Beetles Clear Builder Gel for Nails 0.51 OZ 7 in 1 Clear Builder Strengthener Enhancement for Beginners & DIY Salon Manicure

Love this builder gel. I have the pink and now the clear. Easy to use and now I don't have to pay to get my nails done. Team it up with the beetles base and top coat. Takes me about 45 mins to do both hands with base coat, gel coat and top coat. Not perfect, but I'm getting better.

I tried this with white nail tips and the entire process was a fraction of the time compared to my usual acrylic powder and monomer. My family appreciated it was odorless. I normally stink up the house lol. Here's what I did and it turned out great. 1) Push cuticles back. I didn't clip mine this time because I had an allergic reaction the last time I cut them, so left them. 2) Use a buffer to remove the shine on the nails and any dead skin. 3) Apply dehydrator to nails 4) Use buffer on the nail tip to add texture for better adhesion. 5) Glue on the nail extension. 6) Apply a layer of base coat. It will be sticky so make sure you don't touch anything that may stick to it. (Avoid skin!) 7) Put nail under UV lamp for 120 seconds 8) Add builder gel. I like to brush a layer on, then follow up with a pea sized ball at a time to build up thickness just past and just dab the brush to move it around. You will only be able to do one finger at a time because it's a bit runny. Place it under the UV light for 30 seconds to hold it and move to the next nail until all are ready for the official 120 second bake. Use nail file to fix any messy edges. (Avoid skin!) 9) Add top coat and put under UV light for 120 seconds. (Avoid skin!) 10) Use nail file to shape any messy edges. 11) Wash hands with soap and water and add cuticle oil. Make sure you avoid any of the gels leaking off the nail bed. This will help prevent skin irritation and premature lifting. So far the product seems pretty good. Hopefully it will last two weeks, but if it doesn't I still think it's worth buying just to save time and avoid the strong odor of monomor. Follow up: It's been a week since I used the builder gel and it has lasted without lifting surprisingly longer than the acrylic powders that I've been using, so I changed my review to 5 stars. Even though I was very careful I did have another reaction from the beetles product. I'm not sure what chemical agent is in their polishes and gels, but it always makes my skin itch and if I'm not careful I have broken out in blisters all around my cuticles and it runs up my fingers. The itching and pain when that happens is UNREAL and lasts for weeks! I recommend applying their products on one finger (I know that is tough when you are excited to do your nails) and wait a couple of days to see if you have any type of allergic reaction or skin sensitivity to any of their products before you go all in and do a full set of nails.

First experience with bottled builder gel, i’m impressed with how it performs, it’s fairly easy to work with (forming the apex takes a bit of practice but it’s not too hard) and it cures nicely. Previously I was doing Beetles gel polish with their top and base coat, and this would last me maybe 1.5-2 weeks without peeling or my nails breaking. Since adding in the builder gel, my manicures are lasting 4 weeks easily!! Only issue is the bottle does get quite messy and leak sometimes, I’ve found this is an unavoidable issue with Beetles packaging

Easy to use for at home nails.

I'm very impressed with Beetles overall This builder gel is brilliant! Applies smoothly, lightly & evenly practically like nail polish. It dries hard & has long wear. I've been using another brand on here & have found it to be a bit thick, patchy & gluggy. Beetles builder is far more superior by a mile but not as great as cnd or ibd. It is pricier than say Aimeili but as a builder is the foundation of my nail & tips Im prepared to pay a little more. ie; $22 but def not more. I like that I can apply a thin light coat & increase it as needed or suited. Im finding I have to file down & smooth over the other cheaper brands on here no matter how thin I try to apply it. This builder hardens unlike Aimeili which is rubbery & lifts or ruins especially if you wet your nails daily. I notice the price has returned to a decent cost unlike the doubling cost earlier. Beetles was great at $22-$30 but ridiculous & definitely not worth $45+ I love the clear & nudes more so than the brighter colours. Cures well, applies evenly, consistently, fairly self levelling & lasts quite some time. Wipe off sticky layer before filing/smoothing otherwise can end up with little balls of sticky product. I use it with long nail tips & is great. It cures almost as strong as acrylic but is removed easily & no damage to nails. In fact after years of acrylics & thin weak nails my nails have now grown back to thicker stronger healthier nails underneath & I can continue wearing my long tips. I notice if you make a wrong move & break a nail it does break your natural nail underneath like acrylic it sort of just lifts off! Way better than acrylics & almost as strong.