Best Gel Nail Polish? 782 Reviews of Sally Hansen, OPI and Olive & June

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Review-analysis guide: 782 customer reviews read on Ulta and Target (October 27, 2026), sorted and counted by us; product details from Amazon listings checked October 27, 2026.

By The Beauty Read · Checked October 27, 2026 · AI-assisted research and editing · Contains Amazon affiliate links

Only one pick here is a true gel nail polish: Olive & June Gel Nail Polish (paid link) is cured under an LED lamp, while the two-step polish from Sally Hansen (paid link) and OPI Infinite Shine (paid link) are gel-like, no lamp needed, per their listings. Only 7% to 9% of each one's reviews said a manicure lasted 7 days or more. OPI drew the fewest early-chip reports (9% of 289 on Ulta; Olive & June, read on Target, 13%).

Best gel nail polish: what 782 reviews say

The first thing to know about gel nail polish here: only one of these three is a true gel. Olive & June Gel Nail Polish is cured under an LED lamp, and its listing says each coat goes under the brand's lamp over its gel base coat. The Sally Hansen and OPI Infinite Shine polishes are gel-like: Sally Hansen's listing says "No UV/LED light needed" and OPI's says "No UV nail lamp needed." We read 782 Ulta and Target reviews of the three to see how often reviewers said a manicure lasted, chipped early, went on smoothly or gave trouble. [R-ULT-SH] [R-ULT-OPI] [R-TGT-OJ] [A1] [A2] [A3]

26 of 283 usable Sally Hansen reviews (9%), 19 of 289 OPI (7%) and 14 of 191 Olive & June (7%) said a manicure lasted 7 days or more, about the same for all three; most reviewers gave no day count, so this cannot test the listed wear claims. In all, including those, these shares of reviewers said it lasts without chipping: 25% for Sally Hansen, 26% for OPI and 18% for Olive & June. Early chipping or peeling came up in 9% of OPI and 18% of Sally Hansen reviews on Ulta and 13% of Olive & June reviews on Target. [R-ULT-SH] [R-ULT-OPI] [R-TGT-OJ] [A1] [A2] [A3]

Low ratings were common. On Ulta, 40% of usable Sally Hansen reviews and 24% of OPI reviews gave one or two stars; on Target, 47% of Olive & June reviews did. The two sites draw different reviewers, so compare the Target figure with care. [R-ULT-SH] [R-ULT-OPI] [R-TGT-OJ]

Which reviews we read, and the 19 we set aside

Ulta's pages did not serve every review. They served 295 of 2,341 shown for Sally Hansen and 294 of 2,181 for OPI Infinite Shine, and on both pages every shade shares one review list. On Target, 219 reviews were shown for Olive & June Gel Polish, also shared across shades; we read the 193 written on Target and skipped 26 copied from other sites. We kept 763 and set aside 19. [R-ULT-SH] [R-ULT-OPI] [R-TGT-OJ]

What we set aside: 7 repeated on the same page, 6 mostly about another product or the brand in general, 3 with no real text, 2 about shipping or the store only and 1 from someone who had not used it yet. No review we read said the polish was free, and no month formed a one-sided burst, so we did not set aside any date window. The biggest month was January 2025 for Olive & June, with 29 reviews; 16 of them (55%) gave one or two stars, a higher share than the other 162 usable reviews (45%), not a lower one. [R-ULT-SH] [R-ULT-OPI] [R-TGT-OJ]

Some cautions. Each page pools reviews across shades, so they are not only about the shade we link. 242 of Sally Hansen's 283 usable reviews are from 2021 to 2024, while all of Olive & June's date from December 2024 on. Sally Hansen and OPI were read on Ulta and Olive & June on Target, so part of any gap may come from the site. [R-ULT-SH] [R-ULT-OPI] [R-TGT-OJ]

Sally Hansen, the two-step gel-like pick with no lamp

Sally Hansen's listing calls this polish a gel-like, two-step system with no UV/LED light needed: two coats of color on clean, dry nails, allowed to dry, then the brand's matching gel top coat. It promises up to 8 days of color and shine and says the manicure removes just like regular nail polish. We link the 0.5 fl oz bottle in 479 Wine Stock, shipped and sold by Amazon.com. [A1]

In 283 usable Ulta reviews, 99 (35%) liked the color or shade range, 71 (25%) said it lasts without chipping and 26 (9%) said 7 days or more; 40 (14%) said they repurchase it or own many shades. It also drew the highest shares of three complaints: 75 (27%) reported bubbles, streaks, a thick coat or trouble applying it evenly, 52 (18%) chipping or peeling early and 39 (14%) a color that looked different from the cap or photo. [R-ULT-SH]

32 reviewers said they used the matching top coat; 12 of them said it lasts and 10 reported early chips, a small group that splits both ways. Recent reviews are few: 41 usable from 2025 on. [R-ULT-SH]

See Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail Polish, 479 Wine Stock, 0.5 fl oz on Amazon (paid link) · This link opens the 0.5 fl oz bottle in 479 Wine Stock shipped and sold by Amazon.com; other shades are on the same page.

OPI Infinite Shine drew the fewest chip reports

OPI's listing describes Infinite Shine as a gel-like polish with pre-cured gel technology and up to 11 days of wear, with no UV nail lamp needed: one coat of OPI Gel-like Base Coat, two coats of color and a coat of the matching OPI Top Coat. It says the polish removes like regular nail polish with acetone or non-acetone remover. We link the shade Big Apple Red, shipped and sold by Amazon.com. [A2]

Of 289 usable Ulta reviews, 162 (56%) liked the color or shade range, the highest share of the three, 75 (26%) said it lasts without chipping and 59 (20%) said they repurchase it or own many shades. 26 (9%) reported chipping or peeling early, the fewest of the three, though Olive & June was read on Target, so part of that gap may come from the site. 48 (17%) reported bubbles, streaks, a thick coat or trouble applying it evenly. Shoppers searching for OPI gel nail polish should note that this line is gel-like, not lamp-cured. [R-ULT-OPI]

Recent reviews read differently on application: of 115 usable reviews from 2025 on, 28 (24%) reported bubbles, streaks, a thick coat or trouble applying it evenly, against 20 of 174 (11%) before 2025. 6 reviewers said the formula changed and they like it less; we cannot tell the cause. [R-ULT-OPI]

See OPI Infinite Shine Long-Wear Nail Polish, Big Apple Red on Amazon (paid link) · This link opens Infinite Shine in Big Apple Red shipped and sold by Amazon.com; other shades are on the same page.

Olive & June, the true gel that needs an LED lamp

Olive & June's listing describes a gel polish cured under its LED lamp: once the Gel Base Coat is cured, apply one thin coat of color and give it 2 minutes in the Olive & June LED lamp, add a second coat and lamp it again, then finish with the Gel Top Coat and 1 minute under the lamp. It promises up to 21 days of wear and damage-free removal and calls the formula HEMA-free; the ingredient list on the same listing names a Bis-HEMA copolymer and hydroxypropyl methacrylate, so read the full list if you avoid particular acrylates. We link the 0.46 fl oz bottle in Obsessed, shipped and sold by Amazon.com. [A3]

Among 191 usable Target reviews of Olive and June gel polish, 70 (37%) liked the color or shade range, 35 (18%) said it goes on easily, the highest share of the three, and 34 (18%) said it lasts without chipping. 14 (7%) said 7 days or more, the same share as OPI; most gave no day count. Complaints: 33 (17%) reported bubbles, streaks, a thick coat or trouble applying it evenly, 28 (15%) said it was slow to dry, smudged, dented or stayed tacky, 25 (13%) reported early chips and 14 (7%) a lamp or curing problem. 47% gave one or two stars. [R-TGT-OJ]

27 reviewers said they used the brand's base and top coat; 11 of them said it lasts and 5 reported early chips. That group is small. [R-TGT-OJ]

See Olive & June Gel Nail Polish, Obsessed, 0.46 fl oz on Amazon (paid link) · This link opens the 0.46 fl oz gel polish in Obsessed shipped and sold by Amazon.com; it is cured under an LED lamp, and other shades are on the same page.

How each gel polish feels going on, by the reviews

Going on: easy-application praise came from 18% of Olive & June, 11% of OPI and 11% of Sally Hansen reviews, while bubbles, streaks, a thick coat or trouble applying it evenly came up in 27% of Sally Hansen reviews and 17% each of OPI and Olive & June. Few singled out a glossy or gel-like look: 8% each for Sally Hansen and OPI and 4% for Olive & June. [R-ULT-SH] [R-ULT-OPI] [R-TGT-OJ]

Drying: 15% of Olive & June reviewers said it was slow to dry, smudged, dented or stayed tacky, against 8% for Sally Hansen and 6% for OPI. If you want a gel nail polish without lamp curing, Sally Hansen's listing says no UV/LED light is needed and OPI's says no UV nail lamp is needed. 2 Olive & June reviewers named itching, burning or redness around the nails or skin; none did for the other two. [R-ULT-SH] [R-ULT-OPI] [R-TGT-OJ] [A1] [A2] [A3]

Hands often in water or working with their hands: 14 of 14 Sally Hansen and 7 of 7 OPI reviewers who said so said it lasts. These groups are small. [R-ULT-SH] [R-ULT-OPI]

How to remove gel nail polish, per the listings

Sally Hansen says its gel-like polish removes just like regular nail polish. OPI says Infinite Shine comes off like regular polish with acetone or non-acetone remover, with no harsh soaking, filing or scrubbing. Olive & June's listing promises damage-free removal, but the listing text we captured breaks off before its removal steps, so follow the brand's own directions for its gel and do not peel or pry it off. [A1] [A2] [A3]

Few reviewers wrote about removal: 3 Sally Hansen, 4 OPI and 6 Olive & June reviewers said it came off easily or without damage, and 4, 3 and 1 said it was hard to remove or left nails damaged or weakened. [R-ULT-SH] [R-ULT-OPI] [R-TGT-OJ]

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Frequently asked questions

Do you need a lamp for gel nail polish?

Not for two of these. Sally Hansen's listing says no UV/LED light is needed: two color coats, allowed to dry, then its top coat. OPI's says no UV nail lamp is needed, with a base coat, two color coats and a top coat. Olive & June is a true gel: once its base coat is cured, the first color coat gets 2 minutes under its LED lamp, the second is cured again and the top coat gets 1 minute. In its Target reviews, 14 of 191 reported a lamp or curing problem.

Does OPI gel nail polish need a lamp?

The OPI polish we link, Infinite Shine, does not, per its listing. It credits its pre-cured gel technology with up to 11 days of wear, and its routine is a base coat, two color coats and a top coat. In 289 usable Ulta reviews, 26% said it lasts without chipping and 9% reported early chips. We did not read reviews of other OPI lines.

How long does Olive and June gel polish last?

Its listing says up to 21 days of wear. In 191 usable Target reviews, 14 (7%) said a manicure lasted 7 days or more; most reviewers gave no day count, so this cannot test the listed wear claim. In all, including those, 34 (18%) said it lasts without chipping, and 25 (13%) reported early chipping or peeling.

Which polish drew the fewest chip reports?

OPI Infinite Shine: 26 of 289 usable Ulta reviews (9%) reported chipping or peeling early, against 25 of 191 (13%) for Olive & June on Target and 52 of 283 (18%) for Sally Hansen on Ulta. Sally Hansen and OPI drew about the same share of lasts-without-chipping praise (25% and 26%).