Orly Top 2 Bottom Basecoat & Topcoat All-in-One

One thing I love about blogging is that it's not just a one-way exchange of useful information. I learn a lot from readers as much as I share what I know, which is why I always look forward to reading all the comments in my posts. I may not reply all the time due to my hectic schedule, but believe me, I remember what you say!

A wise reader once advised me to invest in a good basecoat and topcoat instead of buying expensive nail polish. This advice makes so much sense, no? The good nail polish brands like Essie, OPI and Orly are pricey for a reason -  the quality is superb and the colors are perfect. But at this point in my, er, nail enthusiasm, I'm not ready to blow P300-400+ for a huge bottle of nail polish I'll probably only use for five times max. It's more practical to buy something I know I will use until the last drop, while still getting beautiful and reliable nails even though the nail polish itself is cheap.

So, I decided to get the Orly Top 2 Bottom Basecoat & Topcoat (P245).

What I love about the product

• It's thin and runny, not goopy. It's very easy to work with. I like the brush!
• Keeps my nail polish pristine for at least three to four days. They don't chip nor do I notice significant tip wear.
• The product evens out the colored polish by sort of melting down the thick streaks on the surface. Nail polish ends up looking smoother
• Dries quickly. When used as a basecoat, it takes less than a minute to dry completely. As a topcoat, it helps solidify the polish underneath. 
• When it dries, the texture is not brittle or flaky. It's a little rubbery. I think this texture prevents the polish from chipping prematurely.

What I don't like about the product

• It's a bit pricey at P245 for a small 9mL bottle. Still, at the end of the day, I'm sure we can miss a couple of cab rides for gorgeous nails. ;)
• It has a very strong chemical scent. Masakit sa ilong! My whole room smells like this after using it!

Recommendation

If you apply nail polish regularly and you want to make your life easier, get the Orly Top 2 Bottom Basecoat & Topcoat. It eases the stress out of doing your own nails since it fixes minor mistakes and speeds up the process. So, win-win! Cheap nail polish will look expensive and salon-made when paired with this. Provided you did it right, of course.

Verdict

I have serious love for this product. However, while it is a great basecoat already, I prefer using the  Sally Hansen Hard As Nails as base. One, it's better at keeping nail polish from chipping. Two, it hardens my nails and keeps 'em stain-free. Three, it has 13.3 mL in the bottle, so it helps me save up the Orly. :P