Why we picked it: "Vapour polish was definitely the shiniest," says Meghan Rabbitt, executive editor. "The color I tried was a mixture of dark gray and shimmer so it sparkled in the light. I felt that the shine made my nails look even healthier than they actually are."
Why we picked it: "Of all the shatter and crackle polishes I tried, this gave me the best results," says senior editor Sarah Carrillo. "It went on smoothly and the shatter pattern looked great. Unlike some of the others that clearly looked like I had painted a colored topcoat on, this one integrated well with the base shade and ultimately looked like one cool color/design." Plus, this polish is amazingly chip-proof: "After having it on for almost a week, plus a day of sailing, this barely chipped," says staffer Jess Amen.
Why we picked it: "Oh my god, this couldn't have been worse," says assistant editor Sharon Yi. "It cracked straight down the middle of my nail and stripped the color underneath. Absolutely the ugliest finish ever. It was so hideous I had to remove it immediately."
Why we picked it: Readers say this line of polishes is "amazing" and of "high quality." One reviewer says, "The colors are very pigmented and very opaque. The lasting power is great too � I love the variety of colors! Essie is one of the best out there."
Why we picked it: "The bottle is different from the usual circular shape and is simple in design," Sharon says. Adds Meghan: "The Butter London bottles are so pretty -- almost too pretty to be relegated to my old nail polish bag with all of the other plain-looking bottles. And don't be fooled by the square top. When I first saw it, I wondered if it would be awkward to hold and therefore make applying the polish more difficult. But the square top comes off completely, revealing a little round brush top that's very easy to maneuver."
Is it just us, or is standing in front of the polish wall at the nail salon trying to choose a color totally and utterly daunting?
Sure, you could pick a color solely based on shade, but when there are 30 pale pinks, 50 reds, and seemingly every color in between, how do you weed through the masses and know which brand will deliver a smooth, shiny manicure -- and last through a week of typing, dishes, and texting?
Actually, the answer is simple: You click here to see the 2011 Total Beauty nail polish awards so you can go to the salon (or do your DIY mani) knowing which polishes will wow you.
To come up with this list, our editors spent weeks with multi-hued nails as we tested hundreds of brands and shades to find the best nail polishes on the market right now.
What did we find? Polishes that survived a weekend of sailing without so much as a chip -- and others that smudged and chipped after one measly day. We discovered new eco-friendly brands that delivered more shine than we thought possible, a polish that actually protects your nails from fungus (and has some of the most amazing glitter shades around), and much more.
There were old favorites that won awards, like OPI nail polish, and plenty of brands you haven't heard of but will want to try immediately.
So the next time you're headed to the salon or breaking out your DIY manicure bag, use this list as the ultimate guide to the best (and worst) nail polish available.
