20 Best Long Lasting Gel Nail Polish (2024 Update)

Disclaimer: I received this product as part of a "mission" from Topbox Circle. However, the opinions in this review are my own. #freeproduct #trywithtopbox #ad #freesample First impression(s): The colour of the polish was slightly different than the pinkish taupe on the website – the polish was more of a purplish taupe with luxurious pearly tones. The polish had a strong smell. This smell (after painting my nails) would eventually disappear in a couple of days. Experience using it: I painted the nails on both hands, using neither a base nor top coat – two thin coats on my left hand, and two thick coats on my right hand. The bristles of the brush fanned out readily, covering my whole nail (and more, for smaller nails) in one fell swoop. Thinner coats dried fairly quickly, while thick coats took forever (45 mins!) to dry. After drying, my left hand had semi-sheer paint (this made the colour look like the pinkish taupe on the website), while my right hand had opaque paint (purplish taupe). The polish was glossy enough to make me skip putting a top coat. The polish lasted for over a week, but the polish on the sides of my nails chipped away within 3-4 days of applying the polish. That said, this only happened to the nails of fingers I use the most; the polish on my ring fingers and pinkies remained completely intact (I'm still waiting for them to show signs of wear). Even while chipping/wearing away, the polish remained perfectly smooth and pearly on my nails. I'm sure that, if I did a better job of applying the polish and used a top coat, the polish would easily last much longer.April

#freeproduct #trywithtopbox. I have always love Essie Nail Polish and was so happy when I was chosen to try its product. Although I love Essie Nail Polish, I will give an honest review for this product. The colour that I got was Jewels and Jacquard. The outcome of the colour is actually prettier than I thought but it is not a colour that I would personally pay for. I prefer colours that my outfit can easily match. I love the brush the Essie gel couture nail polish has; It makes it very easy for me to apply. The Essie gel couture nail polish also dries in no time. If it were not for this colour, I would say that I totally love this Essie gel couture nail polish. Even though the Essie gel couture nail polish is priced on the high end, I cannot wait to try the other colours available.Bella

I received this as a #freeproduct from Top Box to review. I have used this nail polish before and its a great polish to use. It lasts a lot longer than other nail polish brands, so you're not always having to redo your nails. Normally I wouldn't use such a light color, I prefer brighter more bold colors, but this pink was pretty on my finger nails. I do recommend using a primer color under this pink (Gossamer Garments) unless you like the sheerness of light pink. This was a cute color for my toe nails. I did find the brush to be a little big for my nail bed, which would leave a little polish on the side of my toe, but nothing a q-tip and remover can't fix! This nail polish dries quicker than most other brands as well! Overall I love Essie Nail Polish and will continue to purchase their line, I would recommend this brand to friends or family!Jennifer

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

I decided to treat myself to this after usually only buying standard nail polishes. Reading the reviews I went ahead and was really excited to try it out. The initial application was great, went on really well and dried quite quickly. However, less than 24 hours later, 8 out of my 10 nails are chipped, and the varnish has actually peeled off two of my nails altogether! I only did my toenails, not my fingernails, so it’s not as if my nails have been bashed about with general day to day. I’m so upset that I’ve wasted £15 on this, it’s such a lot of money to me and in my honest opinion, the varnish isn’t even worth £1!Ckelly24

I have been all about nails and nail polish since I was a little girl. What little birthday and pocket money I got as a kid went to nail polish. For the last 12 years, my work has involved working with a lot of paper and a lot of typing. I'm hard on manicures and keyboards. I average 1 key board every 3 years or so. I've tried every kind of gel and top coat. Most rub off on paper, leaving streaks or rub off the tips. I bought Miracle Gel on a whim. And I was AMAZED. It is so quick to apply, and it holds up. I've been able to get anywhere from between 5-12 days from this polish. And the best part? No light and no soaking. It comes off with regular acetone with no scrubbing or soaking. I hold the soaked cotton pad on the nail for a few seconds and wipe clean.ashley.o

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

Can someone send me this 😜 I think that they are realy good 😚 these colors looks very beutiful and prety 😍and if someone has something for manicures please sent me i would be weary greatful for it love yaa ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️viktoria.v

Obsessed with this product. I started doing my own gel manis at home over quarantine and I don’t think I’ll ever go back to going to a salon. Colors are super vibrant and last a good two weeks, most of the time longer. Have to soak off this product, but worth it.kaylea.p

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 was paying $90 a month on Gel nails at the salon…. Now many people find the nail salon relaxing. I do not. The minute I walk in I can’t wait to leave. And they always seem to take forever. And I just don’t care for it. ENTER modelones! I purchased an LED lamp on amazon and this kit and some diff gel colors. And OMG! Perfection. Love love love it. Seriously, give it a try. You just apply the base, cure it under the light. Apply a few coats drying under the light after each one, and then apply the top coat. Boom! All done and lasts 3-4 weeks until grown out and time to do it over. Getting it off is a task, however I have found that an electric mail file does the trick efficiently. Seriously, not only does this save money so you can spend it elsewhere 🤣 but also you can do it in the comfort of your own environment. Good yeah nail salons, forever.kirsty.c

Great gel nail polish! Not only are their base and top coats amazing but their regular gel polishes are super pigmented and are great quality. I noticed this base coat has protected my nails better than other brands. Also when using the topcoat you don’t need to use too much.chelsea.s

I had been going back and forth between gel top coats from Gelish (which you have to wipe off with alcohol after the final coat), dip powder top coats (not gel-like finish) and the polygel top coat from Makartt (the end result was very inconsistent, sometimes it dried off and you wouldn’t need to wipe off, other times it never dried but I did try using this one as a top coat for dip powder manicures so it could be it dries well with polygel only). Then I saw this set on Amazon. The reviews were not encouraging as there were many customers that had purchased other products from the same brand (PH Bond and Primer) that claimed the product had burned through their nail and had caused fungus and the skin under their nails to burn. Personally, this is my first time using this product from this brand and I am in love with the results! This is exactly what I was looking for, a base and top coat I could use for any of the different manicures I choose for the day. Cures with UV light and does not need to wipe off, this came off far more gorgeous than I thought it would look, no secondary effects and the bottles do come with a good amount. They were also relatively cheap (run for around $10-$12 for the set on Amazon). Save yourself the trouble and the money on going for the expensive ones when this brand will do the same for much less. I am looking forward to trying their color dip collection!alexandra.o

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

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 bought this because the box claims it makes nail polish (at least OPI nail polish) last much longer before chipping ("up to 11 days of gel-like wear and shine", actually). I work with my hands and I feel the act of painting/doing my nails is way too time consuming, so it is very important to me that my nail polish stay put and stay unchipped for as long as possible. I used this kit exactly as directed, applying multiple coats of each bottle, used my OPI brand Infinite Shine Long-Wear nail polish (the recommended nail polish to use with this kit, I used the gorgeous, sexy red shade "An Affair in Red Square"), and let dry completely. My nail polish WAS very shiny and pretty when it was done. However, in one or two days my nails were already chipping. I really hate spending half an hour to an hour (natural drying takes forever) doing my nails only to have them get messed up after one or two days at work. So I just wear my nails completely bare basically all the time. I only use nail polish and do my nails maybe once every few months. So does this nail kit make your nail polish shiny and pretty? I suppose so, even though nail polish is shiny as-is. It does make your polish look more gel-like. Does this nail kit prevent chipping for "up to 11 days"? Well I suppose TECHNICALLY yes, it was "up to" 11 days… But *I wouldn't use or recommend this kit to prevent chipping of nail polish if you work with your hands.* It simply doesn't work well for that. I have yet to find anything that will make any nail polish last longer than a day or two without chipping, while I hold a job in which I constantly use my hands. So if you want gel-like nail polish, I recommend this kit, and you should get that gel-like result with any nail polish you use with it. However, if you are looking for anti-chipping, I don't recommend this kit.kira.d

I've used OPI products since I was a little girl. It's long been a favorite nail care brand of my mother's. She went through many years where she would only wear I'm not really a waitress, I still associate that color with that ideal woman we always wanted to be when we grew up. So, when I was offered to participate in this cashback campaign, even though I had never used any of the infinite shine products, I knew I would love it. It's even better than I thought!!! Alpine Snow is an old favorite color of mine but the blue color: To Be Continued is new to me. TBC is a beautiful light baby blue that is mesmerizing! It would work in literally every season and I do think it would be beautiful on most skin tones. The OPI formula has always been a winner. Opaque in 2 coats, dries fairly quickly, and I'm really loving how shiny these are even before a top coat! 10/10 definitely would recommend and I plan to purchase many more colors from this line! #OPIInfiniteShinexUlta #ultajennifer.h

Incentivized for the Opi infinite shine campaign on #influenster through #Ulta.com . I was glad to find all the shades I was looking for through the Ulta.com app but had a hiccup with customer service I had never encountered before that got me a little ruffled. It was quickly shipped but with excessively poor packing that damaged the chrome paint on the bottles. Which I am fortunate was the only issue cause the way they packed it could easily have broken everything in it. To which I wrote CS and they did not seem to care. So I expect nothing will change. I am not real happy with the downside I have seen shipping and handling customer care from Ulta lately. Onto the actual polish. It’s a lovely shade of light pink with no nude/ brown town to it. Just above ballet slipper. Though it looked a little more watery than I prefer, it did not run at all and I had good control with each layer. I tried a thin on and a thicker one to check coverage. You can get good coverage with one layer done thickly. If that is your preference. Dry time isn’t to long, either. By the time you get through coat one, you may be ready to do coat two. It’s not matte or satin but not a super shiny color either. Just a pretty petal pink for spring.heather.f

I am not one to leave a review. I am a long time nail salon junkie and finally decided to "do my own" . I have done the dip and gel polish at home for a few years now and hate the time consumption of the dip and gel keep up. So I have decided to try another route again. I am now relishing in my natural nail beauty and have found this product to be a life saver! I start with an OPI Nail Envy nail strengthener, and then any polish of my choice, I currently am using OPI brand. I then seal with Big Dry top coat from Sally Hansen. This dries really fast. I then use the SALLY HANSEN MIRACLE GEL TOP COAT, it dries in about 5 minutes, and then I add one more coat of the Big Dry top coat.. and PERFECT AND LONG LASTING RESULTS! All I can say is I think it dries faster if you use the big dry top coat prior to just putting it directly onto the polish. Other than that this is fabulous and I will keep using this product with every polish change etc… LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS PRODUCT!!Amanda Cain

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

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

Wanna talk about the perfect neutral nail polish?? Essie gel couture in corset is a pure dream. On my particular skin tone which is a light with neutral undertones,,( if that helps??) this polish is the perfect I'm not wearing any polish but yet my nails look absolutely perfect and gorgeous. After using two generous coats it still shows a bit sheer, which in this case is fine with me. I also really appreciate the brush, it's a bit thicker which is easy to pass over your fingertip and about two swipes. Essie corset leans a little bit closer on the nude than the pink side. Which in my opinion means more on the natural nail side instead of the fake pink side. Don't get me wrong I love pink. Although on some days I want to have my nails ,look amazing look without anything on them, but yet there is something on them and they look perfectly healthy, shiny and unstoppable! Essie is a heavenly neutral that I would highly recommend to anybody looking for that sort of thing.catherine.p

Disclaimer: I received this product as part of a "mission" from Topbox Circle. However, the opinions in this review are my own. #freeproduct #trywithtopbox #ad #freesample First impression(s): The colour of the polish was slightly different than the pinkish taupe on the website – the polish was more of a purplish taupe with luxurious pearly tones. The polish had a strong smell. This smell (after painting my nails) would eventually disappear in a couple of days. Experience using it: I painted the nails on both hands, using neither a base nor top coat – two thin coats on my left hand, and two thick coats on my right hand. The bristles of the brush fanned out readily, covering my whole nail (and more, for smaller nails) in one fell swoop. Thinner coats dried fairly quickly, while thick coats took forever (45 mins!) to dry. After drying, my left hand had semi-sheer paint (this made the colour look like the pinkish taupe on the website), while my right hand had opaque paint (purplish taupe). The polish was glossy enough to make me skip putting a top coat. The polish lasted for over a week, but the polish on the sides of my nails chipped away within 3-4 days of applying the polish. That said, this only happened to the nails of fingers I use the most; the polish on my ring fingers and pinkies remained completely intact (I'm still waiting for them to show signs of wear). Even while chipping/wearing away, the polish remained perfectly smooth and pearly on my nails. I'm sure that, if I did a better job of applying the polish and used a top coat, the polish would easily last much longer.April

I love this Essie Couture Gel Polish it is one of my new favorites. The application of this gel polish is very precise and very smooth with no streaks. One coat would actually look great but I did two for long lasting wear. I had this polish on for about 2 weeks and it did not chip away. I was very amazed because I’m constantly washing dishes and deep cleaning. (I am a mother of 5) The applicator is the perfect size to get your whole nail without going over the edges and making a mess. This color is beautiful and sheer with a little shimmer. It is very buildable so if you do not like the sheer you can darken it. It dries very quickly and is has a nice shine. This color is very neutral which makes great for all year round looks. The best thing about this gel polish is there is no need for a UV lamp. The formula is substantial. This polish gives you salon quality right at home.Kalarcon93

I brought this nail polish a few months ago and just as the name says, it is indeed longwear nail polish! Normal nail polish starts chipping off my nails within a couple of days, but with the Revlon gel longwear nail polish, this stays on my nails for at least a week without chipping. Definitely the best nail polish I have brought. And great colour selection too.Tooleygirl

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

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

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