Best Nail Polish Effects, The 2011 Nail Polish Awards

Nails

The 2011 Nail Polish Awards

We painted on hundreds of polishes to find the best -- and the worst. See which ones deserve a place on your manicured hands

November 22, 2011 | 61 COMMENTS

Best Nail Polish Effects

The winner: OPI Shatter Nail Lacquer, $8.50

Why we picked it: "Of all the shatter and crackle polishes I tried, this gave me the best results," says senior editor Sarah Carrillo. "It went on smoothly and the shatter pattern looked great. Unlike some of the others that clearly looked like I had painted a colored topcoat on, this one integrated well with the base shade and ultimately looked like one cool color/design." Plus, this polish is amazingly chip-proof: "After having it on for almost a week, plus a day of sailing, this barely chipped," says staffer Jess Amen.

Honorable mentions go to: Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips, $7, Sephora Nail Bling, $7, and Revlon Scented Nail Enamel, $4.79, for their similar wow-worthy effects.

SEE NEXT PAGE: Nail Polish Effect We Won't Be Trying Again

5 of 13

products mentioned

OPI Nail Lacquer

9.1

Essie Nail Polish

8.5

Hard Candy Just Nails Nail Polish

6.3

Vapour Organic Beauty Vernissage 3-Free Nail Laquer

0.0

OPI Shatter Nail Lacquer

9.1

Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips

7.0

Revlon Scented Nail Enamel

9.0

Sally Hansen Crackle Overcoat

5.4

butter LONDON Nail Lacquer

8.2

Nars Nail Polish

7.8

CND Creative Nail Design Nail Colour

9.3

Sally Hansen Salon Nail Lacquer

6.8

Face Stockholm Nail Polish

8.0

Dr.'s REMEDY Enriched Nail Polish

9.0

Zoya Nail Polish

8.6

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour

8.0

Deborah Lippmann Nail Lacquers

9.0

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i love essie and yes, my guilty pleasure is chanel - i have it particuliere (the shade in the photo) and rouge fatal - the best red ever!

by AstridB Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at 12:15PM Report as inappropriate

Yes to Opi and Essie!

by EricaF123 Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at 10:56AM Report as inappropriate

I love the smudge proof factor. Some how some way i will smudge!!lol

by Backinaction86 Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at 10:32AM Report as inappropriate

Should try a new soak off gel polish called NaiLuv, awesome! Long lasting, smudge and chip proof for over 1 month.

by Bebex34 Monday, January 7, 2013 at 10:33PM Report as inappropriate

great slides! cant wait to try some of best!

by rayshaviolet Saturday, December 22, 2012 at 02:13PM Report as inappropriate

You just have to grab a real fantastic top coat and can use cheap colors. It's the top coat that really matters anyways; my favorite is Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat from Sally's

by Only1KimmieD Thursday, October 25, 2012 at 07:57AM Report as inappropriate

You just have to grab a real fantastic top coat and can use cheap colors. It's the top coat that really matters anyways

by Only1KimmieD Thursday, October 25, 2012 at 07:44AM Report as inappropriate

essie, opi and revlon are my favorite nail polish brands!

by Chris213 Sunday, October 21, 2012 at 06:43AM Report as inappropriate

i'm not sure I like essie that much. The color is not as opaque as stated in the article. I ifind that Julep does a good job as well as OPI.

by springsblue Wednesday, October 17, 2012 at 09:06AM Report as inappropriate

Deborah Lippman is pretty good too!

by anna_cookie_hwang Monday, October 15, 2012 at 08:22PM Report as inappropriate

I wasn't surprised at all to see OPI mentioned so many times. It's one of the best brands out there!

by GingerDrink Wednesday, August 15, 2012 at 11:36PM Report as inappropriate

Now i know what to buy.

by andyv1217 Thursday, August 2, 2012 at 10:46AM Report as inappropriate

I will agree with the award to OPI for best color options. I LOVE all of their new collections, and with a new one coming out (what seems like) every season, its hard to choose which ones to invest in (I want them all!). However, in my experience, I find that my Zoya polishes typically last longering without chipping than my OPI. Not too much longer, but I am always thankful for that extra day or two.

by Mrs.Endres13 Monday, July 30, 2012 at 08:34PM Report as inappropriate

what? where is deborah lippman? i like dior's nail polish as well

by springsblue Thursday, July 19, 2012 at 12:46PM Report as inappropriate

Both China Glaze and Deborah Lippman should have been mentioned.

by caligirldotcom Thursday, June 28, 2012 at 01:07PM Report as inappropriate

China Glaze??? I have several colors, and would rate it well.

by MissPurple Wednesday, June 27, 2012 at 02:34PM Report as inappropriate

I'm surprised that China Glaze wasn't mentioned at all. I've gone a week with no chips. With a Sally's card China Glaze is cheaper than Sally Hansen Complete Salon and has a ton more color choices.

by CountryGirl78 Sunday, April 1, 2012 at 04:23PM Report as inappropriate

I think some of the less fancy nail poslishes are always left out in these articles, but they never fail to include OPI, Sally Hansen and Essie, as if those were the only good brands out there.

by hananoire Thursday, March 22, 2012 at 07:38AM Report as inappropriate

I love the OPI shatter effect, really simple and fast.

by Kary43 Saturday, March 17, 2012 at 12:05PM Report as inappropriate

I love Zoya and Chanel nail polish.

by Sari Friday, March 9, 2012 at 08:51PM Report as inappropriate

I love OPI. While it does take a while to dry I just make sure to do my nails while watching the television. Also I agree with several of the other reviewers that bottle design is a stupid category.

by mairin_osteen Thursday, March 8, 2012 at 04:23PM Report as inappropriate

I probably have 25 OPI colors and finishes and I love them. I also like Orly and Essie is OK.

by powerwoman033 Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at 09:49PM Report as inappropriate

OPI is the best:)

by queenphoto Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 09:47PM Report as inappropriate

I love OPI personally. The brush is great, and the bottle is just plain practical. The quality of the polish is good, and it lasts.

by LipglossandSpandex Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 07:18AM Report as inappropriate

I have never had OPI polish last more than a day. Whoever had a no - chip experience must also have nothing to do with their hands. If you : clean, wash dishes, etc.... OPI chips

by mlovett Friday, February 10, 2012 at 05:31PM Report as inappropriate

i feel like OPI was paying you guys off, i hate that polish it takes forevvvvver to dry. Sally Hassen has wonderful products that help keep my nails from breaking. Bottle design is a retarded category.

by emily_lenceski Friday, February 10, 2012 at 05:06PM Report as inappropriate

Surprised that Deborah Lippman polishes didn't make this list!!

by Celestine17 Friday, February 10, 2012 at 04:47PM Report as inappropriate

I couldn't care less about the best bottle design or the polish that is most likely to chip. It would have been a better article if they talked about the best of the best or the best bang for your buck. $25 for nail polish it better last for a month.

by MzWayne Friday, February 10, 2012 at 08:24AM Report as inappropriate

interesting results.

by slagoon Friday, February 10, 2012 at 12:19AM Report as inappropriate

My favorite handsdown is OPI. I have yet to try Essie but I love the fact that it's sold in Walgreens now! Just wish they had the current colors out. Will be trying some of these other brands soon!!

by GlamDoll Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 10:19PM Report as inappropriate

Face Stockholm is AWESOME. AWESOME. AWESOME.

by volta Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 03:57PM Report as inappropriate

I really need to try the butter line

by porsha_coleman_mcdaniels Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 10:14AM Report as inappropriate

I definitely agree with the disappointment of the Sally Hansen Crackle polish. Their regular polishes are usually awesome, but stay away from their crackle line. It made my nails look like a hot mess. And I'm not surprised OPI got so many awards, they're my fav. nail polish brand right next to Essie.

by LalaS. Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 01:41PM Report as inappropriate

Love the Chanel and OPI, but this gave me a lot of different brands to look at. Completely agree with the Hard Candy award. Terrible!

by LMarie27 Monday, February 6, 2012 at 03:17PM Report as inappropriate

Deborah Lippmann should have won best bottle design.

by poisonberry Friday, January 13, 2012 at 12:00PM Report as inappropriate

Some of the awards I don't agree with, but overall it was good

by FinalFlash Thursday, January 12, 2012 at 10:31AM Report as inappropriate

Very nice round-up with good explanations of why you picked them.

by Jewelrydesigner Monday, January 9, 2012 at 12:39PM Report as inappropriate

surprised not to see sally hansen on the good side :). totally agree on hard candy polish- waste of money

by venenumletalis Wednesday, December 28, 2011 at 06:53AM Report as inappropriate

I am surprised not to see China Glaze anywhere on this list. I actually prefer their crackle effect to OPI's. On another note: I am always wary of commenting on nail polish staying power as so much of that has to do with the wearer's body chemistry. For example, Essie polishes chip on me within a day, but on others they last for a week. Conversely, Hard Candy polishes wear like a charm on me. Just a little caveat for the readers out there.

by TheLacqueredLady Saturday, December 24, 2011 at 09:08AM Report as inappropriate

lol i have the crackle one and i like it

by Sohee Friday, December 23, 2011 at 12:56AM Report as inappropriate

OPI is the best bang for the buck. I can not see myself paying over $10 for a nail polish!

by Only1KimmieD Thursday, December 22, 2011 at 11:03AM Report as inappropriate

OPI is the overall #1 nail polish!

by TBjunkie Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 09:53PM Report as inappropriate

Thanks, I love nail polish! OPI is my favortite.

by Mysterylady Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 08:53AM Report as inappropriate

I'm already an OPI fan!! Most importantly, that last slide is all the excuse I need to finally treat myself to some Chanel polish...

by tallredamanda Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 04:37AM Report as inappropriate

The FACE STockholm sounds interesting. Chanel applies prettily, but the softness leaves it vulnerable to dings and erosion for 12 hours.

by krycekov Monday, December 12, 2011 at 10:22AM Report as inappropriate

Its time to buy OPI products... especially crackle polish.... :D

by teema Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 03:56AM Report as inappropriate

I didn't see the difference between cheap and expensive nail polish until I tried OPI. Now it's my absolute favourite! It really does stay on for a longest time. However, now I think that it's inadequate to compare $8 polish to $1 (regarding Hard Candy being the worst). I also really want to try AVON matte polish because I've seen one lady wearing it in dark blue and it looked soooooo good!

by datura Tuesday, December 6, 2011 at 07:16PM Report as inappropriate

I've been dying to try some of that crackle nail polish!

by ladyboarder9669 Tuesday, December 6, 2011 at 01:51PM Report as inappropriate

I don't agree with some of these articles because if you have a great base coat and top coat then your polish should last longer.

by melissa_thiemann Tuesday, December 6, 2011 at 01:02PM Report as inappropriate

I completely agree with the worst effects award to Sally Hansen Crackle, tried it in silver and it wasn't very good at all!

by britz1127 Saturday, December 3, 2011 at 07:01PM Report as inappropriate

Wonder why no orly. I love all of these.

by andie Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 09:43AM Report as inappropriate

love

by anna_davis Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 08:38AM Report as inappropriate

OK I love OPI as much as the next girl but no awards to China Glaze???

by SunBunnyxxxooo Saturday, November 26, 2011 at 09:02PM Report as inappropriate

I really want to try the OPI shatter! Been wanting to get it for awhile now!

by MissXu Thursday, November 24, 2011 at 09:44AM Report as inappropriate

I have OPI,Avon and Chanel nail polishes and let me say that Chanel is great for a splurge,OPI all around is the best one and Avon is average at the best but the price of their products is appealing

by selma Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 03:37AM Report as inappropriate

I LOVE Face Stockholm!!!

by volta Tuesday, November 22, 2011 at 10:20PM Report as inappropriate

I agree with the splurge nail polish. Chanel really never has true dupes out there. It's rare when there is a dupe that completely matches Chanel's nail lacquer. However, where is the Deborah Lippmann polish???

by sweettpea29 Tuesday, November 22, 2011 at 06:50PM Report as inappropriate

Essie is awesome

by kmb1129 Tuesday, November 22, 2011 at 01:48PM Report as inappropriate

love!!

by kiley_marie Tuesday, November 22, 2011 at 12:25PM Report as inappropriate

what do people expect for a dollar???? come on now!

by venealy Tuesday, November 22, 2011 at 11:50AM Report as inappropriate

OPI is fantastic for all of their colors, but I don't think the Avon polish is so great. :/

by 125389 Tuesday, November 22, 2011 at 10:11AM Report as inappropriate

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