8 Best Nail Polishes in 2022 (Licensed Cosmetologist-Reviewed)
Painted nails can enhance your outfit and make you look more attractive in other people's eyes. However, not everyone has the time and money to go to the salon frequently! Many people go for the DIY option instead. Nevertheless, choosing a suitable shade or a good nail polish is not an easy task, since there are a plethora of products currently available on the market from well-known brands such as Revlon, OPI, or essie.
To help you quickly figure out which product to purchase, we browsed through reviews on Amazon as well as Sephora and compiled a list of the 8 best nail polishes. We've also included a buying guide, which was reviewed by a licensed cosmetologist, to help you choose the right one for you.
Quick List - Top Nail Polish
Denise is a licensed cosmetologist who advises people on certain products they should get. She formally worked at Ulta and is now headed into a salon.
mybest US' editing team consists of experienced members who have backgrounds in writing, editing, translation, and more. We are dedicated to researching what makes a product or service the best to users in the US in order to create top-quality articles. From skincare, to kitchen appliances, and to DIY supplies, our mission is to find the best ones for you.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Table of Contents
Why You Can Trust Us
Every mybest article is crafted with hours of in-depth research and interviews with experts. Each month, we are continually expanding our database of products based on our research. By emphasizing user insight and reliable information, we deliver trustworthy content to readers.
How to Choose a Nail Polish - Buying Guide
A nail polish can complement your overall look if you choose the right color shade that matches with your skin tone and undertone. Also, there are some more things that you should consider before buying nail polish such as its lasting or drying power.
Match a Shade With Your Skin Tone and Undertone
Your skin tone and undertone are two of the most important factors to consider when choosing a nail polish. A shade that is suitable for warm skin tones might not suit lighter skin. The same case goes for undertones. So you should pay attention to this detail before making a purchase.
Different Colors for Different Skin Tones
If you have a fair skin tone, bright and light colors might be some good options for you. Some shades that you should try out include red, purple, pastel or orange.
Meanwhile, if your skin is medium, red, or nude will help your skin tone shine. Furthermore, medium skin tones tend to have a neutral undertone, which is lovely when paired with any grey shade.
It might sound a bit obvious, but dark shades look stunning on dark skin tones, so you might want to try out brown, caramel, and plum shades. Reds are also stunning on dark skin tones, and one of the best red shades for dark skin tone is wine.
Look at Your Blood Vessels to Determine Your Undertone
A nail polish shade that does not match with your skin undertone can easily ruin your look, so you should definitely think about your skin undertone before choosing a color.
Blue blood vessels indicate you have a cool undertone, and green means a warm undertone. And if your blood vessels are both blue and green, you probably have a neutral undertone.
If you have a cool undertone, you might want to consider cool colors such as mint or bright red. For those with warm undertones, warm colors like peach and pink will probably help perfect your look. For those with a neutral undertone, any colors would work!
Think about the Drying and Lasting Power
The drying time for nail polishes varies, but you should choose products that can dry as quickly as possible since the nail designs or colors are very prone to damage.
Durability is another aspect to consider. Usually, film-formers are the main agent that prevents a color from chipping easily and creates the smooth surface on a coat. Therefore, you can look at the ingredient list to see if a nail polish has enough plasticizers such as nitrocellulose.
It is hard to determine the drying time and lasting power by looking at the ingredient list. So you might want to check the reviews carefully before making a purchase.
Avoid the Toxic Trio to Avoid Health Issues
Usually, nail polishes contain a multitude of chemicals such as acetate or heptane. But don't worry, since the majority of those chemicals are harmless. However, you should definitely avoid the so-called toxic trio of nail polish, including dibutyl phthalate (DBT), toluene, and formaldehyde.
DBT is a plasticizer that increases the flexibility of a product, but can cause irritations and damaging effects on the reproductive system. Toluene, on the other hand, is a paint thinner that has been associated with dizziness and irritation.
Formaldehyde is a hardening agent and frequently used in products such as glue. A low amount of formaldehyde is acceptable, but a high level (0.5% for example) might lead to chronic health problems such asthma, nausea, and even miscarriages.
You should also avoid formaldehyde resin, a by-product of formaldehyde that basically poses the same threat to human health, and camphor. If you're looking for even more safety, look for ones labeled something like "5-free," "7-free," or "8-free." The higher the number, the fewer toxic ingredients there are in the formula.
Look for Natural, Plant-Based Ingredients
Even though your nails are not as sensitive as other parts of your body, when choosing a nail polish, you should look for ingredients that are harmless to your body.
Many products nowadays incorporate many safe, nourishing plant-based ingredients including wheat, mineral pigments, or purified water. A hypoallergenic nail polish is also a good choice for those with strong allergies towards chemicals.
How to Choose a Nail Polish - Buying Guide
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Pro Nail Polish | | Vegan Treatment Nail Polish for a Gel Manicure Look at Home | |
2 | essie Essie Nail Polish | | Full Coverage with Quick Drying Power | |
3 | OPI Infinite Shine Nail Polish | | ProStay Technology for Long-Lasting Color Up to 11 Days | |
4 | Nails Inc. NailPure Nail Polish | | Highly Pigmented Nail Polish That Dries in 45 Seconds | |
5 | Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy | | Built-in Base Coat for Fewer Manicure Steps | |
6 | Sally Hansen Good. Kind. Pure. Vegan Nail Polish | | A Natural, Plant-Based Nail Polish | |
7 | Eternal Wild Nudes Nail Polish Set | | Four Flattering Nude Shades for a Graceful Look | |
8 | Ella+Mila Love Collection Nail Polish | | Chip Resistant Nail Polish Certified by PETA |
Deborah LippmannGel Lab Pro Nail Polish
Vegan Treatment Nail Polish for a Gel Manicure Look at Home
As a winner of the Allure Best of Beauty Award, Deborah Lippmann's nail polishes are beloved among the beauty community. You will be able to get the same gel results as in a salon minus the need for for UV lamps or tools.
The dual-patented formula with 10 active ingredients gives your nails a pretty gloss without any damage. The contour brush has 320 bristles, allowing for an even coat and smooth finish.
Furthermore, the product is 100% vegan and contains no formaldehyde, DBP, or other hash chemicals. Many reviewers complimented the hold up power of this nail polish. They said the polish was pretty and could last for quite a while. Some reviewers mentioned that it took a bit of time for the nail polish to completely dry.
Full Coverage with Quick Drying Power
As an America's salon expert since 1981, essie is committed to high quality standards with many award-winning nail polishes. This original nail polish is long-lasting with a glossy shine finish. With just two coats, you will achieve even, opaque coverage.
Many reviewers also said the color dried quickly and the brush glided smoothly on their nails. However, some reviewers said the polish was a bit thin. Some also said the nail polish chipped a bit quickly.
ProStay Technology for Long-Lasting Color Up to 11 Days
As the winner of the Fabulous Beauty Award 2019 and the Sunday Times Style Beauty Award, OPI's Infinite Shine nail polish has proven its popularity among the beauty community. With ProStay technology, the color remains vibrant for up to 11 days.
It can be removed easily as well. For best results, it is suggested that you use primer and a gloss top coat together with this nail polish. Many reviewers loved the color and the glossiness. Yet, some reviewers did not like the finished look of the nail polish.
Highly Pigmented Nail Polish That Dries in 45 Seconds
One of the most sold out items of Nails Inc., the UK's number 1 nail brand, this nail polish comes in various trendy color shades that can dry in less than one minute! Many reviewers said that the color was pretty and the same as described.
The patented brush has an ergonomic design, allowing for easy application. Many reviewers further added that the nail polish dried quickly with an amazing texture and the color was superb! However, some did say the nail polish chipped easily.
Built-in Base Coat for Fewer Manicure Steps
Revlon's nail polish promises to give you salon-quality color that can last up to seven days. Many reviewers said that the color lasted for more than 10 days for them! With a built-in base coat, you can skip a step from your manicure.
Various reviewers further commented that the color dried quickly, and the shade was just perfect. However, some said that there were bubbles after application.
Sally Hansen Good. Kind. Pure. Vegan Nail Polish
A Natural, Plant-Based Nail Polish
Sally Hansen's Pure nail polish is made with plant-based ingredients such as potato, corn, wheat, and sugar cane. The brush is also made from castor bean oil and is 100% plant-based, just like its vegan nail polish.
The product is also free of 16 harsh chemicals including toluene, phthalates, and sulfates, among others. The color can last for about four days per application. Many reviewers loved how natural the nail polish formula was. According to many other reviewers, the color was lovely as well.
However, the lasting time was not long. Additionally, some said that it took 10 to 15 minutes for the color to completely dry. There was still a smell as well.
EternalWild Nudes Nail Polish Set
Four Flattering Nude Shades for a Graceful Look
With four light, neutral colors that can go with all outfits and events, this nail polish set will give you a graceful, mature look. The product is also formulated without 12 harsh chemicals including toluene and formaldehyde, so you know what you're getting!
Many reviewers said that the drying time was super fast and they did not have to wait for a long time. According to many people, the color stayed on, but others said that the color came off easily.
Chip Resistant Nail Polish Certified by PETA
Ella+Mila's nail polish is free of 7 harsh chemicals, vegan, and cruelty free. There are a multitude of shades for you to choose from, and various reviewers said that the colors were all gorgeous.
The color is chip resistant and can dry quickly as well. However, reviewers said that the colors did not last very long.
Here are More Products for Gorgeous Nails!
If you are looking for some more products to take care of your hands and nails, check out our suggestions!
Top 5 Nail Polish
No. 1: Deborah Lippmann｜Gel Lab Pro Nail Polish
No. 2: essie ｜Essie Nail Polish
No. 3: OPI｜Infinite Shine Nail Polish
No. 4: Nails Inc. ｜NailPure Nail Polish
No. 5: Revlon ｜Colorstay Gel Envy
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
Most ViewedFeatured Rankings Similar to Nail products
Search by category
Health
Body care products, Health accessories, Health foods and supplementsBeauty
Blushes, Bronzers, CleansersHome goods
Bath supplies, Ceremonial occasion supplies, Cleaning suppliesHome electronics
Air conditioners and coolers, AV accessories, Blenders and food processorsPC
Computer supplies, Desktop computers, TabletsCamera
Camera bags and backpacks, Camera supplies, Digital single lens camerasFood and drinks
Jams and Jellies, Alcohol, BreadsKitchen
Coffee and tea products, Cooking utensils, CupsFashion
Footwear products, Men's shoes, SandalsAccessories
Wristwatches, Accessories and jewelry, Umbrellas and parasolsKids and baby
Baby carriers, Baby food, Baby formulaInterior
Beds, Beds and bedding, ChairsHobbies
Aromatherapy products, Art supplies, Arts and collectiblesOutdoor
Barbecue grills and fire pits, Camping beds and cots, Camping gearHome, garden, and tools
Agricultural materials and gardening supplies, Exterior and garden furniture, Materials and repairing agentsSports and fitness
Sports shoes, Surfing supplies, Badminton suppliesPets
Bird and small animal supplies, Cat Supplies, Dog SuppliesMedia
Books and magazines, CD, Children's books, picture books and illustrated encyclopediasGames
Gaming accessories, Nintendo Switch games, PC gamesApps
Business apps, Cooking apps, Dating appsAutomotive
Car accessories, Car navigation systemsGifts
Christmas gifts, Father's Day gifts, Gifts for childrenMobile devices
Mobile phone and smartphone accessories, Wearable devices and smart watches