Nail polishes with gel coating effect: review, description, reviews

Even the most durable nail polishes are used much less often today, but polishes with a gel coating effect are a universal option for those who are not ready to wait for several layers of gel polish to dry at once, such as mirror nail polish.

The speed of application and drying is significantly faster than the properties of conventional varnishes, but compared to real shellac, it does not require the use of several stages of applying different substances.

Of course, varnishes with a gel coating effect still have a huge number of advantages and even disadvantages, so you should consider their choice carefully, deciding which properties of a manicure take first place in importance.

Peculiarities

This cosmetic product is a transition from regular nail polish to shellac. It has the properties of two coating options, which makes it quite popular among female representatives. Nail polishes with a gel coating effect are highly durable and come in a wide range of shades.

This cosmetic product does not require exposure to ultraviolet rays to dry completely. Professional manicurists claim that this hybrid can facilitate the process of creating a beautiful coating, and its durability will last for several weeks.

Advantages and disadvantages

Any cosmetic product has a certain number of positive and negative qualities. Nail polishes with a gel coating effect are popular among both ordinary girls and professional nail artists. They say that this coating is quite versatile and can be easily used at home. The main advantages of this cosmetic product:

Speed of work. Nail polishes with a gel coating effect are easy to apply and spread over the surface of the plate, and also dry much faster than traditional products.
Simplicity. This option does not require the prior use of degreasers, primers, bases and fixatives. Varnishes do not need to be dried using a special ultraviolet lamp.
Economical. Their cost in cosmetic stores is much lower than shellac, and to carry out the procedure you do not need to purchase additional tools and materials.
Wide palette of shades. You can find absolutely any colors in it, as well as non-standard options, such as shiny nail polish with a gel coating effect.
Persistence. This product remains on the surface of the plate several times longer than standard varnish. The coating does not fade, does not chip or crack without mechanical impact.
Strengthening nails. A high-quality varnish contains useful components that seal the plate, protect it from fragility and do not dry it out.
Removal using a regular product with or without acetone.

Among the disadvantages, it can be noted that this product is highly durable, unlike traditional varnish, but it is significantly less than shellac. And also with its help it is impossible to create a beautiful translucent coating, since it lays down in a rather dense, saturated layer.

Which nail polish is best to buy?

When choosing a varnish, first of all pay attention to its texture:

Products that are too liquid streak, lay down in a translucent layer and require multiple layers.
Thick and dense products are difficult to distribute, form bubbles and dry poorly.
Medium-dense textures that form a rich coating in just one layer are considered optimal, dry quickly and self-level.

The speed of creation and accuracy of a manicure largely depends on the brush. Wide spatula or thin hair - the choice is yours. In any case, it should have an even cut, and the fibers should fit tightly against each other, forming a flat surface.

Don't use polish regularly for fear of brittle nails? Carefully study the composition of the product before purchasing for the presence of formaldehyde, toluene or dibutyl phthalate. These toxic and allergenic components thin and dry your nails, so it is better to avoid purchasing products containing them.

Acetone is one of the main components of nail polish, but modern products contain it in minimal quantities. Smell the new bottle, does it have a sharp and poisonous solvent smell? If available, refuse to purchase, otherwise such varnish will cause brittleness, delamination and yellowing of the plate.

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Application rules

Professional manicurists say that gel polish is perfect for home use. To create a beautiful design, you don’t need to purchase a lot of expensive tools and apply various basic products. The rules for applying this varnish are simple and easy:

give your nails the desired shape using a nail file;
remove the cuticle with an orange stick or a special product;
Apply a layer of gel-effect varnish to a dry plate and leave for a few minutes to dry completely;
if necessary, apply a second coat.

Girls note that to obtain a bright, rich effect, one application of this cosmetic product is enough. If desired, the manicure can be decorated with rhinestones, sparkles, or a matte finish. A huge advantage is that manufacturers make fairly wide application brushes that completely cover the plate in a few strokes.

Recommendations for selection

Varnish with a gel coating effect has a large number of advantages that make it popular with customers. The cosmetic market offers a huge assortment, which simplifies the process of choosing the right product. The ingredients that are part of this product help it not only maintain a beautiful appearance for a long time, but also take care of the plate.

Professional manicurists recommend paying attention to the following components:

vitamins A, E;
extracts of seaweed, plants and herbs;
minerals (zinc, silicon, iodine);
natural oils (base and essential);
proteins;
ceramides;
fruit and lactic acids.

These components provide deep nutrition to the plate, strengthen it, protect it from the harmful effects of environmental factors and prevent damage while wearing the decorative covering. But almost every nail polish also contains harmful components, namely:

ethyl acetate - responsible for viscosity and drying speed, is a non-hazardous toxic substance;
dimethicone is a derivative of silicone that can dry out the plate with constant contact;
ethyl alcohol - is an antibacterial substance, but also causes dryness;
formaldehyde - it can be identified by its pungent aroma, is a preservative, and can make the plate more brittle and dull.

The best nail polishes with a strengthening effect

Are your nails peeling and breaking, but you can only dream of a beautiful manicure? In this case, the SOS remedy will be nail hardener varnish. The formulas of such products are usually saturated with calcium, keratin, vitamins and other substances that thicken and stimulate the growth of the plate. These are universal products that are used both as a protective base for decorative varnish and as a base coating.

Kinetics Rose Gold Hardener – pearl highlighter to strengthen nails

4.9

★★★★★

editorial assessment

92%

buyers recommend this product

See review▶

Pearl pink polish with golden microshimmer will give brittle nails an attractive look and provide high-quality care for them. The composition of the product is enriched with vitamin E, black cumin oil and keratin, which thicken, nourish and stimulate the growth of the plate.

The elastic gel texture has moderate pigmentation, completely covering the natural color and texture of the nails in two layers. The product does not flow under the cuticle, dries in 3 minutes and is worn without chipping for up to 5 days. Customers praise Rose Gold Hardener for its pronounced strengthening effect, attractive appearance on nails and universal shade.

Advantages:

Strengthens the nail plate;
Dries quickly;
Persistent;
Beautiful universal shade;
Convenient brush.

Flaws:

Will streak if applied in one layer.

Kinetics Rose Gold Hardener will appeal to French nail lovers, because using it, you can enjoy your favorite design without compromising the health of your nails.

Range

The cosmetic market offers a huge variety of nail polishes with a gel effect. This simultaneously simplifies and complicates the process of choosing a quality product. They differ in shades in the palette, cost and durability of the coating. Thanks to reviews of nail polish with gel effect, you can make a rating of the most popular representatives on the global cosmetics market:

Avon. This company is popular among Russian buyers due to its high-quality budget cosmetics. Nail polishes with this effect appeared in their assortment recently, but have already become a favorite among customers. The shade palette includes 16 bright and rich colors to create any design. The composition contains components to strengthen the plate and protect against delamination.
"Bridget Beautier." The manufacturer claims that the coating using this product is quite difficult to distinguish from shellac. The palette contains a huge number of shades that allow you to choose the right one for every taste.
"Podium". The Belarusian manufacturer also released a line of varnishes with a gel effect. Each customer will be able to choose the desired shade from the 20 presented in the palette. This product does not contain harmful components, and the coating remains flawless for two weeks.

The best sandy nail polishes

Sand polish is the easiest way to create an unusual manicure. Due to the presence of silicone crumbs or an abundance of glitter, when they harden, they form a textured crust and do not chip for up to 7 days. The downside of this manicure is that it is difficult to remove. To avoid damaging the nail plate, place a cotton swab with liquid on the nail, wrap your finger in foil, and after 5 minutes the coating can be easily removed.

Limoni Sandy Beach – velvet sand design in 5 minutes

★★★★★

editorial assessment

100%

buyers recommend this product

The textured Limoni collection includes 12 matte and 6 shimmer products for a flawless manicure. The varnish has an optimal elastic texture and is easily distributed with the existing wide brush, and the self-leveling property eliminates unevenness of the coating.

The product hardens completely in 5 minutes, turning into a textured sugar crust with a matte finish, and wears well for a week. Customers talk about the extraordinary durability of Limoni Sandy Beach, the spectacular range of shades and the ease of removing the coating, which is not typical for sand textures.

Advantages:

Spectacular finish;
Wide selection of shades;
Quick drying;
Durability;
Easy removal;
Self-leveling.

Flaws:

Small bottle volume (7 ml).

Limoni sand polish will appeal to girls with thin and textured nails. Thanks to its dense textured coating, it masks minor flaws and protects the plates from mechanical damage.

Sophin Space Sand – a cocktail of sand and cosmic pollen

4.8

★★★★★

editorial assessment

95%

buyers recommend this product

See review▶

Each of the 14 shimmery shades in the Sophin sand polish collection is the perfect finishing touch to a feminine evening look. Thanks to a thin brush, the moderately liquid texture is easily distributed over the nails, forming a dense and bright coating in 2-3 layers.

The created manicure dries in 10 minutes to a textured sandy crust and is worn without chipping for 5 days. Sophin varnishes do not contain aggressive components, so they are suitable even for those with thin and flaky nails.

Advantages:

Beautiful shades;
Drying speed;
Do not flow under the cuticle;
Do not paint the nail plate;
Safe composition;
Pronounced textured finish.

Flaws:

Liquid texture.

Due to its safe composition, Sophin varnishes are especially recommended for allergy sufferers, pregnant women and girls with weakened and brittle nails.

Reviews

This cosmetic product is used both in beauty salons and at home. Reviews of varnishes with a gel effect show that with its help you can create the perfect coating in a very short time. Buyers are attracted by the fact that this product does not require drying with a special lamp, is easy to apply and remains on the nails for 10-14 days.

Girls note that the varnish is easy to apply, evenly distributed, does not spread, and dries quite quickly. Saturated bright shades with a mirror shine attract female representatives. Buyers in reviews claim that one of the advantages is the ability to remove nail polish using a regular product in a few minutes.

The best nail polishes with safe composition

The formulas of such products do not contain phthalates, toluene, camphor, rosin and formaldehyde, therefore they do not have a toxic effect and are safe for allergy sufferers. They are also recommended for weakened nails, as they strengthen them thanks to the vitamins, extracts and oils present in the composition. Such products also have a significant drawback - low durability compared to standard, more aggressive formulas.

Benecos Happy Nails 5 Free Nail Polish – flawless manicure without harm to nails

4.9

★★★★★

editorial assessment

92%

buyers recommend this product

Nail polish from the German brand Benecos is a favorite among organic lovers. With 15 calm and vibrant glossy shades, it's easy to find the perfect color for any look. The varnish has a medium-liquid elastic texture and applies evenly to the nails using the thin brush included.

The coating dries in 5 minutes, after which you can enjoy a perfect manicure for up to 3 days. The product does not stain or thin the nail plate, is absolutely safe for health and the environment and is suitable even for little fashionistas

Advantages:

Wide range of shades;
Safe composition;
No pungent odor;
Dries quickly;
Good pigmentation.

Flaws:

Average durability.

Benecos nail polish is a solution for those who always want to have a flawless manicure, but cannot paint their nails with conventional means due to allergies or increased sensitivity of the nails.

Neobio 5-Free – bioformula for healthy nails

4.8

★★★★★

editorial assessment

88%

buyers recommend this product

Vegan nail polish from Neobio is a godsend for pregnant women, allergy sufferers and anyone who cares about their health. The natural product is enriched with argan oil, which strengthens, nourishes and stimulates the growth of the nail plate. The varnish has a thick texture and moderate pigmentation, requiring two layers of application. The created manicure dries in 5 minutes and is worn without chips or cracks for up to 4 days.

The only disadvantage of the product is the lack of a pronounced glossy shine, characteristic of chemical products. In the Neobio 5-Free palette you will find 10 bright and basic shades to suit every taste.

Advantages: