These Nail Polish Brands Deliver Beautiful Nails Every Time
Choosing nail polish is usually a simple process. You step into a salon, drugstore, or beauty supply store. You study the wall of polish. You pick the color you like the best and hope it works out.
But too often, that new nail polish isn’t exactly what you hoped for. The color isn't right, or it chips too easily. It might even damage your nail bed. Whatever the issue may be, the result is the same: lackluster nail art that leaves you disappointed.
How can you avoid this fate? Searching for your next nail color by brand. Many good nail polish brands deliver gorgeous color, long-lasting formula, and easy application. These trusted brands also offer base coat and top coat products that guarantee a great-looking manicure every time, so you always get the look you want.
Which brands should you add to your nail polish collection? Here are some of our favorite nail polish brands available on Flip.
1. JINsoon
Created by Jin Soon Choi (one of the most sought-after manicurists in the fashion industry), this brand offers rich, lustrous colors with intense shine in just two coats. This polish is long-lasting, offers a chip-free finish, and the double-patented, quick-dry formula delivers super smooth application. JINsoon polish also has a UV filter to protect your manicure against fading or yellowing — enjoy the same bold look on the first and last day of wear. And even their base coat and top coat formulas are 10-free, meaning you won’t expose your nails to toxic chemicals like formaldehyde, toluene, DPB, camphor, and formaldehyde resin.
2. Smith & Cult
Smith & Cult nail polish delivers even coverage and brilliant shine in versatile, chip-resistant colors. They offer a range of color options from boldly intense to sweet pastels — change your nail color as often as you change your mood. The polish delivers flawlessly smooth coverage and brilliant shine for a manicure you’ll want to show off. Best of all, Smith & Cult is vegan, cruelty-free, and 8-free, meaning there’s no dibutyl phthalate, toluene, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, camphor, xylene, ethyl tosylamide, or triphenyl phosphate. Go easy on the planet while going hard on nail art.
3. ZOYA
ZOYA nail polishes are among the best choices for pregnant women and health-conscious nail polish lovers. The 10-free formula is breathable and vegan while still delivering long wear and brilliant color. Plus, ZOYA has an immense shade range, offering over 400 colors, including nude shades that match every outfit.
4. Lauren B. Beauty
Lauren B. Beauty’s advanced, quick-drying nail color delivers a chip-resistant, long-lasting, mirror-like finish. The brush is packed with twice the standard amount of pre-lacquered bristles, so your polish glides on smoothly and streak-free. The bottle has a special over-cap, so you can use a square or cylindrical handle for more control. Each formula is non-toxic, eco and vegan-friendly (with no formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, DBP, toluene, camphor, or xylene), TPHP free, and U.S.-made.
5. J.Hannah
J.Hannah offers carefully-edited, high-quality polishes for the color-resistant. These polishes focus on the gracefulness of your hands and the role of subtle color as an element in any impeccably coordinated wardrobe. The classic, understated shades are perfect for anyone’s nail care collection. Best of all, J.Hannah polishes are non-toxic, cruelty-free, and made in the U.S.
6. Habit Cosmetics
This non-toxic strengthening nail polish contains myrrh extract to improve nail strength. It’s cruelty and gluten-free and is PETA-certified vegan. Habit Cosmetics even provides sustainable packaging with a removable bamboo cap, recycled plastic inner cap, and recycled plastic brush. This polish is free from toluene, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, camphor, TPP, DBP, isobutylphenoxy epoxy resin, xylene, and parabens.
7. Sundays
Sundays is a brand that specializes in long-lasting nails. Formulated with your well-being in mind, these non-toxic polishes have a range of timeless colors and a 10-free, vegan, cruelty-free, and non-toxic formula. Sundays’ polishes also have the perfect bottle shape for grip and a professional-grade flat brush for precise swipes.
8. Pacifica
Pacifica’s Plant Magic Polish is an innovative, 16-free, bio-sourced formula designed to be long-lasting with rich, vibrant colors. Pacifica replaced up to 80% of its formula with ingredients that originate from renewable vegetable biomass. They’ve also infused their polishes with bio-ceramics rich in calcium, magnesium, and trace elements that are great for your nails.
9. NCLA Beauty
All NCLA nail lacquers are proudly made with love in California, 100% vegan, cruelty-free, and 7-free (no formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, DBP, toluene, camphor, TPHP, or xylene). This non-toxic formula is also super effective, delivering a buildable and highly pigmented shade that goes from subtle and opaque to bold and beautiful in just two coats.
10. Dermelect ME
Dermelect ME is a curated collection of exquisite hues coupled with a remarkable protein peptide-infused, manicure-extending formula. These polishes deliver a fast drying, high gloss shine while providing smooth, flawless coverage, longevity, and durability. An intentionally shorter artist brush offers complete coverage application and an even coat for an effortless nail painting experience.
FAQ
Which are the best nail polish brands?
All the nail polish brands we listed are top quality and great for regular use. We know thanks to a few key factors shared by the best nail polish brands:
- Brush quality. To create stunning nail art, you need top-quality tools — this includes the brush in your nail polish bottle. A better brush helps your polish go onto the nail more smoothly, resulting in a cleaner manicure or pedicure.
- Drying time. High-quality nail polishes tend to have a thinner consistency, meaning they dry quicker than your typical drugstore nail polish brand. Investing in a professional nail polish brand will give you more beautiful nails while saving you time.
- Clean ingredients. People are becoming increasingly concerned with product ingredient lists. The beauty industry has responded in kind, and now it’s easier than ever to find great non-toxic, clean beauty, and vegan nail polish brands. These products are better for your nail bed (and often the environment) while still delivering outstanding color, precision, and longevity.
What nail polish brands are non-toxic?
Non-toxic nail polishes are an excellent choice for anyone who wants to limit chemical exposure that can harm nails, cuticles, or skin. Most of the brands we’ve mentioned are non-toxic, but to find other non-toxic brands, look for products that are at least “3-free.” That means they don’t contain formaldehyde, toluene, or dibutyl phthalate.
These days, many nail polish brands limit the chemicals in their formulas. You can even find gel nail polish brands that offer 3-free, 10-free, or even 12-free polishes.
Which nail polish brands are cruelty-free?
For a nail polish to be “cruelty-free,” the company needs to make the nail polish without any animal testing. The best way to identify which nail brands follow this practice is to look for the “Leaping Bunny” logo. This is an international logo that brands receive only after they’ve been audited and found to practice cruelty-free manufacturing.
Whether you’re looking for a cruelty-free top coat, the best gel nail polish brand to bring to the nail salon, or a trendy, quick-dry nail polish for your home manicure, you'll find high-quality products and honest reviews on Flip. Our reviewers show you what products look like against different skin tones, nail styles, and everything in between so you can make a well-informed decision.
