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Because sometimes nail polish can speak louder than words. The products in this post were updated in March 2018.
Promising Review: "I expected this to be a throwaway purchase, but it actually works really well. Usually, it looks like a five-year-old painted my right hand, but these guided me. Much to my amazement, they are working perfectly. Do expect, however, that you'll need to do some touch up work before drying." —Amazon Customer
Get the 26-piece set from Amazon for $6.39.
Promising Review: "My nails grew stronger when I stopped using nail polish, so I was hesitant to use it ever again. Just used this breathable polish for the last week. Nails are as strong as ever! Won't ever go back to non-breathable variety." —nancy mcdowell
Get it from Amazon for $6.74+. (Available in 18 colors.)
Promising Review: "I really like these for removing my gel polish. I just put part of a cotton ball on my fingernail, use a dropper to saturate it with 100% acetone remover, and sit back for just however long I feel like — 15-20 minutes usually." —mama.eeee
Get the 10-pack from Amazon for $7.29. (You can even get some for your toes here.)
Promising Review: "The nail dryer works great for the price. I do wish it blew a little harder because it does take a bit of time to completely dry, but it gets the job done. It is so easy to operate that my three-year-old can use it when she gets her nails done." —Lauren
Get it from Amazon for $3.35.
Promising Review: "I never thought I would love a nail polish remover, but here I am. I love these! They smell absolutely amazing, and they work perfectly. I even sat in bed, next to my boyfriend, while taking my nail polish off, which he normally asks me to go into the other room because he hates the smell, and the only thing he said is how great they smelled! I love that you can fold them up to get all the little tiny places around your nails. You can use these to clean up a manicure without messing up your fresh polish. It's so awesome." —Kalen Goss
Get 6 boxes of 32 pads from Amazon for $7.84.
Promising Review: "This stuff is magic. It also works wonders for calluses; just make sure not to leave on the skin too looking and rinse well." —Peanut Butter
Get it from Amazon for $6.49.
Promising Review: "This really works. Dried my nail polish before I had the chance to mess it up!" —Tennis gal
Get it from Amazon for $8.98.
Promising Review: "Love this stuff. Two thick coats help my polish look amazing with zero chips for as long as ten days. Yes, I counted. People thought I had gone to a salon to get my nails done; they look that nice. This is the only product that keeps chips at bay when working out with a heavy barbell." —HeidiCSR
Get them from Amazon: top coat for $11.49 (available in 10 colors) and nail polish for $11.49 (available in 35 colors).
Promising Review: "My fingernails were disconnecting from the nail beds for reasons my dermatologist couldn't quite figure out, (some combination of stress, clumsiness, living in the pool, and washing my hands too often apparently). This protected my nails and healed the skin under them — after a year of being unable to open soda cans, I have strong nails that aren't about to fall off. Whatever's in this strengthener, it really works." —Lianna McDaniel
Get it from Amazon for $11.94 (available in 10 colors).
Promising Review: "When I found out these existed, they were a MUST HAVE for me. When it comes to that nasty after-gel polish layer, using anything BUT these only makes more of a problem for you. Not having to deal with left over cotton and lint on my nails is awesome!" —Laena
Get it from Amazon for $2.49.
Promising Review: "I was completely skeptical about this file. I mean, could it really be that different from the file I have used for years? Well, it's downright amazing. I could instantly tell the difference in the way it grabs onto the nail and shapes it so easily and in the way it files without tearing. I showed it to my husband and had him compare the two files on his nails — even he was impressed! The reviews are not an exaggeration but in fact a truthful representation of a fine product. Although the file is crystal, which might give the impression of being fragile, it feels sturdy and seems like it will last a long time. Well made. The price is right. Fantastic product." —poet girl
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
Promising Review: "I LOVE this gel polish. It showed as several different colors depending on my temperature — ranging from a perfect mauve/blush, to a medium purple/grey, to a darker blue grey. The coverage was beautiful with just two thin coats and it lasted over nine days without even a chip. Definitely one of my favorite gels so far. I'll be back for more! The bottle is slightly smaller than most, just an FYI. But it's a great value for the price." —Meredith
Get it from Amazon for $3.99+. (Available in over 100 colors.)
Promising Review: "Love this top coat! It dries fast and is very glossy. Great shine and finish!" —AliciaZCool
Get it from Amazon for $4.69.
Promising Review: "Adore the smell — big almond fan — and I like the feel. This is not as abrasive as some hand scrubs; good for using a couple times a week. The results won't be as dramatic as the stronger scrubs." —ph virginia
Get it from Amazon for $12.50.
Promising Review: "I have a bottle of this and it really does fix a smudge. I tested it out by smudging my wet polish on purpose and then applied this. Smoothed it out nicely. It won't fix a super bad smudges but it will sure save you an extra coat if you have a small one. I love this stuff." —Shar
Get it from Amazon for $14. (Cruelty-free, 100% vegan, and gluten-free.)
Promising Review: "I had to put on four coats before I couldn't see my nails. That said, once I got to that point, it looked good." —Lynn Van Vleet
Get it from Amazon for $11.39. (Cruelty-free and PETA certified.)
Promising Review: "O.P.I. nail corrector is the bomb! Those dark color nail polishes don't look so polished if they are not perfectly applied. OPI corrector cleans those edges to a fine shine. Definitely a no-brainer for nails." —PositiveCritiquer
Get it from Macy's for $7.95.
Promising Review: "This is by far the nicest manicure/pedicure set I have ever seen. All of the clippers are super sharp and the instruments are very well made, as is the case. I can't believe the price, you will never find something of this quality for the price anywhere else." —Jackie
Get it from Amazon for $7.99.
Promising Review: "These are great! Much thicker than I would have expected; you could get by with one coat. Great product for the price!!" —Katie Niekamp
Get the 12 piece set from Amazon for $11.96+ (available in two sets).
Promising Review: "I think for the price and what you are getting it's good. The nail polishes are a bit small; I would call them trial size but they don't run out quick. I've had them for a month — we are four females and we change our color about once a week and we still have plenty. I do have other gel brands and they work fine with the base/top coat and lamp as well." —dice
Get it from Amazon for $36.99.
Get it from Walmart for $14.
Promising Review: "This is one handy little bit of equipment! I like that it feels very sturdy, even though it is so lightweight. The angles it adjusts to are very seamless, smooth, and feel natural. It's not awkward in the least. It was super easy to put together, and it will make a great addition to my nail art endeavors. As an at-home tool, I think it makes doing my nails even easier. I recommend it wholeheartedly." —TracyLynneLaForest
Get it from Amazon for $19.99.
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.