Byrdie / Sabrina Jiang
Applying a coat of clear nail polish is an essential step in painting your nails or toes. And for those who like a natural look, it's the only step. A top coat creates a shiny (or sometimes matte) finish, but its work goes beyond aesthetics. According to Nadine Abramcyk, nail expert and co-founder of Tenoverten, the clear coating is just as important as the colored lacquer. "Top coats help seal your polish, prevent the color from fading, and protect from chipping," she tells Byrdie.
Needless to say, if you paint your nails regularly—or even once in a while—you'll want to have a good top coat on hand. With the help of experts, we did extensive research on several popular options, from glossies and mattes to quick-dry, long-wear, and chip-resistant formulas. We evaluated each on effectiveness and value, resulting in this list of the very best buys.
Best Overall
Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat
JcPenny
Dries quickly
Long-lasting
Resists yellowing
The scent is strong
Size: 0.5 oz. | Finish: Glossy | Cruelty-Free: Yes
When it comes to clear nail polish, Seche Vite is a shining star. This quick-dry top coat has a well-deserved following among both the DIY and professional crowds. "This formula acts like a gel without the difficulties of removing gels by yourself," says nail artist Christine Doan of Gloss House. "I like to do two coats of this one. I've gotten close to three weeks' wear with it!"
Swipe it on for an ultra-glossy, crystal-clear effect that lasts several days without chipping, peeling, or yellowing. Fair warning: The polish has a strong chemical smell similar to acetone, it does fade immediately when dry.
Best Budget
Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat
Amazon
Budget-friendly
Dries quickly
Bubble-free finish
Not long-lasting
Size: 0.5 oz. | Finish: Glossy | Cruelty-Free: No
If drugstore nail polish had a queen, it would be Sally Hansen. The brand's Insta-Dri Top Coat glides smoothly and precisely over your nails, leaving a bubble-free finish that's dry to the touch within 30 seconds and entirely hardened within minutes.
Best Drugstore
Revlon Quick Dry Top Coat
Amazon
Dries quickly
Unique satin finish
Resists yellowing
Not long-lasting
Size: 0.5 oz. | Finish: Satin | Cruelty-Free: No
Revlon also makes a great quick-drying top coat. This clear lacquer sets in 30 seconds with a chic satin finish, plus it resists yellowing and prevents your color from fading. Quick-dry top coats are not as effective when it comes to longevity so be aware you're making the choice for speed over wear time.
Best Splurge
Hermès Les Mains Hermès Top Coat
Saks Fifth Avenue
Mirror finish
Light optimizers
Light-protected bottle
Not easily accessible
Size: 0.5 oz. | Finish: Glossy | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Yes, Hermès nail polish is undoubtedly a novelty. But if you can swing the price, this fancy French top coat might be worth a splurge. It promises a mirror-like finish with light optimizers that give your nails a curved, full-depth effect.
Best Chip-Resistant
China Glaze No Chip Top Coat
Amazon
Long-lasting
Strengthening
Chip resistant
Takes 30 minutes to harden
Size: 0.5 oz. | Finish: Glossy | Cruelty-Free: Yes
This pro-level top coat sets quickly and hardens completely within 30 minutes, and it offers a glossy finish while protecting any nail polish underneath. More to the point, the formula resists chipping, cracked polish, and peeling for several days.
Best Protective
OPI Brilliant High-Shine Top Coat
Amazon
Resists chipping
Dries quickly
High-gloss shine
Can dry a little streaky
Size: 0.5 oz. | Finish: Glossy | Cruelty-Free: No
OPI is another salon-level brand with lots of standout products. The Brilliant High-Shine Top Coat protects your nails and any layers of nail polish underneath from chipping and breaking. For best results, apply two coats, making sure to swipe the brush over the tips of your nails and slightly underneath.
Best Quick-Dry
Essie Good to Go Top Coat
Amazon
Penetrates fresh polish
Dries quickly
Resists yellowing
Affordable
Not long-lasting
Size: 0.5 oz. | Finish: Glossy | Cruelty-Free: No
Short on time? Reach for Essie Good to Go. The exceptionally quick-drying formula penetrates through wet nail polish and hardens in minutes, leaving a high-gloss shine and a non-yellowing finish in its wake.
Best Strengthening
Habit Cosmetics Non-Toxic + Vegan Nail Polish in Top
Habit Cosmetics
Supports nail growth
Gel-like formula
Eco-friendly
A small bottle
Size: Not listed | Finish: Glossy | Cruelty-Free: Yes
This top coat from the eco-friendly brand Habit Cosmetics contains cuticle-strengthening myrrh extract to promote healthy nail growth. The gel-like formula is also vegan and free of toluene, formaldehyde, and parabens.
Best High-Gloss
Cirque Colors Looking Glass Top Coat
Amazon
Dries quickly
Gel-like formula
Long-lasting
Consistency changes quickly
Size: Not listed | Finish: Glossy | Cruelty-Free: Yes
If you want mirror-like shine, Cirque Colors Looking Glass is your best bet. This high-gloss top coat boasts a gel-like formula that dries quickly and protects your manicure for days.
Best Matte
Triple O Matte Top Coat
OOOPolish
Long-lasting
Vegan
Matte
Not fast-drying
Size: Not listed | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes
For those partial to a shine-free finish, we recommend OOO's Matte Top Coat. It goes on smooth and dries into a satiny matte finish. While this polish doesn't set as quickly as others, it lasts longer than most glossy formulas.
Best Pearlescent
Pleasing Pearly Tops Polish
Pleasing
Subtle iridescence
Pretty on its own
Aesthetic packaging
Not easily accessible
Size: 0.4 oz. | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Yep, Harry Styles has a beauty brand now—and it's pretty good. The Pearly Tops Polish is transparent with an oh-so-subtle pearlescent sheen and a satiny matte finish. It's great over colored lacquer or on its own for a pared-down look.
Best for French Manicures
People of Color Nail Polish Top Coat
People of Color Beauty
Pink tint
Versatile
Durable
Not fast-drying
Size: 0.5 oz. | Finish: Glossy | Cruelty-Free: Yes
This top coat from People of Color has a slight pink tint, making it the best glossy finish for DIY French manicures. It's also lovely on its own and over opaque polish colors.
Best for Brittle Nails
Nails Inc. 45 Second Top Coat
Sephora
Dries quickly
Resists chipping
Contains retinol
Final result is not as pretty as other options
Size: 0.5 oz. | Finish: Glossy | Cruelty-Free: Yes
If you're working with brittle nails, go with Nails Inc. This top coat is formulated with retinol, which, according to the maker, hardens the enamel, prevents chipping, and prolongs wear time. Not only that, but it's dry to the touch in 45 seconds.
Best With UV Blockers
Butter LONDON Hardwear Shine UV Top Coat
Amazon
Resists yellowing
Prevents fading
Adds shine
Can be streaky
Size: 0.4 oz. | Finish: Glossy | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Doan is a fan of Butter London, and we're here for it. The brand's Hardwear top coat is formulated to prevent ultraviolet light from yellowing or fading the polish underneath.
Best Gel
Londontown Genius Top Coat
Amazon
No UV lamp needed
Nourishes nail beds
Resists chipping
Formula can thicken quickly
Size: 0.4 oz. | Finish: Glossy | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Unlike most gel formulas, Kur doesn't require special LED or UV lights to set. It cures in the natural sunlight while nourishing your nail beds and forming a protective barrier that resists chipping and fading.
What to Look for in a Top Coat
- Finish: Most top coats leave your nails with a shiny finish, though some provide a more reflective, high-gloss effect. If your nails dull within a few days, you can always apply a touch-up coat to refresh the shine. Then there's matte polish, which delivers a flat sheen. Matte top coats can be applied over regular shiny polishes to dull the finish and provide a shine-free velvety effect.
- Drying time: Many top coats are formulated to dry fast. If a product dries within a few minutes, it will usually be indicated on the label. Otherwise, you can expect most clear coats to be dry to the touch within about 10 minutes and fully hardened in roughly 30 minutes. That said, the more coats you apply, the longer the dry time.
- Lacquer vs. Gel: Regular nail lacquers are similar to paint in that they air dry. Gel nail polish, on the other hand, will only dry and cure under a special UV or LED lamp. You can get one of these lamps online or at a beauty supply store. "When working with gel, you want to make sure that it does not have a high heat spike (the burning sensation when you're under LED lights)," says Doan. "For gel top coats, I like a long-lasting non-wipe that stays shiny for weeks to come! I like the non-wipe formulas because they allow the highest shine."
Why Trust Byrdie
Theresa Holland is a content creator with substantial experience covering cosmetics in the commerce space. She interviewed two experts for this piece, including a nail artist and a nail care specialist, for product recommendations and insight into formulations. As a life-long DIY manicurist, she's tried many of the products on this list, including Seche Vite, OPI, Revlon, Butter London, Pleasing, Essie, and Cirque Colors. However, Sally Hansen's Insta-Dri Top Coat has been a fallback for upwards of a decade.
Team Byrdie worked with experts to inform this article:
- Nadine Abramcyk is a nail expert and the co-founder of Tenoverten.
- Christine Doan is a former nuclear engineer turned licensed cosmetologist and content creator. Her brand, Gloss House, features nail art and design services in the San Diego area.
