Le Mini Macaron Gel Manicure Kit review – does it give you salon-fresh nails from home?

GEL nail manicures at a salon can set you back upwards of about 30 quid and only last three weeks (maximum), so why not get into DIY-beauty mode and do your own with a kit at home?

Le Mini Macaron’s Gel Manicure Kit is here to help you do just that for £34.99, which is less than the cost of two trips to the nail salon – you do the maths. We decided to see whether it really gives salon-equivalent results because we’re not going to say goodbye to our favourite nail lady that easy.

• Buy Le Mini Macaron’s Gel Manicure Kit for £34.99 here 

Pros

• Pretty design
• Quick and easy to apply
• Vibrant gel polish
• Compact
• Affordable
• Comes with remover pads

Cons

• 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)

How do you use Le Mini Macaron Gel Manicure Kit?

Let’s just say nails aren’t our forte, which meant we were relieved to see that the 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 their remover pads to rid of any debris or oils.

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 and repeat this process once per nail – the little mechanism is powered by a USB plug, which we plugged into our iPhone charger.

The only way Le Mini Macaron’s Gel Manicure Kit could be simpler would be if the heater fitted all your nails – you’re welcome to shop the more expensive, larger style if you want to be able to do that though.

Is Le Mini Macaron Gel Manicure Kit worth it?

We usually love a trip to the nail salon where we’ll ordinarily opt for gels or acrylics. Before nation-wide lockdowns, manicure kits had never previously appealed to us but after using Le Mini Macaron’s Gel Manicure Kit, we’ve definitely swayed.

We absolutely love the macaroon-inspired design, especially as a mini size because it’s so compact that 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 – we can confirm that every one 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 heater, which dries it ridiculously quickly in the space of 30 seconds. You repeat that with each nail, which ends up being speedy application. No more boring waiting-to-dry time.

Our favourite thing about the Le Mini Macaron Gel Manicure Kit is that it comes with everything you need, from the cuticle stick, to the nail file and remover pads, ideal for both age-old beauty lovers and first-timers.

For under £35, you definitely can’t fault Le Mini Macaron’s Gel Manicure Kit for giving you a glossy, long-lasting manicure – our Cherry Red nails stayed immaculate even after cooking, walking the dog, and working out. Though there was one scratch which we’re putting down to our beginner’s skills.

How do you remove your Le Mini Macaron Gel Manicure?

Removing our gel manicure was the tricky part. You have to use the nail file first, then open up one of the remover pads without actually taking out the wipe. You then slot your nail inside and fold the packet around your nails.

Using the remover pad by itself won’t remove the gel, (trust us, we 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 gel polish that remains on your nail.

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 at all.

We recommend having a buffer on hand to sort them out afterwards.

Where can you buy Le Mini Macaron Gel Manicure Kit?

Lucky for you, Le Mini Macaron Gel Manicure Kit is available at a handful of beauty retailers, as well as Oliver Bonas, Amazon, ASOS and their own website too. You’ll find that prices don’t vary too much, yet some sites offer sales so keep your eye out for trusty reductions across their whole range!

If we’ve persuaded you to try it out, here’s where to find Le Mini Macaron’s Gel Manicure Kit:

1. Le Mini Macaron Gel Manicure Kit in Rum Raisin, £34.99 from LookFantastic – buy here
2. Le Mini Macaron Gel Manicure Kit in Licorice, £34.99 from FeelUnique – buy here
3. Le Mini Macaron Gel Manicure Kit in Strawberry Pink, £34.99 from ASOS – buy here
4. Le Mini Macaron Gel Manicure Kit in Fairy Floss, £35 from Oliver Bonas – buy here
5. Le Mini Macaron Gel Manicure Kit in Milkshake, £34.95 from BeautyBay – buy here

Fancy splashing out a bit more? We reviewed the Mylee Pro Salon Series LED Lamp.

Check out our review of Beauty Pie’s beauty subscription too.

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