Best/Worst Drugstore Gel Polishes

Nail polish will always have a special place in my heart. I grew up around it. My Grandmother had a salon and even had her own makeup line (including polish), named after me and my sister.

I spent a lot of time at the salon and at her home, playing with makeup. And when we got to spend the night, my Grandmother would give us a special manicure of painted nails with a tiny rhinestone on top--the original accent nail!

I remember making my own shades when I was little and coming up with all sorts of nail tips and tricks. I use a lot of them today still! I would mix eye shadow with clear polish, I would draw nail art designs on my school binder, then peel them off and glue to my nails. I would mix glue and polish as a base coat--now common for peel-off glitter polishes.

It's no surprise I have over 350 polishes (thanks blogging), including all sorts of gel polishes. Gel polishes are amazing because they last so long on the nails--while traditionally done in a salon, there are many at-home lamp kits. And drugstore brands have gone a step further with no-lamp-needed versions. Plus, they all remove just like regular polish! I've been testing these out over the past couple of years and thought I'd share the best and worst drugstore gel polishes.

I will be categorizing them by gel polish, gel top coat, and gel polish kits.

I will rate them on shininess (1-3 stars) and on lasting power.

I did not review shiny top coats--it had to have "gel" in the title.

Gel Polish

(1 step)

Covergirl XL Nail Gel

• $5+
• 10 colors 
• Shininess:**
• Lasts: 2-3 days without chipping
• Overall: I really like the application, color selection, and wear of these. 

Essence The Gel Nail Polish

• $2
• ULTA, Target, online
• 16 colors
• Shininess:  **
• Lasts 2-3 days
• Overall:  Cute colors, cute bottle, and not bad for the price

Wet N Wild 1 Step Gel

• $5
• 5 colors
• Shininess: **
• Lasts: 2-4 days. When I first tested this, it lasted and did so well. In the past few times I've worn this, it hasn't lasted long.
• Overall: Fun to try, but lasts as long as a regular polish.

Revlon Color Envy Gel

• $8
• 30 colors
• Shininess: **
• Lasts: 3 days
• Overall: Not especially glossy

Gel Top Coat

(Can be applied over regular polish and certain gel polishes)

Essie Gel Setter

• $10
• Shininess: ***
• Lasts: 4 days
• Overall: This gets mixed reviews but I have loved it every time I've tried it.

Julie G Gel Effect Plumping Top Coat

• $4.99
• Online, Rite Aid
• Shininess: ***
• Lasts: 3-4 days
• Overall: I was surprised at how well this did for the price.

Essence The Gel Nail Polish Top Coat

• $3.99
• Online, Target, ULTA
• Shininess: ***
• Lasts 3-4 days
• Overall: I tried this with the Essence Gel and didn't really see a difference in lasting time. I liked this.

Gel Polish Kits

(Requires 2 steps, 2 polishes)

Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy Diamond Coat

• $12.99
• Over 30 colors
• Shininess: **
• Lasts: 1-3 days
• Overall: Not my fave, but not bad

Orly Color Amp'd

• $14.99
• 45 colors
• Shininess: ***
• Lasts: 1-2 days
• Overall: I saw this on clearance at Target and that should have been my first clue. The colors were streaky and it didn't last at all. Orly has lots of great polishes, including professional gel polishes, but I didn't like this one.

SinfulColors Sinful Shine

• $2.98
• Lots of colors--there are new collections constantly, so it's hard to pinpoint an amount
• Shininess: **.5
• Lasts: 4 days
• Overall: I have used the Sinful Shine in the past and it's okay. But the 2 step with the gel top coat is new to me. I really liked it.

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Top Coat

• $7.59 x 2. I don't see these sold as often as kits anymore
• Lots of colors
• Shininess: **
• Lasts: 4 days
• Overall: I have reviewed this before and didn't really like it. But everyone and their mom said to try the new top coat--it's labeled 101. And it is really good! This was my fave of all, next to Essence, JulieG, and SinfulColors

Which of these is your fave?

Which one would you try?

Extra Elle:

• Happy St. Pats! Over the weekend I got binge-watched Peaky Blinders on Netflix. It's a BBC show about a gang in the 1920s in Ireland. It's violent, completely unlike what I like to watch, and it is so good. Kind of like Sons of Anarchy in a different time era.
• Kylie Lip Kit GIVEAWAY--enter here. Instagram only!
• I've got 2 big giveaways going on: 2 winners for curling irons/wands (so easy) and $300 2 winners to either Sephora or Target.