Why it's great: For readers who don't care for the meticulous process of applying a base and top coat, this polish is "a lot less work" for a manicure that "lasts forever." The polish boasts "amazing color payoff" that "stays bright with high shine," according to users. Reviewers especially love the wide, flat brush that "only takes one stroke" to completely cover the nail. Some report long drying times (between 30 and 40 minutes), but still say they can do an at-home manicure "so much faster" with this all-in-one polish.
Why it's great: Readers are delighted that this budget-friendly polish outlasts products five times the price. "This stuff lasts longer than the most expensive polish I have — a full week with minimal chipping," a user writes.
Reviewers are also impressed by the pigment and user-friendly brush. "Color goes on smooth, is true to the color in the bottle and dries superquick," another reader writes.
Why it's great: Reviewers say that although Butter London's "polishes are pricey ... really what you are paying for is their very unique selection of colors." Plus, the shades are "well pigmented and last," according to users. One TotalBeauty.com member writes, "Butter London offers beautiful nail colors, and the quality of their polishes is top notch. With many, just one coat offers a completely opaque manicure."
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.
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.
