The 17 Best Drugstore Nail Polishes of 2023

Ahead, find the best drugstore nail polishes for freshening up your digits.

We conducted hours of research on the best drugstore nail polishes, evaluating brands on formula ingredients, colors and shades available, finish, and ease of application. We also took into consideration how long a polish lasts, and whether or not it chips easily. With expert recommendations from a nail technician and artist, we considered dozens of formulas. Insight from Byrdie editors and our knowledge of fan-favorites helped us land on these best in show.

From opaques and sheers to glitters and metallics, there are some seriously stunning shades to choose from. And thanks to the Internet, you don’t even have to go to an actual store.

Treating yourself to a spa manicure is great once in a while. But if you’re anything like us, you fall back on DIY mani-pedis more often than not. Taking your time and carefully gliding your favorite color over your nail beds can be a relaxing activity. It can also save you a chunk of change—especially if you reach for a wallet-friendly polish from the drugstore. Nail artist Syreeta Aaron says, “It’s easy to get confused with what to purchase when you have phrases like ‘no-chip,’ ‘lasting color,’ ‘non-toxic,’ ‘quick-drying,’ etc.”

What to Look For

Best Overall

OPI Nail Lacquer

4.8

Ulta Beauty

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What We Like

• Dries quickly

• Smooth application

• Used in nail salons

What We Don’t Like

• Some shades oxidize quickly

When it comes to high-quality nail polish, OPI reigns supreme. The OG brand’s classic formula goes on smooth, dries fast, and lasts a solid week. This lacquer is so good, it’s one of the few drugstore brands widely used at nail salons.

Not only that, but it comes in every color under the sun. We’re talking vivids, neutrals, basics, bolds, shimmeries, nudes—you name it—all cleverly named with cheeky phrases and puns that make us giggle.

Price at time of publish: $11

Finish: Glossy | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best Budget

L.A. Colors Color Last

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What We Like

• Great color payoff

• Long-lasting

• Dries quickly

What We Don’t Like

• Can be streaky

This budget-friendly nail polish has a wide, robust brush that covers your entire nail bed with a coat of lacquer in a single swipe. For only a couple bucks, you can treat yourself to a show-stopping DIY manicure that lasts up to ten days—now that’s what we call self-care!

Price at time of publish: $6

Finish: Glossy | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Best Quick-Drying

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Color

4.6

Walmart

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What We Like

• Two-in-one formula

• Dries in a minute

• Contoured brush

What We Don’t Like

• Chips easily

Who has time to wait a half-hour or more for their nails to dry? Not us. Made for folks on the fly, Sally Hansen’s Insta-Dri polish is a two-in-one polish and top coat that dries in a minute flat.

Price at time of publish: $7

Finish: Glossy, metallic, shimmery | Size: 0.3 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

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Best Chip-Resistant

China Glaze Nail Lacquer with Hardeners

Sally Beauty

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What We Like

• Wide brush

• Great color payoff

• Contains hardeners

What We Don’t Like

• May stain nails

China Glaze is a tried-and-true drugstore nail polish brand. Thanks to a blend of hardening polymers and resins, you can count on this lacquer to resist chipping and peeling for several days.

Price at time of publish: $10

Finish: Glossy, glittery, shimmery, metallic | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Best All-in-One

CoverGirl Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss

Amazon

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What We Like

• Smooth application

• No top coat needed

• Unique color selection

What We Don’t Like

• Not fast-drying

Reminiscent of Chanel’s iconic Le Vernis bottles but with a much more agreeable price tag, CoverGirl Stay Brilliant is a base coat, nail lacquer, and top coat in one. This multitasking product goes on smooth, delivers a glossy shine, and lasts up to a week. The unique shade range is something to admire too.

Price at time of publish: $7

Finish: Glossy | Size: 0.4 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

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Best Sheer

Cirque Colors Nail Polish

Amazon

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What We Like

• Subtle colors

• Long-lasting

• Formaldehyde-free

What We Don’t Like

• Requires up to three coats

Cirque Colors makes our favorite affordable sheer polish. The translucent shade selection ranges from soft peach and pinky nude to pearlescent white and even a semi-transparent blue.

Price at time of publish: $13

Finish: Sheer glossy | Size: 0.4 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Best Matte

Sinful Colors Sheer Matte Nail Polish

Bed Bath & Beyond

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What We Like

• Statement colors

• Chip-resistant

• Long-lasting

What We Don’t Like

• Can be streaky

For a DIY matte manicure, go with Sinful Colors. This shine-free nail polish comes in several highly pigmented statement hues, like flamingo pink, burnt orange, and icy turquoise. What’s more, the reliable formula resists chipping for a full week.

Finish: Matte | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Best Glittery

LeChat Dare to Wear Nail Lacquer

Amazon

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What We Like

• Excellent color selection

• Long-lasting

What We Don’t Like

• Not fast-drying

Aaron stands behind LeChat, and if you’re craving a little glitz, this is the brand to get. The glittery color selection includes options with super-fine shimmery pigments and large reflective particles. They’re great on their own or as a glammed-up top coat over opaque nail polish.

Price at time of publish: $9

Finish: Glittery, shimmery | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

What Our Experts Say

“To make things simple, purchase a base coat in the color of your choice, and for a fast-drying process, a quick-dry to put on top.”—Syreeta Aaron, Nail Artist

Best Color Selection

Essie Expressie Quick-Dry Nail Polish

Amazon

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What We Like

• Unique shade range

• Dries quickly

• No top coat needed

What We Don’t Like

• Chips easily

Just when you think there couldn’t possibly be any uncharted nail polish colors, Essie comes out with a new collection that blows us all away. Known for its unbeatable shade selection, you’ll find hues ranging from teddy-bear brown to almost-black burgundy to retro greenish-yellow inspired by 1970s kitchen appliances. The brand’s Expressie line sweetens the deal even further with a quick-dry formula that doesn’t require a top coat.

Price at time of publish: $10

Finish: Glossy, shimmery | Size: 0.3 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Best Neon

Nails Inc. Naked in Neon Nail Polish

Sally Beauty

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What We Like

• Wide brush

• Smooth application

• Great color payoff

What We Don’t Like

• Not fast-drying

Neon is surprisingly versatile, and it can really liven up an at-home manicure. If you love the day-glow look, pick up a bottle of Nails Inc. polish. The collection includes supersonic yellow, hot orange, and a brighter, bolder Barbie pink. This lacquer goes on smooth and requires minimal strokes, thanks to the wide brush and highly pigmented formula.

Price at time of publish: $22

Finish: Semi-matte | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Best Plant-Based

Nailtopia Plant-Based Bio-Sourced Chip-Free Nail Lacquer

Ulta

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What We Like

• Strengthening

• Chip-resistant

• Unique color selection

What We Don’t Like

• May stain nails

If you’re partial to plant-based products, go with Nailtopia. This bio-sourced vegan nail polish contains 85 percent naturally derived ingredients. The strengthening, chip-resistant formula is available in nearly 70 shades. Standout colors include avocado green, creamy periwinkle, mustard yellow, and almost-white pastel pink.

Price at time of publish: $10

Finish: Glossy, shimmery | Size: 0.4 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Best Clean

Ella+Mila ELITE Collection Nail Polish

Amazon

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What We Like

• PETA-certified

• Formaldehyde-free

• Chip-resistant

What We Don’t Like

• Not fast-drying

If you prefer clean beauty products, Ella+Mila Nail polish was made for you. The Elite Collection is totally vegan and PETA-certified as cruelty-free. Not only that, but the chip-resistant formula is free of acetone, formaldehyde, parabens, and sulfates.

Price at time of publish: $11

Finish: Glossy | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

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Best Breathable

Orly Breathable Treatment + Color

Ulta Beauty

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What We Like

• Permeable

• Wide brush

• No top coat needed

What We Don’t Like

• Multiple coats for full color

Orly’s breathable nail polish line is permeable, meaning air can pass through the paint. We also appreciate that this all-in-one formula triples as a base coat, lacquer, and top coat. What’s more, the 600-bristle brush makes it easy to apply with fewer strokes.

Price at time of publish: $11

Finish: Glossy, glittery | Size: 0.6 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Best Gel

Essie Gel Couture Longwear Nail Polish

Amazon

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What We Like

• No UV-lamp needed

• Long-lasting

• Easy to remove

What We Don’t Like

• Requires gel top coat

DIY shellac manicures are more accessible than ever, thanks to brands like Essie that make affordable gel polishes. The Gel Couture line comes in a bunch of lovely colors you’ll be happy to rock for the full two weeks.

You don’t even need a UV lamp to cure the lacquer. Just swipe on a layer of the Gel Couture Top Coat, and you’re good to go. Best of all, it comes off like regular nail polish—no scraping or soaking needed.

Price at time of publish: $13

Finish: Glossy | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

The 17 Best Top Coats of 2023

Best Top Coat

Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

4.8

JcPenny

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What We Like

• Dries quickly

• Long-lasting

• Expert-recommended

What We Don’t Like

• Consistency changes quickly

“I’ve said it time and time again, this is the one top coat I think everyone should keep on hand,” says Doan. “The formula is thick enough to where it will self-level any small divots, and it’s super fast-drying. I’ve gotten about 22 days of non-chip wear with this before, so I’m very impressed every time.”

Price at time of publish: $11