20 Best Gel Nail Polishes (2024 Update)

I actually have the 16 color + base and top coat kit but it wasn't available for me to select. All in all, this is a nice kit. I probably won't use some of the shades but it had the best option on Amazon for neutral + glitter combinations. The shades I am wearing in this photo are 030 (the pink), 108 (white as a base for ring finger), and 278 (gold glitter). I like that they included the base and top coat; which makes it easy to do a complete look. Warning – the bottles with the actual shades are quite small. Only the base top coat are full size. But that's okay with me since I wanted to test out the formula and sample their shades prior to committing to a full size bottle. Overall, pretty good…for now. We shall see.vicki.n

I love this product. Since getting the nail kit I have saved so much time and money avoiding going to the nail salon. The kit is super easy to use, but with practice you can create such fun designs. I love the colors and the polish lasts for a week or two like any other gel. Easy to remove and apply, I don’t think I will ever go back to regular nail polish again!caroline.a

I purchased the full set from Amazon with a light and tools, decorations and colors along with the glossy and matte top coats. It was around 45 bucks. The colors are great. This was my first set in trying at home gel uv polish. I LOVE IT. Easy to use and have gone back direct to beetles site to buy more colors. I highly recommend this set and products from beetlesjoann .b

The top and base coat bottles look identical to their gel polish color bottles except for the fact that the text on the bottle indicates which formula is which. Each bottle has a sticker on top of the cap that says "Base" and "No Wipe Top" so you can easily find them if you store your polishes inside a box. I used a 1 minute cure time with a UV/LED lamp for each layer of base, color, and top coat that was applied. Thin coats are key in getting the polish to last, as is doing the proper prep work to your nails (buffing and cleaning the surface) prior to any application of the formula.The base coat is slightly tacky after curing it, which helps to get the color coat to stick and not shrink. The top coat is a no wipe formula which leaves a smooth surface and a plump and glossy shine. As for the durability, a manicure done with this base and top coat along with an Aimeili color gel lasts for 14 days with minimal wear to the tips and hardly a chip in sight. Individually, the base and top coat sell for $6.99 each, but as a set, you will only pay $9.99. This is insanely cheap as you get 10 mL of polish in each bottle. Other gel top and base coats easily cost more than double that price for even less polish inside, and the ones from Aimeili are of an equal quality to them, if not better. This set is a no brainer if you deal with gels!chrissy.f

This is my favorite at home summer color it brings out the melanin in my skin against this bold color making your nails noticeable from a distance or up close. The color is TC11 lime green with normal temp lawn green when cold. I love the transition of the colors because it mesmerizes some people when they notice the color change. Love the color changing gel soak off polishes easy to do at home it takes practice to get it right but Practice always makes Perfect. Neither of the polishes are thick they are the perfect gel consistency for your nails.petrina.a

My nail thec knows how to keep a secret. Its me Im that nail thec. This is one of my favorite top Coats. It was a random find on Amazon. Come to find out not only do they make top Coats but they also make blooming gel and all kinds of other polishes this is is definitely a company that I have a love a Box Box from Come to find out not only do they make top Coats but they also make blooming gel and all kinds of other polishes this is is definitely a company that I have a love a #voxbox from So I can use it for my business just saying.roxy.a

Unlike so many other products in the Dior range, the nail polish doesn't seemed to have changed for the worse. I have used Dior nail polish for years, as well as other top brands, but none of the other brands come close to Dior. They apply easily, and smoothly, and also dry quite quickly, more so if you use the quick dry top coat. I have quite ridged nails, and these polishes make them look smooth. I also like the slightly wider brush, which makes application easier. We just need a few more colours please Dior, and not so many similar shades.Judiciousshopper

I own quite a few shades of Dior polish and this is my newest addition, the Dior iconic rosewood. It’s a gorgeous color and tied as my favorite next to 999, the iconic Dior couture red. This color would be flattering on most skintones. The Vernis Nail Lacquer is couture color * shine and long wear * gel effect * protective nail care The formula is infused with peony and pistachio extracts, which provide nails with protective care. The shades are inspired by the trends and latest creations from the House of Dior. It is ultra shiny and gives a gel- like effect. I love the flexible, long, round tipped brush. It’s one of the better brushes available in nail polish and gives pretty wide, even strokes. Easy to use. Some colors, especially the lighter ones have a thin consistency and aren’t very “gel- like”. The results and my recommendation really depend on the color because it’s not consistent, which is definitely a problem. I find the darker or more pigmented colors apply the best. I recommend with caveats.christine .r

Ho Ho holy moly! This is an AMAZING polish! Most glitter polishes (which is the version I’m reviewing) smear when you put them on or don’t show up at all. This Deep Sea Diamonds polish shows up and then some! It not only has small glitter but bigger pieces as well which makes it super sparkly! I’m wearing it over a darker color but you can definitely wear this on its own. Two coats is all you need but you can get away with one. The formulation is on the thicker side which helps keep the glitter in tact. Add a quick dry top coat and you’re done! Highly recommend! If you follow me, I’d like to first say thank you so much! I always follow back but Influenster puts a limit on following at 500. I hope you still enjoy my content! ☺️ For more beauty, fashion inspo and monthly beauty giveaways, please follow me on Instagram at @luxuryisthyname or visit my website at Luxuryisthyname.com! Stay beautiful! ❤️ #manicam #mymakeupbag #beautyblogger #glamgame #holidaylook #nails #datenight #fashionistaheather .s

This is probably one of my favourite nail polishes. I love the shade of green and the non-goopy application of it. It’s also lasted longer than any of the other expensive polish brands I own (all the ones that promise no chips for two weeks and then they chip next day no matter how careful you are). I’ve gotten a bit less than a week’s wear out of it, but even now it’s only a couple chips on a few fingers, which is to be expected because I’m a mom of young kids, so I am constantly doing something with my hands and washing them. I see other reviewers mentioning how sheer applications are, which is true, but it just means you need a couple extra coats, which honestly isn’t a big deal; I find that most polishes, no matter how much coverage they give you, need additional coats anyways. Personally, for me, this polish is a win!Rebekah

When I use this polish along with the Miracle Gel top coat, I get a solid week out of the nails before I get any chipping. Usually I only have to repaint them when the nails are growing out too much. Dries quickly, so apply quickly and carefully. This is a great middle ground between regular polish and real gel, meaning it is great for home use. You can get thick coverege that hides your ridges without needing to buff your nails if you do 2 color and 1 top coat. I'm in the process of replacing all my existing polishes with Miracle Gel versions.LH

I recently ordered 5 colors through Kiara Sky and absolutely love all of them! I was told about this brand through my cousin who is a loyal customer of theirs. There are sooo many to choose from and it is very hard to not pick them all. I love glitter and they have a ton of glitter options. They also offer deals and have texting and email offers if you sign up which is nice to take advantage of. I enjoy using gel nail polish but have struggled in the past with cheaper brands lasting on my nails. My hands get pretty beat up as I am a vet technician and workout daily. My nails would often chip in a week despite follow gel polish ways of using. I have had on this color for a little over a week now and so far no chipping and it seems to be holding up very well! I'm excited to try the other colors I purchased. The only complaint I have is it took 3 weeks for delivery and I kept receiving misleading emails about where my package was and if it had even shipped or not. Otherwise, the colors came in a cute box with preventable measures for them not to break. I will most likely be ordering again if these colors continue to hold up well on my nails. I'm excited to try the other colors I got! 💅Annamarie C.

I was excited to try Kiara Sky! My cousin told me about this brand and I decided to try it since other brands I have used in the past would chip. I have tried this color and it last two weeks. Which is amazing because usually my nails using other gel products wouldn't last a week without chipping. I love this color as purple is my favorite color. There are a ton of colors to choose from and I wanted them all! They also send out texts and emails with offers such as 15% off. I also enjoy the fact they are promoted cruelty free which is huge for me. I will continue to purchase from this brand and am excited to continue painting my nails with all of their pretty colors.Annamarie C.

Love the idea of it and this colour is just gorgeous. However the brushes in this (maybe i got a dodgy one) but it left a lot of streaks and didn’t apply smoothly and did have a few straggler hairs which made a mess. Other than that the shape of the brush is great for around the cuticles. Not much product but I guess that’s the purpose for it to be travel friendly. I actually really like this and the colour is stunning in 2 coats (a little streaky because of the brush) I will keep buying and see if it’s a common thing but I really like it and they dry fast 2 coats polish 2 top coat 10 minutes fry time totalChels7777

I applied my first Miracle Gel, color 'Saturn it Up'. One week and absolutely no chips. It was even difficult to file with my Revlon file boards. My nails were destroyed 2 weeks ago when my Gel soak off polish would not come off after soaking my fingers for 15 minutes in acetone. I had to slowly peel them and then soak again to no avail. So with damaged and paper thin nails I tried the miracle. I did 3 coats but they were super thick. There was a little distortion under the top get. The top gel dried great but step one wasn't dry all the way. I'm going to do the process again even though I don't need to. I bought several other colors and have decided to give myself permission to change colors every week! I am thrilled after trying the gels. My nails can now grow out for several months and have some length and be beautiful. Now I just want to figure out how to do 'ombre' nails with this product.Betsy Bee

I bought rain-glow yesterday. I unwrapped the plastic, so I know it was brand new, and started to do step one. The first couple nails were challenging because the color seemed quite thick. It did not go on smooth. By the time I got to the third nail I realized there was something very wrong with the color and this was not going to go well. The color was mostly thick, chunky, and would not go on smooth. I tried out step two just to see if that side was also dried up, but that side was perfectly fine. Pretty bummed about this because it’s actually a really cool product.JoMc

Love the idea of it and this colour is just gorgeous. However the brushes in this (maybe i got a dodgy one) but it left a lot of streaks and didn’t apply smoothly and did have a few straggler hairs which made a mess. Other than that the shape of the brush is great for around the cuticles. Not much product but I guess that’s the purpose for it to be travel friendly. I actually really like this and the colour is stunning in 2 coats (a little streaky because of the brush) I will keep buying and see if it’s a common thing but I really like it and they dry fast 2 coats polish 2 top coat 10 minutes fry time totalChels7777

I applied my first Miracle Gel, color 'Saturn it Up'. One week and absolutely no chips. It was even difficult to file with my Revlon file boards. My nails were destroyed 2 weeks ago when my Gel soak off polish would not come off after soaking my fingers for 15 minutes in acetone. I had to slowly peel them and then soak again to no avail. So with damaged and paper thin nails I tried the miracle. I did 3 coats but they were super thick. There was a little distortion under the top get. The top gel dried great but step one wasn't dry all the way. I'm going to do the process again even though I don't need to. I bought several other colors and have decided to give myself permission to change colors every week! I am thrilled after trying the gels. My nails can now grow out for several months and have some length and be beautiful. Now I just want to figure out how to do 'ombre' nails with this product.Betsy Bee

I bought rain-glow yesterday. I unwrapped the plastic, so I know it was brand new, and started to do step one. The first couple nails were challenging because the color seemed quite thick. It did not go on smooth. By the time I got to the third nail I realized there was something very wrong with the color and this was not going to go well. The color was mostly thick, chunky, and would not go on smooth. I tried out step two just to see if that side was also dried up, but that side was perfectly fine. Pretty bummed about this because it’s actually a really cool product.JoMc

I actually have the 16 color + base and top coat kit but it wasn't available for me to select. All in all, this is a nice kit. I probably won't use some of the shades but it had the best option on Amazon for neutral + glitter combinations. The shades I am wearing in this photo are 030 (the pink), 108 (white as a base for ring finger), and 278 (gold glitter). I like that they included the base and top coat; which makes it easy to do a complete look. Warning – the bottles with the actual shades are quite small. Only the base top coat are full size. But that's okay with me since I wanted to test out the formula and sample their shades prior to committing to a full size bottle. Overall, pretty good…for now. We shall see.vicki.n

I love this product. Since getting the nail kit I have saved so much time and money avoiding going to the nail salon. The kit is super easy to use, but with practice you can create such fun designs. I love the colors and the polish lasts for a week or two like any other gel. Easy to remove and apply, I don’t think I will ever go back to regular nail polish again!caroline.a

I purchased the full set from Amazon with a light and tools, decorations and colors along with the glossy and matte top coats. It was around 45 bucks. The colors are great. This was my first set in trying at home gel uv polish. I LOVE IT. Easy to use and have gone back direct to beetles site to buy more colors. I highly recommend this set and products from beetlesjoann .b

I was hopeful about this. Lippmann makes some really great colors. I’ve tried this several times, same results. It never seems to fully dry, staying semi-gummy so you will get nicks & dents days later. It also doesn’t stay on as well as most other non-light gel polishes. I absolutely hate the gummy feeling. I wanted to return it, but waited to long. Probably the worst gel polish system I’ve ever triedkimbanj

This is my first ever review. I have done a lot of research trying to find that perfect top coat. One that dries quickly without smudging, squishing or getting ruined. I need a top coat that will dry over multiple coats of nail polish, as I prefer lighter, peachier colors. I have tried Essie Gel Setter, Sally Hansen Insta Dri Top Coat, Deborah Lippmann Addicted to Speed among countless others. Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab and Gel Lab Pro top coat is the absolute best for drying many coats quickly. I don't even care how expensive it is, because it works. I have read so many negative reviews for this product, and many positive reviews for products that do not warrant good reviews, that I felt it absolutely necessary to review this product. I love it and hope it never discontinues.TGus

I have this in “wild orchid” which is not an option here. I LOVE this nail polish. It really looks and feels like a gel mani without having to cure it under UV. I only painted my nails last night so I can’t say too much about longevity, but I will say that with regular nail polish I do notice chipping as early as the first night. I haven’t had any chipping or incidents of the polish peeling off so far. My nails look so sleek and shiny, and this nail Polish dries faster than any that I’ve used! I had never used Deborah Lippmann before as I honestly think $20 is kinda ridiculous for nail Polish… but I can say that I’m quite impressed and will be purchasing other colors in moderation.ashley .s

Love love love! There are not enough words to express how much I love this too coat! It is a bit on the pricey side, however, it is well worth it! Other top coats have never held up as well as this one. There is no smudging, and they last for several days before chipping (which is the first top coat to ever do that for me). I honestly always have at least a bottle (sometimes two) of this stashed away. Highly recommend!member-94eaa

Its just your average top coat. Calling this anywhere close to gel is a joke. I followed up a red gel couture polish with this matching top coat and within a few hours my nails have all ready chipped and worn on the tips. Save your money and get a lower cost alternative, it's going to do just as well. This also drags off the color of your polish with it regardless of how long your polish has been drying. I wanted to love this and I wanted it to last more than a few hours.katie.l

This top coat is pretty good! It was very easy apply, and went on very smooth. I had no issues applying it. It did take 5-10 minutes to fully dry. Within the first couple of days I was noticing that the polish under the top coat started the break apart but the top coat was still doing well. By day 3 I was starting to see some small chips on some of my nails, but one nail I had tried a different kind of gel polish from Essie (the blue/grey nail) and that one didn't have any chips yet. It is day 4 now of wearing the polishes, the blue/grey polish on my left hand (my non dominant hand) has a small chip at the side, but my right is still doing well. It seems like the polish underneath determines how well the top coat does and lasts. Some last, some don't. It's a pretty good top coat though!louise.c

I've been using seche viet and out the door top coats exclusively for over 10 years. I never tried anything else because those did the job of being really shiny and drying fast. The problem I had was that they would dry up really quickly and were almost too thick and sometimes would shrink the polish under neath or streak. I noticed with this top coat that it's shiny but it isn't overly thick. It glides right over polish and smoothed out an imperfection without being super thick. I didn't notice any shrinking either. Also, the brush applicator is great it's a bit wider and fluffier than the average top coat brush. I really like this top coat and Im glad I took a chance, I haven't been a super fan of essie polishes in the past but I do enjoy this.Nessa

This is the only top coat I can trust to not chip on my nails. I have purchased about 3 times. I do my own mani/pedis- might get them done professionally 1-2 times per year. This gel system lasts just as long as when my nail lady uses her polishes. If I need the color to last for vacations, I use this gel system. I’m really hard on my hands, and this doesn’t chip. My pedicure will last till I remove the color (3-4 weeks). I do take care to prep the nail bed, making sure there is not oily residue. The shine from the top coat is awesome, evens out the polish nicely and really resists chipping. I would say it takes 8-10 mins to dry over the Essie gel polishes.Yessie

This top coat is pretty good! It was very easy apply, and went on very smooth. I had no issues applying it. It did take 5-10 minutes to fully dry. Within the first couple of days I was noticing that the polish under the top coat started the break apart but the top coat was still doing well. By day 3 I was starting to see some small chips on some of my nails, but one nail I had tried a different kind of gel polish from Essie (the blue/grey nail) and that one didn't have any chips yet. It is day 4 now of wearing the polishes, the blue/grey polish on my left hand (my non dominant hand) has a small chip at the side, but my right is still doing well. It seems like the polish underneath determines how well the top coat does and lasts. Some last, some don't. It's a pretty good top coat though!louise.c

Metallic polishes have always been my go to colour since aged 12 when my older sister told me these were easier to apply without looking blotchy. Whether or not this is true I still do not know 15 odd years later, but my habit has been set! Game of Chromes is a beautiful colour. Normally I avoid a polish this gold out of fear of it looking tacky, but there are a number of subtones to the colour that tone it down and cause it to look a mixture of silver, bronze and gold depending on how the light shines. Very much a statement polish still, but one that looks like it has been chosen by an adult! The polish is opaque enough that one coat will give you sufficient coverage, but I opted for two to get that added sparkle. Note you need quite a long drying time in this case. I tend to only use polish on my toes, and therefore I can't provide helpful comments on how resistant the polish is to daily chores such as washing up and typing. However it has lasted amazingly well on my toes compared to previous polishes I have used. Two weeks later and, except for my nails having grown a little, looks like I applied it yesterday. To be picky, the brush was slightly too large for my nails. My little toe nails needed more of a dot than a stroke! Certainly I would have struggled to do an accurate job on my fingers. However, this is common for me and I would rather the brush spread too far than did not cover my whole nail as it's not that hard to pick off the bits that get on the skin if needed. The polish did go on smoothly and very streak free. As mentioned before, I did two layers and it took a while for the first one to dry enough to attempt the second coat so had to flap round the house wiggling my feet like a mad lady for a while. The top coat was very good and seemed to really meld with the colour polish. Note that you get best results using this in sunlight as that sets the polish in the same way a UV lamp does for normal gel nails. Not the easiest when you're doing this on your toenails and don't have a garden, but I managed! Overall I'm very happy with this polish and think it's great to not need to go to the salon for a long lasting finish.yelitza.s

If you enjoy using any of the beautiful gel polish from Sally Hansen then you will definitely love using their gel polish base coat. As this base coat help bind or adhere the color better to our nails. For me I think it helps not protect our nails but also help the nail color last longer as well. I also think it is a must when I am doing my manicure with my Sally Hansen Gel Colors to start with their Gel Polish Base Coat Nail Polish for a great and lasting overall manicure 💅.ingrid.c

Just bought this one the other day from Sally Beauty. It goes on pretty well, but isn't as thick as I would like it to be. Same as the other color I purchased, If I apply generously, I can get away with two coats, but seems to need three coats. If I buff my nails too smooth, it does not spread well. Overall, I like this one and do recommend. The color also is also spot on.jackie.n

This is a great white polish. I bought gel thinking it would be a good way to grow my nails, still have fun with nail art and be able to play with some holo dust. I absolutely love this gel polish. It’s an easy system and regularly on sale at Sally’s. When I bought mine they were running a promotion where you buy one color and get a top or base coat free. How amazing is that? I bought a cheap 36w led lamp on amazon and just using the base, color and top coat from this line is superb. Just shiny, white is almost one coat opaque white. Just barely needs that second coat and it lasts!elizabeth.e

Absolutely beautiful polish. Buildable coverage smooth finish. Doesn't stink which I love most about this product. Easy to remove when you want to change color. I purchased mines at my local Sally's for $10 pretty affordable. I am a first time at home user of gel polish and I would totally recommend these polishesebony.b

So, I am a woman, ahem, of a certain age. I have been doing my nails since about age 14 just as my mother taught me. When I take shortcuts, well, the manicure doesn't turn out or last. I have tried dozens of top coats but refuse to spend for the very pricey ones, because you don't need to. That being said, there is a huge difference between the $1.99 topcoats and Revlon Gel Envy Diamond 010 top coat at just under $10, as well as everything else inbetween. I read all the 1-2 star ratings because I like to know why people dislike a product. Basically, each one I read indicated that the product "failed", or rather the manicure failed due to not allowing enough time for application and hardening. Following my mother's lead, I shape my nails first, then with fingernail or orange stick, push back the cuticles, then trim or use cuticle remover. Buff nails. Then wash and scrub with a soft brush. Apply a good base coat, and allow to dry at least 15 minutes. It may feel a little tacky but will still be dry at this point. I then apply 2 color coats and allow each to dry about an hour. If the polish is transluscent, you might need 3 coats. This is really important. If you don't allow your manicure to cure and harden, it is going to fail. If an hour is allowed for drying between each coat and it is not hard at that point, the polish has been applied too thickly. I then apply the Gel Envy top coat, usually the next morning, as I do my nails in the evening when I'm watching TV. I give the top coat an hour to harden. About 3-4 days later, with clean nails, I apply a second top coat and allow to harden for about an hour. This manicure will last up to 3 weeks if I do nothing more. Sometimes, at the end of the manicure, if I don't have time for a new manicure, I will apply another color coat and top coat to get another week or so out of that same manicure. The top coat can get thick, yes. A manicurist taught me to slap the polished hand on the palm of the other hand, hard, several times when the polish didn't go on evenly. This will level it out. I always buy 2-3 bottles of the top coat to make sure I have a fresh supply. Applying polish is an art and takes practice. It cannot be done quickly before work or going out and be expected to last. It is a layering technique that takes time to cure and harden. Note: I always make sure to polish and top coat the tips well and clear coat the under sides of my nails. I usually do my nails in the evening, starting around 6:00PM. I don't turn in till after midnight and my manicure is always dry and hard. To test hardness after each coat, tap the end of your fingernail on top of the nail on the opposite hand. If the polish doesn't dent at all, it's cured. If you have given it the hour and it still dents, you have probably applied the polish too thickly. If you're a nail polish junky like me. you can collect too many bottles and some of them are bound to get old and thick. At this point, I toss them. I used to be able to find nail polish thinner, but haven't seen it for years. Do not use polish remover to thin your polish. Bad idea.SuziQ

I’ve been using this brand consistently for a few years now and I’m so glad I tried this brand. It glides on smoothly and dries quickly. How long wearing can a nail polish be when you’re a mum of 3 who does all her own house cleaning? Well I seriously get at least 5 full days out of this polish. It’s so hard-wearing and I wash my hair a couple of times per week but still the polish remains. I’ve recommended this brand to lots of friends who are all grateful for the recommendation.Corinne

It is very sheer and gilttery! Not a ballet-slipper polish at all. Even with multiple layers, you will still be able to see a colour difference between you nail bed and the white ends. I reccomend using a base coat and using this as a glittery topper. Otherwise, it is a fun neutral, not too flashy (sparse glitters) polish. I do think it could pass for something to wear to work/school.Georgie_X