Manucurist's Glossy Booster Duo is touted as an at-home alternative to a Japanese manicure, so I put it to the test

If you too have been influenced by all these au naturel manicures but feel like your nails aren't in the best nick, Manucurist's Glossy Booster Duo is the answer - having transformed my dry post-gel nails in minutes.

So far, there has indeed been a running theme throughout the 2026 nail trends. Subtle and sheer nail polishes have been in high demand, as have more natural treatments like the popular Japanese manicure (and Japanese pedicure, for that matter), which features no polish at all but still leaves your nails shining. Personally, I love a bit of colour on my nails and am partial to a gel set, but lately, I have found myself gravitating towards these very clean and soft finishes. Especially after seeing so many celebs also opting for similar barely-there looks over the last few months. The only issue? My natural nails aren't exactly in great shape.

That said, when I spotted that Manucurist offer a duo specifically targeted towards making your talons shine, I thought, what better way to put it to the ultimate test? So, if you're feeling similarly self-conscious about the dryness or ridged texture of your nails, but really want to achieve that chic 'naked' look, here's why the Glossy Booster duo might just be your new best friend.

Why Manucurist's Glossy Booster duo is my go-to for a natural look - no polish required

I'll be the first to acknowledge that my nails aren't in prime condition. They're looking a little rough and ready after months of both professional in-salon and at-home gel manicures (and I will admit, not-so-great at-home gel removal too), but having been bombarded with natural nail look after natural nail look, I was determined to kickstart my healthy nail journey and get them looking somewhat presentable - even in their bare state. Enter Manucurist's Glossy Booster Duo.

The set features a brush-on Glycolic Exfoliator and a double-sided nail buffer, one that gently buffs away texture and another that polishes. It's specifically designed with damaged, sensitive and ridged nails in mind and works to exfoliate, resurface and hydrate them. It's also a great choice if you're looking to achieve a very glassy-looking manicure, but don't want the hassle of drying and inevitably chipping nail polishes.

The effect is almost instant; as soon as you've applied the fast-absorbing formula, massaged it into your nails and begun to buff them, this glossy gleam is revealed. Above you can see my nails before using this duo for the first time, and directly afterwards.

I was actually astounded by how quickly it worked and just how easy the process was - and even more so when the polished finish actually lasted. To the touch, my nails feel so soft and hydrated. Something about the shine also makes the pink colour of my natural nails seem brighter too, which I love.

Beforehand, my nails had slight ridges and areas of peeling, but after gently buffing in the glycolic peel and shining them up, you wouldn't know it. There was no vigorous filing; in fact, all in all, I think this process took me about two minutes on each hand, and despite the weakness and fragile state of my nails, they didn't feel sensitive.

How to use the Manucurist Glossy Duo

If you're keen to invest but are unsure of how the set works, I've laid out a quick step-by-step tutorial of the entire process.

First things first, I recommend shaping and trimming your nails to your desired length and style. Then you simply brush on the Glycolic Nail Exfoliator (on your first use, you might need to twist the end a few times before the serum will come out) and massage it in.

Then you buff the surface of your nails with the pink and white side of the mini buffer, followed by the candy-pink side, which polishes them and affords that glassy, Japanese manicure-esque finish.