Do I have to use a base and top coat if I am using a uv cure gel polish on my nails?

I haven't painted my nails in years and I found a really gorgeous cat eye gel polish that I'm supposed to cure with a UV lamp. It says in the instructions to put down and base gel coat and then the polish and then a top coat. Is that truly necessary or can I just paint them with the gel polish and UV set them and be done? If I have to buy 2 more kinds of polish to be able to use this one I'm gonna be a bit bummed honestly but I'll do it sometime in the future when I can afford it if it's truly needed.