Getting a manicure is supposed to be a relaxing activity, but damnit if any attempt at Zen is dashed the minute a manicurist asks us to pick a color. The choices are overwhelming — and the panic is real: With pale pinks as far as the eye can see, which one variant on the shade is the right one?
To help quell our shade-picking anxiety, we virtually combed all of our drugstore brands for the need-to-try nail polish shades for this summer. Alongside some of the tried-and-true shades of nail-color classics (true red, pale pink, and burgundy) that consistently rank best in class, we've also rounded up other more unconventional hues (i.e. neon and earth tones) that have reached best-seller status, too.
Ahead, see which deep-red polish looks good against a spectrum of skin tones, the wedding-ready pale pink that even the Queen of England calls her signature, and the blues and greens that are becoming the new cult classics.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.