Published by the people who make ShineMD
We couldn’t find a coating we trusted. So we built one — and we publish the tests.
This site is run by the manufacturer of ShineMD. We are not an independent reviewer and we do not pretend to be one. What we do instead is measure: matched panels, split-panel controls, real instruments, and every reading published as it is taken, including the ones that do not flatter us.
Read the transcript
What if your car's paint could look showroom new every day with a deep looking glass-like shine? The secret? Ceramic sealants, ceramic coatings, and ceramic sprays. These game changers not only protect your car, but some also increase mirror-like shine that can feel impossible to preserve. But with so many options out there and hot new compounds like graphene added to the mix, how do you choose the best one for your ride?
Don't worry, we've done the hard work for you. Our experts have tested and reviewed the top ceramic sealants for 2025 to help you make the right choice. Factoring in everything from sheer durability to real-world practicality, we've ranked each product on multiple characteristics so you can save a few hours and get right to protecting your ride. If you're a DIY hero or a professional, our guide has you covered.
Ready to start doing double takes on your own car again? Check out our in-depth reviews below and discover your new go-to ceramic paint care product. As always, with these products, just remember, sometimes the best protection for your paint is whichever one you'll actually use.
This is what the testing actually looks like
Coatings are compared on the same panel, not on different cars on different days. Sections get masked off, each product goes on its own section, and from then on every section takes identical treatment — same washes, same sun, same rain.
It is a slower way to work and it produces fewer headlines. It is also the only way a durability claim means anything.
Read the full method →Built by people who actually wreck cars
Drift, stunts, trials bikes, and a shop that could not find a graphene product whose durability claim came with evidence. That is the founding story — not a content farm.
Co-founder
Ducky
Car nut, mechanic, drift and motorcycle stunts. ShineMD big boss and the hands-on lead for product and panel testing.
Author profile →
Co-founder
Coy White
Drift driver, stunt driver, trials biker, YouTuber. The creative and technical obsessive who refuses half-answered coating questions.
Author profile →
Tests in progress
Durability is the most important property of a coating and the one nobody measures. These are running now, with the method fixed and published in advance.
Coating Durability Study: 18 Months, Measured
A long-run test of spray coatings on matched panels with split-panel controls, logging water contact angle, beading and gloss monthly with dated photographs.
Does Graphene Actually Do Anything? A Test
A controlled comparison of a graphene-infused coating against an equivalent silica coating, testing the dust and heat claims nobody has measured.
Start with a topic
Ceramic Coatings
The category makes more unverified durability claims than any other. We measure ours and publish the numbers.
Stain Removal
Every method here was tried on a painted panel. Including the ones that failed.
Washing
Most paint damage happens during washing, not driving. Technique matters more than product.
Paint Correction
Correction removes clear coat permanently. The most important skill is knowing when to stop.
Wax & Sealants
Four product categories, one word used for all of them. Here is where the boundaries actually fall.
Wheels & Tires
Wheel damage is expensive and permanent. The finish on your wheels decides what you can safely use.
Interior
The inside of a car is a dozen different materials, each with its own way of being ruined.
Glass
Water spots come in two kinds. Treating the wrong one wastes an afternoon or ruins the glass.
Seasonal
Three seasons, three different mechanisms of damage, three different defences.
Latest
How to Clean a Car Interior Without Ruining It
Vacuum order, chemistry by surface, and what not to soak. Interior cleaning that does not create a worse problem than the dirt.
How to Get Streak-Free Car Windows Without Guessing the Cause
Surface mineral deposits and etched glass need different fixes. A sequence for streak-free windows without guessing which problem you have.
How to Prepare a Car for Winter Road Salt and Cold
Road salt, underbody rinse habits, door seals and coating care through winter. Practical seasonal prep without a product shopping list.
How to Tell If Paint Needs Correction Before You Polish
Swirl marks, holograms and dull paint look similar until you inspect under the right light. A diagnosis ladder before you polish anything.
What “9H hardness” actually means on a ceramic coating, and why some brands claim 10H
The pencil hardness scale stops at 9H. We read what fifteen coating brands publish: who cites a test standard, and who claims a result above the maximum.
The Best Ceramic Spray Coating for Most People
Four ceramic sprays compared on application, price, and maker claims. Ours is one of them. Durability rankings wait on published instrument readings.