Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

A 14 mL/0.5 fl oz bottle of the Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat costs me $11.99 CDN at my local London Drugs store. So far, that's the only place I have found in my area that sells it; however, I'm sure it's also available online. Mini 3.5 mL/0.125 fl oz bottles are also available, which are excellent for travel, to throw in your purse, or if you're looking for a cheaper way to try it out.

This product is a must have, in my opinion, for those nail polish junkies who are after long-wearing colors and designs, lightning fast dry time, and a glassy finish to their nails.

According to Seche's website, the top coat was formulated to "penetrate through nail lacquer to the base coat forming a single solid coating over the nail plate for a much more durable finish. Guaranteed not to yellow while leaving nails silky, stronger and resistant to chipping and peeling."

The product is fairly thick, not nearly as thin in consistency as many nail polishes are. When it's brand new, it's at it's thinnest, and as it ages and is exposed to air, it begins to thicken. By the time one reaches the end of their bottle, it becomes too thick to work with and one must throw it out before they've "hit bottom."

The top coat applies clear or transparent to any color or design. It dries almost completely within 60 seconds of applying, leaving your nails with a hard glassy finish.

I would recommend that you do not apply this top coat to wet/damp/drying nail polish, as it will smear and prolong the drying time. It's best to apply this top coat when the bottom layers are as dry as they can be, and this will ensure a longer lasting, chip-free wear. This is especially imperative with regards to nail designs that are very intricate and consist of multiple layers of nail polish. In order for these layers not to bleed or smear together, you must allow them to completely dry before applying your top coat to ensure the best possible finish.

The best way to apply this product is by getting some of the top coat on the brush, and starting in the bottom center of your nail, in one continuous stroke, brushing the polish from the bottom to the top of the nail. Then moving the brush to the bottom right or left of the nail and doing a continuous stroke upwards on each side. If you need to smooth out any rough patches, do so quickly before the top coat has a chance to dry completely.

Depending on the length of my nails (this works most effectively on longer nails), I will apply a very thin strip of top coat to the very tip/end of my nails to prevent against the daily wear and tear. I find that this significantly enhances the longevity of my nail art design.

With some finishes of polishes, mostly glitters, this top coat will mute the effect of the glitter. It will become less shiny and reflective, more dull in appearance. This does not occur with all polishes, but I have had this happen to me a few times.

A bottle will typically last me a few months, depending on how frequently I paint my nails. Some months, this is more frequent than others. Presently, this is THE BEST top coat I have come across. While it is more pricey, it is worth every last penny. My nail colors and designs last significantly longer with a coat of this protecting them than without. The shine is absolutely to die for, and after trying this, nothing will measure up.

My only complaints are as follows:
- How you never reach the end of the bottle before it starts getting thick, gloopy and hard to work with. I always throw out my bottle before I reach the very end of it, because it ruins more manicures this way.
- How expensive it is.
- How, occasionally, it can cause or exacerbate the peeling of nail polish from the edges of your nails and/or nail beds. In my experience, this is very rare and only occurs with certain polishes, but I have heard several complaints about this from other beauty gurus, YouTubers, etc.

However, these problems for me are so minute in comparison to the finished product that I will continue repurchasing until I find something better. If you haven't already, I highly suggest going out and trying out the Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat for yourself. I think you'll be glad you did :)

4 out of 5 stars.
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Have you found a 'dupe' to the Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat? Do you use a top coat on your nail designs??