Weekend Obsessions: The Very Best Nail Polish Colors
When it comes to the best nail polish colors, I have strong opinions. For example: I’m a firm believer in wearing dark colors in summer and neons in winter, and I’ve never bought the argument that “ladies” ONLY wear nudes on their fingers and reds on their toes. Beauty rules are meant to be broken, and where better to break them than when it comes to our manicure game?
And my personal manicure game is strong. I used to bite my nails really badly, and one of the things that helped me stop was getting really into at-home manicures. So painting my nails every week isn’t just about keeping my look pulled together—it’s also vital for my mental wellbeing.
Something else that’s vital for my wellbeing? Having gorgeous colors on my fingers and toes. But even though I have nearly 300 nail polishes in my collection, I definitely reach for some shades more often than others. So today, I’m bringing you my 5 very favorite nail polish colors—ever. Regardless of the season, these are the staple shades in my varnish wardrobe, and I bet you’ll love them, too.
1. OPI, Lincoln park After Dark ($8, drugstore.com)
No, I didn’t just pick this one because I used to live in Chicago—although that doesn’t hurt. My ultimate pedicure color, summer or winter, this so-dark-purple-it’s-almost-black shade is impossibly flattering on every skin tone. OPI’s formula is quick drying and long lasting, so I never have to worry about chips on my toes—and when you’re living your life in New York, that’s totally essential.
2. Butter London, Wallis ($15, ulta.com)
This is my ultimate “I have too many choices” manicure color; the shade I reach for more often than any other. I get so many compliments when I wear this on my fingers, it’s crazy—it looks like old gold on your nails, and sparkles like crazy in the sun. Because it’s a microglitter, it is prone to wearing a little at the tips, so a good topcoat is essential. But because it’s a microglitter, it’s especially forgiving of manicure mistakes (like bubbles and minor smudges). Score.
3. Essie, Mademoiselle ($8.50, essie.com)
My all-time favorite pale pink, this is the color I paint my nails when I need to look pulled together, but don’t have a lot of time to spend on my manicure. A true baby pink with a slightly sheer jellylike formula, Mademoiselle dries quickly—even by Essie standards, and I find they are some of the fastest drying polishes on the market—and lasts beautifully. I like this color best after 2-3 coats, then with a coat of very fine, holographic glitter on top for some extra Sparkle Motion.
4. China Glaze, Turned Up Turquoise ($7.50, ulta.com)
For some reason, I feel the most like myself when I have a green manicure—and my favorite green nail polish is Turned Up Turquoise. Though it says that it’s neon, it’s actually a very bright, cool-toned green that reminds me of beetle’s wings and jewels. Though the China Glaze brush is a little on the thin side, this polish flows on smoothly and evenly, and is totally opaque in two coats. Weirdly, this polish dries to a matte finish, so make sure you use a good top coat if you want to see all the beautiful shimmer to its best advantage.
5. JINsoon, Aria ($18, jinsoon.com)
Jin Soon Choi is one of my favorite people in the beauty world—and her line of nail polishes are TRULY superlative. Aria, from her Fall Operetto-inspired collection, is a gorgeous shimmery fuchsia that works just as well in the dog days of summer as it will this Autumn. The formula is practically chip-proof; the brush is the finest I’ve ever used; even the bottle’s cap is a pleasure to hold. Jin is a professional, and she’s created a professional-grade product. I can’t get enough of her polishes, and Aria is a true standout.
See you next Saturday, everyone! If you’d like to ask me about beauty products, or request a Weekend Obsession list, tweet at me or find me on Instagram.
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