I’ve Always Had Broken, Brittle Nails—This Is the Only Product I Trust to Bring Them Back to Life

When it comes to doing an at-home manicure, I always opt for Manucurist's Active Smooth nail polish. Let me give you a bit of back story. After years of getting back-to-back gel manicures, I decided that 2025 would be the year I embraced my natural nails and explored a range of at-home polishes to help bring them back to life. The fact is, my nails are extremely brittle and prone to breaking. A combination of frequent gel manis and neglecting to wear protective gloves when cleaning or opening packages has left them looking pretty worn out, and normal polishes just weren't doing the trick.

So, when my colleague mentioned a nail perfector, I was desperate to give one a go. These clever polishes are more like a skin tint for your nails, adding a sheer wash of colour while helping to blur ridges and keep your natural nails looking healthy. I got my hands on the Manucurist Active Smooth nail perfector, and I've never looked back.

This product single-handedly brings my nails back to life every single time I use it. Don't believe me? Just check out my full review below...

Manucurist Active Smooth Review

The Formula

So, what makes this nail polish so good? The sheer formula features castor oil to help strengthen the nail, vitamin E to hydrate and AHAs to give a smoother-looking appearance. It always amazes me how much this polish manages to cover up nail imperfections, from scratches to streaks, all while nourishing my nails, too. It's the ultimate product for that "your nails, but better" finish.

Another great thing to note is that this polish has a really buildable consistency, so that you can tailor your results. One coat will give a sheer, juicy look, while two or three coats will add a more milky nail effect.

The Shades

The brand recently introduced new shades to the collection, so there are now four different polishes to choose from to suit a range of skin tones. Each polish has its own undertone, including warm, neutral and cool.

I always opt for Active Smooth 01, a slightly paler shade that works perfectly on my nails to give that "barely there" effect.

The Application

Since swapping my gel nails for at-home manicures, I have gotten a lot better at painting my own nails, but I still get a streaky finish every now and again. However, that's never the case with this polish. It is, hands down, the easiest nail product I have ever used. It always delivers a flawless result, and the smooth, shiny finish never fails to earn me compliments.

The ResultBefore Using Manucurist Active Smooth Nail Polish

As you can see, my nails are quite damaged at the moment. They look very uneven and I've had to keep them super short due to breakage.

After Using Manucurist Active Smooth Nail Polish

After just two coats of the Manucurist Active Smooth nail polish, my nails already look so much better. I love the result and I already feel so much more confident about how my mani is looking.

With four neutral shades to suit a range of skin tones, an easy-to-apply formula and a smooth, shiny finish that rivals an in-salon gel manicure, I truly couldn't recommend this nail polish enough.

Shop the Manucurist Active Smooth RangeWhy Trust Us

At Who What Wear UK, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our editors have tested thousands of products, including skincare, makeup, hair and nails, over the years and work closely with trusted experts—dermatologists, make-up artists and leading industry insiders—to ensure every guide is well-researched, inclusive and relevant to you.

We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we’d truly recommend to a friend.