The 13 Best Nail Polish Top Coats For a Shiny, Strong Manicure

For a top coat that ticks off all of the boxes—and then some, Seche's Vite Dry Fast Top Coat is a no-brainer. In fact, Kandalec call this clear, high-shine formula "the original dry fast top coat." "It doesn’t smear color or nail art and dries very fast," she explains. Seche has a patented formula that penetrates through your polish and down to your nail bed, creating a strong, chip-resistant bond.

Compatible with both natural nails and extensions, this formula is built to strengthen nails and leave a silky, non-yellow finish behind. The one caveat? "It can shrink a bit, especially if a bottle is old, or it's applied in warm weather," Kandalec says. However, under the right conditions, this topper can punch above its weight class.

Customer Review:

"Looks so glossy on my nails and dried completely in less than five minutes!"—Lauren

Make the most of your manicure with the help of OPI's popular Top Coat. With the help of ingredients like ethyl acetate and butyl acetate, this formula works hard to create an ultra-glossy, protective layer that will make your fingers less susceptible to scratches and chips. In fact, OPI claim that a coat of this transparent option will make you manicure last for up to seven days.

Customer review: “My new go to clear polish/topcoat. I like the plumping effects that helps regular polish look a little more high quality in a bit more like gel polish.” —Bryna Gallegos

Very few things can mess up your beauty routine like a chipped nail. Instead of doing touch-ups every few days, consider adding Le Gel Coat to your cart. Though Chanel’s Le Top Coat is a cult-favorite pick, the fashion house’s newer Le Gel Coat features film-forming agents that act like resin for your polish, to lock it in place. This glossy option also features proprietary camellia eco-ceramides to offer an extra layer of protect as well as camellia oil, which adds hydrates and shines the nail bed and cuticle.

Customer review: “Great coat! keeps my manicure in great condition for a long time! Been using Le Gel Coat for years!” —Margot

You put a lot of work into your nails, so shouldn't it last? That's where Dazzle Dry's clear top coat comes in. This high-gloss, non-yellowing pick is the secret to a time-honored mani free of phthalate and formaldehyde. "Dazzle Dry works as a system, so you need their base coat and polishes to get the full effect, but their topcoat is the absolute best and will keep your manicure chip-free for seven to10 days, and it dries completely within five minutes of applying," Mazz Hanna, CEO of Nailing Hollywood, shares. In fact, with the proper care, you can get even longer wear. " I’ve personally seen Dazzle Dry manicures last longer than 14 days chip-free," she says.

Customer Review:

"Love Dazzle Dry. The top coat gives a nice shine and helps the color last."—Michele K.

It might elicit some sticker shock, but the Les Mains Hermès Top Coat from Hermès is basically the Birkin bag of top coats. Not only is the bottle all kinds of chic, but the formula mirrors natural light to deliver a high-shine, curved-depth effect. Bazaar associate beauty editor Katie Intner says, “This smooth polish gives a gorgeous shine that lasts for days.” And, thanks to the Pierre Hardy-designed bottle, this option is stylish from all angles.

Customer Review:

"This is the best top coat ever. Will purchase another one soon."—Sophie

Many companies sell top coats with a high-gloss finish, but what if you're not in the mood for shiny nails? Enter Essie's Gel Couture Matte Top Coat. Specifically designed with the brand's Gel Couture polishes in mind, this option will deliver a salon-quality finish without a UV lamp. One swipe gives your polish a velvety-matte look that lasts for weeks. Another thing to love: This vegan formula was created without the use of animal-derived by-products and harsh ingredients like formaldehyde.

Customer reviews: “I’ve never tried a product that instantly made my nail polish matte in just under a minute. It goes on very easily and I love the style of the bottle. It has a step-to when doing your nails and I like that it doesn’t clump when putting it on top of a nail polish.” —Jhmesico

If you want to protect your color and get that Hailey Bieber–inspired glazed-doughnut finish, then opt for Pleasing’s Pearly Tops Polish. The pearlescent formula gives nails a subtle, milky sheen that looks amazing on its own or enhances any color underneath. That said, the brand has more to offer than its cool packaging and pearly finish: Pleasing's "biodegradable polish" is free of harsh ingredients like formaldehyde, parabens, and sulfates.

Customer Review:

"The nail polishes are long-lasting and need minimal coats, and the formula is made from plant-based solvents, making it much better for the planet in terms of disposal and removal. "—Shannon L.

As Sally Hansen's Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat proves, you don't have to spend a small fortune to snag a pretty, long-lasting manicure. Made to dry in about 60 seconds, this top coat has acrylic polymers that hardens to protect both the paint and nail themselves from any breakage. That said, this top coat has more to offer than just speed: Many shoppers love this pick for its shiny, streak-free finish.

Customer review: “I love the Insta-Dri polishes. They go on smoothly and easily and do dry quickly. With the Insta-Dri clear top coat applied every other day or so, my self manicure on my natural nails lasts about a week.” —Lisa

At $20, Londontown's Kur Gel Genius Quick-Dry Top Coat isn't exactly cheap. However, if you're looking for a quality options that gets the job done—and just so happens to be vegan, cruelty-free, and paraben-free—it's worth every penny. This top coat delivers a plush, gel-like layer—minus the damaging aftermath. A thin coat is all you need for a fast-drying, long-lasting, and streak-free finish, so you'll have this bottle for many manicures to come. Best of all? The polish sets when exposed to sunlight, so your color will stay pigmented even after a weekend at the pool.

Customer review: “My manicure lasted for over a week. I tested this for a month. It lasts from 6-8 days. I am thrilled!! I have tested every single product out there. Not a fan of tips, dips or no chip. They all torture your nails. This is a regular manicure polish. I bought the base and to only. AWESOME!!! 5tars!!!” —Mary Budler

Since extended time spent outside can damage and yellow your nails, your polish can definitely benefit from UV protection. Ensure your color never fades with Butter London’s Hardwear Shine UV Topcoat. While the UV-protecting magic lies in the benzophenone-1, which prevents color fading, ingredients like biotin, vitamin B, calcium, and horsetail extract help keep your nails nourished and strong. The formula is as light as, well...butter, but gives a luxe shine and is smudge-free.

Customer review: “Love the shine. Looks like nails are still wet and wears much better than OPI or Essie brands. More expensive but worth it.” —karen

Polish color can fade and look lackluster over time, but this CND top coat increases its strength as the nails are exposed to light, for the ultimate layer of protection. Here, CND's patent-pending technology works with natural sunlight to create a strong, lasting layer. Budding home manicurists aren't the only ones who appreciate this durable formula. "It’s very shiny, dries fast, and doesn’t shrink," Kandalec. "It was designed to work with the rest of the Vinylux collection, but works well with any regular polish as well as their own."

Customer review: “Love this product. It helps my polish stay on for over a week. Dries fast too.” —Rochelle M

Are gel manicures more your speed? Mia Rubie of Sparkle SF, a nail salon in San Francisco, says Kokoist's Ultra Glossy Non Wipe Top Coat Gel is her "absolute favorite." Why? Not only is this formula suitable with gel and acrylic polishes, but Rubie also say it's "super-duper shiny and long-lasting." "I love the viscosity because it’s a bit on the thicker side and it smooths everything out beautifully," she explains. It also cures in 30 seconds in a LED light with no tacky layer left behind. When you are done, you are good to go!"

Customer Review:

"I am a beginner to gel nails and I love that you don’t have to wipe your nails after curing. It leaves the nails SO glossy, I was shocked after using it. It leaves the look of a polished manicure, like you’ve gone to the salon. I totally recommend it!"—Juliana M.

If you want to get the "pillowy" finish of a gel manicure—without, you know, using gel—Kandalec is a big fan of Totally Gelly, a vegan and cruelty-free top coat from Lights Lacquer. "This formula has an ultra-glossy, gel-like finish that will give you a professional-level gel-like mani," she says. "Seal in nail art & charms and extend the wear time of your polish without using an LED or UV light!" It also comes with an oval-shaped brush for an easy, streak-free application—regardless of the size of your nails.

Customer Review: “I’ve been wanting some longer-lasting polish that looks professional! So far so good!” —Kristin