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7 BEST BIRTHDAY NAIL SET IDEAS WITH LASTING QUALITY

Calling all birthday nail enthusiasts with a birthday coming up! Ready to ditch the chip worries and rock a stunning manicure that lasts? Look no further! We’ve curated 7 of the best birthday nail set ideas specifically designed for birthday nails, ensuring both eye-catching designs and long-lasting wear. Get ready to celebrate your special day with fabulous nails that won’t quit!

OUR TOP PICKS

BEST POLISH: ESSIE GEL COUTURE LONGWEAR NAIL POLISH + TOP COAT KIT

If you’re aiming for a gel manicure look without the UV drying light, Essie Gel Couture Longwear Nail Polish is an excellent choice. This polish, which has a thick, non-dripping formula, applies like regular polish and dries to a hard, glossy finish that mimics a professional salon manicure. We wore these nails for over two weeks and experienced minimal chipping, comparable to professional gel manicures. Removal is straightforward with acetone, leaving your nails healthy and undamaged.

While lamp-cured gel polishes dry faster, Essie Gel Couture takes about 15 minutes to fully dry. However, its staying power is impressive, and we loved the vibrant colors and the well-preserved condition of our nails after removal. If you want a gel-like manicure without the need for a UV lamp, this polish is the best option.

  • Shades: 1
  • Dry Time: 15 minutes
  • Lamp Included: No

BEST FOR TRAVEL: LE MINI MACARON LE MAXI DELUXE GEL MANICURE SET

The Le Mini Macaron compact kit is ideal for on-the-go manicures. We gave it top marks for ease of use, drying time, finished appearance, and nail health post-removal. Despite gel kits often being intimidating for beauty newbies, this kit from Le Mini Macaron is user-friendly and fun, even for beginners. The gel lacquer dries quickly with the included LED lamp, leaving nails glossy and hard in just one minute. However, the travel-friendly lamp is small, so you’ll need to dry your thumb separately.

While we loved the quick-drying, glossy finish, the polish began peeling within a few days and was completely gone soon after. Longer-lasting results might be achieved by using a nail-prepper product, applying thinner coats, or drying nails for a longer time. Despite the short staying power, our nails were not damaged, making this kit an excellent travel choice.

  • Shades: 2
  • Dry Time: 1 minute
  • Lamp Included: Yes

BEST VALUE: GELLEN GEL NAIL POLISH KIT

For a more comprehensive option, the Gellen Gel Starter Kit is a great choice. We awarded this kit perfect scores for ease of use and were impressed with the 12 included bottles of polish, various nail embellishments, grooming tools, and UV lamp. The instructions recommend drying each coat for 60 seconds under the light, but we found our nails were still tacky after a minute. Extending the drying time to 90 seconds yielded better results.

Once painted and dried, we loved the appearance of our gel manicures. The colors were vibrant, and the polish dried smooth with a glossy finish. However, the lacquer began to chip around day six and was completely peeled off by day eight, making soak-off removal unnecessary. While we wish the polish lasted longer, this feature-rich kit offers great value.

  • Shades: 12
  • Dry Time: 90 seconds
  • Lamp Included: Yes

BEST FOR BEGINNERS: SALLY HANSEN SALON PRO GEL STARTER KIT

If you’re new to gel nails, Sally Hansen’s beginner-friendly Salon Starter Kit is perfect for you. This kit earned a perfect score for ease of use, thanks to its simple three-step process and lightning-fast drying time. Curing your nails with the included LED lamp takes only about 30 seconds.

Once dried, our nails were smooth, super shiny, and hard without any stickiness. Although the kit comes with only one color, additional bottles can be purchased separately. Despite the promise of up to two weeks of wear, our manicures didn’t last very long. The gel began to peel when we cleaned around the house, even with gloves on. This kit may not be ideal for those who work with their hands, but it’s a great option for anyone looking to try gel nails at home.

  • Shades: 1
  • Dry Time: 30 seconds
  • Lamp Included: Yes

BEST BUDGET: SENSATIONAIL GEL STARTER KIT

Looking for a budget-friendly option? The SensatioNail Gel Starter Kit is a solid choice. The instructions can be a bit confusing, so we recommend reading through them thoroughly before starting. While this kit wasn’t the easiest to use initially, the process should be smoother the second time around. We were pleasantly surprised by how quickly the lacquer dried with the included LED lamp, but for the best results, we suggest applying thinner layers of paint and taking your time.

The brand claims up to two weeks of wear, but we noticed chipping after about a week—slightly longer than regular polish but not as durable as a professional gel manicure. Although this affordable kit comes with only one polish color, you can purchase additional bottles individually to expand your collection.

  • Shades: 1
  • Dry Time: 3 minutes
  • Lamp Included: Yes

BEST FOR NAIL CARE: RED CARPET MANICURE PRO 45 STARTER KIT

If you prioritize skincare, it’s important to care for your nail beds and cuticles too. This comprehensive kit includes everything from cuticle oil to sealing top and base coats, along with cleansers, foil wraps, cuticle pushers, and more. The gel hardened into a shiny gloss on our nails in just 45 seconds and stayed smooth with minimal chipping for nearly two weeks.

We did notice that the brushes were a bit uneven and frayed, making it challenging to cover all the edges perfectly. However, with a steady hand, we applied the glossy shades, confident that our nails and skin were protected. After removing the polish two weeks later, we were pleased to find our nails as strong as ever.

  • Shades: 1
  • Dry Time: 45 seconds
  • Lamp Included: Yes

BEST OVERALL: MOROVAN NAIL KIT

Morovan’s Poly Gel Kit earned perfect scores for drying time, finished look, staying power, ease of removal, and nail integrity post-removal. We only marked it down for ease of use due to a slight learning curve. However, the instructions were thorough and easy to follow, and the illustrated how-to booklet was very helpful.

This set includes everything needed for a professional-level manicure, plus some fun embellishments and extras. It comes with eight polish shades, including six solid opaques and two ombrés. The kit also includes a primer, a dehydrator, a base coat, a top coat, an LED lamp, and various tools for grooming your nails and cuticles.

The most challenging component was the nail extensions, as the kit includes extension gel and shaping foil to help you create your desired length and shape. Once the gel was applied, the drying process was smooth and straightforward.

After two weeks, only two extensions had fallen off, and the stunning color and shine remained. When it was time to remove the polish, the gel came off easily with the help of a scraping tool. If you’re up for the challenge of DIY gel extensions and want a long-lasting manicure, this kit is an excellent choice.

  • Shades: 8
  • Dry Time: 2 minutes
  • Lamp Included: Yes

FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING AN AT-HOME GEL KIT

STAYING POWER

One of the main attractions of at-home gel nails is their promise of professional-level longevity. The products, tools, and formulas should provide similar results to what you’d get at a salon. However, many kits we tried didn’t last more than a week. Various factors can influence this, including improper use of the kits, daily wear and tear on your nails, and not thoroughly removing natural oils from your nails before painting. For best results, carefully read all instructions and follow the manufacturer’s nail care suggestions, and consider wearing reusable gloves when cleaning and doing dishes.

INCLUDED SHADES

While some at-home gel kits come with multiple polish shades, many starter sets only include one or two. However, additional colors are often available for individual purchase, allowing you to gradually expand your collection with shades you’ll actually use. An extra bottle of white nail polish is great for classic French manicures and the trendy “glazed donut” nails.

CURING LAMP

Most kits come with a UV or LED lamp, which is essential for curing and drying gel polish. As celebrity nail artist Elle Gerstein explains, “Gel polish needs a UV light to cure/dry and provides a chip-free manicure that lasts much longer than regular nail polish.” Depending on the lamp’s bulbs and wattage, each coat will take anywhere from 30 seconds to three minutes to cure. Most of our top picks, except for Essie’s Gel Couture Longwear Nail Polish, include an LED/UV lamp.

REMOVAL

Gel manicures typically require soak-off removal. This involves soaking 10 cotton pieces in pure acetone, placing them on your nails, wrapping them in foil, and letting them sit for about 15 minutes. After soaking, the polish usually scrapes off easily. If you prefer not to make multiple trips to the store, consider the Red Carpet Manicure Pro 45 Gel Starter Kit, which includes foil wraps, gel polish remover, and more.

CONCLUSION

So there you have it! With these seven fantastic nail set ideas, you can celebrate your birthday with stunning nails that last. Whether you crave a classic French manicure, a touch of playful glitter, or a bold, eye-catching design, there’s a perfect option for you. So go forth, embrace your beautiful nails, and rock a birthday mani that shines as bright as you do!

HAILEY BIEBER BEST MAKEUP LOOKS – BECOMING THE IT GIRL

Nobody is more capable of starting a beauty craze than Hailey Bieber. Even though her signature makeup-free look may be her most well-known feature, it’s by no means her sole appearance. Her more vibrant appearances have inspired trends such as “strawberry girl,” “latte makeup,” and “sugar plum fairy.” She is a genuine beauty chameleon. Put another way, the model-turned-beauty-founder is well-versed in the art of using cosmetics to create a statement. 

SUGAR PLUM FAIRY

The Sugar Plum Fairy Girl, in a glossier, flushed, and shimmerier version, is a neutral yet playful addition to any holiday ensemble, regardless of style. The same rose gold blush that Bieber applied to her eyes and cheeks gave her a “sugar plum fairy” look. A swift stroke of the brows adds an air of easy flair, and we’ll be adopting Bieber’s lip trick—a smeared brown pencil topped with pink gloss—for our own regimens.

STRAWBERRY MAKEUP

The style is centered around pink and red colors, as the name would imply. It also looks really blush-forward, dewy, soft, and delicate—as if you had smeared a juicy strawberry onto your cheeks or had spent the day playing in a field of berries. Using skincare products that will leave your face looking glowing is essential. All you have to do is keep it bright, light and glowy.

LATTE MAKEUP 

The best beauty trend to try for summer is latte makeup. As the name suggests, latte makeup uses brown and golden tones to give the appearance of smooth, sun-kissed skin. You won’t experience your makeup slipping off your face in the heat because it isn’t overly heavy on the ingredients. Bieber utilized bronzer and gold-toned highlighter instead of her typical pink-toned blush to get the look, which she applied all over her face, including her nose, brow bone, cheekbones, and lids (though she did add a little blush at the very end to make everything seem even more sun-kissed). And how effortless her sculpting appear? This is because she applied her foundation *after* concealer and contouring, according to the Mary Phillips method.

REDDISH-BROWN BEAUTY

There are a gazillion hues of brown liner, but Bieber chose a more reddish tone to get this effect. She applied a pencil liner to her waterline and lids and accessorized it with a glossy cinnamon lip. As a consequence, everything is so muted that even her hair and clothes blend perfectly.

ROSY HIGHLIGHT

When it comes to applying pink cosmetics, there is no “one size fits all” approach, and Bieber has demonstrated nearly a dozen different methods to pull it off. Here, she used a fuschia lip and a thick coat of glittery rose eyeshadow to create a statement. Her choice of a warm-toned bronzer with a hint of pink highlight on her cheekbones instead of blush gives this look a less monochrome vibe than some of her previous ones.

AVOCADO EYES

Green eyeshadow is usually anything from subtle, but Bieber’s “avocado” makeup gave it a subdued touch. To bring attention to her eyes, she applied a burst of lime to the inner corners of her upper lids after using matte light browns on her lower lids. She matched her lips to the contrasting berry liner on her lash line while maintaining a neutral ensemble.

SUN-KISSED GLOW

Try this sunburned-inspired look to give yourself a glowing appearance from the inside out. The secret? Apply the “W blush” TikTok craze. Beginning at the highest points on your cheekbones, contour your blush in a “W” pattern that ends at the bridge of your nose, then blend.

SOFT GLAM 

Bieber is the queen of simple glam, as seen by this ensemble. The thing we adore most about this interpretation of natural beauty is that, rather than using the typical black color for her winged liner, she chose to use a brown hue to offer a subtle shape.

10 BEST MAKEUP PRODUCTS THAT HAILEY USES

CHANEL ULTRA LE TEINT FOUNDATION

The foundation that Hailey chose to achieve her birthday makeup look in 2022 is the one you should trust. She combined this Chanel foundation with Rhode’s Peptide Glazing Fluid and shared it on her TikTok. Her complexion seems beautiful, bright, and natural as always.

MERIT BEAUTY BLUSH

Hailey is known for going heavy on blush, and one product she relies on to achieve this is Merit Beauty’s Flush Balm. Her makeup artist, Leah Darcy, revealed the model’s go-to shade: Raspberry Beret. I’ve tried a couple of different Flush Balm shades, but I can confirm that Raspberry Beret is perhaps the most stunning. It helps you get that “faux sunburn” look that’s popular on TikTok.

TOM FORD SHADE AND ILLUMINATE CREAM FACE PALETTE

Hailey is renowned for her glossy makeup and glazed-donut skin. She uses the Shade and Illuminate Cream Face Palette by Tom Ford to give her face a radiant shine. She utilizes the palette for both her bronzer and highlighter in a Vogue-hosted YouTube video. As you can see, Hailey is the queen of multipurpose cosmetics. She applies bronzer on her eyelids and anyplace else she wants to contour. 

CHARLOTTE TILBURY LIPSTICK

It’s no secret that Hailey possesses one of Hollywood’s greatest pouts. She lines her lips with the Artist Color Pencil from Makeup For Ever and then grabs the renowned Pillow Talk lipstick by Charlotte Tilbury. “I’m just going to put this on my finger and dab it on. I love this lip combo. I love lip combos that I feel like matching my natural color of my lips,” she said in a TikTok.

MAKEUP FOREVER ARTIST COLOR PENCIL IN 600 ANYWHERE CAFFEINE

It’s reasonable to assume that Bieber prefers this lip liner to others. It’s obvious why she uses it in so many of her TikTok videos—the warm, dusty-rose hue is incredibly wearing and attractive.

KOSAS CONCEALER

Bieber wears one of the editors’ favorite concealers from Who What Wear, so we knew she had impeccable taste. This concealer serves as an eye cream in addition to brightening and spot-correcting. Imagine being so well-rested that Bieber doesn’t even use it beneath her eyes sometimes!

SOS DAILY RESCUE FACIAL SPRAY

In a video, Bieber said that a mix of stress, travel, sleep deprivation, PMS, and experimenting with new products was causing her skin to get inflamed. This soothing and redness-relieving face spray was one of her go-to tools for comfort. 

TAN LUXE THE WATER-HYDRATING SELF-TAN WATER

For a flawless tan, Bieber mists her face with this tanning mist. She says that in order to wake up with a bronze glow, she sprays it over her face, massages it with her fingertips, and then applies her skincare routine from earlier in the evening on top after it dries.

ELTAMD UV DAILY SPF 40 TINTED SUNSCREEN

Hailey makes a strong point about the need to apply sunscreen every day in the first of a series of TikTok videos about skincare and cosmetics applications, rain or shine. The model uses the pads of her fingers to mix in a pump of EltaMD UV Daily SPF 40 Tinted Sunscreen after dabbing a generous amount of moisturizer onto her skin. To protect the skin from UVA and UVB radiation, the cream recipe contains two chemical and mineral sunscreen components, specifically zinc oxide and octinoxate.

MAC EYESHADOW IN WEDGE

In the second segment of her two-part video series called “GRWM” (Get Ready With Me), the model chooses to discuss everything related to cosmetics. Bieber acknowledges that she doesn’t like “to do too much” with her eyes, but when the need to do so strikes, she loves to “add a little somethin’ somethin,” which she does by dusting M.A.C. Eyeshadow in the taupe-toned shade “Wedge” down her crease. The matte powder makes the promise to have a “high color payoff with a single swipe” and is packaged as a single eyeshadow.

FINAL TAKEAWAY

It’s no secret that Hailey Bieber sets trends in the beauty industry, from manicures to the “strawberry girl” makeup that complements her company Rhode Skin’s latest Peptide Lip Treatment, Strawberry Glaze. Check out our list if you want to gain additional inspiration for your everyday appearance or if you want to be the next IT girl.