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If you're unfamiliar with the genius of gel nail polish, let us introduce you to the best thing to ever happen to at-home manicures. Although they look similar to traditional nail polish, gel varnishes are a tad pricier but 100% worth the added cost, because they are chip-resistant and last at least 2 weeks.
However, while we love the durability of gel nail polish, we sadly can't leave them on forever. To help you shop for the all-time best gel nail removers, we spoke with one of our favorite beauty experts: manicurist and LeChat Nails educator Anastasia Totty.
The Best Gel Polish Removers
Tips for Using Gel Polish Remover
Totty, who has more than 13 years of pro experience and has won over 20 nail competitions, stresses the importance of being gentle when using a gel polish remover. Beyond exercising patience and following the manufacturer’s instructions, here are a few of Totty’s do’s and don’ts for using a gel polish remover:
Do's
- Remove the top coat: Acetone cannot get through to the colorful base gel nail polish, so you must file off the top coat first.
- Soak nails: Once that top layer has been removed, you can soak your nails in acetone. Depending on the thickness of the gel, soaking your gel manicure in acetone, such as Pronto 100% Pure Acetone, can take anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes. "Pure acetone is great and won’t cause too much damage," says Totty.
- Dry your nails: Use a paper towel or your finger to rub off the first layer, then file off the product that has been soaked.
- Repeat the process as needed: Or until the gel has been completely removed from your nail.
- Take care of your nails afterward: Once the product has been completely removed, you may then begin a fresh manicure process or, at the very least, apply cuticle oil to help replenish oil and nutrients back into your natural nails.
Don'ts
- Just as with acne, don't pick off your gel polish: "Peeling gel polish off could take away layers of the nail that could have been prevented by simply soaking the gel polish off [in acetone]," she says.
- Skip the burst gel polish remover: While we embrace TikTok beauty trends, Totty does not recommend using burst gel polish removers. "It makes for a great nail video, but it’s been proven that those are extremely dangerous and should not be used by the public. The active ingredient is sometimes used in paint stripping, and you can only imagine how toxic it can be over time — even after the first use, it can cause serious skin irritation and burns," explains Totty.
Ready to use a highly rated gel nail remover? Explore our top recommendations, all of which are available on Amazon and start at just $10.
Pros
Remover is infused with nourishing oils- Also removes nail glue and glitter polish
- Includes other DIY mani must-haves
Cons
- Not that many reviews
We dubbed this our best overall gel polish remover because it includes five other gel mani essentials you actually need, so you can level up your at-home manicure game without breaking the bank. So, if you haven't gotten your hands on a gel nail kit or just need to refresh your stash, we recommend opting for Totty's favorite gel polish remover.
"It contains a high concentration of acetone and paraffin, which slows down the acetone evaporation, keeping it active longer and removing gel polish easily. It has a nice scent, and, because of essential oils, does not dry out the cuticle like straight-up acetone," says Totty.
Each kit also includes a primer, base coat, top coat, and gel cleanser to prep your nails before removal.
More: Soothing Aloe Vera Products to Finally Treat Sunburns
Key Specs
| Rating | 4.3-star average from 12 Amazon reviews |
|---|---|
| Number of Products | 6 |
Pros
- Over 28,000 5-star reviews
- Available in three sizes: 8, 12, and 16 fluid ounces
Cons
- Doesn't include cotton balls or pads
"The best product available for gel polish soak-off is anything with a high acetone concentration. This active ingredient easily breaks up the gel particles and quickly removes them without causing too much damage to the surface of the natural nails," says Totty.
As a LeChat Nails ambassador, she's naturally a fan of the brand's offering, but for about a quarter of the price (and size), you can order this top-rated gel polish remover instead. Beyond earning the highest number of 5-star Amazon reviews (a casual 28,300 as of this writing, to be exact), this gel polish remover is made from 100% acetone, so it can soak off your varnish faster than other diluted versions.
"I just used it to remove my gel nail polish, and it works spectacularly. It has higher quality than other brands I tried in the past. I do recommend it," says one 5-star Amazon review.
It's also a multipurpose product — Amazon reviewers use it to clean their nail detail brushes and to remove their traditional, gel, and dip-powder nail polish.
Key Specs
| Rating | 4.5-star average from nearly 37,000 Amazon reviews |
|---|---|
| Number of Products | 1 |
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3
The Award Winner
ZOYA Remove Plus 3-in-1 Nail Polish Remover
Pros
- Removes, preps, and conditions nails
- Spill-proof packaging
Cons
- Low stock
Dry cuticles got you down? Opt for this gel polish remover from Zoya, which has a nutrient-rich formula that effectively removes nail polish and cleans your nail beds.
Amazon reviewers love that it completely removes both gel and traditional nail polishes, and boasts a simple design that prevents accidental spills — just twist to lock, and you're good to go!
"No super harsh acetone smell, which my sensitive nose greatly appreciated. Plus, it made my nails felt fabulous when I was done," says one 5-star Amazon review. "I used this before applying my new polish as a prep, [and] normally my polish is chipped within 2 days of wear... not this time — it actually extended the wear of my polish."
Key Specs
| Rating | 4.8-star average from nearly 4,500 Amazon reviews |
|---|---|
| Number of Products | 1 |
Pros
- Great bargain
- Available in three colors: purple, clear, and pink
Cons
- Doesn't include acetone
Using this gel polish remover kit couldn’t be any easier: It comes with every tool you need to whip your nails into tip-top shape, including a cuticle peeler to remove polish and a cuticle pusher with a beveled head.
We love that it comes with a press bottle pump you can fill with acetone, 500 (!) cotton pads to soak up the remover, and reusable nail clips to keep the soaked pads in place and control dripping. There’s also a nail file to remove your top coat and another to smooth rough edges, while the nail brush gently removes any leftover dust from the nail files.
Amazon reviewers use words like “game changer,” “so easy,” and “great purchase” to describe this impressive gel nail remover kit. Reviewers appreciate all of the tools since they work seamlessly together, but the spill-proof acetone bottle and nail clips are consistent favorites.
“My nails are never damaged like they are when the gel is removed in the shop. I’m able to do this every week and still have strong nails,” says one reviewer who enjoys weekly at-home gel manicures.
Key Specs
| Rating | 4.4-star average from more than 6,200 Amazon reviews |
|---|---|
| Number of Products | 516, including 500 cotton pads |
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Pros
- Portable
- Easy to power on and off
Cons
- Most expensive option
Acetone is the most effective over-the-counter gel remover, but it doesn't have the most pleasant scent. One unique way to minimize the odor is to use a steamer designed for nails.
“Steam removers are a great way to speed up the soak-off process and avoid too much exposure to acetone,” says Totty. “They heat up the solution and work faster, but in the end, the soak-off solution is what does the trick.”
We appreciate the simplicity of this gel polish remover. Just turn the switch on, and you'll see a red light indicating that it's heating up, and after 3 minutes, it'll turn green and emit steam. This steamer heats up to 125.6 degrees Fahrenheit (52 degrees Celsius) and lasts for 12 minutes before powering down automatically.
One Amazon reviewer was so impressed with how this 5-star product removed gel and dip-powder nail polishes, she bought one for her daughter. "It removed the gel the first time. I knew the powder would take two uses, and most came off the first time including tips," she says.
Key Specs
| Rating | 3.9-star average from nearly 2,500 Amazon reviews |
|---|---|
| Number of Products | 1 |
Nicole Saunders
Beauty Editor
Nicole Saunders is the beauty editor at Best Products with over eight years of experience researching, writing, and editing lifestyle content. She specializes in breaking down complicated topics, like high-frequency wands and microcurrent devices, into easy-to-understand guides. Saunders takes great pride in heavily researching and testing featured beauty products, — such as hairdryers and foundations — on our site, and spotlights her all-time seasonal favorites in her quarterly column Best New Beauty. And she tests quite literally thousands of launches for our Best New Beauty Awards package. You can follow her on Instagram to stay in the loop on her product testing adventues.
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