This Topcoat Has Forever Changed The At-Home Mani

I don't like to think of myself as greedy, but when it comes to a topcoat, I want it all. It's gotta be chip-proof, glossy, and most important, fast drying. Satisfying this topcoat trifecta is a lot to ask of a little bottle, but I'm pleased to present proof that it can be done: Top Gloss by Jin Soon is a game-changer. It's made painting my nails a whole lot less gotta-get-it-done and a lot more, well...satisfying and — dare I say it? Fun.

I'll admit, I was a little biased going in — Jin Soon Choi is pretty much the patron saint of nails and her namesake line of polish consistently hits the mark with on-trend colors and standout finishes. But Top Gloss is proof that even without the glitz and glam, the brand stands on its own as a leader in formulation.

Unlike many other topcoats I've tried, Top Gloss goes on smooth with the same consistency as regular nail polish. I applied it over two coats of non-Jin Soon polish and in less than a minute, I was ready to go. We're talking the do-the-dishes, put-on-mittens, live-my-life-without-worrying-about-protecting-my-mani-from-certain-destruction kind of ready to go.

And, to my delight, my nails stayed glossy and (relatively) chip-free for close to a week. Cosmetic chemist I am not, but I'd suspect it has to do with the fact that Top Gloss touts itself as a "lacquer sealant" that penetrates polish to create a bond between each layer. But luckily, it doesn't take a scientist to know that this stuff works — a bottle of Jin Soon Top Gloss will now be on my must-have list. Forever.

Jin Soon Top Gloss, $18, available at Sephora.


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