15 Best Longest-Lasting No-Chip Nail Polishes 2022

Photo-Illustration: Courtesy the retailers

Confession: The last time I can recall having bare nails was when I was a 5-year-old. When I was 6, my mom painted my tiny nails before a ballet recital, and they haven’t been bare since. The shade was Essie’s Ballet Slippers (great choice, Mom).

I am a nail-polish obsessive and if you do the math, I’ve been obsessed for almost two decades. I’ve had more drunken nail-polish-shopping binges than I care to admit. At home, I wear rubber gloves for more than just washing dishes for fear of ruining my mani. Last week, my manicurist staged an actual intervention: She told me I needed a breather and sent me home with naked nails.

So you can trust me when I say that I’ve tried every polish on the market. and these are the ones I know won’t let me down. I also rounded up top-rated, no-chip polishes with some of the best feedback from reviewers, so read on for my list, broken down by how long each polish lasts.

The Best Long-Lasting Nail Polish, Hands Down

The Shiniest Long-Lasting Nail Polish

BUTTER LONDON Patent Shine 10X Lacquer

$18

Butter London claims their new formula has ingredients that promote healthier, stronger, and brighter nails, and I believe them. This has lasted me up to ten days with no signs of chipping and lots of shine. Some polishes leave my nails stained or yellowed, but not this one.

$18

at Amazon

Buy

$18

at QVC

Buy

The Best Long-Lasting Drugstore Nail Polish

The Best Glittery Long-Lasting Nail Polish

The Most Colorful Long-Lasting Nail Polish

The Best Neutral Nail Polish You Won’t Have to Touch Up

OPI Soft Shades Nail Lacquer Collection

$11

Photo: Hudson Cuneo

I can always count on OPI’s Bubble Bath to stay intact for days. This is the color I use when traveling, because I won’t have to worry about having to touch it up. Just two thin layers will give your nails a nice natural sheen without bubbles or cracks. Some darker OPI polishes chip at the two day mark, but the lighter, sheer shades tend to have longer lifespans.

$11

at Amazon

Buy

From
$11

at Target

Buy

The Best Long-Lasting Nail Polish That Feels Like a Gel

The Best Long-Lasting Red Polish

Smith & Cult Nail Lacquer – Lovers Creep

$18

This brand, developed by Hard Candy founder Dineh Mohajer, has recently won my love and trust. I got a free sample manicure at a department store and was skeptical at first, but after seven days, my nails were still perfect. Since then, Lovers Creep has been my go-to deep-red polish. Not only is the branding brilliant (I love the quirky color names and the unique hammered metal bottle tops), but the formula is free of harsh chemicals. Eighteen dollars is a lot, but it’s worth it.

$18

at Bluemercury

Buy

The Best Sheer Nail Polish to Wear for a Week

JINSOON Pixie Sheer Gloss

$18

Although this polish doesn’t claim to be gel-like, it can last up to seven days with two to three coats. It also dries fairly quickly. Pixie is a perfect light-pink gloss that doesn’t crack after a few days of wear. What’s great about Jin Soon polishes is that they’re free of harsh chemicals, have UV filter protection, and are not tested on animals. Jin Soon polishes are also now 10-free, meaning that they are free of formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, formaldehyde resin, camphor, xylene, ethyl tosylamide, triphenyl phosphate, parabens, and lead.

$18

at Amazon

Buy

$18

at JINsoon

Buy

The Best Long-Lasting Polish From a Luxury Brand

The Best Long-Lasting Cruelty-Free Polish

ella+mila Nail Polish, Me Collection – My Pool Party

$8

$8

Ella + Mila’s quick-drying and chip-resistant nail polish is opaque and doesn’t require multiple coats — unless you prefer to apply more than one. It’s also vegan, cruelty-free, and 17-free, meaning it’s free of 17 harsh ingredients like formaldehyde and camphor that can be common in some nail-polish formulas. This specific shade has more than 4,000 ratings with a rating of 4.5 out of 5, but if blue isn’t for you, there is no shortage of other equally vibrant colors.

$8

at Amazon

Buy

$7

at Ella + Mili

Buy

Plus a Few More Long-Lasting Favorites From Cut Editors

Cirque Colors Creme Nail Polish

$13

Nail polish obsessives love this black polish. They praise it as even better and richer-looking than Chanel’s Black Satin, the original shade which kicked off the black polish trend in 2006. And you only need one coat. —Kathleen Hou

$13

at Etsy

Buy

Côte Toxin-Free Nail Polish

$18

Like Jin Soon, côte is “10-free” – guaranteed to be free of the ten most toxic ingredients found in polishes. If you hate sparkle, you’ll like this brand’s Farrow and Ball-like approach to matte nail-polish color. —K.H.

$18

at Côte

Buy

Pear Nova One Piece Wonder

$14

These luxurious Black-owned polishes are also 10-free, in addition to cruelty free, and vegan. They apply like a dream, stay just as smooth and chip-free well past the week-mark, and come in unique colors that pop on all skin tones, like this groovy chartreuse that’ll transport you straight to summertime. —Erica Smith

$14

at The Folklore

Buy

$14

at Pear Nova

Buy

This article was originally published November 3rd, 2017, and has been updated throughout. If you buy something through our links, New York may earn an affiliate commission.