ACOS sells two gel polish systems, and choosing between them comes down to one question: whether you want HEMA in the formula. Here is how Magic Beauty and HEMA-Free differ, which base and top coats go with them, and how a gel manicure goes together.
The two-minute answer
- Magic Beauty: the bigger colour range in 15ml bottles, at the lower price per bottle.
- HEMA-Free: 15ml bottles formulated without HEMA or TPO, for techs and clients who want to avoid those ingredients.
Magic Beauty gel polish
Magic Beauty is ACOS's main gel colour system: professional 15ml soak-off gel colour with a smooth, high-pigment formula, cured under an LED or UV lamp. Shades are released in series (#001, #002 and #003), and colours are not duplicated between series, so a salon can build a full wall without doubling up. Every shade has a name and a number; match both when you reorder. Staples such as 001 Black, 002 Snow White, 005 Light Pink and 008 Hot Pink sit alongside the newer shades, and the 68-colour Series #003 kit stocks a whole series at once.
HEMA-Free gel polish
HEMA (hydroxyethyl methacrylate) is a monomer used in many gel nail products, and TPO is a photoinitiator many techs now prefer to avoid. The ACOS HEMA-Free range is formulated without either, in 15ml soak-off bottles that cure under a compatible LED or UV lamp. It suits techs and clients who prefer a HEMA-free formula. Good technique still matters: keep product off the skin and cure every layer fully.
Shades run from 098 Super Black and 097 Super White through nudes such as 018 Nude Pink and 082 Milky Natural Nude to the glitters, with six-colour sets and larger kits.
Side by side
| Magic Beauty | HEMA-Free | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | The widest colour choice | Techs and clients who prefer a HEMA-free formula |
| Bottle | 15ml soak-off | 15ml soak-off |
| Formula | High-pigment gel colour | Formulated without HEMA and TPO |
| Range | The larger range, released in series | A curated range including glitters |
| Kits | 68-colour Series #003 kit | Six-colour sets and larger kits |
| Price | Lower per bottle | Slightly higher per bottle |
Base coats: standard or rubber
The Gel Colour Base Coat is the standard: odourless, non-yellowing, a thin layer that gives the colour a strong foundation to grip, with 100ml and 1L refills. Rubber base is thicker and self-levelling, so it adds a little structure under the colour and smooths out an uneven natural nail, and a tinted rubber base can be worn on its own for a natural finish. ACOS sells it as a Rubber Base Soak-Off Gel collection kit and in 100ml refills in seven shades.
Top coats
Non-Wipe Glossy Top Coat for high shine and Non-Wipe Matte Top Coat for a velvety matte finish. Non-wipe means no sticky layer after curing, so there is no cleanser step at the end.
How a gel manicure goes together
- Prep. Soften and push back the cuticle with Cuticle Remover Gel and the P001 pusher, tidy with the N002 nipper, then lightly buff the shine off the nail plate.
- Bond. A thin coat of Nail Bond on the natural nail.
- Base. A thin coat of base or rubber base, kept off the skin. Cure.
- Colour. Two thin coats, curing after each. Thin coats cure fully; thick coats wrinkle.
- Top coat. Non-wipe glossy or matte, capping the free edge. Cure, and it is finished with no wipe.
Cure times depend on the product and the lamp, so follow the directions on the bottle. The ACOS PRO 96W cordless lamp cures both LED and UV gels.
Cat eye, liner and effects
Magnetic Cat Eye gel goes on as the colour coat and is shaped with a magnet before curing. Liner Gel and Blooming Gel are the nail-art layers between colour and top coat.
Where to buy ACOS gel polish in Adelaide
Both systems, the base and top coats and the lamps are at MV Hair & Beauty, 412 Churchill Road, Kilburn, with click and collect locally and delivery Australia-wide. Standard shipping is free on orders of A$99 and over.
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