Since 1981, essie has created over 1,000 shades of polish, but a select group has risen to icon status. These colors have defined nail culture and trends for generations, with no signs of their popularity waning—in fact, a bottle sells every four seconds in the US. (That's 14 bottles flying off shelves every minute.) Beloved by Sofia Richie, Hailey Bieber, Helen Mirren and even royal family members such as the late Queen Elizabeth II, these shades have become staples across red carpets, runways and everyday life alike.
Alright, enough with the vagueness—what are the best-selling essie nail polishes, you ask? Read on to see the 20 shades that have been in nonstop demand for over four decades and where to shop them.



























