Engineering the iPolish App for CES 2026

The Product and The Challenge

iPolish is a next-generation beauty device that is redefining the cosmetics industry with digital acrylic press-on nails that can change to over 200 colors on demand using a physical wand. To bring this revolutionary product to market, iPolish needed a mobile app to control the wand device used to change the nail colors. Because iPolish gives users the newfound ability to change their nail colors on the fly, we also wanted to create a lifestyle and fashion hub for users to support their creativity and share what they are wearing.

The stakes were incredibly high. We were tasked with taking the product from an MVP concept to a hard deadline for a live, flawless launch at CES 2026. Hardware launches are notoriously difficult, and introducing consumers to a completely new class of digital products meant the app had to be incredibly intuitive, fast, and rock-solid from day one.

Designing for a First-of-its-Kind Device

Because iPolish is a completely new and unique product, we needed to make sure we had top-notch tutorials baked directly into the app. We knew we could not rely on paper manuals that users often ignore. We utilized Rive to build high-quality, lightweight, and engaging animations. These in-app tutorials visually guide users on exactly how to use the physical wand device with their nails, allowing them to learn and use the product with complete confidence.

To keep the core functionality front-and-center, we designed a virtual wand bar that is always visible on the screen, mirroring the user’s physical wand device. Users can tap to change colors, drag to reorder, and swipe up to view swatches. The interface is smart and contextually aware. Buttons to send colors to the wand or undo an action only appear when a user has changed colors in the app, making it instantly clear when their digital display differs from their physical wand. Ultimately, the app feels alive, reactive, and genuinely fun to use without being overbearing with frequent use.

Engineering for Scale, Speed, and Compliance

Under the hood, the iPolish app requires complex engineering to ensure a seamless bridge between software and hardware. We built the app using React Native and Expo, utilizing a single codebase to deliver a flawless, native-feeling experience across both iOS and Android.

To iterate quickly without waiting for slow app store approval times, we built a custom over-the-air update server hosted on Cloudflare’s edge network. This allows us to push updates globally, quickly, and cost-effectively in the background. When a user opens the app, the latest features are already there for them to use.

Because the app’s userbase includes a younger demographic, GDPR compliance and safety were paramount. We implemented a robust age-gating and parental consent system. By running this system on Cloudflare's edge network, the checks happen in milliseconds, keeping the app secure and compliant without keeping users waiting. We also integrated careful design practices and comprehensive screen reader support to ensure users with visual impairments can confidently navigate the app and control their devices.

Driving Growth as a Fashion Hub

We wanted iPolish to feel like a dynamic fashion app to get users excited to use the product and share their creativity. Since iPolish gives users the ability to change their nail colors on demand whenever they want, it completely removes the traditional, tedious process of removing and applying new nails. We built a bespoke content management system that empowers the iPolish social media team to inject fresh videos, seasonal content, and new color drops directly into the app. It supports multiple languages and regional variations, ensuring the platform is ready for global scale.

We also built out robust sharing capabilities, allowing users to show off what they are wearing directly to Instagram and Facebook Stories. They can even send custom palette links to friends, allowing others to instantly load shared color combinations onto their own wands.

A Flawless CES Debut and Viral Success

Live hardware demos are high-stakes, and the CES show floor is notoriously a nightmare for wireless interference. But the iPolish app was built to perform under pressure.

During the multi-day event, the app maintained a rock-solid Bluetooth connection to the wands, performing flawlessly at the booth without a single crash or technical hiccup. The launch generated massive online buzz, with social media content about the product and app racking up millions of views. The successful MVP launch proved the massive viability of this new class of digital products, helping iPolish secure feature articles in major publications like TechCrunch and even landing the physical product a coveted showcase on the Today Show.