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8 best nail polishes for summer

Get in the mood for the holidays with some mani pedi brights to complement your tan

Thursday 16 July 2015 16:03 BST

With summer in full swing, the beauty world is packed with hot weather-appropriate shades. From sunny yellow to ocean-inspired turquoise and pretty pastel lilac, we have tried a whole vanity case’s worth of products -from both high-street brands and high-end beauty houses- to bring you quality, long-lasting polishes for your manis and pedis.

1. Barry M Speedy Nail Paint Lap of Honour in Lilac: £5, very.co.uk

If you didn’t have time for a mani before your hols, this quick-dry varnish in on-trend pastel lilac will sort you out. Our nails dried in two minutes and only needed one coat. Choose from 12 summery colours.

2. Christian Louboutin The Pops in Escatin: £36, selfridges.com

The celebs’ favourite shoe brand launched a cosmetics collection last year. This vibrant tangerine shade from the playful “The pops” line will add a summery splash of colour to whatever you’re wearing. It’s expensive, but it’s hard-wearing and the art deco-inspired bottle with a glamorous spiked lid - inspired by the Ballerina Ultima, Louboutin’s highest ever stiletto – will add some glamour to your dressing table.

3. Olivia Palermo x Ciate London in Sundays: £17, ciatelondon.com

If you want a break from the brights, a nude shade will keep your nails looking clean and glossy. This one from Olivia Palermo’s collaboration with the London-based beauty brand, has a new long-lasting formula that means nails stay shiny for longer, while strengthening them, too.

4. Dior Vernis The Icons in Rouge: £19, johnlewis.com

You’ll never go wrong with classic red and our pick is Dior’s 999 Rouge. It has a gel-effect so nails look super-smooth and mirror-shiny. Apply two coats to get a lovely deep shade.

5. Autograph Gel Effect Nail Colour in Rouge: £6, marksandspencer.com

Get the gel effect without the UV lamp with this new coral shade from Marks and Spencer’s Autograph line. It comes with a wide brush to reach the edges neatly. This new collection comes in five different colours.

6. Kure Bazaar in Caicos: £15, beingcontent.com

Created by Brazilian model Kartika Luyet, but made in France, Kure’s nail polishes have an eco-friendly formula, which reduces the use of chemicals and uses 85% natural ingredients. This turquoise shade, from the 60 colour-range, will transport you to the crystal waters of the Caribbean. It dries very quickly, too.

7. Maybelline Color Show Electric in Yellow: £2.99, superdrug.com

This catwalk-inspired, canary-yellow shade is one of the 41 shades in the range. It gives a gel effect but we recommend applying a few coats for a flawless finish. For £3, we think this is an affordable way to try more out-there colours.

8. Givenchy Le Vernis in Rose Evocation: £16.50, escentual.com

Barbie pink is on-trend this season (as seen in Moschino’s spring/summer 2015 collection). Inspired by childhood sweetshops, this bright shade, with a matte finish, is a limited edition from the luxe French brand, and if it feels too girly, there’s lemon version, too.

Verdict:

We love Christian Louboutin’s long-lasting “the pops” range, particularly the glam spikey bottles, but if you can’t stretch to that, Marks and Spencer’s Autograph gel effect polish in coral is a classy summer shade.