Nails

This is the nails view within MakeUp. The live page already carries its own marketing headlines ("Nails to die for!", "Nail makeup products", "Nail care products", "Build your mani-pedi kit today!") which haven't been reviewed for evidence-and-claims compliance in this batch — this copy sits alongside that content, not in place of it. Whether you're after a quick colour change or a full at-home manicure, the right combination of products makes more difference to how long it lasts than the colour itself.

What's Included

Nail Polish covers standard colour polish, with the live page also showing a distinct Gel Nail Polish grouping not previously confirmed in navigation — flagged below for Venus to verify. Nail Remover covers polish removal, including formulas for standard and gel polish, which generally need different removal approaches. Top & Base Coat covers the products that protect polish and help it last, applied before and after colour.

How to Choose the Right Nail Products

A few starting points depending on what you're after:

1. Standard polish and gel polish aren't interchangeable — gel generally needs curing under UV or LED light and a different, often acetone-based, removal process, while standard polish air-dries and removes with regular remover.
2. Base coat helps prevent staining on the natural nail, particularly with darker or more pigmented polish shades.
3. Top coat generally extends how long a manicure lasts and adds shine, worth using even with a polish that already looks glossy on its own.
4. Acetone-based removers work faster but can be more drying to nails and surrounding skin than acetone-free alternatives — worth considering if you remove polish frequently.
5. Building a simple three-step routine — base coat, colour, top coat — tends to outlast colour applied alone, regardless of which specific polish you choose.

None of this replaces checking a specific product's own directions, but it's a reasonable starting point.

Building a Manicure Routine

A simple at-home manicure generally starts with shaping and pushing back cuticles, followed by a base coat, then colour — building up thin layers rather than one thick coat tends to dry more evenly and last longer — then a top coat to seal and add shine. Letting each layer dry fully before the next reduces smudging and extends how long the finished manicure holds up.

Keeping Nails Healthy Between Manicures

Giving nails an occasional break from polish, particularly gel, helps avoid the thinning and brittleness that can come from continuous wear without a gap. A cuticle oil or hand cream used regularly, not just immediately before a manicure, tends to keep the surrounding skin in better condition, which affects how neat a finished manicure looks regardless of the polish itself.

Shop Nails and More

For the rest of a makeup routine beyond nails, the wider MakeUp department covers face, eyes, lips and brows.

Common Questions

What's the difference between gel and standard nail polish?

 Gel generally needs curing under UV or LED light and a different removal process, while standard polish air-dries and removes with regular remover.

Do I need both a base coat and top coat?

 They serve different purposes — base coat helps prevent staining, top coat adds shine and helps colour last longer — using both generally outlasts colour applied alone.

Is acetone remover bad for my nails?

 It works faster but can be more drying than acetone-free alternatives, which is worth considering if you remove polish frequently.

Should I take breaks between manicures?

 Many people find giving nails an occasional break, particularly from gel, helps avoid thinning or brittleness that can build up from continuous wear.