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At the change of seasons, there’s no easier or cheaper way to add a dose of newness to your wardrobe than with nail polish. Sure, boots are a staple and heftier skincare may become a necessity, but nail polish is just plain fun.
There are definitely a few color themes that emerged with the release of all the new nail polish collections this season, including purple tones, metallics, subtle glitter, and grays and greiges (that weird combination of gray and beige). And while the classic brands are still pumping out great collections, it’s worth checking out the spate of newer indie brands that have appeared on the scene in the last few seasons to challenge the status quo.
So whether you get a manicure weekly or only dabble, the best polishes in the best collections of the season are right this way.
The Salon Stalwarts
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OPI Krona-logical Order ($9): OPI’s Iceland collection is full of purples and moody mushrooms. This brownish eggplant is purple without screaming, “I’m PURPLE.”
Essie Knee High Life ($8.99): Essie mined everyone’s favorite era, the ’90s, for its fall collection. Call this one Xtina pink?
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Orly Just Bitten ($4.55): Orly’s fall collection is called “Velvet Dream” and is full of lush berries. This is a perfect deep red.
Zoya Gal ($10): Zoya’s “Sophisticates” collection features neutrals, pinks, and jewel tones. Metallics are still a huge trend, and this simple gold is shiny but not tacky.
The Luxury Designers
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Dior Enigma ($27): Dior focused its whole fall makeup collection on metallics. This one is a great shimmery pinky-beige. (Peige?)
Chanel Horizon Line ($28): Chanel’s fall makeup collection is called “Travel Diary,” inspired by a California road trip. (Sure!) This is a sophisticated gray with a hint of mint green.
The Cool Indies
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J. Hannah Chanterelle ($19): This millennial jeweler launched a line of creamy polishes in classic shades earlier this year to augment her chic, simple jewelry line. This is the best mushroom-y shade of the season.
Floss Gloss Disco Dust ($10): This brand is just fun and so is this shade, described as “rose gold rainbow.”
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Cote No. 37 ($18): This three-color New York-themed collection features red, gray, and charcoal, and they’re all good.
Context Ain’t Love Strange ($15): Pastels for fall? Yes, damn it.
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Londontown Star Moss ($16): This olive drab cream almost counts as a neutral.
LVX Stardust ($18): Two different-sized glitter particles in this silver metallic polish ensure that it will be extra sparkly.
The Nail Experts
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Jin Soon Abyss ($18): This collection was inspired by Art Nouveau style, and this dark evergreen-blue is a good alternative to black.
Deborah Lippmann Black Magic Woman ($20): Deborah Lippmann excels at the two extremes of nail polish: neutrals and glitter. This one is sort of both?
The Inexpensive Workhorses
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Sally Hansen Color Therapy Red-iance ($6.79): Sally Hansen Color Ambassador Madeline Poole is one of the coolest people in the beauty industry, and she came up with every shade in this collection, including this fun poppy.
Wet n Wild One Step Wonder Gel Taupe As a Joke ($4.99): Wet n Wild isn’t only for middle-school you. This one-step faux gel is easy and actually lasts.
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Sinful Colors Navy I Do ($1.99): This deep blue is part of the brand’s Punk Yourself collection.
China Glaze Baroque Jungle ($7.50): This collection is called the punny “Street Regal,” and you’ll find the velvety jewel tones and metallics that are everywhere this fall. Green is a tricky shade, but this dark version works.
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