Bright & Light Summer Nails!
It took a long time this year, but summer is definitely here and, for those of us who have a distinct nail obsession, that means tucking away the darker, warmer fall/winter nail colours and bringing out the pastels and brights that are so on point for summer.
Now,
I will admit that I have a significant nail polish collection. In fact,
it needs some major culling before the population gets out of hand, but
that means that I have a plethora of options for every season. Of
course, I don't actually wear a lot of them, so I went through my
collection and picked my absolute top colors for summer. This summer,
quite specifically.
I tried to pick a wide selection of colours, dipping into the brighter, more neon colors as well as some nice more pastel type colours so that there's a little something for everyone - even those who like to keep their nails pretty natural!
Nina Ultra Pro in Anaconda Liked It, Pure Ice in Home Run, Essie in Bikini So Teeny
1. Nina Ultra Pro: Anaconda Liked It
This shade is actually pretty new to my collection, but I'm finding that I really, really love it. It's a true neon with incredible, bright pigmentation. Of course, like most neons this means that the formula is quite thin and it takes a solid three coats for full opacity and then a good top coat for shine, but I assure you that it's worth it. Also, it didn't stain my nails at all - which should be a given, but really isn't when it comes to these kinds of bright, blue/green shades. I think this is going to be a favorite toenail colour for my this summer, although it's actually quite flattering on the fingers as well.
2. Pure Ice: Home Run
This was actually one of my staples last summer when I discovered it. I really love the formula of all of the Pure Ice nail polishes I've tried. They have really good pigmentation and a formula that levels nicely and doesn't get streaky, which is important with these kinds of pale, pastel shades that definitely have a tendency to streak no matter what the brand. This shade is a very pretty, pastel mint colour that I think would look beautiful on a lot of people. It's also a very subtle way to wear a shade in this cool toned blue/green family so I think it would work for a lot of people.
3. Essie: Bikini So Teeny
I absolutely love this colour, I really do. This is a creamy, pale cornflower blue with a very subtle shimmer to it. Be warned, the formula on this polish can definitely be a little bit tricky. It is thin and can get quite streaky, so again you're going to need three coats for a smooth opacity, but I swear the colour is worth it in the end. This definitely isn't a quick, on-the-go manicure, but if you like this kind of colour it's definitely worth the time you put into it.
Julep in Flora, Julep in Paulette
4. Julep: Flora
I about lost my mind when I saw the swatches for this colour and added it on to my box almost immediately. Last summer, I had a bit of a love affair with neon purple polishes and that is absolutely continuing on into this year. This neon purple definitely has an edge on the others on account of the absolutely stunning (and still subtle) blue flaky shimmer in it. The formula on this polish is definitely more like a jelly polish and it applies beautifully. I have no issues with application at all and the wear time is pretty damn good. All in all, I'm obsessed with this polish. In fact, I'm pretty sure that I'd straight up call it my top favorite for summer.
5. Julep: Paulette
Julep calls this one a "golden lilac tulle shimmer" and I think I can definitely see where that comes from. This is another one of those unique shades that keeps me coming back to Julep. It almost appears like it's just a lilac purple polish with a bit of a sheen to it, but you get up close and you see this beautiful gold microshimmer going through it and it really does make it feel like nothing else out there (unless someone has a dupe?). I feel like this is going to be one of those polishes I keep going back to when I want something that's both subtle and special at the same time, because that's exactly how I describe this polish.
Pure Ice Flirt Alert, Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy Pocket Aces, Julep Cassie
6. Pure Ice: Flirt Alert
For the record, neon pink isn't actually my thing generally. In fact, I'm still not actually sure what made me buy this (other than the insanely affordable price tag at Walmart on these little bottles) but I did and I love it enough that I kinda want to invest in a backup. This is my #1 summer toenail polish, and it even occasionally makes it to my hands. The formula on this polish is absolutely on point. It's highly pigmented and opaque, it applies like an absolute dream, and the wear on it is downright impressive. If you're looking for a bright, vibrant pink for summer this one is absolutely worth a look. And for under $2, why not?
7. Colorstay Gel Envy: Pocket Aces
I didn't actually think I'd like this colour the first time I saw it on the shelf. I didn't actually think I'd like any of the colours in the new Gel Envy collection, but I wanted to test out the formula and this seemed like it would be a good summer toe colour. And it is. It really is. And the formula is absolutely on point. It goes on so smooth and vibrant, opaque in one coat, and when paired with the Gel Envy Top Coat the wear is just out of this world. I really didn't think neon coral was going to do it for me, but it really, really is.
8. Julep: Cassie
Because I feel like there's always room for a polish that falls into the neutral/nude category, I couldn't have this post without having my absolute favorite peach in there. I think that my favorite Julep formula is definitely one with more of a jelly like texture, because I feel like the application of them is a little nicer than a lot of the hit-and-miss creme finishes. This is one of those jelly type colours. On the first coat, it can be very sheer, but it builds up nicely and levels so that it isn't too streaky as long as you do fairly thin coats. I just love this polish and reach for it often. The reason this polish is nice for summer is something to do with the shade combined with the jelly texture, giving it a kind of soft, easy feel. So pretty.
So there you have it, my top summer Bright&Light nail polishes. What are some of yours?
XO.
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