The best gel nail polishes according to user reviews

Gel polish is an innovation in the field of nail services. With the advent of this coating, girls no longer need to worry about repainting their nails every 3-5 days - gel polish lasts up to 3 weeks! And besides, it gives a mesmerizing, impeccable gloss that does not fade until the end of wear.

The number of gel polish manufacturers is now difficult to count; materials in different price categories are produced under different brands. Which brands are better? What is the difference? To make it easier for you to navigate, we have prepared for you the TOP of the best gel polishes of 2021! We compiled the rating based on the reviews of Elmira Urbanyuk, a teacher at the ParisNail school with 5 years of experience. She knows how to achieve an ideal result even on the most difficult hands, and who else but her can be trusted in choosing the highest quality coatings!

How to choose the right gel polish?

When choosing gel polish, you should pay attention not only to the brand and price, but also to the details. This will reduce the risk of allergic reactions, get an easy-to-use product and enjoy a beautiful manicure for a long time.

1. Concentration of the product. Liquid ones will leave unpainted areas, especially for light shades. Too thick ones are difficult for a beginner to distribute evenly. Choose something in between.
2. The brush should be thick, dense and not too long, but not short either. Check it for any loose lint.
3. No pungent odor. In itself, it is not harmful and disappears after finishing working with the varnish. But considering that a manicure is not done in 15 minutes, it’s worth considering options without an unpleasant odor or with its minimization.
4. Application system. There are three types of coatings. Single-phase are “3 in 1” products that do not require the purchase of a base and top. But they disappear from the nail very quickly. Two-phase - includes a base and a fetal component, but requires a finishing coating. Three-phase - this gel polish requires a base and a top, so their durability is higher than the previous two.

Application of three-phase shellac: design features.

1. Prepare the nail plate (remove the cuticle, give shape and length to the nails); if there are significant unevenness of the nail, then it is better to sand the plate a little.
Also, for those whose nail coatings do not adhere well, it is necessary to lightly remove the gloss from the nail with a soft buff or a file for natural nails. 2. Degrease the nail plate with liquid to remove the sticky layer. 3. Apply the primer - this is a sticky substance when it dries, which forms a powerful bond between the base coat of the gel polish system and the natural nail, ensuring a long life for modern manicure. For the most part, this stage solves the problem of the gel polish coating not being durable.

4. Apply a thin layer of base, correct smudges, dry in a UV or LED lamp (in a 9-watt UV lamp - 4 minutes, 36 watt - 2 minutes, in a LED lamp - 30 seconds - 1 minute).

5. Apply colored gel polish in a thin layer. Here it is better to make 2-4 thin layers and dry each for 2 minutes in a lamp than 2 thick layers. If the layers are thick, they may “wrinkle” in the lamp, the coating will quickly chip, and there will be peeling. The end must be sealed on the first layer. We correct smudges before drying in a lamp, dry each layer in a UV or LED lamp (in a 9-watt UV lamp - 4 minutes, 36 watt - 2 minutes, in a LED lamp - 30 seconds - 1 minute).

7. Apply a thin layer of topcoat, seal the end of the nail and dry it in a UV or LED lamp.

8. After drying in the lamp, let the coating cool in air (1-2 minutes) and then remove the sticky layer using lint-free wipes soaked in liquid to remove the sticky layer.

This way the final coat will not fade after the sticky layer is removed. 9. Manicure is ready! We moisturize the cuticle with oil, because Degreasers dry it out very much.

Price

The disadvantages of gel polish include its high price - given the need to purchase not only a color coating, but also additional products, the entire set, including an assortment of two or three colors of varnish necessary for a manicure, can cost a girl 9-10 thousand rubles . This set is enough for about 30 coatings. A manicure in a salon, if you compare the amount of possible nail polish, will turn out to be much more expensive - for one “procedure” you will have to pay at least a thousand rubles.

True, craftsmen at home usually do a simple manicure much cheaper - for 500-700 rubles, but the desire to apply some complex pattern and design (for example, flowers on nails with gel polish) increases the cost of a manicure by at least one and a half to two times.

Gel polish is an ideal long-term coating if you choose the right quality brand, as well as with comprehensive care of the nail plate and hand skin - timely removal of polish, nourishing the nails and proper care for them.

Otherwise, the positive qualities of gel polish make it a desirable choice for many girls; the main thing here is not to forget about safety and, if you are unable to handle a coating that is still unusual, contact a specialist. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the various methods of applying gel polish.

Disadvantages and advantages

Disadvantages of gel nails

When using gel polish, there are several main dangers that can harm your nail:

1. Some varnishes require preliminary filing of the nail plate, which, if repeated too often and intensively, can seriously damage the health of the nails, which will become brittle and weak;
2. Excessive use of gel polish remover is also dangerous for the condition of the nails and the skin around them; despite the relative safety of this substance, it must be used with extreme caution;
3. Low-quality cheap gel polish can also harm your nails due to the possible content of harmful components that allow manufacturers to achieve the desired coating texture.

An excellent tonic with a unique rejuvenating effect, honey and lemon masks can transform the skin of any woman beyond recognition. Read reviews of face masks with honey and lemon in this article.

Is gel polish harmful to nails and body health?

From reviews: for example, some girls indicate allergies, others - skin irritations.

All this should be taken into account if you plan to use varnish for the first time, so you can avoid the negative consequences of its application.

Applying gel polish should also be avoided if there are scratches and cuts in the skin around the nail. Possible penetration of substances contained in gel polish into them can cause, albeit minor harm, very noticeable discomfort.

For teenagers

For this category, gel polish can be an excellent help, allowing you not to repaint your nails every two to three days.

But you shouldn’t overuse this coating either.

High-quality gel polish in itself is not dangerous, but excessive use of liquid to remove it, as well as possible damage to the nail when filing, can ruin still weak teenage nails.

Of course, girls under 12-14 years old should not be allowed to use gel polish. It is much better to prefer children's varnishes that are washed off with water.

At the height of the beach season, girls spend a lot of time trying to rid their bodies of unwanted hair, most often resorting to the help of a razor, epilator and depilatory cream. Read about the properties of Batiste depilatory cream at the link.

The best for pregnant women - the opinion of professionals

also avoid using gel polish. During the period of bearing a child, it is better to switch to regular varnishes or those that in their structure only resemble gel polish, or even abandon any coating altogether.

Popular nail shapes.

comparison table

In order to compare the presented products, we recommend taking a look at their characteristics in the table below.

Experts' Picks: The 50 Best Nail Polishes of All Time

What shades are suitable for short nails? Which polish will last the longest? What products to choose for a fashionable manicure? The best polishes are in the BeautyHack selection!

Lena Slavina

FLOWERS beauty bar

Choosing a manicurist

Nail polishes Le Vernis, 556 Beige, 548 Blanc, 546 Rouge, Chanel

The varnishes have a good consistency and apply evenly even in one layer. Comfortable smooth brushes.

Price: 999 rub.

Nail polishes Vernis Couture, 338 Mirage, 268 Ruban, Dior

They apply well and evenly, comfortable brushes and clean shades. The Ruban tone has fine shimmer and shimmers beautifully in the sun.

Price: 1,900 rub.

Nail polishes Miracle Gel, 143 Pink Jellyfish, 141 Tropic Relief, 153 Sorbet Array, Sally Hansen

Thick varnishes with rather long brushes, but the coating is smooth and dense.

Price: 524 rub.

Nail varnishes Nail Atelier, 149, 124, Vivienne Sabo

In terms of price-quality ratio, this is an ideal option. They lay down easily and evenly, with very comfortable brushes. Mint and lavender are the most trendy colors. Nude should be applied in 3 layers.

Price: 209 rub.

Nail polishes Gel effet, 602 Gel Rose, L'Etoile

A decent budget option - sheer shade, easy to apply.

Price: 299 rub.

Polish “Flawless Nails”, Rose Peche, Dr. Pierre Ricaud

Peach shade with shimmer is suitable for tanned skin. The varnish is translucent, apply in 3 layers with top coat.

Price: 390 rub.

Nail polish Le Vernis, 68 Turquoise Agave, Yves Rocher

Yves Rocher varnish pleasantly surprised me: a fashionable mint color and a liquid but dense consistency.

Price: 290 rub.

Moore Sobolev

BeautyHack

Selecting a Special Correspondent

Nail polish Instant Adventure, Essence

Black-cherry varnish is a lifesaver for those who love dark shades, but are not ready to put up with all the difficulties of applying and drying them. Firstly, the promise on the bottle - that the varnish can be applied in one layer - is not deceiving: there is so much pigment that one layer is really enough for complete coverage. And secondly, a wide rounded brush just covers one nail - you don’t have to paint the corners.

Price: 209 rub.

Nail polish Superstar, Kure Bazaar

The Kure Bazaar brand has an excellent formula in any texture, but glitter, as always, dries especially well and quickly. The large fuchsia Superstar glitter looks festive both on colored polish (like its blue counterpart in the manicure from the Kynsi salon) and on its own.

Price: 1,240 rub.

Nail polish Light Bloom, Dolce & Gabbana

The dense pastel blue shade belongs to the autumn collection, but is still on sale and would be more than appropriate for the New Year holidays: blue is a traditional “winter” color, a reference to snowflakes, clouds and other attributes of our climate. The varnish itself has a good texture - it goes on smoothly and without streaks, which is a great success for such a bleached color.

Price: 2,049 rub.

Nail polish Berrara, Christina Fitzgerald

For those who miss bright colors with lots of sparkles and red: blue, like the waters of the Pacific Ocean, to which it is dedicated, the shade Berrara. In the traditional sense, blue nails are a summer story, but Christina Fitzgerald disagrees: when releasing a set of Snow Cone blue nail polishes for Christmas, she clearly had in mind not only the American dessert, but also the snowy hill itself.

Price: 1,050 rub.

Moondust nail polish, Ciaté

At Ciaté, whose decorative cosmetics we have written about more than once, nail polishes are traditionally a strong point. New this year is the Gelology line, designed, like many others, to replace gel polishes due to its durability and duochrome effect, which can usually only be achieved by rubbing. The lilac-gold Moondust is a deception: sometimes it shines wildly, sometimes it looks almost nude.

Price: 419 rub.

Nail polish Hazel, Zoya

The brand is great at metallics and glitters - in its gigantic assortment it is difficult to choose the most sparkling and most festive varnish. We eventually settled on Hazel - this is a gray-blue shade of a stormy sea, in which small gold and silver particles are mixed. Moderately strict, but at the same time very festive.

Price: 660 rub.

Nail polish Kundalini Hustle, Smith & Cult

The main Swedish beauty blogger, Viola KillerColours, wrote about this polish that she could easily do without 90% of her red collection for the bright scarlet Kundalini Hustle - it is so perfect. This brand, which makes beautiful and unique cosmetics, is best known for its varnishes - thanks to the excellent formula and colors.

Price: 1,730 rub.

Nail polish Le Vernis, Rouge Puissant, Chanel

A New Year's manicure with classic Chanel polish is a way to feel like the heroine of a French drama. Rouge Puissant would be perfect for any Catherine Deneuve, its name - “powerful red” - perfectly reflects its essence: it is a real, correct red shade, no longer scarlet and not yet wine.

Price: 1,899 rub.

Nail polish Poison Metal, Dior

One of the four main shades of the Dior nail polish collection updated this year is the wine-brown metallic Poison Metal (there is also a Rouge Dior Liquid lipstick with the same name). The color will suit the most demanding femme fatale - both strict and fatal. The brand calls the advantages of the updated formula gloss and durability comparable to gel polish.

Price: 1,399 rub.

Nail polish Jasper, JINSoon

Master of perfect formulas and shades, Jin Sun has created a holiday polish: red shade - check, dark undertone - check, glitter - check, non-capricious formula and brush - check. In addition, Jasper is a universal shade: you can wear it to a disco or to an official reception. But it’s better to go to a disco!

Price: 1,400 rub.

BeautyHack Editor's Choice

Gift set Glitter Boom Cool, Kure Bazaar

Nail polishes have long been “registered” in the best beauty salons and manicure studios, and they are loved at least for their unusual palettes and constantly updated collections, and at most for their natural composition. The polishes are 85% made from wood pulp, wheat, cotton, potatoes and corn, and they are based on a 4-free formula, thanks to which the nails do not dry out and do not absorb a lot of carcinogens.

The Glitter Boom Cool gift set is clear proof that even the most colorful and eye-catching nail polishes can be natural. By the way, there are three of them in the set - Superstar plum glitter, large golden Diva glitters and a base coat. Varnishes can be used as an independent coating, or as an additional accent on top of colored varnish. And if you mix both varnishes, and even take with you a shiny file from the set, you can safely claim the title of party queen or magical fairy - whichever you prefer.

Price: 3,730 rub.

Collection of varnishes LA LA Land, Orly

Inspired by the biggest premiere of the winter – the film “La La Land”, the Orly brand has created a new collection of varnishes. The line includes 6 spring shades with Hollywood names - soft pink “Head in the Clouds”, coral “Captivating California”, mint “Big City Dreams” and three more colors: fuchsia, shimmering opal and sky blue.

There is a set of mini varnishes. Advice from the editors of BeautyHack - feel free to mix all the shades for a bright or, conversely, pastel manicure!

Price: 495 rub.

Nail polish Vinylux “Winter illusion”, Winter Nights, CND

CND varnishes, known for their reinforced concrete durability, continue to delight with new shades. The winter collection is dedicated to the northern lights and sparkle - and snow or diamonds, everyone can decide for themselves.

Winter Illusion includes six new CND Shellac and six Vinylux shades for those who prefer a classic finish that can last a week. The cobalt shade Winter Nights is simultaneously reminiscent of the evening sky and the tail of a peacock - it applies smoothly from the first layer and dries quickly. And if you want to be inspired by manicure ideas, read our special selection.

Price: 565 rub.

Nail polish Island Sunset, Christina Fitzgerald

Once upon a time, the founder of the Australian brand, Christina Fitzgerald, was a nail technician and worked in a hotel nail salon. Now she creates her own collections of products and shapes global nail trends. For example, the popular manicure with highlighted nails (middle and ring) was invented by her.

The new shade perfectly matches the name “Crimson Sunset” - at least, that’s how the images are drawn: a scarlet sky, black silhouettes of palm trees against its background and the splash of waves nearby. And for those who don’t know how to incorporate this bright color into their everyday look, Christina gives a recommendation: “Pair the polish with a striped shirt, a leather skirt and a caramel-colored jacket.”

Price: 1,350 rub.

BeautyHack Editor's Choice

Nail Lacquer, Rose Snow, Kure Bazaar

The French brand Kure Bazaar produces varnishes consisting of 85% natural ingredients - wood pulp, wheat, cotton, potatoes and corn. In them you will not find formaldehyde, toluene, or other substances that turn your nails into a dry croissant.

On the contrary, Kure Bazaar varnishes strengthen and smooth the surface of the nails, and the shades always correspond to fashion trends. Translucent nude Rose Snow, for example, will appeal to lovers of natural manicure. In one coat you will get the effect of bare nails, and subsequent layers will create a very subtle pink tint. By the way, you can find out which of the stars will definitely want to add Rose Snow from Kure Bazaar to their nail polish collection here.

Price: 960 rub.

Nail polish Color Therapy, Sally Hansen

Color Therapy varnishes promise not only uniform coverage and durability, but also care - this is a breakthrough! The composition included argan and evening primrose oils and acai berry extract, so you can safely apply them without a base so that all the beneficial ingredients are absorbed into the structure of the nail. If earlier medicinal nails meant a barely noticeable translucent shade (at best, milky), now even under candy pink and dark indigo, nails receive all the necessary nutrients.

The new product is ideal for those who have decided to pause their relationship with gel polishes. Color Therapy will restore dry nail plates and last up to ten days without chipping. And the wide brush will appeal to those who do not master the skill of skillfully applying varnish - the product is applied in literally two movements.

Price: 455 rub.

Nail polish Breathable Treatment + Color, ORLY

Thanks to the Breathable range from the American brand ORLY, you can forget about boring transparent nail strengthening varnishes. And recently the collection was replenished with 18 new shades for all occasions - here is sky blue, and New Year's emerald, and the nude beloved by the English royal family.

The technology is the same - your nails “breathe” under the varnish. After application, a film is created on the nails, allowing oxygen, moisture and the active ingredients of the product to reach the surface of the nail. The composition contains argan oil, vitamin C and the best friend of hair and nails, provitamin B5, thanks to which the varnish promotes rapid growth and strengthening. And a bonus for those who paint their nails five minutes before the clock strikes - the all-in-one formula allows you to apply Breatheable polishes without a base or top coat.

Price: 650 rub.

Color Culture Nail Polish, Oliver+Bond, Christina Fitzgerald

Australian manicurist Christina Fitzgerald founded the brand of the same name ten years ago and never ceases to delight with new collections and excellent skin care products for hands and feet. Not to mention the sawing technique of manicure, which the world learned about thanks to Christina.

“Culture of Color” varnish in the shade Oliver will appeal to fans of this year’s color – purple, and to make the coating more durable, the kit comes with a special Bond product that degreases the surface of the nail. Everything about Christina Fitzgerald's varnish is good - the color quality, ease of application (two or three brush strokes are enough), and durability. It’s also very nice when the founder of a brand really thinks through everything down to the smallest detail - for example, Oliver matches perfectly with any skin tone.

Price: 1,350 rub.

Nail polish Rouge Dior Vernis, Minimal, Dior

A light nude polish is a win-win option if you urgently need to get your hands in order. The Minimal, Dior shade visually lengthens the fingers, plus such a neutral manicure is appropriate both in the office and at a party and goes with all outfits. Good news for fans of gel polishes: since the shade is close to your skin color, no one will notice that you need a touch-up.

Price: 1,860 rub.

Nail polish Savane, Kure Bazaar

If you want something neutral but rich, check out the sandy shade Savane from Kure Bazaar. This is a kind of camel coat for nails - it suits everyone. This color looks great on both light and dark skin, and also neutralizes the redness of the hands. However, dark shades, even nude ones, require close attention to manicure. Make sure your nails are the same length and shape, gently push back the cuticles and moisturize them.

Price: 1,100 rub.

Nail polish “Luxurious gloss” Giordani Gold “Precious pearl”, Oriflame

Delicate milky shades look great on “snow white” girls, but those with dark and tanned skin should pay attention to darker colors of varnishes for a nude manicure, or choose an uncompromising white varnish (this, by the way, is one of the main trends of last summer).

It is important to remember that light varnishes for nude manicures often apply unevenly, so be sure to use a base and only then apply a coating - preferably in two or even three layers.

Price: 530 rub.

Nail polish Colorama 60 seconds, 7, Maybelline

Maybelline's caramel nude is definitely worth a try. Firstly, all the polishes from the Colorama 60 Seconds line, as the name suggests, dry with lightning speed - a real salvation when you do a manicure on the run. Secondly, this shade is ideal for skin with warm and olive undertones, and also highlights the tan. On pinkish skin, this polish will enhance the redness, so try to avoid hot water and be sure to wear gloves.

Price: 130 rub.

Nail polishes 500 Desert Disguise, 465 Camo Girl, 801 Blackout, Rimmel

The varnishes have comfortable wide brushes and a not very thick consistency. Black color goes on like gray from the first layer, so it is better to apply it in two layers. There will be no problems with applying khaki color, but beige will have to be applied in three or even four layers - mother-of-pearl can appear in stripes.

Price: 291 rub.

Nail polish Lasting Color Gel, 180, Pupa

For a budget brand, this polish is a godsend! It applies well, is dense, and gives a glossy shine even without a top coat. I liked its small volume - it makes sense when the varnish is thick and dries quickly. Advice from the master: to extend the life of the varnish, do not be lazy to wipe the neck of the bottle after each use.

Price: 261 rub.

Nail polish Brown Collection, 02 Sophisticated Vogue, Catrice

Another decent budget varnish. The Brown Collection includes 5 shades: bronze, brown, red and golden. Shade 02 – pearlescent brown-beige. It is dense, but because of the mother-of-pearl there may be stripes - you need to be careful with the brush.

Convenient bottle: the large cap can be removed and the polish can be held using the more compact, grooved cap.

Price: 170 rub.

Nail polish, Sunset, Kure Bazaar

Kure Bazaar polishes are known for their natural formulations. The creator of the brand, French model Kartika Lhuillier, developed them specifically for pregnant women. At her request, the laboratory made something that no one had ever done before: varnishes consisting of tree resin, corn, wheat, cotton and potatoes. The formula is 4-free, that is, without formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate, synthetic camphor and toluene.

The polish we tested has a very light bottle, a standard brush, and a thick but not thick consistency. In the photo the color looks brighter, in real life it is more muted and berry. I didn’t notice that the varnish is odorless - it smells like all varnishes.

Price: 1,242 rub.

Nail polish, Exit The Void, Smith & Cult

The American brand Smith & Cult is distinguished by its originality. Let's talk about all the oddities in order. 1) Huge round bottles with specially dented lids; 2) 8-free formula: without toluene, formaldehyde resin, camphor, dibutyl phthalate, xylene, ethyl tosylamide, triphinl phosphate, formaldehyde; 3) Short brushes, which make it easier to control application; 4) Descriptions of the shades are compiled in the form of stories from the diary of a beautyholic.

Price: 1,462 rub.

Nail polish Bella Winter Palace, Christina Fitzgerald

Christina Fitzgerald polishes with purple caps are known to all the stars: this Australian brand has the most unusual colors. We tested the cool pastel mint shade “Winter Palace”. We recommend applying three layers - such light varnishes do not apply the first time.

Christina Fitzgerald varnishes contain an unusual component: clay. It moisturizes and smoothes the nail plate, which is especially important with the onset of cold weather.

Price: 1,161 rub.

Nail polishes Lacquier Vernis Esmale, Just Bitten, Black Cherry, Orly

The nail industry giant Orly has never disappointed us. Wide, smooth brushes, dense consistency, bright colors, glossy shine - the varnishes are applied in a few seconds and look perfect. By the way, Orly’s brushes are new; before they were smaller. And new caps - rubberized and with a patented Gripper Cap shape to make applying varnish even easier.

Price: 408 rub.

Bluesky single-phase system: why it is interesting.

Single-phase system, as an express option from 3-phase. The manufacturer decided to maintain a balance of base-color-top in one bottle. This is very convenient: you can do a manicure quickly, you can take gel polish on a trip (because you only need to take one bottle), and you can easily use gel polish at home.

Is this system right for you? This can only be checked by doing a manicure with it and leaving it for the prescribed 2 weeks. If early chips appear on your nails even with the use of a primer, then this system is not suitable for you. But there is no need to be upset, because... The color coating of Bluesky single-phase gel polish can be used in a three-phase system (base/color/top).

Advantages and disadvantages of Bluesky single-phase gel polishes.

Advantages of the system:
- convenient gel polish format for travel;
— speed of execution; - You only need to buy 1 bottle. Disadvantages of the system:
- not suitable for all types of nails; — it is not possible to use stickers (slider design/water stickers, photo design) without applying an additional layer of topcoat.

What else is important to know?

It is better to apply the gel product yourself after studying special video courses or undergoing training from masters. In the future, you will be able to cover your nails with gels yourself, saving on salon services and without making requests to the forums “Advise how to apply gel polish.” Without knowing the intricacies of nail treatment, you can damage the nail plate or simply inaccurately distribute the product on the nails.

Many people believe that the products should be soaked and removed from the nails with a film. In fact, the top layers are perfectly cut off with a manicure cutter, and the nail is processed and painted with shellac again. If you use an emollient, keep in mind that it will affect the nail itself and the surrounding skin, which is not particularly beneficial. The nail plate remains wet for some time after coating, and even a bonder does not dry it sufficiently. After removing shellac in this way, you should wait until the nail dries naturally, and only then can you apply the next color coating, having pre-treated the surface.

There is an opinion that it is not recommended to wear the gel product for more than two weeks: then it should be removed. This is not true. The nail plate grows several millimeters every month and is completely renewed in 4 months. There is no need to give any “breaks” or “rest” to your nails.

If you want to apply the product to the nails of not only your hands, but also your feet, buy a lamp with a removable top and replaceable inserts. Currently, the products of many brands contain a lot of coloring pigments, as a result of which the product hardens poorly in a conventional ultraviolet lamp, so we recommend new generation hybrid lamps. In general, you should remember: in ultraviolet rays you need to dry your nails 2 times longer than in an LED lamp and a hybrid lamp. Our store consultants will tell you which varnish dries better in an LED lamp and which in ultraviolet light.

Do you want to learn more about the products you want to purchase in our online store, or purchase a suitable gel polish or a good manicure set for working at home? Call us, we will answer all your questions. We sell only original products from manufacturers and provide warranties on equipment and tools. Our telephone numbers are in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

How not to run into a fake

To avoid unknowingly purchasing a low-quality fake, pay attention to the distinctive features inherent in original gel polishes:

1. Labels on product bottles must be stamped neatly and clearly. Curved and blurry images are a clear sign of a fake. Additional protective wrappers or stickers that make it difficult to read the basic information are also a common trick of counterfeit manufacturers.

2. Original varnishes are marked with a laser - it will be difficult to remove such an inscription. On fake packaging, information about the batch number and barcode are printed using conventional printing and are easily erased.

3. On the back of the bottle there must be a sticker with information about the manufacturer, composition and method of use. If a reverse double sticker is provided, then its parts must be connected and not simply stuck on top of one another.

4. Branded products have a light, almost imperceptible aroma. The presence of a pungent chemical odor is unacceptable and is a clear sign of a counterfeit or simply low-quality product.

5. Do not be tempted by the cheapness of the purchased product - the price tag of the original cannot be 2-3 times lower than the average market price.

Problematic distribution and low durability of manicure are not the worst consequences of buying fake gel polishes. Fake products often contain formaldehyde, lead, arsenic and heavy metals. These toxins not only destroy nails, but can provoke serious allergic reactions or cause general poisoning of the body.

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Best lists

The review provided information on each shellac from the positive and negative sides. This will allow you to choose the best option for a home manicure. And now I propose to consider the best gel polishes in the following categories:

• in terms of price and quality ratio;
• in terms of durability.

The best gel polish in terms of price-quality ratio

Beginners have a limited budget. And if you decide to do a manicure only for yourself, you will still need to buy at least three colors. This will allow you to combine shades and change coverage depending on your mood or situation. Inexpensive but high-quality shellacs include Cody.

User reviews for this product are positive. This is a high-quality coating that remains glossy for more than 2 weeks. Shades from rich to nude, never losing their shine and color throughout wear. The material is “friendly” with bases and tops from other manufacturers.

One of the nuances worth noting is the density. Therefore, the young master will need to get used to his work. Apply layers thinly, wiping the brush thoroughly. The density of the shade is sufficient, so two layers are enough. It is also worth noting that the product is self-leveling and does not streak.

The best gel polish for durability

If you already do excellent manicures, then you can switch to professional gel polishes with high durability. Grattol should rightly be included among these. All collections of this manufacturer are durable for over a month. During this time, chips and cracks do not appear on the surface of the manicure and the color does not fade.

The brand is known in Europe and Russia. Many salons prefer to work with this company, since the consumption is economical and clients do not have problems when wearing it. Grattol also does not cause allergies.

The consistency of gel polish is called “honey” because of its special thickness and ability to hide unevenness of the nail plate, spreading evenly and forming an almost mirror-like surface. Another advantage of this gel polish is its cost, which occupies the average price niche.