Skip to content

Top Navigation

InStyle InStyle
  • News
    • All Fashion
    • Clothing
    • Accessories
    • Street Style
    • Look of the Day
    • Fashion Week
    • Future Of Fashion
    • All Celebrity
    • Awards and Events
    • Celebrity Transformations
    • TV Shows
    • Movies
    • Music
    • All Beauty
    • Makeup
    • Best Beauty Buys
    • Health & Fitness
    • Skincare
    • All Hair
    • Celeb Hairstyles
    • Color Ideas
    • Long Hairstyles
    • Medium Hairstyles
    • Short Hairstyles
    • All Natural
    • All Lifestyle
    • Astrology
    • Travel
    • Weddings
    • Books
    • Food and Drink
    • Home and Decorating
    • Well Well Well
    • All Politics & Social Issues
    • Joe Biden
    • Jill Biden
    • Kamala Harris
    • Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
    • Career
  • About InStyle

Profile Menu

Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
My Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Pin FB

Explore InStyle

InStyle InStyle
  • Explore

    Explore

    • If the Coastal Grandmother Trend Isn't for You, How About Its Alternative, Fancy Grandma?

      If the Coastal Grandmother Trend Isn't for You, How About Its Alternative, Fancy Grandma?

      It's just as comfy but a tad more exciting. Read More
    • It Seems Like Everyone Has False Lashes These Days — Here's Why

      It Seems Like Everyone Has False Lashes These Days — Here's Why

      There's a reason why they're trending. Read More
    • 8 Ways to Wear a Sheer Lace Dress, According to Stylists

      8 Ways to Wear a Sheer Lace Dress, According to Stylists

      The pros are weighing in on this trick, celeb-loved trend. Read More
  • News
  • Fashion

    Fashion

    See All Fashion
    This Easy Guide Is the Trick to Finding Your Signature Fashion Color

    This Easy Guide Is the Trick to Finding Your Signature Fashion Color

    It's all about your skin's undertones.
    • Clothing
    • Accessories
    • Street Style
    • Look of the Day
    • Fashion Week
    • Future Of Fashion
  • Celebrity

    Celebrity

    See All Celebrity
    The Best Beauty Looks From The 2022 Met Gala Scream Gilded Age

    The Best Beauty Looks From The 2022 Met Gala Scream Gilded Age

    Big hair, tiaras, and gold lids — oh my!
    • Awards and Events
    • Celebrity Transformations
    • TV Shows
    • Movies
    • Music
  • Beauty

    Beauty

    See All Beauty
    The Dos and Don'ts of Mixing Skincare Ingredients

    The Dos and Don'ts of Mixing Skincare Ingredients

    Plus, when and how to use them.
    • Makeup
    • Best Beauty Buys
    • Health & Fitness
    • Skincare
  • Hair

    Hair

    See All Hair
    How to Get the Wet Look Without Making Your Hair Feel Crunchy

    How to Get the Wet Look Without Making Your Hair Feel Crunchy

    It's really quite simple.
    • Celeb Hairstyles
    • Color Ideas
    • Long Hairstyles
    • Medium Hairstyles
    • Short Hairstyles
    • All Natural
  • Lifestyle

    Lifestyle

    See All Lifestyle
    The One Nail Polish Color Your Zodiac Sign Should Wear for Taurus Season — and Why

    The One Nail Polish Color Your Zodiac Sign Should Wear for Taurus Season — and Why

    Leos should wear glitter, of course.
    • Astrology
    • Travel
    • Weddings
    • Books
    • Food and Drink
    • Home and Decorating
    • Well Well Well
  • Politics & Social Issues

    Politics & Social Issues

    See All Politics & Social Issues
    50 Badass Change Makers

    50 Badass Change Makers

    The world may feel heavy at the start of 2022, but this list of change makers has us optimistic for brighter days to come.
    • Joe Biden
    • Jill Biden
    • Kamala Harris
    • Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
    • Career
  • Pop Culture

    Pop Culture

    See All Pop Culture
    17 Unforgettable Rachel Green Outfits You Could (and Should) Still Wear Today

    17 Unforgettable Rachel Green Outfits You Could (and Should) Still Wear Today

    From plaid skirts to slip dresses, we're ready to copy it all.
  • About InStyle

Profile Menu

Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
My Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. Beauty
  3. Nails
  4. 5 Beauty Brands to Count on for a Chip-Free Mani

5 Beauty Brands to Count on for a Chip-Free Mani

By Lindsey Murray Updated Jul 11, 2016 @ 4:45 pm
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
Skip gallery slides
Pin
Revlon ColorStay Gel Envy Nail Enamel
Credit: courtesy

I have a confession to make. My biggest pet peeve is a chip in my polish. There's no arguments about it. I have to reapply or start from scratch at the first sign of a crack. It's a little ridiculous, but we all have our quirks, right?

That being said, when I got the chance to test out a bunch of nail polish brands to see what held up best, I was so game. I carefully applied each lacquer to see which could stand the test of time. Between meetings, sweat sessions, and a few beach days, here are a few of the winners that gave me nails worthy of an Insta pic. 

Start Slideshow

1 of 5

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

essie gel couture

essie gel couture
Credit: courtesy
$12.00
shop it

This new 2-step, no-UV light system promised 14 days of wear and the color made it through the first week no problem. But I was skeptical as I packed my beach bag that the polish wouldn't be able to tough it against the sand and salt water doing serious work on my nails. I was wrong. The polish made it through with only the tiniest chip on day 12.

1 of 5

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 5

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

OPI Infinite Shine Gel Effects Lacquer System

OPI Infinite Shine Gel Effects Lacquer System
Credit: courtesy
$13.00
shop it

Paired with primer and gloss, this ultra-rich formula packs some seriously vivid color. An added bonus: The super shiny polish lasted two days beyond its 10-day promise before flaking.

2 of 5

3 of 5

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Smith and Cult 

Smith and Cult 
Credit: courtesy
$18.00
shop it

Not only did this formula, paired with the brands base and top coat, stand up against five killer fitness classes (my muscles are another story), but the super chic bottles that each color comes in make the perfect vanity accessory.

3 of 5

Advertisement

4 of 5

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Julep

Julep
Credit: courtesy
$14.00
shop it

Not only does this polish come in virtually every color under the rainbow (seriously they have exactly the right hue for every occasion), but it's also a 5-free, vegan-friendly formula. Pair it with the brand's Oxygen Bonding Base Coat and Freedom Polymer Top Coat for a long-lasting mani that won't leave you with dry, brittle nails. We're in! 

4 of 5

5 of 5

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Revlon ColorStay Gel Envy Nail Enamel

Revlon ColorStay Gel Envy Nail Enamel
Credit: courtesy
$8.00
shop it

Revlon promised me that the secret was in the topcoat, and they were not kidding around. The color enamel went on smooth (it's actually a MIMI favorite), but it was the wide-angle brush of topcoat polish that really made the color shine and harden to chip-free perfection.

5 of 5

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Lindsey Murray

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 5 essie gel couture
    2 of 5 OPI Infinite Shine Gel Effects Lacquer System
    3 of 5 Smith and Cult 
    4 of 5 Julep
    5 of 5 Revlon ColorStay Gel Envy Nail Enamel

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
    InStyle

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Accolades Licensing
    • Content Licensing

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithInStyle is part of the Meredith Beauty Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. InStyle may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright InStyle. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.instyle.com

    View image

    5 Beauty Brands to Count on for a Chip-Free Mani
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.