Summer Nail Collections We Are Swooning Over

Deborah Lippmann Happy Days ($20 each)

These full-coverage creamy colors are an ode to ’50s but
have a decidedly modern mix of nail-healthy ingredients like green tea, evening
primrose and keratin. There’s Beauty School Dropout, a bubblegum pink; My Boyfriend’s Back, a deep blue; Happy Days, a coral; and Splish Splash, an aqua green. All go on like
crème—as an added bonus, Sephora also carries the exclusive Great Balls of Fire, a strawberry red crème. 

RMS Living Luminizer Nail Polish ($15)

It’s not a full-on collection debut, but this tiny bottle has a whole lot of benefits. When used as a topcoat, it sort of works as a highlighter/filter for your nails, creating a glowy sheen that manages to make them look a little bit chicer. 

Londowntown Lakur ($16 each)

Long-lasting—it’s solvent-based instead of water-based, so it sticks around a little longer—luxurious and free from all the bad stuff, these cutting-edge feminine colors incorporate vitamins, minerals and anti-yellowing ingredients like coconut oil and lavender.

Julep Midsummer Light ($14 each)

This collection features two creamy versions of the Pantone Colors of the Year, plus a whole lot of poppy shades with very accurate descriptions like “daffodil crème” and “watermelon splash.” And the big-time plus: The proprietary oxygen technology, which allows the polish to dry fast, last longer and get nails healthy. 

Zoya Seashells PixieDust ($10)

These just-shimmery-enough shades scream the beach without being over-the-top sparkly. There’s a beige-gold, a cherry-red, classic pink, full-impact green, sky blue and a starry gray; each has a touch of texture and added sparkle to give nails an added layer of dimension.

Paul & Joe Beauté Nail Polish ($16)

Think everything from elegant and sweet pinks to dark and mysterious purples in this very varied range, which uses oils of jojoba, olive and safflower to power its polish.

SpaRitual Empower ($18 each)

With a hot sunny yellow shade and feel-good neon brights, this two-step vegan polish utilizes a unique topcoat that dries faster than gels.

Smith & Cult Nailed Lacquer ($18 each)

The two latest shades to this always-pushing-the-boundaries line: The Bee Side, a butter opaque sunny share, and Subnormal, an opaque cement. 

Essie Viva Antigua ($9 each)

The only vacation essential you need, these six adventure-seeking shades are bold, and, as the name suggests, inspired by the one-and-only island of Antigua.

Sonia Kashuk Knock Out Beauty Nail Colour ($5 each)

There’s a red-orange (On the Ropes) and a bright blue (Roll With the Punches) that were just added to the lineup for the season; the two are totally different but both dish out a big-time pop of pigment.

SinfulShine Rio Flare ($3 each)

This at-home, two-step gel polish line is all about Summer Olympics–inspired shades. They’re bright, long-lasting and score major points for the shine factor.