Step 1 Prep
Prep cuticles, nail, and skin with Ready. Prep. Go. Advanced Cuticle Remover.
Ballet Slippers
An award-winning, best-selling classic pale pink with a sheer finish.
- FLAWLESS COVERAGE: Achieve a flawless manicure by applying 2 coats of polish. Apply a thin 1st coat, and while the polish is still tacky, follow with a 2nd coat.
SALON-QUALITY FORMULA: Essie original nail polish provides a salon quality, vegan formula for flawless coverage.
EASY GLIDE BRUSH: Our exclusive easy-glide brush allows for quick, even professional application on nails.
ENHANCE YOUR MANICURE: A base coat and top coat are recommended to enhance the wear of your manicure. A base coat can prevent chipping and nourish your nails. A top coat will make your manicure dry faster, last longer, and create a shinier finish. - How to use essie nail polish:
- First, apply 1 coat of your favorite essie base coat.
- Then, apply 2 coats of essie nail polish.
- Finish your salon-quality manicure with 1 coat of any essie top coat. -
essie is a vegan brand – contains no animal-derived ingredients.
Full ingredient list:
ETHYL ACETATE BUTYL ACETATE NITROCELLULOSE TOSYLAMIDE/EPOXY RESIN TRIMETHYL PENTANYL DIISOBUTYRATE ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL TRIBENZOIN STEARALKONIUM HECTORITE ACETYLATED HYDROGENATED CASTOR GLYCERIDE ADIPIC ACID/NEOPENTYL GLYCOL/TRIMELLITIC ANHYDRIDE COPOLYMER SUCROSE ACETATE ISOBUTYRATE STEARALKONIUM BENTONITE SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE BENZOPHENONE-1 SILICA BARIUM SULFATE DIACETONE ALCOHOL CALCIUM ALUMINUM BOROSILICATE STYRENE/ACRYLATES COPOLYMER CITRIC ACID ALUMINUM CALCIUM SODIUM SILICATE ALCOHOL DENAT. CALCIUM SODIUM BOROSILICATE COLOPHONIUM / ROSIN / COLOPHANE ALUMINA DIMETHICONE ISOPHORONE DIAMINE/ISOPHTHALIC ACID/TROMETHAMINE COPOLYMER TIN OXIDE CALCIUM TITANIUM BOROSILICATE DIETHYLHEXYL ADIPATE n-BUTYL ALCOHOL AQUA / WATER / EAU TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE TALC ACETONE ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE [+/- MAY CONTAIN / PEUT CONTENIR CI 77891 / TITANIUM DIOXIDE MICA CI 19140 / YELLOW 5 LAKE CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 / IRON OXIDES CI 77510 / FERRIC AMMONIUM FERROCYANIDE CI 77007 / ULTRAMARINES CI 77000 / ALUMINUM POWDER CI 15850 / RED 7 LAKE CI 15880 / RED 34 LAKE CI 15850 / RED 6 LAKE CI 77266 / BLACK 2 CI 42090 / BLUE 1 LAKE CI 77742 / MANGANESE VIOLET CI 77288 / CHROMIUM OXIDE GREENS CI 77510 / FERRIC FERROCYANIDE CI 45410 / RED 28 CI 73360 / RED 30 LAKE CI 60730 / EXT. VIOLET 2 CI 60725 / VIOLET 2 CI 45380 / RED 22 ]
Enhance your manicure
Step 2 Prime
Apply 1 coat of base coat to reinforce and harden nails.
Step 3 Paint
Apply 2 coats of essie original nail polish.
Step 4 Seal
Apply 1 coat of top coat for a plump, shiny finish.
Shop the routine
"essie original color is iconic. I love the brush, the hundreds of colors to choose from, and the fact that it was my first favorite." - Rita Remark
Similar shades
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great to wear for
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1 to 8 of 193 reviews .
1 – 8 of 193 reviews
most recent
5 out of 5 stars.
favorite Essie nail polish of all time!
4 days ago
I have gone through 2 bottle amd am on my third of this nailpolish . It's the perfect everyday soft pink. I love this color, it goes with everything and looks elegant everytime.
favorite essie color family?pinks
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
2 out of 5 stars.
Streaky!
16 days ago
Essie must have changed its formula--this is so streaky now and it's been my favorite for a long time. I thought the first bottle was a fluke and bought another, and it's still a streaky mess. Looking for my new favorite now.
type of nail polish userspecial occasions only
helpful?
response from essie:
12 days ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi kimmif, we are so sad to hear this! Mademoiselle should be a sheer, classic pale pink and by the second coat, your color should be perfect! Having a long-time favorite let you down twice is definitely not the experience we want. This does not sound like your last 2 purchases were up to the production standards. We’re sharing your feedback with our quality team immediately. Meanwhile, If you would like to speak to us directly about your recent purchase, give us a call @ 866-313-7845 M-F 9 am-5:30 pm ET
5 out of 5 stars.
Love but dated
17 days ago
I’ve always loved ballet slippers and marshmallow but can you catch up with the times and make these shades in gel please!!!!!!!
type of nail polish userblogger/fashionista
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
3 out of 5 stars.
Great shade, but streaky
2 months ago
I love the color, but, like others, find the application wanting. No matter how careful I am, there are streaks. The reason I’m writing this is to let others know about a similar shade that goes on much better. It’s by Sally Hansen, in the Pure line, and the color is Pink Cloud. It’s a tiny bit more pink than Ballet Slippers, but the finished effect is much the same, that somewhat sheer, clean look that we love.
type of nail polish userregular/average
helpful?
response from essie:
a month ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi there Cara37, thank you for trying out our best-selling classic pale pink with a sheer finish. We would be disappointed too if our nail color did not turn out as it should. By the second coat, your color should be perfect so we don’t think the mixture in your bottle sounds right. If you would like to speak to us directly about your recent purchase, give us a call @ 866-313-7845 M-F 9 am-5:30 pm ET
2 out of 5 stars.
Ballet Slippers okay
10 months ago
Nice color, glides nicely, but 2 coats make it streaky so I tried 3 coats and still streaky, even applied base coat. Not happy with results.
type of nail polish userregular/average
helpful?
response from essie:
9 months ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi there B712, thank you for sharing your experience with our iconic color ‘ballet slippers’. We want to understand what happened just as much as you do! By the second coat you should have a perfect classic pale pink with a subtle, sheer finish. If you would like to speak to us directly about your recent purchase, give us a call @ 866-313-7845 M-F 9 am-5:30 pm ET
1 out of 5 stars.
Horrible
a year ago
Does not cover well and streaks - love Essie nail polish and use it all the time - this is no where in comparison to their regular polish
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
helpful?
response from essie:
a year ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi Momas, we appreciate you reaching out about Ballet Slippers. We are so happy to hear you love our products but we are sorry this shade didn't work out. Your feedback is important to us and we will be sure to share it with our team.
2 out of 5 stars.
Weird formulation. Not normal.
a year ago
Like the color. Just arrived today. I did think it would be a bit more pink though. However, totally clumpy and went on terrible and streaky. I took it all off and put on my other new bottle - spring fling which was perfect and a completely different texture. Went on beautifully. Did I get bad product or is it this color that is a problem?
type of nail polish userregular/average
helpful?
response from essie:
a year ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi Dbindestin! Thanks for reaching out to us regarding Ballet Slippers. We're sorry to hear that the color was clumpy and streaky. We will share your comments with our teams.
1 out of 5 stars.
Terrible
a year ago
Its terrible no matter how many coats used. Waste of money!
favorite essie color family?blues
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
no, I do not recommend this product.
helpful?
response from essie:
a year ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi AN127! Thanks for reaching out to us regarding Ballet Slippers Nail Color. We're sorry to hear you did not like this product. Your feedback will be shared with our teams.
1 – 8 of 193 reviews
Customer Images and Videos
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9 to 38 of 193 reviews .
9 – 38 of 193 reviews
most recent
1 out of 5 stars.
No longer sheer, looks terrible
a year ago
This used to be my favorite shade but it's not sheer any more. Even just one coat is streaky and weird. I thought it was the way I had applied it but I brought it to my manicurist and the same thing happened. Very disappointed.
type of nail polish userregular/average
helpful?
response from essie:
a year ago
Consumer Care Center
Hello jwNYC. Thank you for sharing your experience with the color Ballet Slippers. This color should be a classic pale pink with a subtle, sheer finish. By the second coat, all of our nail colors should look perfect! Your bottle does not sound like its going on as it should and we want to understand what happened just as much as you do. If you would like to speak to us directly about your recent purchase, give us a call @866 313 7845 MF9:00 am – 5:00 pm ET
1 out of 5 stars.
Awful
a year ago
Most watery nail polish I have ever used. I understand the "sheer finish" but this polish is literally like water. It is so thin it doesn't even paint on and it pools/runs off of my nails. I'd really love a refund on this one.
type of nail polish userregular/average
helpful?
response from essie:
a year ago
Consumer Care Center
Hello Daniegirl., thank you for sharing your experience with the color 'ballet slippers'. There is something very wrong with the bottle you purchased and we would love to learn more. Every essie nail enamel should flow on easily and by the second coat your color should be perfect! If you would like to speak to us directly about your recent purchase, give us a call @ 866-313-7845 M-F 9 am-5:30 pm ET
5 out of 5 stars.
Bad batch??
a year ago
My favorite nail polish and color is Ballet Slippers. It stays on better than anything I have ever worn BUT
something has gone wrong the formula. I bought a bottle and exchanged it at Ulta because the first bottle was so goopy, sticky, streaky, thick and never would dry. I assumed it was a very old bottle. The second one was just as bad. What in the world??
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Nice
a year ago
You have to shake the bottle before using so it won’t go on streaky
After that, it is perfect!
One coat for a French manicure look
type of nail polish userregular/average
helpful?
1 out of 5 stars.
Never dries, clumpy
2 years ago
Streaky and thick. It clumps up when you try to even it out. Will not go on evenly at all and never fully dries down no matter how thin the coat is.
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
helpful?
response from essie:
2 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hello Peanuts123 ! Thank you so much for sharing your experience with this bottle of the color 'ballet slippers'. Nothing about the results you describe for this classic pale pink with a subtle, sheer finish sounds right. The polish should flow easily onto the nail and by the second coat your results should be perfect. If you would like to speak to us directly about your recent purchase, give us a call @ 866-313-7845 M-F 9 am-5:30 pm ET
1 out of 5 stars.
Beautiful color, insane cure time
2 years ago
The color itself is phenomenal, but the formula desperately needs improvement. Because it is so sheer you must use at least two coats to get it anywhere close to even, but the cure time (even for the first coat) is so long that you're bound to mess the job up anyway. Even after 4 hours it is not fully cured and I'm still getting new dents and dings everywhere.
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
helpful?
response from essie:
2 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hello Alex13! Thank you for sharing your experience with the color Ballet Slippers. We want to understand what happened just as much as you do! All of our colors should flow easily onto the nail and by the second coat your color should be perfect. Even with a base coat, 2 coats of color and a top coat, your mani should not take longer than 15 minutes to become well set and dried. If you would like to speak to us directly about your recent purchase, give us a call @ 866-313-7845
1 out of 5 stars.
Pretty color but streaky even after 3 coats
3 years ago
I saw the color on essie’s website and loved it. The possibility to wear it as a sheer or solid depending on the number of coats seemed great. I found it in a very popular retail store and bought it immediately. However, it is so streaky that one coat is not enough and even after three coats it shows empty lines. Disappointing.
favorite essie color family?sheers
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday
no, I do not recommend this product.
helpful?
response from essie:
3 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hello jossie. Thank you for sharing your experience with the color ‘ballet slippers remixed’. We're so sorry to hear your polish doesn't flow on with even coats. All of our nail colors, including this one, should look perfect by the second coat so we want to know what’s happening as much as you do. If you would like to speak to us directly about your recent purchase, give us a call @866-313-7845 M-F 9:00 am – 5:00 pm ET
5 out of 5 stars.
Surprise
3 years ago
I thought this color would have more pink in it. However, if you want to really show up like I am use to apply two to three coats. I love this nail polish! This was Queen Elizabeth ll’s nail polish and that says a lot . Definitely a keeper!
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Excelent where is the true ballet slippers
3 years ago
So I bought the first ballet slipers that is on the left side. It was awful, striky, sticky and too thick. But then I knew something is wrong, because it should look sheer. So I decided to buy a new one and I opened every ballet slippers in store to see the texture. So in my opinion it looked that are other shades mixed in the same line within ballet slippers with the sticker that says ballet slippers. Since the new one I bought (on the right side) it’s absolutely AMAZING and now my favourite. It is possible that the sticker is not matching the nail polish. Because it was weird. 10 same names but shades in 4 of them looked different and also the texture. Not sure who is responsible for puting the stickers on nail polishes.
favorite essie color family?nudes
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
5 Star Excellence
3 years ago
Ballet Slippers nail polish is classic, femine, and beautiful
Look no further for the finishing touch to a timeless classic in nail polish
favorite essie color family?sheers
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Absolute classic
4 years ago
Absolutely beautiful - the most sheer pink you can imagine elegant, tasteful, classy. Always one of my favorite colors.
favorite essie color family?pinks
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
I LOVE LIZ
5 years ago
I ONLY BOUGHT THIS BECAUSE QUEEN ELIZABETH II USES IT AND I FEEL LIKE A QUEEN I WILL NEVER USE ANOTHER NAIL POLISH
favorite essie color family?nudes
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Beautiful, Classy, Chic Color
6 years ago
This is as classy as it gets. It’s no wonder it’s a classic and worn by both royalty and celebrities. One coat is like a French manicure without actually getting a French manicure and goes with everything without clashing or drawing too much attention. Absolutely perfect!!
Q: goes great with this shade
A: Gel Couture Top Coat
favorite essie color family?sheers
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
1 out of 5 stars.
worst nail polish ever
6 years ago
I've bought this in June 2019. I am very good at applying nail polish. This one is impossible. No matter how much I try, I end up with streaks. Can't even get one nail half done before it starts to get sticky. And applying another coat right away makes a mess. The pictures with the models wear fake nails. My nails are the same length. My nails look like I dusted them with white powder and applied a clear coat. And got streaks. Apply three coats and it will take 12 hrs to dry. And even then I could make a dent in the polish with a finger nail.
type of nail polish userprofessional
no, I do not recommend this product.
helpful?
response from essie:
6 years ago
consumer care center
Hi there Jackie! We're so sorry to hear the essie shade ballet slippers did not perform for you as it should have. This pale pink polish with a subtle, sheer finish should look flawless by the second coat. As with all our nail enamels, one coat of polish takes about 30 to 60 seconds to dry. This is about the time it takes for the average person to paint all of their nails, so once you have painted all your nails, you should be ready to add the next coat. If you would like to speak to us directly about your recent purchase, give us a call @ 866-313-7845
2 out of 5 stars.
much lighter than it appears on the website
6 years ago
This is not a bad color if you are looking for a very very pale color. I had the manicurist put 2 coats on and I still felt like I was wearing a white polish.
Love the quality of Essie. My favorite all time color is bikini so teeny
favorite essie color family?blues
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
great to wear forweddings
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
response from essie:
6 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hello there! Thank you for giving a try our polish Ballet Slippers! If this color was to pale we sugges to take a look at our shade Fiji. This is more of a creamy pastel pink polish. To view this on polish on our website here is a link http://tinyurl.com/y2ynovfp. Thank you for sharing your favorite one of Essies polishes with us and the positive feedback!!
2 out of 5 stars.
STREAKS
6 years ago
Beautiful color, but goes on horribly because it streaks
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
great to wear foreveryday
no, I do not recommend this product.
helpful?
response from essie:
6 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi there Melendy! Thanks for sharing some personal feedback with us on our ballet slippers polish shade. Want the perfect essie manicure? Choose from our base coats and apply 1 coat. Apply 2 coats of your favorite essie enamel and finish one of our essie top coats. Always remember to polish along the tip of the nail with each step. By capping the tip of each nail, the polish can hug our nail even closer, prolonging the wear of your color manicure. We hope these tips are helpful and you give our polishes another try!
2 out of 5 stars.
poor quality, excellent colour
6 years ago
I love this colour, but the polish is essentially useless because of how fast it chips.
To be fair, this is also my experience with the other Essie shade I bought (Illacism).
Used both with my favourite top coat, twice, and they both chipped the next day (like clockwork). To get some perspective, polishes from livelovepolish with that topcoat usually go about 9-10 days before chipping.
It was so frustrating, especially at their price point (you can get way cheaper in the same aisle, and it lasts longer) I feel like Essie is all about the branding/beautiful displays and less about good formulas.
As others have mentioned, this formula is very thin/sheer (which I'm personally OK with) so if you want it to be opaque after 1 or 2 coats, this is not the polish for you.
Also, if you like your nailpolish to last, this is not the polish for you.
All around a very disappointing experience.
favorite essie color family?nudes
type of nail polish userregular/average
no, I do not recommend this product.
helpful?
response from essie:
6 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi there Emily! We are so sorry to hear that this product did not leave you with the results in which you were expecting. We understand how frustrating that can be and appreciate you sharing some personal feedback with us as we will be sharing this with the rest of our team. Always remember to polish along the tip of the nail with each step. By capping the tip of each nail, the polish can hug our nail even closer, prolonging the wear of your color manicure. We hope this tip is helpful and you give our polish another try!
5 out of 5 stars.
Love!!
7 years ago
I'm so happy I bought this color! Great quality and it lasts!!
favorite essie color family?nudes
type of nail polish userdedicated/loyalist
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
5 out of 5 stars.
Just enough!
7 years ago
I love pale pink polishes. This was just right. I am older and love the pinks to hide the tinge of yellow in my nails and this color did the trick!
favorite essie color family?pinks
type of nail polish userregular/average
great to wear foreveryday
yes, I recommend this product.
helpful?
1 out of 5 stars.
Streaky white
7 years ago
Just bought this today and painted both mine and my daughters finger nails. Applied two coats and have horrible white streaks and bubbles.
favorite essie color family?nudes
type of nail polish userregular/average
no, I do not recommend this product.
helpful?
response from essie:
7 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hi! Thank you for your feedback on our ballet slippers! We appreciate your feedback as it helps us improve our products. We appreciate it!
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
I like this color because it is not really dramatic and it pairs well with any outfit. I like that it doesn’t go on as streaky or too chunky.
Originally posted on influenster.com
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
It’s a pretty color I love the nude colors on my nails! I’m absolutely obsessed with it! It glides on smoothly!!!
Originally posted on influenster.com
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
I loved it. Is fitting for any season and outfit the fact that it is nude. I definitely recommend it to anyone
Originally posted on influenster.com
4 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
I love Essie because it goes on easy and they have an awesome variation of colors. The four stars is due to the nail polish getting pretty goopy after awhile which is unfortunate due to the semi high price
Originally posted on influenster.com
4 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
This is a beautiful nude color very light and pretty. True to the name because it is the color of ballet slippers. Neutral and amazing for a wedding or shower look.
Originally posted on influenster.com
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
Love this nude from Essie. Their colour selection cannot be beat, they have basically every tone you could ever want. Their polishes last a long time and go on very well. You can have a sheer layer or you can build it up.
Originally posted on influenster.com
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
This is one of the most classic nail@polish colors. It literally@goes with everything and leave your nails and hands looking perfectly polished for everything from weddings to a day at the office. Would definitely recommend as a go to polish.
Originally posted on influenster.com
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
Great go to color when looking for a natural nail style. Usually my business casual or business professional look.
Originally posted on influenster.com
5 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
I really love this product! This is an excellent brand. It gives me a perfect finish!I would reccomend it.
Originally posted on influenster.com
4 out of 5 stars.
7 years ago
This is one of my favorite colour, it is a very neutral and classy colour, it is a subtle pink very nice colour, ballet slippers colour its so cute and feminine. I applied tree coats to get a full color on my nail. I like that it dries very quickly.
Originally posted on influenster.com
9 – 38 of 193 reviews