I've been a ride-or-die Essie Gel Couture topcoat fan for ages now but recently the shrinkage has been getting one of control, even with me doctoring the polish with polish thinner to keep it nice and thin. This is my most recent mani after just two days. Keep in mind the nail color was painted right up to my cuticle when I did my mani but the top coat keeps dragging the color down my nail.
Do people have an alternative topcoat that they'd recommend? I'm looking for something quicker drying, ideally toluene-free, will give that glossy look, and won't cause this much shrinkage. I've heard good things about the Cuticula Limitless topcoat here and was thinking of getting that one.
Nail color is ILNP Fairy Dust. Base coat is Revlon Quick Dry Base Coat, top coat is Essie Gel Couture topcoat.
by drzoidburger
11 Comments
Sorry, I meant to write that I doctor the topcoat with polish thinner, not the nail polish itself!
The sally hansen insta-dri top coat in the red bottle is a tried and true! I also experienced shrinkage with the Essie gel couture but haven’t noticed any shrinkage with the insta-dri.
Girl, same.
I can’t recommend Cuticula Limitless enough. It dries quick, it doesn’t shrink, it works well with most types of polish (solars excepted), it lasts long and it looks fabulous! It’s juicy looking, and makes any glitters, flakies, or shimmers really shine. Also comes in different scents!
It is a thicker formula, fyi.
My friend got me onto Seche-Vite. You can get them on Amazon. I did a skittle for new years, and all but 3 nails are all still intact!
Zoya ultra glossy
I’ve tried a few brands and Mooncat’s Speed Demon serves me best for dry time and longevity without shrinkage.
Recently gave BKL I’m Fast a try and it shrinks on me too (not as bad as Seche Vite though)
I’ve had good/similar experiences with Cuticula Limitless, Cirque Looking Glass, and BKL I’m Fast I’m Very Fast. All dry quickly with a similar finish (shiny, but not thick and squishy-looking).
I do one layer of KBShimmer’s Clearly on Top and one layer of Seche Vive (in the blue bottle). I could get away with just the Clearly on Top, but the Seche Vive has a plush gel-like effect that I love.
I have a layer of hard builder gel over my natural nails, which keeps my nail from bending/flexing. No shrinkage or chipping issues whatsoever.
Edit: What’s your nail prep like? How long do you dry in between coats, and how many coats do you usually use? If you don’t do a top coat, is there still shrinkage? (Just trying to figure out the source of the issue.)
Im a die hard SV user. I typically only wear a polish for a day, maybe 2 so shrinkage isn’t a problem for me. It also holds up extremely well when working on my trucks.
I’m a big fan of KB Shimmer’s “Cleary on Top”