While not everyone loves intricate nail art, it doesn’t hurt to get a subtle makeover every now and then. The best jelly nail polishes are the perfect choice for such purposes as they are unique and attractive, but also quite minimalistic. These nail polishes come with a  translucent formula and are regarded as the lip glosses of manicures — all credits to their sheer color, light-capturing qualities, and high shine that makes your nails look ultra-glossy — like jelly! Such nail polishes are essentially colorless gels infused with color pigments, which give a glossy, juicy, bursting appearance to your nails as if they were edible — hence the name “jelly”. Besides, dazzling hues, neutral shades, and reflective shine are hallmarks of jelly nail polishes, giving them their distinct appearance. You can also customize their effects to express your style occasionally or as per your mood. You can flaunt ombre, holographic, marble, dual-tone, and cloudy effects or go basic, stay pastel, or simply don jelly nails by adding a pop of color.  

When you apply a jelly polish, your nails get a nuance to their appearance as the formula adds volume and permeability to them. This saves you the painstaking effort to file and buff your nails, as the product gives them a natural shine and smooth texture. And, if you use a subtle shade then your jelly nails look appropriate to wear for corporate or traditional events as well. With a handy UV lamp and the following products on the list, you can avoid great salon expenses and give yourself a beautiful manicure at home. Scroll away to know more!

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  Best Overall

  beetles Gel Polish Set of 6 Colors

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Made with toxin-free ingredients, these translucent jelly nail polishes don’t release sickening fumes that you’ll find in similar products and are quite safe on your nails. This set of 6 includes nude nail polishes with pink, peach, and brown tinges that look gorgeous with absolutely any outfit that you wear. The formulation in each bottle has great tenacity, which means the fluid won’t get displaced on your nails as you cure them in the lamp. To get the best consistency, soak the bottles in a glass of hot water so that the product goes on smoothly over your nails.

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Best Glossy Finish

Born Pretty All Shine On Me Sheer Nude Jelly Nail Polish (Set of 6 Colors)

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If you are drawn to pinkish hues, then these pink jelly nail polishes by Born Pretty are perfect for you. Each shade in the set is so beautifully translucent that it looks like tinted dew drops on your nails. The formula in each bottle is adequately buildable, so you can give your nails a natural look or an intensely pigmented coat as you desire. After applying, you’ll notice that the finish of these lacquers is so glossy that your nails look almost edible!

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FZANZEST Professional Nails Gel Polish - Crystal Red

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The shade crystal red of this gel nail polish indeed looks like licorice on your nails! Plus, the product is available in a wide range of shades to primp up your nails for different occasions. Unlike other gel lacquers, this formula takes less time to dry under LED lamps. And once it hardens, the finish becomes so glossy that it is as reflective as a mirror. After application, you can be assured that these nail polishes would not wear off for two weeks straight. The product’s formula has the perfect viscosity for a sublime French manicure.

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Best Glittery Finish

Makartt Clear Glitter GEL POLISH (Set of 6 Colors)

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With the stunning glitter pigments in these jelly nail polishes by Makartt, you can effortlessly step up your nail game. This set includes a wide range of colors to suit every mood — pink, blue, yellow, green, purple, and peach. The formula in each bottle of the set is adequately translucent — so you can apply it directly on your nails or use it as a top coat for opaque nail lacquer. You don’t have to worry about your nails chipping or becoming brittle after applying this product.

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Most Natural Looking

Vishine SOAK-OFF Nude GEL POLISH Kit (Set of 6 Colors)

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These pinkish nude jelly polishes by Vishine look incredibly feminine and low-key — perfect to prim your nails on days when you don’t want to experiment much. They have the right amount of thickness and viscosity that makes them go on smoothly and evenly on your nails. After curing them under an LED lamp, you can be assured that the nail polish won’t smudge or mess up your efforts. What’s best is that you only need a thin layer of this product to get a nuanced, buffed nail look.

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Best Buildable Nail Polish

senvenski Jelly Crystal Gel Polish (Set of 6 Colors)

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Get fall ready with the stunning warm shades of this jelly gel polish set by Senvenski. This pack of six nail polishes includes red, yellow, brown, amber, and two extra shades in between. While these gels contain a high color saturation, they don’t compromise on their  crystal-like translucent finish and enhance the natural appearance of your nails. What you’ll love about these products is that they are made with naturally-derived ingredients and are alcohol-free.

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Best Chip-free Formula

MEET ACROSS Rainbow Cat Eye Gel Nail Polish (Set of 5 Colors)

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These nail polishes by Meet Across would probably remind you of your favorite mocktail as they come in a wide range of vibrant translucent shades. The set consists of 5 solid colors and one rainbow holographic glitter-infused gel to use as a top coat that you can apply on special occasions to adorn your nails. Made with toxin-free ingredients, these nail polishes are safe to use and unlikely to cause dizziness or irritation.

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Best Consistency

GAOY Sheer Nude UV GEL NAIL POLISH

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This nude jelly nail polish by Gaoy is as natural-looking as such a product can be! The tincture of the translucent gel formula is just about a shade darker and rosier than one’s natural nail color, which makes your nails appear minimalistic and professional. What makes this product special in comparison to others on the list is that if applied properly, the nail polish can last for about 4 weeks without peeling or yellowing!

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Best Soft-bristle Brush

JEWHITENY SOAK-OFF Gel Nail Polish Kit (Set of 40 Colors)

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This kit by Jewhiteny comes with as many as 40 different colors — nudes, blues, pinks, yellows, etc. that give a gorgeously dewy, ice-permeable finish. These colors come in the form of glossy top coats, base coats, and matte-finish lacquers. The whopping quantity of this product does not compromise the quality as these translucent jelly polishes are free from toxins and are formulated using natural resin. Besides, the kit comprises basic manicure tools and a UV lamp, which further makes the product an incredible purchase.

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Best Odorless

OPUIU Icy Nude GEL NAIL POLISH (Set of 10 Colors)

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The soothing muted pastel shades of pink, blue, green, etc. in this set of jelly polishes are perfect to give an icy finish to your nails. You can expect these semi-transparent lacquers to effortlessly last for 2-3 weeks without chipping or peeling off. These polishes are quick-drying and can be cured within 60-90 seconds with your UV lamp without much hassle. While the subtle tinge of these enamels makes them a sublime choice to apply directly, you can use them as a top coat as well.

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MIZHSE PRoFESSIONAL UV GEL POLISH kit (Set of 12 Colors)

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This set of translucent gel nail polishes by MIZHSE consists of 12 marvelous colors to suit every mood. The formulations of these enamels are very buildable — a single layer would give you a dewy, natural look whereas multiple coats would give a delicious-looking candy finish. This product gives a thick, volumized finish with a single coat, to give an impression that your nails are healthy and buffed, which saves you much trouble in filing them!

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Major Dijit COLOR COAT! Rainbow NAIL GEL (Set of 12 Colors)

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If pastels or subtle shades are not your thing then this set of vibrant nail polishes is a great choice for you. The set comes with beautiful shades of red, yellow, amber, blue, green, pink, nude, etc. to suit different moods, occasions, and outfit choices. They give a stunning, reflective finish when applied correctly, and don’t take too long to dry using a UV lamp. You can use these paints directly on your nails, on false nails, or as a top coat.

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modelones Translucent Jelly GEL NAIL POLISH (Set of 6 Colors)

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With these sheer gel nail polishes, you can give a beautiful dewy finish to your nails and spruce up your everyday look. Each nail polish in this set has a good color saturation that makes your nails look vibrant without having to use much product. Unlike many opaque lacquers, these jelly polishes enhance the natural composition of your nails instead of giving them an artificial makeover. Their smooth and flawless finish makes them a good choice to wear in professional settings.

Now that you’ve seen our product recommendations for the best jelly nail polishes, let us go through the following buying guide so you can make a mindful and informed purchase.

Here are some factors to consider when looking for the best jelly nail polishes:

Consistency: To begin with, your nail polish should be easy to apply. This means it should be the right balance of thick and viscose, and should spread evenly when applying. 

Finish: The finish of your jelly nail polish is the determining factor that can enhance your DIY manicure. Always ensure that your jelly nail polish goes on smoothly over your nails and does not get too clumpy or streaky. When you’re curing your nail polish, the product should settle on your nails evenly without causing bubbles or other imperfections. 

Lasting Power: Unlike regular drugstore enamels, jelly nail polishes are formulated with a hardening gel that needs to be cured under a UV lamp. This process ensures that the product lasts effortlessly for 2-3 weeks. But if you find a product that is anecdotally evident to chip or peel off easily, or starts yellowing with time, then it is best to avoid buying it. 

No Harmful Ingredients: Some common ingredients in nail polishes such as toluene, DBP, formaldehyde resin, phthalates, harsh alcohols, etc. release strong fumes, cause irritation in your cuticles, or weaken the barrier of your nails. Hence, it is best to look for nail polishes that are made with naturally-derived resin and are free from the above-mentioned ingredients. Also, ensure that the product is odorless and cruelty-free.

After taking note of the above aspects, allow us to run you through a few steps to use your jelly nail polish in an appropriate manner.

Following are the steps to use the best jelly nail polish appropriately. Make sure you have a mixing plate or nail glue to get along the jelly nail trend. 

Step 1: Clean and prep your nails. 

Step 2: If you have short nails, then use press-on nails or simply opt for nail extensions that are clear in color. 

Step 3: Begin applying a transparent nail base coat.

Step 4: Take any of your clear nail polish and mix it well with a colored one. Or you can directly pick a jelly nail polish color. 

Step 5: Start applying a thin layer of the mixture or colored polish with a good-quality nail brush as jelly nails should be sheer and streak-free. 

Step 6: Let your jelly nail polish dry naturally. 

Step 7: Apply an ultra-shiny top coat on the applied nail polish if necessary. 

Tada! You are done! 

Conclusion:

So there you have it. The above-mentioned products fall in the best jelly nail polish list that will help you achieve the effortlessly beautiful nails you desire. You can use the above-mentioned products as top coats or apply them directly on your nails. These products are buildable and adequately long-lasting. Ensure you refer to our buying guide before making a purchase. Happy shopping!