Our Favorite Nail Polishes, Summer 2014 Edition

By Beauty Contributor Morgan Rainwater

1. 'I'm Addicted' Nail Color, Essie  //  2. 'Snow Me White' Nail Color, Sinful Colors  //  3. 'Cocktail Bling' Nail Color, Essie  //  4. 'Electric Lane' Top Coat, Nails, Inc.  //  5. 'Penny Talk' Nail Color, Essie  //  6. 'Top Seal' Top Coat, Nail Bliss  

One of my favorite things to do on a Sunday evening in an an effort to clear out my mind for a new school week (I'm a high school teacher by day) is to paint my nails.  I find it extremely relaxing, and my students love to see what I've done each week.  I was introduced to my favorite brand of polish, Essie, years ago and I've been hooked ever since.  There are a few other brands I use as well, and I probably pick up a new bottle every other week.  My husband enjoys teasing me when I show him my new weekly score: "Don't you have that color already?" Clearly he just doesn't understand the subtle shade differences that I find so incredibly important. ;)

My current favorite is from Essie's 2014 neons collection.  It's called I'm Addicted, which seems rather fitting.  I also love shades of grey, and Essie's Cocktail Bling is awesome.  Although it tops my list for polish brands, Essie is on the high end of the price scale at around $8.50 a bottle, which can add up over time.  If you're on a budget, I've also had a lot of luck with a brand called Sinful Colors (I'm loving Snow Me White right now).  They make hundreds of colors and you can find them many places for $1.99. 

And don't forget the top coat.  Like some bling?  My favorite glitter polish is made by Nails Inc.,  called Electric Lane.  It is a holographic top coat that just looks like silver glitter in regular light, but the second the sun or bright light hits it, it looks like someone turned on the Christmas lights.  The best regular top coat ever is called Top Seal by Nail Bliss and can be found at Sally Beauty Supply.  It will make your polish shine and keeps it chip free for at least a week.

Who else is a nail polish fiend?  I'd love to hear your current favorite shades and brands! - Morgan

Thank you to Morgan for this great roundup of her current favorite nail polish picks!  In addition to sharing her regular favorites, tips, and tutorials as Bubby & Bean's Beauty Contributor, Morgan is a high school Psychology and Sociology teacher, who, in her free time, can be found gardening, cooking (you can see some of her recipes here), drinking wine, or moonlighting as an amateur makeup artist.