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Uses Essie Strong Start and Gel Setter; has tried Seche Vite and the Sally Hansen red bottle but always comes back to Gel Setter for longevity.
“If you like Essie, I use their strong start base and gel setter top coat. Everyone’s nails are different, but other combos haven’t worked as well for my polish longevity as these! I’ve tried”
Finds Essie Gel Setter great, though more expensive than Seche Vive.
“Seche vive and seche vite both have *very* strong smell. Not a weird smell, just very strong nail polish fumes. I have used both. Idk why the other commenter said they aren't advertised as”
Had the same experience with Essie Gel Setter as with Gel Couture: fine at first, then shrinkage got worse over months of use.
“Then I tried Essie gel setter top coat. Exact same thing. Then I tried CanMake’s topcoat. Amazing. 0 shrinkage whatsoever. But now after owning it for about 6 weeks, it’s slowly starting to creep.”
Topped Mooncat Nyarrian Nights cat-eye polish with Essie Gel Setter and got the most even cat-eye effect they've ever had.
Keeping Essie Gel Setter refreshed with thinner as they use it fixed its shrinkage and the stringiness mid-bottle; they love how juicy and shiny it is.
“Someone here recommended I keep gel setter refreshed with thinner as I use it (rather than all at once when it gets gloopy) and that took care of the shrinkage issue for me. It”
Essie Gel Setter is their holy grail top coat.