Clear top coats are not always required but they do have benefits such as, increased durability as well as providing increased color depth. They can be applied to just about any color and are commonly used to alter gloss levels or in the case of clear metallic powders, add some sparkle or contrast to solid tone colors.
Whenever a top coat is a requirement for a specific color it will be noted on a powders product description, a good example of this is with the Illusion/Dormant Powders which require a clear coat to help activate the color of the base coat.
Clear top coats are commonly recommended on silver metallic powders due to the type of metallic in the formulation. Exposure to moisture, oils or other elements can cause the metallic in the powder to oxidize over time, a clear top coat will prevent this oxidation from occurring.
Applicator: MAC Powder Coating
There are some occasions where top coats including clears can cause the color to shift. Changes or shifts may be due to the movement of metallic components when the clear melts or when manipulation of certain pigments under the clear occurs, so always make sure to spray a sample prior to starting any production work. Also be aware that it is not recommended that top coats be applied to wrinkle finish powders.
