CHANGING the colour of your nails to match your mood or outfit is fun – and with the advent of home kits, there’s now no need to go to a professional to do so.
The best gel manicure kits are simple to use, give a great finish and last for a week or more. Importantly, the colour is easy to remove and the products are not too harsh on your hands.
Le Mini Macaron is a home gel manicure system that offers a large selection of cute colours and an easy-to-use LED lamp that looks like a mini macaroon!
The brand launched in 2015 and has become popular since, so I couldn’t wait to try it out and see if it really could replace my regular visit to the nail lady.
Le Mini Macaron Gel Manicure Kit, £36
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Pros
- Pretty design
- Quick and easy to apply
- Vibrant gel polish
- Compact
- Affordable
- Comes with remover pads
Cons
- The lamp only cures one finger at a time
- Long-term use probably not good for your nails
- Only comes with one colour (have to buy more separately)
Le Mini Macaron Gel Manicure Kit review: first impressions
Let's just say nails aren't my forte, which means I was relieved to see Le Mini Macaron Gel Manicure Kit comes with a handy booklet complete with basic instructions.
The kit holds everything you need: first, you use the cuticle stick to push back your cuticles, then file the edges and wipe down each nail with one of the remover pads to get rid of any debris or oil.
Le Mini Macaron Gel Manicure Kit, £36
All you need to do next is paint one coat of the gel polish provided then slip it in the middle of your macaroon and press the button on top. Repeat this process once per nail – the little mechanism is powered by a USB plug, which I plugged into my iPhone charger.
The only way Le Mini Macaron's Gel Manicure Kit could be simpler is if you could fit all of your nails inside the LED lamp at the same time. There is a larger version available however if you do want to do that.
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Le Mini Macaron Gel Manicure Kit: final verdict
I usually love a trip to the nail salon where I'll ordinarily opt for gels or acrylics. Now I've tried a home kit though I definitely appreciate the appeal and convenience of doing it myself.
I absolutely love the macaroon-inspired design, especially as a mini size, it's so compact you can keep it tucked away until you need to use it again.
After seeing four colours - Coconut Yoghurt, Cherry Red, Spiced Chai and Cassis - I can confirm that every is as vibrant and shiny as the next, giving Le Mini Macaron 10/10 for quality polish.
It's easy to apply too, you only need one coat before placing it under the little macaroon LED lamp, which dries it ridiculously quickly in the space of 30 seconds. Repeat the speedy application for each nail - no more boring waiting-to-dry time.
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My favourite thing about Le Mini Macaron is that the kit comes with everything you need for your manicure, from the cuticle stick to the nail file and remover pads. It's ideal for home nail experts and first-timers.
For £36, you can't fault Le Mini Macaron's gel kit for giving you a glossy, long-lasting manicure – my Cherry Red nails stayed immaculate even after cooking, walking the dog, and working out. There was one scratch, but I'm putting that down to my beginner skills.
Le Mini Macaron Gel Manicure Kit, £36
How do you remove your Le Mini Macaron Gel Manicure?
Removing my gel manicure was the tricky part. You have to use the nail file first to roughen the surface of the colour, then open up one of the remover pads without actually taking out the wipe. Then simply slot your nail inside and fold the packet around it.
Using the remover pad by itself won't remove the gel, (trust me, I tried!)
After you've filed and left wraps on each of your nails for around 15 minutes, you take the sharp end of the cuticle stick and scrape away the remaining gel polish.
It all sounds straightforward, right? Well, it is. But you have to be prepared for a tiny bit of nail damage because as you scrape, some of your nail can come off with the polish, which of course is not ideal.
I recommend having a buffer on hand to sort them out afterwards.
Where can I buy Le Mini Macaron Gel Manicure Kit in the UK?
Le Mini Macaron Gel Manicure Kit is available from a number of beauty retailers and you can also buy it from Le Mini Macaron website.
We found a great variety of colours at:
- Amazon
- ASOS
- Nail Polish Direct
- Sephora
- Urban Outfitters
Is there an alternative to Le Mini Macaron Gel Manicure Kit in the UK?
There are numerous gel manicure kits and curing lamps on the market, some more expensive than others.
Alternatives to Le Mini Macaron include Mylee The Mighty Mani Gel Polish Kit, currently on sale for £95 at Boots, but that includes a lamp, four colours, a base coat, a top coat, a remover, and accessories. The Mylee Mini Kit comes cheaper at £65, including a lamp, three nail colours and accessories.
Other popular options include the Bluesky Gel Nail Polish Starter Kit, 14 Day Mani and Red Carpet Manicure.
And check out Amazon for hundreds of gel manicure kits to suit all budgets.
You can read more in our round-up of the best nail lamps.
