First, Luminary's Multi-Flex is a pure gel product so if you are using OPI, Shellac, or Gelish hybrid polishes (just a few hybrid brands for example) it is possible you can experience discoloration if you do not take the proper application steps.
Continuing with OPI as our hybrid brand example, we recommend using Clarity with light colored hybrids especially. After curing Luminary's base, do not wipe the dispersion layer after curing. If you need to file, then you need to get that tacky layer back by either applying a very thin coat of Luminary and curing or applying a coat of Commit primer before gel polish. Then, apply your gel polish. The most important step here is to use a top coat that is compatible with hybrid gel polishes. Luminary's Empower Top Coat is intended for pure gel products like Luminary, not for solvent based hybrids. We recommend sticking with the Top Coat that the manufacturer of your hybrid gel recommends.
If the above does not work for you, we recommend a thin layer of the same brand base as the gel polish over Luminary. From there, proceed with the gel polish and top coat.
Technical Explanation:
1. Photobleaching: Red pigments are more susceptible to absorbing high energy light (like blue light to UV light wavelengths) which can erode the pigment. This is very common during summer months when clients are spending more time in the sun. ⁠
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2. Chemical induced bleaching: Some pigments like red are more sensitive to daily chemical exposure like washing your hands, household cleaning, laundry detergents, chlorine from pools, etc. ⁠
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3. Heat and humidity: When combined with one of the above situations, heat and humidity can accelerate this bleaching effect. ⁠
Remember that UV exposure comes from your lamp too so if you’re overcuring or using a different brand of lamp it could start the photo bleaching process. Chemical induced degradation can also be from acids and solvents in the primer, base, top coat, gel, etc. So if you’re mixing and matching brands of products in a single service keep that in mind. You could be introducing an ingredient that is causing this issue and manufacturer did not formulate their color to withstand other brands. Mixing and matching does have some important consequences that we as techs and users need to take accountability for.