10 Best Base Coat Nail Polishes 2024 | UK Makeup Artist Reviewed

This unique base coat from Orly Bonder is one of the tried and tested methods that has become a salon staple, with many nail technicians and beauticians swearing by this formula. When applied, the rubberised formula creates an adhesive consistency for the nail polish to literally stick to the base.

This increases the longevity of your manicure tenfold, plus, it has been shown to be one of the best in strengthening your nails too, increasing flexibility and reducing chipping and breakages. As an added bonus, the bottle is also significantly larger than many base coats giving you excellent value for money. 

OPI are one of the biggest names in the nail polish world, and their products are commonly found in many salons. Their Natural Nail Base Coat works wonders to create a protective layer on your nail bed, eliminating the worry of yellowing nails from stains even when you have a dark nail polish on top.

This product does everything a good base coat should and has thousands of Amazon customer reviews to back it up. The salon quality ensures that it stops stains, prolongs the colour of your polish, and strengthens the nails.

If you're looking for a more natural approach, the NailKale Superfood Base Coat is probably your best bet. Essentially, it's like a green smoothie for your nails. Containing kale for nourishment and keratin for strengthening, this formula will leave your nail beds well-hydrated while reducing the risk of any splitting and breakages. 

The reviews for this product are excellent, with many claiming that it works just as well as a standalone nail treatment as it does a base coat – the perfect buy for nails that need a bit of extra love. 

Just because a beauty product has a high price tag, that doesn't always mean it's better! This base coat from Maybelline costs just a few pounds and works just as well as some of the pricier options. It works wonders at preventing staining, even from dark colours, and increases your polish wear significantly. 

What's more, while providing a protective layer on the nail bed, it conceals any ridges or bumps and strengthens the fingernails. This is also an ultra quick-drying formula making it great when you're short on time but still want to look your glamorous best. 

Essie's Strong Start base coat is a favourite for many as not only is it reasonably priced, but it also dries exceptionally quickly – when you're done with both hands, the first finger will be ready. With long-lasting staying power, it can allow your manicure to last even longer than a week with no chipping. 

The natural shine also means that this can double up as a natural nail polish if you don't fancy committing to bold colours. Essie is one of the most iconic nail polish brands out there, and with their rubber adhesive formula, it's got the vote of many beauticians, salons and customers – including us!

If you're a lover of acrylic extensions, shellac manicures and gel nails, this base polish from Jessica should be a staple in your makeup bag. It's no secret that overdoing it on the shellac and acrylics can leave your nails a bit worse for wear, and if this sounds familiar, you should probably give your talons a little TLC!

The reviews for this product speak for themselves, with so many customers vouching that it has fully restored their nails to their former glory, providing moisture, strength and long-lasting nourishment. 

This luxurious buy from Dior comes in a lovely subtle apricot colour which can double up as a natural nail polish if you want to stop your manicure at the base level. The formula protects your nail base, working to harden and strengthen your nail over time. 

The Abricot Base Coat creates a smoothing, nourishing layer that preps and primes the nail for further colouration as you glide on the product, but the reviews are a mixed bag. There are certainly some die-hard Dior fans who swear by this product hands down, but many others note that it is not very long-lasting.

This may not be a product from one of the more prominent, well-known brands out there, but it does the trick! The Strengthen and Breathe base coat from Nailberry conditions your nails, nourishing them with moisture to provide a smoother, long-lasting manicure. 

With powerful strengthening abilities, this vegan-friendly formula works to harden your nails and improve their overall condition, resulting in fewer breakages and splits. However, some customers have noted that compared to the wide variety of base coats out there, this one isn't rapid drying and may not last the entire week.

The affordable base coat from Revlon claims to dry nails in seconds, so it's a great choice if you often find yourself running out of time. It glides on smoothly, leaving behind an even, flawless base for your chosen pop of colour. 

As a bonus, this is a five-free formula containing no formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, DBP, camphor or toluene, so it's ideal if you want to reduce your chemical usage. One thing to note is that while some customers believe it to be a godsend, many don't consider it to be quite quick enough.

To kick off our list, we've chosen this unique, first-of-its-kind spray-on base coat. Yes, that's right, a spray-on base coat! It's possibly one of the most effortless products to use – spray, wait a few seconds and voila! Your nails are ready for their funky colour.

The formula contains nourishing ingredients to help smooth and protect your nail base from any stains or chipping. Unfortunately, though, many people have had trouble with the spraying technology, ending up with a lot of wasted product and quite a bit of mess.