Kint - Base Coat Strengthener

Hero Ingredients: A restorative blend of structural nail hardeners, skincare-grade humectants, and mineral-rich botanical extracts.

Hexanal: A patented, formaldehdye-free conditioning aldehyde that binds to the keratin proteins in your nails to visibly improve hardness, resilience, and structural integrity.

Glycolic Acid (Alpha Hydroxy Acid): A gentle resurfacing acid that helps rejuvenate, harden, and hydrate dry or peeling nail surfaces.

Squalene & Sodium Hyaluronate: Classic facial skincare hydrators that replenish moisture in brittle nail plates so they bend gently under impact instead of snapping or splitting.

Bamboo Sap, Horsetail & Nettle Extracts: Silica-rich botanical extracts teamed up with Hydrolyzed Keratin and Zinc to nourish the nail bed and support stronger, smoother growth.

Full Ingredient List:

Butyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetate, Nitrocellulose, Adipic Acid/Neopentyl Glycol/Trimellitic Anhydride Copolymer, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Silica, Acrylates Copolymer, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Glycolic Acid, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, N-Butyl Alcohol, Etocrylene, Olive Oil Decyl Esters, CI 77891, Dimethyl Sulfone, Hexanal, Glycerin, Water, Dimethyl Oxobenzo Dioxasilane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Squalene, Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Acetyl Cysteine, Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Mannitol, Aluminum Hydroxide, Equisetum Arvense (Horsetail) Extract, Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Diatomaceous Earth, Calcium Pantothenate, Bambusa Vulgaris (Bamboo) Sap Extract, Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Zinc Sulfate, Tocopherol, Red 6 Lake (CI 15850), Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Black 2 (CI 77266) (Nano), Stearalkonium Bentonite, Diacetone Alcohol, Phosphoric Acid.

This strengthener is suitable for all nail types. It is ideal for men who want a low-maintenance way to fix peeling, ridged, or brittle nails without a glossy manicure look, as well as anyone looking for a protective base coat before applying color polish.

Invisible Matte Finish: Dries down completely clear with zero high-gloss shine, leaving your nails looking naturally healthy and well-groomed.

Reinforces Weak Nails: Uses Hexanal, Glycolic Acid, and Keratin to harden soft nails and prevent everyday chipping, peeling, and splitting.

Dual-Purpose Versatility: Works equally well worn completely on its own as a restorative treatment or layered under colored nail polish as a grip-enhancing primer.

Wide Fan Brush Application: Equipped with an ergonomic wide brush that covers the nail bed evenly in one or two quick swipes.

Apply every few days as a standalone treatment, or before every polish application.

Step 1: Start with clean, completely dry nails. Wash your hands to remove any natural oils or hand lotion so the formula can grip properly.

Step 2: Wipe one side of the wide fan brush against the inside lip of the bottle so you have a thin, controlled amount of liquid on the bristles.

Step 3: Swipe one thin, even coat across each nail from the base to the tip.

Step 4: Let it dry for 1 to 2 minutes until it sets to a natural matte finish. Stop here for an invisible, bare-nail look, or apply your favorite nail polish directly on top.

This formula is free from synthetic fragrance and harsh solvents like formaldehyde. Please note that while Kint highlights a vegan philosophy across its range, the ingredient list for this strengthener includes Hydrolyzed Keratin, so strict vegans or those with specific botanical sensitivities (such as Sunflower or Nettle) should review the full ingredient list before use.The 2nd's Recommendation: For external use only. Apply in a well-ventilated area and keep away from heat or open flame.

Most guys never think about nail care beyond clipping them once a week, which is why rough ridges, hangnails, and splitting edges are so common. Even if you have zero interest in wearing colored nail polish, keeping a bottle of this in your bathroom cabinet is an easy grooming upgrade. Because it contains Silica, it dries down completely matte rather than shiny, so nobody will ever think you are wearing clear nail polish. Your nails simply look smooth, even, and healthy. And if you do wear dark nail polish shades like black, forest green, or gray, never skip this step: dark pigments can temporarily stain bare keratin yellow, and a single layer of this base coat creates a protective barrier that keeps your natural nails clean underneath.

This product is fragrance-free (features the standard, temporary solvent scent of a nail lacquer while wet, which disappears completely once dry).

Will people be able to tell I have clear nail polish on?

No. Traditional drugstore base coats dry with a high-gloss, plastic-like shine that is immediately noticeable. Kint formulated this strengthener with mattifying Silica so that once it dries, it mimics the exact flat sheen of a healthy, natural fingernail.

Why do I need a base coat if I am applying colored nail polish?

Think of a base coat like wall primer before painting. Fingernails naturally have tiny vertical ridges and surface oils that cause colored polish to chip prematurely. The Base Coat Strengthener fills in those micro-ridges so your color goes on smoother, grips tighter, and resists chipping much longer.

How do I remove it?

Just like standard nail polish, you can easily wipe it clean using any regular, gentle nail polish remover when you are ready to reapply a fresh coat.

Returns Policy

You may return most new, unopened items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. We'll also pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.).

You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).

If you need to return an item, simply login to your account, view the order using the "Complete Orders" link under the My Account menu and click the Return Item(s) button. We'll notify you via e-mail of your refund once we've received and processed the returned item.

Shipping

We can ship to virtually any address in the world. Note that there are restrictions on some products, and some products cannot be shipped to international destinations.

When you place an order, we will estimate shipping and delivery dates for you based on the availability of your items and the shipping options you choose. Depending on the shipping provider you choose, shipping date estimates may appear on the shipping quotes page.

Please also note that the shipping rates for many items we sell are weight-based. The weight of any such item can be found on its detail page. To reflect the policies of the shipping companies we use, all weights will be rounded up to the next full pound.