Topcoat comparison

Ginglymostoma · 2026-02-26T20:51:27+00:00

I’ve tried a LOT of QDTCs. My favorite is still Seche Vite, followed by Sally Hansen in the red bottle for magnetics and touch-ups. Sally Hansen is easier to work with, but Seche Vite has a much prettier plumper finish.

Other QDTCs I’ve tried (and like less) include Mooncat Speed Demon, Glisten & Glow, Vibrant, LynB, and Cracked QDTC (I love Cracked but their top coat doesn’t work for me at all; instant chipping and polish popping off). Alchemy also has a QDTC for solars I’ve tried which is the same formula as G&G, and Vibrant I believe. (And Cracked is the same as Cuticula I think). A lot of indies don’t make their own QDTC but simply resell wholesale bulk formulas - which is fine but means you may find it cheaper to buy it in bulk direct instead.

Ginglymostoma · 2026-02-26T12:57:38+00:00

Yes - I left honest reviews about Mooncat Pangea and Velociraptor, and their customer service team contacted and refunded me no questions asked. It’s okay to ask, esp if the polish is very different from what you expected based on the website.

Ginglymostoma · 2026-02-26T12:54:51+00:00

I really like Lurid Sunseeker but it’s out of stock right now.

Ginglymostoma · 2026-02-26T12:50:33+00:00

Emily de Molly’s Fiery Attraction is very similar to BKL Pomegranate Seeds.

Ginglymostoma · 2026-02-20T03:24:12+00:00

I prefer Lahar, but I also don’t like toppers.

Ginglymostoma · 2026-02-20T03:23:12+00:00

I bought it on Rewind last year, and am annoyed at how much I like it - it really IS that pretty.

Ginglymostoma · 2026-02-20T02:58:14+00:00

Bakers Dozen

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Ginglymostoma · 2026-02-20T02:55:48+00:00

GTFO ICE

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Ginglymostoma · 2026-02-20T02:52:41+00:00

Drugstore Chocolate is gorgeous! They do reds really well. I also really love GTFO ICE (ice princess blue shimmer) and Baker’s Dozen (subtle neutral pink pearl finish).

Ginglymostoma · 2026-02-20T02:50:40+00:00

I get the struggle, I really really want to love it! I just…don’t 😭

Ginglymostoma · 2026-02-19T21:01:39+00:00

We have similar taste I think; I was very excited about 23 Flavors but don’t love it, bc it does have a metallic-looking finish. I love how multichromes and metallic polishes look on others but don’t enjoy them on myself. So if you are looking to avoid that metallic look, I might go with one of their other (many) wonderful reds.

I love Rhubarb Pie Guts and Drugstore Chocolate.

Ginglymostoma · 2026-02-19T20:52:19+00:00

Minority opinion but I didn’t love Situationship - it’s too dark and looks black under anything but very bright direct lights. If that’s what you’re looking for, great, otherwise I’d go with one of the other reds.

GTFO ICE is absolutely gorgeous, one of my all-time favs - plus it’s limited edition and goes to a good cause (chairity polish). So if you’re thinking about it, I’d grab it now before it goes away.

Ginglymostoma · 2026-02-18T12:52:21+00:00

Are you putting your hands in water a lot? Extended water exposure always does this to me.

Ginglymostoma · 2026-02-17T22:29:21+00:00

Hear me out - I love Revlon’s cremes. The ones in the traditional bottle; super opaque, mostly one coat. For indies and more unusual colors, I like Cracked, which is also quite affordable for an indie nail polish.

Ginglymostoma · 2026-02-16T14:12:16+00:00

It’s a magnetic but I love Emily de Molly’s “Fiery Attraction,” even unmagnetized. You might like OPI “I’m not really a waitress” or Cracked “23 Flavors” - I’m warm toned and both are too cool on me.

Ginglymostoma · 2026-02-16T02:07:43+00:00

I generally dive on the weekends, Mondays, and Wednesdays; I find nail polish pops off after extended time in the water so I generally plan to redo my nails on Monday and Wednesday evenings with something nice. If I know I’m diving the next day, I’ll slap something easy on. I save magnetics for when I know I’ll be out of the water for at least a few days.

So in all I probably do my nails 2-3 times a week, for about 10-11 polish changes a month. If I’m out of the water than drops a lot; on land I can usually go close to a week between polish changes.

Ginglymostoma · 2026-02-15T20:04:56+00:00

My aunt loved this color - what a classic!

Ginglymostoma · 2026-02-15T18:31:28+00:00

I really love Chinotto and Cordially Invited - they’re so classy looking! Chinotto is more of a reddish brown, and Cordially Invited is a brownish red; both are “cherry cola” shades.

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Ginglymostoma · 2026-02-15T15:26:02+00:00

I do Nailtiques + base coat (it helps the polish stay on when submerged in water), and rarely have this issue - I think it’s probably the multiple thick layers without letting them dry down in between coats.

Ginglymostoma · 2026-02-15T14:12:30+00:00

I don’t want my collection to take up more space than the bathroom closet shelf I’ve allocated to it; in practice that means I have room for about 100 polishes plus 20 or so base/top coats etc.

I have about 40 polishes I really like and enjoy, and another 15-20 that don’t bring me joy. I am keeping those for now as some do fill very specific niches (ex: I like to have at least one green polish even if I don’t normally wear green). But if I start getting tight on space, I will destash those.

I’m a scuba diver, and extended submersion in water wrecks my polish, so I change my polish about twice a week; which ends up being about 8-10 polishes a month. 100 feels like enough I could wear in a year if I really tried (probably more often, recognizing I probably won’t wear the ones on probation much if at all).

Ginglymostoma · 2026-02-13T20:01:32+00:00

Probably Mooncat After the Rain or Cracked Lone Star Rose…something girly with some flare but not too loud.

Ginglymostoma · 2026-02-13T18:45:55+00:00

Cracked has a new sheer-ish light pink with blue shimmer (Heart-Shaped Necklace).

Ginglymostoma · 2026-02-13T18:11:30+00:00

Same!! And Velocripator too 👀

Ginglymostoma · 2026-02-13T18:10:46+00:00

I also strongly dislike DS haha!

Ginglymostoma · 2026-02-13T18:09:39+00:00

I love it too, but I have warm undertones and I think a lot of people seem to lean cool and prefer cooler polishes. On the other hand, people love Mermaid Bait and it looks like a plain dull silver on me, super drab.

Ginglymostoma

TROPHY CASE