Comparison: Isadora, Essence, Essie, Manhattan matte top coats

My matte top coat collection has gotten bigger, so I thought I would make a comparison between them.

As a base I used Kiko 278 nail polish – slightly duochrome purple shade I got from Goga.

Isadora Matte Top Coat can hardly be called matte, but as it is named as such, I included it in the comparison. I would call this one more plastic than matte finish. I usually prefer plastic over matte finish, but not with combination with Kiko 278. Isadora Matte Top Coat just mutes it to the point where neither glossy or matte but without any extra sheen to it.

As they follow from left to right: Kiko 278 without top coat, Isadora Matte Top Coat, Essence Matt Top Coat, Essie Matte About You, Manhattan Pro Mat Top Coat.

Comparison of Matte Top Coats: Isadora, Essence, Essie, Manhattan swatch
Comparison of Matte Top Coats (L to R): no top coat, Isadora, Essence, Essie, Manhattan

Essence Matt Top Coat gives the maximum matte effect. If I would compare last three top coats on creme polish, the result would be almost identical. But there are slight differences when layered over shimmery polish. While Essence top coat kills all the shine, Essie and Manhattan leave some sheen to the polish.

Manhattan top coat is the only one with enclosed steel ball which keeps polish formula consistent.

And can you believe that Essie Matte About You stopped producing those nasty little white specks? I guess it’s possible that warmer weather agrees with it … or maybe it ages same way as wine and women … keeps getting better and better.

Comparison of Matte Top Coats: Isadora, Essence, Essie, Manhattan swatch by Parokeets
Comparison of Matte Top Coats (L to R): no top coat, Isadora, Essence, Essie, Manhattan

Prices:

  • Manhattan Pro Mat Top Coat (11ml/0.37 fl.oz): ~5 EUR;
  • Essence Matt Top Coat (8ml/0.28 fl.oz): ~ 2 EUR;
  • Essie Matte About You (15ml/0.5 fl.oz): ~10EUR (8 USD);
  • Isadora Matte Top Coat (6ml/0.2 fl.oz): ~9 EUR (7 USD).

As I’m not such a huge fan of completely matte finish, I’ll probably stick to Essie and Manhattan top coat (over shimmery polishes).

For the end: bonus layering manicure – Manhattan Do You Twitter (Hands Up LE) + Gabrini 377 + Manhattan Pro Mat Top Coat.

Manhattan Do You Twitter + Gabrini 377 + Manhattan Pro Mat Top Coat swatch
Manhattan Do You Twitter + Gabrini 377 + Manhattan Pro Mat Top Coat

Which matte top coat do you like the best?

*Manhattan top coat was sent to me for review.

15 thoughts on “Comparison: Isadora, Essence, Essie, Manhattan matte top coats”

  1. Mene pa zanima, kako bi zraven izgledala še primerjava S-he mat nadlaka… če ga kdaj dobite, bi bila zelo hvaležna za prikaz :sigh:

    Reply
    • S-he stojalo ponavadi kar preskočim, ker mi ni nič pretirano všeč. Če pa naletim na mat nadlak, pa mogoče celo res pade v košarico. :angel:

      Reply
  2. mene pa zanima, kateri mat nadlak najdlje zdrži na nohtih? Sem slišala, da se pri Essence že naslednji dan krušijo nohte. Kako pa je z ostalimi?

    Reply
  3. krasna primerjava! tukaj vedno najdem kaj zanimivega in uporabnega :)
    zanima pa me, kateri mat nadlak najdlje zdrži na nohtih?

    Reply
    • :rose:
      Huh – ne vem, če je kakšna opazna razlika. Če veliko uporabljaš kremo za roke, znajo hitro izgubiti čisto mat videz. Jaz ponavadi odstranim manikuro preden se to zgodi, vendar problemček hitro rešiš z dodatno plastjo nadlaka.

      Reply
  4. I think I prefer the Essence one, just because I love how it looks on shimmery or glittery polish. And my second fave is the Manhattan one, because it looks just a tiny bit prettier as Essie.

    Reply
  5. I have essie MAY but I forget to use it though I was crazy until I got it, lol :D You reminded me to use it more often, I love how it works! :)

    Reply

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