I Tried Essie's Gel Couture Top Coat—It Made Me Quit Gel Nails | Who What Wear

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Since developing a sensitivity to gel nails, I've been on the lookout for alternatives to in-salon gel nails and at-home gel nail kits. I've tried lots of press-on nails (OPI's press-on nails are a game changer), but I have yet to find a good nail polish brand that genuinely makes my regular nail polish last more than three days without chipping. After a TikTok scroll, I stumbled across a video of a content creator saying how she had found her dream nail polish and topcoat that not only looked like gel polish but also rivaled its longevity. I've tried hundreds of top coats, which have only left me disappointed and out of pocket. I was doubtful, but I made my way out to find her recommendation: the Essie Gel Couture Nail Polish and Gel Couture Top Coat. Scroll ahead for my honest review.

Pros: Easy to apply, no UV lamp required, leaves a glossy and hard-wearing finish, helps polish stay chip-free for almost two weeks, affordable, applies evenly, dries to a hard finish, plumping effect that looks like gel polishCons: Opaque bottle makes it harder to see how much product is left, can take a few minutes to dry

Customer Review: "I had to to take a break from gel for a while. This is the best alternative. I can get a week out of one application. 4 stars because it can take a while to dry but not over complaints!!"

The Essie Gel Couture Top Coat lasts really well. I would say that I can get between a week and 10 days out of this topcoat before my nail polish starts to chip. Even then, it's only very minor chipping at the tips of the nails, so you could easily stretch it out to almost two weeks. It's recommended that you reapply a topcoat around seven days in to ensure it lasts longer.I've tested this topcoat with both Essie's Gel Couture nail polishes (I used the shade Fairy Tailor below, which is a sheer pink) and with other nail polish brands. I do think this topcoat works better with Essie's nail polishes, but I still get great results when wearing this on top of other nail polishes too.I like to prep my nails before application by filing and pushing back my cuticles to ensure a smoother application.

The topcoat formula is thick yet applies evenly and smoothly, but I find it does take a tiny bit longer to dry than some thinner topcoats I've tried. After about five to 10 minutes, it's touch-dry, and after an hour, these feel really hard and have a plumped, smooth feeling that really does feel like the texture of cured gel polish on the nails. It's also incredibly shiny.

Having tried this topcoat for almost a year now, I can attest to its long-wearing claims. It's, by far, the best topcoat I've tried. Not only does it provide a hard-wearing, glossy finish to the nails with just one coat, but it also dramatically extends the lasting power of my nail polish. Does it last for the full two weeks? I'd say it doesn't stay fully chip-free for the full two weeks, but I can easily stretch out my manicure for around 10 to 12 days. Any initial chipping is very subtle, so if you're wearing a neutral color, this isn't very noticeable. A bottle has lasted me for months, even with painting my nails every 10 to 14 days, so I think this topcoat is an affordable option if you want a topcoat that rivals gel polish.

This story originally appeared on Who What Wear UK.

Eleanor Vousden is the beauty editor for Who What Wear UK. She was previously deputy editor at Hairdressers Journal, health writer at Woman & Home and junior beauty editor at beauty website Powder. She has also contributed to Wallpaper and Elle Collections with written and styling work.Working as a beauty journalist since 2015 after graduating in fashion journalism at the London College of Fashion, she has been highly commended at the BSME Talent Awards for her work on Powder and also contributed to the title winning Website of the Year at the PPA Awards.Eleanor’s journalistic focus is to provide readers with honest and helpful beauty content. Through words, video and live broadcast, she has interviewed several celebrity makeup artists, hairstylists and top dermatologists throughout her career, as well as celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker and Scarlett Johansson. She has a particular interest in finding solutions for acne and eczema, which she has experienced firsthand. She has also amassed a large collection of fragrances and can never say no to a new candle.When she’s not writing or testing the latest beauty product or treatments, she’s on the seafront in her hometown of Brighton and Hove, where she lives with her partner and her miniature dachshund.

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