Best of Three: Budget Peel Off Base Coats

Peel off base coat has really taken off this year and you kind of have to wonder why the revolution didn't happen sooner! Bloggers and nail polish fanatics found this DIY solution for hard-to-remove glitter nail polish quite a while before manufacturers twigged on and started marketing similar products. As we come to the end of 2014 it's great to see more brands producing affordable versions, but what is the best peel off base coat you can get on the UK high street?

Miss Sporty Peel Off Base Coat

Superdrug / Boots £2.29
This polish goes on white and dries to a clear matte finish so you know exactly when it's ready to lay on your nail polish over the top. I'm very impressed by how quickly this dries - by the time I've finished the 10th finger, the first one is already dry.

The brush in this one is round and firm which is great for getting a perfect curve around your cuticles. It's also great fun for peeling - I can normally get all nails off in one piece!

I know wear time is a concern with peel off base coats and some are known to chip quite quickly. While I haven't been able to run a proper endurance test with this one, I have successfully worn it for 24 hours without chipping

MUA Peel Off Polish Base Coat

Superdrug £2
I'm just gonna come out with it - this is my least favourite of the three. As you can see, this is the only one of the group that's clear which makes application really tricky because you can't always tell where you've got coverage without twisting your hand to the light at funny angles. It shrinks before it's dry if there's even a trace of oil on your nails and you can't tell whether it's dry without touching it which obviously messes things up if it's not yet dry.

If you can get past the bad application, the peel off function works okay but I haven't gotten more than 15 hours of wear without my polish chipping at the tips.

NYC Strip Me Off Base Coat

Superdrug £2.99
NYC are one of my favourite brands on the high street because the polishes are always great quality for the price point. I was very excited when I saw that they had a peel off base coat on the way. It performs very similarly to the Miss Sporty. Again, it goes on white and quickly dries to a clear matte. It's also nice and easy to peel off with long wear. I wouldn't actually be surprised if the products are pretty much (if not exactly) the same since NYC and Miss Sporty are both Coty brands.

Although the price runs a little higher on this one, you get a little bit more product for your money (9.7ml vs. 8ml) and I prefer the brush in the NYC. It's a little longer, somewhat flat and I'm just very used to using the NYC brushes.

I got a full 48 hours wear out of this one with no chipping and it may have lasted longer if I didn't have to peel it off.

Best of Three

For me, NYC's Strip Me Off takes the crown. The application is easy, it gives long-lasting wear, it's easy to peel off and it all comes at a perfectly pocket-friendly price.
If you're currently using the MUA peel off base coat, you should throw it in the bin and buy this one. Your life will be so much easier!

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