Product Reviews Rated 4.36 out of 5 stars
119 Reviews
Most Helpful Positive Review Really Impressed! I was contemplating getting my nails done professionally before going on vacation but decided to do it myself instead. This polish is awesome! It has lasted me over a week for my first time using it and the color selection is great! It does take a bit of practice when learning to use gel polish but overall is fairly easy.
PRO TIP: Don't buy both the base and top coat. If you look at the ingredients list, they're both the exact same thing. It'll save you $10!
ANOTHER TIP: If you want to save a little more money and don't need your nails to last more than a week, use a regular nail polish with your base/top coat gel polish. The final product looks the same.
Most Helpful Critical Review Mixed Reviews This'll be a long review...
I'm quite a perfectionist when it comes to my home manicures. Friends have touted the gel manicure for some time, so I finally bought the kit in hopes of extending a manicure for two+ weeks. I purchased the portable light, two colors (Thank You, Thank You and Lighter Shade of Gray), Erase remover, and the Brilliance top coat. The Thank You, Thank You color is lighter than what the bottle led me to believe. (Haven't tried the Lighter Shade of Gray yet.) I buffed my nail prior to application, but I did not complete the Prep or Purify steps. Thought it seemed unnecessary, and it was. The color goes on fine, you can brush over the same area more than once, not like traditional nail color. The applicator brush is not awesome, but it will work. Cured for the recommended time between layers. Two coats of color and then one (slightly thicker) coat of Brilliance top coat. I like very short nails, as closely cropped as I can get them. Because of that, I was unable to brush the color across the free edge of my nail. Doing so would have smeared color on my fingertip. Skipping this step resulted in the color slightly receding from the very edge of my nail. Almost like it shrunk. Probably not noticeable to most women, but I'm a freak about my nails. *If your nail is long enough and you can coat the top edge, I do not think you will have that problem.
The Brilliance top coat really did harden in two minutes under the portable light. I tried to ding, dent, scratch, smudge the freshly done polish, but no luck. =)
The finished result is not bad. If it really lasts for two weeks, then it is totally worth the money. If it chips, then I'm going back to traditional polish. It is shiny, that part is true. Just a tip, regular old rubbing alcohol (or hand sanitizer, in a pinch) will remove the sticky residue left after curing the Brilliance top coat. I did not buy the post-application cleanser.
Reviewed by 119 customers My first purchase of uv gel top coat and I love it. 4
Jojo from Rockford, Il
I just started practicing acrylic nail application and I've been regular clear polish for top coat which takes at least 15 min to dry. With the Brilliance top coat you have to apply two thin layers and cure under UV light for 60 seconds each. My nails look great, no streaks and fast finish!
I bought it twice, both were crusty and I had to return 2
Eleanorln from Oregon
I bought this as my top coat for my nails. I have the red carpet pro light and used my first bottle of brilliance and realized that the brush wasn't supposed to be stiff. I returned the first bottle and got a second bottle of brilliance. This one when I opened it in the store was fine. I used it on 3 nails and the brush had gone stiff and was clumping the brilliance nail polish formula into gummy balls on my nails. I returned the second bottle and now can't do my nails because I don't have a top coat that works.
Applicator problem 2
Jean from W. Alexandria, OH
Brushes to both bottles I ordered, got stiff so I can't use them! Very disappointed. I had to buy 2nd bottle because 1st bottle brush stiffened. The 2nd bottle brush has hardened. What is causing this? Help, I need to do my nails, but can't.
Amazing 5
Janny from Seattle, WA
Had to do my own nails with everything still closed. And adding this Gem to my collection helped my nails look great! I love this top coat! I will definitely buy this again.
literally can't understand why there are any good reviews 1
Haley from Orlando, FL
This stuff is awful. It stays tacky no matter what I tried to do and I followed the instructions on the box. Left my nails gloopy even though I used the thinnest coats possible. Complete disaster. Do not recommend.
I've used this product for longer than 5 years and love it. 5
Sharon from 63366
The gel nails last for at least 2 weeks.
Love at first swipe! 5
Angie from Middletown, OH
I have used many gel polishes and this brand is my favorite!
Top Coat? 1
B the old lady from Douglasville, GA
This top coat is not for regular nails, I believe it is for gel nails but does not state that. It was oily and would not dry. I had to remove my polish and start over. Threw it away after only using it one time! Very disappointed it did not state this on website.
I will definitely buy this product again 5
Jess from Kansas City mo
You apply 2 thin coats and cure for 2 minutes.
I've tried other brands and they always chip right away. This looks just as good on day 5 as it did in day 1
Great! 5
Ashlei from Watertown, NY
I followed the directions on the package, applied 2 coats, drying fully in between coats, seems great so far! No chips or peeling after 5 days! Hopefully it lasts!
Great top coat 5
Kea from Sea Haven
I used Gelish for a long time and started using this as a more affordable alternative. I like the performance better. It applies nicely and isn't too runny so I flood my cuticles less often. Helps my gel polish last at least 2 weeks or longer.
The worst! It 'floats' into the cuticle. Messy! 1
Happy camper from South Dakota
Horrible product. Floats into cuticle no matter how careful you are. Impossible to work with. Save your money and get Gelish for home use.
Not bad, not great 3
Rachellen from Providence, RI
I had a hard time deciding how to rate this product. Pros: easy to apply, super shiny finish, doesn't scratch easily. Cons: yellows very quickly, some chipping after a few days of wear, can pool at cuticles if you're not careful. Overall, this is a good product given the price.
Works as expected 5
Anita W from Buffalo, NY
It did exactly what I needed it to do....
Love it always 5
ReeseCup from Indiana
I have used this for years and still love it. I can usually get 2 1/2 weeks of wear at least out of it with out touch ups!!!
Don't look directly at my shiny nails ...you will go blind. 5
Shawna from Auburn, CA
This does require you to wipe off sticky residue after cured under light. It shines beautifully
Worked the first time then had to toss out after that! 1
Nateli from Las Vegas NV
This worked the first time I used and and but the second time the polish had clumped together an was unusable.
Love these products 5
alteach from Durham, NC
Love all of Red Carpet products to do my own nails!
Best top coat! 5
Frayna from Connecticut
It's the only one I used. Came from another store brand and that one tends to not last nor does it provide the shine and that "thick" look like Red Carpet does. Using this makes my gel manicures last a very long time.
Will never buy Red Carpet brand again 1
Sharon from Solon, Ohio
Applicator brush literally fell apart first time I used it
Would not purchase this again! 3
CJ from Traverse City, MI
The applicator brush on this polish is nice and thick. The formula goes on pretty smoothly, although a LOT tends to drip even if you've removed excess. The downside is that this chips SO quickly. I couldn't find my go-to Sensationail base/top coat, so I went with this one instead. I have been doing gel nails for about 5 years now, and have never had chipping problems in the first two or three weeks, but with this top coat, I had chips on all fingers within three days. So disappointing! I would return if I didn't feel guilty doing so after using it haha. Will definitely not buy this brand of top coat again.
Love this 5
KC from Pittsburgh, PA
Use this with other red carpet products. Love it!
We love, love, love this product!! 5
RES from Merrillville, IN
I do all of my family members nails, as well as my own. I am beginning Cosmetology school in the fall...and will use it much more!
Very happy so far 5
dreamingofbrasil from Canyon Country, CA
I am relatively new to the gel mani world but so far had good success with RCM products. I use both their base coat and this top coat and have no complaints. The only other product I have tried so far is Sensationail base/top coat which I found harder to apply than RCM ones. Sensaionail product is two in one, so it is a better value, however it was much thinner in consistency and kept overflowing all over my cuticles, no matter how little I tried to apply. As a result I spent more time on clean ups. RCM coats are very thick and easier to control during application. With proper application manicure lasts good two weeks, mind you I don't even buff my bare nail nor use extensive "strippers" such as their "erase" product. I simply wash my hands, make sure they are completely dry, then wipe the nails with acetone and proceed to applications. So I do recommend both their base and top coats.
Great top coat 5
Barbienite from Orem utah
I have tried other top coats and have not had it work as well ir last as long. This is my favorite top coat for gel nails.
