Base Coat reviews from Reddit
Summary
We analyzed 150 Reddit reviews across 16 subreddits and 50 posts to rank the best Base Coat brands recommended by redditors, including communities like r/RedditLaqueristas, r/ILNP, r/lacqueristas, r/Nailpolish, r/BloodRavens40k. Top-rated brands include Orly (4.0/5), Holo Taco (4.6/5), Essie (4.4/5).
Stats
Reviews150
Subreddits16
Posts50
Brands53
Products94
150 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Orly
4.0
(24)
"Use a traditional polish base coat then the Orly bonder"
"I like Orly Bonder Rubberized Basecoat."
"I'm an Orly Bonder base coat girl. I swear by it."
"ORLY Bonder is the product name! 😁"
"Orly bonder!!!!!"
"My final conclusion for base coat is that there is nothing better than Orlys."
"I only use Orly Bonder and I’ve never had an issue with staining."
"Orly Bonder"
"I use Orly Bonder as the base and then Sally Hansen Diamond Strength Hardener as a top coat - keeps them shiny and strong!"
"I like Orly's base and top coats."
#2
Holo Taco
4.6
(10)
"I use Holo Taco’s. It’s my favorite."
"Much better at preventing staining than ORLY Bonder."
"Definitely Holo Taco smoothing base, as others have suggested."
"Holo Taco smoothing base coat."
"I love Holo Taco's smoothing base. It looks slightly milky and tbh, I will wear it alone in between manis!"
"I use Holo Taco's peel off base coat when I do swatches."
"I really like the Holo Taco pink smoothing base, but there are plenty of ridge fillers on the market."
"I really like Holo Tacos long lasting base."
"Had been using HoloTaco but have been experimenting with what I can find at Ulta."
"Holo Taco Smoothing Base."
#3
Essie
4.4
(9)
"I've had the best success with Essie and Zoya base coats"
"Essies looks like gel topcoat is my fav! Truly makes my polish look like a gel mani."
"The top coat gel couture from Essie is amazing ;)"
"I like Essie's "First Base""
"I like Essies base coats"
"Basecoat - Essie"
"I switched to Essie for base coat - the one that is supposed to help it last."
"I've found that using Essie base coat as both base and top coat makes my nails chip less."
"I like the essie smooth-e base coat! should be easy to find in your average department store, and it’s pretty fast drying!"
#4
Mooncat
4.2
(9)
"I like mooncat hardcore base coat."
"My new favorite is Mooncat's pink base coat. Dries quickly with a satin matte finish that masks my ridges pretty well."
"I’ve been using mooncats base coat lately and i love it"
"You might like it more"
"I always go back to their Hardcore base coat"
"I have been using the Mooncat hardcore base and so far I love it because it grips to the polish not damaging the nail."
"The base coat that I’ve found that doesn’t exacerbate the problem is Mooncat Hardcore."
"I just got Mooncat's Getting Even Nail Primer."
"I've used mooncat hard core base coat and orly bonder."
#5
KBShimmer
4.7
(7)
"I really love KBShimmer’s Stay Put Hydrating Base Coat!"
"Seconding KBShimmer’s Fillin’ Groovy!"
"KBShimmer's Fillin' Groovy is by far my favorite! It levels nicely and it's easier to work with than some brands."
"All three of my Holy Grail basics come from KBShimmer — the thinner, the top coat, and the nail strengthener base coat."
"I recently tried Kbshimmer's Fillin Groovy Base Coat & it is equally amazing, but half the price!"
"KBShimmer's Fillin' Groovy is my go-to. It's easy to work with and pretty tough!"
"I like using the kbshimmer hydrating base coat and ridge filler together."
#6
OPI
4.6
(7)
"I use OPI Infinite Shine base coat. I love it. It dries quickly and my polish stays chip free for 4-7 days."
"That’s my ride or die."
"OPI natural nail basecoat and vibrant vinyls double bond both work for me."
"OPI natural nail basecoat and vibrant scents double bond both work great for me."
"I use OPI Nail Envy for my base coat."
"OPI and CND have quite good ones."
"I’ve used this with good results before."
#7
Sally Hansen
4.3
(6)
"I have been loving “Sally Hansen- Complete Salon Manicure: Nail Corrector.” It’s affordable and has a semi-opaque nude colour."
"Sally Hansen Double Duty"
"Also, I use the Sally Hansen Hard."
"Sally Hansen Color Therapy Strengthening Base Coat and it does seem to have strengthened my nails a lot."
"I use a nail strengthener as a base coat, Sally Hansen’s Diamond Strength Instant Nail Hardener."
"If you have brittle nails I'd avoid it because it is technically a strengthener."
#8
Jello
4.6
(5)
"I use the jello jello all the time, under regular gel polish. It’s the best."
"It’s amazing, i brought mine off eBay I recommend it for gelx and builder."
"Yes it is great base for gel polishes. I love it."
"It works well under those three for sure!"
"I did recently order a bottle of the jello jello to try."
#9
Army Painter
3.6
(5)
"Closest I have gotten is Army Painter Angel Green with a few drops of Yellow."
"I'm pretty happy with it."
"I use an airbrush with Army painter light grey and then the fang over it."
"I'm currently using Angel Green by Army painter it's a bit glossy though."
"It’s not bad"
#10
Games Workshop
4.3
(4)
"It’s great, you’ll be happy with this. Are you using contrasts?"
"In the past they have also suggested Khorne Red and Red Gore (now Wazdakka Red)."
"Personally I used mephiston red."
"I am using khorne red for mine, and it is even a bit darker."
#11
essie
4.0
(4)
"Essie smooth-e is one I pull out time and time again."
"My fave fwiw is essie smooth-e."
"I use essie smooth e and it definitely helps a lot."
"I had to stop using it because of the polyvinyl butyral."
#12
KB Shimmer
5.0
(3)
"Is the best stain protector I have against polishes that stain."
"My best stain protector is 2 coats of KB Shimmer Fillin Groovy."
"My favorite currently is the Fillin’ Groovy ridge filling basecoat by KBShimmer."
#13
Virgo and Gem
5.0
(3)
"Love Virgo and gem."
"Virgo and Gem has been great for me after having a lot of lifting with Revel."
"I use Virgo and Gem and no issues."
#14
Londontown
4.3
(3)
"Londontown's Fortifying Ridge Filler has done wonders for my formerly peely, weak nails."
"I personally really love Londontown Fortifying Ridge Filler."
"I’ve had some success with Londontown Fortifying Ridge Filler."
#15
Baroness X
5.0
(2)
"I’m a big fan of nourishing base coats!"
"My holy grail is Baroness X’s Spellbound 4-in-1 which acts as a ridge filler, a sticky primer, a strengthener, and an undie for sheer polishes."
#16
Glisten & Glow
5.0
(2)
"Glisten and glow has the best ridge filling base coat."
"I like the Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat."
#17
Cuticula
5.0
(2)
"I use Cuticula Mic Drop base and Glisten & Glow quick dry top coat and love them both."
"I like Cuticula’s Mic Drop base coat."
#18
Zoya
5.0
(2)
"I've had great success recently with Zoya's basecoat."
"Zoya Repair Base is my current favorite"
#19
Seche Vite
5.0
(2)
"Seche Vite #1"
"Seche vite fast dry top coat is probably the best I’ve ever used."
#20
Moo
5.0
(2)
"Recently added Moo nail liquid bandage base coat/polish and it's helped a lot my nails don't split anymore."
"Recently added Moo nail liquid bandage base coat/polish and it's helped a lot my nails don't split anymore."
#21
China Glaze
4.5
(2)
"China Glaze Strong Adhesion"
"China Glaze strong adhesion has been working out well for me."
#22
Colour Forge
4.5
(2)
"Renegade green from colour forge."
"I use Angel Green spray from colour forge - it's been colour matched to Caliban Green."
#23
ILNP
4.5
(2)
"I absolutely LOVE IT. The first mani lasted a solid 13 days."
"I love ILNP’s base coat and it’s pretty much all I use."
#24
Vallejo
4.0
(2)
"Works well with a coat of xpress colour Seraph Red over the top"
"I prefer Vallejo Sombre grey as base coat over black primer and Wolf grey as highlight."
#25
Rimmel
4.0
(2)
"Dries in 2mins flat, smooth but grabby when other polishes is applied on top."
"Is a sheer pink which is great base for more of a sheer/translucent look."
#26
Vibrant Vinyls
3.5
(2)
"I use Vibrant Vinyls Double Bond base coat and Cuticula Limitless QDTC."
"I'm currently experimenting with Vibrant Vinyls Double Bond which is a sticky base coat and ridge filler."
#27
Kiko Milano
5.0
(1)
"Kiko Milano's Strengthener Base Coat"
#28
Nail Factory
5.0
(1)
"I like one shot vita base by nail factory."
#29
DND
5.0
(1)
"I just bought a DND laquer base and Top Coat from the website."
#30
Glisten and Glow
5.0
(1)
"I love glisten and glow base and quick dry top coat."
#31
FingerPaints
5.0
(1)
"I used fingerpaints top coat and it’s my holy grail!!!"
#32
SNS
5.0
(1)
"I use SNS Senshine liquids and haven't had any issues."
#33
Lyunail
5.0
(1)
"I love using rubber base for my base!"
#34
Emily de Molly
5.0
(1)
"I recently started using Emily de Molly’s ridge filling base coat."
#35
Double Dippd
5.0
(1)
"Double dippd liquids are the best."
#36
Dazzle Dry
5.0
(1)
"Dazzle Dry is absolutely the best lacquer system out there."
#37
Dance Legend
5.0
(1)
"I'm using Glitter Base from Dance Legend and I can get a solid week easily from it."
#38
Polished for Days
5.0
(1)
"I’ve been using polished for days blurring basecoats for a couple months now."
#39
DD
5.0
(1)
"I use that DD base coat with L & F wraps"
#40
lynBDesigns
5.0
(1)
"My two favorites are lynbdesigns b-smooth base and Glisten & Glow's ridge filler base."
#41
Nailtiques
5.0
(1)
"My favorite is Nailtiques 2 or 2+."
#42
Vegan Pure
5.0
(1)
"It hadn't penetrated down to my actual nail."
#43
Cirque
4.0
(1)
"Cirque also has a peely base."
#44
Grey Seer
4.0
(1)
"The current general Space Wolves formula I suggest is: Primer. Grey Seer thin coat(s)"
#45
Krylon
4.0
(1)
"I like using krylon rust primer if you want a cheaper option but looks fantastic."
#46
Kokoist
4.0
(1)
"Kokoist mega stick base"
#47
Rival
4.0
(1)
"I use now Rival — Ideal Ridge Filler. It’s cheap, slightly tinted and lasts really well."
#48
Nailtek
4.0
(1)
"Tons of info if you search this sub. Nailtek 2, nailtiques 2, Opi nail envy original, etc."
#49
UNT
4.0
(1)
"I use UNT's peel off base, but I haven't tried any others."
#50
NailBoo
4.0
(1)
"I REALLY like NailBoo liquids except the top coat."
#51
CN Designer Dips
4.0
(1)
"I have had good luck with CN Designer Dips on Etsy."
#52
Mooncats
3.0
(1)
"Mooncats basecoats are pvb free, i use the getting even nail primer but that one doesnt last me too long."
#53
Herome
3.0
(1)
"I used nail hardener (Herome extra strong) for years but my nails kept going weaker and more and more splits appeared."
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