Best of 2013 – Top 30 Nail Polishes of the Year
It’s been a pretty stellar year for nail polish. In 2013, we’ve seen new technologies, new finishes and tons of new colors. So you can imagine what a task it’s been trying to narrow down my favorites.
The new textured polishes really helped invigorate my passion for polish. Unlike other fad-type finishes of the past few years (crackle, matte, magnetic, etc), I’m so not tired of texture and I don’t see my love waning anytime soon.
After an unexpectedly long break from ALU, I came back this year with a vengeance and I’ve been loving every second of it. A huge part of that is you. Your comments, emails, tweets, etc. mean so much and encourage me to share my love of nail color. So without further ado, I give you my Top 30 Nail Polish Colors of 2013.
Cremes
It takes a lot for a creme to grab my attention and obviously I have my color preferences but all four of these shades are visually arresting, incredibly smooth, easy to apply and non-staining (so key for a blue!). That last part is especially impressive when it comes to CND VINYLUX Seaside Party since you wear it with no base coat.
Bobbi Brown Navy
China Glaze Queen B
JINsoon Blue Iris
CND VINYLUX Seaside Party
Shimmers
Whether it was that subtle Chanel shimmer we all know and love, the icy flecks that Essie wowed us with or the shade shifting pigments of JINsoon, OPI and Urban Decay, these shimmery shades were all the rage in 2013. Taboo is seriously one of the best shades Chanel has ever created and WORTH.EVERY.PENNY! Whether it’s Essie For the Twill of It or OPI Peace, Love and OPI, that duo-chrome shade is a must-have. And even though it feels like forever and a day since China Glaze Fancy Pants came out, it still a stands out in my mind all these months later.
Chanel Taboo
China Glaze Fancy Pants
China Glaze Mimosas Before Mani’s
Essie For The Twill Of It
OPI Peace & Love & OPI
Essie Naughty Nautical
Essie Sunday Funday
JINsoon Epidote
Sally Hansen Red-io Active
Sally Hansen Quick Jeanius
Sally Hansen Jet Set Jade
Urban Decay Blackheart
Zoya Mason
Glitters
Glitters kind of took a backseat this year to make room for the texture parade but the ones we did see, rocked the house. From the unexpected holo glitter by Bobbi Brown to the funky Maybelline Polka Dots to the pink Deborah Lippmann that captured this girl’s pink-hating heart, we weren’t lacking when it came to making a sparkle party happen.
Bobbi Brown Chrome
COVERGIRL Inferno
Deborah Lippmann Mermaid’s Kiss
JINsoon Obsidian
Laura Mercier Bewitched
MAC Fierce Entrance
Maybelline Blue Marks The Spot
Urban Decay Zodiac
Textures
Textured nail polish was the big trend of 2013 and even though there were a few variations on the theme, the sparkly textures were definitely my faves. Zoya is the clear winner of the glittery texture smackdown as every single PixieDust is a stunner. However, L’Oreal’s Gold Dust collection is a close second. I can’t get enough of The Statement Piece! Simply for its layering capabilities, Sally Hansen Sugar Coat Royal Icing had to make my list and OPI Alcatraz Rocks is, hands-down, my favorite texture of the year!
L’Oreal The Statement Piece
OPI Alcatraz Rocks
Sally Hansen Royal Icing over CSM Pink a Card
Zoya Chita PixieDust
Zoya Nyx PixieDust
Zoya Sunshine PixieDust
Honorable Mention
I would be a fool not to mention the collection I created for Sally Beauty’s FingerPaints line as it’s one of the things that made my 2013. I’m so proud of A Pair Affair by All Lacquered Up and I truly love every single shade. Seeing my creations and blog name on displays in a store I’ve been shopping at all my life was unreal.
FingerPaints A Pair Affair by All Lacquered Up
So which of my selections would make your “Best of 2013″ list? Is there a favorite of yours that you think I overlooked?
I will start the nominations for the Fanatic Favorites of 2013, where you get to vote on your favorite colors and collections from the past year, soon so start thinking of which brands and colors you want to nominate!
Disclosure: Product samples were provided by reps for the brands featured. Affiliate links appear in this post. When you purchase through an affiliate link, you help support this site. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.
Lisa N.
Ms Meatballhead
Birdie
Spa pediccure chairs
I love this post! I think creme polishes are always my favorites – I love that shade you chose Queen B by China Glaze!
Brittnee
I loved sands this year, in Europe we have Golden Rose brand that released amazing amount of great glittery sands (check them in google) – they are freakintastic <3
Oh, I’ve heard of that brand before and I think there’s even a place in the US that carries it but I’ve never seen them in person. I’ll have to check them out, thanks!
As i wrote in my latest blogpost Golden Rose ruled this year in my country (im from Poland)- seriously check google or even my blog – they released EVERYTHING this year and it’s an inexpensive drugstore brand with almost all finishes you want. The only finish they don’t sell is glassfleck finish, they released only few glassflecked shades. Ok, they also don’t have amazing holos (holo collection from GR is super old) – but still it’s really great brand!
I have to agree on OPI Alcatraz Rocks and Bobbi Brown Chrome. It takes a lot to take my breath away, but those 2 both made me gasp at first stroke! The Chanels that made me swoon this year were Bel Argus and Azure – these will go down in my all time favorite list, for sure. Great year for polish, 2013.
All of the dust/sand/sugar polish makes my list this year! I haven’t been so taken with a texture or finish in ages.
I loved sands this year
My #1 polish is Bare No Secrets from your collection A Pair Affair. Definitely my go polish! Next is a Holographic from Color Club, Angel Kiss. I also loved Orly FX Pixels. Lastly I have enjoyed experimenting with Matte polish.
Love the Taboo, Fancy Pants and Bewitched. Best brand of the year however is I LOVE NAIL POLISH with its amazing chromes.
Taboo is AMAZING. I’ve never spent $30 on a nail polish before, but if there was ever a color that justified the price tag, this is it. Like you said, worth every penny! Love your website, happy new year!
Love the sand and sugar textuxes this year. The OPI “What Wizardry is This” was the hands down fave for me.
That’s one of the few OPI’s I didn’t try this year.
So many beautiful and unique colors, great picks! I may have to buy Mermaid’s Kiss after seeing this post
Beautiful choices! I see quite a few of my favorites in this list!
What s great post! I only have three from your Top 30 (Chanel’s Taboo, Essie”s For The Twill of It, an SH’s Jet Set Jade), but after seeing your gorgeous swatches I’ll be on the hunt for Opi’s Alcatraz Rocks, and Cover Girl’s Inferno! Thanks for sharing, and Happy New Year!
You’re so welcome Juli! I saw a full display of the COVERGIRL Catching Fire collection at a Bed, Bath & Beyond/Harmon recently so Inferno is still out there.
I love every single one! Its so hard to pick..would have taken me forever..lol..I loved loved Esssie For the twill of it..& Laura Mercier Bewitched!!! I love following your blog..because i love nail polish:) You do such an awesome job Michelle!!
Thank you so much Debbie! It was hard to pick but also fun remembering all the great shades we saw this year.
i missed the short window of chanel taboo, and am telling myself i don’t regret it, but still, seeing it on everyone’s best of list is crushing…
will have to hunt down that UD zodiac…
my best nail polish find of 2013 would have to be cirque colors ‘helios’, the perfect gold glitter!
Holy sweet baby tadpoles that Sally Hansen Royal Icing is amazinggggggg. Fabulous choices.
I just picked up Zoya’s Chita, Sunshine, and Carter my local Ulta store. They were in the clearance bin for $4.99! This is my first experience with the Pixie Dust line and I’m totally in love with each color. I love Chita because there’s just no other green polish that can compare to this and Carter because despite it’s bright purple, super glittery appearance in the bottle, the shade is muted and a smoky black or charcoal base shows underneath the purple shimmers once the polish dries on the nail. I can’t believe I’ve gone so long without trying this fantastic brand of nail polish!
I want that Zoya Sunshine pixie Dust polish! I love the blues and purples, especially the ones that sparkle or have texture! Thanks for the list and your dedication to the polish world!!!
Hi! I am a complete neophyte when it comes to nail polish! I am generally a lazy person who has nice natural nails and occasionally I like to paint them to make them look well nicer and prevent them from breaking! Anyway, I sampled a Chanel polish the other day and really noticed a big difference from the cheapo brands I usually buy. It dried faster, was easy to apply and it didn’t have a nasty smell. My question is this…the bottle was
Hi Leah! I wouldn’t say you are imagining things. Some Chanel polishes are really great in terms of application, formula and wear. But, like most things, that’s subjective and doesn’t apply to every Chanel polish. A lot depends on the pigment used though I generally like their formula. Some don’t have good luck with it but I’ve never had any complaints. I say, if the color is unique and you can’t get it out of your head, it’s totally worth the splurge.
Hi! thank you for replying.
i bought the Ballerina colour…it is clear with the lightest hint of pink and I love it. Considering I don’t buy a lot of nail polish it made sense to splurge a little but this could be the beginning of an addiction, hahaha.
Thanks again for your feedback. Cheers, Leah
Well, I was able to find a bottle of SH’s “Quick Jeanius” on Amazon.com earlier this month, and was thrilled. Then, guess what? I was wandering around Walmart yesterday, and of course I had to stop in the Health & Beauty department……and there, lurking behind all the other Sally Hansen nail polishes was a lone bottle of…….Quick Jeanius!!! Of course I had to buy a back up bottle! I’ve found several discontinued polishes at Walmart this way, so it’s worth the hunt.
Michele — How I love you, your blog & reviews. How my pocketbook has different feelings! lol For my birthday wish list I had 2 polishes — that’s it. No crazy Clarins 230 for a gazillion dollars or Essie Dominica Green. Just Estee Lauder Smoked Chrome and Chanel Taboo, both gleaned from this site. You rock! (And the birthday fairy came early. Smoked Chrome is STUNNING!)
Ha, I’m sorry to your wallet. I’m so glad you got your birthday wish!! I’m a May baby too