Choosing the best nail polishes

Selecting the ideal nail polish can completely change the way you look and add the ideal finishing touch to your nails. It’s critical to know what to look for when selecting the ideal polish for your needs because there are a lot of options available. The right product can make all the difference, whether your goal is a trendy, bold finish or something classic and elegant.

First, think about the nail polish’s formula. While some polishes concentrate on providing a high sheen, others are made to last longer and resist chipping. Look for long-wearing or gel polishes if you want your nails to look beautiful for several days. Regular formulas might be your best option if you’re looking for a quick and simple application.

Next, consider your preferred finish and color. The options are endless, ranging from matte nudes to glossy reds. When choosing shades, take your personal style and wardrobe into account. Additionally, remember to look for any unique features that can improve the health of your nails, such as quick-dry formulas or additional vitamins.

Ultimately, quality counts. Purchasing a high-quality brand of nail polish will guarantee that the product applies evenly, dries quickly, and doesn’t harm your nails. You can discover the best solutions available and maintain the salon-quality appearance of your nails by reading reviews and conducting some research.

How to choose a varnish

It is practically impossible to find "no-name" gel varnishes on the shelves; the majority of gel varnishes are made by well-known brands. Varnish is a different story. There are dozens of "no-name" brands available in stores, and it can be challenging to find "the one."

To make sure that a bottle you’ve opened at home doesn’t let you down:

• ask the seller for a swatch. In the cosmetics department at home around the corner, you will most likely be refused – they do not practice such things there. In professional stores, as well as in large cosmetic chains, they make swatches so that the buyer can see the color not only through the glass of the bottle. Be sure to find out how many layers were applied during the swatching – the more pigment, the fewer layers will have to be applied;
• examine the brush. Again, not everywhere they allow you to open nail polishes, but try to see what the brush looks like. It should be of medium length – not touching the bottom of the bottle, but not rubbing against the neck. Also check for protruding hairs, because they will interfere with application and stain the skin. It is difficult to pick up the product with too thick brushes, and sparsely filled ones are also bad;
• check the consistency. It should also be medium – not water, but not like gel polish. Liquid ones lay in stripes and leave bald spots, thick ones are difficult to distribute, leave unevenness, bumps;
• look at the composition. Brands that value their reputation have long abandoned the most harmful components and are constantly changing the composition for the better, trying to replace dangerous components with less dangerous ones. Refuse to buy if you see toluene in the composition – a solvent with a high degree of allergenicity, formaldehyde – a dangerous component that accumulates in the body and causes at least allergies, at most – diseases of the internal organs. If possible, buy products of the "free" category – these are products made without the use of hazardous components. Almost all manufacturers indicate their affiliation with the "free" category on the label. Also look at the products that we reviewed below – they are all safe.

What types of nail polishes are there

The only restrictions on the variety of polishes available today are the manufacturers’ imaginations; thanks to advancements in technology, nearly any color and texture can be produced.

The most popular varieties of nail polishes are:

• Glossy. This is a classic varnish coating that gives an even glossy shine;

• Pearl. These are polishes with a slight shimmer in the light. By the way, an incorrectly selected pearlescent polish can visually age the skin – this happens with metallic colors. And also, mother-of-pearl emphasizes all the flaws of the nail, so it is recommended to use it for girls who can boast of perfect nails;

• Matte. This polish is devoid of gloss after drying. Manicure with matte nail polish turns out to be muted, cozy;

• Transparent. Colorless nail polish. Used to give the nail plate a well-groomed look and shine;

• With glitter. These are polishes with large shiny particles;

• With shimmer. Shimmer polishes, unlike glitter polishes, contain finer-ground shiny particles;

• Metallic. Create the effect of metallic spraying. Available in both standard metallic shades – gold, silver, and unusual ones – red, green;

• Thermo varnish. Such a polish changes color depending on the temperature. For example, in winter, outside, as the toes cool down, such a polish will gradually change color from the tips to a contrasting one, creating a beautiful natural gradient;

• Craquelure. Craquelure is a polish that cracks as it dries. Usually, nail polish with a craquelure effect is applied to a nail already painted in a contrasting color, so that the result is more expressive;

• Fluorescent. Lacquer that glows under ultraviolet rays;

• Magnetic varnish. Nail polish with metal particles in the composition, which, when exposed to a special magnet, line up into a pattern;

• With additional effects. This is a general group for varnishes with different additives – kamifubuki, inclusions for the effect of a quail egg, figured fragments. Every year, manufacturers offer more and more design options.

Application tips

You can apply varnish to your nails at home; if you take your time and listen to the advice, you’ll get a nice manicure. What matters most is to follow these suggestions:

• dry all layers well. Even if the label says – "dries in 60 seconds", at least 10 minutes should pass for complete hardening. Try not to touch anything during this time and not to do important things – you will have to redo the manicure longer;
• use a base under the varnish. There are two weighty arguments in favor of the base. First – it evens out the nail and allows you to apply a perfectly even layer of coating. The second one protects the plate from the effects of dyes. Pigments are absorbed into the nail and even after removing the varnish with a product, a shade remains on the nails. This often happens with highly pigmented colors – rich blue, red, dark green;
• before applying the coating, degrease the plate with a special product. The degreaser will prepare the nails for varnish – it will remove small particles of dust, grease and water;
• don"t forget about the fixer. The top coat for varnish allows the manicure to remain in its original form longer, and also protects the coating from external influences.

Let’s begin with a review of the top nail polishes. Seven manufacturers in varying price ranges have been chosen, and they will be assessed using the following standards:

• safety category – does the manufacturer classify its products as "free", has it excluded formaldehyde, toluene, parabens;
• palette – number of colors;
• varnish density and pigment saturation;
• brush;
• durability – based on customer reviews;
• cost per bottle.

We’ll compare the two varnishes at the end to determine which is superior.

Zoya

The Zoya brand is known for producing safe and long-lasting nail care products. The producer is in the "premium" market sector.

The varnishes offered by the company are "vegan friendly and cruelty free." This indicates that the mixture is free of natural ingredients, has not been subjected to animal testing, and does not contain formaldehyde, camphor, toluene, dibutyl phthalate, a plasticizer, or formaldehyde resins.

The enormous palette is updated frequently. As of the time of writing, the official Zoya website in Russia featured over 700 shades. Classic single-color coatings are available, along with mother-of-pearl, glitter, and matte finishes. Released in limited quantities in line with current fashion trends.

Even when applied in a single layer, the varnishes’ pigmentation is uniform. It will be necessary to apply light shades twice, particularly when using mother-of-pearl, as some areas will still have stripes. A medium-thickness brush with uniform, non-stick hairs. It has a good "fan" opening.

However, based on customer reviews, the durability is lacking significantly—tips wear off after three to five days, requiring a fresh coating.

One bottle costs approximately 660 rubles, depending on how well-liked the shade and collection are. Promotions and discounts are frequently available on the brand’s official website; the options you like can be purchased for 500–530 rubles.

Sophin

The Sophin brand offers safe nail polishes; its manufacturing facilities are in Germany and France. World safety standards serve as the company’s guide, and parabens, formaldehyde, toluene, camphor, and dibutyl phthalate are all excluded from its products. The products don’t contain any ingredients derived from animals and aren’t tested on them either.

Though the palette isn’t as large as Zoya’s, fashionable shades are consistently offered. On the official website of the manufacturer, approximately 150 distinct colors and textures are available: matte, glossy, glitter, and classic. The nail polishes in the "gellak" series, which have a gel effect, are offered separately.

There are no streaks or stripes left behind as the polish applies flawlessly in two layers. The brush has an even cut and is comfortable, free of hairs sticking out. It appears excessively thin at first, but there are no issues when using it.

According to reviews, durability ranges from three to six days, depending on lifestyle. Customers of Sophin recommend applying with a fixer because it prolongs the wear time.

Price per bottle ranges from 280 to 400 rubles.

OPI

Varnish is also produced by a well-known foreign company that specializes in nail products. With no formaldehyde or toluene, the composition is safe.

There are more than 300 shades in the palette. updated often with fresh collections that follow the newest trends in fashion. There are mother-of-pearl, glitter, semi-matte, and single-color glossy varnishes.

The brush is not very thick, but it is fairly long. Girls also observe that using a brush to apply the product to their nails is convenient. The cut is even: since OPI is one of the most commonly counterfeited brands, be sure you have an authentic OPI brush in front of you if you happen to come across a strange brush.

You must apply the dye in two layers for an even color; this will result in a uniform layer devoid of stripes. According to customers, durability only lasts two to three days, not commensurate with the price. Nevertheless, the girls in every review failed to use the base and fixer, which extends the coating’s wear period and durability.

The bottle costs between 400 and 1000 rubles. The popularity of the shade and the retail location have an impact on the final cost.

A few things to think about when selecting the best nail polishes are formula quality, color payoff, and durability. Choose brands that provide a variety of vivid and durable shades, as well as easy-to-apply formulas devoid of hazardous ingredients. You can select a nail polish that improves your manicure and pedicure and keeps your nails looking fashionable and new for an extended period of time by concentrating on these essential components.

ORLY

Pregnant and nursing women, as well as allergy sufferers, are permitted to use Orly varnishes. The mixture is all natural and free of harmful substances. In actuality, formaldehyde is rarely found in the goods of foreign businesses, whether they are American or German, because it is illegal there. Additionally, toluene, camphor, xylene, and animal products are absent from ORLY varnishes.

The palette has more than 200 shades, which is impressive. Trendy tones are constantly added to the assortment. Though it is fairly long, the brush is comfortable. According to the manufacturer, there are 600 hairs in each brush.

Apply the varnish in two layers for an even color; this will prevent stains and stripes. Three to four days is not the longest durability.

Price: between 700 and 1000 rubles.

Logona

The company Logona makes organic cosmetics. Among the products in the brand’s assortment is a line of safe nail polishes.

The first-ever certificate attesting to the natural origin of varnish products was given to Logona. The ingredients list is impressive: talc, silicon dioxide, plant glycerin, mica, tin oxide, water, ethyl lactate, bioethanol, and natural dyes.

Nevertheless, the palette is small—just five shades. A kind of payback for an entirely secure, natural makeup. The lack of brand representation and the near-impossibility of finding varnishes in Russia are further disadvantages. Option: Place an order via the manufacturer’s official website from Germany.

Only after applying two layers will the color be consistent. 2-3 days of resistance.

The bottle costs approximately 15 euros, or 1,200 rubles.

Maybelline New York

The professional affiliation of all the aforementioned brands influences the product’s ultimate cost. Think about the assortment of Maybelline New York "Colorama" varnishes to strike a balance between the opportunities for the "mass market" and the "premium" of the segment.

Since the manufacturer has been using formaldehyde in their products’ production for a long time, there is a lot of controversy surrounding this brand. Formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalate—three of the most hazardous ingredients—have been removed from the mixture as of late. Considering that the composition still contains the fewest but most dangerous ingredients, the manufacturer does not view itself as being in the free category.

Of course, Maybelline cannot be compared to brands like OPI or Zoya in terms of safety, but the Colorama collection has other benefits like durability. If all the instructions are followed—apply base and fixer, wear gloves when near water, and attempt to shield the nails from mechanical impact—the varnish will stay on the nails for five days.

The colors have a pleasing density; even "problematic" colors like red, black, and white are applied evenly in a single layer. A hundred or so popular shades make up the palette, which is continuously updated to reflect changing trends.

Maybelline’s primary benefit is its cost. A bottle costs between 150 and 250 rubles.

Dance Legend

An additional inexpensive item well-known for its stamping paints. The line also includes nail polishes. Although formaldehyde and its resins, toluene, and camphor are not included in the composition, the manufacturer does not label their polishes as free.

There are over a thousand options in the palette, and seasonal collections are available as well. Light, delicate pink and blue hues with a hint of shimmer are featured in the "Binary Spring 2020" series.

There are matte, cat’s eye, classic, translucent, and craquelure polishes. They are typically applied in exactly two layers; additional application is not necessary. There are no complaints regarding the brush; it is easy to paint with and the cut is even, free of protruding hairs.

Depending on the type of polish, durability varies. Regular: 4–7 days without glitter; up to 10 days with glitter.

Price range: 150–250 rubles.

In summary, low durability indicators are a "pay" for polishes with a safe composition. Reviews of Zoya, OPI, and ORLY show that the more innocuous the components, the more vulnerable they are to outside forces. Take a closer look at Dance Legend, a low-cost brand, and Zoya if you prefer to make your selections from a big catalog. Maybelline New York is a good option for young women who want to pay a fair price for a reasonably durable product, even though it has some compositional flaws.

Since no one has yet eliminated the unique qualities of the body and nail plates, we generally advise trying a few of the brands mentioned in order to establish your own judgment and select a favorite.

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Feature	Description
Formula	Look for nail polishes with a smooth, streak-free formula that applies evenly and dries quickly.
Color Range	Choose brands that offer a wide variety of colors to suit different preferences and occasions.
Durability	Opt for polishes that are known for their long-lasting wear to avoid frequent touch-ups.
Finish	Consider if you prefer a glossy, matte, or glitter finish, depending on the look you want to achieve.
Brand Reputation	Select products from well-reviewed brands that are known for their quality and safety.
Price	Find a balance between cost and quality; expensive doesn"t always mean better, but cheap may lack performance.

A flawless manicure or pedicure can be achieved by selecting the appropriate nail polish. With so many options, it’s critical to take durability, color, and finish into account in order to select the polish that best matches your needs and aesthetic.

Select premium brands that are renowned for their vibrant colors and long-lasting formulas. This lessens the need for frequent touch-ups by guaranteeing that your nails will look fantastic and retain their polish for a longer amount of time.

Consider your preferred finish as well. Selecting the appropriate finish can enhance your overall appearance and align with your personal style, whether you prefer a glossy shine, matte effect, or something in between.

In the end, the greatest nail polish is the one that gives you a sense of self-worth and happiness. Try out various hues and textures to see what suits you the best, and have fun while expressing your individual style with your nails.

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