LacQit One-Step Gel Polish Review and Swatches

I have an exciting new product to share with my fellow SOG (soak off gel) polish fans… LacQit one-step gel polish.  This polish is different from any other SOG product I have tried to-date in that it only requires two coats of color (NO base coat or top coat) and after curing in an LED light for 30 seconds it’s completely dry to the touch.  You can pull your hand out of the light and run it through your hair without getting a single strand stuck… it doesn’t have any tackiness or require wiping.  This product is great for people that don’t have a lot of time to spend on their nails, but still want the long-lasting effects of gel polish.

Guess what… The Nail Scene provided me with two LacQit starter kits!  One for me… and one for you!  This kit is a $59.95 CAD value and contains a pro LED lamp, a full-size bottle of LacQit polish, a bottle of cuticle oil, a timer, two nail buffers and a nail file.  Click here for the GIVEAWAY details!

Now… onto the review!  My first observation about this kit is that it would be really great for traveling and I can guarantee that I will be taking this with me on my two scheduled vacations this year.  The LED light is small enough to fit in your luggage or carry-on and is very lightweight.  Since LacQit doesn’t require a base coat or top coat, there are less items to pack and worry about.  And the application time is lightning fast because you only have to apply two coats of color and cure for 30 seconds for the first coat, and 60 seconds for the second.

The nail buffers had just the right amount of grit… they weren’t too rough and didn’t damage my nails.  I actually like these buffers better than any others that I currently own.  And the cuticle oil is also very soothing and I like the brush application.

The LacQit polish was very easy to apply, and it really is completely dry after just 30 seconds of curing and there isn’t any tackiness to wipe off.  The polish is shiny, although not quite the high gloss shine that you would normally get with a gel top coat.  The polish also doesn’t look or feel as thick as other SOGs.  A lot of times when I wear gel polish people ask me if my nails are fake because they look a bit thick and bulky.  My nails look much more natural with LacQit.  The polish provides a decent amount of strength, but not as much as it would with a top coat.  You could add additional layers for more strength.

LacQit requires less time to soak off than other SOGs and you can also use regular nail polish remover rather than pure acetone if you prefer!  LacQit recommends soaking for 10 minutes, but it was soaking off in less time than that for me using the foil removal technique – on average about 7-10 minutes.  Another time saver!  One other quick thing to note is that LacQit will also cure with a UV light if you already have one, but it takes 3 minutes to cure this way.

As for durability, LacQit is supposed to last for two weeks without chipping or peeling.  I polished my right hand with Poof! You’re Purple and have had it on for 8 days now.  The tips are just barely showing some wear and the finish is a little duller, however to be fair I did play with acetone while swatching my left hand several times this past weekend so that could play a part.  Here are quick pics of my right hand (the ugly hand!)… and these were very hard to take since I’m right-handed!

The Nail Scene also provided me with a nice selection colors to try and I swatched all of their new spring colors to share with you!

Run for the Pink is a rich shade of pink with a creamy finish.

Mauve Over is a lovely shade of lilac purple.  A great spring color.

Mint in a Minute is a gorgeous minty green.  Mint is very popular right now… loving it.

Road Trip with Rosie is a shimmery, dark pink.  I really like the finish of this one.

Ragtop Red is a very classic, bright red!  This one will get their attention!

And speaking of attention getters… how about this NEON pink!  This is Hit the Beach… a very suiting name (pun intended).

Cosmo to Go is the color that came with my kit, and also the color that is included in the giveaway kit.  This is a soft, creamy pink and it a little lighter than Run for the Pink.

I still have a few other colors to try, but my nails needed a bit of a break.  :)  Just to show you, I swatched these ones on a color wheel.  From left to right, these are Quick Latte, Pop the Cork, Poof! You’re Purple, and Wine N Dine.

And if you’re still reading and want to learn more about LacQit and see how easy it is to use, check out this video.

* Products were provided for review. Opinions are my own.