{"id":1908,"date":"2025-07-28T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-28T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/glowlu.com\/?p=1908"},"modified":"2025-07-28T06:00:00","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T06:00:00","slug":"ive-always-had-broken-brittle-nails-this-is-the-only-product-i-trust-to-bring-them-back-to-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/glowlu.com\/?p=1908","title":{"rendered":"I\u2019ve Always Had Broken, Brittle Nails\u2014This Is the Only Product I Trust to Bring Them Back to Life"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>When it comes to doing an at-home manicure, I always opt for Manucurist&#8217;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&#8217;t doing the trick.<\/p>\n<p>So, when my colleague mentioned a <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.whowhatwear.com\/beauty\/nails\/best-nail-perfectors\">nail perfector<\/a>, I was desperate to give one a go. These clever polishes are more like a <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.whowhatwear.com\/beauty\/nails\/skin-tint-nails\">skin tint for your nails<\/a>, 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&#8217;ve never looked back.<\/p>\n<p>This product single-handedly brings my nails back to life every single time I use it. Don&#8217;t believe me? Just check out my full review below&#8230;<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"manucurist-active-smooth-review-2\">Manucurist Active Smooth Review<\/h2>\n<div class=\"featured_product_block featured_block_standard\" data-id=\"ba9aea64-327f-4b0a-96e2-fe73ef5ba0de\">            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lookfantastic.com\/p\/manucurist-active-smooth-00-15ml\/16400534\/\" data-model-name=\"Active Smooth 00\" ><\/p>\n<div class='product-image-widthsetter'>\n<p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:100.00%';><img style='width: 100%' class='featured_image' src='https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/SPQaK8QearZzZyQ5knzFfC.webp' alt=\"Manucurist Active Smooth 00 15ml\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a>            <\/p>\n<div class=\"featured_product_details_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"featured_product_title_wrapper\">\n<div class='featured__brand'>Manucurist<\/div>\n<div class=\"featured__title\">Active Smooth 00<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"subtitle__description\">\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"pro-con\">\n<div class=\"list-pros-wrapper\">\n<h4 class=\"list-pros-label\">Pros<\/h4>\n<ul class=\"list-pros\">\n<li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Nourishing formula<\/li>\n<li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Smooths nail imperfections<\/li>\n<li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Adds a shiny finish<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"list-cons-wrapper\">\n<h4 class=\"list-cons-label\">Cons<\/h4>\n<ul class=\"list-cons\">\n<li class='list-item list-item-cons'>Quite sheer so might want to apply a few coats<\/li>\n<li class='list-item list-item-cons'>A little expensive (but much cheaper than regular manicures)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure  inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check >\n<div class='image-full-width-wrapper'>\n<div class='image-widthsetter' style=\"max-width:700px;\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:133.29%;\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"pZKYrhpQbEV4PxeaMQp3Lk\" name=\"manucurist active smooth review\" alt=\"Pictures of the Manucurist Active Smooth nail polish on a white linen background\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pZKYrhpQbEV4PxeaMQp3Lk.jpg\" mos=\"\" align=\"middle\" fullscreen=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"933\" attribution=\"\" endorsement=\"\" class=\"\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\" class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"credit\" itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/gracelindsay__\/\" target=\"_blank\">@gracelindsay__<\/a> for Who What Wear UK)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"article-body__section\" id=\"section-the-formula\"><span>The Formula<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>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&#8217;s the ultimate product for that &#8220;your nails, but better&#8221; finish.<\/p>\n<p>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 <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.whowhatwear.com\/beauty\/nails\/milky-nails-trend\">milky nail<\/a> effect.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"article-body__section\" id=\"section-the-shades\"><span>The Shades<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure  inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check >\n<div class='image-full-width-wrapper'>\n<div class='image-widthsetter' style=\"max-width:700px;\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:133.29%;\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"Ef8HEPqjijNwMU2ccCUQNk\" name=\"manucurist active smooth review\" alt=\"Junior beauty editor, Grace Lindsay, holding the Manucurist Active Smooth nail polish\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Ef8HEPqjijNwMU2ccCUQNk.jpg\" mos=\"\" align=\"middle\" fullscreen=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"933\" attribution=\"\" endorsement=\"\" class=\"\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\" class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"credit\" itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/gracelindsay__\/\" target=\"_blank\">@gracelindsay__<\/a> for Who What Wear UK)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>I always opt for Active Smooth 01, a slightly paler shade that works perfectly on my nails to give that &#8220;barely there&#8221; effect.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"article-body__section\" id=\"section-the-application\"><span>The Application<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>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&#8217;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.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"article-body__section\" id=\"section-the-result\"><span>The Result<\/span><\/h3>\n<h2 id=\"before-using-manucurist-active-smooth-nail-polish-2\">Before Using Manucurist Active Smooth Nail Polish<\/h2>\n<div class=\"looped-video\"><video class=\"lazyload-in-view lazyloading\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uBSgg8Vh6hLwve4cPLmgQS\/manucurist%20before%20(2).mp4\" autoplay loop muted playsinline src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uBSgg8Vh6hLwve4cPLmgQS\/manucurist%20before%20(2).mp4\"><\/video><\/div>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure  inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check >\n<div class='image-full-width-wrapper'>\n<div class='image-widthsetter' style=\"max-width:700px;\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:133.29%;\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"ScPLhEfE4nKch8BLTfS2Lk\" name=\"manucurist active smooth review\" alt=\"Junior beauty editor Grace Lindsay showing her nails before using the Manucurist Active Smooth nail polish\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ScPLhEfE4nKch8BLTfS2Lk.jpg\" mos=\"\" align=\"middle\" fullscreen=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"933\" attribution=\"\" endorsement=\"\" class=\"\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\" class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"credit\" itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/gracelindsay__\/\" target=\"_blank\">@gracelindsay__<\/a> for Who What Wear UK)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>As you can see, my nails are quite damaged at the moment. They look very uneven and I&#8217;ve had to keep them super short due to breakage.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"after-using-manucurist-active-smooth-nail-polish-2\">After Using Manucurist Active Smooth Nail Polish<\/h2>\n<div class=\"looped-video\"><video class=\"lazyload-in-view lazyloading\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5aaLDRyPgm7HfdwzDd3WsS\/manucurist%20after%20(2).mp4\" autoplay loop muted playsinline src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5aaLDRyPgm7HfdwzDd3WsS\/manucurist%20after%20(2).mp4\"><\/video><\/div>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure  inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check >\n<div class='image-full-width-wrapper'>\n<div class='image-widthsetter' style=\"max-width:700px;\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:133.29%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"Q6RjHnEtUAmZFxrCufCRNk\" name=\"manucurist active smooth review\" alt=\"Junior beauty editor Grace Lindsay showing her nails after using the Manucurist Active Smooth nail polish\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Q6RjHnEtUAmZFxrCufCRNk.jpg\" mos=\"\" align=\"middle\" fullscreen=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"933\" attribution=\"\" endorsement=\"\" class=\"\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\" class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"credit\" itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/gracelindsay__\/\" target=\"_blank\">@gracelindsay__<\/a> for Who What Wear UK)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>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&#8217;t recommend this nail polish enough.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"article-body__section\" id=\"section-shop-the-manucurist-active-smooth-range\"><span>Shop the Manucurist Active Smooth Range<\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"featured_product_block featured_block_standard\" data-id=\"e388d586-651e-4196-8710-8b958bfbef03\">            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lookfantastic.com\/p\/manucurist-active-smooth-00-15ml\/16400534\/\" data-model-name=\"Active Smooth 00\" ><\/p>\n<div class='product-image-widthsetter'>\n<p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:100.00%';><img style='width: 100%' class='featured_image' src='https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/cARZW5xCmVzvM8nGN8z6hG.webp' alt=\"Manucurist Active Smooth 00 15ml\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a>            <\/p>\n<div class=\"featured_product_details_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"featured_product_title_wrapper\">\n<div class='featured__brand'>Manucurist<\/div>\n<div class=\"featured__title\">Active Smooth 00<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"subtitle__description\">\n<p><p>Active Smooth 00 is a great choice for pink undertones.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"featured_product_block featured_block_standard\" data-id=\"99284c28-3f32-486d-8130-5544d3fc48c9\">            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lookfantastic.com\/p\/manucurist-active-smooth-01-15ml\/16400533\/\" data-model-name=\"Active Smooth 01\" ><\/p>\n<div class='product-image-widthsetter'>\n<p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:100.00%';><img style='width: 100%' class='featured_image' src='https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/yZ2PvFCFASqXfJBAfdi5hS.webp' alt=\"Manucurist Active Smooth 01 15ml\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a>            <\/p>\n<div class=\"featured_product_details_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"featured_product_title_wrapper\">\n<div class='featured__brand'>Manucurist<\/div>\n<div class=\"featured__title\">Active Smooth 01<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"subtitle__description\">\n<p><p>My favourite shade for neutral undertones. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"featured_product_block featured_block_standard\" data-id=\"81e593cd-f5fd-449a-93a2-a19c9c25391d\">            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lookfantastic.com\/p\/manucurist-active-smooth-02-15ml\/16400535\/\" data-model-name=\"Active Smooth 02\" ><\/p>\n<div class='product-image-widthsetter'>\n<p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:100.00%';><img style='width: 100%' class='featured_image' src='https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uAPjzVDniiUPdvZsKyb7xn.webp' alt=\"Manucurist Active Smooth 02 15ml\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a>            <\/p>\n<div class=\"featured_product_details_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"featured_product_title_wrapper\">\n<div class='featured__brand'>Manucurist<\/div>\n<div class=\"featured__title\">Active Smooth 02<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"subtitle__description\">\n<p><p>Active Smooth 02 has been designed for golden undertones.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"featured_product_block featured_block_standard\" data-id=\"b91353d5-0284-4d02-acd8-c8d93d5a6387\">            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lookfantastic.com\/p\/manucurist-active-smooth-03-15ml\/16400540\/\" data-model-name=\"Active Smooth 03\" ><\/p>\n<div class='product-image-widthsetter'>\n<p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:100.00%';><img style='width: 100%' class='featured_image' src='https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xiuUUB5EcXzuFfwe4cY9n5.webp' alt=\"Manucurist Active Smooth 03 15ml\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a>            <\/p>\n<div class=\"featured_product_details_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"featured_product_title_wrapper\">\n<div class='featured__brand'>Manucurist<\/div>\n<div class=\"featured__title\">Active Smooth 03<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"subtitle__description\">\n<p><p>For\u00a0bronze undertones, opt for Active Smooth 03.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"article-body__section\" id=\"section-why-trust-us\"><span>Why Trust Us<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>At Who What Wear UK, we know that beauty isn\u2019t 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\u2014dermatologists, make-up artists and leading industry insiders\u2014to ensure every guide is well-researched, inclusive and relevant to you.<\/p>\n<p>We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they\u2019re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we\u2019d truly recommend to a friend.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When it comes to doing an at-home manicure, I always opt for Manucurist&#8217;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&#8217;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&#8217;ve never looked back. This product single-handedly brings my nails back to life every single time I use it. Don&#8217;t believe me? Just check out my full review below&#8230; Manucurist Active Smooth Review Manucurist Active Smooth 00 Pros Nourishing formula Smooths nail imperfections Adds a shiny finish Cons Quite sheer so might want to apply a few coats A little expensive (but much cheaper than regular manicures) (Image credit: @gracelindsay__ for Who What Wear UK) 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&#8217;s the ultimate product for that &#8220;your nails, but better&#8221; 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 (Image credit: @gracelindsay__ for Who What Wear UK) 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 &#8220;barely there&#8221; 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&#8217;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 Result Before Using Manucurist Active Smooth Nail Polish (Image credit: @gracelindsay__ for Who What Wear UK) As you can see, my nails are quite damaged at the moment. They look very uneven and I&#8217;ve had to keep them super short due to breakage. After Using Manucurist Active Smooth Nail Polish (Image credit: @gracelindsay__ for Who What Wear UK) 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&#8217;t recommend this nail polish enough. Shop the Manucurist Active Smooth Range Manucurist Active Smooth 00 Active Smooth 00 is a great choice for pink undertones. Manucurist Active Smooth 01 My favourite shade for neutral undertones. Manucurist Active Smooth 02 Active Smooth 02 has been designed for golden undertones. Manucurist Active Smooth 03 For\u00a0bronze undertones, opt for Active Smooth 03. Why Trust Us At Who What Wear UK, we know that beauty isn\u2019t 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\u2014dermatologists, make-up artists and leading industry insiders\u2014to ensure every guide is well-researched, inclusive and relevant to you. We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they\u2019re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we\u2019d truly recommend to a friend.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1908","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/glowlu.com\/?author=1"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/glowlu.com\/?cat=1\" rel=\"category\">Uncategorized<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"When it comes to doing an at-home manicure, I always opt for Manucurist&#8217;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&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/glowlu.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1908","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/glowlu.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/glowlu.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glowlu.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glowlu.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1908"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/glowlu.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1908\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/glowlu.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1908"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glowlu.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1908"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glowlu.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1908"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}