Gel Lab is billed as a ‘fast and healthy alternative to gel manicures’. It comes with a base coat and a top coat, and you just use whatever polish you want in between the coats (I am sure it’s meant to be Deborah Lippmann). I applied this on Sunday and apart from some very minor chipping on two of my left hand nails, it has stayed the course. For me, forever tapping away at my keyboard or rummaging in my handbag for my phone or keys, that’s a good result.
Obviously, it’s very easy to use – no lamps or anything – just apply two coats of base and one of top over your chosen colour.
I used this one, Fashion, which is a creamy nude shade.
What it is supposed to do is give a gel-effect look – while it is nice and shiney, I don’t think it matched the true shine of gel nails or gave my nails the plumped look that gel nails can. It doesn’t particularly claim longevity as a thing, but I am delighted at how well it has lasted – I can rarely make any polish last over the two day mark. I hate to say it, because Deborah Lippmann is one of my favourite nail brands, but it’s just a little bit disappointing. It’s free from all the usual nasties, but even so, it’s a nail polish so not entirely chemical free, which then makes me wonder how it’s so *safe*. I never worry about painting my nails – I’m glad that polishes have, for the most part, had the top nasties taken out, but it’s pretty much a given that if you paint your nails you are applying chemicals like dimethicone.
I will definitely use it again, but I think if I’d bought this expecting big, plump and glossy nails, I wouldn’t be happy. It’s not out in the UK yet but on its way and I think it will come in at around the £30 mark.
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