If you’re a nail polish freak like me, you try out many different nail polish brands. From the cheapest discount budget store brands to indie nail polish to very high end, I have tried anything and everything under the sun. I like trying new nail polish, but there are a few brands that over the years truly stole my heart. And no… they are not only high end brands!
In fact, there are two very budget proof nail polish brands that are part of my favorites: Barry M and Catrice. But most of my favorite brands are true nail polish specific brands. So brands that do not really do any other make up, but focus on making nail polishes. These types of brands tend to be a tad more expensive, or less easily accessible, but I find that they are well worth the hunt and price tag. Below I will explain to you what I like about the brand and show you three of my favorite colors from each brand.
Barry M Gelly Hi-shine Nail Paint in Blue Grape
Barry M Textured Nail Paint in Kingsland Road
Barry M Matte Nail Paint in Espresso
Barry M does some fabulous nail polishes. Especially their Gelly Hi-Shine line is a stunning line of nail polishes that also has a really good color selection. It is also very affordable: around 4 pounds a piece, with plenty of sales on at Boots or Superdrug. I always pick up a few whenever I am in the UK. Why I like them so much? Great colors, good lasting power and a brush that is really easy to use.
Catrice Million Styles Million Dollar Baby
Catrice Coolibri Virgin Forest
Catrice Thrilling Me Softly Discreet
From Catrice, I particularly like their limited edition nail polishes. Ever since they changed the formula and the brush however, I haven’t been too thrilled about the brand. Prices go up, but quality has been sacrificed. I remember these costing no more than 2.50 a pop and so I have hung on to most of my old Catrice collection, as I liked that better. They do have some interesting shades that are part of LEs which is why I tend to favor them. My favorite all time glitter top coat is from the Million Styles Collection and one of my favorite neutrals and toe nail shades are also from older limited editions.
OPI Don’t Bossanova me Around
OPI Mariah Carey The Impossible
OPI Every Month is Octoberfest
My all time favorite nail polish brand? OPI! No doubt about it. I have quite a few of them by now and even though I no longer purchase shades from their regular collection, it is what made me fell in love in the first place. These polishes last the longest on my nails, I love their shade range and innovative collection and overall I have only found 2 polishes that I didn’t like from them. Shown above is one of my favorite neutrals, my favorite ‘innovative’ idea: liquid sand and my favorite vampy red nail polish.
China Glaze Bing Cherry
China Glaze For Audrey
China Glaze Strawberry Fields
It’s a shame that China Glaze isn’t readily available in stores. Apart from OPI polishes, these tend to stay the longest on my nails and I love their brush too. I don’t find their collections as interesting as OPI which is why it isn’t my ultimate favorite, but I think that might be because I can go and check out OPI in stores. My favorite China Glaze polishes are cult favorite For Audrey, one of my favorite straight up reds: Bing Cherry and the prettiest summery pink shade you will ever find in a nail polish.
Essie After School Boy Blazer
Essie Cute as a Button
Essie Coat Azure
Finally there is Essie. Essie is a great brand, but I have only gotten real access to it for a short while. I find that the cheaper, drugstore version of this (which is on sale mostly where I live) has not as great a quality as the salon versions, but it still works a charm. When it comes to neutrals Essie is usually your gal, but I like a few of their more out there colors. After School Boy Blazer is the best blackened blue you will ever find. Cute as a Button is the best coral shade I own and one of my favorite blues is Coat Azure which came in a spring collection set.
What are your favorite nail polish brands?