Product Reviews Rated 4.34 out of 5 stars
125 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 125 customers I ended up returning it after one use 2
Frannie from DE
I returned it because it peeled off my nails after only 4 days. I used the LED light and followed all the instructions. I ended up returning the LED light as well.
Great product!! 5
t16 from Ohio
I used this product with the OPI Gel Shine base coat, a gel nail color from Gelish that I purchased at Sally's, with this on top and honestly I love it. It gives great shine, super easy and user friendly. If you use this, make sure to use it only with gel colors that go under the UV lamp! I have seen a couple reviews from other top coats of mistakes being made because they used regular nail polish. After applying the top coat, take nail polish remover and wipe each nail to remove tackiness. Also, there are a lot of guides if you look up the process fo application for gel.
I buy this product regularly for my gel manicure. 5
Lil from Columbus Ohio
I use this regularly for my gel manicure.
HATE IT 1
Heather from 78501
Waste of money!!!
Best gel top coat 5
Notboxy from Ohio
I've been using the Red carpet manicure system for 3 years now and it's great. I've found that applying three thin layers of top coat helps give me a hard nail. My nails are super thin and bendy. The extra layers of gel help with strength durability. I recommend it to everyone. User error is easy. You must follow all directions/ procedures.
Great top coat over gel poolish 5
Retiree from Chicago
People who were displeased should know that Brilliance top coat is only for use over gel nail polish. It is used after applying two or more coats of gel polish dried under LD light. After you dry the top coat, the tacky residue must be removed with alcohol. The Red Carpet system works great. I have been using it for over 8 years and my nails look like they were professionally done. However, applying it correctly is quite time-consuming.
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.
