Le Mini Macaron- The BEST
2023: I dug this out and tried it again and to my surprise my manicures are lasting a full 2 weeks and that includes 4 days of lap swimming in the 2 week period.
Update Nov 2021: So this isn’t my favorite gel polish anymore. It was a crap shoot where different colors would last while others easily chip and fall off. The worst part about this brand is that you have to paint one finger at a time and lightening speed cure it before the Polish evaporates. The gel polish literally evaporates from the outer edges and moves inward! It’s not a reliable brand!
This is my favorite gel polish out of everything I have tested so far. It doesn’t require a base coat, a top coat, and honestly I didn’t even buff my nails and so far the polish has lasted me nearly 7 days without any peeling, chipping, or lifting. ❤️❤️ I have taken long hot showers, gone snowboarding, and lead a normal active life without worrying that I might damage the polish. FULL DISCLOSURE… I did primer my nail beds with Sally Hansen Nail strengthener and I 100% contribute the longevity of my otherwise no prep manicure to this detail.
I love this little LED lamp so much that I decided to share it with the world. This mini lamp is sold by the company Le Mini Macaron by its self for $19.00 or as a kit for $35.00.
I found the kit on sale for $25.00 with free S&H on Nordstrom’s website. I bought this lamp intending to use it mid week in between full color changes to repair chips and lifted polish. It also happens to be the perfect travel size.
So I first used the mini lamp with my own manicure set up. I used lacquer base coat, lacquer polish, and my IBD top coat. It dried the gel top coat in 30 seconds!! It is important to note that the IBD instructions indicate that the top coat dries in 30 seconds and the mini lamps internal timer setting is 30 seconds.
I then tested the mini lamp with my Madam Glam Peel off base coat, gel polish and IBD top coat and it worked flawlessly to cure the polish that I needed to redo from chip/lifting damage.
❤️❤️❤️ Next I used it with the Cherry Red gel polish that came included with the kit and It worked flawlessly! ❤️❤️❤️
My one complaint is that the mini macaron is only held together by magnets and therefore easily comes apart during use. I have considered using a rubber band to keep it held together.
Day #6. I started picking at my left hand polish and popped off three fingers polish. The polish came off smoothly and in one piece.
Day #7 and my right hand is still in 98% perfect shape as day #1. I am right handed which means that my right hand usually starts chipping and showing wear first.
Day #8. I finally start to see some tip wear and polish receding but the polish remains otherwise in tact and strong. No loose bits catching in my hair or chipping away.
#10. I couldn’t handle it anymore and became bored with the color so I removed the polish that was otherwise completely In tact and would have otherwise continued giving me a perfect, long lasting, and healthy manicure.