And now another chapter in the never ending journey that is the Top Coat Challenge. At bat, Poshe Super-Fast Drying TopCoat. Poshe has been a favorite of mine for quite some time now. I consider it a holy grail item in the realm of quick drying top coats.

As with the last challenge I posted for Seche Vite I tried different polish/base coat combos with CND Stickey and Zoya Anchor bases and Nocti and China Glaze (old formula) polishes. Here is how it fared…

In terms of application, Poshe has a thinner consistency than Seche Vite making it easier to work with. It gives me more brush time to make sure I’ve covered my entire nail. It dries just as quick and leaves the same glossy finish. There’s a reason it’s been named an Allure Editor’s Pick five times now.

Right off the bat I could see that I got less pullback or tip shrinkage with Stickey as a base coat, regardless of the polish formula, the Nocti holding up the best. Oh and ignore that unsightly dent in the first picture, that’s just a UBI (Unidentified Beer Injury). Overall Poshe reduced chipping and tip wear when paired with Stickey.

Using Zoya Anchor (misprint in first pic) with Poshe didn’t work out as well but I’d say it’s on par if not better than the Anchor/Seche Vite combo I tested. My nails were still glossy after 5 days and tip wear was typical not extreme. It’s not my top choice of base coat to use with Poshe but it’s certainly adequate.

Now this review was not intended to knock Seche Vite but simply to compare the two. For me personally, Poshe is the clear winner but everyone has different experiences. It seems there are two camps, Poshe fans and Seche Vite fans. Use what works for you and rock your gorgeous nails.

I pick up Poshe top coat at Sally Beauty Supply (get a discount with a Sally card) and online retailers but it’s also been spotted at Big Lots from time to time. The top coat does tend to thicken with use but they do make a thinner as does Seche. Poshe top coat is toluene and formaldehyde free.

I apologize for getting so behind with my Top Coat Challenge reviews. It’s more work than I expected so I’ll be extending the challenge into August. I’m going to try and cover all the favorites from the drugstore and salon brands.

Next up Seche Vite. Seche, pronounced “Se-Shay”, Vite is a unique top coat in that is thicker than most yet it dries in 5 minutes. It leaves a glossy finish but can be tricky to apply. There is a technique to applying Seche Vite and if you don’t do it correctly, you’ll end up with mixed results.

From the Seche website:
“Seche Viteâ„¢ is unique in its application over wet nail polish. Make sure there is a nice bead at the end of the brush before application over wet nail polish as it must be applied thick, but not too thick.

Apply thickly, get a nice bead on the end of the brush, then set softly down on the first nail painted and watch how Seche Vite flows over the wet nail polish self levels and will not drag or streak the underlying manicure. It takes time to master the application and when perfected it is possible to apply in only three strokes…keep trying. Seche Vite will naturally thicken so make sure to keep the neck of the bottle clean and tight at all times and if it gets stringy add a few drops of Seche Restore and roll the bottle slowly adding additional drops until consistency is fully restored.”

I tested Seche Vite in four different trials. I used different combinations of Zoya Anchor (Big 3 Free) and Creative Stickey base coats with Nocti (Big 3 Free) and China Glaze polishes. I wanted to see if having toluene in the base coat or nail color made a difference in Seche Vite’s performance.

The before and after pictures were taken in different lighting so please ignore the color differences. These photos should not be considered color accurate.

The results: Overall Seche Vite performed best when used with Stickey as a base coat. There was no chipping and less tip wear. I just wish that Seche Vite was easier to apply. You have to brush it on so quick and accurate that it’s easy to have missed spots on the sides of your nail. And if you apply too much, you end up with it on your cuticles and crusted up in the crevice next to your nail. For me, I only use Seche Vite when I’m in a hurry. I feel there are better top coats if you have the time to wait.

Ok, so it’s a couple days after the first but July is officially Top Coat Challenge month. I’ve been testing different drugstore and salon brand top coats and I’ll be reporting my findings throughout the month.

The first two tests weren’t as scientific as the rest but I think I’ve found a method that you all will find helpful. Here’s how it will work…

For each top coat I test, I will be wearing it over combinations of a Big 3 Free base coat (Zoya Anchor) & lacquer and a regular base coat (Creative Stickey) and lacquer. Each test run will last 5 days, the length of the average natural mani.

I’ll be reviewing not only the wear but the drying time, shine, etc. Of course, I’ll be posting before and after pics as well. So let’s get started…