My Honest Review of Le Mini Macaron Gel Polish

Updated 2025.09.02. This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something through these links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. These products were kindly gifted by Le Mini Macaron after sharing my thoughts with them on DIY manicures. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

September 1, 2025 Note: Some gel polishes we tested from this brand list TPO, which isn’t approved in the EU, while others use the approved alternative, TPO-L. Online listings also show TPO-L, so it seems the brand may be updating their formulas. As always, check your bottle for the most accurate ingredient list.

Le Mini Macaron is a nail care brand that launched in 2015 with the aim to create an easy, inexpensive at home manicure that gave everyone the opportunity to get salon quality gel nails wherever they liked. They make everything you need for a gel manicure plus 21-free nail polish, cuticle oils, chrome powders, lint free pads, remover, nail tools and so much more - all in cute, aesthetically pleasing packaging.

Their signature product is the Le Mini Macaron Gel Manicure Kit which retails for less than $50. It includes everything you need to create a long lasting gel manicure - from the nail tools to the color and the lamp.

Their gel manicure system is very cost effective and features a single-finger gel lamp, which limits your exposure to unnecessary UV rays.

Part of the reason I believe it is so cost effective is that the gel polishes are 3-in-1. You only need the color. The color serves as your base coat and it’s shiny enough for your top coat.

They do make an extra top coat - the Gel Shine Top Coat; it’s an optional no wipe top coat.

You can use it to add extra shine, encapsulate chrome powder or extended wear. 

It is not necessary for long lasting results, but can be useful for enhanced glossiness, nail art and squeezing a few extra days out of your manicure.

Only needing the 1-step color for your gel manicure saves you time and money - because you reduce the 2 additional coats for base and top, plus the added expenses of these products. 

Also, their gel polishes are vegan, cruelty free, HEMA free and long lasting.

The longest I have worn one of their gel manicures is 21 days, though on average I have kept their gel on for 9-10 days before switching to a new color.

You can wear their gels for up to 3 weeks, but I’m used to regular nail polish - so I like to switch out colors more frequently.

Let’s look at a few swatches of Le Mini Macaron’s Gel Polishes:

Le Mini Macaron Pearlescence

Shown in 3 coats, Pearlescence is a very sheer white pearl with a slight purplish-pink tint. You can wear it as a top coat or on its own - it has a very fairy-like feel on the nail. 

Get Le Mini Macaron Pearlescence at Ulta

Le Mini Macaron Rose Buttercream + Pearlescence

Shown in 2 coats, Rose Buttercream is a deep warm neutral rosy beige. I topped it with 1 coat of Pearlescence, which softens the look and brings out mauve hues.

Get Le Mini Macaron Rose Buttercream at Ulta

Le Mini Macaron Pomegranate

Shown in 3 thin coats, I was very pleased with this shade. It really held up well during my wear test and it’s the perfect back to school red.

Get Le Mini Macaron Pomegranate at Ulta

For best results with the Le Mini Macaron gel polishes, aim for 3 thin coats instead of 2 thick coats to create the strongest adhesion and longest lasting finish.

I did proper prep for each manicure, and the brand recommends a very thin starting coat of color.

Though, what really seemed to create the longest lasting magic was the times when I painted the polish very thin every coat. So thin that by the 2nd coat, I was slightly concerned I wouldn’t reach opacity by 3 coats - but I did.

Very thin. I'm going to be doing each color coat super thin moving forward, because it worked out the best.

So 3 thin coats of the 1-step color had the best results for me.

To finish your manicure, you can add a layer of Gel Shine top coat, if you have it, but as mentioned above, it’s a extra, helpful touch; not required.

When it comes time for removal, I’ve been using remover wraps.

While you can do the soaking bowls, I like the remover wraps because they conserve acetone. 

My acetone usage is something I’m more conscious of now than ever before because it went up considerably in price the past few years.

I started with the remover wraps that came with their gel manicure kit and have since started using remover wraps from Red Carpet Manicure, simply because I had these on hand from a giveaway I won.

This gel polish can really adhere - so be patient.

You may have to do several rounds of pulling off the wraps and scraping off the gel crumbles, then putting the wraps back on and doing it again, when it comes time for removing this color.

While you remove your gel nails, make sure to put on a good podcast or YouTube stream as it will pass the time.

All in all, I love the 3-in-1 color, the color names on the caps and matching hues on the bottles themselves, the HEMA-free formula and the price point.

I think it’s safe to say Le Mini Macaron achieved their goal at creating an easy, inexpensive at home gel manicure.

To get started with Le Mini Macaron, I recommend picking up a Le Mini Macaron Gel Manicure Kit in your preferred color. This way you’ll have the basics you need to begin.

Then, build out your color selection from there.

I selected the Cassis Gel Manicure Kit to start with Pearlescence, Rose Buttercream, Pomegranate and Chocolate Cherry (not shown) as my beginning colors, but there are so many beautiful shades. For my next Le Mini Macaron gel manicure, I’ll be doing Chocolate Cherry but I’m saving it for October, when I’m diving into vampier shades. Find Le Mini Macaron at Ulta, Target, Amazon and Nordstrom.

Other Articles You May Enjoy:

• 5 HEMA Free Gel Nail Polish Brands

• OPI Intelli-Gel Colors

• How To Get Better Gel Polish Adhesion

• How To Remove Gel Polish At Home

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