Yahoo FinanceThe 22 Best Nail Polish Brands to Always Keep in Rotation
- 1/23
The 22 Best Nail Polish Brands to Always Keep in Rotation
When on the hunt for your next at-home manicure shade, or picking out a color at your local salon, keeping a short list of the best nail polish brands at the ready definitely comes in handy. Although it can be tempting to just use whatever you find in your makeup bag first, we believe that certain polishes feature quality hues and formulas that truly stand out from the pack. From best-selling staples like Essie, OPI, and Sally Hansen to new cult-favorite picks like Paintbox and Olive and June, these picks simply don't disappoint. And whether you prefer quick-dry or chip-resistant polish, these are the formulas editors, pros, and nail enthusiasts love using again and again. Read on for some of the best nail polish brands we're giving gold stars.
Violet Grey/Sephora/JINsoon - Hearst Owned - 2/23
1) JINsoon
jinsoon.com
$18.00
A nail care icon and fashion week legend, Jin Soon Choi started her beloved 10-free nail line in 2012, formulated without any harsh chemicals. JINsoon is inspired by Choi's industry experience working on photo shoots and editorial campaigns, plus her years of knowledge working as a salon and spa owner.
JINsoon - Hearst Owned - 3/23
2) Deborah Lippmann
Deborah Lippmann
Sephora
$20.00
As a trusted nail expert for red carpets and editorial shoots, Deborah Lippmann knows a thing or two about nail care, which makes her line one of the very best. We're big fans of Lippmann's Gel Lab Pro polishes in particular, which are available in 41 different color options. Her polishes also come with a brush featuring over 300 bristles to evenly coat each nail.
Sephora - Hearst Owned - 4/23
3) Olive & June
Olive and June
oliveandjune.com
$9.00
You'll find a bevy of seasonal options from Olive & June to round out your polish collection with, including this denim, vintage-inspired shade that features a long-lasting, gel-like finish.
Olive & June - Hearst Owned - 5/23
4) Miracle Gel
Sally Hansen
Ulta
$9.99
When it comes to quality and affordability, few brands can compete with Sally Hansen. This vibrant pick from their Miracle Gel collection combines polish color and its top coat for an easy, eight-day manicure.
Ulta - Hearst Owned - 6/23
5) Essie Blues + Greens Nail Polish
Essie
ulta.com
$9.00
Founded by Essie Weingarten in 1981, her namesake brand Essie has been a staple in the beauty industry for over 35 years. It also happens to be a go-to for royals like the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton and Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle. Essie polishes are vegan, and have a glossy-shine finish.
ulta.com - 7/23
6) Nails Inc.
nailsinc.com
Another nail staple, UK-based Nails Inc. is a mainstay in both the fashion and beauty worlds, collaborating with popular brands like Victoria Beckham, Diane Von Furstenberg, and Alexa Chung.
Nails Inc. - Hearst Owned - 8/23
7) Chanel
CHANEL
Ulta
$30.00
The storied fashion house Chanel not only makes some of our favorite closet essentials but also many of the most covetable nail colors as well. Although we're fans of their collection of classic neutrals, we recommend taking a closer look at a few of their bolder colors—like the deep wine Vamp—that are each worth the investment.
Ulta - Hearst Owned - 9/23
8) J. Hannah
Violet Grey
$22.00
For non-toxic polishes with a little something extra, consider J. Hannah's line of popular lacquers. They're ideal for the person who gravitates toward neutrals and earth tones at the salon, but still wants a polish that's as unique as they are.
Violet Grey - Hearst Owned - 10/23
9) Mischo Beauty
1 Review
mischobeauty.com
$50.00
We won't blame you if you decide to show off your manicure on Instagram after painting on a few coats of Mischo Beauty's long-lasting polish, which comes in a stylish, sculptural bottle with 15 versatile shades to choose from.
mischobeauty.com - 11/23
10) Auda.B
audabbeauty.com
$19.00
With a focus on making clean beauty more inclusive, Auda.B’s gel-like nail polishes are developed for a wide range of skin tones, and also happen to be vegan, 10-free, and PETA-certified.
audabbeauty.com - 12/23
11) Tenoverten
tenoverten.com
$12.00
Tenoverten is a female-powered salon and brand with a mission to make nail care more simplified and sustainable. And, as a fun twist, many of their nail colors are named after beloved streets in New York, where the brand is originally based.
Tenoverten - Hearst Owned - 13/23
12) OPI
OPI
Ulta
$11.50
If you have even one nail polish in your bathroom, there’s a good chance it’s by OPI. A staple in salons and homes since the early '80s, the brand is known for its long-lasting formulas and fashion-forward shades, complete with cheeky names like the rosy “For What It's Earth."
Ulta - Hearst Owned - 14/23
13) Gucci Beauty
Gucci
Sephora
$30.00
We're fans of just about everything Gucci makes, including their nail collection. Formulated with red algae and tocopherol (a form of vitamin E), the brand's polish is made to smooth out nail ridges and imperfections on its surface and dry quickly without leaving streaks behind.
Sephora - Hearst Owned - 15/23
14) Products
peopleofcolorbeauty.com
$12.00
Founder Jacqueline Carrington was inspired to start her brand People of Color in an effort to prioritize melanated skin in the beauty industry. While its polishes are formulated to complement darker skin tones, the brand's lacquers make excellent options for any beauty lover. This base coat is infused with aloe-vera to give your nails extra nourishment.
peopleofcolorbeauty.com - 16/23
15) Orly
ORLY
orlybeauty.com
The brand that originated the French manicure (Orly founder Jeff Pink created the very first one in 1975), is still ahead of the curve, offering highly popular breathable options that are designed to nourish nails with ingredients like vitamins B5 and C plus argan oil to help keep them healthy.
Orly - Hearst Owned - 17/23
16) Hermès
Hermès
Bergdorf Goodman
$45.00
Our digital beauty director Jenna Rosenstein counts herself as a fan of Hermès' pigmented collection of polishes, which she says helps transform the mundane into something a little more opulent. Did we mention each shade features a rounded brush and arrives in the brand's signature orange box?
Bergdorf Goodman - Hearst Owned - 18/23
17) Pear Nova
pearnova.com
$13.50
Vegan and cruelty-free, Pear Nova's nail polishes aim to celebrate a wide range of skin tones while providing clean options that are equally luxurious. The brand recently partnered with the hit show Claws on a vibrant, limited-edition collection.
Pear Nova - Hearst Owned - 19/23
18) Zoya
Zoya
Ulta
$12.00
A pioneer in toxin-free polish options, Zoya Reyzis created her 5-free line for a healthier alternative during pregnancy. More than three decades—and several hundred shades—later, her namesake brand is still a favorite in salons, on runways, and beyond.
Ulta - 20/23
19) Smith & Cult
smithandcult.com
Smith and Cult's bold nail polish colors are effortlessly stylish, and contain 8-free formulas that are also vegan and chip-resistant. Plus, each bottle includes a sculptural, gilded top that's pretty enough to leave out on your vanity.
Smith & Cult - Hearst Owned - 21/23
20) Paintbox
paint-box.com
NYC-based Paintbox is a go-to salon for editors and beauty influencers alike, and best known for their curated offerings of unique nail designs. Customers can bring the salon experience home with the brand's popular single and power couple shades that make it simple to change up your manicure or pedicure look. This glitter shade will shine from every angle, and gives full coverage after two coats.
Paintbox - Hearst Owned - 22/23
21) Sundays
View reviews
dearsundays.com
Known for combining salon-quality formulas with a mission of self-care, the 10-free polishes from culty NYC nail brand Sundays consistently deliver a high shine, opaque, vibrant color payoff worthy of any beauty wardrobe.
Sundays - Hearst Owned - 23/23
22) Christian Louboutin
Christian Louboutin
neimanmarcus.com
$50.00
Fashion designer Christian Louboutin was inspired by a red shade of nail polish when he first created his signature red soles. Now, the designer’s elevated nail lacquer collection features bottles that are aptly inspired by the shape of a stiletto, containing a pointed brush that makes it easier to apply its polish.
neimanmarcus.com
