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. While it can be tempting to just use whatever you find in your dopp bag first, we believe that certain polishes feature quality hues and formulas that truly stand out from the pack. From best-selling, cult-favorite staples like Essie, OPI, and Sally Hansen to new cult-favorite picks like Paintbox and Olive and June, these beauty picks rarely disappoint. Whether you prefer quick-dry or chip resistant polish, we've rounded up a few editor and beauty enthusiast favorites we 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 staple at fashion week and a beauty industry icon, Jin Soon Choi started her fantastic, eponymous line in 2012. Start with the Dandizette collection, a.k.a. the six core polishes most requested by Choi’s fashionable clientele.
JINsoon - Hearst Owned - 3/23
2) Olive & June
oliveandjune.com
$8.00
Bright, cheerful, and oh-so-Cali, Olive & June is the ultimate resource for a pop of color. Plus, the polishes contain a fan-shaped brush that helps you paint like a pro.
Olive & June - Hearst Owned - 4/23
3) Deborah Lippmann
Deborah Lippmann
Sephora
$20.00
As a trusted nail artist in the fashion, editorial, and red carpet worlds, Lippman knows her way around a bottle of nail polish—so you know you can trust one with her name on it. Her eponymous line features neutrals and trendy shades alike, as well as some of the best glitter polishes you’ll ever try.
Sephora - 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. We love the Insta-Dri line, which sets in just 60 seconds and doesn’t even require a top coat.
Ulta - Hearst Owned - 6/23
5) Essie
Essie
Ulta
$9.00
Founded by Essie Weingarten in 1981, it’s since become a legacy in the industry—worn by celebrities, royalty (Queen Elizabeth II’s signature shade is Ballet Slippers), and just about everyone else on the planet. Their original polishes are fantastic, but the Gel Couture line is amazing anytime you want long-lasting shine.
Ulta - Hearst Owned - 7/23
6) Nails Inc.
nailsinc.com
$11.00
The bold colors will draw you in, but the vegan formula will have you stocking up. Try the Plant Power line, which is made of 73% plant-based ingredients, and bears a recyclable wood cap.
Nails Inc. - Hearst Owned - 8/23
7) Chanel
CHANEL
Ulta
$30.00
The storied fashion house also makes some of the most covetable nail colors—often debuted on their own runways. But the classic colors, such as the deep wine Vamp, are worth the investment too.
Ulta - Hearst Owned - 9/23
- 10/23
9) Front Row
mischobeauty.com
$20.00
We're as obsessed with the long-lasting and easy-to-wear shades as we are with the gorgeous bottle. These are polishes you'll catch yourself Instagramming.
Mischo Beauty - Hearst Owned - 11/23
- 12/23
11) 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 1981, the brand is known for its long-lasting formulas and fashion-forward shades, complete with cheeky names like “I’m Not Really a Waitress” (one of the all-time greats, in our humble opinion).
Ulta - Hearst Owned - 13/23
- 14/23
13) Auda.B
Auda.B
Nordstrom
$18.00
With a focus on making clean beauty more inclusive, Auda.B’s gel-like polishes are developed to complement all skin tones—and are also vegan, 10-free, and PETA-certified.
Nordstrom - Hearst Owned - 15/23
14) People of Color
peopleofcolorbeauty.com
When she didn’t see brown skin properly represented in the nail industry, founder Jacqueline Carrington was inspired to start People of Color. The polishes are for everyone—but, as the company states, they are created with darker skin tones as the first thought, not the afterthought.
People of Color - Hearst Owned - 16/23
15) Golden Afternoon
ORLY
orlybeauty.com
$9.50
The brand that originated the French manicure (founder Jeff Pink created the first one in 1975), is still ahead of the curve, with its Breathable collection that nourishes nails with argan oil, pro vitamin B5, and vitamin C.
Orly - Hearst Owned - 17/23
- 18/23
17) Pear Nova
pearnova.com
$13.50
Vegan, 10-free, and cruelty-free—Pear Nova's polishes make covetable shades for all skin tones. If the pop-punk revival is making you crave a moody manicure, pick this up.
Pear Nova - Hearst Owned - 19/23
18) Smith & Cult
smithandcult.com
$18.00
Smith and Cult's polish colors are effortlessly stylish, with a versatile range of 8-free formulas that are vegan and gluten-free. Plus, each bottle includes a sculptual, gilded top that's pretty enough to leave out on your vanity.
Smith & Cult - Hearst Owned - 20/23
19) Zoya
Zoya
Ulta
$10.50
A pioneer in toxin-free polish options, Zoya Reyzis created her 10-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 - 21/23
- 22/23
21) Sundays
dearsundays.com
Housed in chic, minimalist bottles, these pigmented polishes are like their New York City nail studio: worth coming back to again and again.
Sundays - Hearst Owned - 23/23
22) Christian Louboutin
Christian Louboutin
Saks Fifth Avenue
$50.00
As the story goes, Louboutin was inspired by red nail polish when designing his signature red soles. In turn, the designer’s nail lacquer bottles are inspired by (what else?) a stiletto—which actually makes it easier to apply the ultra-chic polish.
Saks Fifth Avenue - Hearst Owned
