Style Nails The Best Essie Polishes of All Time—That Will Never Steer a Southern Woman Wrong By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on June 5, 2020 Share Tweet Pin Email We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. essie If we're talking nail polish, the conversation isn't over until we've named at least three Essie nail polish colors that we have in constant rotation. There's nothing that can bond two Southern women faster than a shared love of Essie Mint Candy Apple—the unsung hero of the spring—and nothing that can hold up a register at the grocery store quite like a spotted Geranium manicure when handing over the receipt. Essie nail colors can be vibrant, neutral, subdued, or sparkly, but they're always perfectly on point, and the proof is in these six beloved nail polishes. Take a trip down memory lane and revisit some of the best Essie polishes of all time—that you can still get your hands on today. Mint Candy Apple essie Launched in 2009 Interestingly enough, this cool and crisp color wasn't a summertime launch, Mint Candy Apple was part of 2009's "Sweet Time of the Year" winter trend collection. The brand bought it back permanently in 2013. BUY: $8.99; target.com Ballet Slippers essie Launched in 1984 Ballet slippers is the best-selling Essie shade of all time and for good reason. It's the go-with-everything, season-less, perfection-in-a-bottle polish that just so happens to have the Queen's royal stamp of approval. BUY: $7.66; amazon.com Geranium essie Launched in 1981 Essie didn't go subtle with this one. The fiery red-orange lacquer was one of the first 10 Essie shades to hit the market. Lucky for us, it has stuck around for the long haul. BUY: $8.90, amazon.com Blanc essie Launched in 1981 Here's another one of the very first launches to come from polish powerhouse Essie. This time, the hue is a crisp white that reads on-trend neutral and is just as relevant now as it was nearly 40 years ago. BUY: $7.66; amazon.com Play Date essie Launched in 2012 Is purple a little too playful for you? Take a walk on the wild side and dip your toe into the purple pool with this soft lacquer. It's just a step beyond your lilac comfort zone, we promise. Are you up for the challenge? BUY: $8.50; amazon.com Fiji essie Launched in 1999 If you're looking to find out when summer truly begins in the South, just keep checking your local Target's stock of fan-favorite Fiji. It sells out in a hot minute once beach season arrives. BUY: $8.99; target.com Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit