Hey hey! I’m honestly so excited about this gift guide. Since the start of the year, I’ve been giving myself a new manicure every Sunday. Sometimes it’s a quick coat of a funky color. Or I make use of stickers and stencils for a more involved design. I’ve been loving it and I’m happy to share some of my recent finds, both in indie brands and things found at drugstores.
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Nail Tools
One of the biggest things I’ve learned (and am still learning) is how to properly clip and shape my nails. Push those cuticles! Clip those hangnails! File those rough edges!
Manicure & Pedicure Set, $16.99
I’d also recommend this more compact set from Holo Taco ($38), which is designed in this cool rainbow chrome. For those who don’t know, Holo Taco is the creation of YouTuber Cristine from SimplyNailogical who turned her passion for nail polish into an actual business. She also streams on YouTube and includes very useful tips on caring for and painting your nails.
Nail Care
Not only is shaping your nails important, but you have to slather those babies up in oil! Cuticle oil or cream helps keep the skin around your nails soft and hydrates nail beds. A more hydrated nail can flex easier, instead of snapping or breaking.
Burt’s Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream, $7.49
I keep the Burt’s Bees cream at my desk. Be warned, it’s more of balm in consistency and I think could use some warming up before applying. I usually just pop the tin under my thigh for a bit while I work. However, if you don’t want to use your fingers to apply or that’s not a sensation you enjoy, I have some mess-free options as well.
Sally Hanse’s Cuticle Rehab, $8.99
This is the one I use when I’m doing my nails! You squeeze the oil into a brush tip and then can brush it on your nails and skin. Very clean and you can avoid the sensation of oil or balm on your fingertips. If you want something more portable, I also have a couple of these Cuticle Buddies ($12). They come in a variety of scents and have a fragrance free option.
Nail Polish
Now onto the best part! For a long time, I mostly grabbed my nail polish from CVS or Target. It’s the most convenient and offers affordable options. However, I’ve branched into small batch and indie nail polish makers. They’re on the more expensive side at $13-15 a bottle, but do some really fun collections and color stories.
Essie Holiday Nail Polish Gift Set, $19.99
Essie is my go-to drugstore brand. They have a variety of colors, finishes, and a great quick dry line of polish. I am a frequent offender of trying to do things before my polish is dry. Nails, Inc. ($7.99) is also a great brand, and Target has some wonderful, wintry, and shimmery shades.
Onto indie brands! I mentioned Holo Taco already, but I love their glittery toppers. It’s a great way to add some extra pizzazz to a regular crème polish already in your collection. My favorite is the Celestial Lights topper ($13), as it gives your nails into this blue/green shift and reminds me of a scarab shell.
As of right now, Mooncat is probably the most prevalent in my collection and I love this deep, shiny bronze color from their Midnight Rodeo collection. It’s my current go-to fall shade.
For fun magnetic colors (polishes with color shifting magnetic pigment) or sheer, jelly polishes, I recommend Cirque Colors. My current favorite from Cirque Colors is Delphinus ($14.50), a glittery teal with a pink magnetic shift.
For a brand high up on my to-try wishlist, I’m eager to grab some polishes from Death Valley Nails. They often use natural materials in their pigments.
Nail Art
When a simply paint-and-go just won’t do and you want to get a bit fancier, there’s always nail art!
Nail Brushes and Dotting Tools, $13.49
Dotting tools and brushes can be used to create designs like stripes, polka dots, and even more complicated designs. You can also use nail markers! Nail, Inc. has a few nail markers in various colors ($4.19). However, they all require a steady hand. This is where nail stickers come in handy!
Deco the Hails Nail Stickers from Deco Beauty, $10
Deco Beauty is where I often get my nail stickers and they just realized a few sheets of different holiday and winter designs. They often have sample sales, where you can get slightly defective sheets at half the cost.
Resources & Other Things
Now if you want to go further down the nail polish rabbit hole, I have a few (FREE!) recommendations of people to follow or other things to check out:
- Mediocre Manis on YouTube: I love this content creator! She’s introduced me to several new-to-me brands and has a great video on collection organization. Definitely for people who love a spreadsheet!
- Polish Pickup: A monthly, indie polish marketplace! The way PPU works is that each month is a theme, where indie makers design a limited edition polish based on the theme. There are wishlisting and shopping windows that open toward the end of the month. They also have an active Facebook group to reveal spoilers and swatches.
- Simply Nailogical and Simply Not Logical on YouTube: There are lots of clips and videos about nail care and nail issues, like how the heck do you paint your opposite hand without getting polish everything.
- Burrito Nails on Instagram: I love getting inspiration from her nail art and she sometimes posts tutorials.
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What nail brands to you love? Have a drugstore staple or underrated indie brand to recommend?
great ideas
Sally Hansen’s Miracle Gel is my department store staple – I need to start doing a weekly manicure again, I get so over scheduled I let it fall to the bottom of the self-care list…
SinfulColors is my cheap and easy go-to, it’s a little sturdier and lasts just a bit longer than some of the other inexpensive brands.
I haven’t ordered anything Yet. from the indie nail polishes i look at frequently, but i think Nightowl Lacquer has the most shades i want to try.
I love the Burt’s Bees cuticle cream.
I’m not very good at doing my nails, but I really like Olive & June. They have lots of fun colors and nail stickers. Their advent calendar (if it’s not sold out) is a good way to try several of their products if you haven’t used them before.
Argan Oil is great for nails. Keeps my nails healthy, shiny and prevents breakage.
Looking Glass top coat from Cirque Colors is my favorite topper. Gives everything a nice glassy finish.
When I do my nails, I pause 30 seconds between coats-basically I sign the ABC song. I pause 90 seconds between color and top coat which is 3-4 rounds of the ABC song.
Sally Hansen’s Miracle Gel was and still is my go-to for the longest time, but my birthday gift to myself two years ago was the Olive & June manicure set and 6 of their colours, and since then I’ve discovered they’re available at Target too, so they’ve become my new favourite.
I also really like the ella+mila nail strengthener for the few days a month I don’t have any colours on.
OPI polish is a staple for me, and you can often find sales of the off season colors at many stores!
I buy refillable nail oil pens — Kiss sells a multipack — and put in my own oil blend and scents. Lately loving argan oil + vitamin E with a few drops of a peppermint essential oil.