Everyone has a signature color they swear by, whether it’s a timeless red, a moody navy, or a soft, dreamy pastel that’s popping up all over your feed.
Not all nail polishes are created equally: Some streak, some take hours to dry, others chip the same day. You could easily spend years looking for a brush and formula you love—which is why we did the work for you and came up with this list of tried-and-true polishes. From undisputed classics to indie brands with nontoxic formulas, scroll through 14 of the best nail polish brands to add to your collection.
I’ve loved OPI since I was little. Even though it’s a nail brand, the themed collections, fantastical names, and editorial ad campaigns have always seemed very fashiony to me. Plus the color range is stunning. It has everything from classic reds (ChickFlick Cherry is my personal favorite) to harder to find slime greens and dusty pastels at drugstore prices. The formula itself feels really luxurious and has a super-shiny finish, and the teeny tiny brush is perfect for painting your own nails. —Isabella Cacciatore, beauty associate
Essie Nail Polish
Ask anyone for the name of their favorite nail polishes and an Essie shade is bound to the top the list. I mean, it certainly says something that even Queen Elizabeth has one. (That would be the famed Ballet Slippers—which is also reportedly the shade Meghan Markle wore for her wedding.) If those accolades don’t convince you, its vast shade range certainly will. In its 35 years, the brand has created more than 900 colors—250 of which are permanent, all of which are gorgeous. Its staying power, meanwhile, will nearly always last you a week—two if you use a top coat. If manicurists swear by any brand over and over, this is it. —Lindsay Schallon, senior beauty editor
We might not all be able to throw down for a Chanel bag, but $28 on nail polish is so much more doable. And nothing feels as luxurious as popping the top off of one of these chic glass bottles. The colors are rich and classic—descriptions you could certainly say fit the Chanel lifestyle. But nothing puts me more squarely in the fantasy than a red-wine-inspired mani, which Rouge Noir is perfect for. The deep burgundy shade is a moody update to cherry red, but it’s equally timeless. —Erin Parker, commerce writer
Source: Talia Abbas (glamour.com)
