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

Sally Hansen's Insta-Dri Anti Chip Top Coat dries any nail colour and gives you long-lasting shine and chip resistance. Even if you have wet nails, the acrylic polymer complex dries your polish in 30 seconds, leaving them tough and ready to face whatever challenges you throw at them. 

We'd expect nothing less than a fantastic product from a trusted nail care brand, and we're definitely not disappointed with this polish. It cures itself so quickly and thoroughly - this truly is the total package for making your manicure last and last! 

A cult beauty product in its own right, Seche Vite's Dry Fast top coat is acknowledged as one of the world’s finest top coats. It is formulated to penetrate through polish to the nail itself and is guaranteed not to yellow while leaving nails stronger and more resistant to chipping and peeling.

The formula is super easy to apply and dries quickly to leave a gloss finish and a silky feel. It truly locks in your nail colour and prevents peeling, and can even be applied on still-wet polish without any adverse effects. A really great product! 

This matte top coat is perfect for anyone wanting to achieve a smooth matte manicure. From well-known nail care brand OPI, you simply apply it on top of your chosen shade, and your polish will magically transform into a beautiful matte shade.

We've marked this down slightly owing to the high price tag, as if you're budget-conscious, there are other, cheaper matte top coats. But if the higher price tag isn't an issue and you want something from the pros, then this is an amazing polish that dries quickly and lasts a few days. 

Essie's Matte About You top coat transforms nails to give a touchably soft, subtle matte, velvet finish. It evenly glides over the top of any nail polish for a soft, rich finish, leaving you with a luxurious and elegant manicure.

The matte effect on this top coat doesn't seem to last more than 3 days, so you may find you need to reapply to keep the finish soft and velvety. Aside from this, Essie's top coat is one of the best matte top coats we've found in its price bracket and is excellent value for money.

OPI's RapiDry Top Coat dries to a tough, long-lasting, high-gloss shine in minutes, preventing smears, smudges and streaks. Its non-yellowing formula is ideal for use over coloured polishes or as a clear coat over natural nails, making it perfect for those who want the winning shine without the long waiting time.

Despite OPI's claims, this top coat could be a lot tougher, as many have found it started to peel within a couple of days. However, we love how quickly it dries and how easy it is to apply with the thick brush. 

This matte top coat from popular beauty brand Barry M will mattify any nail colour for an on-trend statement manicure with added protection and wear. It is an affordable vegan and cruelty-free option, plus it dries super fast, so your nails will be ready in a flash!

This isn't the most durable top coat, but if you change up your nails fairly often, you probably won't notice. The brush is also a nice wide shape meaning that you need fewer strokes to get good coverage. What a bargain! 

Rimmel's Super Gel Top Coat comes with a fan-shaped application brush, so it's super easy to apply and only takes one stroke to achieve full, even coverage. Once fully dried, it promises to protect your colour for up to 14 days, leaving you with chip-free and flawless nails.

If you're in a hurry, this is not the top coat for you, as it takes quite a long time to fully dry and harden when compared with other available products. But if you like to take your time over your manicure, then this offers a great finish as well as fantastic value for money. 

Just as your gel manicure is cured by UV light, Nails Inc have developed this revolutionary top coat that uses natural UV rays to cure and lock in your colour for extended wear for up to 14 days. This leaves you with super shiny nails that look fresh from the nail bar. 

We found that while this gives good protection for around 3 - 5 days, the claim of 14 days chip-free may be a bit optimistic, especially if you're a busy person! But otherwise, this feels great to apply, and it goes on very easily plus the shine really is dazzling. 

Our second gel finish top coat in this listing, Mavala's top coat, doesn't need a UV lamp to give you that extra-volume domed effect of a gel manicure. It is long-lasting with increased chip resistance, and it provides an extra glossy finish without damaging your natural nails.

While this does give a fantastically glossy finish to your nail colour, the domed gel effect may be somewhat exaggerated for some. But on the plus side, it offers really strong protection for your polish and does feel slightly thicker than most top coats.  

Essie aims to inspire a love for the manicure experience and is the go-to nail polish brand for beauty professionals worldwide. Their ultra fast-drying top coat promises to be touch dry in under a minute and creates a super shiny gel-like finish.

While this top coat dries fast, it could be a bit more hard-wearing, so it may not be suitable if you are especially tough on your hands. But if you're looking for a quick-drying top coat that doesn't need to be, such as for nights out, then this is a great option!