Matte Top Coat: How to Use It for a Perfect Matte Look

Minimalist and elegant, a single coat of matte top coat is enough to transform any manicure, adding character to even the simplest colors. It's no coincidence that, season after season, matte continues to make a comeback. But what exactly is a matte top coat, how do you use it correctly, and why sometimes... it just doesn't work? We're here to clarify and introduce you to the newest addition to Cactus For You: Perfect Matte , the extra-matte top coat designed to last four weeks. Let's get started!

Matte top coat is a transparent finishing product that completely eliminates shine during curing, leaving the nail surface velvety and matte . It's perfect for enhancing dark colors like black, burgundy, and forest green, or for making nude and milky nail polishes more elegant. But it's not just a finishing touch: matte top coat can also be used to add different textures and graphic details to a manicure, creating matte/gloss contrasts within the same nail art.

Beyond aesthetics, however, a good matte top coat must protect the color, resist daily wear, and maintain a uniform effect over time. And this is precisely where the most common problems (and frustrations) often arise: many products have an uneven application with shiny or whitish streaks, shrinkage during application, rapid wear at the tip, and a matte effect that fades after a few days.

That's why, over the past two years, we've tested dozens and dozens of top coats, more than one a month, to find a product that lives up to our and our community's expectations. Each formula was tested on the tips, cured, and checked for streaking and shrinkage from the cuticle line. Only the best ones also passed the stretch test (the one with the stick!) and were applied to the hands to check their durability in everyday life. That's why we chose Soft Touch and the newest addition, Perfect Matte , two formulas made in the EU, reliable and high-performance: the best we could find, meeting our quality and safety standards.

After over two years of research, testing, and (yes) even a few disappointments, we are thrilled to finally introduce you to our Perfect Matte , the Cactus For You matte top coat designed for those looking for an extra matte, even, and long-lasting effect.

Its medium-high, self-leveling consistency allows for a more structured layer that better absorbs impacts and maintains a matte finish for up to four weeks, if treated with care.

It doesn't streak, doesn't shrink from the cuticle, and doesn't yellow. However, due to its porosity, it requires careful daily maintenance, especially on whites and very light colors.

At Cactus, there's not just one matte top coat, but two, because everyone's needs aren't the same. But how do you choose the right one for you? Here's the definitive guide:

Choose the Perfect Matte Top Coat if you want:

1. Dense consistency but perfectly self-leveling
2. It should be applied in a generous layer, without pulling it.
3. After polymerization it leaves a dispersion layer
4. Slightly porous surface, more scratch resistant
5. Lasts up to 4 weeks, maintaining a perfect matte effect

Ideal for: extra matte finish on gel, semi-permanent and reinforcements, for an elegant and super-long-lasting result.

Choose the Soft Touch Matte Top Coat if you want:

1. Medium consistency, even more self-leveling: can be applied in a thinner layer
2. After polymerization it leaves no dispersion
3. Smooth surface with a velvety soft touch effect
4. Lasts up to 4 weeks

Ideal for: those looking for a silky/velvet matte effect, perfect for modern manicures.

Two different textures for two different effects. So, if you often work with matte, our advice is simple: have both in your kit.

If you've ever wondered, "Why isn't my matte top coat working?" After choosing the right product, in most cases the answer lies in the application method. Here are the key steps that really make the difference:

1. After the color has cured, always remove the dispersion layer. Never apply a matte top coat over the dispersion layer.
2. Apply an even layer of matte top coat, not too thin. An insufficient layer can wear off faster and create shiny areas.
3. Make sure to cover the entire nail surface and extend the product slightly beyond the edge of the color in the cuticle area, to avoid visible shiny lines.
4. If necessary, add a small amount of product to level the surface, using a thin brush.
5. Cure under a LED or UV lamp following the times indicated on the product. Once cured, always degrease the surface: many matte top coats have a slight, almost imperceptible, but essential, dispersion film that must be removed to achieve a perfect matte effect.

Remember : a matte top coat is more porous than a gloss top coat. This makes it beautiful, but also more delicate, especially on light colors. Because of its porosity, a matte top coat requires careful daily maintenance, especially on whites and very light colors. It's a bit like brushing your teeth: a few seconds a day make a difference.

To keep the matte effect beautiful over time , just a few simple tricks are enough:

1. Clean your nails daily with a pad soaked in cleaner or alcohol.
2. Apply light pressure until the surface feels “clean”.
3. Avoid acetone, which is a solvent.
4. Be careful when handling pigmented substances such as foundation, turmeric, coffee, or tobacco.

The matte effect is back, and we couldn't wait. With Perfect Matte and Soft Touch , you can finally choose the matte top coat that best suits your style and the result you want to achieve.

Curious to try them? Discover the matte top coats by Cactus For You and bring a matte effect to your manicures.