How would your nails look without a foundation, moisturizer, and top & base coats? Every manicure requires a good start and a perfect finish. The best gift is creating extra minutes to groom your nails with top and base coats as two vital manicure tools. However, strive to defy standards and take charge for optimal results.
A perfect base coat prevents stains, smooth out any ridges, hardens, and firm nails. An excellent topcoat is a final step that gives nails a glossy finish. It also offers a lasting solution without a chip or wears at the edges. Here is a complete review.
Are you in a hurry?
We have identified a few commendable top or base coats that you can use daily with good results. Check them out and choose the best.
Best Overall
Essie Speed.Setter Top Coat ultra fast dry top coat
Essie Speed.setter is a final stage clear nail polish with a sleek and eye-catching look. It has a classic shine that does not fade over time. It is also easy to apply on nails and has a fast-drying all-natural formula with apricot cuticle oil. Avoid synthetic products that damage nails and irritate people over time. Even though natural and professional-grade, it comes at a good price.
High-End Pick
RC Red Carpet Manicure LED Nail Gel Top Coat
Do you love having glossy nails? Do you need a safe gel top coat that is easy to apply and does not irritate the cuticle or skin? The RC Red Carpet Manicure gel top coat works the best. You receive a professional-grade formula that is quick to apply. If you use LED light, it takes just 45 seconds to dry. UV lights take longer at around two minutes. The coat is chip-proof for up to 21 days, which is amazing. The liquid formula lasts for long and is affordable.
Budget Pick
ZOYA Naked Manicure Glossy Seal Top Coat
ZOYA is a practical product for people who are looking to seal their nails on a budget. It leaves a satin and glossy finish that users love. The full shine lasts for long, while the pure liquid formula offered is easy to use at home. The product does not flake nor discolors in days. It is also resistant to staining and is generally safe for most people as its formula lacks harsh/harmful additives.
Buying Guide for Top/Base Coats
Your topcoat should make the lacquer last longer, add a high gloss shine and protect the color from fading. Likewise, the base cost should nourish your nails and protect them against fading. When buying a top or base coat, make sure it suits your nail needs. Here is a guide to help you choose the best top and base coat.
Features: Before you buy any top and base coat, check its features first. This will tell you the benefits you will get from that product. If the gel provides grip, strengthens the nail, adds shine, prevents stains, and dries quickly, it is an excellent choice. Any product that is not clear on its benefits should remain on the shelf.
Ingredients: This is one of the essential features to look out for in the top/base coat. The ingredients used to formulate the nail care product should be beneficial and not harmful. Things such as vitamin E, calcium, bamboo, soy protein, castor oil, and keratin are excellent in strengthening and nourishing brittle, weak, and peeling nails. These ingredients will also help you recover from gel polish addiction.
2-in-1 Formulas: If you prefer a 2-in-1 nail product, look for a dual nail top and base coat. They not only make your work easier but also come at a fair price. These products are good for prepping nails before application and seal in your colored manicure.
Intended Use: Before you choose a base coat, you should decide whether you will keep your nails bare or use colored nail polish. This will help you select the ideal product. If you wish to keep nails bare, choose a slightly opaque and milky product to give your nails a healthy and even appearance.
Top 5 Best Top of Base Coats in the Market this Year
We have identified some of the best brands in this niche that will never let you down. They are safe, effective, and ideal for all women.
1. Essie Speed.Setter Top Coat
The sleek, stylish-looking package from Essie offers a topcoat trusted by royalty, famous persons, and beauty professionals. This final stage clear nail polish is an American kit that gives a classic shine finish. It dries fast under a minute and blends with any nail polish for an extra shine finish.
The popular item sets the pace for other skin/nail care products to follow suit. With a natural ingredient like apricot cuticle oil to last 6 hours, your nails have the best Mani-care. It prevents cuticle dryness and leaves your nails moisturizer and smooth. A strong start will result in a perfect ending with this original kit.
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Our Verdict:
Essie Speed.Setter is an American topcoat that protects your nail polish from damage. It moisturizes cuticles, lasts for long and ultra-fast dry. Therefore, if you want to look professional, why not grab one of these coats and style it like a PRO!
2. RC Red Carpet Manicure LED Nail Gel Top Coat
Are you shopping for a gel topcoat with a glossy finish type without success? Here is something that might interest you. The Brilliance Seal & Shine topcoat is a clear liquid application that gives women's nails a top shine. It is quick to apply and cures in 2 minutes in a UV light or only 45 seconds in a LED light.
The USA product ensures your nails remain non-chip for 21-days with only one coat. Therefore, it is long lasting and does not break or damage with ease. With the right application, it also helps to prevent peel and crack at the edges. For dryness and residues caused by RCM Brilliance, use the Red-Carpet Manicure Purify to remove and cleanse the affected area.
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Our Verdict:
RC Red Carpet Manicure LED Nail Gel, Brilliance Seal & Shine is a topcoat that sheds the colored polish from damage and wears. It is long-lasting, non-chip for 21-days with a brilliant shine.
3. ZOYA Naked Manicure Glossy Seal Top Coat
ZOYA Naked Manicure Glossy Seal is a natural top coat that gives your nails a satin, glossy finish. Therefore, if you are looking to set high values with a full shine manicure on your fingers and or toes, here you are! The top polish gives you an extra classic finish with only one coat. Therefore, it leaves your nails with a pure, healthy tone that does not flake, stain, and or discolor over days or weeks.
The naked manicure process will ensure oxygenation, strength, flexibility of your nails at all times. To benefit more, it is compatible with all naked manicure components and ZOYA drying drops. Therefore, it lasts long while protecting nail polish from external damage and wear. It is suitable for adults who desire a unique but bi-phase beauty item that mixes colors and prevents a lousy impression.
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Our Verdict:
The Naked Manicure Glossy Seal is a pure top coat from the ZOYA brand that gives a glossy and satin finish. It prevents the nail lacquer from damage, lasts longer, and is non-staining. You can also use it to refine your nail plate and boost hydration naturally.
4. Butter LONDON Nail Foundation Priming Base Coat
For lovers of butter fragrance, here is something cool for you? The base coat with a beige color explicitly designed for females has all it takes to make your nails glow. Nail Foundation Priming Base Coat from butter LONDON starts your manicure with a beautiful foundation. It is easy to apply and is effective on most nail types.
This fantastic art is 100% safe, thus has no harmful added ingredients. It is free from DBP, Formaldehyde, Toluene, Camphor, among others. The natural product contains vitamins B, C, E, Horsetail Extract, and Hydrolyzed Silk.
Therefore, it provides strong, smooth, healthy nails and fills ridges. It is a quick dry product, thus preventing staining your nails while giving the coat a lasting hold. If you are looking for perfect and prime fingers and toenails, there you are!
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Our Verdict:
Nail Foundation Priming is a natural base coat from a recognized brand that aims to strengthen, smoothen while leaving your nails healthy. It is long-lasting, fast dry, non-stain, and gives a glow finish. It also works well on most types of nails without irritating users or having long-term adverse health effects. You will love the product.
5. LONDONTOWN Kur Protective Top Coat
A robust topcoat provides a good foundation for nail polish. Thus, for you to succeed and come out with a professional manicure, you need something original. Protective Top Coat from the LONDONTOWN Kur brand is one of the best products for your nails. It is UV resistant, vegan, cruelty, and gluten-free and has a promising quick-dry formula that delivers professional results irrespective of skill.
Therefore, it prevents your nails from harmful ingredients like Formaldehyde, Toluene, DBP, or Camphor. Thus, it creates a robust roadblock to stop your nails from chipping, breaking, and drying. This original color for adults gives an ultra-glossy finish with one coat. To achieve a smooth, healthy, and long-lasting texture, the Florium Complex with vitamins and botanical extracts completes the process.
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Our Verdict:
LONDONTOWN Kur Protective Top Coat is a great product that gives a glossy finish to your nail surface. It seals in vitamins, making the nails hard, non-chip, non-breakage, and non-dry while preventing external damage.
Final Thoughts
If you care about your looks and the safety of your skin, use high quality base coats such as the 10 we have reviewed. They are effective, safe, and leave a charming sheen on nails that last for days to weeks. Check our revies and buy a product that you will love using.