Magnetic nail polish combines a few of my favorite things: nail polish, science, and making my nails look like precious gemstones. I think I have my priorities down. See the end for tips on how to best apply cat eye nail polish.
For more striking shades, check out holographic nail polish and color changing nail polish.
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Amazon Customer Reviews
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Amazon Customer Reviews
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Amazon Customer Reviews
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Amazon Customer Reviews
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Amazon Customer Reviews
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1. EDITOR’S CHOICE: Mizhse 9D Chameleon Gel (UV Gel)
Pros:- Vibrate duochrome colors
- Five magnetic polishes and black base gel
- Long-lasting formula
- Includes two magnet sticks
- Base coat, top coat, and matte top coat
Cons:- Smaller than average bottles
- Not as long-lasting as other gel
- Needs UV lamp to cure
The Mizhse Magnetic Polish is vibrant, colorful, and comes with lots of extras. You get five different duochrome polish shades as well as a black UV gel polish as a base color. The set includes a base coat, glossy top coat, matte top coat, and two magnetic sticks.
Have two magnets is key to getting this striking black hole ring effect as you need to approach the nail with the magnets from both sides and then from the top and bottom. Another thing I really appreciate is that they represent the colors (including multichrome shift) on the outside of the bottle so it’s easier to tell which shade is which. This is another gel so it will need to cure under a UV lamp.
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2. Born Pretty 4-Piece Set
Pros:- Regular nail polish
- Includes black polish base
- Also multichrome
- Cruelty-free
Cons:- Not full-size bottles
- Too flashy for some
- Shipping can be slow
Sure, you can have cat eye nails, but Born Pretty wants to raise that bar to magnetic polish that is also multichrome. Born Pretty is known for their nail art supplies and they haven’t let us down here. Born Pretty magnetic polishes have great definition, respond well to magnets, and are long-lasting.
These definitely need to be layered over a black base in order to have the contrast to really shine but the set includes three multichrome cat eye polishes and a black polish.
The flat side of the included magnet pulls the particles together into a line and the rounded side repels the particles for more of a swirling look. You can see some neat magnet work in this YouTube demo video. This magnet stick can be used with all magnetic polish brands.
Buy the Born Pretty Chameleon Magnetic Polish 4 Piece Set here.
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3. Sally Hansen (8-Piece Set)
Pros:- Magnet on cap
- No UV lamp needed
- Nice range of earth and jewel-tone metallics
- Doesn’t need black base coat
Cons:- No longer carried on their site
- Smaller than regular polish bottles
- Colors can be a little dull
When the magnetic nail polish trend first kicked off, Sally Hansen got in on the game about a year in with their Magnetic Nail Color line. They don’t carry them on the Sally Hansen site anymore but you can still find them elsewhere online.
Like a good drugstore polish, these are made to be convenient so there is a chunky false cap on top of the regular cap. Pull that off and you have your magnet. The magnet also has a cuticle guide–a small curved metal lip that helps you rest the magnet over your nail at the right height without hitting your polish. Love that.
The magnet creates the wavy pattern shown on the cap. Since the magnet is smaller, to make sure your entire nail is covered, carefully rock the magnet left and right so the sides of your nails get some magnet-love too.
I like that these don’t need a black base coat. Just one thin coat of polish followed by a thicker one.
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4. MTSSII Sets (UV Gel)
Pros:- Five colors in the set
- Includes black gel polish
- Long lasting UV gel
- Comes with dual magnet stick
- Vibrant multichrome
Cons:- Needs a UV or LED lamp to cure
- Doesn't include second magnet
- Doesn't come with top or base coat
If you like your nails to be colorful, go with this MTSSII Cat Eye Set. It includes five color magnetic polishes, black gel polish for a base, and a dual-ended magnet. The colors on these are vibrant and they are multichrome nail polish meaning their colors shifts depending on the angle the polish is viewed from.
I like how high contrast these color differences which really stand out in concentric ring magnetic designs.
Find more MTSSII Sets (UV Gel) information and reviews here.
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5. Gellen (UV Gel)
Pros:- Straightforward metallic colors
- Choice of sets
- Works out to under $4 per bottle
- Long-lasting gel
- Responsive company
- Includes magnet stick
Cons:- Colors in sets not always exactly what you expect
- Need UV lamp to cure
- No special finishes like holographics
For something a little more elegant, we have Gellen’s Cat Eye Kit which comes with six metallic polishes and a magnet stick. As you can guess by the brand name, these are gel polishes so you’ll want to follow normal gel curing steps.
There is a nice range of colors in each set from pinks to subtle silvers and there are four different color combination sets to choose from. Gellen isn’t 100 percent at definitely matching the colors in each set as advertised so it might be a little bit more of a grab bag than you intended but all the colors are great so it’s not a huge deal in my opinion.
Plus, we finally get a free magnet. It’s a flat magnet to create the classic cat eye line. If for some reason your set doesn’t arrive with one, Gellen is awesome at responding and making sure you get everything you were supposed to.
If you’re brand new to gel nail polish, Gellen also has a series of sets with six metallic polishes, two magnet sticks, and top and base coat–for the same price. So if you have the space in your polish storage, that’s a deal to jump on.
Again, you want to layer these over black or else the effect will be muddy.
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6. Modelones Gel Cat Eye Kit
Pros:- Two multichrome and glitter shades
- Includes base, top coat, and matte top coat
- Great magnet
- Black base is included
Cons:- Not full size bottles
- Two shades are very similar
- May not need or want the extras
If you don’t already have a lot of gel polish, this Cat Eye Kit by Modelones is a great choice because it comes with everything except the nail lamp.
You get Modelones’ gel base coat, glossy top coat, matte top coat, black UV gel, and two shades of magnetic and multichrome polish. The shades do look pretty similar but one has much more holographic glitter. They also include a dual-head magnet still with a removable magnet so you can even crisper lines.
The shades are a chameleon shift of pink to purple to blue which looks like a galaxy when swatched over black.
I have media samples of Modelones’ top and base coats and they’re easy to work with. In my experience, they’re pleasantly thick but not goopy. The glossy top coat keeps its shine for a long time which I like.
Find more Modelones Gel Cat Eye Kit information and reviews here.
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7. KBShimmer
Pros:- Colors are bought individually
- Supporting indie polish brand
- Don't need a UV lamp
- Cruelty-free
- Black base color is optional
Cons:- Doesn't include magnet
- Not as long lasting as gel
- Pricier than brands from overseas
For a non-UV gel option, check out KBShimmer’s line of magnetic polish. I’ve tried out several of these shades as media samples and they have a really lovely galaxy look and are easy to apply.
I particularly like Sol Mate (multi-chrome copper with pink cat eye and holographic flakies), and Solar Flair (bronze metallic with gold cat eye and holographic glitter.)
I like that using a black base color isn’t needed for great-looking results with KBShimmer. Each polish is available for sale individually but does not come with a magnet.
How Do You Apply Magnetic Polish?
1. Roll or shake your polish bottle. You can also lean it upside down for a few minutes to make sure the metallic particles haven't all sunk to the bottom.
2. Apply a good dark base. Most magnetic polishes are a little sheer and look best over black.
3. One nail at a time, apply a coat of magnetic polish thicker than you normally would and place the magnet as close to the nail polish as possible, at the angle you'd like to create your design.
3. Give it a good count to 30 before you pull it away so the metals have time to rearrange themselves. If you're using gel nail polish do not cure the polish until after you've applied your magnet.
4. Repeat the above with a second coat if needed.
5. Wait. You've got to give the polish time to dry and set the design before applying your top coat. (Unless you're working with gel top coats, then just cure that thing.)
Why Is There So Much Gel Magnetic Polish?
Simply put, it's easier to get the cat eye nail look you want with gel because the polish isn't going to dry before you want it to. It gives you more time to play with the magnet and get the perfect shape before curing it in place.
As soon as regular polish is out of the bottle it's starting to harden. That doesn't mean you can't get a stunning cat eye manicure without gel. You just have to work quickly and apply a thicker than normal layer of magnetic polish.
How Can I Make Cat Eye More Exiting?
Other than using specialized magnets to create nail art with the magnetized particles, you can get cat eye polish that isn't only magnet.
I recently featured a magnetic polish in my best reflective nail polish feature but you can also find magnetic sets that change color depending on the temperature.