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9 best nail polishes for spring/summer

Perfect your pedicure with one of this season's colours

Monday 18 April 2016 13:08 BST

Nails Inc

From deep sea greens and soft sky blues to hot pinks and sunny corals, whatever your polish preference, there's a shade for you this season. We’ve tried and tested colours from the new collections to bring you hues that are just right for warmer days – and quality, long-lasting polishes that live up to what they promise.

1. L'Oreal Paris Nail Lacquer in Coral Trianon: £4.99, Superdrug

An eternally popular summer colour, coral toes work as beautifully with a tan, olive skin and dark skin, as they do on pale complexions. And this is one of the best corals I've seen in a long time - ultra shiny, but with no frosting or pearlescence, the pigment and density is unbeatable. One coat looks like three, which makes it cost efficient, easy to apply and quick to dry.

2. Rimmel 60 Seconds Super Shine in Queen of Tarts: £2.99, Superdrug

I picked this up in a little seaside chemist alongside an emergency pair of flip flops, when I found myself on an unexpectedly hot spring beach weekend with only wellies and trainers for footwear. And it does exactly what it says on the bottle: it’s fast drying (I applied mine on the steps of the beach hut so it didn't have long to stay sand-free), ultra shiny, and has excellent pigment. Two weeks later, it's still intact on every nail.

3. Paul & Joe Nail Polish in Azelea Pink 14: £9.50, Asos

This ultra-shiny polish gives a rich colour. One coat will do but two looks like a gel nail. This incredibly pretty pink has a certain kick to it, but isn't too full-on. It looks as great on fingers as it does on toes.

4. Essie Nail Lacquer Shades On: £7.99, Superdrug

With this range of Florida-inspired brights, Essie has come up with some stunning, bold shades this season. This glamorous retro purple looks exceptionally pretty on tanned toes.

5. Nails Inc Nail Polish in Cornwall Gardens: £14, Nails Inc

For neutral nails, this grown-up minky grey is simply stunning. Shiny but flat, with no frosting, it's an understated shade. The nourishing sweet almond oil base and Matcha powder – a powerful antioxidant – ensures nails are as protected and as healthy as possible. This one is good range to go to if you find your nails peeling and splitting.

6. Dolce & Gabbana Intense Nail Lacquer in Cyclamen: £21, Harrods

A show-stopping, hot magenta pink, this isn't a shade for the faint-hearted. And on toes it looks glorious. The pigment is rich and one coat covers and dries with ease if you're against the clock, but two coats is sublime.

Available from 1 May

7. Models Own Hyper Gel in Deep Sea: £4.99, Model’s Own

This is a lush-looking deep-sea green that gives a translucent look with the first coat and with the second, you get a gel-like finish. Models Own’s brushes are spectacularly wide and make painting an absolute breeze.

8. Lancome Vernis in Love Bleu Ciel Parisien: £13.50, Lancome

To us, this cornflower blue shade is the essence of spring and summer. It needs two coats, at least, as it can be a little watery, but the end result is more than worth the extra work.

9. Tanya Burr Nail Polish in Little Duck: £2.50, Feel Unique

One of You Tube's favourite beauty bloggers, Tanya has launched her own make-up line and it's really rather good. Her mint choc chip-inspired, semi-matte pale green polish needs two coats and looks stunning on fingers and toes.

Verdict

Nails Inc Cornwall Gardens is grown-up glamour, Rimmel Queen of Tarts is your classic deep red, D&G Cyclamen is the hottest of hot pinks, while Paul & Joe Azelea Pink is the prettiest shade in the round up. But our pick is L'Oreal Paris in Coral Trianon - nothing beats a suits-all coral on toes for summer.