A gem cluster on Milky Cobalt: stones set close at the cuticle, each sealed around the edge so nothing catches.
2 bottles: Milky Cobalt and Powder Blue. Milky Cobalt and Powder Blue are close in tone, so the design is tonal rather than graphic. It shows up in daylight and softens indoors. The bottles are not all the same finish (sheer and shimmer), so the pattern picks up light differently from the ground.
On an almond shape the canvas narrows toward the tip, so the design reads as slightly elongated. Usually flattering, occasionally something to compensate for.
Make it yours
Bottles for this nail
Tap a bottle to open it on the shelfWhat you need
How to paint Blue Gems nails
- 1 Buff, dehydrate and base coat, then cure. Milky Cobalt, cured.
- 2 Cluster the crystals near the cuticle, largest first, working outward and down in size.
- 3 Seal around each stone with gel glue so nothing has an edge to catch on.
Questions about Blue Gems
Is Blue Gems hard to do at home?
It is the hardest tier on the site. It is doable at home, but the technique is the point rather than the colour. Budget an hour or more for a full set, and two colours keeps it simple: cure the first before the second goes near it and nothing bleeds.
What polish do I need for Blue Gems?
2 bottles: Milky Cobalt (sheer) and Powder Blue (shimmer). Plus a base coat and a gloss top coat, which every design here assumes you already have.
Does Blue Gems work on short nails?
Almond needs a little length to hold its taper. On a short nail the shape reads closer to round, and the design still works, it just stops elongating the finger.
Do I need a UV lamp for Blue Gems?
Yes. Powder Blue only works as a gel — the effect depends on rubbing or setting the finish into a cured tacky layer, which air-dry polish never gives you.