This set contains two very important steps in the nail polishing process. The foundation is a good example. It is the base coat that you put onto your nail and cure before you apply your favorite color of nail polish. It creates a tacky base that helps to bond the polish to your nails and it increases the life of your nail polish job to the 2 week period that you would expect. When applying it put it on in a medium to a thin coat and don't forget to do the front edge of your nail as that is where pealing can start. You always have to cure the foundation coat in your UV lamp. Curing this foundation coat takes about 10 seconds in a UV LED lamp or 30 seconds in a UV lamp.
The Top It Off is one of the final steps to sealing your new Gelish nail polish job and it adds a lot to the final look and performance. It seals the polish and adds in a nice and glossy finish to the nail's surface. This is what helps to make the polish stay on for two weeks. Don't forget to paint the front edge of the nail to seal it also. This helps prevent chipping and pealing. After you cure the UV Top It Off then wipe your nail lightly with an alcohol swab to remove any uncured polish or Top It Off. The Top It Off cures in about 30 seconds in a UV LED lamp or in about 2 minutes in a UV lamp.
My wife has been doing her nails with Gelish for over 2 years and she loves it. She has also done the nails for family and friends and helped them get started. She always recommends that they buy their supplies on Amazon because of the selection, the lower price and the size of the bottles. This bottle is 15 mL. The ones at the local beauty supply house are 9 mL and cost 50% more when they are on sale.
I have written multiple reviews on UV nail curing machines and here are the steps and curing times for a UV LED machine for your information. Please note that curing times can vary a lot depending on the type of UV lamp you are using.
Simple instructions to use nail polish gels in a LED curing lamp:
* Thoroughly wash and dry your hands.
* Push back the cuticle and clean the fingernail.
* Shape the nail using a nail file.
* Gently remove the natural nail shine with a nail buffer.
* Clean nails with Nail Surface Cleanse or alcohol using a cotton ball. Make sure you remove all cotton fibers.
* Apply Gelish pH Bond to nails
* Apply Gelish Foundation Gel or gel base coat in a thin coat to the nail and the nail tip edge and cure for 10 to 15 seconds under LED lamp.
* Apply your favorite color of Gelish Soak Off Gel Polish or your favorite brand of UV cured gel polish to the nail surface and to the nail edge.
* Place your hand into the USpicy UV LED lamp for 10 to 20 seconds for a light color or 20 to 30 seconds for a darker color. (We used 30 seconds)
* Apply Gelish Top It Off Sealer or Gel Topcoat to the nails and the nail tip edges.
* Place your hand into the USpicy LED UV lamp for 30 seconds.
* Gently wipe off the tacky surface (If any exists) of the nail using Gelish Nail Surface Cleanse or alcohol using a cotton ball.
* Apply Gelish Nourish to your cuticle and to the skin around your nail. (Conditions your skin)
* Admire your beautiful and stunning new nails
This is a 5 star product and I recommend it.