![]() Since several kits had disappointing staying power, we ultimately selected easy-to-use options that delivered professional-looking results. While we planned to wait the full 14 days before removing it, most gel formulas we tried began peeling off prematurely. Each set was assessed for drying time, ease of use, overall look, longevity, ease of removal, and nail integrity after removing the gel. Our in-house testers carefully followed the directions to see how well the formulas, lamps, and finished results performed in a real-life setting. We chose nine gel kits to try in The Lab, our Manhattan product-testing facility. The two-step system doesn't need to be dried with a lamp and offers professional-looking results. For something a little more affordable or user-friendly, we highly recommend Essie Gel Couture Longwear Nail Polish. ![]() This DIY nail set earned perfect scores for drying time, finished look, staying power, and ease of removal, and taking the extensions off won't ruin your nail beds. Overall, we liked the Morovan Poly Gel Kit. Included Shades: 8 | Dry Time: 2 minutes | Cruelty-Free: Yes Price at time of publish: $40 for All Seasons Kit And while our nail plates were somewhat brittle, they weren't completely wrecked. ![]() After soaking them in acetone, the gel scraped right off. The removal process was a piece of cake too. With the exception of two extensions falling off, our nails looked just as good two weeks later-still shiny and vibrant without any cracks or chips. We used the purple-to-white ombré hue and loved the overall results. Once we got the desired shape and length, the drying process was a breeze.Īfter placing them under the lights for the recommended two minutes, our nails were a little tacky-but they were definitely cured and felt durable. You'll also get extension gel and foil for shaping your nails. This manicure kit comes with eight gel colors, including two ombrés and six solids, plus a nail dehydrator, a primer, a base, and top coat, various grooming tools, and a drying lamp. That said, the directions were thorough yet concise, so we knew what to do each step of the way. We only marked it down for ease of use since there was a slight learning curve to applying the gel nails. She has her nails polished 99 percent of the time and has used the majority of the polishes on this list at some point or another (though Essie remains her all-time favorite).The Morovan Poly Gel Kit earned perfect scores in most categories, including drying time, finished appearance, longevity, ease of removal, and nail integrity after removal. We then used these insights from our research and testing to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best one being the worst) to certain products on the list.īyrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. Our team also incorporated their own personal experiences testing products in their own lives. To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features-like ingredients, shade range, or design-in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. Many top coats not only add shine but help prevent color fading by adding a physical layer over your polish. Using a base coat and top coat can help extend your nail polish and make it more resistant to chipping and fading. Polishes that are labeled as 3-free usually omit toluene, formaldehyde, and dibutyl phthalate, while polishes that are 10-free and 21-free have a lengthier list of no-no ingredients like gluten, parabens, and other synthetic preservatives. You can also consider things like whether or not it's environmentally friendly and the company's ethics, she says.Ī quick way to tell how clean a nail polish's formula is to look if it's labeled 3-free, 10-free, or 21-free. More formulas today are omitting more potentially harmful chemicals. Pick a brand that offers a wide range of shades, like Smith & Cult, to have a greater selection to choose from.īesides the hue, Saunders suggests taking into account the ingredients. You'll also want to look for richly pigmented options that complement deeper skin tones and pop against the skin. Consider what looks good on your skin tone, what matches your clothing, and, most importantly, what colors just make you feel good, says Kyees. ![]() This may seem obvious, but it really is the first thing most people think about. Kimmie Kyees is a celebrity manicurist who has worked with A-listers such as Adele and Rihanna.Michelle Saunders is a celebrity manicurist and the founder of Saunder & James salon in Oakland, California. ![]()
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