I'm Kaylah. a cat lady, thrifting queen, collector of many, many things and
amateur mycologist.
I recently cleaned out my nail polish collection
and gave all the colors I don't wear away. I had just about every color
you could imagine but the problem was that a lot of them weren't
quality polishes. It doesn't matter how gorgeous a color is if it takes 5
coats to achieve that color and then takes an hour to dry.
Today
I thought I would share my top 10 favorite nail polishes. These ten are
some of my favorites not just because they are beautiful colors but
because they're great polishes that I highly recommend! They all have
great consistency, dry fast and generally only need two coats for nice,
full coverage. They're colors I find myself grabbing from the rack over
and over again because I know I can rely on them.
In the photo below you can see each of the colors on my nails (sorry about the awkward hand position, it's kind of hard to hold your hands so you can see all ten fingers in a picture.) Each polish has two coats and then a coat of Seche Vite to give it some shine and to make sure they don't chip.
Top row - left to right;
Wet n Wild - On a Trip
Essie - Lilacism
Revlon - Marmalade
Sally Hansen - Sorbet
Revlon - Bare Bones
Bottom row - left to right;
Sally Hansen - Thinking Of Blue
Zoya - Wednesday
Revlon - Emerald
Zoya - Dree
Zoya - Goldie
What are some of your favorite polishes - not only because they're pretty colors but because they're great polishes?
xoxo
Wet n Wild - On a Trip
Essie - Lilacism
Revlon - Marmalade
Sally Hansen - Sorbet
Revlon - Bare Bones
Bottom row - left to right;
Sally Hansen - Thinking Of Blue
Zoya - Wednesday
Revlon - Emerald
Zoya - Dree
Zoya - Goldie
What are some of your favorite polishes - not only because they're pretty colors but because they're great polishes?
xoxo
i love rimmel nail polish... in any colour!
ReplyDeleteThat golden Zoya is great!
ReplyDeleteWish I found them easily here in Brazil.
I love that gold! It is so pretty!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite polish is Essie but I always see Butter at Whole Foods and the colours are always so nice, I am one day going to have to check it out also!
Yeah, Butter has been tempting me lately too! They're kind of pricey but from what I've heard they're great!!
DeleteI've had surprising luck with the Revlon Colorstay! Every polish I ever use chips in a day or two (I guess I'm a high impact English teacher) but the new Revlon line has been fantastically chip free!
ReplyDeleteThe Sally Hansen Insta-Dri, and they have such great colours too!
ReplyDeleteI'm gonna look for Zoya next time I'm shopping, I've never heard of it before.
I have an OPI in DS Extravagance that is my all time most favorite color. I can definitely tell between that polish and my other polishes that it is a better quality but it also cost a pretty penny for a little bottle. I have had that bottle for almost 3 years now though and use it like crazy but ive barely used a 1/4 of it so it much be long lasting too! And it can take just one quick coat and still look good!
ReplyDeleteI love Butter London! I only have a few because they're a little pricey, but I feel like it's worth it :)
ReplyDeletei always get good results with sally hansen. but what i REALLY want to know, is what do you use to remove your polish? with your ever-changing-fabulous nails, you must know the beefiest and the best remover out there! confession: underneath my current toe-polish is the remains of a christmas-eve pedicure featuring a lot of glitter, that NO AMOUNT of remover would budge!!! WAH WAHHHH!
ReplyDeleteNope, I just grab whatever I see in the store when I need some. I haven't found any brand that I absolutely must have or anything that works significantly better than any other.
DeleteDid you ever try the new L'oreal nail polish yet? It's great! I bought a brown color (I forget the name, but I don't think it's available in stores anymore.) in March and I've used it so many times. I just bought "Paparazzi pleaser" and it's a beautiful purple. It actually looks very similar to your wet 'n wild color above.
ReplyDeleteIt took one coat to get a beautiful color, but I always use two so that really doesn't matter to me. They are also ~cheap. It's like $4.97 at Walmart.
i love that you included the wet and wild polish. because they're so cheap their products aren't usually of the best quality but i bought the light blue version of the same polish you have pictured, and it is easily one of my favorite.
ReplyDeletegreat post Kaylah, thanks for sharing! :)
You always have the best colour schemes for your nails! Most of my polishes are Rimmel Lasting Finish, they're cheap enough for my student budget but pretty good quality too. :)
ReplyDeleteFaye x
I have that sally hansen smooth and perfect and I love it. I recently got a revlon color stay that I'm looking forward to trying TODAY!
ReplyDeleteSometimes I like some of the cheaper polishes at walmart, like this brand called Pure Ice. Some of the lighter colors take a few coats but the darker ones take 1 or 2 and it goes on so smooth and glossy! Another brand I really like is Orly, I think I've gotten it at Sally Beauty Supply and Ulta. My most favorite color from that brand, that I'm going to have to hunt down some more because it's almost gone! Is called "Goth". It's black with teeny silver glitter and it's so pretty and reminds me of space!
I've loved nail polish since I was 10 years old or maybe younger and I love allll colors and styles and I thank you for sharing your creative nail genius! :)
I like any Sally Hanson polishes. I've never tried Essie polishes, I can't justify giving $8 for a bottle of polish so I just admire them on the shelf and move on to the more affordable brands.
ReplyDeleteI love Essie's Mint Candy Apple - it's my go-to colour when I can't decide. The Butter London polishes are lovely and 3Free too. My nails actually feel really healthy after I have had BL polishes on. I've never tried Zoya, but always wanted to - they have such good colours!
ReplyDeleteDo you have a favourite polish remover? I have one that I love but had to try heaps till I found one that got it off quick but didn't strip my nails and skin.
Luvluv,
Sway x
When I first read "quality polishes" I lowered my head a little. But then I saw Wet & Wild "On a Trip" in your collection, too. And I felt better. I LOVE their polishes in the Megalasts only. I have "Im On A Trip" on right now...and last night I bought "I Need A Refresh-Mint" Last night...I cannot wait to try it! I think what really needs to happen is I need to get rid of all my frosty colors...not loving the frosties.
ReplyDeleteI love Sally hansen and I love the shade of nude but I hate that if you wear it more than two days it goes a rank color... is there some sort of secret to keeping it a nice shade?
ReplyDeleteOh? I've never had that problem!
DeleteSo many pretty colours! I just recently bought myself Essie - Lilacism. I saw it and I fell in love instantly, so I had to buy it! Your Revlon - Marmalade nail polish looks pretty similar to my Catrice - Pimp My Shrimp nail polish. I've never tried Revlon before, also never have seen it before but this nail polish from Catrice is my favourite! It's pretty cheap (2,50 euros is about 3 dollars I think?) and it last for almost two weeks without chipping!
ReplyDeleteAnyway I love all these colours and I'm off to hunt for more bottles!
"Pimp My Shrimp" - hahahah!
DeleteI've never heard of Catrice polish (or maybe I have and just didn't take notice) but I will certainly be googling that!
There's a brand of polish called SpaRitual that I really like - I recommend their color "Melt With You" which is an awesome hot pink that I use on my toes and lasts for quite awhile. They're all vegan, formaldehyde DBP & toluene free, and made in USA!
ReplyDeleteI tried one of the Butter colors, and I don't really like their polish...it's too thick, and takes a long time to dry.
i love the nude sally hansen shade!
ReplyDeletei often find sets of the tiny opi polishes on sale at ulta or beauty first. they're nice because you can try a few colors for the price of one full size polish
Love these, thanks so much! It can be hard to find quality nail polish.
ReplyDeleteI've recently fallen in love with Milani's neon teal polish. It comes out a little brighter blue than in the bottle, but it dries quick and barely needs two coats.
I also really love this sparkly black & this reddish brown polish. I should also note that these are around $1 each at my local drug store, so the quality isn't fantastic but it isn't horrible either. Two coats usually does well.
That Milani color is GORGEOUS!!
DeleteLove the blue en the purple one! And I like the picture with yr hands on it ;D
ReplyDeleteI have the dark green Zoya, and I absolutely adore it! Zoya is definitely one of the best polishes I've discovered :]
ReplyDeletei love anything glittery... but im a waitress and any time my managers see me with finger nail polish on they tell me to remove it so I dont get to paint them very often =(
ReplyDeleteI love Essie polishes and OPI - they both tend to last really well!
ReplyDeleteI want to know how you keep your cuticles in such beautiful condition! I work in a restaurant so mine get TO' UP!!
ReplyDeleteCalifornia Mango conditioning oil (I buy mine at Sally's Beauty Supply) is my absolute favorite - especially for anyone who has their hands in dish water a lot!
DeleteI've never heard of Zoya polish and I've just started seeing Essie around here. I will have to try both when I start buying nail polish again. (I have a ton, some from high school and am trying to use them up. Seems nail polish gums up if it gets too old.)
ReplyDeleteI love anything by OPI,but this is ALWAYS my go to nail polish: http://www.amazon.com/Color-Club-Polish-Robinson-Creme/dp/B003PZAO7Q/. I also love black nail polish,but maybe I'm just weird like that. :P
ReplyDeleteI love Zoya and Essie polishes. I also have quite a few OPI and Butter London options. I'm kind of an addict as well.
ReplyDeleteYou have the daintiest and loveliest hands! So jealous! xoxo
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you!
DeleteMy favorites would probably be Zoya's Kelly and Zoya's Dove. I love Zoya polish way too much. Haha. I've been eyeing Wednesday and I think I definitely have to snag it now.
ReplyDeletei'm with you on revlon, i wear mine to death because it's so amazingly awesome. though i've never seen zoya in any of the shops, maybe i'll try to keep an eye out from now on.
ReplyDeleteyou just rock nail polishes anyhow!
i must have that marmalade color!
ReplyDeleteand i just realized that you're my favorite blog.
also (re: trip to pittsburgh email i sent a few weeks ago.)- we never got to go to your co-op you mentioned instead, we wound up in boardman, OH at the Flaming Icecube, which was the WORST! i got a tofu sandwich hoping it would be like the one you told me about- but instead it was a bland oily overly-chewy brick. sick!
Oooh I love these!! I love Zoya so much. Sadly I've found that Revlon is hit or miss, sometimes its great and sometimes its clumpy and takes forever to dry. I'm definitely going to try some of these, though!
ReplyDeleteThat Revlon Marmalade is beautiful! I'm *this close* to crocheting a cardigan in that color! I hardly ever paint my finger nails (some psychological barrier with not letting my fingers breathe), but my toes will be getting a lot more love from here on out!
ReplyDeleteNewly following your blog and finding your individuality absolutely inspiring,
<3 saki jane
sakijane.wordpress.com
Love your nail posts!
ReplyDeleteI love those Revlon Top Speeds! They're so fast, quality, and affordable! My favorite color is their First Class-- its such a lovely shade of blue. <3
ReplyDeleteI love the Zoya Wednesday colour... So beautiful!
ReplyDeleteAlthough the fabulous names are certainly part of the lovefest, I've always been an OPI girl. Their colors are fantastic, and two coats is all you need as well (except for the sheers). And SHATTER is AMAZING.
ReplyDeleteI now need to get some more Essie, because I picked up their ridge filler, and it actually gives me smooth nails. I have psoriasis, you see. In addition to it affecting the skin, my nails peel up from the bed a little, and are all kinds of ridged and missing cuticles - I just wanted to hide my hands in my pockets all the time, I thought people though I had a flesh-eating virus.
A coat (or 2 on some of the worst nails), and I have hands that I can actually show off with my pretty little curly willow engagement ring!
Seche Vite 4ever
ReplyDeleteMy favorites are Wen n' Wild and SallyHansen. I like the colors like "Teal or no Teal" and "Mellow Yellow". Oh, and "Envy Green"! :D
ReplyDeleteYou have such lovely nail polish colors-- I absolutely love that blue, red, and light purple :)
ReplyDeletexoxo
Nat
modernbuttercup.blogspot.com
I am not a fan of gold colored anything, but that Zoya polish is divine!
ReplyDeleteOMGSH! I have a collection like that. I love. I love. love. love. nailpolish! There is nothing more relaxing than doing your nails!
ReplyDeletexxx,
Danielle Faith
http://danifaith1029.blogspot.com"
I have that same Wet n Wild polish! Haven't gotten to use it yet, but now I know it's a good one!
ReplyDeleteI just blogged about polishes too, mostly thanks to you! I like Barry M ones - the consistency is thin but 2-3 coats give a really nice finish. I just bought a peach one perfect for summer. Weirdly, American Apparel's polishes are good too - I have an olive green that I wear a lot. And Essie and Butter when I can afford them!
ReplyDeleteThis is really helpful! I find it really difficult to get a nail polish that doesn't take 5 coats, and i seem to spend entire days waiting for my nails to dry! Having said that there is one that I use time and time again - Rimmel Lasting Finish double decker red, and it is quite a cheap one surprisingly.
ReplyDeleteYou should really try the polishes from American Apparel! They have the best color selection, you only need two coats, they dry relatively quick, doesn't chip off easily, and they are reasonably priced at $6.00. My favorite part about them is how solid they look when applied. I am not a fan of sheer polishes or having to apply 5 coats to get the right color so this is definitely a deal breaker for me when it comes to buying nail polish. Revlon and Essie are a favorite of mine too!
ReplyDeleteYour nail polish collection is sooo colorful !D: I want it!
ReplyDeleteAnd these are just beautiful!
Chanel's Peridot and Quartz! The quality is amazing (as it should be considering the price) and I feel like one or the other suit every outfit ever.
ReplyDeletemy favorites right now are the new l'oreal brand of polishes. "jet set to paris" and "boozy brunch" are both really great shakes and stay looking wonderful for a week! it's hard for me to resist buying a new shade every time i'm in target :)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Zoya! I was recently introduced to that nail polish via Birchbox. <3
ReplyDeleteThis is the post I was looking for.
ReplyDeleteAnd a gold that doesn't need gazillion coats to look right?
I can't believe my eyes!
(and such a lovely shade of gold, too.)
Too bad we don't have Zoya around here.