Why it's great: Readers who gave up on keeping their peeling nails fresh consider this "long-lasting," "amazing" polish the Holy Grail of chip-free nail polishes. "Finally, I can have painted finger nails!" exclaims one reviewer. "I can get six, seven, sometimes eight days of wear out of this polish," says a user who previously couldn't get a manicure to last past day two.
Readers recommend swiping your nail with alcohol before applying, which makes an "enormous difference" in how long the manicure lasts. While some reviewers initially balked at purchasing the required top coat (an additional $9.99), they admit it was "worth it," especially considering there are "no hassles with a light," which the polish doesn't require.
Why it's great: "It is a rich formula, easy to apply and resists chipping for a long time, especially when worn under a great top coat," sums up one reader of this "excellent," wallet-friendly nail polish. Other readers agree, adding that the colors are "very pigmented and very opaque." Users also love that Essie is "readily available at most drugstores," yet is still an "amazing quality" polish.
Why it's great: Readers agree that Deborah Lippmann nail lacquers are "polishes to pine for." The formula "allows it to be applied thinly (no goop!)" and "the bottle/brush design prevents the application process from getting messy."
Though this high-end polish has a high-end price, readers say Lippmann's rich, trendy colors "are well worth the investment."
Why it's great: "Great all-around polishes that are non-toxic and vegan," sums up one reader of this five-free polish. Another reader adds, "It covers easily, [has] a great texture" and "there are shades for every woman to fall in love with." Other users agree that Zoya offers some of their "favorite nail polish colors ever."
Why it's great: Believe us, these luxurious nail polishes definitely live up to the hype. The shade range contains the perfect mix of classic staples and of-the-moment must-haves, and the formula is glorious. It's so easy to work with and goes on glossy and smooth, with nary a streak or bubble in sight — plus it wears forever without chipping.
Like a killer scarf or a one-of-a-kind necklace, your nail color can be a key accessory. Whether you get your nails done at a beauty salon or use a drugstore nail polish, the secret to the ideal mani-pedi is great nail polish. Because there's really nothing like the feeling of freshly lacquered nails.
And since we live in the age of instant gratification, we expect a lot from our nail polish. For starters, nail color choice is of the utmost importance: The nail color has to speak to you, be in season and fit the event you're attending. Beyond that, the nail polish has to offer a good value (read: long-lasting and not too expensive) and look the same way on your nails as it does in the bottle. Plus, since we're always looking for ways to slice time off our beauty routines, we also want our nail polish to dry superfast. Finally, our nail polish must be chip-resistant.
Think our standards are too high? Or can one nail polish really do it all? Our readers tried and tested many a nail polish to weed out the not-so-great ones from the gems. Here, the 13 best nail polishes.
