As someone who views nail polish as the ultimate vehicle for self-expression, having the right shades in your collection is everything. But the sheer options out there make settling on just a few favored brands feel impossible!
Should you prioritize trendy limited editions or timeless classics? Are pricier formulas actually better? Is it worth trying indie brands? Are typical drugstore varieties even good quality?
With over 3500 shades swatched first-hand, I‘ve become a polish ingredient detective working to answer all these questions and more. My testing criteria boils down to 5 key indicators of top tier lacquers:
What Makes a Quality Nail Polish?
1. Safety & Ethics
These two factors go hand in hand, as brands who value human health and the planet tend to use safer ingredients. Key things I analyze are:
- Toxin-free status (most importantly 10-free)
- Cruelty-free & vegan claims
- Responsible sourcing initiatives
- Eco-friendly business practices
2. Formula & Wear
The formula makes or breaks application and longevity. I test for:
- Pigmentation (achieves opacity in 1-2 coats?)
- Consistency (not too thick/thin for smooth application)
- Brush quality (easy to control for neat polish?)
- Durability (days until tip wear or chips appear)
3. Color Selection
The colors, finishes, and collections available indicate variety and trend awareness:
- Size of permanent color range
- Limited edition sets align with trends
- Range of textures – cremes, shimmers, metallics etc.
4. Value & Accessibility
The affordability and availability of a brand impacts who can access it:
- Price per ounce
- Discount opportunities
- Number of online and in-store retailers
5. Extras
Additional perks like wider nail care offerings and polish removal/recycling programs.
An Expert‘s Top 15 Nail Polish Picks
With polish perfection criteria covered, let‘s explore my can‘t miss lacquer brand recommendations after testing 3000+ ourselves firsthand!
1. Olive & June
Olive & June manis sweep Instagram feeds for good reason – their salon-grade polish lasts over a week without losing luster or showing tip wear. I‘d rank their formulas second only to Revel‘s indestructible Flexi Gel polish.
Price per oz – $3.20-$4
Most Popular – THG, Tawny, CD
Can‘t Miss – Spring 2023 Runway collection
Pro Tip Use their Cuticle Serum nightly for flexible, healthy nail beds that hold polish better.
2. Essie
The iconic white cap and under $10 price tag make Essie my go-to drugstore brand. With over 1000 shades, every color family boasts perfect crèmes, metallic and glitters to suit any taste.
Price per oz – $2.52-$5
Most Popular – Ballet Slippers, Mademoiselle red
Can‘t Miss – Sheers & Tints for polished washes of color
Pro Tip File nails smooth before applying their shear formula polishes to maximize evenness.
3. OPI
The salon quality claim truly applies to OPI‘s Infinite Shine lacquers – their week+ wear time withstands life‘s little polish saboteurs like hand washing, unpacking boxes, you name it.
Price per oz – $3.31
Most Popular – Bubble Bath, Lincoln Park After Dark
Can‘t Miss Nicole by OPI nudes & glitters curated by @nicolebyopi
Pro Tip Prep nails gently with their nail envy treatment if prone to peeling, as their formula adheres best to healthy nails.
4. ILNP
While newer, what indie brand ILNP lacks in size they make up for in next-level multichrome toppers and dazzling scattered holographics that capture light fantastically.
Price per oz – $5.25
Most Popular – Funhouse, Cygnus Loop
Can‘t Miss – Retro Futurist multichromes with sci-fi vibes
Pro Tip Apply their Ultra Metallics over dark bases for chrome mirror effects.
5. Revel
14 days of perfect, glossy nails makes their $13 Flexi Gel formula worth it for weddings, beach vacations, job interviews…any event where polish SOS‘s aren‘t an option!
Price per oz – $6.50
Most Popular – Naked, Ritzy rose gold, Cherish red
Can‘t Miss – The Cremes for classy neutrals
Pro Tip Wash hands before application to maximize adherence on a clean nail bed.
6. Cirque Colors
This indie brand empowers creativity with their vivid scattered glitters and tri-thermal multichromes in every shade family. I gravitate towards their mattes and unexpected duo chromes over dark bases.
Price per oz – $9
Most Popular – Kiko orange red, Roswell purple
Can‘t Miss Their neons invoke summer year round!
Pro Tip Apply glossy top coats over their mattes for cool color-shifts!
7. Olive Ave
Olive Ave makes quality polish ingredients clean, safe & sustainable. Their smoothing base & hydration drops rescued my dry cuticles better than salon products costing 5x more!
Price per oz – $5
Most Popular – Daisy creamy white, Nectar pink nude, Clay red-brown
Can‘t Miss – Spring pastels
Pro Tip Cap off manicures by massaging in their cuticle oil daily to condition nails & skin.
8. JINsoon
This 10-free formula lived on my nails for 10 days even through excessive holiday baking disasters! I especially love their muted pastel glitters and rich metallic hues.
Price per oz – $6.60
Most Popular – Epidote (iridescent olive green), Coquette (cream pink)
Can‘t Miss – Power Coat intense pigments give nails high gloss pops of color.
Pro Tip Apply formula sparingly & precisely thanks to their thinner brush for immaculate application.
9. Essie Gel Couture
When I want salon gel durability without the UV light headache, these air-dry polish gels flawlessly imitate the mirror shine & strength of an in-salon manicure.
Price per oz – $3.75-$5
Most Popular – Mademoiselle red, Worth the Wait nude
Can‘t Miss – Find your perfect red in their True Color Reds collection
Pro Tip Prep nails with their 1 step gel primer before polish application to maximize wear.
10. Zoya
Natural nail wellness takes priority with Zoya‘s vegan, toxin-free, sustainably made polishes. Their scattered holographics make nail art dimensional.
Price per oz – $3.30-$8.25
Most Popular – Tifa (sprinkled rose gold holo), Cairo (earthy terracotta creme)
Can‘t Miss – Bare collection includes smoothing base coat and ridge-filling treatments
Pro Tip Remove polish gently with their non-acetone Soy Nail Polish Remover to avoid excessive dehydration and damage of natural nails.
11. Paint by Unger
Bubbles by Unger wins for cutest packaging with their twist-off color caps, squishy bottles and clever nail-inspired shade names! Their scattered glitters take me back to being 10 and raiding my mom’s polish drawer.
Price per oz – $6
Most Popular – Half Moon silver holo, Pinky Promise iridescent pink
Can‘t Miss – Scattered Sparkle neon collection
Pro Tip Paint on 2-3 thin coats for opacity so their glitters don’t clump together.
12. Lights Lacquer
These creatively named sci-fi and astronomy-inspired polishes energize your nails and spirit. I especially love the otherworldly duo/multichromes in the Planets collection.
Price per oz – $6
Most Popular – Exoplanet (teal/gold shift), Solar Flare (neon orange shimmer)
Can‘t Miss – Moonbeams for lunar-esque iridescent finishes
Pro Tip Wear their mirrored chrome Helios polish over black for a show-stopping mirror mani!
13. KBShimmer
This woman-owned brand gives back, with portions of proceeds going to charities like women’s health organizations. Their clear base, top, peel-off barrier and drying drops are holy grail helpers.
Price per oz – $4.50-$5.25
Most Popular– Seas the Day medium blue creme, Oh Splat! buildable glitter topper
Can‘t Miss – Urban Night cremes – moodier navy, blacks and greys
Pro Tip Layer their Sea Glass topper over bold cremes for oceanic shimmery jelly sandwich nails!
14. EdM
Parisian brand EdM makes covetably chic polishes with French names meaning "addicted to nails”! Their dreamy iridescents, buildable pastels and on-trend limited collections exude Parisian girl style.
Price per oz – $5.40
Most Popular– Addictive Love creamy bridal nude, Grands Boulevards true red
Can‘t Miss – Sheer Pearls change from silver to gold to green depending on light angles!
Pro Tip Sheer out coats of Painter‘s Touch neon paint drops on tips/cuticles for abstract nail art.
15. Holo Taco
YouTube sensation Simply Nailogical created her own 100% vegan, cruelty-free nail brand. Their linear and scattered holos mesmerize, while cremes with hidden shimmers surprise and delight!
Price per oz – $4.50-$6
Most Popular – One Melon Follower green crelly, Rose Quartz iridescent pink shimmer
Can‘t Miss – Their Pastel Rainbow collection transports me back to playing dress up with fruity scented markers as a kid!
Pro Tip Cover their linear Menchie the Cat holo in glossy taco top coat to intensify its reflective magic!
Quick Brand Comparisons I‘ve Tested:
| Price per oz - $$
| Most Popular Shades
| Standout Features
| DIY Tips
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Olive & June | $3-4
| THG, Tawny, CD
| Salon quality formula
| Use cuticle serum
Essie | $2.50-5
| Ballet Slippers, Mademoiselle
| 1000+ colors under $10
| File nails before sheers
OPI | $3.31
| Bubble Bath, Lincoln Park..
| Infinite Shine 11 day wear
| Treat nails with envy
Cirque Colors | $9
| Kiko, Roswell
| Vibrant glitters & mattes
| Topcoat mattes for shiftsI don‘t know about you, but learning what makes these brands unique helps me understand why their formulas generate such devotion among nail polish fanatics like myself!
While subjective, the visible care put into ingredient selection and product testing indicates an appreciation of nails as wearable art.
Now that you’ve got the inside scoop on my tried and true brand favorites, all that’s left is to find the one(s) that speak most to your personality!
More Tips For Finding Your Perfect Polish Match
Beyond brand, a few key factors ensure your lacquer love story happily ever after:
Color Matching Made Easy
Find flattering shades by:
- Choosing opposites the color wheel – bold berries for olive complexions, eggplant purples on warm yellow skin.
- Sheering brighter shades out as semi-transparent for low commitment pops of color.
- Matching metal jewelry tones – rose golds, brassy golds, silvery taupes.
Special Effects That Wow
Beyond cremes, maximize the wow factor with:
- Iridescents – shift pink/gold/green in different lighting
- Multichromes – ombre 2 colors in a single swipe
- Glitters – mini fireworks upon your nails!
Trend Spotting for 2024
Runways forecasted:
- Artist palettes swirls
- Minimalist French tips
- Poppy red cream red – Pantone color of the year
- Bleached and reverse French variations
- ’90s brown lipstick nails – subdued taupes, milk cholates
- Abstract shapes and negative space art
Set Yourself Up For Polish Success
A few habits prevent pesky pre-mature chipping:
Prep Properly
Follow a consistent prep ritual – trim nails, push back cuticles gently with a metal pusher, eliminate shine with fine grit file/buffer. These habits create an even canvas that helps polish grab on securely.
Apply Carefully
Wipe excess polish off brush before application. Paint in 3 thin coats max for even color rather than 1 blobby thick layer that dries improperly and peels quickly. Thin coats prevent bubbles and allow proper dry time between to set.
Wrap Your Tips
Seal your free edges by wrapping polish over the top of nails to prevent moisture sneaking in the sides. I like to swipe vertically too along sides.
Top That!
High shine quick dry top coats create a protective barrier preventing dents and dings during hand activity. Apply a fresh layer daily to re-smooth without needing a whole new polish change.
Take Supplements
Support good nail health internally too! Biotin, collagen and keratin supplements provide building blocks for strong flexible nails that grow quickly and hold polish better.
Moisturize & Massage
Rubbing rosehip oil, shea butter or cuticle creams into nails morning and night keeps nail beds conditioned, preventing painful hangnails and dry cuticles hindering polish application.
Treating Yourself While Treating Your Nails Right
The reality is, we put our poor fingertips through a lot each day – they deserve a little TLC! Playing manicurist creates relaxing, special occasion vibes all on your own.
To that point, brands that avoid nasty nail-damagers like formaldehyde, toluene and triphenyl phosphate keep your safety and conscience clear.
Sustainable swaps like vegan plant-based ingredients, responsible supply chains and post-consumer recycled materials minimize negative ecological impacts of manufacturing. Plus cruelty-free labels indicate no unfortunate animal testing horrors went down in making pretty polishes.
When shopping smart, your self-care polish pen pals tick all the right boxes – ethical, empowering, positively playful and most importantly, 100% you-friendly!
So with insider brand intel, matching tips and nail prep rituals to set you up for manicure success in your back pocket, pull up a seat, turn on your fave playlist or podcast, lay out color options like an art supply palette – and start creating your next nail masterpiece one stroke at a time!
Still Have Questions? Keep The Convo Going!
What makes your favorite lacquer brand so special? Did I convince you to try any new polish purveyors? Which shades sweep you off your feet or have you stuck in a nail polish rut?
Leave your thoughts, swap advice or ask away in comments – I love chatting all things nail confidence, creative self-care and color positivity!
Over & out – off to test out olive Ave’s spring pastels before my Netflix binge date! Let me know if you take any polish inspiration from these pages to rock your own signature colors with pride this week. Tag me in your edgy nail art creations on social – @nailpolishconnoisseur. Happy Polishing! 💅✨
