Painting your nails doesn't just add a glamorous touch to your fingertips but it's also a chance to indulge in some self-care, and with stunning results. These days gel-style nail polishes have become so popular for home use, you also have super glossy, glittery or simple matte finishes too! You'll find colours to match every skin tone, season, and occasion.
You can buy all manner of striking, long-lasting nail varnishes online this year, from high-end fashion houses like Yves Saint Laurent to dedicated nail polish brands such as Essie and Nails Inc. There are even some more affordable lines from Maybelline and Rimmel, all available on Amazon, John Lewis and Boots - we're pretty sure we've nailed this top 10 line-up! Moreover, we have partnered with Makeup Artist Marie Dancer for reviewing and fact-checking the article so that we can deliver you the best information.
Quick List - Top Nail Polishes
As a professional make-up artist of ten years, Marie's job has taken her all over the UK working at top events, on TV shows and making up beautiful brides. For all her clients she loves emphasising their natural beauty by creating a flawless base that still looks like skin.
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As a professional makeup artist of ten years, Marie's job has taken her all over the UK, working at top events, on TV shows and making up beautiful brides. For all of her clients, she loves emphasising their natural beauty by creating a flawless base that still looks like skin.
Find out more about Marie and what are her favourite makeup products are through her Instagram! She even shares some industry tips on makeup application too. And if you're interested in getting your makeup done by Marie, you can contact her via her email found at the top of her page.
One of the first things to think about when picking a nail varnish is the finished effect you're looking for. This can depend on your personal taste and style, but also for certain events or celebrations.
If you love all things glitter, check out our dedicated glitter polishes article!
A vital but often overlooked factor in choosing a nail varnish is the width of the application brush. Polishes tend either to have wide, soft brushes or thin, fine ones. The advantage of a wider brush is that you can sweep colour across your nail in just one or two strokes. This makes it much easier to avoid lumps, bubbles and streaks.
Thin, fine brushes require more layers which can mean you end up with streaks and bumps, but they are a good pick if you're handy with a nail brush and want to decorate the nails with stripes or patterns. They can be used for block colouring too but will require a steady hand and a little more patience than with wide brushes.
Factor in the size of your nail beds and whether you're picking for hands or feet, or both. If you have smaller nails a large brush may complete the job faster, but you won't be able to precisely reach the edges. If you have longer nails a small brush will be tedious and may leave streaks if you have to go over the area several times.
Many polishes claim to be 'long-lasting', and if applied correctly (with a base coat, two to three layers of colour and a top coat), they will definitely stay fabulous for days on end, or even a week.
Lighter polishes matching your natural nails will guarantee to match any outfit and make-up style. It's also less evident if you have any chips or splits as they'll blend into your own nails. If you like to change your nail colour often, you may find it easier to remove a lighter colour, as some bright choices can stain the nail bed.
Nail varnishes often promise to last around 7 days, and they usually will if applied along with a base- and topcoat. Some ingredients also help polishes harden to be extra-thick, durable and won't chip easily; however, longer-lasting polishes, especially gel-inspired ones, can be tough to get off your nails.
Help your nail polish last longer by treating damaged nails.
Another strong appeal of any nail varnish brand is its wide range of colours. Look out for particular polishes which are available in a whole kaleidoscope of shades, especially if you are a real home-manicure addict and like to change up your image on the regular.
Some polishes come in a subtle, neutral colour palette, others offer classic reds and pinks, while some exist in every shade of the rainbow. Be sure to take note of which colours a certain varnish comes in so you can select a few that match or compliment your skin tone and wardrobe.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | OPI Nails Nail Lacquer | ![]() | Nail Technician's Favourite at an Affordable Price | |
2 | Essie Original Nail Polish | ![]() | Nail Strengthening Formula With Designer Finish | |
3 | Sally Hansen Insta-Dri 1 Stroke-1 Coat-Done Nail Polish | ![]() | High-Gloss Shine and Long-Lasting Colour | |
4 | Yves Saint Laurent La Lacque Couture | ![]() | Designer Gloss Polish for Chip-Free Nails | |
5 | Nails Inc Don't Stop Be-Leafing Duo | ![]() | Vegan Nail Polish With 73% Plant Based Formula | |
6 | Mavala Mini Nail Colour Cream | ![]() | Handy Bottles for Colour On-the-Go | |
7 | Barry M Matte Nail Paint | ![]() | Cruelty-Free Matte Polish for Those on a Budget | |
8 | Maybelline Colour Show Nail Polish | ![]() | Chip-Resistant Formula That Dries in 60 Seconds | |
9 | Rimmel Rita Ora 60 Seconds Nail Polish | ![]() | Easy to Remove With 24 Shades to Choose From | |
10 | Nailmatic Kids Mermaid Nail Varnish Set | ![]() | Set of 3 Glitter and Gloss Nail Polishes for Kids and Tweens |
The top quality of OPI nail varnishes allows you to achieve professional manicure standards in the comfort of your own living room. Using this product is more or less like getting a set of gel nails done, just without the LED lamp and the price.
On average these polishes last 6 days in mint condition but could go up to 10 if you're extra careful. As always, follow the 3-layer formula to ensure a thick layer of colour is built, for a luxurious mirror shine. A winning polish!
For nail colour as shiny and reflective as a pane of glass, try out Essie's original polish. With several bold, sassy shades to experiment with, you can find a colour for every season of the year in this varied selection.
Polymers feature on the ingredients list of this silky polish, promising to strengthen the very surface of your nail, and therefore stay in place longer. This product glides across nails without a hitch, providing lasting strength and shine.
Available in a tasteful colour palette of reds, pinks, lilacs and blues along with black and white, this gorgeous nail polish should comfortably last through 7 days of wear if applied correctly, and with all the quality you'd expect from the brand.
Sally Hansen's formula creates an enamel-like finish so that nails take on a lasting, glossy shine. While formaldehyde in nail polish is in too small a quantity to be harmful, this one contains none, so should reassure anyone worried about the ingredient.
To add a stunning, lasting final flourish to any outfit, pick this high-quality gloss from Yves Saint Laurent. There are some very glamorous shades to choose from, making this a top pick for stocking and Secret Santas.
Boosted with polymers and silicone, this product creates a tough layer of colour on your nail which should stay in place for more than a week without peeling or chipping, if applied with a proper base- and top-coat of colour.
This pair of two plant powered nail polishes - shown here in a deep forest green and a shimmery copper bronze - are a brilliant choice if you like to mix up colours or paint a feature nail in a complementary shade.
Nails Inc, unlike other cosmetics brands, focus solely on nail colour, meaning they really know what's up in manicure terms. This duo is made from 73% plant based formula and is vegan and halal friendly. It's easy to apply with rich, perfect coverage for a flawless finish.
On the other hand, where it does dry quickly is on your nail. Just one sweep should dry completely in around 60 seconds, so you can build up layers of colour comfortably without fuss or accidental smudging.
A good pick if you don't have fortunes to spend on nail varnish, Barry M's matte range is fun and flirtatious, available in bright cheeky colours that will chirp up chilly winter days and look fabulous in spring and summer too.
Entirely cruelty-free, Barry M polishes are a great shout if you care about the ethical side of your makeup looks. The downside is that the brush is on the thin side, so building up colour can be harder than with other polishes.
The luxurious formula means it glides onto nails easily and builds up to a thick, gel-like appearance. Pick from 18 gorgeous shades of classic colours, great for Christmas but glamorous all year round. However, the small bottle size does mean you may run out quicker than the other polishes on our list.
Rita Ora has released a gorgeous range in collaboration with Rimmel which is not only effective and long-lasting but also super-affordable. The brush is a little finer than others, but it is very soft and fans out well so is easier to use than the Barry M brush, for example.
Cheap and cheerful, it looks great, stays put with 3 layers (plus base and top coat) and can be removed in a flash. There are lots of colours to choose from, so there's something for every occasion.
These children's nail varnish are the perfect stocking filler, particularly convenient for parents who don't want their young'un developing a proper manicure habit just yet. No good for those seeking long-lasting colour, but just right for kids.
Transform your nails with this set of 3 icy pastels, mermaid shades. Made with no nasties and no fragrance, they are perfect for your little one and you don't even need polish remover! Simply splash off with warm soapy water to reveal fresh nails – the perfect gateway polish for any junior glamourpuss.
Polishing nails neatly within the lines can be a little tricky, but if you're thinking of how to apply polish on your nails like a pro, here are some tips to help with a streak-free application:
Written and researched by Annie Hopkins
No. 1: OPI Nails|Nail Lacquer
No. 2: Essie|Original Nail Polish
No. 3: Sally Hansen|Insta-Dri 1 Stroke-1 Coat-Done Nail Polish
No. 4: Yves Saint Laurent|La Lacque Couture
No. 5: Nails Inc|Don't Stop Be-Leafing Duo
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