9 best nail varnishes for summer

Top off your tan with one of this season's hottest nail shades

Picture: criminailart.com (Picture: criminailart.com)

We’ve tried tens of polishes in summery brights and pretty nudes to bring you our seasonal edit. All of these are great-quality products that brush on smoothly, look flawless and streak-free when painted, and only need a couple of coats to transform your nails (some look fab with just one).

1. Models Own in Cocktail Hour: £4.99, modelsownit.com

You can't beat fluro shades on suntanned fingers and toes and Models Own has designed this collection specifically to show off your holiday hue. This super-bright (and we're talking really bright) coral only needs one coat, but if you want a really intense hue, then go for two.

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2. Rimmel 60 Seconds Super Shine by Rita Ora in Peachella 408: £2.99, superdrug.com

This polish from girl-of-the-moment Rita Ora has a fun floral-decorated lid. Inside, the pretty peachy shade is fast-drying, has an easy-to-use, extra-wide brush and is brilliant value for money.

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3. Gel Effect in Old Park Lane: £15, nailsinc.com

If you like the gel-effect look but not the hassle of UV lamp application and the tricky removal, then this high-shine, ultra-gloss gel effect polish is for you. With an effortless glide-on application (thanks to the extra-wide brush), plumping technology to level out imperfections and extra pigment for full-on coverage, this polish gives you a salon manicure at home, at a fraction of the cost.

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4. Dolce & Gabbana The Nail Lacquer in Jaipur Blue: £20, harrods.com

Blue has been this year's hottest shade, and this beautiful bluebell colour is perfect for summery nails. Dolce & Gabbana has redesigned the brushes on its polishes and it shows - this one was super-easy. to apply That, plus the unusual shade, makes this one worth forking out for.

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5. Michael Kors Nail Lacquer in Audition: £15.50, escentual.com

This coral shade is not as in-your-face bright as some of the polishes out there at the moment so is ideal for anyone looking for something a few notches down from fluorescent (my mum was a big fan). Apply two coats for a grown-up colour that looks great with a tan.

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6. Nails in Pirouette: £5, topshop.com

If you like your nails with just a hint of pink, this is the one to go for. The finished effect after two coats is an ultra-soft, bridal pink with a modern, glossy edge.

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7. Bobbi Brown Nail Polish in Naked: £12.50, houseoffraser.co.uk

Delightfully matt, this nearly nude French manicure shade gives a mere hint of colour for understated nails. Long-lasting and hardwearing, you easily get several days out of this polish before nails start chipping.

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8. BD Trade Secrets Nail Polish in Dizzy Days: £3.99, tesco.com

The hint of iridescence in this soft salmon pink is normally a finish reserved for the under 10s, but I rather like its retro nod to the late 80s – and it looks super-pretty with tanned toes. Apply two to three coats to get a reasonable level of opacity.

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9. Sculpture Gel Nail Polish in Free Spirit: £6.45, biogel.co.uk

This is a pretty pastel coral – not quite orange, but not quite pink – has been given a slight neon twist in this ultra-flattering shade. It has the glossy, pristine look of a gel but without all the faff taking it off.

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Verdict:

If you’re after something delicate, we love Rimmel's Peachella. D&G Jaipur Blue is one of this season's prettiest blues, but far and away the hottest shade this summer is Models Own fluro Cocktail Hour.