The 7 best nail polishes for an at-home manicure

Funky Aussie nail colour company Hanami boasts a varnish formula that’s made from 82 per cent naturally sourced ingredients (think: Sugarcane, cotton, corn and cassava), is free from 10 different toxic chemicals traditionally found in nail polish, and is vegan-friendly and cruelty-free to boot. The quick dry time and colour opacity doesn’t hurt either.

Our favourite shades: Rococo, Holograms and Beams

$19.95 at Flora & Fauna

If you haven’t heard of Essie nail polish then you need to get out more – sorry not sorry. The iconic brand has given us Queen Elizabeth-worthy nudes like Ballet Slippers for crying out loud, not to mention they’re renowned for a formula that rivals any in-salon manicure; we’re talking high shine, long-lasting, chip-free wear, sis. Invest in yourself and snag a few shades. 

Our favourite shades: Eternal Optimist, Lilacism and Bordeaux

$14.95 at Adore Beauty

After nail polish shades that look like they came out of an editorial fashion spread? Then look no further than JINsoon. The rich, high-coverage and double-patented formula delivers a smooth finish and high shine in as little as one to two coats. Plus, with the addition of high-tech polymers and resin, you can count on this nail polish to last on your nails and in your kit (no weird separated varnish formulas here please). 

Our favourite shades: Ube, Dandy and Abyss

$26 at MECCA

Aussie brand gloss & Co delivers on a number of points: Cruelty-free, vegan-friendly, chip-resistant, long-wearing and free from eight common toxic chemicals traditionally used in varnish formulation. And can we talk about the extensive (not to mention exciting) shade range?! To die for.

Our favourite shades: Main Squeeze, Olive and Moss

$26 at gloss & Co

Smith & Cult are like the sophisticated older sister of the nail polish family. She lives somewhere cool like London or New York, knows all the best places to thrift and somehow always manages to pull off wearing glitter without looking like a four-year-old. Get a taste of the good life Smith & Cult have to offer with a few coats of the high shine, chip-resistantpolish, that’s also 8-free, vegan, and cruelty-free. 

Our favourite shades: Darjeeling Darling, Peaceful Paranoia and Seek Me Out

$32 at Adore Beauty

The OG of nail polish. You know that OPI is legit because we don’t know a manicurist who doesn’t stock hoards of the silver-necked bottles. And it’s not hard to see why our nail techs keep reaching for the stuff either;the Infinite Shine formula is the closest you’re going to get to a gel finish without the rigamarole of UV-processing your manicure, promising up to 11 days of high-shine, chip-free wear. 

Our favourite shades: ​​Bubble Bath, Black Onyx, and Big Apple Red

$22.95 at Adore Beauty

Byron Bay natives Sienna have worked hard to formulate their cleanest possible formula. It’s free from 12 common toxins, water permeable, breathable, cruelty-free, vegan and housed in sustainably-made packaging using environmentally-friendly materials. The range of earthy hues is just the icing on the cake TBH.

Our favourite shades: Soulful, Courage and Wilderness

$28 at Flora & Fauna