DIY Non-Toxic Gel Manicure Kit Review | Manucurist Pro Pouch
Certain beauty rituals seem like a distant dream and if one thing that has suffered most, they are my nails. I have a preference for natural or toxic-free beauty wherever possible so when I stumbled across Manucurist during one of my other daily rituals (scrolling through instagram) - I knew I had to try it. Manucurist is a toxic-free, vegan, cruely free at-home gel nail kit made in France. But lockdown or not, is it worth it? Here's what I think about it...
What did I Purchase?
First Impressions
I am really impressed by the brand's commitment to natural beauty. A while ago I got rid of thousands of pounds worth of product because I was concerned by the health implications and ultimately thought I deserved better. With a cute, tongue-in-cheek and slightly girly but minimalist brand image - it's playful and seems refreshing.
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Colour Options
There are a lot of colours to choose from but be careful as there are two types of kits and only a specific set of colour is compatible with the kit you choose. The colours look great and they've definitely covered the bases but as its growing in popularity, there are a number of out of stocks so I couldn't really pick all the shades that I wanted. For this review I opted for a classic red in Red Cherry and it's a beautiful bold red.
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
Ease of Use
If you're used to the ritual at the salon - this kit will look like no stranger. It's pretty easy to use with clear no-brainer instructions. Each nail polish shade comes numbered (1, 2, 3) dependent on when to use it in the process. 1 for the base coat, 2 for colour (which you also layer up twice) and 3 for the top coat. I found it easy to use. The only improvement here, I believe is to add a 120 second button on the lamp for the final coat.
My Rating: 4 Stars
Nail Results: Better On The Second Go!
The immediate look? Lovely. Due to the ease of use, I think you can achieve a look that is pretty much indistinguishable from a professional finish. This may also depend on how steady your hand is. I am out of practice when it comes to giving myself manicures as I prefer to go to the salon but I was happy with the results and where I wasn't I could see it was more to do with my dexterity than the equipment.
I'd say it isn't as ready-to-go as a salon shellac service straight after though. As if by chance, an Amazon package arrived just as I finished oiling my cuticles and unfortunately, one swift pull to open the package and I had damaged the results on a couple of nails - mortified!
Over time, I wasn't happy with how long it lasted versus the 10 day minimum it is supposed to last. By the fourth day I had to get it off my nails and start again as there were too many chips on my left hand!
2ND GO UPDATE: As I was fed up from day four I tried again and were much happier with the results.
My colour was going strong after 8/9 days when I decided to remove it to try a new shade.
My Updated Rating: 4 Stars
Value For Money
I spent a total of £177. £125 for the Pro Pouch 36W which included the 36W lamp, base coat, top coat and two colour choices. Then I also opted for 2 more colours and the cuticle oil. With the kit, I received a free carrying case which looks more sturdy in the photos on the website than in person. I'm a little disappointed by the quality as there aren't any inner pockets to help segment items.
All in, I'd say this was a fair price, especially as I expect to pay a little more for the fact it's toxic free, cruelty free and vegan. The only unfair thing which impeded my joy was Brexit and the £45/£50 fee that was demanded of me by customs, damn it! However, as I mentioned, my first-time results were not the best but ultimately it outperformed other traditional nail colours I've tried.
My Rating: 4 Stars
Final Pros & Cons
Pros:
Saves time and money
Non-toxic and cruelty-free
Results look great
Cons:
Doesn't last as long as shellac
Doesn't dry instantly once cured
Out of stock issues on preferred colours
Final Verdict
In these unusual times where we cannot get to a salon to tend to our beauty needs in the way we'd like to, I think opting for an at-home kit is a great idea. It may even give us some more independence after things return to normal. Ultimately, it saves time but you won't get the experience of a hand massage or perfect cuticles unless you are a pro yourself. I've tried DIY gel kits before and have returned them but this one is a keeper. Therefore, I have no regrets in this purchase and I am grateful to have found it.
Final Score: 4 stars - I really liked it!
My Favourite Shades
How are you taking care of your nails in lock-down? What do you think of at-home gel kits? Are you missing the nail salon? Let me know in the comments...
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