Beetles 68-Piece Gel Nail Kit Review: Is This “Mega Bundle” the Ultimate Salon Killer?

If you are tired of paying $50+ every few weeks for a basic gel manicure, you aren’t alone. The DIY nail world has exploded recently, but for beginners, it can be overwhelming. You need the lamp, the base coat, the top coat, the files, the cuticle oil… and by the time you buy it all separately, you’ve spent a fortune.

That is why the Beetles 68 Pcs Gel Nail Polish Kit (specifically the “Emotional Spectrum” 35-color set) caught my eye. It claims to be a “salon in a box”—providing literally everything you need to start from scratch.

But does a kit this massive actually prioritize quality, or is it just a lot of cheap clutter? I bought this massive box to see if it’s truly the best entry point for beginners in 2024. Here is my honest review.

Quick Specs & Verdict

1. Unboxing & First Impressions

Unboxing this feels a bit like Christmas. The box is heavy and dense. When you open it, everything is surprisingly well-organized.

The first layer usually holds the 48W UV/LED Lamp, which felt lightweight but sturdy enough for home use. Beneath that, you find foam inserts holding the 35 bottles of color. The “Emotional Spectrum” color story is lovely—it covers everything from deep moody blues and purples to bright neons and soft pastels.

The bottom layer is a treasure trove of tools: nail clippers, cuticle pushers, separators, files, buffers, and even nail art brushes and rhinestones. My initial impression? You literally do not need to buy a single other thing to do your first manicure.

2. Key Features & Performance Deep Dive

The 48W High-Power Lamp

Many starter kits come with tiny, weak “mouse” lamps that take forever to cure.

• The Performance: This kit includes a full-size 48W lamp. It fits my whole hand (thumb included) comfortably. It has a motion sensor—lights on when hand goes in, off when hand goes out—and 3 timer settings.
• The Benefit: It cures the polish hard in 60 seconds. A reliable cure is essential to prevent allergies and messy nails, and this lamp delivers.

35 Colors (The “Emotional Spectrum”)

You get 35 different shades.

• The Reality: The colors are pigmented and creamy. Most needed two coats for full opacity. The variety means you can mix and match for years without getting bored.
• The “Matte” Magic: The kit includes a Matte Top Coat alongside the Glossy one. Applying the matte coat over the dark burgundy or neon colors completely transforms the look, effectively doubling your color library.

The “Full Tool” Ecosystem

It’s rare to find a kit that includes the prep tools and the removal tools.

• The Benefit: The inclusion of high-quality nail files and a cuticle fork means you can prep your nail plate correctly (which is the secret to long-lasting gel). It even comes with cuticle oil to rehydrate your skin after the manicure.

[Image: Close up of a swatch wheel showing the glossy vs. matte finish on the same blue color]

3. Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Insane Value: To buy 35 colors separately would cost hundreds of dollars.
• Lamp Quality: The 48W lamp is much better than the 6W or 12W lamps usually found in bundles.
• Beginner Friendly: The instructions are clear, and having all compatible products (base, top, color) from one brand reduces chemical reactions.
• Nail Art Extras: The included rhinestones and striping tape allow for creativity beyond just solid color.

Cons:

• Tiny Bottles: This is the main catch. The color bottles are 5ml (Mini). A standard salon bottle is 15ml. You will get maybe 10-15 manicures out of a single color bottle before it runs out.
• Short Power Cord: The cord for the lamp is a bit short; you’ll need to be close to an outlet or use an extension cord.
• Top Coat Sensitivity: The top coat is very shiny but can be slightly runny. Be careful not to flood your cuticles before curing, or it will lift.

4. Who Is This For? (Best For)

• The Total Beginner: If you have zero supplies and want to start doing your nails today, this is the one-click solution.
• Teenagers & Gifts: The packaging is cute, and the variety of colors makes it an incredible gift for a teen interested in beauty.
• Variety Lovers: If you are the type of person who wants a different color every week and never finishes a full bottle of polish, the mini sizes are actually perfect for you.

5. Who Should Avoid It?

• Professional Techs: The bottles are too small for commercial use.
• Those With Specific Color Needs: If you only wear one shade of “OPI Bubble Bath” pink, buying a kit with 34 other colors is a waste. Just buy the full-size bottle of the color you love.

Long-Term Testing Notes

After 30 Days:

I’ve done three manicures with this kit so far.

• Wear Time: My manicures consistently lasted 14 to 18 days without chipping. The key was definitely using the included file to roughen the nail surface slightly before the base coat.
• Lamp Durability: The lamp is still working perfectly, with no flickering LEDs.
• Tool Wear: The nail files are starting to wear down (standard for cardboard files), but the metal cuticle tools are good for life.

Final Verdict & Recommendation

The Beetles 68 Pcs Gel Nail Polish Kit is the gold standard for starter kits.

While the bottles are small, the quality of the gel and the capability of the lamp far outweigh that minor drawback. It removes the barrier to entry for DIY nails, giving you a salon-quality setup for the price of one salon visit. It’s fun, it’s comprehensive, and it works.

Recommendation: Buy it. It’s the ultimate “treat yourself” kit that will save you hundreds of dollars in salon fees over the next year.

FAQ

Q: How do I remove the gel polish?

A: This kit requires soaking off. You must file off the shiny top layer, soak cotton balls in 100% acetone, place them on your nails, wrap in foil, and wait 15 minutes. The gel will flake off.

Q: Is the lamp safe for skin?

A: Yes, it is a standard UV/LED lamp. However, if you are sensitive to UV light, apply sunscreen to your hands 20 minutes before using the lamp, or wear fingerless UV gloves.

Q: Can I use other brands of polish with this lamp?

A: Yes! A 48W UV/LED lamp is powerful enough to cure almost any brand of gel polish (Cousin, Gellen, Modelones, etc.).