.jpg "7 Best Long-Lasting Nail Polishes in 2025, Tested & Reviewed")
When we don’t have the time, funds, or patience to head to the nail salon, we whip out the best long-lasting nail polishes. Their durable formulas are guaranteed to get through all the washing, scrubbing, and swatching our hard-working, well-moisturized hands go through daily—trust us, we’ve put them to the test on our very own digits just to prove it. While they won’t match the wear time of pro-level gel nail polishes, these staples in our at-home manicure routines are strong enough to hold their own, but, for extra precautions, we also tapped some of the most notable nail artists around (who’ve primed the hands of your favorite celebs, by the way) so you can learn all the tips and tricks of the trade to extend the life of your next mani.
Our Top Picks
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Overall: Essie Gel Couture Nail Polish
Why it’s worth it: When Essie’s Gel Couture Nail Polish first hit the scene in 2016, our editors were so impressed that we gave it an Allure Best of Beauty Breakthrough Award that very year, one of our highest accolades. To this day, you can find our editors swiping it on (exhibit A: the photos below). This drugstore nail polish is beloved by our team, our readers, and New York City-based nail artists Julie Kandalec and Sonya Belakhlef for its long-lasting, no-chip formulation that stays put for up to 15 days. “The special bottle is shaped like a twisted gown on a runway and has a brush stem that controls the flow of polish,” adds Kandalec. “The names are absolutely the cutest too, and drawn from fashion and couture, like ‘Bodice Goddess,’ ‘Chiffon the Move,’ and one of my personal go-to reds, ‘Rock the Runway.’
Tester feedback: “Essie, which launched over 40 years ago, has been one of my favorite polish brands since I started painting my nails in kindergarten, but when the brand swapped in wider brushes in 2018, it truly became the lacquer to beat,” says content director Kara McGrath. “That larger brush means fewer strokes to cover your nail, which makes it easier to apply thin layers—a crucial step in creating a long-lasting manicure with regular polish. On a recent test, mine looked almost perfect for five days, only suffering a few chips after some long kitting sessions on the last two days of wear.”
Wear time: 15 days | Finish: glossy | Available shades: 35
Best Shade Range: Olive & June Long Lasting Nail Polish
Why it’s worth it: When we want gel polish-like results without whipping out an LED or UV lamp, we reach for one of the 100+ shades (!) in Olive & June’s Long Lasting Nail Polish collection. Its ultra-wide brush effortlessly creates streak-free strokes, and its pigments are so rich that, depending on the color, you may only need one coat to reach your desired opacity. The best part: You don’t even need a base coat to enjoy this chip-proof polish (but you’ll definitely want to apply a top coat).
Psst: If you do want to go the gel route, Olive & June has an entire line of gel polishes that Kandalec gives two thumbs up.
Tester feedback: “I’m a diehard manicure DIYer, which is why I have a million and one Olive & June colors. I’ve found them to be the quickest to apply with minimal chipping,” says interim commerce director Deanna Pai, whose go-to shade is SC, a deep red. “My hands go through a lot now that I’m a mom—bathtime, post-diaper change handwashing, you get the gist—but this still holds up for a week or more. Plus, I like that I don’t need a base coat (it’s built in, folks!) and that two coats of color usually dry in about 20 minutes.”
