Favorite Nail Polish - Page 2

ChynnaBlue · ‎05-22-2012

I like and use most brands, including a lot of indie polishes you can only find online. I find that all brands work about the same for me, though some individual colors or formulas (neons, mattes, some holos) chip faster, even if the other colors in the line are fine.

Some formulas are streakier than others, like sheers, pastels, and chrome finishes. If you haven't tried Zoya, Sephora Formula X, or Butter London, I would give them a try. You may want to check out some beauty blogs for reviews and swatches. A lot of times, the major brands will come out with similar colors at the same time of year (spring = pastels, fall = dark shades) and checking out nail blogs I learn things like Color X is nearly identical to Color Y, but color X was hard to work with and streaky and Color Y was better. That helps me decide which one I want to buy. I'll include links to a few of my favorite nail bloggers at the end.

If you are having trouble with polishes being too thick, I recommend buying a bottle of nail polish thinner at a place like Sally Beauty Supply. An inexpensive bottle of thinner can save a bottle of expensive polish or keep a quick dry top coat from becoming stringy and thick before it's half finished. Sometimes a polish can have a bad seal and get thick even when it's brand new. Some formulas are just too thick even when new. A thinner can save most of them.

Here are some of my favorite nail and beauty blogs for polish:

BeautyGeeks: A mostly beauty blog with a great nail swatcher who does fantastic reviews on formula when new collections come out.

Kellie Gonzo: She swatches a lot of indie brands and her pictures are gorgeous.

Swatch and Learn: Sometimes a single indie, sometimes a whole OPI collection.

The Polishaholic: More indies than store brands.

Peachy Polish: Indies and store brands. Click on an image on her home page to get swatches of entire collections.

Manicured and Marvelous: She does reviews as well as loads of nail art.

Vampy Varnish: Beauty and nail polish reviews. She does more store brands than indies.

Manicurator: Indies, store brands, and lots of nail art.

Click here for Forum Tips

Winkk · ‎03-15-2010

@ChynnaBlue wrote:
I like and use most brands, including a lot of indie polishes you can only find online. I find that all brands work about the same for me, though some individual colors or formulas (neons, mattes, some holos) chip faster, even if the other colors in the line are fine.

Some formulas are streakier than others, like sheers, pastels, and chrome finishes. If you haven't tried Zoya, Sephora Formula X, or Butter London, I would give them a try. You may want to check out some beauty blogs for reviews and swatches. A lot of times, the major brands will come out with similar colors at the same time of year (spring = pastels, fall = dark shades) and checking out nail blogs I learn things like Color X is nearly identical to Color Y, but color X was hard to work with and streaky and Color Y was better. That helps me decide which one I want to buy. I'll include links to a few of my favorite nail bloggers at the end.

If you are having trouble with polishes being too thick, I recommend buying a bottle of nail polish thinner at a place like Sally Beauty Supply. An inexpensive bottle of thinner can save a bottle of expensive polish or keep a quick dry top coat from becoming stringy and thick before it's half finished. Sometimes a polish can have a bad seal and get thick even when it's brand new. Some formulas are just too thick even when new. A thinner can save most of them.

Here are some of my favorite nail and beauty blogs for polish:

BeautyGeeks: A mostly beauty blog with a great nail swatcher who does fantastic reviews on formula when new collections come out.

Kellie Gonzo: She swatches a lot of indie brands and her pictures are gorgeous.

Swatch and Learn: Sometimes a single indie, sometimes a whole OPI collection.

The Polishaholic: More indies than store brands.

Peachy Polish: Indies and store brands. Click on an image on her home page to get swatches of entire collections.

Manicured and Marvelous: She does reviews as well as loads of nail art.

Vampy Varnish: Beauty and nail polish reviews. She does more store brands than indies.

Manicurator: Indies, store brands, and lots of nail art.

@ChynnaBlue - Thanks a lot for this information. I'm going to check out some of these sites.

elle225 · ‎07-01-2011

I do my own nails too - always have. I've mostly used OPI and Essie and found both to be good products. However - a year or two ago I found ZOYA - and I LOVE this polish. It's "5 free" (doesn't have all those chemicals) but it lasts forever, they have lot's of colors and for me it's the best polish I've ever used.

I would sign up for their ZOYA website - every month or so they have a deal for $5 polish and free shipping. It's amazing - you can get the exact colors you like for $5 each and it's mailed to your door.

Good luck!

juperier · ‎10-21-2014

@Winkk Actually, "gel" refers to the consistancy of the product (think hair gel, gel toothpast, etc). "Gel-like polishes are similar to traditional nail polish, but with a few additional ingredients. They don't require curing under a lamp. You will want to follow the instructions for the specific brand if you want the best results as there are different ways they formulated.

There are different types of gels that all require curing under a UV lamp (whether it be the older style or LED). If you choose to go this route, I would educate yourself on the entire process, including the scientific aspects, in order to reduce the risk of issues, either immediate or long term. Unfortunately, even many nail techs do not have enough education regarding proper application, curing and removal. This results in needless nail damage and/or development of allerigies.The products are safe and shouldn't cause damage, but only if used correctly.

juperier · ‎10-21-2014

@Winkk I forgot to add that I personally use a wide range of regular nail polish, including many indies. For mainstream brands, my recommendation would be to start with OPI or Zoya. I also buy quite a bit of China Glaze. Each of us is different. What wears well for one person immediately chips when used by another person. The base coat and top coat also factor in to wear time. One nice thing is that the more experience you gain, the less the actual formula becomes an issue.

Winkk · ‎03-15-2010

@juperier - Thanks so much for the information.

lulu2 · ‎03-09-2010

At one time I was an Essie and OPI girl. (probably because that's what my manicurist used)

Over the years I accumulated a lot of Zoya, butter LONDON, Vinylux, and other mid-priced polishes. They all last a week or more for me if I use Vinylux top coat.

My complaint about butter LONDON is some have dried out, within a year's time.