Quick answer
In the Bio Seaweed Gel range, the number is a line and colour reference while the word tells you the actual shade family and finish. So 1024 Bordeaux Nights is a dark midnight purple in a solid finish, and 220 Ivy is a soft earthy green in a solid finish. Read the word first for colour direction, then the number for the exact shade, and check the formula list before you buy.
220 Ivy
What the number and the word each tell you
Treat the shade name as two separate pieces of information. The number identifies the specific colour within the line, which is why two greens can sit at 220 and 215 without being the same green. The word is the descriptive anchor: Bordeaux points to a deep wine-purple direction, Ivy to a green, Cashmere to a soft neutral. When a listing shows only a number, you are missing the colour direction; when it shows only a word, you are missing the exact depth. Both are needed to predict what arrives.
This matters most when you shop online, because screen calibration shifts saturation. A word like Bordeaux sets your expectation for a dark, saturated shade, so a monitor that renders it slightly warmer or cooler will not surprise you the way a bare number would.
Why the same colour word appears in different formulas
Some shades are released in more than one formula, and the shade name stays the same while the application method changes. 220 Ivy is listed as available in both 3STEP and UNITY formulas, so you pick the formula that matches how you already work rather than hunting for a different colour. If you already own a base and top gel, the traditional three-step route fits your routine; if you want fewer bottles, the all-in-one route does the same colour with less layering.
The colour itself does not change between formulas, but the number of steps and the products you need on the table do. Decide the formula first, then confirm the shade name, not the other way around.
How to choose a shade without seeing it in person
Start from the finish and depth you actually wear, not from the swatch photo. Solid finishes read as one flat, even colour, which makes them forgiving for short nails and for anyone who does not want visible texture. Then match the descriptive word to your wardrobe: earthy greens and nude beiges behave as neutrals, while a midnight purple behaves as a statement shade.
If you are deciding between two shades in the same family, buy the one whose word matches a colour you already wear in clothing or lipstick. That reference point is more reliable than a screen. And if a listing does not state the finish or the formula, treat that as missing information rather than assuming — ask before ordering.
Shade name questions, answered
Does the number tell me the colour?
No. The number identifies the specific shade in the line; the word tells you the colour family and direction. Two shades in the same family can carry different numbers. Read the word first, then use the number to confirm you have the right one.
Is 220 Ivy the same colour in every formula?
The shade is listed as available in both 3STEP and UNITY formulas, so the colour name stays consistent while the application method changes. Choose your formula, then confirm the shade name matches.
What if the listing does not name a finish?
Finish and formula details are not always present in every listing. The three shades here are all described as solid finishes, but do not assume that for a shade where it is not stated. Ask before ordering rather than guessing from the swatch photo.
Which of these is the safest everyday choice?
1018 Cashmere, a nude peach beige, is the lowest-contrast option of the three and the easiest to wear repeatedly. 1024 Bordeaux Nights is the boldest. Match the shade word to a colour you already wear in clothing or makeup.
Shade names in the current range
- 1024 Bordeaux Nights: 1024 Bordeaux Nights is a dark midnight purple in a solid finish, part of the 3STEP Colour Gel Polish line with a traditional three-step formula requiring a base and top gel polish. If you want a deep, saturated statement shade rather than a neutral, this is the one to shortlist — but budget for base and top gel in the same order.
- 220 Ivy: 220 Ivy is a soft earthy green in a solid finish, listed as available in both 3STEP and UNITY formulas. You can keep the exact shade and still choose your application style, so the formula decision does not force a colour compromise.
- 1018 Cashmere: 1018 Cashmere is a nude peach beige in a solid finish, in the 3STEP Colour Gel Polish line. This is the neutral option for anyone who wants a low-contrast, everyday shade that pairs with most outfits.
