A translucent jelly in Pearl Iris, built up in layers so the light goes into the nail rather than off it.
3 bottles: Pearl Iris, Snow White and Iris Bloom. Pearl Iris and Snow White 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 (shimmer and crème), so the pattern picks up light differently from the ground.
Coffin nails give the most surface of any shape here, which is why the heavier finishes tend to live on them; they also need the most length to work at all.
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Bottles for this nail
Tap a bottle to open it on the shelfWhat you need
How to paint Pearl Iris Jelly nails
- 1 Buff, dehydrate and base coat, then cure. Two coats of Pearl Iris, floated on so the particles stay lying flat, and cure hard.
- 2 Three sheer coats of Pearl Iris, curing between each — the depth comes from layering, not from opacity.
- 3 Gloss top coat, cure, then cuticle oil once it is out of the lamp.
Questions about Pearl Iris Jelly
Is Pearl Iris Jelly hard to do at home?
Yes. There is no freehand work that has to be accurate. Budget about 30 minutes for a full set, and three colours means three chances for something to bleed, so cure between each one rather than working wet on wet.
What polish do I need for Pearl Iris Jelly?
3 bottles: Pearl Iris (shimmer), Snow White (crème) and Iris Bloom (shimmer). Plus a base coat and a gloss top coat, which every design here assumes you already have.
Does Pearl Iris Jelly work on short nails?
Coffin is the one shape here that genuinely needs length. On a short nail there is not enough free edge to cut square, and it will read as a squoval instead.
Do I need a UV lamp for Pearl Iris Jelly?
Yes. Pearl Iris and Iris Bloom only work as a gel — the effect depends on rubbing or setting the finish into a cured tacky layer, which air-dry polish never gives you.