What are your favorite long-wear drug store polish brands? I’ve been using the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel lately and I like it so far. I use those base and top coats too. This color is Leaf Me Be. I kind of destroyed my nails with press ons and want to get back into just putting regular polish on them myself. It’s cheaper and I can change it whenever I want to! Let me know what you think 🙂
by Winter-Lilac
15 Comments
Hands down Orly and second best is Essie. Essie is more readily available.
i think polish is only half of the reason why they stay, the other half is good prep stuff!! i use opi nail envy or ella + mila nail hardener and the essie gel couture top coat!! and i swear all my polishes last at least 5 days! (i really only need 5/6 days max out of them because i change my mani every 5/6 days) i like essie, china glaze , and olive and june!! esp olive and june!! i also am trying a new brand from cvs called pop arazzi right now and so far i really enjoy it! good luck <3
Oh, I recently bought a bottle of that shade myself! :3 It looks beautiful on you.
I’ve found that Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure is also really nice and durable! So far I have tried Gilty Party, Black and Blue, and Legally Bronze.
people seem to have mixed opinions on this 😅 but essie is definitely my go-to drugstore brand, i only have their original formula and a few of their “special effects” collection and it works great for me. some people really prefer the gel effects line but i’ve never tried it so can’t comment lol. OPI i’ll snag if i catch ones i like at marshall’s or tj maxx, and i like orly’s cremes fine (haven’t tried any of their other formulas), but i’ve only seen them in person once or twice at marshall’s lol no one else around me seems to carry them
as far as base and top coats go, i bought holo taco’s “starter collection” a few years ago and don’t feel a need to try drugstore alternatives until i finish those bottles 😅 but i like salon perfect’s glitter gloss top coat which i bought for $5 at walmart lol
I like the regular line of Essie. They have a great selection of colours, and I enjoy their brush. Also tried their fast drying Expressie and gel-like Gel Couture lines. The Expressie brush confused me in the beginning a bit, but the polish does indeed dry fast and lasts well. The Gel Couture is kinda a disappointing, since their colour polishes won’t last on me… the top coat from Gel Couture is the 🐐 though. Gets a bit thick, but nothing a little thinner can’t fix.
Revlon is good.
Tbh drug store polish has gotten so expensive now I don’t see a point in getting it. I’ve seen Essie at target for like $13 dollars so might as well go for Cirque or ILNP who have similar prices
my favorite is Orly (TJMaxx and Marshall’s for discount ones), Essie (i’ve found $3 ones at Ocean State Job Lots if you have one of those nearby), and Sally Hansen Insta-Dri line.
I have found Sally Hansen Xtreme wear works really well for nail art and stamping for me. I love SH double duty and insta-dri top coats too.
Essie’s regular line is generally pretty great.
And OPI has some great stuff, liquid leather is still my favorite 1-coat black.
Barry M in the UK is not a bad shout. They do experiment and release some fun stuff every now and again
i like the june and olive nail polish! it’s cheaper and it has amazing pigment. doesn’t cheap badly either! i love their top coat especially for plain nails.
I really miss Sinful polishes. Great range at a great price point.
Essie! I get mine at CVS and I get a free one every 4 bottles I think. I love how many vibrant color options they have now. Sally Hansen is pretty good and I find them to have a consistent quality. And for a reeeeal bargain I actually like LA Girl and LA Colors for the price. It’s not amazing but it’s great for what it is. Also CVS’s poparazzi brand is good but ONLY in the quick dry formula, or else it basically never dries. My go to base coat is OPI nature strong and my favorite top coat will forever be seche vite. With those two and proper prep almost any nail polish can last at least a week with no chips in my experience.
I love both Sally Hansen and Essie. I tend to buy Sally Hansen more frequently though because it’s on sale more often 🤭 I love their Miracle Gel line and the ‘Good Kind Pure’. That’s probably my favorite. The Expressive & insta-dri lines do dry very quickly as advertised. But again I prefer Insta-dri over Expressive– more color options, more fun. I’ve tried a few OPI colors but they don’t last long on me. I was so disappointed.
I like a lot of the LA Colors polishes for the price. Especially their Diamond Crush line if you like glitters. But my favorite bang for your buck polish is LynBDesigns when she has her 50% off sales. There’s one coming up in a few days.