The Best Gel Nail Polishes for a Shiny Mani That Won't Chip

Gel Nail Polishes for a Pro-Level Mani at Home

(Image credit: Getty/Selin Alemdar)

By Hana Hong, Chelsea Hall

published 21 July 2020

in Buying Guides

Chanel Le Gel Coat Longwear Top Coat

The Super Glossy Solution

Seal the deal with Chanel's Le Gel Coat. Not only does this polish extend the wear of your manicure, but it also has a super glossy payoff so you'll never experience dullness or a lackluster shine. Plus, there's no need to pull out a UV light system with this luxe polish—simply dry your nails with natural light and go.

Essie Gel Couture 2-Step Longwear Nail Polish

The 2-Step Solution

Essie put a twist (literally) on regular polish with impressively longwear gel options. Apply two coats of your color of choice and top it off with their platinum gel top coat for the perfect finish.

CND Weekly Top Coat

The Nail Strengthening Solution

The beauty of top coat polish is it strengthens your nails overtime, which is ideal if you're dealing with weak or brittle nail beds. Apply your favorite base coat and finish with this top coat. Then, dry your paint job under a UV lamp for 30 seconds and enjoy a week long of perfectly polished nails.

Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy

The Easy Removal Solution

The beauty of this polish is the built-in base coat. Skip that prep step and simply apply a coat or two to your nails. For added shine, follow that up with their Colorstay Gel Envy Diamond Top Coat ($5) to ensure a chip-resistant finish. And when you're ready, these will come right off without you having to soak or scrape the polish off.

Nails Inc. Gel Effect Polish

The Easy-to-Apply Solution

Treat yourself to a salon-worthy manicure at home with this gel effect polish that'll make you feel like a pro. The wide brush allows you to easily distribute coats of polish to each nail without creating a mess, with a fast drying time. The polish won't wreak havoc on your natural nails thanks to its healthy formula that isn't a hassle to remove.

imPRESS Press-on Manicure Ultra Gel Shine

The Press-On Solution

For the less polish-savvy among us, imPRESS has the perfect no-fuss solution. Simply peel and stick on for weeks of no-chip gel polish. Nobody will believe they're stick-ons.

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel

The Matte Finish Solution

Paint Sally Hansen’s colors on like any other polish and top with their new Miracle Gel Top Coat for a cool matte finish. Since the gel polish wipes off with regular nail polish remover, it's ideal for capricious commitment-phobes who like to switch up their color often.

Gelish Forever Fabulous Marilyn Monroe

The Soak-Off Solution

Marilyn Monroe’s level of elegance and grace is virtually unmatchable, but you can get pretty close with Gelish’s new line. Pick from polishes like “Classic Red Lips” or “Some Girls Prefer Pearls,” and use their online guide to see what they’ll look like on your nails. After you're done, just soak in acetone to remove!

Deborah Lippmann Natural Mystic

The Highly-Pigmented Solution

Deborah Lippmann’s Gel Lab Pro set includes 6 purples, ranging from a light lavender to an electric fuschia. Use with any base and top coat for a less damaging alternative to harsh UV lamps.

Zoya Naked Manicure Gelie-Cure System

The Nail Strengthening Solution

The Naked Manicure Gelie-Cure is the first ever gel system that supports the nail’s natural healing process, so your nails actually benefit from wearing it. Polish can be removed or changed in two minutes (no soaking in acetone!) while keeping the base layer intact.

China Glaze Gelaze

The All-In-One Solution

These gel polishes have a base coat already built in, so you can paint knowing that your cuticles are safe. Pop them under a UV light for 30 seconds for 10 days of chip-free tips. The hardest part is going to be picking between the nearly 100 colors.

Le Mini Macaron Le Maxi Deluxe Gel Manicure Set

The Compact Solution

Le Mini Macaron’s gel polishes are 3-in-1, so one bottle is all it takes to have a protective base coat, trendy color, and glossy top coat. There's no easier way to score a week of perfect nails.

Dior Vernis Gel Shine & Long Wear Nail Lacquer

The High-Shine Solution

Dior's multitude of color options has a round, easy-to-use applicator to ensure that you can get smooth, full coverage, no matter your nail shape.

HNM Thermal Color Changing Gel Nail Polish

The Mood Changing Solution

In a perfect world, our nails would match our moods 24/7. For now, these temperature color-changing gel polishes are as close as we can get. Simply apply, cure under a UV or LED lamp, and watch as the colors morph before your eyes. Fair warning: it's pretty addictive.

Kosette Gel Nail Sticker Mermaid's Dream

The Stick-On Solution

K Beauty’s next conquered beauty territory? Gel nails. These super user-friendly strips are 100 percent gel and come in a pre-solidified state, so you only need a 30-second blast under an LED light to dry your nails instantly—no top coat required.

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Chelsea Hall is the former Assistant Fashion and Beauty Editor at Marie Claire, where she covered celebrity style, fashion trends, skincare, makeup and anything else tied into the world of fashion and beauty