I destroyed my nails with gel for years and finally committed to actually caring for them. These Korean-inspired picks from Sephora brought my nails back from the dead.
Sections
5
Nail Prep Essentials
Base & Top Coats 🛡️
Nail Treatments
Pretty Colors 🎨
Tools That Actually Help
Nail Prep Essentials
You gotta start with a clean base or nothing else matters. I skipped this step for way too long and wondered why my polish always chipped in two days.
takes off everything without drying out your cuticles. I go through bottles of this.
deborah lippmann
so easy to use, just dip and twist 🫧
Gentle Nail Polish Remover - Sephora.me
my cuticles were a MESS before I found this. gentle but actually works.
Deborah Lippmann
basic but solid. gets a clean cut every time.
SEPHORA COLLECTION Precision Nail Clipper Set
way better than those cheap drugstore files
Olive and June
Base & Top Coats 🛡️
These are the real MVPs honestly. A good base coat alone added like three extra days to my manicure.
smooth application, dries fast, and my polish actually sticks now
deborah lippmann
doubles as a strengthener which is exactly what my thin nails needed 💪
Power Coat (Base Coat)
dries in like a minute. not exaggerating.
deborah lippmann
I layer this under everything. total workhorse product.
Manucurist Green Flash Long-Lasting Gel Vitaminized Base Coat
the shine on this is unreal. looks wet for days
Top Gloss (Quick Dry Top Coat)
Nail Treatments
This is where the Korean nail care philosophy really shines. It's all about nourishing and strengthening instead of just covering up damage.
my nails stopped breaking after about two weeks of using this 🙌
LIPPMANN Hard Rock Hydrating Nail Hardener (Women)
smells amazing and actually absorbs instead of sitting there being greasy
Deborah Lippmann It's A Miracle Cuticle Oil
I keep one at my desk and one by my bed. tiny bottle, big results.
Olive & June Cuticle Serum - 0.14 fl oz
sheer pink that makes bare nails look healthy and polished
Dew
got this when my nails were peeling. fixed them in about three weeks.
deborah lippmann
Pretty Colors 🎨
Once your nails are healthy you actually want to show them off. These shades give that clean Korean manicure look I'm always going for.
the perfect dusty rose. I get asked about this shade constantly.
Nostalgia
soft nude that works on literally everyone
Muse
sheer ballet pink. very clean girl energy.
Amazing Grace Nail Polish - Deborah Lippmann
crisp white for when I want that minimal vibe
Kookie White
warm peachy tone, perfect for spring and summer 🍑
Olive and June
Tools That Actually Help
I used to just use my teeth and a random file lol. Having the right tools makes the whole process feel like a little spa moment at home.
makes painting your non-dominant hand SO much easier. trust me on this one.
Does the Olive & June Poppy Kit Work? | Review | PS Beauty
quick buff and my nails look shiny without any polish
