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InStyle / David Hattan
We’re overwhelmed, in the very best way, by the endless flood of nail-spiration from celebrities and content creators, and though every fruit-named trend is slightly different than the next, we’ve yet to find a single one that says a chipped finish is the next best thing. The best long-lasting nail polishes not only save working hands from denting their fine-tuned mani, but they also glide on smooth, spread easily, and dry fast. And, although we’ll never relinquish our nourishing cuticle oils and strengthening treatments, it’s a bonus if their formulas contain ingredients that boost nail health, too.
Maybe one day the argument in favor of peeling, flakey polish will get legs (ripped tights had their moment after all), but, until then, we’re sticking with what we know works: A streak and smudge-free finish that lasts long enough to make it from our Monday morning conference calls to the Sunday brunch debrief.
Best Overall
Essie Gel Couture Nail Polish
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Amazon
What We Love: Even without a base coat this gel-like polish is extremely long-lasting and still easy to remove.
What We Don’t Love: Some shades require a couple of coats to see color payoff.
Touting a stellar reputation among professionals and novices alike, Essie’s line of longwear polish is quick-drying, durable, and looks far more luxe than what its affordable price tag might suggest. We’ve even spotted its beigy-pink shades on Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez. So, swoon with us over its artist’s wheel of pastel and deep-hued shimmer and glossy varnishes that swipe on easily — although the lighter colors may take a couple of coats — and cleanly with no globby trail left behind. Following its two-step system, the celebrity-manicurist-approved gel polish lasts up to two weeks, making it one of the safest ways to achieve the enviable, high-shine finish of a fresh gel mani without exposure to harmful UV light.
Colors: 45 | System: Yes | Finish: Glossy | Wear: 14 days
Best Drugstore
Sally Hansen Miracle Gel
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Amazon
What We Love: The gel polish doesn’t require a UV light.
What We Don’t Love: It might clump with too many coats.
Don’t discount this drugstore standby — in fact, we’ve spotted the polish on Jennifer Coolidge and the Golden Globes red carpet. It’s one of the best options we found when it comes to color payoff after only one coat, which is a good thing considering it could start to glob up after several layers. Plus, the gel-like formula gives you the same super glossy and long-lasting finish without harmful damage from a UV lamp
This polish comes in an impressive 54 colors, so there's an option for you whether you like pastels, vibrant shades, or a true black manicure.
Colors: 54 | System: Yes | Finish: Glossy | Wear: Eight days
Best Baby Pink
CND Vinylux Longwear Nail Polish
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Amazon
What We Love: It dries quickly and lasts for seven or more days.
What We Don’t Love: It’s a two step system.
Shade Name: Candied
CND made a name for itself as a salon-favorite, and celebrity-worn (hi, Rihanna) polish brand because of its rich color payoff, ease of use, and luxe finish. Its palette of rosy hues is sweet as can be, and we think Candied is the ideal baby pink for completing any strawberry milk mani or for an everyday neutral. Thanks to this two-step, non-gel system — you need to use the top coat with it to reap all the benefits — your manicure will last seven (or more) days and keep its glossy look throughout that entire time.
The polish immediately hardens, so you don’t have to worry about damaging your freshly painted nails as they dry. But even though it is a relatively tough formula, it also includes vitamin E, keratin, and jojoba oil to nourish your nail bed and promote growth, giving your nails a healthier look and feel over time.
Colors: 21 | System: Yes | Finish: Glossy | Wear: Seven days
Most Colorful Long-Lasting Nail Polish
Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Pro
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Amazon
What We Love: It includes beneficial ingredients such as evening primrose and biotin for nail health and growth.
What We Don’t Love: You will need a base and top coat.
Offered in a whopping 85 shades, Deborah Lippmann’s iconic gel lab nail polish features stunning brights, prismatic glitters, and flattering neutrals. Its pigmented formula shows up with just two swipes, yet can last up to two weeks with a base and top coat.
Best of all, it’s not just a polish; it’s enhanced with active ingredients, like biotin to stimulate keratin production and evening primrose, an omega-6 fatty acid that prevents moisture loss in the nail bed. Plus, the silk fibers included provide that long-lasting, ultra-glossy finish.
Colors: 85 | System: No | Finish: Glossy | Wear: 14 days
Best Long-Lasting Red Polish
Gucci Glossy Nail Polish in Goldie Red
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Sephora
What We Love: The luxury label only heightens the appeal of the truly timeless classic red.
What We Don’t Love: The brand doesn’t carry a top or base coat.
Shade Name: 25 Goldie Red
From red tights to statement coats, the fiery hue is giving trend-watchers plenty to talk about, but red nails have always been in the beauty zeitgeist. The formula is chock full of nourishing plant-based oils (Keep in mind you won’t find this same formula in a top or base coat) that treat nails and skin with each swipe, and the luxury nail polish promises a chip-free mani for up to two weeks. Not to mention, its finish are simply divine; the polish oozes glamour with a sheen shiner than patent leather Louboutin’s and comes encased in a pear-shaped glass bottle, complete with a lithe gold-accented typeface that will be at the frontline of beauty products gracing your nightstand.
Colors: 10, 1 shade of red | System: No | Finish: Glossy | Wear: Seven days
Best Quick Dry Long-Lasting Nail Polish
Nails, Inc. 45 Second Speedy Gloss
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Sally Beauty Supply
What We Love: It provides amazing results without a base or top coat.
What We Don’t Love: The line has a limited amount of colors compared to its other lines.
While lots of brands tout their ability to dry quickly, this one actually gives you a time limit and sticks to it; 45-seconds may sound too good to be true, but this nail polish will make believers out of the harshest skeptics. The formula uses a resin complex that is made up of polyester and acrylic, allowing it to easily adhere to the nail, so that the application is seamless. The formula also contains hexanal, which is packed with calcium and magnesium, to strengthen the nail and extend the life of the polish.
Better yet, the wide-set brush makes smooth application much easier, even when using your non-dominant hand. While the brand has been releasing more colors in this line (initially there were only 10), we’re obsessed with House Hunting in Holland Park – a fun purple hue that provides an instant mental pick-me-up.
Colors: 16 | System: No | Finish: Glossy | Wear: N/A
Best Long-Lasting Glitter Nail Polish
Orly Anything Goes
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Orly
What We Love: This polish can be worn alone or on top of another polish.
What We Don’t Love: It takes a few swipes for the glitter stars to distribute evenly on the nail.
Glitter nail polish doesn’t have to be childish — this no hassle opal nail polish is the best way to add a pop to your next mani and pedi. With Orly’s Anything Goes nail polish your nails will be left looking glamorous and glitzy for weeks to come. Glitter polish is one of the best kept secrets to durable nail polish; it lasts forever and chips are hardly noticeable. The delightful dizzying blend of glitter stars and sparkles leaves you with the perfect glossy manicure. Orly’s versatile nail polish can be worn on its own or paired with another to ramp up a solid shade. Surprisingly, the chunky glitter goes on smooth and is easily removable, making your manicure easier than ever.
Colors: 1 | System: No | Finish: Glitter | Wear: N/A
Best Non-Toxic Long-Lasting Nail Polish
Olive & June The Mani System
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Olive & June
What We Love: This one-stop shop comes with everything you could ever need for your at-home mani.
What We Don’t: The nail polishes take longer to dry.
For manicure newbies, we recommend Olive and June’s The Mani System. Not only does the kit set you up for success with a nail clipper, file, and buffer to shape your nails to perfection, but it also gives you the option of picking a single color or up to six from the long-lasting and quick dry collection. So,you can truly customize exactly what colors you want in your new nail polish collection. The polishes are also vegan and cruelty-free and have one of the best , gel-like formulas we’ve tried. The thicker texture does mean your nails need to dry for longer, but the lasting results make it totally worth it. Plus, Olive and June caters to the beginner by offering a wide fan-shaped brush and what they call the “Poppy” bottle handle — a nail polish bottle handle that gives you more control to make steady strokes — to make your next mani easier than ever.
Colors: 6 | System: Yes | Finish: Glossy | Wear: Five days
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Ulta
What We Love:. Cute as a button, the kit has everything you need to achieve a quick gel manicure on the fly.
What We Don’t Love: The mini nail lamp takes longer, but also exposes the nail to less UV rays.
One of our favorite at-home gel kits that we tested, this adorable all-in-one kit is a dose of dopamine for your nails and your wallet. The mesmerizing pearlescent finishes produce incredible color payoff and save you pricey visits to the salon while ensuring your manicure lasts just as long as a professional one. In addition to a gel polish that acts as a base, color, and top coat all in one, the kit includes gel polish remover wraps, a mini nail file, and a cuticle stick.
Because of how small the LED lamp is though, you have to work with just one finger at a time, which makes the process fairly time-consuming. On the flip side, this trait exposes your hand to less UV rays, and it’s particularly portable, too.
Colors: 10 | System: Yes | Finish: Glossy | Wear: 14 days
Best Long-Lasting Nail Polish for Natural Nails
OPI Bubble Bath
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OPI
What We Love: One of the internet’s favorite neutral shades is now offered in a long-wear, gel-like formula.
What We Don’t Love: It requires a three-step system, which means purchasing more products.
OPI’s Bubble Bath is kind of a legend among neutrally outfitted digits everywhere because this nude nail polish is a creamy bare base shade that’s flattering on a wide range of skin tones. We’re thrilled the brand released the hue in its line of long-wear polishes that blend lacquer and gel technology to amplify shine and seal your manicure in a protective suit of armor. However, you will likely need to prime and set your manicure with the coordinating tools for the best defensive strategy as it may not last the promised 11 days on its own.
Colors: 1 | System: Yes | Finish: Glossy | Wear: 11 days
The Shiniest Long-Lasting Nail Polish
KIKI Pretty Nail Graffiti
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KIKI
What We Love: The innovative nail polish comes in a pen-like applicator for the easiest, mess-free application ever.
What We Don’t Love: There are limited shade options.
We’re delightfully perplexed by Kiki Pretty Nail Graffiti — Is it nail polish? A decal? A snazzy piece of technology? Turns out, the answer is all three. The brand truly puts the power back in consumers’ hands and designed an odorless nail polish and pen-style applicator that makes for a mess-free application. Not to mention, you tell the brand which eye-catching shade you want next, not the other way around, by voting online ahead of a new launch. Its mesmerizing and otherworldly, intergalactic shades certainly matched the energetic, complex looks during the 2024 NYFW show for the captivating indie-darling brand Dauphinette. But, celebrity nail artist Holly Falcone also partnered with the brand for the show because it's easy peel-off polish allowed models to switch out looks seamlessly. That’s right, there’s no top coat, no nail polish remover, and no basic energy in sight — this is one terrific tool we’ll have in all our pockets moving forward.
Colors: 8 | System: No | Finish: Glossy | Wear: Unknown
What to Keep in Mind
- Color: To choose the most flattering nude nail polish, know your undertone: warm, cool, or neutral, then choose a light pink or beige with the coordinating undertone. “Another way to decide what color will look good on you is to look in your closet to see what colors you are already attracted to and look good on you – if you can wear it on your body you can wear it on your nails,” says celebrity nail artist Michelle Saunders. However, our experts agree that there are ultimately no rules when choosing your shade. “A non-negotiable for me is that the nail polish you wear has to make you feel happy and confident,” says licensed lacquer artist Sigourney Nuñez. “If it doesn’t, it’s not the right color for you!”
- Finish: While your preferred finish is a matter of preference, whether that’s matte, cream, sheer, or metallic, some may last longer than others. For instance, “shimmer, metallic, and glitter finishes stay on a bit longer due to its added texture,” says Saunders.
- Formula: “A main ingredient that provides longer wear is something called plasticizers,” says licensed manicurist Hannah Lee, who adds “This keeps the resin flexible once it's dry.” Some formulas also include nourishing ingredients to hydrate and strengthen your nails and the surrounding skin such as jojoba oil, argan oil, and biotin. And, for added peace of mind, you may want a polish labeled “10-free,” which means its formula omits 10 of the most common toxic ingredients, including formaldehyde, parabens, and sometimes fragrance, that can be hard on your nails and potentially your overall health.
Your Questions, Answered
How do you get nail polish to stay on for a long time?
Proper nail prep of the surrounding skin and nail plate is going to make a huge difference in the longevity of your DIY manicure, says Nuñez. After you’ve filed your nails, she suggests removing excess oils with a lint-free wipe and isopropyl alcohol to help with adhesion and create lastingness.
Additionally, she adds that you should “Never skip a base coat – not only will this help prevent any nail stains, it also acts as a double-sided sticky tape and helps the nail polish color grip to the nail better.” All of our experts also agree that applying a top coat is a must as well, and Saunders adds “Sometimes I use two top coats for maximum shine and adhesion.”
Finally, never forget cuticle oil. It prevents premature chipping by making nails flexible and less brittle, “so nail products move with the nail instead of chipping off,” says Saunders, who often opts for 100 percent avocado oil. As Nuñez explains: “Think of it like chapstick for your lips or serum for your face – cuticle oil is a moisturizing product that can prevent your nails from getting brittle and breaking.”
Why does nail polish chip after two days?
While chipping is a natural part of the wear and tear of a manicure, Lee says that “nail polish typically chips due to not including base and top coat, but other factors can come into play like how harsh you are with your hands, or if they are in water a lot.”
To help this from happening in the early days of your manicure, Nuñez suggests wrapping the free edge (the very tip of the nail that extends past your skin) with nail polish. “Swiping your brush at the free edge and sealing the color in will help with any early chipping,” says Nuñez, who adds, “You can also reapply your top coat on the third or fourth day to seal the color and have that maximum shine.”
How do you apply nail polish for beginners?
“Make sure to not apply coats that are too thick since it will flood the cuticle area,” says Lee. And, pro-tip, Less says that “if you struggle with shaky hands, try and place your pinky down on something solid for stability.” But, since mistakes are inevitable, it’s a good idea to always keep a clean, secondary brush nearby. “If in the event you happen to paint outside the lines and get polish on the surrounding skin, dip a clean-up brush (it can be an old concealer brush) in nail polish remover to help get that beautiful salon-quality finish,” says Nuñez.
Why Shop With Us
Irene Richardson is a beauty and fashion commerce writer for InStyle. For this article, she relied on expert insight from licensed manicurists Sigourney Nuñez and Hannah Lee and celebrity manicurist and Founder of Saunders & James Nail Care, Michelle Saunders.
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