Skip to content
 
Search

Latest Stories

5 best top coat nail polishes in the UK for 2025:  Shine, strength & chip-free nails

Upgrade your manicure with these top-rated, high shine top coats that keep nails flawless for days.

5 best top coat nail polishes in the UK for 2025:  Shine, strength & chip-free nails

Seal the deal on a flawless manicure—top coat picks that keep your nails glossy, strong, and chip-free

iStock
Pooja Pillai
By Pooja PillaiFeb 15, 2025
Pooja Pillai
Pooja was born in Kochi and raised on a mix of newspapers, pop culture, and too many questions. She studied Communicative English and Journalism before earning her Master’s in Journalism from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, and began her career interning at The Times of India and Channel I'M — where she later became a news anchor, scripting and presenting her own stories. Between deadlines, she’s worked across digital media platforms, covering politics, gender, pop culture, cinema, and everything in between. She has interviewed actors, creators, and changemakers, and occasionally edits her own video content — thanks to being certified in Photoshop and InDesign. In 2025, she joined the Asian Media Group in her first “official” newsroom gig, where she now covers entertainment, lifestyle, and the layered realities of South Asian identity. She believes storytelling should feel personal — even when it’s public — and likes to write not to please, but to provoke, question, and occasionally stir the pot.
See Full Bio
Follow:

A flawless manicure isn’t just about picking the perfect shade—it’s about sealing the deal with a top coat that adds shine, extends wear, and keeps your nails looking salon-fresh. Whether you love a glossy gel-like finish, a quick-dry formula, or a little sparkle, we’ve rounded up the 5 best top coat nail polishes for 2025 that are making waves in the UK.

So, if you’re tired of chips, smudges, and dull nails, these game-changing top coats will take your mani from basic to breath-taking.

1. Essie Gel Couture Clear Nail Polish Top Coat 

Best for: Salon-quality shine at home 

A cult favourite, Essie’s Gel Couture Top Coat brings professional-level shine and longevity without a trip to the nail salon. Thanks to its platinum technology, this top coat forms a protective barrier that resists chipping and dullness for up to 12 days. The patented swirl-stem brush ensures an even application for a flawless gel-like finish—no UV lamp required!

Pro Tip: Wait until your polish is completely dry before applying this top coat to avoid streaks and rippling.

Lock in your manicure with Essie Gel Couture Top Coat—long-lasting shine and chip resistance for up to 12 daysAmazon

Get yours now and give your nails the ultimate shine!


2. Nails Inc. 45 Second Rapid Dry Top Coat Powered by Retinol

Best for: Speedy manicures on the go 

No time to wait? Nails Inc.’s 45-Second Rapid Dry Top Coat is the ultimate fast-drying formula, cutting your manicure time in half. Not only does it lock in colour with a high-gloss finish, but it’s also infused with retinol and collagen to keep your nails stronger and healthier.

Pro Tip: For an extra boost of nourishment, pair it with Nails Inc.’s Superfood Base Coat for the ultimate nail care routine.

Nails Inc.’s Rapid Dry Top Coat locks in shine while nourishing your nails with retinol and collagenAmazon

Click here to lock in a flawless, long-lasting manicure!


3. CND Vinylux Long Wear Top Coat 

Best for: Chip-free wear that lasts a full week 

If you want your manicure to last through work, workouts, and weekend plans, CND Vinylux Long Wear Top Coat is your go-to. Designed to strengthen over time, it uses ProLight technology to harden with natural light exposure, making your nails more resistant to chipping and peeling.

Pro Tip: Pair it with CND Vinylux Weekly Polish for an ultra-durable manicure that stays fresh all week.

CND Vinylux Long Wear Top Coat gets stronger with natural light for chip-free wearAmazon

Shop now and say goodbye to chips and smudges!


4. Palette London Holographic Top Coat

Best for: A dazzling, holographic effect 

Who says top coats have to be boring? Palette London’s Holographic Topcoat transforms any manicure with a shimmering, light-reflecting finish. Its plant-based formula ensures that your nails stay strong while turning heads with a multi-dimensional sparkle.

Pro Tip: Apply it over a dark base colour (like navy or black) to make the holographic effect pop even more.

Palette London’s Holographic Top Coat adds a dazzling, light-reflecting finish to any manicureAmazon

Upgrade your mani game—grab yours today!


5. Rimmel Super Gel Nail Polish Top Coat

Best for: A budget-friendly gel-like finish 

If you want a high-shine, long-lasting top coat without breaking the bank, Rimmel’s Super Gel Top Coat is an excellent choice. It delivers a salon-quality finish without the need for UV light, and its plumping formula gives nails a thicker, gel-like look that lasts for up to two weeks.

Pro Tip: Let your nail polish dry completely before applying to avoid dragging and smudging.

Rimmel Super Gel Top Coat gives you a long-lasting, plumped-up finish and no UV lamp neededAmazon

Don't miss out—secure salon-perfect nails at home!


Final Thoughts: The Secret to a Flawless Mani 

A great top coat is the unsung hero of any manicure—it locks in colour, prevents chips, and keeps your nails looking glossy and fresh. Whether you want fast-drying formulas, long-lasting protection, or a touch of sparkle, these top 5 best top coat nail polishes for 2025 have you covered.


Seal the deal with the perfect top coatGetty Images

Want salon-quality results at home?

✅ For longest wear: CND Vinylux 
✅ For quick-dry magic: Nails Inc. 45 Second Top Coat 
✅ For dazzling effects: Palette London Holographic 
✅ For a classic gel-like finish: Essie Gel Couture 
✅ For an affordable, durable top coat: Rimmel Super Gel 

Your mani deserves the best—click the links and grab your perfect top coat today!

cnd vinyluxessie gel couturenail polishnails inc rapid drypalette london holographicrimmel super gelnail coat

Related News

Lando Norris
Sports

Lando Norris savours special Silverstone win despite injury

7/7 bombings
UK

Starmer and King Charles pay tribute on 20th anniversary of 7/7 bombings

Zayn Malik
Entertainment

Zayn Malik raps about racism he experienced as Asian member of One Direction in "Fuchsia Sea"

India vs England
Editorial

India level series with big win over England as Akash Deep takes 10 wickets

More For You

Ping Pong restaurant chain shuts all UK branches

The chain had also gained a following for its themed brunches

iStock

Ping Pong restaurant chain shuts all UK branches after 20 years

Key points

  • Chinese dim sum restaurant Ping Pong has closed all its UK locations
  • The chain made the announcement via social media
  • Founded in 2005, the brand thanked customers and staff for their support
  • Loyal diners shared memories and disappointment in the comments

All branches are permanently closed

Chinese restaurant chain Ping Pong has permanently closed all its branches in the UK, the company confirmed in a social media announcement.

Founded in 2005 by restaurateur Kurt Zdesar, the dim sum chain had become popular for its stylish interiors, creative menus, and Asian-inspired cocktails. The company did not provide prior notice of the closure but said the decision marked the end of an “unforgettable” 20-year journey.

Keep ReadingShow less
New Covid strain

Experts have raised concerns about the immune-evasive nature of the Stratus strain

iStock

New Covid strain Stratus spreads in UK with unusual hoarse voice symptom

Key points

  • A new Covid strain known as Stratus is spreading across the UK
  • The variant is marked by a distinctive symptom: a hoarse or raspy voice
  • Sub-variants XFG and XFG.3 now account for 30% of cases in England
  • Experts say there is no evidence of more severe disease
  • Lower immunity levels may make more people vulnerable to infection

Covid variant Stratus on the rise in the UK

A new strain of Covid-19, known as Stratus, is spreading across the UK and drawing attention for its unusual symptom — a hoarse or raspy voice. According to data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Stratus and its two sub-variants, XFG and XFG.3, are responsible for around 30 per cent of Covid cases in England.

Of the two, XFG.3 is currently the more dominant. The UKHSA confirmed that monitoring of all circulating Covid-19 variants is ongoing as part of regular surveillance.

Keep ReadingShow less
Human brain continues forming neurons

Neurogenesis, the process by which new neurons form in the brain

iStock

Human brain continues forming neurons well into old age, study finds

Key points

  • New neurons continue forming in the brain’s hippocampus into old age
  • Study confirms presence of neural progenitor cells in adults
  • DNA carbon dating and single-nucleus RNA sequencing were used
  • Research shows variation in neuron production between individuals
  • Findings could aid treatments for neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders

Human brain shows ongoing neuron formation into older age

A new study has confirmed that the human brain continues to produce new nerve cells well into late adulthood, challenging previous assumptions about age-related decline in neurogenesis. The findings, published in the journal Science, provide fresh insight into how adaptable the brain remains over a lifetime.

Neurogenesis, the process by which new neurons form in the brain, is known to occur in the hippocampus — a region involved in memory. While previous research has suggested that this process continues throughout life, there has been limited concrete evidence of the presence of neural progenitor cells in the adult brain.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kent County Show 2025

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, who grew up in Brenchley

Getty Images

Kent County Show opens with royal visit from Duchess of Edinburgh

Key points:

  • Day one of the Kent County Show begins at Detling Showground near Maidstone
  • The Duchess of Edinburgh visits the event for the first time in 16 years
  • Organisers expect up to 70,000 visitors over the weekend
  • Farming and rural life are at the centre of the three-day programme
  • Highlights include live camel racing, equine sports, livestock displays and more

Kent County Show opens with royal visit

The Kent County Show returned to Detling near Maidstone on Friday, marking the start of a major three-day celebration of farming, food, and rural living. The event opened with a special visit from the Duchess of Edinburgh, who is attending for the first time in 16 years.

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, who grew up in Brenchley near Tunbridge Wells and serves as patron of the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations (ASAO), met with farmers, equine exhibitors, and local businesses on her tour of the showground.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sri Aurobindo

Heehs’s biography is grounded in extensive archival research across France, England, India and Israel

AMG

Sri Aurobindo and the rise of the Asian century

Dinesh Sharma

My friend and colleague, the American historian Peter Heehs, who has lived in Pondicherry, India, for decades, recently published a compelling new biography, The Mother: A Life of Sri Aurobindo’s Collaborator (2025). Heehs previously authored The Lives of Sri Aurobindo (2008), which remains one of the most balanced and scholarly accounts of Aurobindo’s life.

According to Heehs, most previous biographies of the Mother were written for devotees and relied on secondary sources, often presenting her as a divine incarnation without critical engagement. “Such biographies are fine for those who see the Mother as a divine being,” Heehs said, “but they can be off-putting for readers who simply want to understand her life – as an artist, writer, spiritual teacher, and founder of the Ashram and Auroville.”

Keep ReadingShow less
© Copyright 2025 Garavi Gujarat Publications Ltd & Asian Media Group USA Inc