New season nails

New Season Nails

Nothing lifts the spirits and gets you in the mood for summer more than a splash of vibrant colour and, what better way to liven up your winter wardrobe than with a purse friendly new season nail polish. With everything ‘80s having a bit of a revival this year expect to see an abundance of bright shades and punky diesel blues making their way onto our finger nails, To give you some inspiration in the new season shades we\'ve tested the best shades currently causing a storm on the fashion circuit, read on to see our top ten...

Nails Inc in haymarket, £10.50

This minty green polish is my new summer staple and it gave all my winter clothes an instant lift. This polish is matte rather than glossy which I really loved and the colour is incredibly striking without being inappropriate for the office. I applied two coats to get a good even colour and it lasted all week without a single chip. 5/5

Stockist: nailsinc.com

O.P.I. Nail Lacquer in Collins Avenue, £9.95

I think I\'ve found my Holy Grail spring/summer nail colour! O.P.I.\'s hot coral varnish is the perfect shade to set off tanned fingers and toes - it\'s pigment packs a very pretty punch so one coat will give you a good shot of colour, 2 coats to make things really pop. Plus, it\'s easy to apply and impressively chip-resistant. 5/5

Stockist: lenawhite.co.uk

Zoya in Cassi, £9.25

I love Zoya nailpolish and this shade definitely didn\'t disappoint! The consistency of the polish is great - not too gluggy or thin and it goes on evenly. I used three coats to get the intensity of colour I wanted and despite the three coats, the polish dried quickly, so I didn\'t have to wait around. The colour is perfect for summer, a really pretty candyfloss pink with a slight shimmer - would look gorgeous with a tan. Loved it! 5/5

Stockist: 0800 1116647, House of Fraser

Essie in Baby Cakes, £8.95

I loved this very pretty-pretty pale lilac shade from nail varnish champs, Essie. It\'s got a very subtle dose of pearling going on which reflects the light and gives the colour a real shine but is a million miles away from frosting. The small brush makes application a doddle and I\'d recommend 2 coats for full-on colour, 1 for a more subtle effect. Full marks for staying power too - a week after application and still no chipping to report! 4/5

Stockist: nailsbymail.co.uk

Barry M Nail polish in Spring Green, £2.95

Fun, bright and funky, this shade definitely gets noticed, but for all the right reasons. The green hue is surprisingly flattering (especially on pale skin) and my nails stayed chip-free for nearly five days. 4/5

Stockist: barrym.com

Revlon in Tropical Temptation, £6.16

The coral shade of this polish is perfect for summer or for at least making it feel like the sun is out. The bright red/orange shade really stood out without being too garish and it was incredibly easy to apply thanks to the consistency which was just the right amount of thickness. I only needed one coat but I applied two to help prevent chipping which seemed to do the job as it lasted all week. 5/5

Stockist: boots.com

Ruby & Millie in Yellow, £9.50

I am a big fan of Ruby and Millie nail polish and wasn\'t disappointed with this new shade. It was really easy to apply, with just the right amount gathering on the brush. I needed to apply two coats to get the colour I liked as the first one was quite faint. Yellow is a great colour for summer but probably a bit premature at the moment seen as the weather still thinks that it\'s winter! It lasted well over a week without chipping at all. 4/5

Stockist: Boots

Butter London 3 Free Nail Lacquer in Mariner, £9.79

The phrase ‘love at first sight\' has never come to me when applying nail polish before, but this gorgeous aquamarine blue lacquer by Butter had me all of a flutter. With a squid ink hue and glossy finish this edgy nail polish dried super fast and looked fab with either one or two coats. 5/5

Stockist: strawberryandcream.com

RMK polish in orange coral, £12

Usually one to shy away from bright colours, I fell in love with RMK\'s Orange Coral varnish as soon as I applied it.  It\'s not as garish as an orange varnish because of its subtle pink tones and it left me feeling just out-there enough.   It took me two coats to get my desired colour, as the first coat was a little watery, but the polish had great staying power.  Just make sure you co-ordinate your outfits when applying.  4/5

Stockist: Selfridges

L\'Oreal Paris Resist and Shine Titanium Nail Varnish in 118, £4.88

I love how bright this varnish is and it\'s so easy to put on. I\'m usually rubbish at painting my nails so I was surprised at how pristine my nails looked. My success comes because the varnish isn\'t too thick - but I did feel like I needed 3 layers to be sure the colour looked just right. My nails are still chip-free four days later, but the colour is starting to look a bit dull. 3/5

Stockist: boots.com