I have 2 clear bottles of nail polish, 1 says base coat & 1 says strengthener, whats the difference?

while they're both clear in color...





...the base coat will have chemicals to help your polish color stick to your nails better and prevent peeling. some base coats also fill in nail ridges, prevent staining, and improve polish application.





...the strengthener will contain ingredients to improve nail condition, add thickness and support, and boost healthy growth.





some base coats have strengtheners built in, and some strengtheners can be used as a base coat. however, don't count on this unless the label says so. i once used a wet 'n wild nail strengthener that would immediately peel off once i washed my hands. if i had used this as a base coat, my nail color would have peeled off within hours.