Essie Mint Apple Candy
Essie Mint Candy Apple is a vegan, mint-green crème polish from Essie’s Original collection. The current shade is a bright crème de menthe green, though some longtime fans remember older bottles as bluer. Lighting and application can affect how the color looks, while a base coat and top coat support an even manicure and Essie’s wear claim.
Essie Mint Candy Apple at a Glance
| Product detail | Essie Mint Candy Apple |
|---|---|
| Collection | Essie Original Nail Polish |
| Shade name | Mint Candy Apple |
| Shade number | #368 |
| Color | Crème de menthe mint green |
| Formula | Vegan |
| Finish | Glossy crème |
| Bottle size | 0.46 fl oz (13.5 mL) |
| Brush | Patented easy-glide camel-stem brush |
| Recommended color coats | 2 coats |
| Wear claim | Up to 7 days with base and top coat |
| U.S. price | $9.99–$10.00 |
What the Shade Looks Like
Mint Candy Apple is a light, bright green with a creamy, high-shine finish. It is more vivid than muted sage or gray-green. The color can look different depending on the lighting, skin tone and thickness of each coat. Two coats give it a more saturated look while keeping the finish smooth and glossy.
Some longtime fans recall older bottles as more blue-leaning, closer to pale turquoise. The current shade is mint green. Lighting and coat thickness can also affect its appearance.
Photo: @jansnails_ on Instagram. Shade shown: Essie Mint Candy Apple.
How to Apply It for Even Coverage
Apply thin coats and let each one dry before adding the next. The camel-stem brush is shaped for controlled application; thin layers also help limit streaks and uneven buildup. Start with clean, dry nails, and finish with a top coat to seal the color.
- Clean and dry your nails, shape them, then gently push back the cuticles.
- Apply one coat of Essie Strong Start base coat to bare nails.
- Brush on one thin coat of Mint Candy Apple and let it dry.
- Add a second color coat for fuller, more even coverage.
- Seal the manicure with Essie Stay Longer top coat.
- Once the polish is dry, apply Essie On A Roll Apricot Nail & Cuticle Oil around the cuticles.
Strong Start is a glossy, translucent, biotin-infused strengthening base coat and nail hardener. Stay Longer has an ultra-glossy finish and is formulated to help protect against chips. The cuticle oil blends apricot and jojoba oils and is described as nourishing and non-greasy.
Use thin coats and let each one dry before applying the next; rushing can leave streaks or uneven color. The same basics apply to any shade, and an Essie nail polish guide explains how brush technique, layering, and drying time work together.
Video: @nailartbysig on TikTok. Shade shown: Essie Mint Candy Apple.
What to Expect From Wear
With a base coat and Stay Longer top coat, Essie gives Mint Candy Apple a wear claim of up to seven days. That is a maximum claim, not a guarantee for every manicure. Nail condition, coat thickness, drying time and everyday wear can all affect how long the polish stays intact.
Some buyers praise its lasting color, while others report chipping or uneven application. Apply thin coats, cap the nail tips and let each layer dry before adding the next. A fresh layer of top coat can restore shine, but it will not prevent all wear.
Mint Candy Apple’s wear time depends on the formula and how well you seal the tips. Apply thin coats and protect the free edge to help prevent nail polish chipping last through everyday wear.
Photo: @lindsloveslacquer on Instagram. Shade shown: Essie Mint Candy Apple.
Video: @LifeTested101 on YouTube. Shade shown: Essie Mint Candy Apple.
Where to Buy Mint Candy Apple
The standard polish and the products used in the application steps are listed at several retailers. Amazon’s standard-polish listing displays a rating of 4.6 out of 5 from about 4,600 ratings. Prices and store inventory can change.
- Essie official website: Online ordering for Mint Candy Apple, Strong Start, Stay Longer and On A Roll Apricot Nail & Cuticle Oil.
- Ulta Beauty: Online and in-store listings; Mint Candy Apple is $10.00, Strong Start and Stay Longer are $11.00 each, and the cuticle oil is $15.00.
- Target: Online and in-store listings for Mint Candy Apple at $9.99 and Strong Start and Stay Longer at $10.99 each. The cuticle oil is listed online, with availability affected by local inventory.
- Amazon: An online listing for the standard polish.
The gel-system listing uses identifier 702G and costs $9.95. It refers to a gel product, not the standard liquid polish, which is shade #368.
Similar Mint Green Polishes
Mint polishes can lean more blue or more green, so a similar shade name does not guarantee an exact match for Mint Candy Apple. Compare swatches in the same lighting, and look for a crème finish if you want a similarly smooth, glossy look.
- Essie Mint Candy Apple: Bright crème de menthe mint green with a glossy crème finish.
- OPI This Cost Me a Mint: A mint-green crème in the same broad color family; its precise hue may differ from Mint Candy Apple.
- China Glaze For Audrey: A blue-leaning turquoise crème for a look closer to the bluer shade some people associate with older Mint Candy Apple bottles.
Neither alternative is a verified exact match. Swatches viewed under consistent lighting are the best way to compare undertones and coverage.
Popular Essie Colors in 2026
There is no established 2026 ranking here that identifies Essie’s most popular shades. Popularity can be measured by sales, ratings or search interest, and those measures may produce different results.
To compare current favorites, check a retailer’s best-seller list or ratings for individual Essie colors. Without current figures tied to a specific measure, no particular shade can be named as a 2026 leader.
Mint Candy Apple has a cool, fresh look. Compare it with Essie nail polish colors to see whether you prefer its bright mint shade or a softer, warmer, more classic color.
FAQs
Why do some older bottles look bluer?
Some longtime fans remember older Mint Candy Apple bottles as more blue-leaning than the current mint-green shade. That recollection does not establish why the color appeared different, and lighting can also affect how polish looks.
Is Mint Candy Apple #368 or 702G?
The standard Essie Original liquid polish is shade #368. Identifier 702G refers to a gel-system listing, a different product format.
Which Essie colors are discontinued?
No specific Essie shades are identified here as discontinued. Availability varies by market and retailer, so check Essie’s current catalog or contact the brand about a particular shade.
What is Essie’s most popular color?
There is no single established most-popular shade; rankings can differ by sales, ratings or search interest. Retailer best-seller lists and shade-rating pages provide comparisons, but they may name different leaders.
Is Essie or OPI better quality?
Neither brand is a universal quality winner. Compare the specific shades’ coverage, brush feel, drying behavior, wear and price. Mint Candy Apple has a patented easy-glide camel-stem brush and a wear claim of up to seven days with base and top coat, but those details do not establish that Essie performs better than OPI overall.
Conclusion
Mint Candy Apple is a glossy, bright mint green for anyone who wants a noticeable crème shade. Apply two thin color coats over base coat and finish with a top coat for an even result and to support Essie’s wear claim.
