The only BEL nail lacquer that isn’t coloured, this is the
BEL London Base & Top Coat, shade 02!
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Guess what? This is another nail polish that my mum just
handed to me one day after she got home from DM. I might not have bought it on
my own, but it is important to have a good base and top coat – and this is
both! Very savvy of her! Now let’s see how good it is, as I’ve had many
problems with other base/top coats.
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Packaging: classic BEL London type of packaging, which means
that it’s a large, clear glass bottle that is quite heavy for its size. The
bottle is tall, which makes it look more elegant. The cap is even taller, like,
it’s positively huge! It’s almost the same as what OPI use for their nail
polishes, quite interesting! But it’s smooth, unlike OPI’s nail polish cap;
this is actually not that good, as it’s that textured surface that makes OPI’s
caps easy to grip. This one gets slippery when your fingers start to sweat
(which is always a problem for me...). The black cap is a nice contrast to the
clear nail polish. The text is white, which is fine here. On some other BEL
nail polishes it’s almost impossible to read, but, because it’s clear, it’s
still easy to read. Quite a nice bottle, I must say!
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Ingredients: nothing nourishing, but also 3-free (DBP,
formaldehyde, toluene). The scent is like any other nail polish, although maybe
a bit more plasticy. The expiration date is 24 months after opening.
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Colour: completely colourless, as a base/top coat should be.
It’s completely clear and colourless, not a single bit cloudy.
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Brush: a large flat brush. Although, it doesn’t seem to be
in the best condition... it’s slightly frayed. And it feels stiff for some
reason. I don’t like this. It just doesn’t feel as good as the other BEL nail
polishes. But it does apply the polish pretty well; it deposits a perfectly
even, thick coat and it is precise enough not to make too much of a mess on the
sides of the nails. So, while it does seem to have some problems, they don’t
appear to affect its usability.
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The formula is wonderfully silky and smooth. It’s maybe just
a tiny bit gelly, but it feels so good to use. Although it is silky, it isn’t
very thin or runny. Just a great formula overall!
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It’s a base/top coat, so it’s completely transparent, no
matter how many coats you apply. However, it is super glossy! Like, it’s so
glossy that it looks almost like polished glass! Awesome!
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Longevity is honestly not that great. While it doesn’t
really chip (I think, it is hard to see), it gets all scratched up, which is
the one thing a top coat should prevent from happening. Seriously, what good is a top
coat if it gets all scratched up? And it’s also prone to peeling off from water
exposure... this is not the first base/top coat that has this problem. Damn.
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Removal: super easy to remove. Barely any rubbing necessary
to fully remove it. And, of course, no stains!
In conclusion, sadly, this base/top coat is mediocre, like
most base/top coats that I tried so far. I just cannot seem to find one that
actually works without peeling off or getting scratched up, as this one has
those problems too. Like, the formula is great; it feels silky and isn’t thick
or goopy at all, and it is easy to apply evenly, but what use is it as a top
coat if it doesn’t protect the polish underneath from scratches? Or if it peels
off from water exposure? And I’m not talking a huge amount of water exposure,
just a single shower is enough to get it to start peeling off if it isn’t
perfectly painted. Although, I do really love how super glossy it is! It makes
the nails so beautifully glossy and elegant when worn solo! And honestly, the
damage is barely visible if you wear it by itself. But still, it doesn’t really
function too well as a base or top coat, so I won’t recommend it. I’m sure
there’s a better one out there... I just haven’t found it yet.
Rating: 5/10
Would buy again? Probably NO
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