Not Created Equal: Is there a difference between high-end and drugstore topcoats?
updated the 10 October 2015 à 08:03
We test five topcoats for a week to see if it’s worth spending a few extra bucks on a pricier topcoat.
Out of the bottles, you would not be able to tell one topcoat from the other. Still brands manage to churn out various options, from high-shine to chip-resistant, all in varying prices.
While brands might want us to think there really is difference between a SGD5 and a SGD25 topcoat, we can’t help but be skeptical. What better way to answer this burning question by performing a little experiment?
To test our hypothesis, I put five different topcoats through their places and to see how their fare by the end of a week. I painted my nails as usual (Butter London Nail Foundation and Sally Hansen Complete Manicure #504) and used a different topcoat on each finger of my left hand. To test the length of wear without a topcoat, my right hand went completely topcoat free.
(To find out which topcoats I used, check out the gallery for full details)
Upon first application, it seemed like all the topcoats performed differently. True to its name, Ciate’s speed coat did dry the fastest while Bourjois’ So Perfect took forever to dry, probably because it had the thickest texture. However, it did leave a lovely glossy shine. So did Sephora’s Mirror Shine, but Bourjois’ So Perfect gave a more lacquered look.
The offerings by Ciate and Butter London were unimpressive. Though there was nothing awful about them, their high prices left me with really high expectations and I was left disappointed when they didn’t blow me out of the water. As for the beloved O.P.I. Nail Envy, even though O.P.I. literature suggests that you use it as an all around treatment, basecoat and topcoat, we say buy a separate topcoat altogether.
While there were initial differences, I’ve found that in three days, everything starts to look the same. On the bright side, my nails have stayed perfect without any chips in the polish. However, the polish on my right hand started to chip away by then, proving that topcoats really make a difference!
At the end of this highly unscientific experiment, I couldn’t justify why these bottles were priced and labeled so differently. I certainly couldn’t tell the difference, at least on a superficial level. One thing’s for sure though, I would never shell out over 20 bucks for a topcoat again.
Amanda Lim
Read More:
10 Radiance-boosting products to fake that you’re awake
10 Little things that make a big difference in your makeup
Glowing Goddess: Get the perfect glow with one of beauty’s best-kept secrets
