My 2 Favorite Base Coats:

When shopping for a base coat, it can be tempting to go for those 2-in-1 base/top coats you find at the drugstore. But after testing them myself, I’ve found that those are mostly a waste of money and aren’t as effective as separate top and base coats. Spend a little more and get separate top and base coats – you’ll have them forever and your nails will look better.

In my opinion (and after having tried lots of different ones), here are the two best base coats for your money:

Orly Bonder

Orly’s Bonder is one of my all-time favorite base coats.

It’s pretty unique in that it dries sticky – so polish literally adheres to it. This makes your polish stay on even better than with normal, non-sticky formulas.

Be forewarned, though, if you wait too long (like more than 30-40 minutes – Hey, sometimes I get really into Millionaire Matchmaker!) the stickiness will dry out and your polish will peel off in sheets, which isn’t exactly ideal.

However, it’s Instagram Fashion Partnerships director Eva Chen’s favorite base coat, so it’s definitely worth a try!

Essie First Base

Another great base coat, and in my opinion, one that’s slightly superior to Bonder, is Essie First Base.

What I love about this formula is that it dries super quickly- like, by the time you’re done painting your last nail, your first nail will already be dry. Amazing, right?

Aside from its amazing fast-drying power, I love this base coat because it will seriously, seriously make your manicure last so much longer – from experience, I’m talking a week plus with no chipping! If you’re looking for an amazing base coat at a reasonable price, this one is definitely it.

Frequently Asked Questions on Nail Polish

What is a base coat?

A base coat is like the adhesive that keeps your polish attached to your nail and prevents your manicure from chipping off. It also creates a protective barrier for your nails, giving them more strength and preventing staining or peeling as time goes on.