Recent regulation requires the gel nail ingredient trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide (TPO) to be off shelves by February 2027. Beauty editor and trained nail technician Humeara Mohamed has reviewed three TPO-free at-home gel kits, naming Mylee as the best overall and Manucurist as the best for nail health.
What the Gel Nail Ban Means
The term “gel nail ban” is misleading. Gel nails themselves are not banned; legislation only requires TPO to be removed from products by February 2027. Dr. Christine Hall explained that TPO was recategorised as a “1B carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reprotoxic” substance, meaning it poses a presumed risk to humans based on animal testing. The amount of TPO in nail polishes would need to be multiplied by around a thousand to pose any fertility risk to humans. All kits recommended here are TPO-free.
Top At-Home Gel Kits Reviewed
Mylee The Main Gel Nail Polish Kit (£95, Sephora.co.uk) is the best overall. It is vegan, cruelty-free, HEMA-free and TPO-free, curing in 60 seconds. The kit includes a lamp, polishes, remover, prep solution, buffer, builder gel, nail files and a cleanup brush. The formulas are smooth, one-swipe opaque and long-lasting. The 2-in-1 Nail Prep & Wipe removes residual oils to extend polish wear.
Manucurist Starter Kit (£63, Lookfantastic.com) is best for nail health. It is vegan, cruelty-free, HEMA-free and TPO-free, with natural ingredients like potato-derived sorbitol. The Green Flash formulas cure under LED lights, don’t chip, and can be removed with the brand’s remover and a cotton pad. There are 124 shades to choose from. The downside is a slight drying time and incompatibility with other brands.
14 Day Mani Au Naturel HEMA-Free Gel Polish At-Home Kit (£79, 14daymanicure.com) is best for a “clean girl” look. It is vegan, cruelty-free, HEMA-free and TPO-free, with a professional-grade cuticle pusher. The sheer formulas include candy-floss pink, milky white, sparkly pink and rose gold. It can be hard to achieve an opaque finish.
Final Verdict
Each kit excels in different areas: Manucurist for nail health, 14 Day Mani for aesthetic, and Mylee for budding professionals. Humeara Mohamed, a freelance beauty editor with over a decade of experience, currently wears 14 Day Mani’s “Champagne” with Mylee’s Nail Prep & Wipe.
