Top coat pretty much makes or breaks the manicure, quite literally. My freshly applied polish always looks so vulnerable without the added layer of glossiness (or matte) to seal it in. So that is why I bought this particular top coat, because I had forgotten to bring one on my last Hong Kong trip (cause let's be honest, I'd rather spend the night painting my nails than socialising with human beings in a foreign country). I was just looking for a cheap alternative for the trip and this costed me less than AUD$5.
Packaging
I had to mention the packaging because it's so classy, sleek and sturdy. It comes in a black box with the 3CE logo on the front and a description of the colour on the back. It is also sealed for hygiene purposes (yay!). The glass and slightly grippy cap make it feel like a high-end product. It twists off directly to reveal the brush. BUT once you get to about halfway through the product, it becomes difficult to get enough product on the brush. So I have to resort to tipping the bottle sideways and essentially fish for the polish, which can become a bit of a pain especially with the unwieldy square shape.
Application
I love the 3CE brush. It is thin enough to precisely push the product around and thick enough so that you can cover the entire nail in 3 (or 5 for the thumb) strokes. However, the rectangular cap wasn't my best friend, as the shape is a little difficult to grip comfortably.
Formula
The application might be marvellous but I definitely cannot say the same for the formula. It's a bit of a temperamental top coat, with an insanely long drying time. It's not marketed as a fast-dry top coat but a normal layer needs around 5-10 minutes to become dry to touch and over an hour to become fully dry. I definitely do not recommend this if you are an impatient person or have better things to do than to not use your hands for over an hour. It's also not a good idea to paint your nails with this top coat before going to bed or it'll be wrinkle-galore when you get up in the morning. Even hours after I paint my nails, I still manage to get fingerprint marks indented into the manicure ...
However, after careful application and sufficient drying time, it has an amazing shine and also levels out any lumps and bumps. If I apply a thin/medium layer, the finish probably lasts for about 24-28 hours before giving into the forces of nature. For some inexplicable reason, the colour dulls and the polish becomes scarred and dented over the next few days. This happens to every single polish I use from whichever brand, even those from 3CE. It never lasts for over a week without me feeling grossed out by the state of my nails. BUT, if you pile a heavy layer on top and manage to wait for the century it takes to dry, it will give an AMAZING freshly painted kind of shine for the next week. This top coat also seems to be good at preventing chipping. I've only ever had tip wear, but never large chunks peeling off my nails.
Final Thoughts
I will continue to use this bottle until the end, but it's not something I will purchase again. It gives my manicure a lovely shine and levels like a dream, but I honestly wreck half my nails every time because I can't sit still for the hour it takes to dry.
Thanks for reading !!
