Self Leveling Nail Builder Gel | Light Beige

I got the pink builder gel because I was under the impression all madam glam was HEMA free. However I have since realized they are not and I can’t seem to find clear answers on the description of this product. However I did try it and unfortunately reacted to it. Despite that I’m giving it 5 stars because if you don’t react to HEMA this product is pretty amazing. It goes on easily and isn’t super thick. It levels itself out you can brush it on and literally watch it level itself. It’s more of a polish consistency than other builder gels I’ve used. Make sure you look into how to use this prior. You have to use a base coat and it does have a tacky or sticky finish like all other builders I’ve used in the past. I cured for a lot longer to help minimize any potential reactions but it seems to cure nicely. It’s a very pretty sheer color and you could easily paint over it with other colors if you wanted to.

As someone who has tried many different brands and has done nails on and off for 4 years or so, I highly recommend madam glam based on the ingredients. I’ve used the peel off base, works wonders! .. many of the builder bottles and their base and top coats. I also believe their gel polishes are highly pigmented too. Builder gels aren’t meant to be highly pigmented so they cure properly! Otherwise you’d have to layer them with thin layers. Builder gels are NOT meant to be opaque in one layer. If you cannot see down to the last cured layer, you’re doing way too thick! Use multiple layers when using more pigmented builders and you won’t have curing issues. Anyways I almost always try to use HEMA free on myself since it’s harder to avoid instances of getting gel onto the skin. I recommend using hema free if you’re doing your own nails, but as the cost is more expensive for better ingredients… I could see why a nail tech would charge more for hema free services or choose not to offer them. HEMA free tends to be 5X more expensive at least for salon quality. And as someone who doesn’t often get gel onto clients, risk of having a client get an allergic reaction is pretty low. It’s repeated exposure so it’s much more likely to develop allergies as a nail tech. Hope that makes sense! As far as consistency and curing time, I’ve NEVER had an issue even with non-salon brands. Add gel polish thinner to old gels and they’re easier to work with again. Using acetone or rubbing alcohol as a thinner can destroy the integrity of the gel; use a proper thinner. I’ve had a set of builder gel last on my nails for two months when I got lazy. This stuff will stay on FOREVER if applied correctly. If you get lifting, you’re not using base gel, not removing cuticles, getting gel on the skin, leaving it too thick where it should be thin, or you/client is picking at it too often… which is easier when it’s not applied nicely to begin with. I hate to see a wonderful product get abnormally low reviews when it’s most likely a user issue and not the product itself. I hope this review is helpful coming from a nail tech!

I don’t know why or if this is expected from this brand, but the builder is extra lumpy and viscous. It was nearly impossible to apply and not in a smooth and visibly neat way. I didn’t want perfect but this is… terrible. I can’t capture it well in pictures but I am so upset. Is it just the white color? Did I get a bad one?!

My favorite builder gel. Super adaptable and good for beginners. I've been using it for two years now to add structure to my gel x nails and have yet to find a better one. Not too thick or thin.

I have used this a couple times, takes longer to cure but it’s a stunning color and good quality. I will say all companies need to put cure times and min temp on products.

“Llevo tiempo probando diferentes gels de construcción y este ha sido una grata sorpresa. Desde la presentación, el envase es práctico y elegante, fácil de abrir y cerrar, lo cual me da confianza al trabajar en mis clientas. La consistencia es ideal: no demasiado líquida ni demasiado espesa, lo que me permite manejarlo sin que escurra y al mismo tiempo se autonivela de manera preciosa, reduciendo el tiempo de limado. Durante la aplicación no se forman burbujas, el pincel se desliza suave y me da un control total sobre la forma de la uña. En cuanto a la resistencia, ¡me encantó! Las uñas quedan firmes pero con un aspecto natural y ligero. Lo he probado tanto en extensiones como en refuerzos, y en ambos casos se mantiene impecable por semanas, sin desprendimientos ni quiebres. El acabado tiene un brillo muy bonito que realza aún más cualquier diseño que coloque encima. En mi opinión, este gel es una herramienta perfecta tanto para quienes están comenzando en el mundo de las uñas como para técnicas más avanzadas. Personalmente lo recomendaría al 100%, ya que combina calidad, durabilidad y una aplicación muy cómoda. Definitivamente se ha convertido en uno de mis favoritos en el estudio

Personally I didn’t care for the consistency of this product. Too thick.

Self leveling is really not the best. Super thick & very slow. Wouldn’t even suggest for a beginner because it’s so slow that it requires a lot of going back and tampering with the nail yourself to get it to the right shape. Took way longer than my usual set on myself due to this.