Nail Talk: My top five nail polish recommendations, and why I love wearing nail color
Inspired by the nail polish queen and Preview’s former beauty editor, Agoo Bengzon, I began wearing nail polish when I was in college. Since I couldn’t afford going to the salon for a manicure back then, I decided it would be more practical to spend on a bottle and apply the polish myself.
After many years of practice, I can confidently say that I’m good at applying nail polish. I couldn’t take all of the credit, of course. Ease of application also has to do with what brand I use. Having tried many brands, I already know what bottles to reach for whenever I want an easy manicure.
Whenever someone asks me what nail polish brand to try, these are what I always recommend to them!
Tenten (Favorite shade: S19 Mocha Brown)
Where you can find it: Lazada, Shopee, and nipponesthetic.com
Tenten is one of my favorite nail polish brands. Aside from being affordable for only P150-P160 a bottle, Tenten has so many beautiful shades to choose from. They make some of the best neutral nail polishes. In terms of application, I love how you have to take the square cap off before twisting the actual applicator. The brush is wide enough to cover your nail, and the formulas are just top-notch. Some shades don’t even require a second coat of polish.
Solique x Agoo Gel Polish by Girlstuff (Favorite shade: Posse)
Where you can find it: Lazada, Shopee, and girlstufforever.com
What a beautiful blue shade, right? Expect nothing less than quality from anything with Agoo Bengzon’s name. One thing I love about the Solique polishes is the short length of the brush, which makes it easier to control. Also, since they are considered gel polishes, they are super glossy.
Happy Skin (Favorite shade: Icon)
Where you can find it: Lazada, Shope, and happyskincosmetics.com
Did you know that I didn’t apply any top coat on my nails in that photo? The Happy Skin Express Gel Polish in Icon is one of my favorite reds! The brush of their nail polishes is dense, so it carries a lot of product. Since my nails are quite big, I don’t find the need to dip the brush again just to continue a layer of polish.
Zoya (Favorite shade: Chyna)
Where you can find it: polishplease.ph
The brush of Zoya nail polishes is really tiny, so I usually find it hard to work with. With their PixieDust polish, however, I can make an exemption because the small brush actually works with its formula. Zoya’s PixieDust polishes are the only textured nail polishes I wear. Chyna is my absolute favorite color. I first saw it on Agoo, and it was love at first sight.
OPI (Favorite shade: Today I Accomplished Zero)
Where you can find it: polishplease.ph
Aside from having the best names (Taupe-less Beach, I Cannoli Wear OPI, and My Boyfriend Scales Walls to name a few), OPI formulas are really the best. What I also love is how their polishes have a wide brush and a big cap, making them such a breeze to apply. An OPI bottle costs P450, which is quite a lot, but you definitely get what you pay for.
Bonus: Christian Louboutin (Favorite shade: Rouge Louboutin)
Where to find it: Sephora US, christianlouboutin.com
I know, I know. Spending $50 on a nail polish is crazy. Luckily, I got mine on Carousell for P900! I stumbled upon Mari Jasmine’s shop, saw that she was selling the polish, which was brand new, and bought it right away. I felt validated as a nail polish addict. Anyway, while I still can’t justify the $50 price tag, I can tell you that the polish is really, really good. It’s surprisingly easy to apply, and the color is just stunning. Nothing special since it’s just red, yes, but it’s Louboutin red. If you ask me whether I bought this because of the name, the answer is yes!
If you agree with any of the brands I mentioned, then please let me know what your favorite color is. If you have a nail polish brand you’d love for me to try, I would love to hear about it! Since the lockdown started, painting my nails has been more therapeutic than ever. Also, doing so makes me feel like I have a little sense of control over my life, which is something we all need.
