When you think of Japanese gel, what comes to mind? Cute little pots, right? Well, fear not, the cute little pots are not going ANYWHERE. However, a hot new bottled gel bombshell has officially entered the villa.
Bottle’n Go is the newest collection of bottled color gels and foundation gels from Kokoist. The collection includes 58 color gels along with Sticky Base and Totally Glossy Non-Wipe Top. The entire collection is free of both HEMA and TPO. Scroll to the bottom of this post for more information on these ingredients and why people are talking about them in the nail industry.
Packaging Review
Bottle’n Go’s brush is honestly my favorite. It’s a fan-style brush that makes application and coverage incredibly easy, especially for self-application. The color gel bottles are matte solid white with colored product labeling on both the front and top, so no matter how you store them, you can easily find what you’re looking for.
Color Payoff & Curing
The Bottle’n Go color range includes a variety of finishes including opaque creams, glassy syrups, sheer finishes, and high-impact glitter gels. If you’re working with the more opaque colors, I do not recommend flash curing. Give them a full cure for the best performance and longevity.
Sticky Base Gel
Along with the color collection, Kokoist also released an updated soft base gel called Sticky Base. I would say the closest comparison is Mega Stick Base, however Sticky Base feels much softer and more flexible. You cannot build structure with it, but it works beautifully for a standard soak-off gel manicure or as a base layer underneath a gel overlay.
I have pretty finicky, bendy nails, so when I took Sticky Base on a test drive, I skipped primers completely and lightly prepped my natural nail with a diamond bit. I was honestly surprised by the durability. I got about 10 days of wear, which basically never happens for me with a standard gel manicure. When it came time to soak off, removal was easy and straightforward.
Totally Glossy Non-Wipe Top
I really like this top gel. I don’t think I’ll be retiring my beloved Ultra Glossy Non-Wipe Top anytime soon, but I really enjoyed the viscosity and flexibility of Totally Glossy. I also appreciate having another HEMA-free and TPO-free top gel option alongside Jelly Top.
Color & Formula Options
The Bottle’n Go collection is the newest member of the Kokoist color gel family, joining its bottled sister, Nail Thoughts Color Gel, along with the iconic potted Excel Color line.
As you go through the collection, you may find yourself experiencing a bit of déjà vu. While there are plenty of brand-new shades, Kokoist has also created bottled versions of several fan-favorite Excel colors, and there are definitely a few color twins mixed in there too. I’m a bit of a color nerd and this is a BIG collection, but I promise a full color comparison blog post is coming soon.
Whether you prefer the convenience of bottled gel or the traditional feel of Japanese potted gel, Kokoist now offers a variety of options across both categories with finishes ranging from syrup gels and creamy opaques to glitter-packed shades.
Collection Swatches + Discount Code
Shopping the Kokoist Bottle’n Go collection or picking up some of your favorite salon staples? Use code RACHEL10 at Kokoist USA to save on your order.
What Even Is HEMA and TPO?
HEMA (2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate) is a common monomer used in gel nail products, while TPO (Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide) is a photoinitiator used to help cure UV/LED gels. While these ingredients are generally considered safe in nail products when used correctly by trained professionals, allergies can arise with repeated exposure to uncured or improperly applied gel products.
Since 2020, the DIY nail community has absolutely exploded and along with it came cheap and easily accessible products, limited product knowledge, and a whole lot of well-meaning but questionable social media advice. Honestly, I’m zero percent surprised that nearly six years later, consumers are starting to experience issues.
I’ve been licensed since 2019 but long before I pursued nails professionally, I was once a DIY nail girlie. Yes, there’s way more information available now, but when you don’t fully understand what you’re using or how to use it properly, it’s easy to assume all gel products are created equal. They’re not. When you don’t understand curing lamps, it’s easy to think all lamps are created equal. They aren’t. When you’ve spent three hours trying to finish one hand only to have the gel peel off the next day, it’s easy to fall into an “ends justify the means” mentality and start layering random primers, bases, and products together. Not a great idea. That’s not even touching on the amount of over-filing and nail damage that can happen when an inexperienced hand picks up an e-file. See where I’m going here?
The beauty industry loves a buzzy marketing term, and phrases like “hypoallergenic,” “5-free,” “10-free,” and “clean beauty” are perfect examples. There is no official universal standard or governing body overseeing many of these claims. Most, if not all, nail coatings and enhancements belong to the acrylate family. Yes, even the glue used for press-on nails is a cyanoacrylate. It’s not inherently good or bad, it just is.
I still use many products on myself and my clients that contain HEMA and/or TPO in safe and regulated amounts, and I also use many products that are free of those ingredients. As both an artist and salon owner, I’m excited to see more options available for clients who are specifically looking to avoid HEMA and TPO-based formulas.
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