The 3 Best Ceramic Toppers & SiO2 Sprays for Max Gloss (2025)
Your ceramic coating is a durable, long-term base layer of protection. But over time, the very top layer can become clogged with contamination, leading to a slight decrease in slickness and water-beading. The solution? A “ceramic topper.”
These SiO2-infused spray sealants are the “secret sauce” of coating maintenance. Used every few months after a wash, they apply a fresh, hyper-slick sacrificial layer on top of your coating. This rejuvenates the gloss, restores that “just-coated” water behavior, and extends the life of your base protection.
What’s the difference? A “topper” is not a “coating.” It’s a maintenance product designed for easy application and temporary performance enhancement. Its durability is measured in months, not years, making it the perfect periodic refresh for your paint.
After synthesizing professional opinions and user reviews, we’ve selected the best ceramic toppers and SiO2 sprays, each excelling in a specific category.
The Best Ceramic Toppers & SiO2 Sprays for 2025
CarPro Reload
Why It’s Our Top Pick:
Reload is the original SiO2 spray sealant and remains the gold standard for performance. It’s designed to perfectly complement CarPro’s CQuartz coatings but works phenomenally on any coated or uncoated vehicle. It delivers a hard, glassy finish with incredible slickness and the tight, uniform water-beading that enthusiasts crave.
The performance of Reload is undeniable… The trade-off for forgiveness in other products is performance, and Reload is all about performance. It’s the benchmark for a reason.
While its application requires a bit more care to avoid streaks, the professional-grade results in gloss, protection, and hydrophobics are unmatched in the spray sealant category.
P&S Bead Maker
Why It’s Our Top Pick:
Bead Maker is a legend for one reason: it creates a slickness that is simply unmatched by any other product. While technically a polymer sealant and not a true SiO2 spray, it’s used by countless professionals as a final topper to deliver an incredible “wow” factor. It adds a deep, wet-looking gloss and a frictionless feel that is addicting.
I use Bead Maker for everything. As a drying aid, as a final wipe-down spray… for that ‘wow’ factor when they pick it up. It’s just so easy and the result is instant.
Its durability is very low (weeks, not months) and it can attract dust, but for pure, unadulterated slickness and shine, nothing beats Bead Maker.
Gyeon Ceramic Detailer
Why It’s Our Top Pick:
For users who want a simple, effective, and completely foolproof maintenance spray, Gyeon’s Ceramic Detailer is the answer. It’s designed to be the perfect weekly or bi-weekly wipe-down product for cars coated with Gyeon products, but it works great on any surface. It effortlessly removes light dust and fingerprints while laying down a slick, hydrophobic layer of SiO2 protection.
This is my go-to for a quick wipe-down after a wash or to clean up dust before a drive. It’s impossible to streak, smells great, and just adds that little bit of pop and slickness. Super easy.
It’s not as durable as a dedicated sealant like Reload, but its extreme ease of use makes it a perfect product for frequent, quick touch-ups to keep your car looking perfect between washes.
The Verdict: Choose the Right Tool for the Job
The best topper for you depends on your goal for that specific wash:
- For a durable, semi-annual refresh of your coating’s core properties, choose the performance benchmark: CarPro Reload.
- For a “day of show” application where maximum slickness and gloss are the only priorities, choose the legend: P&S Bead Maker.
- For a quick, easy, and frequent wipe-down to remove dust and add a touch of gloss, choose the foolproof option: Gyeon Ceramic Detailer.
The Right Topper for the Right Foundation
A high-quality topper is the perfect way to maintain a professionally installed ceramic coating. The quality of your maintenance products should always match the quality of your vehicle’s protection.
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