I Spent 4 Weeks Testing Different Nail Polish Brands, From Drugstore Favorites To Luxury Brands ? Here Are My Favorites (And Least Favorites)

I wore each nail polish for seven days — no top coats allowed — then checked for chipping.BuzzFeed StaffAnd since most nail polishes have a steep price tag nowadays, it's important for the formula to actually last so you're getting the best bang for your buck.• Apply polish the same exact way. For each test, I painted three layers on each nail.• Wear each polish for 7 days. This is especially important if you're not using a top or a base coat because it will make the polish last longer," she said."Darker colors are more pigmented and typically have a stickier formula because it requires more pigment and additives in them for the hue to be rich enough to show up," she told BuzzFeed. "Lighter colors tend to last a little bit longer only because your application is a lot easier, it's less pigmented, and the product is a lot thinner."From left to right:• OPI — Don't Bossa Nova Me Around ($9)• Olive & June — Bold and Unshaken ($9)• Sally Hansen — Hail Cherry ($6)• ella+mila — Paradise Isle ($10.50)• Essie — You're a Catch ($9)• JINsoon — Piedra ($18)• Paintbox — Like Wonder ($22)• People of Color — Pink Sand ($12)To make Essie polish truly last, I suggest a top coat (and maybe even a base coat). (The polish on my pinkies was still pretty solid on the 7th day without even a top coat!) Just make sure to do thin layers and let each layer dry completely to get the most lasting effect.Truth be told, I see Olive & June replacing my Essie purchases every now and then since it's a similar price point.Get 'Bold and Unshaken' from Olive & June for $9 or from Target for $9.79.To be completely honest, I was not expecting this polish to be this high on this list (sorry, Sally!), but I was so happy because it had the lowest price point.I'm pretty skeptical when it comes to "product promises," but after testing this nail polish for seven days, most of the things they claim on their website are actually accurate. Sally Hansen came through.Yes, the hue did lose its shine a bit, but if I know that I'm going to have a busy week and don't have time to do my nails for the next 10 days, this polish will come to the rescue.Get 'Hail Cherry' from Sally Hansen for $6.59, Target for $4.89, or Amazon for $4.47.If you love nail polish or consider yourself to be a beauty aficionado, then you most likely know this brand. I bet this manicure could have gone a full two weeks if it wanted — so call me impressed.According to JINsoon's website, all of their nail polishes have "gel-like high-tech polymers for longer wear and intense shine." So while this isn't a full-on gel nail polish, it does deliver on the promise of longevity and shine. I know this price point is a little higher than the standard $9 — however, in my opinion, it's worth it.Get 'Pink Sand' from People of Color for $12 or Beyond Polish for $12.• Favorite budget brand: Sally Hansen ($6) • Favorite premium brand: JINsoon ($18)• Favorite overall: People of Color ($12)Some brands provided nail polish free of charge for the purposes of this test, but BuzzFeed was under no obligation to provide a positive review.