** This post was written by Fiona. She no longer blogs for Swatch And Learn. However, Mary still continues to blog and will be happy to reply to your comment. **

When I first started doing my nails many moons ago, I never used base and top coats. I know – what faux pas! Then I grew older and wiser and started better protecting my manicures. It only makes sense after putting so much time and effort into them, right?

One of the TCs that I use is the Sephora by OPI Top Coat. I originally got this because I was drawn in by the brands, Sephora and OPI. Who knew two rights don’t make a better right…

Sephora by OPI Top Coat Pictures & Photos

Detached Brush Stem

Claims: TRUSTED, but Product: BUSTED

√ Long-lasting
√ Professional-looking nail tips
√ Seals in color

Key Notes

• Name: Sephora by OPI Top Coat
• Amount: 15 ml or 0.5 fl. oz.
• What I Paid: $12 CAD
• Price Per Unit: $0.8/ml or $24/ fl. oz.
• Where to Buy: Sephora website & Sephora in-store

OPI for Sephora Top Coat Review

The OPI for Sephora Top Coat takes forever and ever (and ever) to dry. I’ve never actually timed it, but let me tell you that I used to paint my nails at around 8 pm, go to bed after midnight and wake up frustrated at the sheet marks on my fingers. More. Than. Once.

That alone is enough to turn me off the Sephora top coat. But while it takes more than a few hours for the top coat to dry completely, it does set enough after about half an hour. This means I can actually get up and do things as long as I’m not too harsh.

Now the consistency of the OPI for Sephora Top Coat is really good. It’s thick enough to go over gritty or glittery nail colors, and it easily evens itself out on the nail for a smooth finish. Plus, it adds a nice gloss to the color. This I like.

On average with the Sephora Top Coat, my nail color lasts about 5 days without major chipping. Not good, not bad – just average.

Another thing that I dislike is the bottle. The cap shape/size is fine. It lets me easily maneuver the brush which has a good brush head for distributing even strokes.

But the brush stem keeps detaching from the cap and getting stuck on the bottle opening. You have to really tighten the cap on the bottle for the stem to reattach itself again. This has happened multiple times to both the Sephora Top Coat and Base Coat! It’s just a pain in the butt.

Final Verdict: 5/10

While it has some redeeming factors, I think the OPI for Sephora Top Coat is a definite pass. I will not purchase this a second time. It takes waaaaaaaay too long to dry for me, and the good points do not justify the cost.

What did you think of this top coat? Is it your go-to, or do you feel the same way?