendously. They grew faster and stronger. I used it every other day, I was very consistent. The only way it will not work is if you don’t use it. Essie Grow Stronger Base Coat
Originally posted on essie.com
brittanym16
Review1
Votes0
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
I really like this Essie Grow Stronger Base Coat. Its really easy to apply and use and Im not sues how it compares to others in all honesty. I go through phases of having acrylics on my nails for months at a time and when I decide to give my nails a break to breath and grow, I will use this and it definitely helps my nails become stronger.
Originally posted on essie.com
lalalyns
New Brunswick, Canada
Review1
Votes0
Age25 to 34
4 out of 5 stars.
Good Base Coat
10 years ago
I'm not super picky about my base coat. This one is really nice. I've been using it for a couple weeks & I've had good results. Wear time is good & the formula is nice. I haven't noticed a big change in my nails but I've had less staining since I began using this. Overall its a nice product. I received this product for free for review.
Yes, I recommend this product.
Originally posted on essie.ca
emmai8c8f
Review1
Votes0
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
I really like this! I ended up using the whole thing, wearing it with and without nail polish over it. It dries quickly and really strengthens up my nails, plus nail polish goes smoothly over it. Sometimes there’s a bump or two but it gets covered up completely with nail polish so it isn’t a big issue. A bit pricey but worth it.
Originally posted on essie.com
Meredith
Falls Church, VA, United States
Review1
Votes0
Age25 to 34
1 out of 5 stars.
Chips and peels
10 years ago
I don't know what I'm doing wrong here, but this is worse than no base coat at all. I clean my nails, use this base coat, essie color, and essie top coat (good to go) and the very next day it is peeling. I'm so perplexed, flummoxed even! It has such good reviews everywhere but it is definitely not doing me any favors.
No, I do not recommend this product.
Originally posted on essie.com
Response from essie.com:
10 years ago
ccc
We are sorry you did not get the results you expected. This is unusual to hear and we will be sure to share it with the team responsible for this product. We appreciate your feedback as it helps us to improve our products.
Phylnak
Toronto, ON, Canada
Review1
Votes0
Age65 or over
1 out of 5 stars.
Waste of money
9 years ago
I have a problem with peeling nails so I figures I would try Essie grow stronger. I also do aquafit. Every time I do a class the polish peels off and my nails start to peel again. I don't put any color on top of the nail, just "grow stronger". I continued to use it as directed but it is a complete waste of money.
No, I do not recommend this product.
Originally posted on essie.com
Response from essie.com:
9 years ago
ccc
We're sorry you were disappointed with your results. We will be sure to share your experience with the team. In the meantime, you may want to try Millionails to help resist peeling and splitting.
papercutzombie
Review1
Votes0
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
Not sure if this actually makes my nails grow in stronger but it sure does make taking my nail polish off easier. I have found that using a base coat keeps my nails from staining (from darker colors) and it makes taking glittery polish off so much easier! Those make using this as a base coat worth the money to me.
Originally posted on essie.com
numnum13
Review1
Votes0
Age17 or under
5 out of 5 stars.
Great results!
11 years ago
I used to religiously buy OPI products, but I am slowly switching to Essie because it is Formaldehyde free. I have been pleased by the results in comparison to the OPI base coat. While using OPI, my nails split and peeled horribly, but now they are almost back to the way they used to be. Thank you, Essie! :)
Yes, I recommend this product.
Originally posted on essie.com
Jeanner
Princeton, NJ
Review1
Votes0
Age65 or over
1 out of 5 stars.
Help! Color of product has changed!
10 years ago
Love the original pink-ish tone of this product which gives a healthy natural tone to nails. Wear 2 coats of this base followed by Essie gel-setter for gloss and extremely long wear. Newest bottle purchased has ugly lavender tone that looks like dead or bruised tissue. Bring back the warm tone version!
No, I do not recommend this product.
Originally posted on essie.com
Response from essie.com:
9 years ago
ccc
Thank you for your feedback. Previously, Grow Stronger had a purple tone to it. The newest version has a pink tone to it.
jonelles
Review1
Votes0
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
A friend of mine recommended this to me. I saw results immediately. My nails are naturally very brittle and don't grow at all from wearing acrylic nails so many years. This helped strengthen them so they were able to grow enough without breaking. I purchased this at Duane Reade and repurchased already.
Originally posted on essie.com
foxfacee
Findlay, OH, United States
Review1
Votes0
Age18 to 24
1 out of 5 stars.
not for me
11 years ago
I have been using this for a few weeks now and it makes my nails worse! I'm so disappointed, I had high hopes for this because of all the good reviews. My nails have been braking off much quicker than they used to. They are peeling a lot more than before as well. Hopefully millionails will be better.
No, I do not recommend this product.
Originally posted on essie.com
geleeaday
Review1
Votes0
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
Essie’s nail polishes are my favorite. Their color options are always plenty and they last really long. This grow stronger base cost is just as awesome! I use it as it is and it makes my nails look very polished and pretty. You will see noticeable improvement of nail growth after a couple of weeks.
Originally posted on essie.com
emilyl8417
Review1
Votes0
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
I'm not a very talented person when it comes to doing my nails, but I do enjoy putting some polish on them every once and a while! I picked up this product to keep my nail polish on longer and it does a great job! Easy to use and does the job wonderfully. I would definitely pick it up again!
Originally posted on essie.com
mfunicello
Review1
Votes0
3 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
A friend of mine raved about this product so I felt I should try it. I don’t really feel like it made any difference in my nails. Luckily my nails aren’t brittle so I don’t necessarily need it. I think a better way to judge this product would be with someone of thinner more brittle nails.
Originally posted on essie.com
Response from essie.com:
7 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi mfunicello! Thank you so much for trying our grow stronger base coat! We are disappointed to hear that you did not see a noticeable difference with this product. We hope you also try our apricot cuticle oil nourish and soften your cuticles from dryness! You can find the product here: http://tinyurl.com/y78pmw9s Thank you for your interest in Essie!
KaraLynn
Sacramento, CA, United States
Review1
Votes0
Age25 to 34
5 out of 5 stars.
Love it!
10 years ago
After getting gel manicures for the last 3 months my nails were destroyed. They were splitting, had white spots, super thin and broke easily. I really didn't think this product would work. My nails are smooth and healthy-looking. I can put nail polish on top of it and it looks seamless.
Originally posted on essie.com
NYBride
New York
Review1
Votes0
Age25 to 34
5 out of 5 stars.
Prefect Base Coat
10 years ago
I actually used the All In One base coat before this one but I have to say this one is great! Dries super quick. I put this on, 2 coats of whatever Essie color I'm feeling that day and the GelSetter and my mani lasts for days! Definite staple in my nail polish collection now.
Yes, I recommend this product.
Originally posted on essie.com
carriee_1994
Review1
Votes0
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
I love this as a base coat it not only makes your nail polish last longer but it really makes your nails stronger, I notice less breakage and overall healthier nails and that means more to me then just my nail polish lasting long! Highly recommend if you have brittle nails.
Originally posted on essie.com
Barbb
SK
Review1
Votes0
Age55 to 64
5 out of 5 stars.
Great base coat, colour and strengthener
6 years ago
I have been using this base coat for a number of years and most often wear it without additional polish. It adds strength to my nails and I like just the hint of colour. I am unable to find it in the stores. If it is no longer available, what product is its replacement?
Yes, I recommend this product.
Originally posted on essie.ca
Vicky
Montreal, QC, Canada
Review1
Votes0
Age17 or under
5 out of 5 stars.
Can’t believe it
8 years ago
I bought the base from a while ago, like two years and didn’t open it. But then, i saw it in my drawer and i recently cut my nail a little while cutting an avocado (don’t ask why, lol) and i decided to put this on. 3 days later, my nail is slightly “closing” up the cut.
Yes, I recommend this product.
Originally posted on essie.ca
9 – 38 of 186 Reviews