10 Best Nail Polishes 2024 | UK Makeup Artist Reviewed

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.

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.