The Gel Couture top coat might be exactly what I need. My Target runs Essie sales constantly, so I always head back to that endcap to see what’s marked down.
I’ve picked up a few of their treatment products to use as base coats and the staining is way better. Might as well try the top coats too.
Base coat and prep matter way more than top coat. I forgot my polish at my sister’s place over Christmas and ended up using her HT Glossy Taco with no base coat underneath, which felt fine at the time, but my mani barely made it three days. I usually get a full week at home with the same top coat and everything else, so the results were different.
Wipe each nail down with polish remover or alcohol right before you paint. Quick swipe, that’s it.
It does more for longevity than most top coats, and I’ve tried a lot of them.
Essie Good to Go is solid for drugstore. But the Gel-Setter one is what I actually use, mostly because it smooths out glitter without me having to do three coats.
Dries pretty quick too.
The shine is solid, which surprised me since it’s not a real gel formula. My one gripe is the dry time. It takes forever, and I have zero patience for sitting still with my hands out like that.
Poshe over a smooth color coat. That’s been my cheap winner all year.
If you’re using drying drops, ditch them. Those oils just sit on top and haze the finish within a day, sometimes less.
No hot water for the first hour either, no rinsing dishes or long showers if you can help it. Heat softens a fresh top coat and it never fully hardens after that.