Real Simple | Life Made Easier, Every Day
Make RealSimple.com My Homepage|Simply Stated|Newsletters|Real Simple Rewards|Photo Galleries|SUBSCRIBE
  • Food & Recipes
      • Browse All Recipes
      • Recipe Collections & Favorites
      • Cooking Tips & Techniques
      • Shopping & Storing
      • Tools & Products
      • New Uses For Old Things
      • All Food & Recipes
      • Guide: Thanksgiving Recipes and Leftovers
      • Checklist: Gourmet Spice Checklist
      • Video: How To: Shape a Double Piecrust
  • Home & Organizing
      • Organizing
      • Cleaning
      • Decorating
      • Home Improvement
      • Gardening
      • Green Living
      • New Uses For Old things
      • All Home & Organizing
      • Guide: Holiday Organizing Tricks
      • Checklist: Houseguest Prep Checklist
      • Video: How To: Hang a Picture
  • Beauty & Fashion
      • Clothing
      • Shoes & Accessories
      • Skincare
      • Makeup
      • Hair
      • Makeovers & Tips
      • Clothing Care
      • All Beauty & Fashion
      • Guide: Winter Beauty Tips and Tricks
      • Checklist: Cold-Weather Fashion Travel Essentials Checklist
      • Video: How To: Apply Makeup in Five Minutes
  • Holidays & Entertaining
      • All Holidays & Entertaining
      • Holidays
      • Weddings
      • Birthdays
      • Entertaining
      • Gifts
      • Guide: Holiday Decorating Ideas
      • Checklist: Christmas Countdown Checklist
      • Video: Doable Decorating From the Craft Store
  • Health
      • All Health
      • Nutrition & Diet
      • Fitness & Exercise
      • Mind & Mood
      • First Aid & Health Basics
      • Preventative Health
      • Guide: Stay Healthy for Cold and Flu Season 
      • Checklist: Hospital Stay Checklist
      • Video: How To: Tone Your Upper Arms
  • Work & Life
      • All Work & Life
      • Money
      • Family
      • Life Strategies
      • Technology
      • Travel
      • Etiquette
      • Entertainment
      • Guide: Smart Shopping 101
      • Checklist: Identity Theft Prevention Checklist
      • Video: How To: Pack a Suitcase
  • Magazine & More
    • Magazine & More
      • All Magazine & More
      • Inside the Magazine
      • Inside the Website
      • Newsletters
      • Real Simple Products
      • Real Simple Rewards
      • Books & Back Issues
      • Simply Stated Blogs
      • Subscribe
      • Subscribe: Subscribe to Real Simple Magazine
      • Try Real Simple!: Get a Free Preview Issue of Real Simple
      • Give a Gift: Give the Gift of Real Simple Magazine
  • Homepage
  • Beauty & Fashion
  • Skincare
  • Hands & Feet

Choosing the Best Nail Polish

A roundup of the best colors and formulas to polish fingers and toes.

  • PRINT
  • E-MAIL
  • COMMENT
  • SAVE
  • SHARE:
  •    more
Page 1 of 3

Yunhee Kim

Best Nail Polish Colors

Most Universally Flattering

Essie in Mademoiselle, $8
"This sheer pink (shown, top left) works on all skin tones," says Maria Salandra, owner of Finger Fitness, in Cliffside Park, New Jersey.

To buy: 800-232-1155.

Most Versatile Red

Maybelline Express Finish Advanced Wear in Racey Red, $4
The right red (shown, middle left) looks smashing, while the wrong tone can clash with your complexion. This classic red isn't too cool (bluish) or too warm (orangey), so anyone can carry it off.

To buy: At drugstores.

Best Bright Pink

Orly Nail Polish in Swizzle Stick, $7.50
"A nice alternative to red (shown, bottom left), especially in spring," said a tester.

To buy: orlybeauty.com for stores.

Best Light Pink

Creative Nail Design in Lighten Up, $5
"It's so delicate and ladylike," said one tester of this pale rose (shown, bottom right).

To buy: purespadirect.com.

Best Beige

Rimmel Lycra Wear Nail Polish in Beige, $3
This one (shown, top right) has a subtle golden tone, which keeps it from seeming dull. "It will look great with a tan," said a tester.

To buy: At drugstores.

Best Deep Burgundy

Nars Chinatown, $16
This rich shade (shown, 2nd from top right) suits almost anyone daring enough to try it, even those with fair skin.

To buy: narscosmetics.com.

Best Color Selection

OPI Nail Lacquer, $8
"An amazing color palette (shown, 2nd from bottom right)" says Pauline Mai. The brand makes over 170 shades―with more than 25 reds.

To buy: opi.com for stores.

Next: Best Performing Nail Poli...
Skip to Daily Finds slides.

Related Content

International Beauty Finds

Part of the fun of travel is sampling the local goods. Seek out these lines of beauty products while overseas.

  • Month-by-Month Beauty Care Checklist
  • How to Apply Makeup (and Get Out the Door) in Just 5 Minutes
  • Get Pretty With Planet-Friendly Beauty Products 
  • How to Use Beauty Products in the Correct Order

What do you think about this article? Share your own solutions and ideas

View Earlier Comments
  • Mouse Icon Blogs
  • Camera Icon Videos
  • Checkbox Icon Checklists

Hot Topics

Browse All Blogs
New
  • Do You Always Serve Turkey for Thanksgiving?
  • Leopard Print: Love It or Leave It?
  • Are CD Players Obsolete?
  • Who Is Your Favorite Author?

How-To Videos

Browse All Videos
Videos
  • Doable Decorating from the Office Supply Store
  • Display Holiday Cards
  • Apply Eyeliner
  • Clean Hardwood Floors

Checklists

Browse All Checklists
Checklists
  • Dinner Party Checklist
  • Holiday Cookie Exchange Checklist
  • Mail-Organizing Checklist
  • Organizing the Kids' Room Checklist
Advertisement

Top Galleries

See All Galleries
  • Extra Long Cable Knit Gloves by Fred Flare

      7 Cozy Winter Gloves and Mittens

  • Maple Pumpkin Pie

      30 Deliciously Easy Thanksgiving Desserts

  • Holiday cards display on a mantel

      5-Minute Holiday Decorating Ideas

  • Easy Ice Cream Cake

      25 Deliciously Decadent Desserts

  • Thanksgiving dinner on the stove

      How to Fix 10 Common Thanksgiving Problems

Real Simple | Life Made Easier, Every Day
In The Magazine
  • This Month's Issue
  • Subscribe
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • Books and Back Issues
RSS
  • Sign up to get ideas instantly!
Inside Real Simple
  • Food & Recipes
  • Home & Organizing
  • Beauty & Fashion
  • Health
  • Holidays & Entertaining
  • Work & Life
  • Magazine & More
  • Weddings
  • Travel
  • Technology
 
  • Decorating
  • Gardening
  • Cleaning
  • Money
  • Family
  • How To Guides
  • Ask Real Simple
  • Simply Stated Blogs
  • Daily Finds
  • Real Simple Products
More Information
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Customer Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Print Media Kit
  • Digital Media Kit
  • Real Simple Rewards
  • Site Map
Real Simple Newsletters To receive any of these free e-mails, select the ones you're interested in and enter the required information.
  • Weekly Tips Newsletter (see sample)
  • Daily Finds (see sample)
  • Daily Thought (see sample)
  • Wedding Newsletter (see sample)
  • Daily Recipe Newsletter (see sample)
  • Ask Real Simple (see sample)
  • Keep-It-Together Checklist (see sample)
Copyright © 2009 Time Inc. Lifestyle Group. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.