It's always a treat to see Gino Trunzo, Essie's renowned director of education and celebrity man-icurist in his own right. Trunzo headed up the Essie Road Show this month to demonstrate the company's renewed commitment to the professional nail tech with a host of new products. Several editors received manicures as part of the presentation.

"We've amped up the level of pure apricot kernel oil in our Apricot Cuticle Oil, for cuticle hydration from the inside out," he announced. (It's been a long day since he applied it and my cuticles still look very soft and smooth. Hmmm.)

But the new cuticle peel was really something to experience. Made with facial-grade potassium hydroxide, this light lotion quickly softens and sloughs off dead cuticle tissue, leaving a squeaky-clean surface.

The Essie prep system has undergone a revamp as well. This four-step system includes a primer with built-in color correction, a trio of base coats offering improved color adhesion, and a new "call it even" top coat that cushions nail art and glitter; kiss the smears goodbye! Essie's quick-e finisher keeps nails intact while drying.

We loved the many options Essie's giving nail techs at each step. The brand is also skewing towards a (nearly) waterless manicure system, aiding with adhesion and also making each service more time efficient. "We're helping techs add enough time for 1-2 additional services each day," Trunzo says.

All in all, Essie is working towards a complete system that provide techs everything they need for a successful manicure or pedicure service without ever leaving the brand.