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."
Why we picked it: "I believe OPI makes every color in the world," Alexis says. Adds Stephanie: "OPI collaborates with popular artists (like Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj), as well as feature films (like 'Muppets' and 'Pirates of the Caribbean'), and has excellent seasonal collections, so they're constantly coming out with new shades. From unique colors to neutrals, OPI has it all."
Why we picked it: "FACE Stockholm is known for their daring, punchy colors -- and their nail polish line doesn't disappoint," Sharon says. "The shades are so bright and vivid, it feels like you're finally seeing 'fuchsia,' 'turquoise,' and 'neon green' for the first time."
Why we picked it: "These polishes have good staying power, they're formaldehyde free, and enriched with natural ingredients, what's not to love?" says staffer Christine Niebuhr. "I love that these have ingredients like tea tree oil to fight off nail fungus and bacteria," Sarah says. "It's nice to feel like I'm doing something good for my nails by painting them -- and the glitter shades are gorgeous, too."
Honorable mention goes to:Zoya Nail Polish, $7, for also being safe for everyone (even pregnant women and children) and having tons of shades to choose from.
Why we picked it: "I was impressed with how smoothly this went on -- it felt like a splurge brand," Jane says. "I'll be honest, I don't really think 'Avon' when I think nail polish, but I was impressed. Great colors, went on smoothly, and I was wowed by their matte effect as well," Sarah says.
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.
