The 10 Best summer nail polishes

Technicolor talons in rainbow hues and pretty pastels will brighten your day even when the sun isn’t shining

view gallery VIEW GALLERY

1. Violette Coquette

£12, Lancôme, available nationwide

The brush and formulation ensure a uniform coat of colour in a single stroke and this shade of purple is an unusual and elegant choice.

2. Pink-Silver multi-glitter

£2.99, Barry M, Superdrug and Boots nationwide

The multi-hued tones create a pretty pink with a slight disco finish that's ideal for weekends, and when you let your hair down.

3. Shrimply Devine

£6.95, Sally Hansen, 01233 656366

This promises to last up to 10 days, combining base, top and colour coats, and with a brush designed to cover the nail in one stroke.

4. Early Green

£5, GOSH Cosmetics, 0845 671 0709

Crisp green is a refreshing choice and taps into the season's trend for ice-cream inspired colours. Easy to apply and long lasting.

5. Sassy Pink

£4.99, L'Oreal, available nationwide

A gel-based formula that's designed to glide on, helped by the paddle-shaped brush, to help achieve a smooth, even finish without the expense of a salon visit.

6. Bikini so teeny

£7.99, Essie, Boots and Superdrug nationwide

The finely milled glitter in this icy-blue shade will create a subtle shimmer that lifts the finish from anything too flat. A great colour for tanned toes.

7. Burnished Rouge

£25, Tom Ford, 0870 034 2566

Disciples of red nail polish will have an old faithful shade that they return to. But this luxury number by Tom Ford is shot through with golden shimmer, and will stand up to the full glare of the sun.

8. Holiday

£18, Chanel, 0207 493 3836

You may not want your tan to look orange, but that doesn't mean it should be verboten for nails. This tangy option matches the brand's sheer lip gloss in Calypso.

9. Amchoor

£14, Nars, available nationwide

Designer Thakoon Panichgul's eye for modern and feminine colour is distilled into a long-wearing, high-gloss finish formula.

10. Artful Dodger

£12, Butter London, Harvey Nichols nationwide

A chemical-free polish which gives a shot of colour without being too bright, and hopefully will match the ocean as you paddle through it.

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
News in pictures
World news in pictures
Life & Style blogs

It’s National Work From Home Day today

Plus live in a folly tower and Towcester growth

Where have property prices been reduced most in the UK?

Plus how much you need to earn to rent in London, and new homes figures

Is Rushcliffe the best place for families to live?

Plus where The Apprentices live, house price growth outside London, and househunter numbers

       

ES Rentals

    iJobs Job Widget
    iJobs Fashion

    PHP/ Drupal Developer - £35k - WC

    £30000 - £40000 per annum + BENS: Progressive Recruitment: Drupal Developer A ...

    C# WEB DEVELOPER

    £45000 - £50000 per annum + bens: Progressive Recruitment: C# WEB DEVELOPER Le...

    WPF Developer (C#, VB.Net) - North East - 6 Months

    £240 - £260 per day: Progressive Recruitment: WPF Developer (C#, VB.Net) North...

    KS2 PPA teacher

    £85 - £120 per day: Randstad Education Cheshire: KS2 teacher needed to do PPA ...

    Day In a Page

    The price of pacifism: Refusing to go to war is finally being recognised as a brave act

    The price of pacifism

    From the Second World War refusenik to the 19-year-old Israeli, Holly Williams talks to five people who risked shame and suffering to take a stand as conscientious objector.
    'It was mass hysteria': Jason Isaacs on groupies, theatre bores and snogging James Bond

    Jason Isaacs: Groupies, theatre bores and James Bond

    To millions, Jason Isaacs is one of Harry Potter's arch enemies – but his wife prefers him as a Scottish TV detective.
    Notes from a small island: Is Sealand an independent 'micronation' or an illegal fortress?

    Sealand: 'Micronation' or illegal fortress?

    Thomas Hodgkinson spent a week at the tiny platform off the Suffolk coast to find out.
    Not a bad bone: Mark Hix cooks with cutlets and ribs

    Mark Hix cooks with cutlets and ribs

    If you ignore cutlets and ribs, you'll risk missing out on some delicious and easy meals, says our chef.
    The experts' guide to summer: From getting fit for the beach to recreating that Olympic buzz

    The experts' guide to summer

    From getting fit for the beach to recreating that Olympic buzz
    Sex, drugs and fast cars: The legend of James Hunt has set Hollywood hearts racing

    Legend of James Hunt has set Hollywood hearts racing

    Early glimpses of Ron Howard's film Rush suggest it will portray Hunt as a high-living lothario, with an insatiable appetite for partying.
    Macklemore: 'I don't have moderation when using drugs and alcohol. It was hurting my life'

    Macklemore: 'I don't have moderation'

    The next Vanilla Ice or the next Eminem? Macklemore doesn't have a record contract – but he does have the UK's biggest-selling single of the year.
    Don't be shy: Bill Granger's Sri Lankan recipes

    Don't be shy: Bill Granger's Sri Lankan recipes

    Sri Lankan cuisine is light, sunny, wonderfully spiced – and so easy to cook from scratch. Just as soon as you've broken into the coconut, that is.
    Sir James Dyson’s latest project: Cleaning up hospitals

    Sir James Dyson’s latest project: Cleaning up hospitals

    Doctors are hailing the revamp of a Bath neonatal unit, where babies sleep more and feed better, as the model for patient care
    One man returns to Argentina's town that drowned

    One man returns to Argentina's town that drowned

    Epecuen was submerged under 10 metres of water in 1985. Now the floods have gone – and 83-year-old Pablo Novak has moved back in
    The real thing? Historian publishes Coca Cola's 'secret formula'

    The real thing?

    Historian publishes Coca Cola's 'secret formula'
    Gordon Ramsey's worst nightmare: A restaurant he cannot save

    Gordon Ramsay's worst nightmare: A restaurant he cannot save

    The pugnacious chef finally met a shambolic restaurant he couldn't save. John Walsh on when TV makover refuseniks fight back
    Join Ryanair! See the world! But we're only paying you for nine months a year

    Join Ryanair! See the world! But we're only paying you for nine months a year

    Glamorous myth of the flight attendant lifestyle undermined by angry employee's claims of 'exploitation'
    Braising saddles: Did the recent furore scupper sales of horse meat? Neigh, far from it!

    Braising saddles: How to cook horse meat

    Did the recent furore scupper sales of horse meat? Neigh, far from it! Will Coldwell hoofs it to the kitchen.
    Why bitters are back on the bar: A few little drops pack a big punch in cocktails

    Why bitters are back on the bar

    A few little drops pack a big punch in cocktails. No wonder we're learning to love them again...