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.
Why we picked it: "It goes on smooth, has amazing colors, and looks beautiful," Alexis says. "While it pains me to spend this much on nail polish, it really is worth it," adds staffer Paola Gonzalez Marra. "It's thick enough that it goes on smooth and streak-free, but not too thick that it's hard to apply evenly. Plus, it dries quickly, has a great shine, and doesn't chip as quickly as most other polishes."
Honorable mention goes to:Deborah Lippmann Nail Lacquer, $18, for consistently giving us "of the moment" shades, fun glitter varieties, and polish that goes on smoothly.
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.
