Topcoat reviews from Reddit
Summary
We analyzed 131 Reddit reviews across 26 subreddits and 45 posts to rank the best Topcoat brands recommended by redditors, including communities like r/simplynailogical, r/RedditLaqueristas, r/Nails, r/longnaturalnails, r/Nailpolish. Top-rated brands include Essie (4.5/5), Sally Hansen (4.7/5), Seche Vite (5.0/5).
Stats
Reviews131
Subreddits26
Posts45
Brands66
Products86
131 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Essie
4.5
(17)
"I love the Essie couture long wear gel topcoat. Doesn’t require a light but looks and lasts like gel."
"My go-to is essie gel couture! it’s cheap, easily available, and is in most drugstores."
"Essie quick dry top coat!"
"I'm using Essie Gel Setter and it's great!"
"Personally my favorite has been essie gel setter. It's so glossy and I love touching my nails."
"Finally found one that works for me! Essie gel couture."
"I really like Essie Gel Couture top coat and Essie Gel Setter."
"Essie - Gel Couture top coat, or Gel Setter."
"Short answer: essie brand for everything."
"I use essie gel couture or essie good to go and they last like 4 days no chipping."
#2
Sally Hansen
4.7
(10)
"I use sally hansen miracle nail base, sally hansen quick dry polishes."
"Sally Hansens hard as nails strengthening top coat all the way."
"Sally Hansen insta-dri is my favorite"
"Sally Hansen insta-dri clear top coat."
"Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in the red bottle, my holy grail top coat!"
"Sally hansen gel shiny top coat is my go to."
"The Sally hansen insta dry lasts forever on me."
"Sally Hansen Miracle Gel (polish not a gel just acts like one). Ive found its the only one readily available down under 🇦🇺 that doesn’t shrink HT polishes."
"I typically use Sally Hansen Hard As Wraps for my top coat."
"I use Sally Hansen Hard as Nails top coat."
#3
Seche Vite
5.0
(7)
"I use opi natural base coat and Seche vite top coat."
"I use Seche Vite, by far the best top coat I've ever tried."
"I love Seche Vite. Dries crazy fast."
"Seche Vite is my BFF."
"Seche Vite has gel like top coat in blue bottle."
"I also recommend seche vite."
"Regular polish Seche Vite."
#4
Glisten and Glow
4.8
(5)
"Glisten and glow. I never have sheet prints."
"Would highly recommend you try Glisten and Glow base and top coat."
"If you're open to indie suggestions, Glisten and Glow is fantastic."
"Glisten and Glow top coat, KB Shimmer Clearly on top."
"I really like KB Shimmer and Glisten and Glow!"
#5
Mr. Hobby
4.6
(5)
"Mr Hobby Premium topcoat is excellent but the price does hurt a bit."
"The Mr hobby premium stuff is the best I've used. It is pricey, and the premium doesn't seem to come in larger cans but I've literally never had trouble with it."
"If you're looking for a can, the mr. Hobby premium topcoat is the best I've found so far."
"MR Super Clear lacquer cans are bigger, still expensive and more toxic."
"I use mr super clear for matte finish"
#6
KBShimmer
5.0
(4)
"I also highly recommend KBShimmer’s QDTC."
"Kb shimmer clearly on top has been my go to for the last months. Love it."
"I love Kbshimmer's Clearly on Top top coat. I've not had any issues with it."
"KBShimmer Clearly on Top and the Glisten & Glow top coat are both especially great!"
#7
Glisten & Glow
5.0
(3)
"My top are Glisten & Glow Top Coat, Cuticula Limitless."
"My go-to is the Glisten & Glow top coat!"
"I use Glisten & Glow's quick dry top coat."
#8
Cuticula
5.0
(3)
"I tried Cuticula's glossy top coat after perusing recommendations on here."
"I keep trying other top coats, but I always come back to Cuticula’s Limitless Top Coat as my favorite."
"Cuticula Limitless Topcoat."
#9
Mr. Super Clear
4.7
(3)
"Mr. Super Clear is a nice topcoat to finish either Matte or glossy."
"I use Mr superclear on my bjd."
"I've always seen people recommend Mr. SuperClear which must be used outside."
#10
Seche Vive
4.7
(3)
"Seche vive gel effect, or essie gel couture."
"I’ve been using seche vive gel effect top coat and love it!"
"Seche vive (not vite unless you want the tips of your nails to stick out from your polish) and Essie gel setter! Both give a thick juicy gel appearance"
#11
KB Shimmer
4.3
(3)
"KB Shimmer when I want nails to dry fast, Essie Gel Setter when I want shiny and to last."
"I really like KB Shimmer and Glisten and Glow!"
"I recently got the KB shimmer top coat."
#12
Orly
4.3
(3)
"Orly Shining Armor is absolutely fantastic."
"I like the Orly Shining Armor topcoat"
"I use the ORLY Bonder base coat and 2 different top coats."
#13
Vibrant Vinyls
5.0
(2)
"Vibrant Vinyls Fast and Hard top coat is awesome!"
"I'm a vibrant vinyls Fast & Hard fan."
#14
Olive and June
5.0
(2)
"I am obsessed with Olive and June!!!"
"Olive and June Bold & Unshaken, CG Fairy Dust, SH Insta-Dri topcoat."
#15
Seche
5.0
(2)
"Seche Ultra-V UV activated top coat is great if you have a UV light."
"Seche Vive Gel Effect top coat!"
#16
Holo Taco
5.0
(2)
"Holo Taco- “glossy taco”"
"Holo taco does good stuff."
#17
Beetles
4.5
(2)
"Beetles gel a510, beetles base coat, top, and matte top coat."
"I use Beetles brand(Amazon) no wipe topcoat and its pretty thin."
#18
Maniology
4.5
(2)
"I put on a no smudge top coat (maniology) then any old top coat works after that."
"It’s made to not smear your stamps like regular top coats do."
#19
OPI
4.5
(2)
"My go to for years has been OPI top coat."
"I’ve been using OPI Nature Strong lately. Dries just as quick as GT and doesn’t knock your socks off with fumes but longevity isn’t as good."
#20
Mooncat
4.5
(2)
"My top two are Mooncat’s “Speed Demon” and Bee’s Knees Lacquer’s “I’m Fast, Very Fast”."
"I've personally had really great experiences with Mooncat's Speed Demon Top Coat."
#21
Watco
4.0
(2)
"I use watco wipe on poly and varathane spray and it goes on smooth and dries quickly."
"I used wipe-on poly. The finish is pretty nice and smooth and has held perfectly."
#22
Vallejo
4.0
(2)
"I use Vallejo Mecha Varnish for my final coat. It's true water based so I can spray it in the house and has been plenty durable so far."
"Vallejo mecha varnish works well, and it is acrylic, so that's always a plus."
#23
IBD
4.0
(2)
"Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.7"
"[idb uv top coat]"
#24
General Finishes
5.0
(1)
"General Finishes exterior 450 is a good product."
#25
Centurion
5.0
(1)
"Centurion 2k 1107 primer is the bomb and blocks tannins."
#26
L.A. Colors
5.0
(1)
"Two coats of L.A. Colors Rapid Dry Topcoat mixed with Color Vibe 'A Little Drama'."
#27
Daily Charme
5.0
(1)
"I have heard a lot of good things about it."
#28
Raindrop
5.0
(1)
"That’s an amazing matte topper, which one do you use?"
#29
ORLY
5.0
(1)
"I personally use ORLY Glosser top coat and have never had any issues."
#30
EnVogue
5.0
(1)
"For my chrome I use their No Wipe topcoat and cure for 30secs."
#31
SW
5.0
(1)
"I would go with 2 coats of sw macropoxy 646 followed by high solids polyurethane."
#32
BKL
5.0
(1)
"My favorite top coat is by BKL, their I'm Fast, I'm Very Fast."
#33
Varathane
5.0
(1)
"My favorite is the Varathane brand of (water-based) polyurethane, which has also been a favorite of many other polymer clayers through the years."
#34
Benjamin Moore
5.0
(1)
"Try Benjamin Moore for Command by Corotech. It’s made for this exact application."
#35
Polycrylic
5.0
(1)
"I like using polycrylic. Its waterbased so the cleanup is easy, plus it dries clear so all color and detail is preserved."
#36
Aimeili
5.0
(1)
"You need a no-wipe gel topcoat for the best chrome application. I had great results with Aimeili top coat."
#37
Static Nails
5.0
(1)
"Static Nails has a great top coat!"
#38
JE Whitney
5.0
(1)
"I've had such an amazing time with JE Whitney's standard top coat that I just need to share!"
#39
iGel Beauty
5.0
(1)
"I love iGel Beauty's non-wipe topcoat! I purchase in bulk."
#40
Superchic Lacquer
5.0
(1)
"Superchic lacquer’s Marvel liquid macro top coat! Cristine used to use it, and I swear by it."
#41
CND
5.0
(1)
"I love CND long wear top coat."
#42
Pop N Polished
5.0
(1)
"Pop n polished - liquid glass. Hands down."
#43
Gelixir
5.0
(1)
"I use Gelixir base coat and top coat! I love it."
#44
Mini Mani Moo
5.0
(1)
"It's versatile and easy to use!"
#45
Barry M
5.0
(1)
"I use the Barry M "Topcoat, Basecoat & Nail Hardener All in One"."
#46
Sassy Sauce
5.0
(1)
"Sassy Sauce’s top coats are phenomenal as well, super shiny."
#47
Bee’s Knees Lacquer
5.0
(1)
"I love Bee’s Knees Lacquer’s top coat."
#48
INM
5.0
(1)
"I use INM's Out The Door quick dry top coat."
#49
CAB
4.0
(1)
"CAB acrylic is good, particularly for lighter woods."
#50
Mod Podge
4.0
(1)
"Modge podge has some outdoor versions that are uv and waterproof specifically."
#51
Brite Tone
4.0
(1)
"Brite tone is a water based varnish that is designed for use on musical instruments."
#52
Cabinet Coat
4.0
(1)
"We liked cabinet coat a lot, but had issues getting it for a while so switched."
#53
APC
4.0
(1)
"I bought an APC overcoat on grailled early in winter... you can get really good deals and all their stuff it nice quality."
#54
Canoe Club
4.0
(1)
"Nearly copped this jawn on sale when they had my size up."
#55
No Smudge
4.0
(1)
"Look for a water based top topcoat. Most stamping brands sell one, usually called something along the lines of "no smudge"."
#56
Matte Top Coat
4.0
(1)
"Yes, matte tc will help the rnp adhere better. It's also helps for nail art such as alcohol inks and the mood nail/liquid crystal."
#57
Minwax
4.0
(1)
"I like polycrylic by minwax. Just follow instructions and use thin coats."
#58
Born Pretty
4.0
(1)
"Born Pretty has a nail lacquer that does a pretty good chrome/aura if you are going for the glazed look."
#59
Revlon
4.0
(1)
"I use revlons regular top coat. It applies nicely and dries really fast."
#60
Sinful Colors
4.0
(1)
"Sinful colors plumping top coat"
#61
Samurai
4.0
(1)
"I use Samurai Clear Coat spray."
#62
Dazzle Dry
4.0
(1)
"Currently using Dazzle Dry as the top coat. No toluene, dries super fast."
#63
1Shot
4.0
(1)
"Top coat with 1shot. At least you’ll know you won’t have problems with lettering with 1shot."
#64
West System
4.0
(1)
"West system 105 has a slow cure clear coat hardener you might want to consider."
#65
Virgo and Gem
4.0
(1)
"I started using a gel topcoat... their topcoat is good."
#66
Kupa
4.0
(1)
"The kupa non-wipe gel top coat has a very thin formula compared to most of the other top coats."
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