Glisten - Spray Car Wax

Yes. Glisten Spray Wax is the perfect product for use on previously-applied protection layers, and that includes waxes, sealants and ceramic coatings. In all cases it will add a quick and easy top up of protection during routine maintenance along with a whole load of extra shine. However, Glisten is a product that installs wax-based protection, and while it will extend the life of all coatings by adding an extra layer of protection, it has been specifically developed to install stand-alone protection, or to work at its best by bonding with previously-applied wax layers to extend their life and return the vehicle to the same hard wax finish. Wax protection can be applied over fully-cured silica-based (Si02) ceramic coatings without any problems due to the fact that waxes physically bond to surfaces. Ceramic coatings cannot be applied over the top of waxes because the wax layer will block the chemical-bonding needed between a coating and the vehicle surface. So, if you?re looking to top up a coating with more ceramic protection in the future, or aiming to extend the life and performance of your ceramic coating, we?d recommend using an Si02-based product such as Caramics Gloss Enhancer, Ceramic Spray Wax or Lavish Ceramic Foam, which will chemically bond to the original coating, essentially becoming part of the same layer. For more information on maintaining vehicles with Ceramic coatings, see our guide: Maintain and Enhance Your Ceramic Coatings In Under An Hour.

Although both are quick and easy-to-use finishing sprays that will install or top up hydrophobic protection layers (along with adding plenty of added gloss), and both are designed for use on clean paintwork and vinyl wraps, Caramics Gloss Enhancer and Glisten Spray Wax have a very different chemical makeup. Which one you choose will always depend on the type of protection you're looking for because Glisten is a wax-based product, which leaves behind a layer of carnauba protection, and Caramics Gloss Enhancer is a Si02-based formula which leaves behind a layer of ceramic protection. With that in mind, while both these products can be used as stand-alone products to add protection, Caramics Gloss Enhancer has been more specifically developed to prolong the life and the performance of vehicles with a previously applied silica-based ceramic coating - such as the 12-month Si02 coating used in our Caramics Paintwork Protection Kit - adding even more gloss along the way. This product is not designed for use over a previously-applied wax because the protection layer on the surface will essentially block the chemical bonding process required for a the Si02 coating to adhere. Glisten Spray Wax however, can be used to add protection and gloss (for up to 4-weeks), and to prolong the life and performance of hard wax layers. While Glisten can also be used on top of a ceramic coating - because a wax can bond to a cured Si02 barrier layer (just not the other way around) - this is only applicable if you're not looking to top up the ceramic layer with another Si02-based product in the future, and you simply prefer the trademark warm finish offered by a wax. For the most part though, Glisten should be used on paintwork for wax-based protection, and Caramics Gloss Enhancer on vehicles with ceramic protection.   

Whether you choose to utilise Glisten Spray Wax or Ceramic Spray Wax will depend on the durability and hydrophobic performance of the protection you're looking for, and if there's any previously applied protection layers already on your paintwork. Both products are super-speedy 'spray and wipe' finishers that have been developed to quickly install a hardy, hydrophobic layer (along with added gloss), and both are designed for use on clean paintwork and vinyl wraps. These products can also be used for stand-alone protection, or to extend the life of other coatings, but Glisten is a wax emulsion-infused formula designed to add up to 4-weeks protection, while (as the name suggests) Ceramic is basically a ceramic coating in a bottle, capable of installing protection with a durability of up to 3-months. The difference is that, being a wax finisher, Glisten can be used to add more protection over waxes, sealants and ceramic coatings, whereas Ceramic is designed purely for topping up ceramic protection. Ceramic Spray Wax is so-called because it's a coating that acts like an easy-to-use spray wax. This is actually a Si02 (Silica) based product that, technically speaking, doesn't contain a natural wax infusion; the silica here takes care of installing an ultra-hydrophobic, long-lasting barrier that chemically bonds instantly to paintwork or other ceramic coatings. Ceramic is not designed for use over a previously-applied wax, because the wax already on the surface will essentially block the chemical bonding process needed for a ceramic coating to adhere. A wax, however, physically bonds, so that, it can attach itself to any wax layer, sealant or fully-cured ceramic coating, without any interference.

Aside from making sure surfaces are clean and free of contaminants, this always depends on the circumstances. Are you topping up wax protection from a previous full detail or adding wax protection for the first time. This is important because, first and foremost, polishing will remove any protection layer, the reason why we don?t use abrasives during routine maintenance, and only polish paintwork when it's absolutely necessary. In this case of maintenance, we'd assume that any paint correction needed had been carried out before adding the first round of wax protection. When it comes to adding wax protection for the first time, we'd always recommend getting surfaces to the best possible level of refinement first. Although it's wholly possible to apply a wax to car with swirly paint, and it will still bond, protect from grime and offer extreme water behaviour and beading, what it won?t do is hide any major defects, so essentially, you'll be locking these in. Pure waxes are non-abrasives, so they're not designed to correct or obscure defects in the surface underneath, they are purely for protection and to add extra gloss. So, for the best results, we'd always recommend correcting or enhancing any paintwork you're not completely happy with the condition of, and fully preparing the surface, before applying any protection layer. The advantage with waxes over ceramic coating in this instance though, is that you don't have to consider the chemical bonded needed for an SiO2 coating to adhere, so you can utilise any of our correction products and cleansers depending on the finish you require regardless of if they already contain waxes and paint glazes. This includes our Revitalise V2 System Compounds, One Step All-in-One Compound, Tripple All-in-One Polish and Rejuvenate Paintwork Cleanser. For more information, and some top tips on preparing your vehicle for a hard wax, see our full guide: Getting The Most From A Hard Wax.