Max Factor Gel Shine Lacquer in Sheen Merlot

By now we've well established my love for gel effect nail polishes so this week I decided to go for Max Factor's Gel Shine Lacquer in Sheen Merlot. Having loved their Lacquered Violet shade from the same range, I had high expectations. Here's how it performed.


Sheen Merlot is a rich berry shade with a sort of metallic finish, quite different to the other shades in the range. It's a beautiful autumn/winter shade with a lovely glossy finish. Application was fairly easy, two coats were needed but blended out very well, covering the entire nail.

Compared to Lacquered Violet, I do have to say they are very different. I find Lacquered Violet performs better with it's slightly glossier finish and sadly Sheen Merlot didn't last quite as long on the nails. I'd say roughly 3-4 days before signs of chipping. Not bad but I did expect longer for a gel finish. I would say that is probably due to the metallic finish which I find in general don't last too long.

I think the colour on it's own is definitely worth it, it's almost a slightly more plum version of Nails Inc's The Boltons which is one of my favourites. However if you're looking for longevity, I'd recommend checking out other shades in the range.

*PR Sample