Which is the best glossy, quick dry top coat? Testing 10 different top coats | Enaildiaries

Overview

Video tested 10 glossy, quick-dry (non-UV) top coats side-by-side over the same purple polish. The reviewer noted drying time, finish, application, and practical points. No numeric ratings were given beyond prices/times mentioned. Final favorites: LCME, Mist / Miss Nails, Euro from Mars, and Miss Boo (gel).

Test method

• Same purple polish base for all swatches.
• Observations focused on: drying time, finish (gloss/gel-like), application (brush/bottle), smearing/fogging, and value.

Per-product summaries

Butter London

• Pros: Extremely fast drying (under a minute); historically a rave pick.
• Cons: Very expensive (~₹1,500); this bottle underperformed (uneven application, turned foggy). Reviewer unlikely to repurchase.

LCME (gel top coat)

• Pros: High shine, thick “gel-like” formula; one of the reviewer’s favorites.
• Cons: Not as fast-drying as Butter London. “Gel-like” finish only — no lamp required.

Mist / Miss Nails

• Pros: Lovely brush and bottle shape; gives a gel-like glossy finish.
• Cons: Slower to dry than the fastest options.

Nails Our Way (by Tia; Swift Dry line)

• Cons: Despite being labelled “swift dry,” it took longer to dry, smeared a lot, and turned foggy. Reviewer’s verdict: hard pass.

Colorbar

• Cons: Nice packaging but disappointing performance — slow to dry, smears/mirrors, generally poor. Reviewer says: don’t buy.

Euro from Mars

• Pros: Extremely cheap (₹69), minimal smearing, dries in about a minute, glossy finish — outstanding value-for-money.
• Cons: None significant mentioned.

Misu / Miss Boo

• Regular top coat: very liquidy and slow-drying.
• Gel-like variant: tacky quickly (around 1 minute), fully dry in ~3 minutes, gives strong glossy/gel-like finish with minimal smearing if applied carefully (floating the brush). Reviewer calls this a current favorite and notes it’s affordable; not widely available online (store purchase recommended).

Zudio

• Pros/Cons: Performed similarly to Misu’s regular top coat; described as “very okayish.” Not recommended despite being under the same Tata group as Misu and lacking a gel top coat.

Faces Canada

• Pros: Dries fast, good formula; reviewer repurchased it many times previously.
• Cons: Small bottle and narrow brush make it hard to use fully; can show a bluish tint in natural light. With better options available it’s less necessary now.

Main pros across the better picks

• Fast drying (some under a minute, others around 1–3 minutes)
• High gloss / gel-like finish without needing a lamp
• Outstanding budget option: Euro from Mars (~₹69)
• LCME and Miss Boo (gel) deliver glossy, thick/gel-like finishes and were picked as favorites

Main cons across the poorer picks

• Fogging (some bottles turned foggy)
• Slow drying or smearing (notably Nails Our Way and Colorbar)
• Small brushes/bottles that waste product (Faces Canada)
• High price for marginal improvement (Butter London overpriced and underperformed in this test)

Comparisons & noteworthy points

• Butter London: fastest but expensive and inconsistent; newer options match or beat it in value.
• “Gel” labeling: indicates gel-like finish only — not UV-cured.
• Packaging/brush shape matters: Mist Nails praised for ergonomics; Faces Canada criticized for a small brush.
• Corporate relation: Misu and Zudio share a Tata-group link but differ in product range and quality.
• Swift-dry labels are not always reliable (example: Nails Our Way).

Specific numbers mentioned

• Butter London price: ~₹1,500
• Euro from Mars price: ~₹69
• Butter London drying: under 1 minute
• Euro from Mars drying: about 1 minute
• Miss Boo (gel variant): tacky ~1 minute, fully dry ~3 minutes

Final verdict / recommendation

• Reviewer’s favorites (in no particular order): LCME, Mist / Miss Nails, Euro from Mars, Miss Boo (gel). These combine good shine, reasonable drying time, and value.
• Best budget buy: Euro from Mars (~₹69).
• Avoid: Nails Our Way (Swift Dry line), Colorbar top coat, and Zudio top coat — slow, smeared, or underwhelming.
• Consider Faces Canada only if you accept a small brush and occasional bluish tint.
• Consider Butter London only if you accept the high price and possible inconsistent batches.

Key takeaway: Several newer, affordable top coats (notably Euro from Mars and Miss Boo gel variant) offer gel-like shine and quick drying without UV lamps, making older favorites less necessary.

Unique points mentioned

• Butter London can underperform later in use (fogging, uneven application).
• LCME changed packaging but claims the same formula; it remains glossy and gel-like.
• Mist Nails is praised for brush and bottle ergonomics.
• Colorbar’s packaging raised expectations but the product disappointed.
• Misu/Miss Boo sells both regular and gel-like top coats; the gel-like version is a current favorite.
• Zudio and Misu differ despite corporate ties.
• Faces Canada dries fast but has usability and tint issues.
• There is at least one excellent top coat available for under ₹100 (Euro from Mars).

Speakers

• Single reviewer; no additional speakers or differing viewpoints presented.