Don’t get me wrong, I love nothing more than the look of a fresh manicure. But committing to a biweekly appointment that entails sitting in the salon for at least an hour and spending ~$50 doesn’t always feel like the most appealing experience. Luckily, the at-home nail industry is rapidly growing and innovating, and there’s no shortage of easy-to-DIY polishes and tools that allow you to indulge in professional-level manis and pedis in the comfort of your own home.
From cuticle oils and clippers to press-ons and gel kits, Team Cosmo tested it all on our very own fingers and toes for the past 12 months to select the very best nail products for our annual Holy Grail Beauty Awards. Below, everything you could ever possibly need for chip-free, long-lasting, expensive-looking manicures and pedicures.
The Best Base Coats, Top Coats, and Treatments
“This is a very reliable and extremely affordable base coat. It’s a super-straightforward workhorse formula that dries pretty quickly and does a great job at setting up a manicure for success.”
—JAYNE LEMIRE, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
“I absolutely love finishing my manis off with this top coat. The brush is easy to hold and applies an ideal amount of product evenly with very few strokes. Plus, it leaves my nails super shiny and dries quickly.”
—JL
“This acts like a mattifying primer for your nails. I appreciate the quick drying time, and its smoothing finish creates the perfect canvas for my manicures to build upon. The pink dries down into a nearly invisible layer, btw.” —MIKHAILA ARCHER, EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
“This is my go-to top coat for all my at-home manis and pedis. It gives whatever polish you layer underneath a glossy, gel-like finish but requires zero curing or time-intensive removal process.”
—LAUREN BALSAMO, BEAUTY DIRECTOR
“I’m a big fan of Epres’s repairing treatment for damaged hair, but I think I like it even more for my nails. This revives and replenishes my nail health in a matter of days, even after a damaging gel job.”
—BETH GILLETTE, BEAUTY EDITOR
The Best Polishes and Press-Ons
“Between the expansive shade range (I’ve been wearing the orangey-red Paprika on repeat as we head into summer) and the long-lasting, streak-free formula, I’ve been recommending these polishes to anyone who keeps it simple with DIY manicures.” —LB
“I’m obsessed with jelly nails, and this is a streak-free, buildable polish that’s actually chip-resistant. It’s so fun to build up to whatever level of opacity you prefer. And I love that the shade range has a mix of neutrals and bolder pops. And the brush is nice and wide for an easy application.”
—KARA MILLER, DESIGNER
“The vibe of this long-lasting polish is a salon-quality, gel-like manicure that doesn’t require getting off your couch (or compromising the health of your nails).” —JULEE WILSON, BEAUTY EDITOR-AT-LARGE
“I can stick a set of these on and trust that they’ll stay put for a full seven days. Even better? They come in a slew of designs and lengths—even micro for very short nails.” —BG
“Like a blurring filter for your nails, this ultra-sheer polish smooths ridges and strengthens against breakage for healthier nails the more you wear it.”
—LB
“Nope, you don’t have to spend $$$ at the salon for builder gel (aka hard gel that lasts longer and helps your nails grow underneath). This kit makes it so easy to DIY and includes all the instructions for a mani that’s completely salon-worthy.”
—BG
More Nail Stuff We Love
“These quick-dry drops don’t leave your nails feeling overly oily but still give your polish a glossy, freshly finished look after minimizing dry time. It also extended the life of my manicure by a few extra days.” —KM
“This rose cuticle oil is the best-smelling one I’ve ever used. It delivers a dose of moisture that keeps cuticles looking and feeling nourished. Plus, the rollerball applicator allowed for an enjoyable massaging experience and the squeeze bottle makes it easy to control how much product I use.”
—MA
“These are the heavy-duty clippers that everyone needs in their nail care kit. I alternated between the large and small options depending on my nail’s needs. Even when I needed to cut down some thick, overgrown gel extensions, these got through them in one click. I love that they aren’t anything fancy and they just work.” —MA
Londontown Glass Nail File
“This is my favorite tool to smoothly round out the edge of any nail shape, without the dust residue of a typical nail file. I’ll take efficacy without the mess any day.” —MA
“I never knew how important a cuticle nipper would be in my nail routine until I finally got this. Now, my at-home manicures actually look professional, whether I’m using press-ons or DIYing gel.” —BG
“An electric callus remover sounds intense and it is, but damn does this give me the smoothest feet known to man (and no, it doesn’t hurt).” —BG
“It’s no surprise that a bottle of this timeless nail color is sold every 45 seconds. The sheer, milky pink shade is the perfect neutral that complements every skin tone.” —LB
“‘Describing it as ‘chic’ feels like a major understatement for this new nail brand. The buildable polishes deliver a tint of color with one coat or can be layered up for more opacity. They dry in just 90 seconds—perfect for nail care on the go. And the tools are higher quality than what you’ll find in most salons.”
—JASMINE HYMAN, ASSISTANT BEAUTY EDITOR
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
