Best of Beauty: Nails

If black is too goth for your taste, the glinty dark green of Estee Lauder Pure Color Nail Lacquer in Viper is like Bon Jovi—amplified, but popular for good reason.

Chanel Le Vernis in Vertigo looks like a delicious coating of dark glazed chocolate on nails.

Tom Ford Nail Lacquer in Toasted Sugar is the color of a chai latte—a nude that works on all skin tones.

Yves Saint Laurent La Laque Couture in Bleu Majorelle is a dazzling cobalt.

Essie nail polish in Mojito Madness will lift your mood faster than its namesake cocktail. The peppy mint green is so richly pigmented, you only need one coat.

High-shine and shimmer-free, L'Oreal Paris Nail Color in Violet Vixen is the rare fuchsia that even our mother would call timeless—not tacky.

Essie nail polish in Mademoiselle makes tips look tidy, clean, and even a touch longer. And unlike most pale pinks, it doesn't require multiple coats to reach full opacity.

Not too orange and not too blue, OPI Nail Lacquer in Big Apple Red is a true red that looks like something Marilyn would've worn.

Some nail-art strips recall craft projects gone horribly wrong. Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips in Lust-rous look like a starry night, stick without ripples, and last up to ten days.

Splitting, peeling, dullness: Essie Ridge Filling Base Coat negotiates all sorts of rough terrain—and leaves nails shiny enough to skip color, if you're so inclined.