When my colleague Lydia O’Connor, a senior reporter here at HuffPost, recently shared that she was taking a break from gel manicures in favor of using a “nail concealer,” I was immediately intrigued. I’d been looking for ways to keep my beauty expenses down, but given that I’m horrible at applying nail polish and my feet are in flip-flops year-round, I’d never imagined I might be able to cut back on regular pedicures.
But her recommendation — Londontown’s Kur illuminating nail concealer — was an absolute game-changer. The concealer is similar to polish, but instead of color, it deposits a sheer milky veil that makes nails look like a super-healthy version of their natural selves, covering up imperfections and leaving them glowing and perfect-looking. Today, the colors Bare, Bubble and Pink are finally 25% off — the first sale since December!
The buildable nail formula means you can apply as much or as little coverage as you need.
With this, a Microplane foot file and gel socks, I’ve been skipping the nail salon and saving tons of money without having to hide my feet in close-toed shoes. Even my fingernails — so hopeless I don’t even bother getting manis — look great with it.
“I am obsessed with this product,” O’Connor told me. “One coat gives you that ‘is she wearing nail polish, or does she just have flawless doll nails?’ look. Two coats gives you a milky, slightly iridescent finish that I love.
“It’s basically fool-proof to apply. The formula isn’t streaky at all, and the brush is quite wide, allowing you to cover your whole nail in one seamless swipe. This is the only polish that’s ever looked decent when painting with my non-dominant hand.”
We’re not the only ones obsessed: Amazon reviewers note that it goes beyond simply using a sheer regular polish.
“I was definitely skeptical that this polish could be any different from one of the countless neutral Essie shades out there that I’ve tried since the ’90s - ballet slippers, like linen etc - but I decided to give the milky shade a try & I’m so glad I did!!!” wrote one Amazon reviewer.
“My nails look incredible. I’m not even sure how to describe why but they look very natural and clean. It’s been a week of wearing two coats and there isn’t one bubble or lift forming on the edges. One coat actually looks great also. I am sold on this stuff... So so happy.”
Turns out she’s not the only one in the office that’s thrilled with this product. HuffPost’s head of Life and Commerce Kristen Aiken has been using it as well, along with Greta Geiselman, our director of office services.
“I love this stuff!” Aiken said. “I have really weird nails (the whites are jagged because I use my hands too much and have ‘nailbed trauma’) and I’m too rugged to paint my nails because it instantly comes off, but I love the nail concealer because it looks natural but just, better. And it doesn’t show when it starts to chip off.”
Noting “it’s so easy to give yourself a manicure with this stuff,” O’Connor said it’s been giving both her nails and her wallet a break. “I recently broke the cardinal rule of nails and peeled off my gel manicure as it started to chip, and this has kept my now-brittle nails looking neat and tidy as they grow out,” she said.
Each formula contains optical brighteners to give nails a subtle gleam and hide imperfections and discoloration, along with plant extracts and a nourishing complex. Grab it today in Bare, Bubble or Pink for $15, and check out some promising reviews below.
“I have been using OPI bubble bath forever. Thought I would try this. I bought the Bubble and It is amazing! It is a subtle color. I do one coat and a top coat of Sally Hansen Ultimate shield and it last for the whole week and more! Not much wearing off!!” — Kadies mom
“My nails are kept short, thin weak, and horribly stained orange. I wore red in December without a base coat. I am afraid of filing off the orange as thin as my nails are. Two coats of this Sheer Lavander and a top coat of clear, really counteracted the horrible orange. My nails have a sheer clean look. As the orange slowly grows and gets trimmed off. This is the only product that really delivered, out of the several I’ve tried. Highly recommend!!” — Dublin’s Farm
“I am sharing my experience with this polish. I was skeptical after reading the reviews about it chipping and peeling, but I tried it anyway. I applied two coats and went about my usual stuff. I scoured tubs and sinks with powdered cleanser, I polished stainless steel pans with powdered cleanser, I opened multiple boxes and removed labels. I did not wear gloves or avoid using my nails. Not a chip or scratch anywhere. Tonight, I removed the polish to redo my nails and discovered that my nails had improved immensely. They look like I never had an issues, and I did have some. I am ordering another color. Best nail product I’ve ever used-and I am 73 years old! It also looks very classy! I am amending this review- I forgot to say that I had this polish on for an entire week before removing it.” — Amazon Customer
“I have been looking for a product like this for years. Just something to make my nails look fresh and clean without being too opaque OR too sheer. This is a perfect balance of both. I got the lilac, and it reminds me of that layer on the outside of pearls. When applied to my nails it looks glassy, milkish, and ever so slightly iridescent.” —Elisa F
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