Are expensive nail polishes worth it ....

[happystory]

...or am I just rubbish at applying it? Have finally stopped biting my nails at the grand old age of 54 but nothing seems to last, or I smudge it when I think it's dry. Maybe I just need more practice!

Honestly, imo they are not worth it. One of my best varnishes is a Collection one that my sister picked up for me in wilkos because it was a gorgeous colour - it goes on without streaking, the brush is good and it doesn't chip easily. Rimmel are also fab. Have had Chanel which were runny and awful.

I generally buy rimmel or collection. I picked up one in Asda the other day for £1 and it's fab and you really can't tell the difference. I find using a base coat makes polish go on easier and a cheap clear top coat definitely makes the polish last longer before chipping.

I have many different types!
I find the best is Rimmel 60 second
Often I get into car, seat belt on and paint them then drive to work when they dry!
Although recently I have been gelling them with gel cool

Posted too soon.....Colour and I light I bought off eBay

The best one I have is Boots 17 gel varnish. Easy to apply, smooth finish and doesn't chip for at least a week. Conversely I bought a £10 loreal one which is utter crap. Looks like a 5 year old has painted my nails.

For cheapo, I like Boots No 7 or Revlon, and there's pretty much always an offer on both of them.

Just treated myself to an Opi one and it's really lovely but don't think I could bring myself to pay that much regularly.

Does anybody use a topcoat? Any recommendations for a decent one?

Don't buy Superdrug 'B' ones - they are rubbish!

Treated myself to Chanel Rouge Noir. Shite. I did buy a led lamp for £20 and some cheap gel polishes that cure under it, amazing. My nails look really professional and it doesn't chip for a week or more.

No, don't bother.

Barry M nail varnish is brilliant and cheap as chips. But maybe use an undercoat and a topcoat which will improve how long it lasts.

Seche Vite is my recommendation for a topcoat - give a lovely glossy finish. No smudges either, because it dries the polish instantly.

Well looks like it's my technique then! Thanks for all your suggestions.

I think Essie, OPI and CND Vinylux are worth the extra money, I generally get 6 days out of them and a top coat is essential (it doesn't last as long without one or look as glossy!) I agree with the pp, Seche Vite is the best top coat!

Yeah you definitely need a good topcoat - Seche Vite is the best I've found.

Sally Hansen Nailgrowth Miracle is a good base coat, and either the aforementioned Seche Vite or Sally Hansen Insta-Dry as a topcoat. I also use OPI Glitter Off base coat if I'm using a glitter polish, after spending literally hours struggling to remove glitter in the past! OPI is my favourite brand - usually around £9 a bottle, but you can find some cheaper on eBay and Amazon. Can't always afford that (though I have a rather extensive collection now!), and have found many budget polishes that work almost as well - so long as they come with decent size brushes. Rimmel 60 second is good for that. The only budget brand I find a bit dodgy is Clare's - some of their polishes are watery, others are gloopy. Some are about right, but it's very much the luck of the draw.

Hope you don't mind my question, but how easy do you find it to remove Gel polish (glitter or otherwise)? Thanks.

As a dissenter I hated Seche Vite topcoat - it was gloopy and although it dried fast it didn't last as long as my trusty Sally Hansen top coat.

I don't think the REALLY high end brands are worth paying for. My favourites are Barry M, Rimmel and Essie - Essie can often be found very cheaply on Amazon.

I do my nails once a week and I can make them last almost the full 7 days by doing two coats plus a top coat about 45 minutes before bed then going to bed to allow it to harden properly. The trick to making it last (I find) is not to submerge your hands in water too much - so try and avoid washing up or the DC's bathtime if you can!

Barry M is always my recommendation. Lovely colours, go on well, last a decent amount of time.

Barry M is really good. Not a fan of Rimmel personally. Chips like a bastard on me. Really expensive ones aren't really worth it, although Chanel have reformulated recently. In my experience mid-priced indie brands are hands down (ha!) the best: FUN Lacquer, ILNP, Starrily, A-England to name my very favourites. I can get a week chip free with all of those.

No. I have stellar €1-2 polishes, and top coat does the trick anyway.

I find OPI and Essie great. Chanel appalling. The best overall is Barry M.

Barry M is my fave

Barry M is my fave. I've had OPI but do prefer Barry M, especially the new gel ones, sunset something or other

I'm currently loving China glaze and they're a few quid on nail polish direct.

Chanel is shit

Love Opi - just tried Revlon, used to think it was great but the brush was too mean, I struggled with application and the polish lost it's shine quickly. Will try Barry M now.