Blake Lively Wore the $13 Gel Polish That Lasts on My Nails for 3 Weeks

PLA (formerly Paris Lash Academy), a nail supply retailer, has been around since 2018 but I’ve noticed its rise in popularity only recently thanks to a growing celebrity fanbase and better-for-you gel formulas. In the last two months, Blake Lively, Ice Spice, and Selena Gomez have all worn PLA Gel Polishes. 

PLA’s gels are 10-free (formulated without 10 common and controversial toxins), fragrance-free, and water-based. There are more than 288 gel polish shades to choose from with dozens of iterations of every color you can imagine (think: 29 reds, 33 blues, etc). 

After trying a couple of these myself, I can tell you this is a superior formula. It’s impossible to mess up; despite how admittedly bad I am at applying nail polish (especially on my right hand), PLA polishes never look streaky, clumpy, or overly thick. My favorite shade is Lily of the Valley — one coat gives me a my-nails-but-better look and two coats create a glossy glazed light beige. 

On my bare nails, without a base coat or top coat, PLA’s gels look freshly applied for two weeks, and after that, the wear and tear starts to set in subtly: Scuff marks become visible and the polish chips at the edges. A steal at $13 a bottle, though this is a gel formula, so you’ll need a LED lamp to cure it. (Try this $16 full-hand lamp or this compact $10 option.) 

When I’m not being a lazy turd, I use the Base Coat and Non-Wipe Top Coat — both just $12 each — and my manicure lasts upward of three weeks. When I finally take the gel off, my nails don’t feel brittle and thin, which I attribute to the water base and soft gel formula. 

Last week, Blake Lively’s nail artist Elle Gerstein created a ‘70s-inspired manicure accented with gold studs to mimic the look of a Michael Kors bag for the brand's NYFW show. Gerstein used PLA Gel Polish in Howl You Doin’, a burnt reddish brown color that’s perfect for fall. 

Selena Gomez wore PLA’s gel in Chai and Chai Again to the VMAs. The very bright red matched the fiery vibe of her red lace dress and matching shoes. 

In early August, Ice Spice received a Rookie of the Year Award from Billboard, for which she wore a plaid skirt and shirt set accented with light pastel blue coffin nails. The polish responsible for the look is aptly called It Girl.

Head to PLA to shop the nearly 300 Gel Polishes I can guarantee you’ll continue to see on celebrity fingertips.