4 Best Nail Polishes
Overall Winner
Essie Nail Color ($8, over 200 shades; drugstores, amazon.com)
This standout pulled top points for shine and also did well in five other categories. "It was easy to apply and looked shiny and bright throughout the time I wore it," said a volunteer. Our manicurist gave it perfect scores for how evenly it went on, while many women loved that it came off easily without staining their nails.
Related: Beauty Treatments: When to DIY and When to Go Pro
Longest Lasting
Maybelline New York Color Show ($4, 30 shades; amazon.com)
Volunteers reported that this bargain pick stayed put for an impressive six and a half days on average. "I'm very hard on my hands - gardening, playing sports, scrubbing pots - but the polish stayed perfectly on my nails as if it were the first day," raved one.
Quickest-Drying
OPI Nail Lacquer ($9, over 200 shades; amazon.com)
This speed demon was way ahead of the competition when it came to drying time, besting the runner-up by almost a minute and a half on average. Women also loved the classic red shade Big Apple Red, one of the brand's best sellers.
Related: Best Anti-Aging Makeup
Most Chip-Proof
CoverGirl Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss ($5.50, 45 shades; amazon.com)
In-lab and at-home testers rated this newbie - the only winner with a built-in base and top coat - best chip-defier, and its staying power nearly matched Maybelline's: "It was long-lasting and never chipped," noted one pleased tester.
What's your favorite nail polish? Let us know in the comments!
--by Good Housekeeping Research Institute
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